In the hotly anticipated ninth installment of the Young Wizards series, Kit and Nita become part of an elite team investigating the mysterious &ldq...
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Sep 28, 2010
Wealhtheow
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The wizards' battle against entropy and chaos continues in this, the ninth book of Diane Duane's "So You Want to Be a Wizard" series. Kit and Nita are part of the wizarding expedition that accidentally wakes up the long-sleeping Martians. Kit is entranced by them, but all is not well--they are a warlike people, and plan to colonize Earth!
My summary makes it sound a lot more interesting than it actually is. There are far too many characters and not much plot. The vast majo More...
My summary makes it sound a lot more interesting than it actually is. There are far too many characters and not much plot. The vast majo More...
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Jul 30, 2011
Becky
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Ages 10 and up. The 9th book in the Young Wizards series. Kit has developed a curious fascination with Mars, to the point where he wants to be there all the time. Along with a team of other young wizards, he discovers a mysterious egg which contains some latent power. Returning to Mars alone, Kit unwittingly unleashes the power stored inside as if it were waiting just for him, setting in motion the recreation of civilization on the red planet, which draws him into it through a young Martian woma
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Jul 03, 2011
Melissa
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I've been reading the Young Wizards since I was in middle school and I absolutely love these books. When I heard that A Wizard of Mars was coming out, I rushed to Amazon and pre-ordered the book so that I would have it delivered to my home on release day. And then let it sit in my TBR stack for over a year. I finally picked it up this week and started reading it and have been asking myself the same question all week: why did I wait so long to read this book?
In this ninth book, Nita Cal More...
In this ninth book, Nita Cal More...
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Mar 04, 2011
Julie
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Despite the fact they're 'wizards', I have a really hard time calling this fantasy. So it's getting only a science fiction tag from me. Nyea.
As I was reading, I sort of half-remembered what had gone on before. By the time I reached the end of the book, I came to the conclusion that I had missed a book somehow. Possibly two! But now I need to forget enough of the spoilers to be able to go back and read it.
And you should probably start with So You Want to be a Wizard and read t More...
As I was reading, I sort of half-remembered what had gone on before. By the time I reached the end of the book, I came to the conclusion that I had missed a book somehow. Possibly two! But now I need to forget enough of the spoilers to be able to go back and read it.
And you should probably start with So You Want to be a Wizard and read t More...
Jun 24, 2010
Gwyn
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Jun 14, 2011
Shazza
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There haven't been many books I've read in the past two years which have made me stay up late reading them, just because I have to know what's going to happen. A Wizard of Mars is one of those novels.
Diane Duane returns to the characters of her So You Want to be a Wizard? series in this novel, wherein Nita and Kit are divided through their own actions rather than extenuating circumstances. This is definitely more of a coming of age story for the pair than the previous books, though More...
Diane Duane returns to the characters of her So You Want to be a Wizard? series in this novel, wherein Nita and Kit are divided through their own actions rather than extenuating circumstances. This is definitely more of a coming of age story for the pair than the previous books, though More...
Feb 27, 2011
Kiri
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I can't help it, I'm a sucker for Diane Duane's Wizard books. I love how she mixes enough scientific veneer into the plot to keep the wizardry both interesting and realistic (enough). It's not just magic -- there's some actual physics involved!
In this story, we're off to Mars with Kit and Nita, and the vistas and tidbits about Martian geology and current conditions are all well researched and enjoyable for an areophile like myself (with nitpick mode firmly OFF). There are fun re More...
In this story, we're off to Mars with Kit and Nita, and the vistas and tidbits about Martian geology and current conditions are all well researched and enjoyable for an areophile like myself (with nitpick mode firmly OFF). There are fun re More...
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May 01, 2011
lamesalmon
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I can't believe Diane Duane started this series almost 30 years ago. It's been interesting to watch her incorporate modern technology into the series, even as Kit and Nita age only about one book-year for every 15 real-world years. I'm glad she started the series in 1982; part of what drew me to the series was the way Nita's manual snagged her fingers as she ran her hands along that library bookshelf back in book 1.<spoiler> Dairine's laptop-inspired manual Spot is cute, and Nita's searc
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Dec 15, 2011
Scurra
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Any series of books that has reached #9 is one (or both) of two things: successful enough to have a readership base to sustain itself / intricate enough to mean that new readers should absolutely not start here. Whilst I have no idea about the first condition (although I imagine it can't just be vanity publishing!), the second is most definitely true. Although the basic plot is sufficiently independent to be comprehensible to newcomers, the universe building is not explained at all, and severa
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Jul 28, 2011
I loved this book, devoured it actually. Checked it out from the library yesterday and am returning it tomorrow. As always Duane has a way of describing the magical and making it sound real. I was surprised by how much detail went into this, from explaining the routine problems the Spirit rover has to having the simplest things said in passing to have an effect later.
