Magicnet [Hardcover]

John De Chancie (Author)

Book Description

King's life is thrown into chaos when he listens to the murder of a friend over the telephone and is hurled into a world ruled by magic where he, a witch, and his friend's doppelganger take on some vicious computer hackers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

DeChancie's latest is a fantasy overlaid with a thin veneer of science fiction, its plot based on a bizarre blend of computer communication and sorcery. With the precision and speed of computers, the invocation of magic spells has become easier and more effective. Certain sorcerous hackers have developed MagicNet, a sort of online cyberspace network where magic works, demons roam and the ambitious wizard Lloyd Merlin Jones schemes to consolidate his growing control. Smart-alecky English professor Schuyler King receives a disturbing phone call and a mysterious package from his odd friend Grant Barrington, who soon thereafter meets a bloody and untimely end. The package contains software that conjures Grant's ghost, who directs Schuyler in a confrontation with Merlin Jones. DeChancie ( Castle Kidnapped ) adopts a lighthearted tone laced with sarcastic wit, which makes his rather absurd premise almost palatable; but the plot veers too quickly into random action, spinning its wheels aimlessly before tying up the ends in a perfunctory climactic scene. This is an entertaining bit of fluff, an afternoon's diversion, but no more.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

English professor Schuyler ("Skye") King enters an Alice-in-Wonderland world of literal computer wizardry to combat a deadly fusion of computer technology and old-fashioned magic at the request of a murdered friend--now a "ghost in the machine." DeChancie blends surrealistic prose with fast-paced action to create a whirlwind tale of technohorror. A good choice for libraries where cyberpunk and virtual sf have a following.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (December 20, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688127592
• ISBN-13: 978-0688127596
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,874,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John DeChancie is a well-known author of science fiction and fantasy. He is most famous for his Skyway Trilogy (STARRIGGER, RED LIMIT FREEWAY, PARADOX ALLEY) and his seriocomic fantasy adventure series beginning with CASTLE PERILOUS and running to eight volumes. His short stories have appeared in many different magazines and paperback original anthologies. Living in Los Angeles, he is at work writing more fiction in addition to screenplays and teleplays. He has a background in music, TV and film production, and was the 2005 recipient of the Forrest J. Ackerman Award for significant contributions to Science Fiction.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A meld of science fiction and fantasy, August 11, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic Net (Audio Cassette)

When Schuyler "Skye" King gets a call from his friend Grant what he hears is a bloody and brutal murder. Upon investigating his friend's death King encounters phenomena his assistant professorship of English never prepared him for beginning with his friend's "soul" being part of a laptop computer! MagicNet is a meld of science fiction and fantasy as King is joined by a cyberwitch and an ultimate confrontation with an evil wizard of the web! This very highly recommended Ziplow, audiobook production is enhanced with a Hilton Head Island Repertory Company cast, sound effects, and superb recording standards.