No Great Magic

Name: No Great Magic
Price: 10.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781612031859

✍️ Fritz Leiber

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$10.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Fritz Leiber explores time travel warfare between warring factions in this science fiction sequel.

The narrative centers on two opposing groups fighting for control through temporal interference. Leiber uses the premise that blowing on dead embers can start a live flame to illustrate how past events influence the present. The story is organized around the strategic maneuvers of these factions as they attempt to change outcomes throughout history. This approach reflects Leiber’s background in chess, where each move has long-term consequences. The work connects directly to his previous novel, The Big Time, forming a continuous narrative arc. Readers interested in the mechanics of time travel and its impact on historical events will find this compelling. The text avoids simple good versus evil tropes, focusing instead on complex strategic interactions. Leiber’s award-winning status as a Grand Master adds weight to the intricate plotting. The story examines the fragility of history when subjected to deliberate alteration.

Key Themes

time travel warfare historical manipulation factional conflict

Literary Context

Published in 2011 by Bottom of the Hill Publishing, this edition reissues a story originally appearing in Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine in December 1963. Leiber received the Gandalf award at the World Science Fiction Convention in 1975 and the Grand Master Award in 1981.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Arthur C. Clarke · Robert A. Heinlein

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Bottom of the Hill Publishing 📅 2011 📖 80 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781612031859

📝 Description: No Great Magic

Fritz Leiber brings his expertise in fantasy and horror to science fiction with No Great Magic. This novel follows two warring factions who use time travel to alter historical events. The story draws on the tradition of temporal warfare, where past changes reshape the present. Leiber, a champion fencer and expert chess player, structures the narrative around strategic conflict rather than simple adventure. He received the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1981, establishing his authority in the genre. The book suits readers who enjoy intellectual battles fought across centuries. It may not appeal to those seeking straightforward action without complex temporal mechanics. Leiber uses the concept that few are wholly dead to explore how history remains mutable. The text examines the consequences of meddling with established timelines. Readers will find a focus on strategy and consequence throughout the narrative. The work connects to his earlier novel, The Big Time, creating a linked series. This edition by Bottom of the Hill Publishing makes the story available for modern audiences. Leiber’s background in chess influences the tactical nature of the plot. The factions engage in a war that spans different eras. The narrative does not rely on magical spells but on temporal manipulation. This approach distinguishes it from traditional fantasy works. The book offers a look at how history can be rewritten by those with power over time.

💎 Our verdict on No Great Magic

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Fritz Leiber demonstrates his expertise in fantasy and horror within this science fiction sequel, structuring the narrative around strategic conflict rather than simple adventure. The work excels in examining the consequences of meddling with established timelines, using the metaphor of blowing on dead embers to illustrate historical influence. It suits readers who enjoy intellectual depth over straightforward action. While it may not appeal to those seeking easy accessibility, the intricate plotting offers a rewarding experience for patient audiences. The connection to his earlier novel creates a continuous arc, enhancing the sense of a larger, mutable history. Leiber’s authority in the genre is evident in how he handles temporal mechanics with precision and care.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate intellectual battles fought across centuries will find this novel compelling, particularly those interested in the mechanics of time travel and its impact on historical events. The narrative avoids simple good versus evil tropes, focusing instead on complex strategic interactions that reflect the author's background in chess. It suits audiences willing to engage with the fragility of history when subjected to deliberate alteration. Those who enjoy seeing how past events influence the present through temporal interference will gain satisfaction from the intricate plotting. The book does not rely on magical spells but on temporal manipulation, offering a distinct approach to genre fiction that rewards careful attention to tactical consequences.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Fritz Leiber demonstrates his expertise in fantasy and horror within this science fiction sequel, structuring the narrative around strategic conflict rather than simple adventure. The work excels in examining the consequences of meddling with established timelines, using the metaphor of blowing on dead embers to illustrate historical influence. It suits readers who enjoy intellectual depth over straightforward action. While it may not appeal to those seeking easy accessibility, the intricate plotting offers a rewarding experience for patient audiences. The connection to his earlier novel creates a continuous arc, enhancing the sense of a larger, mutable history. Leiber’s authority in the genre is evident in how he handles temporal mechanics with precision and care.