Third Time Lucky: And Other Stories of the Most Powerful Wizard in the World

The Magdalene / Terazin stories

by Tanya Huff

There's a lot of responsibility involved with being the most powerful wizard in the world, and Magdelene wants nothing to do with any of it. Lazy, lusty, and more likely to be found lying in the sun than casting runes or sacrificing unfortunate goats, she'd really rather avoid dealing with challenges, errant apprentices, demons, dragons, death, and bureaucracy. These seven stories include "Third Time Lucky", Tanya Huff's first professional sale to George Scithers at AMAZING STORIES. Thirty years, thirty novels, eighty-three short stories, and one television show later, this is where it all began. Stories included are The Last Lesson; Be It Ever So Humble; Mirror, Mirror, on the Lam; Third Time Lucky; And Who is Joah?; Nothing Up Her Sleeve; and We Two May Meet.Long-time Tanya Huff fans may recognize many of these stories from the long out-of-print collection STEALING MAGIC. Each story here is accompanied by an author note, brand new for this release.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies, Humor, Fiction, Canada

191 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Tanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to get this collection since it came out, so no surprises that I read it as soon as I got chance. I love Huff’s collections of short stories: they’re bite-sized, sure, but there’s enough there to get your teeth into. Especially in this collection, which is a group of stories about the same character/world: Magdalene, the most powerful wizard in the world. I loved that she is literally the most powerful wizard, and that Huff chose to deal with that not by making her less powerful, but by making her essentially her own worst enemy. (Which is particularly true in the last story.)

I like that Magdalene is lazy, indolent, sensual, sexual — and none of this is particularly judged by the stories in any kind of “teach her a lesson” way. She still does what needs to be done, she still cares about the people around her, and she doesn’t care to boast about her. That would take effort.

In fact, arguably the only “lesson” in these stories is that she must accept herself, whole and entire, the good with the bad. Not a bad message at all, if there’s going to be one.

Review originally posted here.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly delightful collection of 7 stories about the adventures of Magdelene, most powerful wizard in the world, who is also lazy and sensible and likes musclely men. This book is a little silly and a lot fun. I re-read it sometimes just to recapture that goofy happy feeling.

[Matt Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 17th book I've read by Tanya Huff, and reminds me of why she's one of my favorite authors. This is a collection of short stories about Magdalene, the most powerful wizard in the world. As well as the laziest. I hadn't read any of these stories before, but Magdalene may be my favorite of Huff's characters, and the book is full of laughs. The stories were published between 1986 and 2001, and I am very happy that they are arranged in order of publication rather than chronologically (though there are notes indicating where each story falls). I always like to see how an author actually wrote a character, not how the character's life fits together in retrospect. Anyway, it's a great collection, and probably the most enjoyable read of the year so far.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tanya Huff is kind of hit and miss for me. I like some of her work, but not all of it. This one I found entertaining, though not highly entertaining; it's a low 4 stars.

There are a number of small typos and editing errors, the most amusing of which was the unintended antisemitism of one wizard, who had an expression of "gentile superiority". It's not terribly edited, but it needs another pass.

What I did enjoy was that, as the author comments in her introduction, she has pulled off an overpowered protagonist by making the character's greatest weakness be herself. I'm not usually a fan of deeply flawed protagonists, but because this one had to be in order to work (and because the flaw wasn't especially harmful to anyone), it was OK.

[Andrew Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riot

Yep. Hilarious. Plots that actually work. Which is actually harder with the omnipotent character. But you need to read it yourself. The one downside is that it needs more stories!

[Darien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy fantasy with a strong heroine protagonist who lives life on her own terms. Mary Sue? Yes. Wish fulfillment? Yes. But done in the most amusing and creative way with some lovely snark and social commentary. This is on my keeper shelf to pull out on my next beach vacation to go with a Mai Tai and toes in the sand.

[scherrycusick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyful collection

I've been a fan of Tanya Huff for a long time. Started reading her when she was only in paperback (anyone else remember that decade?). This book is a collection of short stories written by her for the fantasy market. I've previously read everyone of them. This said I still preordered Third Time Lucky and I'm glade I did. I've had a great time reading them again and appreciating her newer version. If your a fan or just want to try something different you cannot go wrong. Spend some time with Magdelene, enjoy some tall tales, read to bring a smile for yourself with the World's Most Powerful Wizard.

[Ria Loader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful stuff

I loved these stories. What do we have to do to get more? Magdalene is not just the most powerful wizard in the world- reading her tales solves sadness, exhaustion and gives permission for enjoyment. More please.

[Mike Finn · Rating 3 out of 5]

anya Huff is one of my favourite SF/Fantasy writers. I loved her trope-twisting "Blood" series with Detective Vicki Nelson encountering everything from Werewolves to Mummies, her "Confederation / Peacekeeper" series where Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr delivers military SF that isn't just about winning and her "Gale Women" series where the world is saved on a regular basis by women who know how to unleash magic.

Two of the things I like most about her writing is the way she uses humour and the way she subverts patriarchal power models. Her women are powerful but they use their power in very different ways than their male counterparts and they love pricking pomposity.

I jumped at the opportunity to go back to a collection of stories written at the start of her career and see how far these two elements were already present. What I found were some light, fun stories that made me smile both because they are witty in a relaxed, slightly bawdy sort of way and because they disassemble traditional power models with a wink and a cocky smile.

