Magic for Beginners is a collection of nine works of fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 and light horror

Horror fiction

Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...

 short fiction by Kelly Link

Kelly Link

Kelly Link is an American editor and author of short stories. While some of her fiction falls more clearly within genre categories, many of her stories might be described as slipstream or magic realism: a combination of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and realism...

. The stories were all previously published in other venues from 2002 to 2005.

The book won the 2006 Locus Award

Locus Award

The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...

 for best short story collection. The title story, "Magic for Beginners", won the 2006 Nebula Award

Nebula Award

The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...

 and 2006 Locus Award for best novella and the 2006 British SF Award for best short fiction. Another story in the book, "The Faery Handbag", won the 2005 Hugo Award for Best Novelette

Hugo Award for Best Novelette

The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...

, the 2006 Nebula Award, and the 2005 Locus Award for best novelette.

Stories

• "The Faery Handbag"
• "The Hortlak"
• "The Cannon"
• "Stone Animals"
• "Catskin"
• "Some Zombie Contingency Plans"
• "The Great Divorce"
• "Magic for Beginners"
• "Lull"

External links

• Review of Magic for Beginners by Geneva Melzack for Strange Horizons.