To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. But though his courage won hi...
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Feb 15, 2011
Jim
rated it: 
I first read this book shortly after it came out in the early 80's while in my 20's. It's every bit as enjoyable on the 4th read almost 30 years later. In many ways, it is a very typical fantasy, but the character's pop very well & the world has enough new elements to make it quite intriguing. The quick pace hides a complexity that becomes apparent as the story progresses & we're led deeper into the world.
Since I have a towering TBR pile, I re-read sparingly. I'm so happy I did More...
Since I have a towering TBR pile, I re-read sparingly. I'm so happy I did More...
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Mar 14, 2011
Kara
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An enjoyable easy read with incredibly likable characters. Just enough action, suspense, intrigue and magic to keep me turning the pages.
In a typical high fantasy world of humans, elves, dwarves, and dragons, there is now a rift, through which unknown people and creatures from another world begin an invasion. The book has several POV characters that we follow separately as they encounter and interact with the off-world invaders.
The start to an epic series, book 1 ends very More...
In a typical high fantasy world of humans, elves, dwarves, and dragons, there is now a rift, through which unknown people and creatures from another world begin an invasion. The book has several POV characters that we follow separately as they encounter and interact with the off-world invaders.
The start to an epic series, book 1 ends very More...
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Feb 08, 2008
Seth
rated it:
Raymond Feist is to fantasy literature what Greg Rucka is to crime/espionage literature. He presents stories in a workmanlike fashion, neither embracing literary elegance or dwelling overlong on that which does not forward the story itself, and yet he offers a rollicking good time. His characters are all interesting and his narrative twists retain reader interest. He is not a great author, but he is certainly a good author.
And sometimes, good is just what the doctor ordered.
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And sometimes, good is just what the doctor ordered.
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Jun 12, 2008
Mikel
rated it: 
I must admit, when I was really young, I did not read that much. I was a sports kid, Soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, baseball in spring and summer. Many years straight through, and if I wasn't practicing or playing, I was playing sports with the neighborhood kids.
It was not until I was 10 or so that I started actually reading the books that the teachers told us to, rather than skimming them over or getting the notes from the dilligent kid in the neighborhood to pass a More...
It was not until I was 10 or so that I started actually reading the books that the teachers told us to, rather than skimming them over or getting the notes from the dilligent kid in the neighborhood to pass a More...
Jul 04, 2007
Jeremy
rated it:
After waiting 10 years to read this book again, I have to say that it ages very well. The book does contain quite a few fantasy book stereotypes that are quite obvious. The characters Pug and Tomas are prime examples where one is a meek boy who trains to be a magician and the other is a boisterous lad who all the ladies love. However the author provides very interesting twists in the development of the characters and he is not afraid to place them in danger. The action in the book is expertly w
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Aug 29, 2011
Célia
rated it: 
Raymond E. Feist é um conhecido autor de fantasia americano, que tem centrado maioritariamente o seu trabalho no mundo fictício que criou e que foi apresentado aos leitores em 1982, através de O Mago. Devido ao seu volume considerável, uma boa parte do texto foi cortada na edição original, mas quatro anos mais tarde, devido ao sucesso que o livro teve, decidiu-se republicá-lo com texto extra, em 2 volumes: Apprentice e Master. Esta edição portuguesa corresponde à primeira metade.
A hi More...
A hi More...
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Aug 03, 2007
Holly
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 17, 2008
Nikki
rated it:
I first read this book about 10 years ago on the recommendation of a friend and instantly had to buy the sequel. I pulled it off the shelf this week to revisit a story I liked back then, after having lent the books to countless (ok maybe 3) friends. I still loved the book and again had to read the sequel. The adventures of Pug and his Lord Duke Borric as they race around the country are captivating and involve all the major fantasy species. Not only do you get elves and dwarves you also get a do
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Apr 02, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
This isn't the greatest book every, but it was fun and entertaining to read when I was in the mood to read some fantasy, and needed a long book to read on a plane that wasn't too taxing.
