Science fiction-fantasy is a genre that’s particularly hard to pull off. Both stand alone as genres, so mixing the two is awfully hard to do. If the delicate balance is upset, nothing works.
A few writers – Roger Zelazny (his Amber series), Marion Zimmer Bradley (her Darkover books especially), and Andre Norton (anywhere she mixed the two genres, but especially her Witch World novels) – pulled off the blending with spectacular success that will stand the test of time and probably go on to become literature others will study. In some universities, that’s already happened.
A relativel newcomer – at least to novel writing, because he’s written several short stories – Kelly McCullough has delivered a grand debut in WebMage. The novel effortlessly blends science and magic, especially in the form of his webgoblin, Melchior, who is equal parts sorcerer and programmer. Imagine, if you will, a notebook computer that can turn itself into a bipedal creature and keep up with you wherever you go. Not only that, it can be your best friend, know your every need, and can think when you can’t. The sarcastic personality is just a small price to pay.
WebMage is Kelly McCullough's first novel. His second, also featuring Ravirn and company, comes out next year. Several of his short stories have been published, and he was one of the Writers of the Future.
The main character, Rivirn is a cutting-edge sorcerer/computer hacker who combines both skills to stay alive after he inadvertently becomes locked in conflict with one of his great-to-the-nth-degree-aunts, Atropos, one of the three Fates from Greek mythology. As it turns out, all the Greek gods, goddesses and demigods truly exist out in the world.
Ravirn is part of the family and possesses both magical ability and incredible strength and healing that set him far beyond anything human. The problem is, although potentially immortal, he can still be killed. That’s a fact that Atropos plans on using against him after he declines her offer to code a program called Puppeteer, designed to steal away all free will in the world. Taking away free will, Atropos believes, will lesson chaos in the world.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!