Magic for Newbies Magic, an ancient art form that has captivated the minds of people for centuries, is a practice that involves using supernatural or mystical forces to create illusions or extraordinary effects. For newbies who are just starting their journey into the world of magic, it can be an overwhelming and fascinating experience. Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate the magical realm and begin your own magical journey. 1. Start with the basics: Before delving into complex tricks and illusions, it is essential to master the basic techniques of magic. Familiarize yourself with the fundamental principles of misdirection, sleight of hand, and the art of distraction.
Familiarize yourself with the fundamental principles of misdirection, sleight of hand, and the art of distraction. Practice these skills until they become second nature to you. 2.
Magic for Beginners (Hardcover)
If I had to pick the most powerfully original voice in fantasy today, it would be Kelly Link. Her stories begin in a world very much like our own, but then, following some mysterious alien geometry, they twist themselves into something fantastic and, frequently, horrific. You won't come out the same person you went in.--Lev Grossman, The Week
Highly original.--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Dazzling.--Entertainment Weekly (grade: A, Editor's Choice)
Darkly playful.--Michael Chabon
Best of the Year: Time Magazine, Salon, Boldtype, PopMatters.
Kelly Link's engaging and funny stories riff on haunted convenience stores, husbands and wives, rabbits, zombies, weekly apocalyptic poker parties, witches, and cannons. Includes Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winners. A Best of the Year pick from TIME, Salon.com, and Book Sense. Illustrated by Shelley Jackson.
Kelly Link is the author of three collections of short fiction Stranger Things Happen, Magic for Beginners, and Pretty Monsters. Her short stories have won three Nebula, a Hugo, and a World Fantasy Award. She was born in Miami, Florida, and once won a free trip around the world by answering the question "Why do you want to go through the world?" ("Because you can't go through it.")
Link lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she and her husband, Gavin J. Grant, run Small Beer Press, co-edit the fantasy half of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, and play ping-pong. In 1996 they started the occasional zine Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet.
About the Author
Kelly Link is the author of three collections of short stories, Stranger Things Happen, Magic for Beginners, and Pretty Monsters. Her short stories have won the Nebula, Hugo, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards. She was born in Miami, Florida, and once won a free trip around the world by answering the question "Why do you want to go around the world?" ("Because you can't go through it.") Link and her family live in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she and her husband, Gavin J. Grant, run Small Beer Press, and play ping-pong. In 1996 they started the occasional zine Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet.
Praise For…
Intricate, wildly imaginative and totally wonderful. Whether or not you think you like fantasy, if you’re a fan of inventive plots and good writing (her use of language will fill you with awe), don’t miss Kelly Link’s collection.”
Nancy Pearl, NPR
Her exquisite stories mix the aggravations and epiphanies of everyday life with the stuff that legends, dreams and nightmares are made of, from pop culture to fairy tales. Some of these pieces are very scary, others are immensely sad, many are funny and all of them are written in prose so flawless you almost forget how much elemental human chaos they contain.”
Salon, Best of the Decade
Link’s stories . play in a place few writers go, a netherworld between literature and fantasy, Alice Munro and J.K. Rowling, and Link finds truths there that most authors wouldn’t dare touch.”
Time Magazine
Locus Award winner. Young Lions Award, Bram Stoker, World Fantasy Finalist, Story Prize recommended reading list.
The dream-logic of Magic for Beginners is intoxicating. These stories will come alive, put on zoot suits, and wrestle you to the ground. They want you and you will be theirs.”
Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones
"A mind-bending blast, as funny, disturbing and poignant as anything I’ve read this year.”
Capitol Times
The storyteller’s mantraIt gets better”come to life and multiplied.”
Village Voice
Link’s powerful prose places this collection into a class of its own.”
Boldtype (Notable Books)
Kelly Link’s second collection trumps her first on all levels. The fantastic is more subtle here, more sinister and more pervasive. Link writes fantasy fiction in clear, crisp prose that features nontraditional zombies, a fictional television show, and large stone rabbits. She’s toeing the line between literature and sci-fi/fantasy, and her books are usually found in the latter section in stores. The stories in Magic for Beginners are lengthier than typical short stories, driven by solid characters and weird, intriguing scenarios, like a 24-7 gas station that caters to zombies and humans alike. Link brings to each of her pieces a dreamlike, unsettling quality that adds to the sense that on some level of super-reality, all of the weirdness makes some sort of sense.”
