Like a venerable patriarch, Magician stands at the head of a great tribe of fantasy writing. When Raymond Feist's enormous novel was published, cri...
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Apr 30, 2010
Shivesh
rated it: 
Good story, but filled with fantasy cliches. Feist wrote this back in the early 80's so he should know better - Tolkien, Norton, Moorcock and others tread this ground before.
Admittedly though, it is a hell of a pageturner even though the characters are badly drawn and the narrative is wacky as it speeds through years of development in a single paragraph. The love and romance is painful to read, skip over them.
Considering that Feist stumbled upon a unique and admirable new More...
Admittedly though, it is a hell of a pageturner even though the characters are badly drawn and the narrative is wacky as it speeds through years of development in a single paragraph. The love and romance is painful to read, skip over them.
Considering that Feist stumbled upon a unique and admirable new More...
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Jan 08, 2012
Steve
rated it: 
Pug and Tomas are apprentices, with dreams of glory, imagining themselves heroes, but they are just boys of the keep with only modest prospects. But then one day a mysterious and alien ship is shipwrecked off the coast of Crydee. This is the first sign of an invading army from another world seeking to conquer the Kingdom of Isles, and suddenly the world will never be the same again. Pug and Tomas find that they are propelled by fate towards greater things, all they have to do is survive& [return
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Dec 19, 2011
Maurizio
rated it:
Da: http://www.mauriziovicedomini.heliohost.org/2011/03/recensione-il-signore-della-magia-raymond-e-feist/
Dopo la recente rilettura di questo libro, mi sono accorto di come il mio parere su questo volume sia cambiato. Nel 2003, quando comprai il Signore della Magia, feci quasi fatica a finirlo, trovandolo pesante sia dal punto di vista stilistico che per quanto riguarda la trama.
A otto anni di distanza tuttavia, mi trovo a ricredermi del tutto su questo libro in ogni suo aspetto.
Premetto che que More...
Dopo la recente rilettura di questo libro, mi sono accorto di come il mio parere su questo volume sia cambiato. Nel 2003, quando comprai il Signore della Magia, feci quasi fatica a finirlo, trovandolo pesante sia dal punto di vista stilistico che per quanto riguarda la trama.
A otto anni di distanza tuttavia, mi trovo a ricredermi del tutto su questo libro in ogni suo aspetto.
Premetto che que More...
May 28, 2011
Jessamay
rated it: 
I loved the whole idea - the clash of two fantasy worlds. And I LOVED Tsuranuanni, it's just a fascinating place - no metal, Ancient Chinese culture, giant ants...anyway, it's all good stuff.
But what I loved most, was watching something happen to Feist that it seems like he didn't entirely plan. I dunno, I could be totally wrong. Maybe he planned from the start to have Arutha kind of monopolise the story and make his other two main characters look...fairly boring. Okay, Pug wasn't bo More...
But what I loved most, was watching something happen to Feist that it seems like he didn't entirely plan. I dunno, I could be totally wrong. Maybe he planned from the start to have Arutha kind of monopolise the story and make his other two main characters look...fairly boring. Okay, Pug wasn't bo More...
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Feb 26, 2011
Aidan
rated it:
One of the best novels ever to be released? In a word yes.
Magician remains the greatest stand alone fantasy novel ever to be published despite being a quarter of a century old. Truly epic in scale the novels main focus is the story of Pug, from his humble beginnings as orphaned kitchen boy, to his apprentice and mastery of the magic arts. So far so normal, as far as fantasy novels go. What sets this novel apart is the sheer scale of the thing, it is set over 25 years for a start. Also More...
Magician remains the greatest stand alone fantasy novel ever to be published despite being a quarter of a century old. Truly epic in scale the novels main focus is the story of Pug, from his humble beginnings as orphaned kitchen boy, to his apprentice and mastery of the magic arts. So far so normal, as far as fantasy novels go. What sets this novel apart is the sheer scale of the thing, it is set over 25 years for a start. Also More...
Feb 18, 2011
Kate
rated it:
Love it! I've been waiting a long time to revisit Midkemia and Kelewan because there are just so many books in this series, and once you start, you just have to read them all.
