Tomorrow's Magic (The New Magic Trilogy) [Hardcover]

Pamela F. Service (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2007 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: The New Magic Trilogy

It's 500 years after the nuclear holocaust that devastated the earth's population and left the few survivors dealing with unending winter. At their remote British boarding school, Wellington Jones and Heather McKenna
have a lot in common. Both are misfits trying to avoid attention, and both are fascinated by Earl, a tall, calm, older boy with no recollection of his past, but a remarkable knack for showing up when he is needed most.

When a blow to the head brings Earl's memory back, he claims that he is actually Merlin . . . a 2000-year-old wizard.

Originally published in two volumes in the mid-1980s, Pamela F. Service's creative, futuristic spin on the Camelot legend will appeal to Arthurian purists and fantasy lovers alike.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this sequel to the exciting fantasy, Winter of Magic's Return, Service begins her story two years after Heather, Wellington and the strange boy Earlreally the wizard Merlin, preserved through the centuries and returned as a youthhave conjured King Arthur and his army from Avalon. Britain is becoming united once more, and when Merlin negotiates an uneasy truce between warlike Queen Margaret of Scotland and Arthur, all of Britain looks toward the south, where Morgan the enchantress is raising her army. Merlin's Old Magic is not working, but he sees a glimmer of a new and better Magic in Heather's empathy with animals. Although her talent and the New Magic are elusive, Heather ultimately provides Merlin with the means to save Arthur and the world. Although not quite as exhilarating as the first bookwith its almost giddy sense of discovery for the readerthis book will satisfy fans of the three protagonists. Ages 10-13.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up This continuation of Winter of Magic's Return (Atheneum, 1985) does what a good sequel shouldit continues and enhances the original story without rehashing the events of the first book. It also does it in a way that makes this book stand alone; it is not necessary to have read the first. Heather and Welly, children of a future England recovering from a holocaust and nuclear winter, are now teamed up with a youthful Merlin and King Arthur, allowed to return from the past as a result of the nuclear devastation. Arthur still dreams of being able to rule a united Britain, although tribes developing in the North, led by the firey Queen Margaret of Scotland, dispute his claim. But there is a greater enemythe witch Morgan. Heather not only has to come to terms with her approaching womanhood, but also with her new-found talent for magic with animals. She sees the loneliness that magic has caused Merlin, and is not sure she wants to live like that. And Welly, nearsighted and overweight, is nothing like the great warrior he would like to be, but he is a staunch and loyal friend to both Merlin and Heather. A well-crafted novel, with equal doses of action and thoughtfulness, this should satisfy many readers. Susan M. Harding, Mesquite Public Library, Tex.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375840877
• ISBN-13: 978-0375840876
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.3 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,586,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A novel take on the Arthurian legend, April 4, 2000

By 

Kylie Seymour - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tomorrows Magic (Hardcover)

A sequel to "Winter of Magic's Return" this book deals with King Arthur's return to England, with the aid of a very young Merlin and his companions. Set in a nuclear winter where technology barely exists and magic is staging a comeback this is a highly amusing book. Merlin (for reasons explained in the prior book) is in his late teens and his two companions are also teens of that era. The three of them, plus Arthur are attempting to reunite the various duchis, kingdoms and principalities that England has become, against Arthur's old enemy Morgan Le Fay. While not as fascinating as the book that preceded it, this is still a servicable sequel, although i wish there were one to this as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sequel to WINTER OF MAGIC'S RETURN . . ., April 1, 2000

By 

Frost "patrisiad" (Euless, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tomorrow's Magic (Mass Market Paperback)

I just want to know when Ms. Service is going to come out with a third book!

This is a magical follow-up to WINTER OF MAGIC'S RETURN, and it focuses on the trio of close friends, Welly, Heather, and the youthened Merlin, now known as Earl. Five centuries after nuclear devastation, magic finally returns to the world, and King Arthur as returned to Britain in time of her need. However, as evidenced in the title, there is a new kind of magic appearing in the world -- and there may not be any room for Earl's magic now! As fun a romp as the previous book!

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, in a weird way, September 24, 2008

By 

Backroads "Scatter-brained book fan" (Cache Valley, Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tomorrow's Magic (The New Magic Trilogy) (Paperback)

I discovered this book during a junior high obsession with Merlin. A futeristic novel seemed interesting enough, and it certainly was. It's Merlin, it's Arthurian, and it has a healthy dose of sci-fi.

500 years in the future, the planet is stuck in a nuclear winter (darn those governments!). The survivors have banded together in almost archaic civilizations. And, of course, things begin to backtrack as a belief in magic begins to return.

The story begins with a boarding school where three friends lose themselves in ancient novels. Harmless enough, but things take a turn when one of them, Earl the resident orphan, shows odd abilities. Things get even stranger when a mysterious woman shows up claiming to be his long-lost relative.

Again, it's an interesting and entertaining story that gives many winks to the Arthurian legend. My only wish is that things could have been polished up a bit better, that we might have had to work to get story rather than depending on plot device.