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The Accidental Magician
Approximately 97,000 words
The Accidental Magician
The world, Fane, lies on the outer reaches of explored space, long forgotten or avoided by mankind. On the downside, the planet’s peculiar electromagnetic fields inevitably destroy electronic devices, but in compensation they enhance psychic abilities. Over the centuries humans and the aliens with whom they share the planet have evolved into clans of wizards and masters, dullards and incompetents.
One person who seems destined to be relegated one of the latter groups is Grantin, the nephew of a powerful, but harsh, magician. In a last ditch effort to salvage something of his family’s honor, the uncle gives Grantin an important but simple task, which Grantin promptly manages to screw up in a most dangerous way. Only vast good luck or the appearance of some heretofore hidden magical talents are likely to save him. Luckily for him, Grantin is, unknowingly, on his way to becoming The Accidental Magician.
AHTHOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this novel was originally published in 1981 by Simon & Schuster - Pocket Books/Timescape Books under the original title, Fane, under the author name of David Alexander.
Because there are several writers using the name “David Alexander,” to avoid confusion the author now writes under the pen name, David Grace.
Copyright David Alexander writing as David Grace 2009
The Accidental Magician
The world, Fane, lies on the outer reaches of explored space, long forgotten or avoided by mankind. On the downside, the planet’s peculiar electromagnetic fields inevitably destroy electronic devices, but in compensation they enhance psychic abilities. Over the centuries humans and the aliens with whom they share the planet have evolved into clans of wizards and masters, dullards and incompetents.
One person who seems destined to be relegated one of the latter groups is Grantin, the nephew of a powerful, but harsh, magician. In a last ditch effort to salvage something of his family’s honor, the uncle gives Grantin an important but simple task, which Grantin promptly manages to screw up in a most dangerous way. Only vast good luck or the appearance of some heretofore hidden magical talents are likely to save him. Luckily for him, Grantin is, unknowingly, on his way to becoming The Accidental Magician.
AHTHOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this novel was originally published in 1981 by Simon & Schuster - Pocket Books/Timescape Books under the original title, Fane, under the author name of David Alexander.
Because there are several writers using the name “David Alexander,” to avoid confusion the author now writes under the pen name, David Grace.
Copyright David Alexander writing as David Grace 2009
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
David Grace
53 books9 followersDavid M. Alexander (writing as David Grace) Biography
David Grace is the pen name for David M. Alexander. David Alexander was born in Upstate New York in the mid-nineteen forties. His family moved to Northern California in the early nineteen sixties. He graduated from Stanford University in 1967 with a major in history and a minor in economics. He received a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of California Law School, Boalt Hall, in June 1970, graduating in the top ten percent of his class. He was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of the State of California in January 1971 and before the Supreme Court of the United States in November, 1977.
His first novel was "The Chocolate Spy," Coward, McCann & Geoghigan, 1978. His second novel was "Fane," Pocket Books/Timescape Books, 1981.
"My Real Name Is Lisa" was published in hardcover by Carroll & Graf 1996.
The author alone and with Hayford Peirce has published
10 pieces of short fiction in "Analog Magazine" and "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine."
The complete list of David Grace novels available from Wildside Press (print) and as ebooks from Amazon, Smashwords and other ebook distributors are:
"The Accidental Magician"
"The Concrete Kiss"
"Daniel"(ebook only)
"A Death In Beverly Hills"
"Doll's Eyes"
"Easy Target"
"Etched In Bone"
"Fever Dreams"
"The Forbidden List"
"Shooting Crows At Dawn"
"Stolen Angel"
"The Traitor's Mistress"
"True Faith"
Mr. Grace's latest novel is "The Concrete Kiss."
David Alexander shared story credit with Dan Wright and Sam Egan for the Outer Limits TV series episode, "Joyride," starring Cliff Robertson and broadcast during the 2000 season.
David Grace is the pen name for David M. Alexander. David Alexander was born in Upstate New York in the mid-nineteen forties. His family moved to Northern California in the early nineteen sixties. He graduated from Stanford University in 1967 with a major in history and a minor in economics. He received a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of California Law School, Boalt Hall, in June 1970, graduating in the top ten percent of his class. He was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of the State of California in January 1971 and before the Supreme Court of the United States in November, 1977.
His first novel was "The Chocolate Spy," Coward, McCann & Geoghigan, 1978. His second novel was "Fane," Pocket Books/Timescape Books, 1981.
"My Real Name Is Lisa" was published in hardcover by Carroll & Graf 1996.
The author alone and with Hayford Peirce has published
10 pieces of short fiction in "Analog Magazine" and "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine."