PopMatters
Eerie and engrossing.”
Washington Post Book World
Dazzling. One to savor.”
Entertainment Weekly (A, Editor’s Choice)
Magic for Beginners is worth picking up. Doing so will put you in the hands of a true conjurer.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer
These stories shimmer like impressionist paintings.”
Montreal Gazette
Kelly Link is the future of American short fiction.”
Alexis Smith, Powells.com Staff Pick
The best short-fiction writer working in science fiction and fantasy today, and her new collection, Magic for Beginners, proves it.”
Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing
Link’s stories are delightfully playful, almost precocious, as she creates palimpsests of secret passages, hidden doors, quiet pulses of deeper meaning. Link is fast becoming a major talent.”
Boston Globe
Advanced alchemy.”
The Believer
Exuberantly eccentric.”
Time Out New York
A complete delight.”
Rich Horton, Locus
"Not only does Link find fresh perspectives from which to explore familiar premises, she also forges ingenious connections between disparate images and narrative approaches to suggest a convincing alternate logic that shapes the worlds of her highly original fantasies.”
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
One of the most fascinating writers practicing the craft today.”
The Simon
Wishful thinking on the brink of disaster.”
Village Voice
Magical realism meets horror meets postmodern absurdism. Very fresh and funny.”
Michael Knight, Knoxville Metro Pulse Summer Reading Guide
A bizarre and enchanting read, worth reading and re-reading.”
Daily Nebraskan
Kelly Link has an uncanny knack for casting spells over her readers, for luring them into the dark places the attic, the underworld, a realm beneath a hill. These stories bend and transcend genre as Link stirs together myth, mystery, horror, and fantasy. Fairy tales and myths may be timeless, but these stories are of this moment.”
Nina MacLaughlin, Boston Phoenix
Cult-favorite fabulist and Shirley Jackson-esque master of the short story, returns with an eagerly-awaited new collection of thoughtfully strange tales that sprinkle the mundane with pixie dust, a dash of old-fashioned tragedy and a bit of gallows humor.”
The Ruminator Review
Truly magical, with masterfully crafted stories that are as dark as they are delightful. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes disconcerting, Link’s stories demonstrate her wicked sense of humor and genius wit.”
Bookpage
I am in love with Kelly Link’s new collection of stories, Magic for Beginners just out in hardcover. This book is a fairly complete list of my favorite things. She sort of summarized it best when she signed it for me: Love, Magic, Zombies!” It’s fantastical, whimsical, and dead serious and it makes me interested in short stories again.”
Alexander Chee (Edinburgh) in Books To Watch Out For
This is one of the most extraordinary and wonderful books of the year.”
Time Out London
Possibly grimmer than Grimm.”
The Herald
Beautifully written short stories; eccentric and dark, the collection is an Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups.”
Dazed and Confused
Link’s writing is bold, tender, mischievous and unsettling.”
Cork Evening Echo
These are weird and wacky tales, each with their own barmy internal logic which draws you in, flips you on your head and leaves you dizzy with disbelief. Link’s extraordinary use of language is as haunting as the tales themselves. She blends fantasy and reality into an irresistible melange that, at its best, becomes a powerful metaphor for the unreliability of perception.”
Jane Wessel, Venue (****)
Link’s magic is to show the extraordinary in the ordinary and vice versa: no mean feat.”
RTE Guide (*****)
Just when you think you’ve read all the best magic and fantasy stories, along comes Link and the dull world is enchanted all over again. Her imagination floats free into her very own twilight zone.”
Saga
Whether she’s writing about a suburban family haunted by rabbits or a grandmother who keeps a world hidden in her handbag, Link’s stories are witty, moving and sometimes scary.”
