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Box Set / Collection
The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories
George R. R. Martin

The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories

Quick Answer

"The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories" is an optional companion work. It can be read at any time, though it is usually best enjoyed after reading the first few core novels of the series.

Debated Order

This order is debated among readers

Community consensus varies on the placement of this title. Our order favors narrative impact over strict chronology.

❓ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a side story that can be safely bypassed without losing any context for the main series.

Verdict Insight: This is a comprehensive collection and bundle of the George R. R. Martin's works. It typically offers significantly better value than buying the titles individually.

Is this helpful?
2018576 ppOptional Side Story
<b>A new anthology celebrating the witches and sorcerers of epic fantasy—featuring stories by George R. R. Martin, Scott Lynch, Megan Lindholm, and many others!</b><br><br> Hot on the heels of Gardner Dozois’s acclaimed anthology <i>The Book of Swords</i> comes this companion volume devoted to magic. How could it be otherwise? For every Frodo, there is a Gandalf . . . and a Saruman. For every Dorothy, a Glinda . . . and a Wicked Witch of the West. What would Harry Potter be without Albus Dumbledore . . . and Severus Snape? Figures of wisdom and power, possessing arcane, often forbidden knowledge, wizards and sorcerers are shaped—or misshaped—by the potent magic they seek to wield. Yet though their abilities may be godlike, these men and women remain human—some might say all too human. Such is their curse. And their glory.<br><br>In these pages, seventeen of today’s top fantasy writers—including award-winners Elizabeth Bear, John Crowley, Kate Elliott, K. J. Parker, Tim Powers, and Liz Williams—cast wondrous spells that thrillingly evoke the mysterious, awesome, and at times downright terrifying worlds where magic reigns supreme: worlds as far away as forever, and as near as next door.<br><br><b>FEATURING SIXTEEN ALL-NEW STORIES:<br><br></b>“The Return of the Pig” by K. J. Parker <br> “Community Service” by Megan Lindholm <br> “Flint and Mirror” by John Crowley <br> “The Friends of Masquelayne the Incomparable” by Matthew Hughes <br> “The Biography of a Bouncing Boy Terror: Chapter Two: Jumping Jack in Love” by Ysabeau S. Wilce <br> “Song of Fire” by Rachel Pollack <br> “Loft the Sorcerer” by Eleanor Arnason <br> “The Governor” by Tim Powers <br> “Sungrazer” by Liz Williams <br> “The Staff in the Stone” by Garth Nix <br> “No Work of Mine” by Elizabeth Bear <br> “Widow Maker” by Lavie Tidhar <br> “The Wolf and the Manticore” by Greg Van Eekhout <br> “The Devil’s Whatever” by Andy Duncan <br> “Bloom” by Kate Elliott <br> “The Fall and Rise of the House of the Wizard Malkuril” by Scott Lynch <b><br></b><br><b>Plus George R. R. Martin’s classic story “A Night at the Tarn House” and an introduction by Gardner Dozois<br><br>Praise for <i>The Book of Magic<br><br></i></b>“In <i>The Book of Magic</i>, you get everything you expect and more! Assembling seventeen great authors in one place is a difficult job but this book, with a lot of help from editor Gardner Dozois, does just that. . . . This compilation is a treat for any who love a good fantasy tale.”<b>—<i>Geeks of Doom</i></b>

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories?

This is a side story that can be safely bypassed without losing any context for the main series.

Can I read The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories before other books in the series?

Yes. The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories required reading for the series?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories in the reading order?

Currently, The Book Of Magic: A Collection Of Stories is the latest entry listed in our database for this series guide.