Margaret St. Clair (1911-1995) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who published about 130 stories in the pulps, mostly in the 1950s. She also wrote eight novels, four of which were published in the Ace Double series. St. Clair's pioneering role as a woman writing science fiction was noted by Eric Leif Davin in his book Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965 This collection assembles six great tales: FLOWERING EVIL GARDEN OF EVIL RETURN ENGAGEMENT THE AUTUMN AFTER NEXT THE DANCERS THE VANDERLARK "Startlingly original!" -Ramsey Campbell