I was disappointed however to see an inconsistent detail in the novel, that fancy dinner Kit was to have with his family was st More...
I was disappointed however to see an inconsistent detail in the novel, that fancy dinner Kit was to have with his family was st More...
Jun 14, 2010
P.M.
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Kit is fascinated by Mars. As a wizard, he wonders why Mars has no planetary and no world kernel. After he inadvertently sets off an ancient spell, he relives Edgar Rice Bourroughs' "John Carter of Mars" books and Orson Wells' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. Luckily, his best friend and fellow wizard Nita is able to help him solve the mystery and hold the Lone Power in check yet again. Since this book is in a long series, it really needs to be read as part of the series
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Apr 11, 2010
Mark
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Diane Duane has done it again. An incredibly well crafted story in the universe she has crafted and evolved over nine fantastic books. For any fan of the series, this is a must read. Anyone new, I highly recommend starting from the first installment.
The painstaking descriptions of the Mars environment really makes everything real - as if this could really be happening and we are oblivious to it. The plot development is a bit like A Wizard's Dilemma and A Wizard Alone where Kit and More...
The painstaking descriptions of the Mars environment really makes everything real - as if this could really be happening and we are oblivious to it. The plot development is a bit like A Wizard's Dilemma and A Wizard Alone where Kit and More...
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Jan 05, 2011
Aviva
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I love this series. The book was long, but I found it entertaining and engrossing. It had been awhile since I read the previous book in the series, but I quickly found myself remembering details I'd forgotten. The characters I've known and loved through the other books were just as charming and likeable as I remembered, and there were cool new characters I'm hoping to see more of in future books.
I fell in love with the author when my then-boyfriend gave me a copy of The Door Into Fire More...
I fell in love with the author when my then-boyfriend gave me a copy of The Door Into Fire More...
Apr 25, 2011
Chelsie
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Apr 09, 2010
Merri-todd
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This ninth book in the Young Wizards series seemed a little slow-moving to me, but I think fans of the series will be pleased with it. The possibility of figuring out what's odd about Mars and finding or awakening sentient life there comes to obsess Kit and drive a wedge between him and Nita. Pop-culture references abound as Kit and other familiar characters, plus some new ones, explore the mystery and get drawn in. (I was thrilled that the planetary wizard for Earth always travels with her i
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Apr 17, 2010
Sheila
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The ninth book in a terrific fantasy/science fiction series. It's been five years since the eighth installment, but it's well worth the wait! In this one, Nita, Kit and fellow wizards go to Mars to investigate the possible revival of past life there. I love the way the author pays tribute to previous SF writers who have speculated about Martian civilization. Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom on Mars! Well, sort of. It's great fun. If you're a newcomer to the series, don't start with this one. Go bac
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Jan 29, 2012
Bruce
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Kit Rodriguez is delighted when a team of wizards working on Mars discover a “note in a bottle,” actually an ancient magical artifact, a large egg shaped object. It could be a message from a long dead race of Martians. He’s so excited that hours after he handles it, he awakes in the middle of the night, and against the warnings of more senior wizards, returns to Mars alone to touch the twelve thousand year old object again. This time the egg shakes itself apart and transforms into a giant scorpi
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Dec 14, 2010
Sammy
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This book did a nice job wrapping up two outstanding story lines in this long running series - the fascination that Kit has had with Mars as a wizard; and Nina and Kits' relationship, which has bordered between best friends and Something More forever.
Oddly, in other ways, it felt very much like an in between book - other story lines were just left hanging and so badly developed that I wondered why there were brought up at all, other then to remind the reader they were still there (pe More...
Oddly, in other ways, it felt very much like an in between book - other story lines were just left hanging and so badly developed that I wondered why there were brought up at all, other then to remind the reader they were still there (pe More...
Sep 22, 2010
Beth
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I am not a critical reviewer of Diane Duane's work by any means, indeed, the particular philosophy for the workings of the universe that she has devised, has, over the decades I have been reading her, saved me from despair.
That being said, A Wizard of Mars did not at all disappoint.
And rather than being too specific, I will simply say that I have waited for the final event of the book with some anticipation for nearly twenty years. Well done! More...
That being said, A Wizard of Mars did not at all disappoint.
And rather than being too specific, I will simply say that I have waited for the final event of the book with some anticipation for nearly twenty years. Well done! More...
May 03, 2010
Alana
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Finally! Diane Duane's new book is out! Hurray!
The title may seem a little silly; the words "wizard" and "Mars" usually make people think cheesy, corny, stupid. However, this book was amazing - as were all of the other installments in the series. No, this one was not my favorite; High Wizardry still holds that place in my heart.
