SOLVED. Fantasy Book - Sentient Building - Magic beings - Creature Called "Flare" [s]

[Elvenrunelord]

I first read this book in the early 80's and I believe it was from the SF book club. Publication date was between 78-83 I think.

Someone created a working type of Tesla wireless power system and it changed the world. The electricity went out and magical things started happening in the world.

I remember witches being a part of it and other supernatural beings and changes occurring in the world.

Anyone know the name of this book?

[Krazykiwi]

Ariel perhaps? (Although the explanation for why the power stopped and the magic started is not very clear in that book)
It's a pretty common trope, but Ariel is the only one I can think of that fits the timeframe.

[Arielle]

following

[Elvenrunelord]

Krazykiwi wrote: "Ariel perhaps? (Although the explanation for why the power stopped and the magic started is not very clear in that book)
It's a pretty common trope, but Ariel is the only one I can t..."

Wow. I actually thought you might have stumbled upon the other book I am looking for by accident but its not it. It sure seems like it could be though.

This particular book was written sometime between 1978-1983 and really had stronger occult overtones to it than Ariel seems to from just reading about it on Amazon.

Thanks though..good answer.

I've been searching for this book for a decade now I don't expect it will be easy to find it.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Elvenrunelord]

Krazykiwi wrote: "Ariel perhaps? (Although the explanation for why the power stopped and the magic started is not very clear in that book)
It's a pretty common trope, but Ariel is the only one I can t..."

Ok After reading that the book was a reprint in 2009 I'm thinking this might be one of the books I am looking for. I'll have to check it out. I'll keep you posted and thanks again

[Andy]

Makes me think of Anderson's Operation Chaos, though that's probably not it (in that book, the discovery of a way to magnetically prevent cold iron from disabling magic, led to magic becoming widespread, circa 1870). Operation Chaos

[Andy]

This link http://io9.gizmodo.com/5127125/the-gr... about Tesla in SF might be helpful

[Elvenrunelord]

Andy wrote: "This link http://io9.gizmodo.com/5127125/the-gr... about Tesla in SF might be helpful"

I checked all those and nothing rings a bell but thanks agian

[Andy]

Hope you find it - I'd like to read it...

[Krazykiwi]

Elvenrunelord wrote: "Krazykiwi wrote: "Ariel perhaps? (Although the explanation for why the power stopped and the magic started is not very clear in that book)
It's a pretty common trope, but Ariel is th..."

Ariel's author stopped writing for many years, but around about 2009 unexpectedly came out with a sequel: Elegy Beach. Naturally since the first was a standalone for 25 years (and Boyett repeatedly said he'd never write a sequel), it works just fine on it's own. However, Ariel was reprinted when Elegy Beach was released - and it's in Elegy Beach that it's made clear that it was some kind of electric device that originally caused the change, it's only pretty vague in the original novel. I'd be more specific (and I do think it had something to do with Tesla) but I've only read Elegy Beach once, while Ariel is a beloved childhood read that I've re-read many times.

[Elvenrunelord]

Krazykiwi wrote: "Elvenrunelord wrote: "Krazykiwi wrote: "Ariel perhaps? (Although the explanation for why the power stopped and the magic started is not very clear in that book)
It's a pretty common ..."


Well, I got a copy of Ariel and I was really hoping it was the book. Sadly it is not.

However, reading Ariel did pop some more details for me about the book I am looking for.

The book I'm looking for, the man himself was one of the few lacking in any change that had occurred to the people of the world. And the girl / creature he was with was called a "Flare" whatever that means.

Things changed far more than what seems to have occurred in Ariel so far in the book. The plants changed, the animals changed, most beings either gained abilities or changed into mythological or strange creatures unknown to mankind.

And there is still the mysterious building that seemed to have developed a life of its own as well

I see why people have recommended Ariel to me, it has a similar feel to it compared to the book I am looking for.

[Trilobyte]

Magic Time Not read it yet, but it sounds likely. The first of a trilogy.

edit : This appears too recent, it might be The Devil's Children ...first in another trilogy

[Elvenrunelord]

Trilobyte wrote: "Magic Time Not read it yet, but it sounds likely. The first of a trilogy.

edit : This appears too recent, it might be The Devil's Children ...first in another trilogy"


I think we have a winner here with Magic Time. Although I would have swore it was published earlier than 2002.

Edit: Magic Time is indeed the book I am looking for: https://www.goodreads.com/series/6008... and here is a link to the series for anyone who comes after me searching for this elusive series. I've been searching for over a decade now and my search is ended.

I feel I should explain that the answers I have gotten from this question actually apply to my other question that was asked at about the same time. However my thanks.

[Trilobyte]

The other contender I didn't mention as it's also more recent, is The age of misrule : world's end, darkest hour, always forever

[Elvenrunelord]

Trilobyte wrote: "The other contender I didn't mention as it's also more recent, is The age of misrule : world's end, darkest hour, always forever"



You just gave me more cool books to check out and thanks. I have placed this to solved though because of your excellent guess "Magic Time".

Others feel free to add to this collection of books similar to that series if you like and thanks again :)