The complete list of David Grace novels available from Wildside Press (print) and as ebooks from Amazon, Smashwords and other ebook distributors are:
"The Accidental Magician"
"The Concrete Kiss"
"Daniel"(ebook only)
"A Death In Beverly Hills"
"Doll's Eyes"
"Easy Target"
"Etched In Bone"
"Fever Dreams"
"The Forbidden List"
"Shooting Crows At Dawn"
"Stolen Angel"
"The Traitor's Mistress"
"True Faith"
Mr. Grace's latest novel is "The Concrete Kiss."
David Alexander shared story credit with Dan Wright and Sam Egan for the Outer Limits TV series episode, "Joyride," starring Cliff Robertson and broadcast during the 2000 season.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 20, 2021
Okay, I'm probably looking at this with nostalgia, since I read this while still a boy and now I'm in my fifties, but back when I read this all those years I thought it was absolutely hilarious and that it was a rollicking good read. I think for young sci-fi lovers, it probably still is a great read. It's not got the deep themes of Dune or the Foundation series, but it doesn't need to in order to be enjoyable, funny, and to immerse you in a fabulous world. My 12 year old self is still giggling over many of the lines and antics, and my 53 year old self still remembers it all these years later.
Read it, and then let your children read it!
Read it, and then let your children read it!
April 8, 2022
This is at its heart a big gooshy love letter to Jack Vance. At start, at least. You have the callow youth in need of seasoning, the wordplay and pettifoggery, and hints of weird social structures among the humans and non-humans of Fane. And, oh yes, a system of magic that one might recognize from the Dying Earth series.
Some of that gooshiness falls away as the book goes on and the author finds his own voice, and this did improve it for at least this reader. The scaffolding used to prop up this planet was interesting--a space ship discharges colonists on a world that is just a bit off, some of the 'colonists' were 'demon worshippers'--but the mass of it was either not hugely exploited for its weirdness or was provided as an aside rather than you-will-need-to-know-this.
Some of that gooshiness falls away as the book goes on and the author finds his own voice, and this did improve it for at least this reader. The scaffolding used to prop up this planet was interesting--a space ship discharges colonists on a world that is just a bit off, some of the 'colonists' were 'demon worshippers'--but the mass of it was either not hugely exploited for its weirdness or was provided as an aside rather than you-will-need-to-know-this.
November 29, 2025
Adventures of a bumbling magician wannabe
Originally released in 1981 as "Fane", this sci-fi/fantasy story follows Grantin, the bumbling nephew of a powerful magician. He manages to dangerously fumble an important task, and then seeks to fix it, unknowingly on his way to becoming The Accidental Magician.
I liked that the story had a variety of characters, each unique and bringing something different to the adventure. Unfortunately, though, the many short chapters bounced from character to character and made it hard to really connect with them. They had their various plans and intrigues, which did come together well, eventually, but it seemed a bit of a slog to get there. The intriguing ideas for the planet's background felt more of an afterthought than an important part of the story's world. All the pieces were there, along with some wonderful, detailed descriptions, but they didn't quite mesh to form the engrossing story I had anticipated. Plus, the flow was choppy due to typos, odd phrasing, dialog that often didn't indicate well who was talking, and sudden poorly transitioned point-of-view shifts.
Overall, although the story didn't quite hit the mark for me, it was still an interesting read, an adventurous romp of improbable antics.
Originally released in 1981 as "Fane", this sci-fi/fantasy story follows Grantin, the bumbling nephew of a powerful magician. He manages to dangerously fumble an important task, and then seeks to fix it, unknowingly on his way to becoming The Accidental Magician.
I liked that the story had a variety of characters, each unique and bringing something different to the adventure. Unfortunately, though, the many short chapters bounced from character to character and made it hard to really connect with them. They had their various plans and intrigues, which did come together well, eventually, but it seemed a bit of a slog to get there. The intriguing ideas for the planet's background felt more of an afterthought than an important part of the story's world. All the pieces were there, along with some wonderful, detailed descriptions, but they didn't quite mesh to form the engrossing story I had anticipated. Plus, the flow was choppy due to typos, odd phrasing, dialog that often didn't indicate well who was talking, and sudden poorly transitioned point-of-view shifts.
Overall, although the story didn't quite hit the mark for me, it was still an interesting read, an adventurous romp of improbable antics.
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October 23, 2025FANE (Timescape Book)
March 15, 2017
I enjoyed the concept of the book. It kept me reading.
November 9, 2011
This is obviously a beginner writer and first novel. I was willing to give it a chance, but the terrible dialog kept making me cringe. I did finish it, but it was done more out of mercy than anything. This is definitely not a book I would recommend or pass on to friends. My copy has been recycled.
December 22, 2009
I am a sucker for fantasy stories with a bumbling wizard apprentice as the main hero. This tale made the fine line between keep and discard. Definitely a good story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews