Ariel: A Book of the Change [Paperback]

Steven R. Boyett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1983

At four-thirty one Saturday afternoon the laws of physics as we know them underwent a change. Electronic devices, cars, industries stopped. The lights went out. Any technology more complicated than a lever or pulley simply wouldn't work. A new set of rules took its place—laws that could only be called magic. Ninety-nine percent of humanity has simply vanished. Cities lie abandoned. Supernatural creatures wander the silenced achievements of a halted civilization.Pete Garey has survived the Change and

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

STEVEN R. BOYETT sold his first novel at 21 and went on to publish novels, short stories, feature screenplays, and comic books. In 1999 he took some time off from writing, and during this period he learned to play the didgeridoo, a unique Australian wind instrument. This led him to learn about digital recording, which led to composing electronica, which led to DJing. He produces three of the world's most popular music podcasts: the groundbreaking Podrunner and Podrunner: Intervals (workout music mixes), and Groovelectric (dance music mixes of what he calls New Old Funk).

Steve has played clubs in Hollywood, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Reno, as well as Burning Man. He has been a martial arts instructor, professional paper marbler, advertising copywriter, legal proofreader, writing teacher, website editor, chapbook publisher, and composer. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two frighteningly intelligent parrots.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ace; First Edition edition (December 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441029205
• ISBN-13: 978-0441029204
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,321,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful storytelling!, February 3, 2003

By 

Julie (Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ariel (Paperback)

I usually like to study a book when I first pick it up off of the book store shelf. I read the back first, ponder the cover art, then open to Page 1 and skim a few pages. In 1984, I found "Ariel" in my favorite bookstore, began my ritual, and ended up sitting on the floor for 1 hour, completely and utterly entranced. I was captivated by the very first sentence: "I was bathing in a lake when I saw the unicorn."

Mr. Boyett's imagination hits stratospheric heights in his storytelling. His words paint a portrait so vivid that I feel like I'm right there beside Pete, traipsing all the way up I-95 and swimming with the dolphins on the way to New York. My teenage bedroom became a fantasy haven in its honor, and a huge stuffed unicorn (named Ariel, of course) dominated my bed.

The stuffed unicorn is long gone, but I still have that copy of "Ariel," and it's now as delapidated as Pete's backpack - taped, wrinkled, tattered, and laminated. And I wouldn't trade it or get rid of it for anything. I get it out every now and then and re-immerse myself in it, just for old time's sake.

If you are lucky enough to get a copy of this book, count it amongst your finest treasures - for a treasure it certainly is. I'll never understand why it's out of print. This is one story that should be back on the shelves for other readers to sit with on the bookstore floors of the world.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Great After All These Years, August 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ariel (Paperback)

Just re-read this (the ebook version) after 15 years and it's still one of the best urban fantasy novels out there. Ariel is a magical yet down-to-earth fantasy with human and non-human characters you can believe in, even love. It's written with an intelligence and maturity that set it apart from your average book with a unicorn on the cover. The ebook version contains at least one chapter that did not appear in the print version, and a very cool afterword by Boyett. For years I'd buy every copy of Ariel I found in used book stores to give to friends. Now they're an endangered species. I recommend finding a copy of this book in whatever form and adding it to the list of books you'll re-read every decade or so.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ariel- the book of the change, June 4, 2003

By 

Heather (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ariel: A Book of the Change (Paperback)

This book happens to be my favorite book of all time. I read the first copy I had so many times that the pages fell out. The second one was lent to a foriegn exchange student who went back home to spain with my book.
Why should you read this book? First it will keep you interested from first page to last. The messages in this book are about survival, love, friendship and trust.
Along with all that you'll get a full dose of action and suspense. There is a full range of emotions trapped between the pages of this book. Ariel is about a boy and a unicorn who meet after all things technological cease to work. Magical beasts show up all over the world- chaos ensues and a young boy is left to fend for himself.
The adventures in this book are heartwrenching, suspenseful and fun! All around the best read I have ever had! Too bad there wasnt a sequel that I know of. Try out this book, if you don't like it I'm sure you don't have a heart!