The Gloss Magazine
A collection of nine stories from a talent to watch, this is a lyrical fantasy where the ordinary is made extraordinary.”
The Bookseller
Kelly Link owns the most darkly playful voice in American fiction since Donald Barthelme. She is pushing the American short story into places that it hasn’t yet been pushed, while somehow managing to maintain a powerful connection to traditional forms and storytelling values.”
Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
A wonderful rattlebag of fantastic tales from far beyond the concrete sidewalks and convenience stores we know.”
Rich Rennicks Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, NC
In the very best way, I never know what is coming next. If she only parcelled out one elegant sentence at a time I would beg for each one.”
Pam Harcourt, Women & Children First, Chicago, IL
- Short Stories (single author)
- Paperback (July 1st, 2014): $17.00
Link’s powerful prose places this collection into a class of its own.”
Boldtype (Notable Books)
Learn from the experts: Seek guidance from knowledgeable and experienced magicians who can provide you with valuable tips and insights. Attend magic workshops, join online forums, or enroll in magic classes to hone your skills and learn from the best in the industry. 3. Practice, practice, practice: Like any other skill, magic requires constant practice. Set aside dedicated time each day to perfect your tricks and routines. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't get discouraged if you don't get it right on your first attempt. 4. Master a few tricks: Rather than trying to learn every trick in the book, focus on mastering a few tricks that you can confidently perform in front of an audience. Quality over quantity is key when it comes to magic. 5. Develop your own style: As you progress in your magical journey, develop your own unique style and persona. Experiment with different presentation styles, costumes, and props to create a memorable and authentic performance that reflects your personality. 6. Perform for others: One of the most rewarding aspects of magic is performing for an audience. Whether it's a small gathering of friends or a public performance, sharing your magic with others will not only boost your confidence but also help you refine your skills. 7. Embrace failure: It's important to remember that not every trick will go smoothly, and failure is a part of the learning process. Embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and use them to improve your magic. 8. Stay curious: Magic is an ever-evolving art form with endless possibilities. Stay curious and open-minded, constantly seeking new tricks, techniques, and inspiration. Attend magic conventions, read magic books, and explore online resources to expand your magical knowledge. In conclusion, magic for newbies can be a thrilling and enchanting journey. By following these tips, practicing diligently, and immersing yourself in the world of magic, you can embark on an exhilarating adventure that will captivate and amaze both yourself and your audience. So, grab your wand, put on your top hat, and get ready to embrace the magical realm!.
Reviews for "Magic and Technology: Innovative Gadgets for Newbies"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really excited to dive into the world of magic with "Magic for newbies," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The explanations of the tricks were confusing and hard to follow, leaving me feeling frustrated and discouraged. I also found the tone of the book to be condescending, as if it assumed I had no prior knowledge of magic. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this book to beginners looking to learn magic.
2. John - 1/5 - As someone who has a keen interest in magic, I was extremely disappointed with "Magic for newbies." The tricks described in the book were outdated and lacked any creativity. It was clear that the author didn't put much effort into curating a collection of exciting and innovative magic tricks for beginners. Additionally, the writing style was dry and dull, making it difficult to engage with the material. I would advise aspiring magicians to look elsewhere for a more stimulating and comprehensive guide to learning magic.
3. Emily - 2/5 - "Magic for newbies" was a letdown for me. The book promised to teach magic tricks that were easy for beginners, but I found the instructions to be convoluted and unclear. It was frustrating trying to decipher what the author was trying to convey. Furthermore, the tricks themselves were unimpressive and lacked the Wow-factor I was hoping for. It seemed like the author focused more on quantity rather than quality, resulting in a book that failed to capture my interest or provide me with any valuable skills in magic.
4. Michael - 1/5 - I regret purchasing "Magic for newbies." The tricks were basic and unoriginal, something I could have easily found with a quick online search. The explanations were poorly written, often leaving out crucial steps or assuming prior knowledge. It felt like the author was simply trying to cash in on the popularity of magic without putting in the effort to create a truly informative and enjoyable book. If you're serious about learning magic, I would advise looking for a more reputable source that will actually provide you with useful content and guidance.