The book probably seemed more creative at the time that it was written, but read in the present seems a little bit generic, since, as most other fantasy, it's clearly been based off of Tolkein's Lord of the Rings setting and the Dungeons and Dragons spin-off settings. I did like the mystery surroundi More...
The book probably seemed more creative at the time that it was written, but read in the present seems a little bit generic, since, as most other fantasy, it's clearly been based off of Tolkein's Lord of the Rings setting and the Dungeons and Dragons spin-off settings. I did like the mystery surroundi More...
Jan 25, 2009
Dani
rated it:
Feist creates a wonderful tale about politcs, war, love, and becoming a man. Our main character, Pug, starts out as a simple keep boy and raise to become a member of the duke's household and the magician apprentice. Although it's clear that he has great talent in magic, he is unable to tap into. Overall, an entertaining piece for the genera.
on style: It's difficult at times to be into this books simply because it's the beginning of a triology and is setting up the characters, worlds, More...
on style: It's difficult at times to be into this books simply because it's the beginning of a triology and is setting up the characters, worlds, More...
Dec 22, 2008
Ori
rated it: 
Earlier this year I got back into the fantasy genre by reading Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind. Since then I've been reading backwards; finding the authors Rothfuss was favorably compared to and reading their books.
I was very taken with the author I read next, George R. R. Martin, and would happily have continued the Song of Fire and Ice series, but apparently the next book in that series has been postponed till 2013. So I chose Raymond Feist who was next on my list.
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I was very taken with the author I read next, George R. R. Martin, and would happily have continued the Song of Fire and Ice series, but apparently the next book in that series has been postponed till 2013. So I chose Raymond Feist who was next on my list.
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Jan 01, 2012
Ricky
rated it:
It seems like I’d hit a dry spell in the spring, but the summer has yielded great fun with the fantasy books I’ve read. This has been great fun to read, with engaging characters and great storytelling—it’ll usurp Dragonflight as the best fantasy I’ve read this year since TNotW. Pug has the Luke Skywalker motif, an orphan of uncertain parentage (which, thankfully doesn’t culminate in some miraculous revelation of his parents being royalty or some such), of untapped power accessed through the wi
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Dec 09, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
It has been said that 'there are no more original ideas being formulated in the world,' and I feel this in a sense may be true. It is easy to see the unorginality in the film industry with companies continually 'remaking' or 'remastering' old classic movies. BUT, I do not believe this applies to Fiest's books.
David Gemmell, in an author's interview, once stated that he felt his fans deserved something more than the traditional elves and goblins. While I make no attempt to disparage Gem More...
David Gemmell, in an author's interview, once stated that he felt his fans deserved something more than the traditional elves and goblins. While I make no attempt to disparage Gem More...
Aug 20, 2011
Bookrater
rated it:
I first read this book (Magician used to be one book, not two) when I was about 14, on the recommendation of my best friend at the time. I had never read a fantasy novel before.
The story pulled me in very quickly and I loved it from the first chapter. The epic scope it as well as it being the first time I'd ever read about dragons, magicians, elves, dwarves etc, I thought it was the best book I had read, EVER!
Having read it since (in my twenties) I'll concede that many of More...
The story pulled me in very quickly and I loved it from the first chapter. The epic scope it as well as it being the first time I'd ever read about dragons, magicians, elves, dwarves etc, I thought it was the best book I had read, EVER!
Having read it since (in my twenties) I'll concede that many of More...
Apr 03, 2011
Karen
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 23, 2011
Jake
rated it:
Magician: Apprentise by Raymond E Feist is a book that lets you know that just because you think you know someone doesnt mean that you know them.
This book spans over many years in the life of Pug, an orphan that met a magician, Kulgan, in the woods one night in a storm. Kulgan instantly liked Pug and took him in as his apprentise. one day Pug and his friend Tomas stumble upon a strange warrior while checking out a ship wreck. the priest Tulley finds out that the strange warrior is from a More...
This book spans over many years in the life of Pug, an orphan that met a magician, Kulgan, in the woods one night in a storm. Kulgan instantly liked Pug and took him in as his apprentise. one day Pug and his friend Tomas stumble upon a strange warrior while checking out a ship wreck. the priest Tulley finds out that the strange warrior is from a More...
