An Essay on Free Magic: A Manuscript Fragment from the Great Library of the Clayr

Abhorsen

by Garth Nix

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Young Adult, Fiction

32 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Garth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.

Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.

He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.

Reviews

[Jerecho · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting essay, a refreshing one.

[kashiichan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read via the Old Kingdom website: http://oldkingdom.com.au/extras_freem...

Interesting, if brief, manuscript on the nature of Free magic.

[Kyle Lorey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storygraph rating: 3 stars

This was a short little supplemental essay by Nix, one that stands alone and isn’t part of any of the books in the Abhorsen series. I don’t actually have any issues with it, despite the three star rating – there’s just a ceiling to how high one can rate such a short essay.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the free magic in this world, and how it differs from the Charter-I'd actually read it before starting this series, just to get the base knowledge, since there's no plot spoilers.

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story, snippet really, about Free Magic in the Abhorsen 'verse.

For one characteristic all Free magic entities share with the primal nature of the magic itself is to resist any constraint or direction, unless it be overpoweringly strong. Only the truly strong-willed can wield Free magic, because Free magic entities constantly seek to be in command of their own destinies, rather than be commanded.

Free magic thus can only be used at great risk. The raw stuff of Free magic will always turn against anyone who seeks to use it...

[Cammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool beans, didn’t really add anything to the Old Kingdom mythos but just a fabulous time hangin’ out w/ the charter and Nix in the Old Kingdom.

[Melinda Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short fragment that I could only find on the Old Kingdom website (even finding the website took a minute as it takes you to what books he's written that are available for purchase first and finding the section with these little extra bits is tricky.

Anyway, it really is just a fragment. A few paragraphs about Free Magic and how it's different from Charter Magic. But I like that it's available to read. It fleshes out this world as having more depth that you can read supposed little fragments discovered in libraries.

[Nighteye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't really give me any new information but it's intresting to read the thinking behind the Free magic and how it works.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a story. A snippet of world building.

[Shreyas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like the Free Magic sorcerer (Great Shaman) mentioned here is Idrach the Lesser Necromancer - from another short essay set in this world.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little in-universe essay about Charter Magic vs. Free Magic in the Old Kingdom.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short read that would be a great place to start before reading the Old Kingdom books. Reminds me of how much I love this magic system.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history background. Wanted more. An explanation of the Great Shaman, or Chlorr...

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always want to know more about Free Magic. This story, and a handful of others, are posted on Nix's website.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0/5

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

codex entry

[Zoha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful information before you read Clariel

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really nice way to understand Free Magic in a different context outside the main stories. It is world building in a way as it explains in more depth the theory of the charter and the Free Magic that surrounds all and is within it all.