Wonders of the Invisible World (McKillip collection)


Wonders of the Invisible World is a collection of fantasy short stories by Patricia A. McKillip. It was first published in trade paperback and ebook by Tachyon Publications in October 2012. The title of both the collection and the first story in it derive from the 1693 book of the same title by Cotton Mather.

Summary

The book collects sixteen novellas, novelettes and short stories by the author, all original published in anthologies, together with one speech and an introduction by Charles de Lint.

Contents

Calling McKillip an "ndlessly astonishing and impressive fantasist" in a starred review of the collection, Publishers Weekly writes that the author "travels the shadowy twilight realm between worlds and returns with the raw stuff of dreams.... With a tremendous range... McKillip charts the wild unknown in all its pathos and danger." "Reshaping ancient archetypes to show us hidden aspects of ourselves and the world around us, these modern myths are timely and timeless, retaining the cosmic resonance of folklore while addressing the struggles embodied in achingly realized spirits, gods, and humans who endure tragic flaws and sudden epiphanies. "
Jackie Cassada in Library Journal characterizes the contents as "mesmerizing short fiction," noting that "ny collection of McKillip's short stories will be a valuable asset to any library and a joy to her many fans." She observes that "he text of her Guest of Honor speech as WisCon 2004... offers valuable insight into themind of the writer."
The collection was also reviewed by Maureen Kincaid Speller in Interzone no. 242, September-October 2012, Gary K. Wolfe in Locus no. 620, September 2012, Faren Miller in Locus no. 621, October 2012, Paul Di Filippo in Barnes & Noble Review, 2012, Chris Kammerud in Strange Horizons, 17 December 2012, and Joe Milicia in The New York Review of Science Fiction, January 2013.