The Magic Books

~ An Omnibus for the Magic Series by Andre Norton

(Series aka) The Magic Sequence

Contains ~

• Fur Magic (1968) Published by World, HC, LCCN 68026970, 174pg ~ cover by John Kaufmann

• Steel Magic (1965) Published by World, HC, LCCN 65019714, 155pg ~ illustrated by Robin Jacques

• Octagon Magic (1967) Published by World, HC, LCCN 67013822, 189pg ~ cover by Mac Conner

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the back of paperback ~

Three magical excursions with that incomparable spellcaster, Andre Norton…
“Fur Magic” would take Cory Alder to a land where animals ruled and men had not yet come into their own, a place where he must find a way to master the magic of ancient gods – or see humans forever enslaved!
“Steel Magic” in which a castle ruin and a plain set of silverware lure Sara, Greg, and Eric from their uncle’s country home to the heart of an Avalon menaced by dark powers against whom they alone can stand.
“Octagon Magic” was what the old house contained, but was it a wicked witch’s trap or a key to times and places long gone?

Write-ups from fans ~

FUR MAGIC, A bored white city boy spends the summer on a ranch in the West.  At some point he finds an Indian medicine bundle, and dreams? hallucinates? about a world where animals have human characteristics.  In this adventure, he wears the body of a beaver, carries a spear and an oyster shell case fire box contains a live coal, and must rescue an otter from a tribe of mink, who are enemies to most of the animal peoples he knows of. ~ SL

STEEL MAGIC:  A young girl wins a prize, consisting of a picnic basket--fully equipped, at a local fair.  She and her two older brothers use the picnic basket and wind up meeting up with Merlin, who sets them tasks to be completed for the saving of Faerie land. The steel tableware in the picnic basket must be used by each of them to complete the individual tasks set them by Merlin. ~ SL

OCTAGON MAGIC:  A young girl rescues a kitten from a band of bullies, all boys who claim that the kitten is a "witch's cat."  The kitten entices the girl to follow her into the yard of "the witch's house", where the girl finds nothing more sinister than a couple of old women, one of whom is an expert needleworker, who offers to teach the girl how to do some of the fine embroidery. ~ SL

Fur Magic ~ This is a wonderful book. It shows Andre's love and knowledge of Amerindian lore. With ten-year-old Cory Alder's father shipped off to Viet Nam (I'm guessing Mom is deceased), he leaves Florida to spend the summer with his "Uncle Jasper" (Dad's best friend) in Idaho. Everything is strange and frightening to Cory. Wandering around where he shouldn't, he stumbled onto an Indian shaman's "Medicine" bag. And old Indian visiting Cory's uncle tells him that he has done something bad and must do something good to make up for it. He passes out and wakes up in a place where animals are the People and humans don't exist, Coyote (trickster, changer) is try trying to "Turn the World" and bring humans into existence to serve as slaves to the animal. Cory, who has been turned into a beaver named "Yellow Shell" must stop Coyote but gets abducted by Minks almost as soon as he arouses. Can he come up with the courage to deal with the changes he has gone through and find a way to save the future? Read this enchanting novel. I love it. ~ PG

Steel Magic ~ This book is very short and is a quick read. Sara Lowry and her brothers Eric and Greg go on a picnic on their uncle's property and discover a secret hidden gate that transports them to the enchanted land of Avalon. They meet Huon of Bordeaux who explains the three magical objects, Merlin's ring, Huon's horn and Arthur Pendragon's sword Excalibur have all been stolen. They ask the kids to find them as they, being totally human, can handle "Cold Iron" or in this case Stainless Steel utensils from their picnic basket. They split up and each goes after one of the objects. They have all kinds of magical adventures which help each child overcome his or her fears and rise to the challenges of the quests. Aimed at the younger reader, it is still satisfying to the adult audience. ~ PG

Octagon Magic ~ This book is very short and is a quick read. Sara Lowry and her brothers Eric and Greg go on a picnic on their uncle's property and discover a secret hidden gate that transports them to the enchanted land of Avalon. They meet Huon of Bordeaux who explains the three magical objects, Merlin's ring, Huon's horn and Arthur Pendragon's sword Excalibur have all been stolen. They ask the kids to find them as they, being totally human, can handle "Cold Iron" or in this case Stainless Steel utensils from their picnic basket. They split up and each goes after one of the objects. They have all kinds of magical adventures which help each child overcome his or her fears and rise to the challenges of the quests. Aimed at the younger reader, it is still satisfying to the adult audience. ~ PG

Bibliography of English Editions ~

• (1988) Published by Signet, PB, 0-451-15232-8, $3.95, 383pg ~ cover by Thomas Canty