Magic for beginners

by Kelly Link

272 pages

English language

Published Dec. 2, 2005 by Small Beer Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-931520-15-7
OCLC Number:: 58055219

(31 reviews)

Magic for Beginners is a collection of nine works of fantasy and light horror short fiction by American writer Kelly Link, released by Small Beer Press in 2005. The stories were all previously published in other venues from 2002 to 2005. The book won the 2006 Locus Award for best short story collection. The title story, "Magic for Beginners", won the 2006 Nebula Award for Best Novella and 2006 Locus Award for Best Novella, and the 2006 BSFA Award for best short fiction. Another story in the book, "The Faery Handbag", won the 2005 Hugo Award for Best Novelette, the 2006 Nebula Award for Best Novelette, and the 2005 Locus Award for Best Novelette.

6 editions

karlhungus reviewed Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

Review of 'Magic for beginners' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

These stories are weird, I find it hard to come out with intent or meaning, and normally I'd say I didn't like it except:

I've read the short story "magic for beginners" repeatedly since I first read it in one of the nebula anthologies. I thought it was "post modern" but it may be surrealest? In anycase I'm pretty sure I'll keep coming back to this story.

The fairy handbag is also pretty great.

nekokat reviewed Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

Review of 'Magic for Beginners' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

THESE ARE SO GOOD

drizzy reviewed Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

Review of 'Magic for Beginners' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Phew this was a fight. I liked some of the stories (Faery Hanbag, Hortlak, Catskin, Magic for Beginners) but others were just too painful to go through (mostly Stone Animals). It's quite likely just my inability to grasp and submerge in the world of magic that Kelly Link tries to create. The stories which got my attention and at least partial understanding were excellent - surreal, funny, magical and in some ways walking the edge of familiar well enough that it kept me intrigued. All in all a nice collection even though it took me longer to get through it than I hoped

fjordic reviewed Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

Review of 'Magic for beginners' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Interesting premise and well written but just too weird for me.

flashy_dragon reviewed Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

Review of 'Magic for beginners' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

To say I finished this is misstating the facts; I stopped reading after finishing "The Cannon," as the stories are just not what I'm interested in. I felt the endings left a lot to be desired and were incongruent with the rest of the story, and that overall the stories weren't satisfying to me.

So I've put it aside and moved on.