Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a young boy named Ahmed. Ahmed was known for his kind heart and adventurous spirit. He loved exploring the enchanted forest nearby his village. One day, while Ahmed was exploring the forest, he stumbled upon a mysterious cave hidden behind a waterfall. Curiosity consumed him, and he decided to enter the cave. As he walked deeper into the darkness, he noticed a glimmering light coming from a corner.
But a princess had already been awakened by the sounds she heard on the roof. She instructed her guards to find out what had alighted and to bring the trespasser to her at once. The guards roughly brought the prince before her, and he fell on his knees.
He was a no-good louse to be sure, but he may be in prison or even executed on my account, when I know that I was the one who jumped on that horse before he had a chance to show me how it works. The entry produced by a woodcarver appears to be only a simple wooden horse of little value, but when Tambal looks more closely, he discovers that it s able to magically travel to whatever place is in its rider s mind.
As he walked deeper into the darkness, he noticed a glimmering light coming from a corner. As Ahmed approached, he couldn't believe his eyes. There, in front of him, stood a majestic horse with shimmering white fur and sparkling golden hooves.
The Magic Horse - (Teaching Stories) by Idries Shah (Paperback)
Everyone thinks Prince Tambal is only a dreamer. When a woodcarver makes a wooden horse that seems just a toy, Tambal discovers it can go wherever its rider wants. In this way, he learns many things and finds his heart's desire.
Book Synopsis
(Bilingual English-Urdu edition) This is the story of two brothers: one skilled in the practical arts and the other, Prince Tambal, considered by most people to be only a dreamer. Their father, the king, announces a competition to produce "interesting and useful devices." The entry produced by a woodcarver appears to be only a simple wooden horse of little value, but when Tambal looks more closely, he discovers that it's able to magically travel to whatever place is in its rider's mind. With the help of this magic horse, Tambal comes to learn a great many things and, eventually, to know his heart's desire. Julie Freeman's beautiful illustrations capture the magic of this tale, with the images and text inset in rich borders of oriental patterns. The Magic Horse is one of an illustrated series of Sufi teaching stories from the Middle East and Central Asia that were collected and adapted for children by Idries Shah, and that have captivated hearts and minds for more than a thousand years. The stories are designed to help children learn to examine their assumptions and to think for themselves. In the Sufi tradition, there is a continuum between the children's story, the entertainment or folklore story and the instructional or instrumental story. A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold on to, but it can also stimulate a deeper understanding in adults. Through the instrumental function of this rich body of material, readers of all ages can learn to develop the capacity to be more flexible and to understand many more things about themselves and about life.
Review Quotes
"The tale of the two brothers and their journeys is illustrated with jewel-toned, delicate paintings featuring the costumes, tools, buildings, and animals of the Moslem East. . The two brothers do not represent good and evil as happens so often in Western tales, but instead merely the choice of two different paths." - School Library Journal (U.S.)
". beautifully illustrated by Julie Freeman, who perfectly captures the magic of this ancient Sufi folk tale." - Midwest Book Review (U.S.)
"These teaching stories can be experienced on many levels. A child may simply enjoy hearing them; an adult may analyze them in a more sophisticated way. Both may eventually benefit from the lessons within." - "All Things Considered," National Public Radio (U.S.)
"They [teaching stories] suggest ways of looking at difficulties that can help children solve problems calmly while, at the same time, giving them fresh perspectives on these difficulties that help them develop their cognitive abilities" - psychologist Robert Ornstein, Ph.D., in his lecture "Teaching Stories and the Brain" given at the U.S. Library of Congress
"Through repeated readings, these stories provoke fresh insight and more flexible thought in children. Beautifully illustrated." - NEA Today: The Magazine of the National Education Association (U.S.)
"Shah's versatile and multilayered tales provoke fresh insight and more flexible thought in children." - Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature
"These stories . are not moralistic fables or parables, which aim to indoctrinate, nor are they written only to amuse. Rather, they are carefully designed to show effective ways of defining and responding to common life experiences." - Denise Nessel, Ph.D., Senior Consultant with the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (U.S.), writing in Library Media Connection: The Professional Magazine for School Library Media Specialists (U.S.)