Oct 13, 2010
Thumbelina-thighs
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Apr 06, 2010
Trickey
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I read the first of these two novels as one book titled Magician. The tag line on the bottom of the cover was "The first great fantasy novel." Okay, no. Anyone who reads fantasy novels knows the genre was invented and well filled before 1982 (when the first edition came out). That said, perhaps it meant Feist's first great fantasy novel, because according to his introduction, it is his first novel when he wrote "before he knew what fantasy novels were supposed to be."
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Oct 05, 2009
Math_camel
rated it:
I started this book at a time when I was a little isolated with not much to do but read and play cards, and I was sick of playing cards.
I saw what looked like typical fantasy novel with the perfect novelist's name (Long first name in small print over a short last name writ large) and decided to pick it up.
After devouring it in under two days I spent the next three weeks mourning my lack of library access. In my original apathy I hadn't picked up the next in the serie More...
I saw what looked like typical fantasy novel with the perfect novelist's name (Long first name in small print over a short last name writ large) and decided to pick it up.
After devouring it in under two days I spent the next three weeks mourning my lack of library access. In my original apathy I hadn't picked up the next in the serie More...
Oct 30, 2010
Phillip
rated it:
This review covers the entire Riftwar saga.
Raymond E. Feist really helped to solidify my love for classic fantasy. His work expresses a style so classic and yet original it (at times) borderlines cheesy. Because of this, it is amazing.
It seems to me that character development is what really separates average fantasy writers, from the great. Because it is a lot harder to relate to a character who is in another world wielding magic and chopping heads off, making the character a More...
Raymond E. Feist really helped to solidify my love for classic fantasy. His work expresses a style so classic and yet original it (at times) borderlines cheesy. Because of this, it is amazing.
It seems to me that character development is what really separates average fantasy writers, from the great. Because it is a lot harder to relate to a character who is in another world wielding magic and chopping heads off, making the character a More...
Sep 03, 2011
Sven
rated it:
The Magician: Apprentice was a great book until about 1/2 of the way through. Then it started doing 2 things that torpedoed any sense of enthusiasm I had going.
1~ It starts jumping around in time.
Lots of times characters would set out on some long journey and on the next page.....they arrive. Also, sometimes it would go from one chapter to another and years would fly by with no transition at all. Which makes it hard to maintain a sense of familiarity with the character More...
1~ It starts jumping around in time.
Lots of times characters would set out on some long journey and on the next page.....they arrive. Also, sometimes it would go from one chapter to another and years would fly by with no transition at all. Which makes it hard to maintain a sense of familiarity with the character More...
Mar 31, 2010
Stellar042
rated it:
So I decided to give this review thing a try. There's that.
First off, I didn't read this book in two days, as noted. Took a good 12 days with a slammed schedule. I did find myself reading it a lot considering, I must say, but yet I still reserve judgement. The word that comes to mind is "intriguing" more than something like "enthralling" or "engrossing", which are terms I would apply to most of my five star rated reads. But did I like it? Why, yes. More...
First off, I didn't read this book in two days, as noted. Took a good 12 days with a slammed schedule. I did find myself reading it a lot considering, I must say, but yet I still reserve judgement. The word that comes to mind is "intriguing" more than something like "enthralling" or "engrossing", which are terms I would apply to most of my five star rated reads. But did I like it? Why, yes. More...
Mar 04, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
This is a very good book and the prelude to one of the best books I have read. The author knows how to capture your attention and does it from the very start. The reason I gave it four stars is because it seemed about half the book was about characters other than the main one, characters that you didn't care as much about. Also the ending wasn't really an ending, completely leaves you hanging so I suggest getting the second book the same time so you can go right into it.
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Aug 03, 2011
AnEyeSpy
rated it:
*** too long "Magician" (Riftwar 1) in Raymond Feist's preferred edition, near 700 long pages, re-inserts material omitted from the debut version fantasy worlds. The extra shifts the focus from the apprentice to the backseat conductor, or the endless war. I might prefer another edition.
