FROM THE PUBLISHER

"The world has changed - forever. Across America, technology has been eclipsed by magic, and people are changing into the embodiments of their darkest desires, deepest fears - and purest selves. In this new time, former lawyer Cal Griffin has united a small group of outcasts to battle the chaos." "Searching for the source of this terrifying phenomenon - and to save his sister Tina, transformed into one of the ethereal creatures known as flares - Cal and his band of unlikely heroes make their way cross country, led by the visions of Goldie, a charming lunatic, and by the fragile song of a cursed bluesman." Their quest takes them westward to a secret haven hidden from malevolent eyes - the domain of the bluesman and his protector Magritte, a callgirl-turned-flare. But how long can even this wondrous sanctuary survive if the evil beyond it is allowed to flourish? Cal and his companions - streetwise, magical Goldie; mechanic-turned-warrior Colleen; and grief-stricken Russian physician Doc - must finish what they've started. For the world is unraveling little by little, and the salvation of everything left worth saving requires that they journey deep into the very heart and soul of darkness to face the indestructible beast ruling the Ruby City once called Chicago - a primal monster who may or may not be the Source they seek - and to confront the darkness that lies within themselves.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In Zicree (The Twilight Zone Companion) and Bohnhoff's (The Spirit Gate) engrossing sequel to last year's Magic Time, Cal, Colleen, Goldie and Doc continue their quest for Cal's sister, Tina, a captive of the magical Source centered in Chicago. They journey from New York through a contemporary America where magic has wreaked havoc and come across the Preserve, where they recruit half-Lakota musician Enid Blindman, who can defend humans against the creations of the Source. In Chicago the company has to try freeing Enid from the Primal, the local supernatural presence, who turns out to be a golem under control of another formerly human minion of the Source. And so the quest goes on-which most readers will consider good news, as this is an intelligent variation on the quest theme as exemplified by Stephen King's The Stand. The story doesn't repeat itself; the characters grow (witness the relationship emerging between the ferocious army-brat survivalist Colleen and nurturing Chernobyl survivor Doc Lysenko); and the ultimate secret of the Source is sufficiently well hidden that several more volumes seem logically justified. The book doesn't escape the current saga-mongers' problem of losing some emotional impact for new readers, but the series will probably win a strong SF/fantasy following as long as future installments keep up the high quality. (Dec. 23) FYI: Magic Time was written by Zicree with SF and mystery author Barbara Hambly. Robert Charles Wilson is slated to be the coauthor for round three. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

A resurgence of magic and the death of technology have led to the collapse of civilization and to the alteration of humans into creatures that embody their deepest virtues-or vices. Cal Griffin, a former lawyer, heads a small group of people on a desperate trek across a changed landscape in search of his missing sister, following visions and songs to a confrontation in Chicago with a creature of darkness and evil. In this sequel to Magic Time, coauthored by Zicree and Barbara Hambly, Bohnhoff's graceful storytelling and Zicree's conceptual direction combine seamlessly in a fast-paced fantasy that should appeal to fans of epic adventure and urban fantasy. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews