When technology and ancient magic collide, nothing is quite what it seems. In Charles de Lint's Spirits in the Wires, the beloved city of Newford faces a crisis that bridges the gap between the digital realm and the supernatural world.
The city's popular research website, Wordwood, suddenly crashes—and everyone visiting it vanishes without a trace. Longtime resident Christy Ridding witnesses the horrifying moment his girlfriend, Saskia, disappears right before his eyes. This isn't just any technical malfunction; it's a doorway between worlds that has opened unexpectedly, trapping innocent visitors in a place between reality and myth.
What begins as a desperate search for missing friends quickly transforms into an extraordinary adventure. Christy and his companions discover that Wordwood isn't just a digital repository—it has a physical presence in Newford's otherworld. To rescue those trapped within, they must navigate a landscape where ancient magic and modern technology intertwine in unexpected ways.
As a World Fantasy Award-winning author, de Lint masterfully blends the familiar with the fantastical. His Newford novels have captivated readers with their imaginative scope and unforgettable characters. In Spirits in the Wires, he explores how the internet age might look through a magical lens, creating a story that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Perfect for fans of urban fantasy that grounds the magical in everyday life, this novel asks what happens when the digital world we rely on suddenly becomes something more—something alive, something dangerous, something utterly magical.
