Some of the first Science Fantasies take place in a far future or a dying world. Most things are forgotten and history is fragmentary. Jack Vance, a master author, does this in his Dying Earth stories. He presents readers with a dying far in the future Earth where the Sun is about to die out. Magic is being forgotten and scarce. The characters struggle to live in a decadent society of failing systems. Vance's prose is vivid and lyrical. He opened the way for other authors like Lyndon Hardy.
Lyndon Hardy provides an interesting take on magic in his books. Magic is divided into five abilities: thaumaturgy, alchemy, magery, sorcery, and wizardry. It works under specific rules. The magic users can master only one or two of these abilities. There are stringent rituals and his books revolve around this premise with interesting results. Hardy's books are: Master of the Five Magics, Secret of the Sixth Magic and Riddle of the Seven Realms.
Many books blend Fantasy with Science Fiction like Piers Anthony's "Apprentice Adept" series. This series bounces characters between a world of technology and a mirror world of magic. Readers are treated to interesting juxtapositions of these worlds as characters overcome problems in both worlds. Anthony's clear prose, humor and deft plotting makes these books fast reading and entertaining. The books in this series consists of:
Split Infinity
Blue Adept
Juxtaposition
Out of Phaze
Robot Adept
Phaze Doubt
Another example of the Science Fiction and Fantasy mix are John Lee's "Strand" books. The magic kingdoms of Strand are threatened by an invasion from strange beings living on the other side of a great wall. Unicorns provide salvation for the magic kingdoms against a technological foe. Eventually it becomes a question of who is the real invader. Books in this series are: The Unicorn Quest, The Unicorn Dilemma, The Unicorn Solution, The Unicorn Peace and The Unicorn War.
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