Magic Time: Ghostlands [Hardcover]

Marc Zicree (Author)

Book Description

Series: Magic Time | Publication Date: November 30, 2004

In an altered America where machines no longer work and magic holds sway, former lawyer-turned-visionary leader Cal Griffin guides his small band on a quest toward the Source of the Change -- following a trail he hopes will reunite him with his abducted sister, Christina, transformed into one of the powerful, enigmatic beings called "flares." Armed with little more than compassion and a determination to heal the world, Cal, the warrior Colleen Brooks, Russian physician Doc Lysenko, and bipolar street wizard Herman "Goldie" Goldman encounter old foes and new friends in a landscape of unimaginable beauties and magnificent horrors -- forced to confront the frightful secrets of an emissary from a dread region and to trust in a brilliant triumvirate of grad students who could get things running again ... at a terrible cost—as the final moves in humankind's ultimate nightmare are played out in the depths of the Ghostlands.

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

SF screenwriter Zicree (The Twilight Zone Companion) teams with Philip K. Dick Award–winner Wilson (The Chronoliths) for the rousing, if overly long, conclusion to his Magic Times fantasy trilogy. Since the Change, which nudged the universe into another dimension thanks to a U.S. government agency's snafu, unpredictable magic has replaced modern technology worldwide. Former New York lawyer Cal Griffin leads a courageous band out West in search of his sister, Tina, while another stalwart member of the group, Herman Goldman, looks forlornly for his lost sweetheart, Magritte. The saga's lawyer-dragon villain, Ely Stern, whose iridescent scales are gaudier than ever, provides the biggest plot surprise. As Cal and company attempt to destroy the evil that caused the Change, the authors effortlessly move the action from New York to Chicago and the old West, where buffalo still roam, a few guns still fire and simulacra of Indians and Calamity Janes lend a helping hand. Some readers may find the heroes' repetitive adventures tiresome, but most will applaud the upbeat message about humanity's survival, if without cell phones or TV.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The conclusion of the trilogy including Magic Time (2001) and Magic Time: Angelfire (2002) is as spectacular as its predecessors. Searching for the Source--that is, the cause of an apocalyptic world disaster--has led Cal Griffin and his many and varied companions on a harrowing journey from Manhattan to Chicago and beyond. This premise isn't new, but Zicree and Wilson lend it exciting freshness, and it proves captivating from page 1 on. Characters are well developed and consistent throughout, and each of the major players brings a unique postapocalyptic talent to the table. Griffin is reluctant yet perfect for the job of leading the strange little band. He doesn't think he has the power to change anything, much less save the world, but a nagging sense of responsibility, fueled by a recurring dream and the absolute belief of his followers, keeps him moving forward. A powerful, intelligent, deeply human, and many times abruptly laugh-out-loud funny wrap-up volume. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061050709
• ISBN-13: 978-0061050701
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,372,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excelent Read, March 22, 2006

By 

C. Fritsche "goddess midnight" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic Time: Ghostlands (Magic Time) (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed the "Magic Time" series. This book was by far my favorite out of the series. Unlike the first in the series, this book was easy to get into right from the start. It finalized the story line in a very conclusive manor.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent fantasy, November 14, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic Time: Ghostlands (Hardcover)

The experiment Source devastated nature by destroying electric energy and changing people by enhancing their key traits into a caricature like magical essence. Many have died including those who have trusted weary former attorney Cal Griffen; he feels he failed them all in the end though none would fault him. Still he has no time to mourn as his evanescent younger sister Christina the ballerina vanished to wherever the storm floated her like a bubble.

His quest to find Tina took him from New York to Chicago where Magritte, one of the people Cal feels he failed died. The journey for Cal and his pilgrims continue westward through deadly cities where the Source holds sway with magic that threaten to destroy the earth. Cal's band of brothers, sisters, and other essences enter the dangerous Ghostlands reaching Mount Rushmore, pivotal foci of the Source. The troupe faces their worst magically enhanced customized nightmarish fears in this last stand to save human existence on this plane; to succeed against the overwhelming powers of the enemy, they need Tina on their side and not part of the Source.

Fantasy fans will devour the final Magic Time tale that is a terrific confrontation between the remnants of metamorphosis humanity vs. the offspring Source. Interestingly the theme is not a simplistic good vs. evil scenario, but instead is more along the lines of the Frankenstein warning. The story line is action-packed from the first pyre to the final fire, but never neglects the key characters as their characteristics remain critical to the entertaining story line. MAGIC TIME GHOSTLANDS can stand alone, but is further enhanced with reading the previous two novels, MAGIC TIME and MAGIC TIME ANGELFIRE.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this series! Only wish could find more to read like this., June 16, 2011

By 

P. M. Scogin "old broad avid reader" (austin tx) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Magic Time: Ghostlands (Kindle Edition)

I happened upon this series totally by accident. Found the first book at a jumble sale with pb's 25 cents each. Luckily it didn't say anything on the cover about it being a trilogy cause I probably wouldn't have bought it. Did pitch a hissy fit when I reached the end of the 1st book BUT immediately went into "find the other books"
mode and didn't stop till I had the series. Honestly - I usually peter out about half way thru the 2nd book in a fantasy trilogy and finishing either a trilogy or a series in this genre is unusual for me. Knowing every detail of a "new" world, learning a new language, dealing with names with lots of xx's and pt's, wl's, etc., plus 5 or more familes with 20 or more members each, tends to turn reading into a chore rather than a pleasure imho. This one sucked me in and took me for a wonderful ride. My only negative is I am totally disappointed that Mr. Zicree has not written any more books!!