Brilliant Corners

Originally uploaded by billturner.

I have never been a heavy fantasy or horror fiction reader. I had my Xanth spell in junior high, and I re-read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy before the films came out, but that's about it. But recently I came across something, somewhere, that heaped praises on Kelly Link and her short stories. So, on a whim, I decided to pick up her first short story collection, Stranger Things Happen. It became one of those books that I had to pick up whenever I had the smallest amount of free time, just to read as many paragraphs as I could. It was that good.

Yes, they are horror and fantasy stories, but they're so much more than that. They're funny, clever, poignant, sad, a little creepy at times, and definitely unlike much else that I've ever read. Her writing style-at least in most of the stories-makes it feel like she's sitting right next to you and telling you the story herself. You can find plenty of praise for Ms. Link all over the place, and while I normally roll my eyes at such things, I actually agree with all the great things being said about her work.

I more recently picked up her latest, Magic for Beginners, and have already read the first few stories. They're just as good, if not better, than those in her previous collection. You can even read the first story from Magic here: "The Faery Handbag". Go on, give it a try!

Update: Finn has pointed out that her first book, Stranger Things Happen, is available as a free download here. Awesome!