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A review by joshgauthier
The Book of Magic: A Collection of Stories by Scott Lynch, George R.R. Martin
4.0
Overall, the stories in this anthology range from 3-5 stars in quality. There was only one I didn't finish, and all the others I enjoyed to varying degrees. There are some fantastically talented writers featured here. Some are well known (George R. R. Martin), while others I was not previously familiar with. And some more in the middle of this spectrum, I have been familiar with, but intended to read more of their work--and am glad I have had the chance to do so.
From traditional fantasy to modern settings, and from classic wizards to more unique magic users--this anthology ranges from the dark to the comedic, presenting an entertaining and wide-ranging assortment of stories.
However, I wish to focus just briefly on the story that drew me to the collection. Scott Lynch pens the final tale in this collection--the story of a house mind, a dead wizard, and an assortment of servile beings that don't quite understand what is happening around them--and this story alone is absolutely worth the effort of tracking down this book. Funny and heartfelt, re-framing familiar elements in fresh ways, Lynch's story surprises and entertains as he builds a tight but epic narrative of loyalty, ambition, and lessons learned. It's brilliant and a fantastic read from start to finish.
From traditional fantasy to modern settings, and from classic wizards to more unique magic users--this anthology ranges from the dark to the comedic, presenting an entertaining and wide-ranging assortment of stories.
However, I wish to focus just briefly on the story that drew me to the collection. Scott Lynch pens the final tale in this collection--the story of a house mind, a dead wizard, and an assortment of servile beings that don't quite understand what is happening around them--and this story alone is absolutely worth the effort of tracking down this book. Funny and heartfelt, re-framing familiar elements in fresh ways, Lynch's story surprises and entertains as he builds a tight but epic narrative of loyalty, ambition, and lessons learned. It's brilliant and a fantastic read from start to finish.