I was especially pleased to see how Kit and Nita are obviously developing into adults; no longer are they just a pair of kids. Also, I love More...
The title may seem a little silly; the words "wizard" and "Mars" usually make people think cheesy, corny, stupid. However, this book was amazing - as were all of the other installments in the series. No, this one was not my favorite; High Wizardry still holds that place in my heart.
I was especially pleased to see how Kit and Nita are obviously developing into adults; no longer are they just a pair of kids. Also, I love More...
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Jul 20, 2011
Candace
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Jan 16, 2011
Vicki
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Earth has always had an interesting relationship with the red planet. Be it dreams of exploration and colonization, or nightmares of giant space-invaders, Mars seems to have always held a special (and frightening) place in our minds.
And we're not alone. Other species in our galaxy have felt this strange connection to Mars as well. But even their science is at a loss. Looks like it's up to wizards to find some answers.
Problem is, wizards have been looking for answers for over More...
And we're not alone. Other species in our galaxy have felt this strange connection to Mars as well. But even their science is at a loss. Looks like it's up to wizards to find some answers.
Problem is, wizards have been looking for answers for over More...
Sep 08, 2010
Laura
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This one felt very different from the previous Young Wizards books, more personal somehow, but I absolutely loved it. You can tell she loved writing it and got really into the subject of mars in doing so. It has to be challenging to write a story making use of in-process research.
I appreciate that the characters are finally showing signs of growing up (it is a little bizarre to me that when I started reading the books, Nita and Kit were older than me and now I am something like t More...
I appreciate that the characters are finally showing signs of growing up (it is a little bizarre to me that when I started reading the books, Nita and Kit were older than me and now I am something like t More...
Apr 14, 2010
MB
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May 10, 2011
Swankivy
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I enjoyed this book, but the first half was dull compared to the second half. I felt like Duane spent too much time making inside jokes, displaying "cute" aspects of wizardry (I don't think I can forgive her for "WizPod," still), and name-dropping about a bajillion previous characters so we wouldn't forget about them before they became completely unimportant to the plot. I did like where it led, though--to the terrifying transformation of Nita's partner Kit into a tool of his
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Jan 30, 2012
Luann
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I thought this was so much fun! I loved all the Mars bits. Duane must have had a ton of fun researching for this one - watching all sorts of old "Mars attacks" movies. She made me want to sit down and watch some! I especially loved the part with the War of the Worlds broadcast, since I read Meghan McCarthy's Aliens Are Coming!: The True Account Of The 1938 War Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast with my library classes last year.
My one complaint with this is that it is far too lo More...
My one complaint with this is that it is far too lo More...
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Jul 16, 2010
Victoria
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I waited a long time for this book, and it didn't disappoint. Once again Diane Duane proves herself capable of adding to and expanding upon this amazing world she's created, in poignant and sweeping style.
Mars, the red planet that has captured Earth's imagination for centuries. And it's also got its hooks into a certain handful of wizards, who are investigating the history of the planet, which is mysterious even by their standards.
But when Kit, involved heart and soul More...
Mars, the red planet that has captured Earth's imagination for centuries. And it's also got its hooks into a certain handful of wizards, who are investigating the history of the planet, which is mysterious even by their standards.
But when Kit, involved heart and soul More...
Dec 11, 2011
rivka
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So close to 5 stars! The allusions, references, and callbacks to the many versions of Mars were just lovely. Seeing Nita and Kit deal with mid-puberty was fun and sweet, and I especially liked the subtlety of the last bit of that. Watching both of them deal with the aftermath of lost loved ones was all-too-realistic and required a tissue or two.
And the wizards -- both new and from previous books -- were FUN and amusing.
Two things:
* Nitpick: It is Caltech. It is nev More...
And the wizards -- both new and from previous books -- were FUN and amusing.
Two things:
* Nitpick: It is Caltech. It is nev More...
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Oct 16, 2010
E.
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Kit Rodriguez is fixated on Mars and searching to discover what has happened to its kernel. Nita Callahan feels a bit excluded from Kit's obsession but has enough to juggle on her own as she struggles to learn how to deal with her oracular talents. A complicated mixture of time and spiritual manipulation with entertaining interjections from Carmela and Dairene as they blithely continue to pursue their own goals. Nice juxtaposition of normal teen angst and wizardly concerns.
Apr 26, 2011
Elizabeth
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I've loved these books since middle school and this new installment does not disappoint. Even subtly updating the series for the 21st century did not interfere with the tone and pace of the story. Granted, Duane has been doing that for the last few books, so not much change was required. Nita and Kit are still warm and real characters even for a jaded 24-year-old like me. This is a wonderful example of why I love YA fiction. From adventures on Mars to Duane's special blend of magic and techn
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