Magdelene, the central character of the seven stories in "Third Time Lucky", is the most powerful wizard in the world. Fortunately for everyone concerned, she is also the laziest wizard in the world. She is more interested in living in a climate that requires little by way of clothing and is populated by well-muscled men who know how to sing than she is in world domination.

I read the stories in the order they're published in the book, which is the order that Tanya Huff wrote them in, rather than the chronological order of the stories. This, together with the notes from the author at the start of each tale, let me watch how Tanya Huff's idea of Magdelene developed between the first story in 1985 and the last in 2001.

They all made me smile and they all made me look again at power models - the one where Magdelene encounters a wizard bureaucracy I found to be particularly cutting.

If you're a Tany Huff fan, take the time to read this collection.

If you're not a Tanya Huff fan yet, read this collection for a gentle introduction to someone who sees the world differently and makes you glad to be in her company.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful set of short stories from Tanya Huff about the life of the world's most powerful wizard, if the world's most powerful wizard was the epitome of a 90s slacker. Magdalene has everything she ever wants, at the snap of her fingers, but completely lacks any of the ambition or thirst for power that so often characterizes wizards. This makes perfect sense for the character because hey, magic, and Huff fills the stories with enough humour and excitement that the overpoweredness of the character never really seems out of place.

Another interesting element of the story is that the publisher took advantage of ebook publication in an interesting way. The stories are presented in order of publication, but each also has a hyperlink at the end that allows you to follow the stories within Magdalene's internal chronology as well. It's an interesting way of having the technology influence the storytelling, and for stories about a wizard it seem especially apropos.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot of responsibility involved with being the most powerful wizard in the world, and Magdelene wants nothing to do with any of it. Lazy, lusty, and more likely to be found lying in the sun than casting runes or sacrificing unfortunate goats, she'd really rather avoid dealing with challenges, errant apprentices, demons, dragons, death, and bureaucracy. These 7 stories include "The Last Lesson"; "Be It Ever So Humble"; "Mirror, Mirror, on the Lam"; "Third Time Lucky"; "And Who is Joah?"; "Nothing Up Her Sleeve"; & "We Two May Meet".

[Patricia Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

These fantasy stories are lighthearted and fun, a great short read if you need cheering up. The most powerful wizard in the world is female, lazy, easily distracted by a good-looking male, and prefers lying out in the sun to conjuring the powers of darkness.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magdalene is a peach. I want to immediately go and find another book full of stories of her life and adventures. I did not want this book to end. I adored it. A sexy, powerful, very lazy lady wizard with a neat sense of humour.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wonderfully funny romp with the most powerful wizard in the world. My only complaint is that there were not more stories of Magdalene.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and fluffy fun

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great

[Jage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was s really fun read although I took off a half star for the last story. It was actually a little boring to me and I just could not get into it while I enjoyed the others quite a bit.

[Deborah Replogle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun. I hope sometime she writes some more stories about this fabulous character.

[Val Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only complaint is that it appears there are no other Magdelene books.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Shandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a huge short story fan, generally, but this collection is a lot of fun!! I only wish there were a full length novel, too!

[Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much fun

Her fantasy never disappoints! Great character development through a series of short stories. I’d read more on if there was more.

[Andy]

So much fun.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up recently because of the price and because I really enjoy Huff's fantasy books. This one wasn't quite what I expected, but it was quite enjoyable. The protagonist is an incredibly powerful wizard who likes to laze around in the sun and not do much work. Fortunately for her, magic generally comes easily, and she has a generous personality. In fact, she manages to get into trouble by helping people rather than by purposefully causing problems.

The book is a series of short stories about her that have been previously published and were pulled together into one volume for the first time. I read it in the order written, which is the order of the book. However, the short introductions and notes at the end helped to place some of the stories, especially the one that is chronologically first.

The tone is light, with occasional emotion. However, the writing is such that even the dramatic scenes are part of a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Reading this reminds me of how much I enjoy spending time in Huff's worlds.

[annapi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun collection! For the first time, all Huff's short stories about the wizard Magdalene, who is not only the Most Powerful Wizard but also the laziest, are pooled in this collection. They are presented in order of writing, but the reader is given the choice to read it in the stories' chronological order. The title story is what she considers her first professional sale (not counting the two poems she was paid @$5 for by the Picton Gazette at 10 years old).

It's fun to see her earlier writing. Magdalene is so much fun as a character, I imagine she was fun to write too. Her powers are a little much, but powers are not the point really, it's more the witty banter, the humor and the entertainment, which this collection gives plenty of.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great set of short stories featuring Magdelene, the most powerful wizard in the world. Who doesn't really behave like a wizard or a powerful one. I like that she is age & treachery and skill, and doesn't care much about youth.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magdalene spends most of the book having fun: intimidating demons, impressing villagers, performing great feats of magic with very little effort, having hot sex with attractive men. Occasionally there are serious bits, but not very often, and not very serious.

[Deborah Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tanya Huff's novels, but I'd never come across these short stories or this character before. Smart, snarky, twisted, and fun--just the way I like a powerful magic user! I wish there were a million more of these stories!

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like much of Huff's work, I absolutely love these stories of the most powerful wizard in the world. Imagine being all-powerful, but all you want to do is just relax and chill out? Irreverently humorous and well-written. I highly recommend it.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun times

liked this for its fun premise, Cute stories, likeable characters.I like to call this mind candy... fluff of the best kind, good beach reading.