Tales of Spaceships and Magic collects ten stories from fantasy and science fiction writer Kate MacLeod:

The science fiction novelette "Required to Assist," a mystery set on board a colony ship, where one woman alone is woken by the ship's droids to solve a murder.

"Sword and Tattoo," a fantasy short story where a stranger stumbles into a hidden town. He brings danger with him, but the people of the town just might be more dangerous still.

The science fiction short story "Being Neighborly," a light-hearted tale of a human family homesteading on a world side by side with a very alien people.

"Tumbling Up," a science fiction short story about a group of diplomats attempting to negotiate a peace with an aquatic alien species.

"Death Spiral," a science fiction mystery where a security officer must solve a murder and keep a strange species of aliens calm at the same time.

"While the Rat's Away," a science fiction story of travelers stowing away on a very unusual client ship.

"The Fair Folk," a fantasy tale of fairs, magic and tricky bargains.

"The Rod of Circe," a fantasy caper set in a magical version of modern day Minneapolis.

"Winter's End," a melancholy tale of a winter that never seems to end.

"Heat Death," a science fiction mystery story set in the near future on the edges of the Chihuahuan Desert in the brutal heat of midsummer.