For Women in SF&F Month today, I’m revealing the cover of The Essential Patricia A. McKillip—and giving away two galleys of the 30th anniversary edition of her fantasy novel The Book of Atrix Wolfe! This is an honor since I love her writing, from the magic and beauty of her prose to the wit and wisdom that shines through her stories. She is the author of two of my favorite novels, The Changeling Sea and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, but her short fiction also holds a special place in my heart since I was introduced to her work through her enchanting collection Wonders of the Invisible World. She was also here as a guest during Women in SF&F Month in 2013, where she discussed writing her first major fantasy from a female perspective (though she’d not often read books featuring one) and why there may have been such a large increase in science fiction and fantasy by women being published between then and the mid 1980s.
The Essential Patricia A. McKillip, a new short fiction collection featuring an introduction by Swordspoint author Ellen Kushner, is coming out on October 28!
(click to enlarge)
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.
Patricia Anne McKillip, widely considered one of fantasy’s finest writers, was the bestselling author of more than thirty adult and children’s fantasy novels, including The Riddle-Master of Hed, Harpist in the Wind, and The Bards of Bone Plain. McKillip received three World Fantasy Awards, for The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, Ombria in Shadow, and Solstice Wood; for the latter, she also received the Mythopoeic Award. Born in Salem, Oregon, McKillip lived in Germany, the UK, and the Catskills in New York.
About THE BOOK OF ATRIX WOLFE:
This brand new edition celebrates the 30th anniversary of a classic, luminous novel from the World Fantasy Award–winning author Patricia A. McKillip (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld). In McKillip’s stunning cinematic prose, the human world and the realm of faeries dangerously entwine through chaotic magic. Discover the spellbinding legend of generational atonement and redemption between a reluctant mage, a powerful wizard, a struggling heir, fae royalty, and a mysterious scullery maid.
When the White Wolf descends upon the battlefield, the results are disastrous. His fateful decision to end a war with powerful magic changes the destiny of four kingdoms: warlike Kardeth, resilient Pelucir, idyllic Chaumenard, and the mysterious Elven realm.
Twenty years later, Prince Talis, orphaned heir to Pelucir, is meant to be the savior of the realm. However, the prince is neither interested in ruling nor a particularly skilled mage. Further, he is obsessed with a corrupted spellbook, and he is haunted by visions from the woods.
The legendary mage Atrix Wolfe has forsaken magic and the world of men. But the Queen of the Wood, whose fae lands overlap Pelucir’s bloody battlefield, is calling Wolfe back. Her consort and her daughter have been missing since the siege, and if Wolfe cannot intervene, the Queen will keep a sacrifice for her own.
This edition includes an original introduction and cover art by World Fantasy, Ditmar, and BFA Award-winner Kathleen Jennings.
Book Giveaway
Courtesy of Tachyon Publications, I have two galleys of The Book of Atrix Wolfe to give away!
Giveaway Rules: To be entered in the giveaway, fill out Fantasy Cafe’s Atrix Wolfe 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, May 2. Each 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 winners. Once the giveaway is over all the emails will be deleted.
