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by Patricia A. McKillip There are fifteen magical stories in Patricia A. McKillip’s new collection, Harrowing the Dragon. Always top-notch, McKillip’s work in this book represents nearly twenty-five years of extraordinarily expressive writing. The stories range from the straightforward narrative of "A Matter of Music," a story about a wandering woman bard who can’t escape the magic found in a hunting ballad, to the lyricism of "Ash, Wood, Fire," a tale about a fire tender in a lord’s kitchen who finds another muse inside of her. Then there is "The Witches of Junket," which originally appeared in Sisters in Fantasy, edited by Susan Swartz and Martin H. Greenberg in 1996. It is a contemporary telling of the kind of magic that comes together when women respond to a common threat in their community. It is a lovely story of sisterhood and deep caring. Even "The Harrowing of the Dragon of Hoarsbreath," the oldest of the lot, first printed in 1982, is more than a simple fantasy story, delving deeper into the human heart. Though McKillip is best known for her novels, these collected stories show her skill in the short medium and showcase her skill with language. She is able to jump from modern times to a world she has created that has all the trappings of medieval times. She can write about men as well as women as main characters. But always, she writes about nobility of the soul and depths of the heart. These are capable characters, though some might not know it when we first discover them. In McKillip’s hands they grow and learn and become heroic, even the least of them. If you have been reluctant to read fantasy because you think it’s all cutesy elves or gruesome ogres, give Harrowing the Dragon a try. You will find that Patricia McKillip’s work is more literate and deeper than that. And, you will be richer for it. |
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Harrowing the Dragon