Magician really is sweeping in its scope, both in years and distance as well as sheer inventiveness. The characters are not deeply drawn and the dialogue can sometimes be a bit cheesy, but the story is always gripping, there are no bits where you skip or go "bored now".
I first read the Riftwa More...
Magician really is sweeping in its scope, both in years and distance as well as sheer inventiveness. The characters are not deeply drawn and the dialogue can sometimes be a bit cheesy, but the story is always gripping, there are no bits where you skip or go "bored now".
I first read the Riftwa More...
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Dec 31, 2010
Majanka
rated it:
There is not much that can be said about Magician. It is, in all fairness, a masterpiece, a work of high-standing literature that casts a new light on fantasy novels in general. If there was ever a worthy successor of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, than it is without a doubt Feist’s Riftwar Series. Magician was the very first adult fantasy novel I ever bought, approximately eight years ago, and I was hooked right away. No matter how many times I reread this amazing adventure, it can still keep me
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Sep 18, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 10, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
This is the author's edition of this classic work of Sci-Fi. But I should say up front that I have not read the edited version of this work, and that it may actually lack some of the indulgence that this one does contain from time to time. That said, this is an amazing work, a real epic saga covering two worlds and countless characters, and, for me, maintaining my interest with a sense of awe at the ambition of it all as I read. I wonder if I would have been so gob-smacked by the scope of thi
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Nov 25, 2011
Judith
rated it:
This book was one of my favourites seven years ago. I recently re-read it in english instead of dutch, and I was again immediately swept away to the two worlds that Feist describes in Magician. To this day it is still one of the most enjoyable fantasy novels I've read.
My fascination for samurai-like cultures was satisfied by the war-loving Tsuranni, and the charming, somewhat medieval world of Midkemia reminded me of the many online post-by-post RPGs I used to partake in when I was 14.
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My fascination for samurai-like cultures was satisfied by the war-loving Tsuranni, and the charming, somewhat medieval world of Midkemia reminded me of the many online post-by-post RPGs I used to partake in when I was 14.
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Dec 09, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Reading Magician took a lot out of me. I could only read it in 50 page bursts. There are so many threads to the plot that are woven, unraveled and rewoven together. For all of its details, descriptions, characters and plot developments, many of the most interesting threads I fear are left dangling. Book 1 held my attention better than Book 2. By about page 400 I was ready for the book to be over but I felt I had enough invested in it to finish.
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Sep 28, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
3.5*, but I've rounded up.
This is a long book. Now, I've read long books before, but with this one I was very aware of the fact that it was a long book. Sometimes I'd sit and read for an hour and not really seem to make any headway. But at the same time, every piece of this quite intricate story with its many interweaving threads and characters is absolutely necessary. Losing any one part would have had a serious impact on the story as a whole.
The impact of this can also be s More...
This is a long book. Now, I've read long books before, but with this one I was very aware of the fact that it was a long book. Sometimes I'd sit and read for an hour and not really seem to make any headway. But at the same time, every piece of this quite intricate story with its many interweaving threads and characters is absolutely necessary. Losing any one part would have had a serious impact on the story as a whole.
The impact of this can also be s More...
Jan 28, 2012
Martin
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 14, 2010
Matt
rated it:
Quite possibly the best fantasy book I have ever read to date. The world that Feist creates is absolutely perfect for this story (and the countless following). I was easily able to feel that Pug and Thomas were real characters and found myself anticipating each new plot turn as I was reading.
Characters aside, Magician sets up the fantasy world of Midkemia, a land of magic, warriors, peasants and kingdoms. Its been a few years since I have actually read this book so a few details a fuzzy, More...
Characters aside, Magician sets up the fantasy world of Midkemia, a land of magic, warriors, peasants and kingdoms. Its been a few years since I have actually read this book so a few details a fuzzy, More...
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Jul 09, 2011
強
rated it:
I have been a bit of a maniac in reading this massive book 3 times, but I have to confess to being a mad fan of the series. While I will not bore you with plot descriptions, (others have done a far better job), I will give a couple of reasons why I have bothered reading this book and others more than once.
Firstly, the originality of the book and the concepts that lie behind the story is something that has kept the interest going for many years. Being a Japanese history buff, the inspi More...
