Relative Magic

by Tanya Huff

Meisha Merlin's second collection of Tanya Huff's short fiction, Relative Magic features four Terizan stories (3 previously published and one newly written especially for this collection), two stories from the Blood Series (one Vicky and one Henry), and eleven other fantastic stories. The collection also includeD new introductions to each story by Tanya Huff and a lovely cover from Keith Birdsong, famous for his Star Trek paintings.

Burning Bright • [The Nine Wizards] • (1999) • novelette
When the Student Is Ready • [The Nine Wizards] • (2002) • novelette

Nanite, Star Bright • (2002) • shortstory
All Things Being Relative • (2001) • novelette
Now Entering the Ring • (1999) • shortstory
Death Rites • [Quarters] • (2001) • novelette
Oh, Glorious Sight • (2001) • novelett
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice • (2001) • shortstory
To Each His Own Kind • (2001) • shortstory by Tanya Huff
Nights of the Round Table • (2002) • shortstory by Tanya Huff
Succession • (2002) • novelette by Tanya Huff

Someone to Share the Night • [Henry Fitzroy] • (2001) • shortstory
Another Fine Nest • [Victory Nelson, Investigator] • (2002) • novelette

Swan's Braid • [Terizan] • (1996) • novelette by Tanya Huff
In Mysterious Ways • [Terizan] • (1997) • novelette by Tanya Huff
The Lions of al'Kalamir • [Terizan] • (1999) • novelette by Tanya Huff
Sometimes, Just Because • [Terizan] • (2003) • novelette by Tanya Huff

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Collections, Magic, Queer

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Tanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.

Reviews

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hugely entertaining collection contains seventeen long stories. Most of them were fantasies. A few were approaching science fiction. But all of them were solid and memorable, thanks to the dry wit, humour, and flashes of romance amidst thrill.
Highly recommended.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, at some point since I last read this book, it's become DAMAGED! need to order a new copy...

finished first logged re-read 9/27/2003

"Burning Bright" re-read 3/7/2015
"When the Student Is Ready" read 9/27/2003 re-read 3/7/2015

"Nanite, Star Bright" READ 9/21/2003 reread 3/30/2015

♦ "All Things Being Relative" read 9/22/2003 read in Villains Victorious 6/7/2005 reprinted in Nights of the Round Table reread 3/9/2015

"Now Entering the Ring" read 9/23/2003 reread 3/30/2015

♦ "Death Rites" re-read 9/24/2003 from Assassin Fantastic read 12/15/2001 reread 3/30/2015

♦ "Someone to Share the Night" read 4/5/2001 re-read 9/25/2003

♦ "Oh, Glorious Sight" from Oceans of Magic reprinted in Nights of the Round Table read 6/4/2001 reread 3/10/2015

"Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice" read 9/26/2003 from The Mutant Files reread 3/31/2015

Another Fine Nest re-read read 9/19/2003 2/28/2015

"To Each His Own Kind" from Dracula in London reread 3/31/2015

"Nights of the Round Table" from Knight Fantastic reprinted in Nights of the Round Table reread 3/8/2015

"Succession" from Pharoah Fantastic reprinted in Nights of the Round Table read 3/29/2003 reread 3/9/2015

♦ "Swan's Braid" read 4/17/2001 reread 3/11/2015
♦ "In Mysterious Ways" read 12/11/1998 in Bending the Landscape: Fantasy, RE-read 4/18/2001 reread 3/11/2015

♦ "The Lions of al'Kalamir" read 4/16/2001
♦ "Sometimes, Just Because" read 9/17/2003 reread 3/12/2015

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book of short stories (I'm seemingly on a short fiction jaunt lately), this one connected by the common theme of a bit of magic in each (or, sometimes, high-tech science fiction which amounts to the same in a different way).

I adore Huff's "Keeper" series, but, alas, no "Keeper" stories were in this one. I must admit, I loved the Science Fiction retelling of the Shoemaker and the Elves (a lesbian space-station faring couple, no less). By far, however, the Terizan short stories were the best, about a young lesbian "best ever" rogue in a city, whose guild keeps on getting her to do a little more dangerous tasks (and you're not sure if they're doing so to get rid of her, or to keep her honed...)

Fun, and diverting, though not super-in-depth in any event.

[Nighteye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one helt some amazing stories, best of all was the evil Queen story All things are relative + Terizan stories reminding me of Thieves world series + the two first about the mages. Really enjoyable and a mix oh historical, high fantasy elements, funny and urban fantasy

[Arliegh Kovacs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relative Magic is a collection of short stories by Tanya Huff that have appeared in anthologies and other collections of her stories. There was one story that I hadn't read before. Obviously, I should have looked at the contents more closely before I got to the cashier.
If you haven't read her short stories before, this isn't a bad place to begin (although you won't already have the emotional attachment to characters that you would if you had already gotten to know Victory and Henry in the Blood> series or some of her other works.)
If you pick up books just because they were written by Ms. Huff or because they include one by her, then this will be just a rerun.
On the other hand, if you are a long time fan and it's a rainy afternoon, why not spend the time being entertained by old friends?

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first short story anthology by Tanya Huff that I have read and I will admit that it was a struggle to get in to it but once I got used to her style I very quickly got in to my stride and even found myself racing ahead. Many characters either from other novels or short stories and in one case from the literary world made their appearances in these stories, and I personally feel each one as expertly handled and seemed at ease along side each other. I will admit that I will be looking for more of Tanya Huffs short fiction in the future.

[Jeremy Preacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tanya Huff is delightful, her short stories are delightful, and I am delighted. A lot of these fall into the urban fantasy/magical realism genre, more or less, which is something she does particularly well, and the final quartet of stories about a brilliant, principled, lesbian thief could not possibly be targeted more directly at me. None of them are particularly highbrow, but that's kind of the point.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second collection of Huff's short fiction is a well-rounded selection representative of her work. She seems most at home with contemporary urban fantasy, and has a knack for creating dialog that is both convincing and highly amusing. "Nanite, Star Bright" is an especially well-written science-fictional interpretation of an old fantasy trope.

[J L's Bibliomania · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of short stories from Tanya Huff, with cameos from vampires Vicky and Henry (one story each). As with most short story collections, there was one story I didn't much care for (All Things Being Relative) and one that made me smile (Nights of the Round Table). The headline quartet of stories about Terizan are solid and avoid the cliches of thief stories.

[Cindywho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been my bedside short story book this past month. The stories range from urban to high to historical fantasy - she's a weird and goofy sense of humor that occasionally threatens to get out of hand. Small doses at bedtime sent me to sleep with a smile. (February 20, 2006)

[Simeonberesford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly fantasy with the odd SF short story thrown in this a varied and enjoyable collection. It has the same Terzin Stories as in Stealing Magic.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed every story in the collection, which is pretty rare for short story books.

[Robert Dufalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some cute ones in there. But short stories aren't really my thing.