Space Magic by David Levine, a collection of fifteen short stories, combines a variety of award winning genre fiction. Tales of magic and science, ghost stories and fairies, exist side by side in delightful harmony.

“Wind from a Dying Star” describes a unique vision of humanity evolving to live among the stars.

In “Nucleon,” a generous junkyard supplies its visitors with what they need.

“I Hold My Father’s Paws” relates the surprisingly moving tale of a father and son and the extremes that they will go to for love.

In “Zauberschrift,” a former wizard’s apprentice endeavors to save his old village from a spell gone bad.

The intensely riveting adventure, “Rewind,” tells of a dark future where the government’s ‘Knights’ use a unique technology to oppress its citizens.

“Fear of Widths” ties phobia of open spaces into other kinds of fears.

A man dies horribly in a work related accident, yet continues to look after his troubled brother in “Brotherhood.”

“Circle of Compassion” tells a story of bravery and kindness in a time of war and magic.

“Tk’Tk’Tk” tells of a human experiencing difficulties on a alien world due to cultural and linguistic incompatabilities.

In “Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely,” a metaphysically inclined giraffe questions the meaning of existence.

“Falling off the Unicorn” predicts a world of professional unicorn racing, where one rider must choose whether to follow her mother’s path or her own.

In “The Ecology of Faerie,” readers learn that not all fair folk are sweet and gentle.

“At the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of Uncle Teco’s Homebrew Gravities Club,” a space convention is fraught with old emotional wounds and new danger.

“Love in the Balance” tells of love, battle, and zepplins.

And lastly, “The Tale of the Golden Eagle” is a future fairy tale of love, cruelty, and ships that sail between the stars.

My only complaint would be that the stories end too soon, that the characters are so real that I hate to give them up so quickly. The range and breadth of Levine’s vision is impressive, and lovers of short fiction should enjoy every word.