"These enchanting stories Shah has collected have a richness and depth not often encountered in children's literature, and their effect on minds young and old can be almost magical." - Multicultural Perspectives: An Official Journal of the National Association for Multicultural Education (U.S.)
"Shah has collected hundreds of Sufi tales, many of which are teaching tales or instructional stories. In this tradition, the line between stories for children and those for adults is not as clear as it seems to be in Western cultures, and the lessons are important for all generations." - School Library Journal (U.S.)
". these are vibrant, engaging, universal stories. " - Multicultural Perspectives: An Official Journal of the National Association for Multicultural Education (U.S.)
". a series of children's books that have captivated the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life. The books are tales from a rich tradition of story telling from Central Asia and the Middle East. Stories told and retold to children, by campfire and candlelight, for more than a thousand years." - NEA Today: The Magazine of the National Education Association (U.S.)
The stranger mounted his horse. Turning a peg in the neck, away he and the horse flew. In 15 minutes he returned with a palm branch in his hand, and laid it at the king's feet.
The horse introduced himself as Malik, the magic horse. Malik explained to Ahmed that he had been trapped in the cave for centuries, waiting for someone with a pure heart to set him free. Grateful for his newfound freedom, Malik offered Ahmed a ride on his back. In return, Ahmed had to promise to use their newfound powers for the greater good. From that day forward, Ahmed and Malik became inseparable friends, embarking on countless adventures together. Malik's magical powers allowed them to travel to distant lands in the blink of an eye. They helped villagers in need, fought against evil creatures, and restored peace wherever they went. Ahmed and Malik shared a deep bond, understanding and trusting each other completely. They spent days exploring hidden treasures, discovering ancient ruins, and helping those in need. The villagers soon began to revere their bravery and selflessness. However, as time passed, Ahmed started to feel a sense of longing to return home. He missed his family and friends, who were growing worried about his prolonged absence. And so, with a heavy heart, he shared his desire to return with Malik. Understanding Ahmed's yearning, Malik used his magic to transport them back to their village. The villagers rejoiced at Ahmed's return, amazed by the tales of his adventures with the magical horse. Ahmed lived the rest of his days regaling his loved ones with stories of his extraordinary journey, always cherishing the memories of his time with Malik. And so, the legend of the magic horse lived on, inspiring generations to believe in the power of friendship and the wonders that can be achieved with a pure heart and unwavering courage..
Reviews for "The Magic Horse: A Guide in the Realm of Fantasy"
1. John - 1 star - I found "The Magic Horse" to be incredibly boring and predictable. The story seemed to drag on without any real purpose or excitement. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The writing style was also very simplistic and lacked creativity. Overall, I was very disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - While "The Magic Horse" had an interesting concept, I found the execution to be lacking. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with the author introducing too many ideas without properly developing any of them. The characters were forgettable and their motivations were unclear. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I didn't feel invested in the story and was left feeling unsatisfied.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Magic Horse" based on the premise, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was off, with the story moving too quickly in some parts and dragging in others. The world-building was also lacking, with important details and explanations being left out. The climax of the book felt anticlimactic and rushed, leaving me feeling underwhelmed. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of depth and coherence in this story.
4. Emily - 1 star - "The Magic Horse" was a complete letdown. The characters were unlikable and their actions didn't make sense. The plot was convoluted and full of unnecessary twists that didn't add anything to the story. The writing style was also bland and uninspiring, lacking any sort of emotional depth or compelling storytelling. Overall, I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to others.
5. Mark - 2 stars - I was excited to read "The Magic Horse" as it seemed like it would be a unique and captivating story. However, I found it to be quite underwhelming. The pacing was slow, and the plot lacked any real suspense or intrigue. The characters were forgettable and lacked development, making it difficult to connect with them. The writing style was also unremarkable and didn't engage me as a reader. Overall, "The Magic Horse" fell short of my expectations and I was left feeling disappointed.