Highlights from The Devil’s Whatever (in The Book of Magic)
Andy Duncan’s story in The Book of Magic, edited by Gardner Dozois, had some great lines. 📚
Remarkably enough enery single foot, whatever its size, matched the Devils Footprints perfectly, which makes sense when you think about it.
And the point of such spells wasn’t novelty, but repetition and focus. All the world’s magic-makers agreed on that.
A name for the devil that hits a bit too close to home these days?
Senior Senator from the Great State of Bigotry and Hatred and Status Quo
“Sometimes it’s more diplomatic,” the Devil said, “just to make noises with your mouth, and say nothing at all.”
But vows are like spells, too, Petey knew, they’re prayers to ourselves, and they work even better, if heeded.
They terrified and impressed hundreds of people as they went, and spawned legends, myths, ghost stories, and religious movements, in addition to countless outright lies and a number of jokes that weren’t half bad.