Conjure Wife

Norman Saylor’s cozy life as a university professor is shattered when he discovers his wife, Honey, is a practicing sorceress. Initially dismissing it as superstition, Norman finds himself increasingly entangled in a hidden world where witchcraft is not mere folklore, but a potent force shaping everyday existence. His refusal to confront this reality, despite overwhelming evidence, highlights a profound truth often overlooked: that beneath the veneer of normalcy lies a constant, secret occult warfare, where witchcraft can determine the very stakes of life and death. Fritz Leiber's *Conjure Wife* is a quintessential entry on any list of his best works due to its incisive exploration of societal anxieties and the uncanny intrusion of the supernatural into the mundane. Leiber masterfully blends the intellectual setting of academia with the visceral terror of witchcraft, creating a chilling narrative that questions perceptions of reality and gender dynamics. The novel’s exploration of the power women may wield, often dismissed or misunderstood by men, resonates deeply, making it a landmark of psychological horror and dark fantasy, and the inspiration for the iconic film *Burn Witch Burn!*