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Review: The Essential Patricia A. McKillip by Patricia A. McKillip


One of the early authors who shaped how I view and read fantasy is the talented Patricia McKillip. I loved her fantasy stories and when I saw this available, I had to pick it up and read it. It is definitely a beautifully and lovingly put together collection of some of her best works. Some of them were new to me. Some of them I had seen before. What moved me was the foreword as well as the afterword. There is more to this author than we knew.


When I think of Patricia McKillip, I visualize her beautifully drawn covers in an elegant perhaps Art Deco style manner. Then I think of her magically woven tales that reveal secret worlds. She always invokes a certain emotion of yearning or longing with her tales. The "what could have been" comes through in her stories - be it long or short. This collections delivers one story after another that reminds me of why I enjoy her written so much. It is rich with descriptions and filled with interesting characters. Sometimes there is a happily ever after but it isn't a conventional Disney Halo happily ever after. Some are bittersweet and tart. I like this because it feels more authentic and less commercial.


What I also like about this collection is that each story is self contained with a start, middle and end. So many times an anthology or collection in the fantasy or sci-fi genre is but a figment of the author's imagination. We may receive only the middle. Sometimes just the beginning. And other times just the end. This fortunately does not happen with Ms. McKillip which is why her books are so satisfying.


It is clear after reading both the foreword and afterword that Ms. McKillip was beloved by her publishing team. This insight helps me understand Ms. McKillip even more and appreciate her even more in this new revealing light. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection from beginning to end. It is an essential ready for fantasy loves. High recommended to fantasy readers both new and old to Ms. McKillip. This is not to be missed.


*provided by NetGalley


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