Customer Reviews

Stealing Magic

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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This book consists of 2 separate sets of fantasy stories, with different back-to-back covers (reminiscent of the old Ace Doubles).

On one side are stories of Terazin, top-notch thief. To join the Thieves' Guild, one does not simply knock on the front door and ask for an application. It is necessary to break into the building and make it to the inner sanctum deep underground, avoiding the traps set up along the way. Terazin does so, and is given an initiation test. She must bring the braided hair of Swan, a famous female warrior who will not take kindly to getting a sudden haircut. Other stories feature Terazin finding herself in the middle when it comes to internal Thieves' Guild politics.

Going the other way are stories of Magdalene, the world's most powerful (and laziest) wizard. She is an apprentice to Adar, a castle wizard. She unknowingly dismantles his most powerful spells like they don't even exist. She gains Adar's powers, just before he is turned into a pile of gray ash, and decides to leave the castle. Traveling with H'sak, a demon trapped inside a mirror, she finds that the most bucolic villages have the most unique customs concerning wizards, like welcoming them with axes or chains and manacles. It doesn't help that Magdalene, a redhead with a very healthy libido, doesn't wear a pointy hat like normal wizards. She is summoned to various kings and wizards, and her attitude is like, "Yeah, yeah, let's get this over with."

I really enjoyed these stories. They're lighter, fast reading, and they show that Huff is a veteran fantasy author. The reader won't go wrong with this strong, well done group of stories.

A very nice collection of stories. I admit I prefer Magdelene - somehow the idea of being idle, enjoying sun and dolce far niente all the while being THE most powerful wizard on earth, is very appealing. So very refreshing to have a perfectly lazy heroine who does not suffer from heart pangs, unhappy love, "save-the-world" complex and takes life, magic and men as something to be relaxed about.
The stories about Terazin are equally good but her nature is very different - there is quite a lot of the Rikki-Tiki-Tavi's "run and find out" attitude that sometimes leads her into difficulties.
I wish the publisher would make their mind about the name: many times the thief is called Terizan instead of Terazin. In fact it happens so often, that I was not sure about the correct form till the very end.
In whole, a very nice light book with lots of humor and very endearing heroines.

Although I think I've read all of Tanya Huff's novels (and obviously enjoyed them!), I'd seen very few of her short stories. This collection was marvelous, showing that Ms. Huff is every bit as much a master of short form writing as she is of novel-length. Her female main characters feel real even when they are, respectively, a Wizard and a Thief in the best classic fantasy style.

As noted by others, this is two separate collections of stories, written from the early 80's and the very start of Ms. Huff's professional career, through 2001. They demonstrate her deft humor and absolutely realistic-sounding conversations. Anyone who has previously read and enjoyed any of her fantasy novels will not be disappointed in this collection.

Tanya Huff fans will be delighted with this duo selection. Only Huff could come up with a character like Magdelene, the lazy, good hearted, man hungry wizard--- who also is the most powerful human being alive. The contrast between Magdelene, who when faced with a man eating demon, crosses her arms across her chest and looks its in the eye and your expectations about how powerful wizards should act is hilarious. (By the way, the demon took one good look and headed back home)

Terazin, on the other hand, is a clever thief--that is only the beginning. Her world lives. The supporting characters are real and in Huff's fashion, worth knowing.

This collection of short stories are page turners and leave you feverishly hopeing that the author writes many, many more about both.

Stealing Magic is a collection of all the Magdelene short stories, all the Terzin short stories, and one original Terzin story. A must-read for Tanya Huff fans, or anyone who's read a Magdelene or Terzin story elsewhere and wants more.

Stealing Magic is an impressive and entertaining anthology of action/adventure fantasy stories by Tanya Huff and features Magdelene, the world's most powerful (and laziest) wizard, along with Terazin, a top-notch thief. Both unlikely heroines face dragons, heavily guarded treasures, mortal peril and more with aplomb, in this lighthearted and highly enjoyable collection for readers of all ages. Celebrated fantasy author Tanya Huff lives up to her "best of the best" reputation once again!

I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of humor I anticipated. Otherwise the stories were enjoyable.