As you may be aware, Patricia A. McKillip is one of my favorite authors, and as much as I love her novels, like The Changeling Sea and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, her short fiction holds a special place in my heart since I first discovered her writing through her enchanting collection Wonders of the Invisible World.
So I’m thrilled to be giving away a finished copy of The Essential Patricia A. McKillip, which includes an introduction by Swordspoint author Ellen Kushner, 2 nonfiction pieces, and 16 short stories (including “The Gorgon in the Cupboard,” one of my personal favorites). This will be released in hardcover and digital formats on October 28. (Giveaway open to US residents only.)
Cover Artist: Thomas Canty
About THE ESSENTIAL PATRICIA A. MCKILLIP:
World Fantasy Award winner Patricia A. McKillip (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld) has inspired generations of readers with her enchanting, and subversive fiction. This lovely hardcover career-retrospective edition offers McKillip’s finest short stories. Featuring an original introduction by Ellen Kushner (Swordspoint) and cover art from frequent McKillip illustrator Thomas Canty, The Essential Patricia A. McKillip is a must-have for fans of classic fantasy.
Patricia A. McKillip has been widely hailed as one of fantasy’s most significant authors. She was lauded as “rich and regal” (the New York Times), “enchanting” (the Washington Post), and “luminous” (Library Journal).
Within McKillip’s magical landscapes, a mermaid statue comes to life; princesses dance with dead suitors; a painting and a muse possess a youthful artist; seductive sea travelers enrapture distant lovers, a time-traveling angel endures religious madness; and an overachieving teenage mage discovers her own true name.
Contents
Introduction by Ellen Kushner
Stories
“Lady of the Skulls”
“Wonders of the Invisible World”
“The Lion and the Lark”
“The Harrowing of the Dragon of Hoarsbreath”
“Out of the Woods”
“The Fortune Teller”
“The Witches of Junket”
“Byndley”
“Jack O’Lantern”
“The Stranger”
“The Gorgon in the Cupboard”
“Mer”
“Weird”
“Hunter’s Moon”
“Undine”
“Knight of the Well”Nonfiction
“What Inspires Me”: Guest of Honor Speech at WisCon
“Writing High Fantasy”
Patricia Anne McKillip was born February 29, 1948, in Salem, Oregon. She attended the College of Notre Dame, Belmont, and San Jose State University in California, receiving a B. A. in 1971 and an M. A. in 1972 in English.
Her first publications were short children’s books; The Throme of the Erril of Sherill and The House on Parchment Street (both 1973). Her first novel for adults, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (1974), won a World Fantasy Award.
McKillip’s science fiction and fantasy novels include the Riddle-Master trilogy: The Riddle-Master of Hed (1976), Heir of Sea and Fire (1977), and Locus Award winner and Hugo and World Fantasy Award finalist Harpist in the Wind (1979); Nebula Award finalist Winter Rose (1996); Nebula Award nominee The Tower at Stony Wood (2000); World Fantasy Award finalist Od Magic (2005); Mythopoeic Award winner Solstice Wood (2006); and Mythopoeic Award winner Kingfisher (2016).
McKillip’s other books include non-SF children’s book The Night Gift (1976); adult contemporary novel Stepping from the Shadows (1982); and shared-world novel Brian Froud’s Faerielands: Something Rich and Strange (1994), a Mythopoeic Award winner. Her collections include Harrowing the Dragon (2005); Wonders of the Invisible World (2012); and Endeavour Award winner Dreams of Distant Shores (2016). McKillip received a World Fantasy life achievement award in 2008.
Patricia McKillip was living in Oregon when she passed away in May of 2022.
Book Giveaway
Courtesy of Tachyon Publications, I have one finished copy of The Essential Patricia A. McKillip to give away!
Giveaway Rules: To be entered in the giveaway, fill out Fantasy Cafe’s Essential Patricia A. McKillip Giveaway Google form, linked below. One entry per household and the winners will be randomly selected. Those from the US are eligible to win. The giveaway will be open until the end of the day on Friday, October 31. The winner has 24 hours to respond once contacted via email, and if I don’t hear from them after 24 hours has passed, a new winner will be chosen (who will also have 24 hours to respond until someone gets back to me with a place to send the book).
Please note email addresses will only be used for the purpose of contacting the winner. Once the giveaway is over all the emails will be deleted.
