Book Review:
Kelly McCullough, Webmage

by Jerry Wright

I enjoy science fantasy books that combine the best of fantasy and technology. When they are done right, they are generally much fun. When done wrong (generally with much winking and nodding and breaking the fourth wall) they are dull and flaccid. Not so with Webmage

Kelly McCullough has the hacker ethic and the hacker mindset down pat, and the techno-speak, while present, was well done and not obtrusive, and if you like me are into computers, you will find that the combination of mythos magic and technology is great fun.

What's it about? Well, see, there's this college kid working toward a degree in "Systems Technology" who is also a hacker, and getting better at it all the time. Only, Ravirn is actually also a demi-urge, a great grandson of Lachesis, one of the three Fates. Ravirn's great Aunt Atropos has decided that free will is just too much of a pain, and now that the universe has been computerized, she wants to infect the "Fate Core", that server that is the wellspring of existence with a virus. Only it doesn't work, and she needs Ravirn to fix it. And a hacker wants to do away with free will? I don't think so...

Ravirn is the literary grand nephew of Corwin of Amber. Not actually, but certainly effectively. If you like the Amber books, you will certainly enjoy Webmage along with Ravirn, his familiar Melchior (webtroll/laptop extraordinaire) his cousin Cerice (beautiful sorceress AND computer programmer) as well as Eris, Goddess of Discord, the Furies, and many other unforgettable characters.

I understand Book 2 in the adventures of Ravirn and Co. is coming out in January. Great!

Copyright © 2006 Jerry Wright and Bewildering Stories

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