Publishers Weekly
Endlessly astonishing and impressive fantasist McKillip (The Bards of Bone Plain) travels the shadowy twilight realm between worlds and returns with the raw stuff of dreams. An angel grapples with deceit and conspiracies while recording Cotton Mather's ravings in the title piece. "Out of the Woods" muses on how those searching for magic often miss it. "The Kelpie" examines love and the primal overlap between life and art. An adolescent encounters dangerous Faerie in the chilling and seductive "Hunter's Moon," and a water spirit falls victim to her prey in "Undine." Reshaping ancient archetypes to show us hidden aspects of ourselves and the world around us, these modern myths are timely and timeless, retaining the cosmic resonance of folklore while addressing the struggles embodied in achingly realized spirits, gods, and humans who endure tragic flaws and sudden epiphanies. With a tremendous range encompassing the terror of "Jack O'Lantern" and the poignant allegory of "The Old Woman and the Storm," McKillip charts the wild unknown in all its pathos and danger. Agent: Howard Morhaim, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
[STARRED REVIEW] “Mesmerizing.... Any collection of McKillip’s short stories will be a valuable asset to any library and a joy to her many fans.”
—Library Journal
“Anybody who loves fantasy—not just for what most fantasy does, but for what the genre is really capable of—should definitely pick this book up. It’s like a perfect encapsulation of fantasy writing at its most brave and beautiful.”
—io9
“Jewel-like writing, filling readers with a thoughtful and engaging story, while enchanting us at the same time.”
—Book Swoon
“A casket full of wonders. I think each one is my favorite, until I read the next. McKillip has the true Mythopoeic imagination. Here lies the border between our world and that of Faerie.”
—P. C. Hodgell, author of the Kencyrath series
“This brilliant new collection puts on display the audacity, the warmth, the intelligence, and depth of [McKillip’s] huge and magnificent talent.”
—Peter Straub, author of Ghost Story and A Dark Matter
“The lively and enchanting stories in Wonders of the Invisible World certainly deserve all the accolades I can summon.”
—Paul Goat Allen, Barnes and Noble
“I loved all the stories in this collection, and if I still have to tell you to try this out, well, you haven’t been reading my review.... Patricia Mckillip is a master at what she does. Strongly recommended.”
—Locus
“Wonders of the Invisible World is a wonderful collection of stories full of wit and insight wrapped in beautiful, effortless prose. McKillip’s ability to convey so much in so few words is impressive, as is her ability with storytelling, characterization, and thematic elements.”
—Fantasy Café
“This is one to dip into, savour, and place on that special shelf for books to be cherished.”
—Starburst
“Still one of the best fantasy writers out there.”
—Green Man Review
“Exquisitely written with destinations beyond your imaginings!”
—My Shelf Confessions
“McKillip's is the first name that comes to mind when I'm asked whom I read myself.”
—Peter S. Beagle, author, The Last Unicorn
“In all the stories in Wonders of the Invisible World, McKillip evokes the glamour of Faerie through lush language and crystal-clear imagery . . . she creates gem-like tales that bring the timeless magic of the fae alive for her readers.”
—Examiner
“Great collection by one of the greatest living fantasy writers!”
—Ellen Kushner, author of Swordspoint
Library Journal
A researcher goes back in time to visit Cotton Mather and finds the preacher's visions are not what he expected in the title story of McKillip's (The Bards of Bone Plain) latest collection of mesmerizing short fiction. From the deliciously macabre retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" to the elegant story of courtship and obsession depicted in "The Kelpie," the 16 stories collected here display the author's talent for creating tales both delicately beautiful and heartbreakingly cruel. The text of her Guest of Honor speech at WisCon 2004, included within, offers valuable insight into the mind of the writer. VERDICT Any collection of McKillip's short stories will be a valuable asset to any library and a joy to her many fans.
