Five Magics

By Ron Collins

Award-winning author Ron Collins brings you Five Magics, a collection of sorcery and wonder that explores the human side of magic.  Inside its pages, you'll find:

 

A young sorcerer takes his father's place on a quest to help his king.  What secrets will he find?  Is blood thicker than water?   Find out in "A Gathering of Bones," which was provided a mention in Ellen Datlow and Terry Windling's Year's Best Fantasy & Horror.

 

Chains or not, a gladiator can live a fine enough life until it's no longer fashionable that he win.  "Ties That Bind" pits today's champion against the next of the chosen.

 

A centuries-old curse threatens a family, and the entire race of dryads, in "The Family Tree," recognized with a Cauldron award by readers of Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine.

 

"True Power" is attainable for one willing to risk everything.  But is it worth the price?

 

"The Time of Leaving" finds an apprentice given an unexpected test.  Will he pass?  And, perhaps more important, what's the question?

 

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"Collins's characterization goes a long way towards making (Ties That Bind) enjoyable."

- Steven Sawicki, Absolute Magnitude

 

The story ("Ties that Bind") is nicely written and worth reading.

- Crystal Forkan, Tangent Online

 

The ("Family Tree's") resolution (is) a pleasant surprise.

- John Everson, Tangent

 

"A Gathering of Bones" had a nice, lightly Gormenghastish streak of nastiness throughout, something the other stories lacked in their largely good vs. bad dichotomy.

- George T. Dodds, SF Site

• Language: English
• Publisher: Skyfox Publishing
• Release date: Mar 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781946176332

Ron Collins

Ron Collins's work has appeared in Asimov's, Analog, Nature, and several other magazines and anthologies. His writing has received a Writers of the Future prize and a CompuServe HOMer Award. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and has worked developing avionics systems, electronics, and information technology.

Book preview

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