Customer Reviews

What Ho, Magic!

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So far, I haven't read a book by Tanya Huff that I haven't enjoyed, and this collection is no exception. It contains 15 of her short stories, and there's not a bad one in the bunch. Best of all, it contains four short stories involving her Blood series characters Vicki Nelson, Michael Celluci and Henry Fitzroy - always a pleasure to read.

"The Chase Is On" is a space opera, whose characters deserve a book of their own. "Underground" tells the story of what may exist in the Toronto subway system. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is about a mother, her young daughter, and the inheritance that is much more than it appears to be. "Shin Li-Ung" is a story about Chinese tradition, gangs, and unexpected protection. "First Love, Last Love" is the ultimate tale of boys and their toys. "Word of Honor" tells of a woman who discovers her own honor while carrying out a quest for someone else. "The Harder They Fall" is about what happens when fairy tales turn real. "A Debt Unpaid" is a mining story involving personal choices and personal ghosts. "February Thaw" takes the story of Demeter, Persephone, and Hades and turns them into a modern-day dysfunctional family. "Symbols Are A Percussion Instrument" involves an cynic and a pack of tarot cards. "A Midsummer Night's Dream Team" takes High Elves and crosses them with the Olympics. And then "This Town Ain't Big Enough", What Manner of Man", "The Cards Also Say" and "The Vengeful Spirit of Lake Nepeakea" all continue the story of Vicki Nelson (ex-cop, now a vampire PI), her lover Detective-Sargeant Michael Celluci, and Henry Fitzroy (romantic novelist, vampire, and bastard son of King Henry VIII of England).

If you've never read Ms. Huff, this is a great introduction to her writing. And if you're a fan, then this is icing on the cake.

What Ho, Magic! is the first of what is hopefully several collections of short stories by Tanya Huff. There are stories of quiet, haunting horror; stories of magic and of mystery; and even a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek space opera story. This collection shows the breadth of Huff's skills, and she proves that she is quite capable of delivering a mystery with a private detective turned vampire, or an attack of a foot-and-a-half long dragon, or a tale of ghosts in the subway that will incite feelings of slight claustrophobic for a day or two.

Her characters are strong and entirely human; well, the vampire *was* a human at one point. In the story "Shing Li-Ung," Huff tells a tale of a sister and brother finding their heritage in the melting pot of cultures in modern Toronto. "The Chase is On" tells us of a starship captain, most emphatically *not* a smuggler, but she does occasionally stray on the odd side of the law. Huff even brings magic into the sports arena with the delightful and thought-provoking "A Midsummer Night's Dream Team." High Elves playing basketball? Tolkien would have conniptions--or laugh his head off in approval.

If you never read a Tanya Huff book this is the one to start with. The stories are amazing in their diversity! I have read just about every Huff book (except one that is out of stock). All her books are awesome! I love the Blood books, the Last Wizard, and the Quartered books. It amazes me that she has such an imagination.

This book just shows there doesn't seem to be anything she can't write about.

Keep up the excellent work Tanya!

I really liked Tanya Huff's Heart of Valor and Summon the Keeper series, and Wizard of the Grove as well, though I haven't really gotten into the Blood Books. But this collection of her earlier short stories just isn't that great, pretty unremarkable and forgettable. I'm not sure if I regret buying it, but I'm going to donate it to the local library. If you can read it for free it's not that bad.

This was a great read! The stories are all very interesting, with good, different characters.

I'd read some of Huff's novels before, but after reading this collection, I wound up going out and buying the ones I'd missed. Definitely worth reading!

Does anyone know the title of the novel excerpted in the last section, or when it's coming out? It sounds like a fun space opera! All the book says is "New novel coming from DAW in 1999." At this point in 1999, I'd expect DAW's website to have more details... :)

If you know more about it, please email me.

This is quite a list of stories.

I usually don't go back and re-read but this book I did. One of the stories is absolutely precious. I would love to see it made into a book.

Here fill in stories are great too. I don't think anyone of the stories deserves less then 4 stars