The start is slow, in a small rural castle outpost. Pals, 13-year old accident-prone orphan Pug and virile Tomas swear lifelong friendship and futures, one to be a powerful magician, the other a s More...
The start is slow, in a small rural castle outpost. Pals, 13-year old accident-prone orphan Pug and virile Tomas swear lifelong friendship and futures, one to be a powerful magician, the other a s More...
Apr 08, 2011
Gwyn
rated it:
Magician: Apprentice is a solid, enjoyable high fantasy novel with a few annoying quirks that you shouldn't let stop you from reading it through. For example, the hero's name, "Pug", is really quite annoying. It works well enough when he is an orphan Keep boy, but calling the powerful, important person he becomes "Pug" is simply ridiculous, and since he is powerful and important for most of the series, Feist really should have chosen a better name. Pug is not the only one wit
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Apr 11, 2011
I can't rate this at all, because I can't figure out how I feel about it. Greg read the book first based on the recommendation of a co-worker and loved it. I've never seen Greg read a book, so I figured it must be amazing. I found an audiobook version of it and started listening to it. The audiobook was TERRIBLE. I didn't know it was possible to talk so slowly. Seriously, I could press fast forward on my stereo and it would still sound a little bit slow. Yet, I kept slugging through it determine
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Feb 19, 2011
Rachael
rated it:
This book was good. I enjoyed reading it. The reason it only gets 4 stars was I feel like this was a first book. There was a whole Lord of the Rings feeling while they were headed into the mines that put me off a little. However once I realized that they weren't going to be attack by a giant flaming demon, I was much happier.
Pug is an interesting character that can't tap into that magic. However he does disappear about 1/2 way into the book. That kind of threw me off because it's not More...
Pug is an interesting character that can't tap into that magic. However he does disappear about 1/2 way into the book. That kind of threw me off because it's not More...
Apr 17, 2010
Nick
rated it:
Mildly derivative at first, but well crafted. I had read the graphic novel first, which may have given me an odd outlook on the story. I found the second half to be a bit frustrating, as that part suffered a bit from "start of the story-itis" after the characters got separated.
This book was not as polished as some of the author's later work, but you could see that the basic thought processes were there, as he thought out some of the cultural clashes that existed alongside the mil More...
This book was not as polished as some of the author's later work, but you could see that the basic thought processes were there, as he thought out some of the cultural clashes that existed alongside the mil More...
Feb 07, 2011
Jon
rated it:
I am kicking myself for not reading this novel when published, my only excuse being I was a teenager with no funds and no connections (remember the state of the Internet in 1982?). I lived twenty miles away from the nearest library back then. If my mom didn't own the book, I didn't get to read it.
This story overflows with likable characters: Pug, Tomas, Carline, Roland, Arutha, Kulgan, Meecham, just to name a few. The pacing skips, trots, canters, gallops, crashes, walks, jumps, More...
This story overflows with likable characters: Pug, Tomas, Carline, Roland, Arutha, Kulgan, Meecham, just to name a few. The pacing skips, trots, canters, gallops, crashes, walks, jumps, More...
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Mar 21, 2011
Rae
rated it:
When I was fourteen or so, this was one of my favorite books. Magic! Elves! Dangerous journeys! DWARVEN EFFING MOUNTAINS!!
I just re-read it, after *mumble* years. And okay, it's a profoundly stupid book. The prose is groan-inducing. You could fill a magician's cauldron with its cliches. The worldview of the characters is incredibly juvenile. And oh, the useless beauty of the WOMEN!
And yet, Goodreads, and yet.
I still loved it. Reading it made me want to don ma More...
I just re-read it, after *mumble* years. And okay, it's a profoundly stupid book. The prose is groan-inducing. You could fill a magician's cauldron with its cliches. The worldview of the characters is incredibly juvenile. And oh, the useless beauty of the WOMEN!
And yet, Goodreads, and yet.
I still loved it. Reading it made me want to don ma More...
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