Firstly, the originality of the book and the concepts that lie behind the story is something that has kept the interest going for many years. Being a Japanese history buff, the inspi More...
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May 06, 2011
Thomas
rated it:
In 'Magician', Feist has undoubtedly created one of the best fantasy epics that this genre of literature has ever seen. Comparable with Tolkien, Martin and Le Guin, this novel sets the benchmark for any other fantasy book to aspire to. It is a classic tale of elves, dwarves and men interspersed with friendship, love, betrayal, court intrigue and of course...magic! This is the first novel in the breathtaking Riftwar Saga; a trilogy that defines pure epic fantasy and one which will unquestionably
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Mar 06, 2011
Susan
rated it: 
Hmmmmm..... What shall I say. I read it like I was recommended to. And the Only thing I liked about this book was the first 100 pages or so of love story. Then the rest of the story I found to be unoriginal and just traditional for what you'd expect a fantasy story to be.
It seemed like someone was a little jealous of Tolkien but couldn't quite match his talents and so tried to copy what Tolkien started. Or I dunno if this is true as this is my first real fantasy book. but that's what More...
It seemed like someone was a little jealous of Tolkien but couldn't quite match his talents and so tried to copy what Tolkien started. Or I dunno if this is true as this is my first real fantasy book. but that's what More...
Sep 15, 2010
Cams
rated it:
I read this years ago as an adolescent and took the notion to give it another try. I find that many of the fantasy books I read as a kid, before I got my degree in Russian literature, bore me to tears. This started out feeling a little bit that way, but it got better and by the time I got to the second book, I was drawn right in.
I feel that it still lacks a certain something, depth perhaps. Although it's not a short book, so perhaps it's just about right. I'd have liked to have follo More...
I feel that it still lacks a certain something, depth perhaps. Although it's not a short book, so perhaps it's just about right. I'd have liked to have follo More...
Aug 16, 2011
Mach
rated it:
This was one of the first fantasy books i read after LOTR. It's not anything new, but it was a great read and i was at the time really impressed. If you want a classic fantasy tale with swords and magic, this is one of the best ones out there. Unfortunately Feist loses the "magic" after this book.
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Nov 25, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
This has been on my to read list for a while. I really enjoyed it. It begins in a mediaeval fantasy world and follows the main characters Pug and Thomas introduced as boyhood friends. Mysterious aliens are quickly introduced into the story line and in time war breaks out between the kingdom and these travellers through a rift in space-time. One of the strengths of the book is the development of two complete fantasy worlds. Initially the treatment of the aliens is your typical bad guy scenar
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Jul 15, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
I'm always on the lookout for a good fantasy story. After seeing such good reviews on this one, I decided to try it out. I really enjoyed it. It was a somewhat light read and not bogged down with too many characters or too many plotlines. The first part of this book of the Riftwar series is a story that is mostly based around a boy named Pug. Pug is a good hearted boy who was orphaned at the castle in Crydee. He was raised by the cook and his wife. They had a biological son as well named Tomas.
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Dec 28, 2008
Glitterfairy
rated it:
Not without flaw, but still an enjoyable read.
There's a writing style here that's quite different to anything I've read before. It's more humorous than Tolkien, but not as funny as Eddings. The plot strings are lore are something like Le Guin, but nothing on Jacqueline Carey (sorry, don't know if she's well-known enough to just be able to use her last name yet). It's not as well-threaded as Pierce, but thankfully not quite as stretched out as Karen Miller.
The most intere More...
There's a writing style here that's quite different to anything I've read before. It's more humorous than Tolkien, but not as funny as Eddings. The plot strings are lore are something like Le Guin, but nothing on Jacqueline Carey (sorry, don't know if she's well-known enough to just be able to use her last name yet). It's not as well-threaded as Pierce, but thankfully not quite as stretched out as Karen Miller.
The most intere More...
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Jul 14, 2011
James
rated it:
This book blew me away.
It is the perfect example of my belief that there is a time and place for all things in this life, and that includes books. For over three years now I have refused to read this book upon the principle that I did not like the idea of two merging worlds, and the misguided understanding of the word 'alien' in the blurb. However, picking this book up recently I have stumbled across a great piece of literature that reminds me of the quality that books can be - I have More...
It is the perfect example of my belief that there is a time and place for all things in this life, and that includes books. For over three years now I have refused to read this book upon the principle that I did not like the idea of two merging worlds, and the misguided understanding of the word 'alien' in the blurb. However, picking this book up recently I have stumbled across a great piece of literature that reminds me of the quality that books can be - I have More...
Dec 14, 2010
Elfear
rated it:
It wasn't too bad. Okay, I thought the writing was pretty bad. The characters at times felt contrived and unnatural, especially the girls. It was too slow-moving. That said, most of the storyline was pretty cool. I liked both worlds and how Feist tried to give an appreciation of both cultures/worlds. It was quite epic, and parts of it were sweetly <i/> realistic, if that makes any sense. The part about Carline and Pug.
It must be noted that several times he seemed to be biased More...
It must be noted that several times he seemed to be biased More...
Jun 10, 2010
Jonathan
rated it:
I first read this book as a teenager, about 20 years ago. At the time my friends and I considered Magician to be the pinnacle of the Fantasy genre, and I still see it discussed with the same reverence today.
A few years back I re-read Magician with very high expectations, but found it a fairly bland read. Neither the story or its characters gripped me, and the narrative structure seemed somewhat clumsy.
I finished reading Magician, but didn't rush out to buy the other books More...
A few years back I re-read Magician with very high expectations, but found it a fairly bland read. Neither the story or its characters gripped me, and the narrative structure seemed somewhat clumsy.
I finished reading Magician, but didn't rush out to buy the other books More...
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Sep 15, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Whew....a book of truly epic proportions, and one that I loved every second of.
It's absolutely impossible to sum up the plot, as so much happens within, over a period of many years (and within a couple of worlds) to many people. It's no small wonder that I liked this so much seeing as it took everything I love about fantasy in the Tolkein tradition and threw in a bit more too - elves, magicians, dragons, dwarves, warring nations, mad kings, political intrigue, alternate worlds, pater More...
It's absolutely impossible to sum up the plot, as so much happens within, over a period of many years (and within a couple of worlds) to many people. It's no small wonder that I liked this so much seeing as it took everything I love about fantasy in the Tolkein tradition and threw in a bit more too - elves, magicians, dragons, dwarves, warring nations, mad kings, political intrigue, alternate worlds, pater More...
May 13, 2011
Pedess
rated it:
I read Magician after playing a computer RPG based on a novel by Feist. Magician opened a new world - actually several new worlds - to me. It is an epic story about a boy who faces huge changes in the world he lives in to become the most powerful magician the world has seen. It tells the story of his childhood friend and the ruling family. It incorporates Feist's wonderful description of military strategy, his unparallel character development, and effortless story telling. It also introduces the
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Jul 29, 2011
Jayne
rated it:
I'm not normally a big fan of fantasy novels (I didn't get on with Lord of the Rings for example), this one wasn't too bad, all things considered. The start didn't grab me particularly, and I was a bit confused by the Magician thing - in the UK we would surely call him a Wizard as in Harry Potter - a Magician is someone who produces rabbits from hats and cuts ladies in half....isn't he? But no matter. 'Magician' picked up about a quarter of the way in, with the introduction of the wonderfully bo
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Apr 08, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Surprisingly good read - although some of the character development was a predictable, the overall plot idea is brilliant, and gives Feist leeway to really cram two books worth of story into one. Novel in its approach to painting a great period of time in rough strokes instead of getting bogged down in the details, Feist manages to tell a compellingly epic story in only one novel (Jordan might have taken notes), albeit a large one. The larger story of the chaos war, only hinted at in this nove
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May 18, 2009
Geraint
rated it:
Magician is one of those rare books that you stumble upon by accident, but end up loving for the rest of your life. I forget exactly how I came by it, either a gift or a purchase by me, but either way I'm distinctly grateful to have had the chance to read this book.
The story is of an orphaned keep boy, Pug, discovered to have limited talents with magic. But more than this, it's also a story of being a boy, of growing up and finding a place in the world. The Kingdom of the Isles is we More...
The story is of an orphaned keep boy, Pug, discovered to have limited talents with magic. But more than this, it's also a story of being a boy, of growing up and finding a place in the world. The Kingdom of the Isles is we More...
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