A Wizard in Bedlam

Rogue Wizard #3

by Christopher Stasheff

The wizard DeCade died generations ago, leading the last great revolt of the Planet Melange's churls against their despotic feudal masters. His bones were broken and lost; only his songs remain.

The Churl Dulain joined the Resistance in his youth-an exile Resistance, devoted to readying the churls for their next great attempt at freedom. Now that moment nears. Back on Melange for the first time in year, Dulain must now hasten that revolt...or die.

The Giant Gar is the mysterious stranger whom no one knows, a power greater than he seems. More powerful, perhaps, than churls, masters, or even the Resistance...

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Magic, Wizards, 20th Century, Science Fiction Fantasy

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

The late Christopher Stasheff was an American science fiction and fantasy author. When teaching proved too real, he gave it up in favor of writing full-time. Stasheff was noted for his blending of science fiction and fantasy, as seen in his Warlock series. He spent his early childhood in Mount Vernon, New York, but spent the rest of his formative years in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stasheff taught at the University of Eastern New Mexico in Portales, before retiring to Champaign, Illinois, in 2009. He had a wife and four children.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it's listed as the third book in the Rogue Wizard series, this was written a decade or two prior to the rest of the novels. It was published in hardcover by Doubleday and was his third book, and was reprinted by DAW in mass market format. At the time I don't think it was made clear that Gar was actually Magnus, oldest son of Rod and Gwen of Graymayre, though later editions may have cleared up (retconned?) that point a bit. It's a good story of revolution to throw off the rich oppressors, involving clones and interstellar politics. It has less of a fantasy feel to it than most of Stasheff's other Warlock or Wizard books, but it's a fun and engaging adventure story.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book for AGES. It's a discard from the Horseheads library, so I'm assuming I got it at their book sale. I had no idea it was #3 in a series, and honestly I don't think there was really a problem reading it as a standalone.

The book was okay. My biggest objection was the female characters. You have Madelon, whose first description has to include how large her breasts are, and who quickly finds herself accidentally topless (and she doesn't even notice...). Then you have Lapin, who's a group leader with a seriously unflattering description. I mean, really? Not only that - by the end Madelon is exposed as being super shallow.

Oh - and I think my favorite thing was when a minor character was announced to be dead, and then showed back up and participated in the plot several times a few pages later.

I don't think I'll hunt down the others in this series anytime soon.

[C.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is considered to be the third book in the Rogue Wizard series, it was written well before the others and even before most of the Warlock In Spite of Himself series. Stasheff later rewrote parts of it so that the character "Gar" was really Magnus. (Not really a spoiler as it is listed as the third book in Magnus's series!)

This was actually the first book I read of Stasheff's and then found the Gramayre series, only realising the connection when I reread it in the chronological order of the storyline.

[Al "Tank" · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gar Pike" is at it again. Trying to free another planet from oppressors. There's a clandestine army ready to go, but things are stalled because of a local legend. DeCade has to come back before the people will act. The problem is, that DeCade's been dead for 600 years.

Much of the book is set-up and the usual wandering around, getting into and out of trouble. But it's necessary.

The story kept moving and I was completely plunged into the story and Stasheff's world. One of his better "Wizard" stories.

[Elar · Rating 3 out of 5]

New planet new revolution to ignite. Little bit better than first book.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took quite a while to understand what the title implied. Fun, quick read.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

A classic formulaic, predictable, shallow, and human condition polemic. Just never succeeded in grabbing nor keeping my interest.

[Bob Ready · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been spending this year reading through the Rogue Wizard series. I started with A Wizard in Mind (book two), then I backed up and read A Wizard in Absentia (book one), because I'm weird like that. This book, being book three, should finally be something not out of order, right? Except ...

In my review of A WIZARD IN ABSENTIA, I asked why an initially psychically powerful man as revealed in book 1, was then reduced in book 2, to have fewer powers. Now, here, in book 3 he is back to his full strength of psychic powers as revealed in book 1, if not more. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The title, A Wizard in Bedlam (Rogue Wizard, #3) contains a very interesting word: bedlam. The definition of "bedlam", according to dictionary dot com is as follows:

bed·lam
[bed-luhm] Show IPA
noun
1. a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.
2. Archaic. an insane asylum or madhouse.
Origin: a popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, which served as a lunatic asylum from circa 1400; compare Middle English Bedleem, Bethleem, Old English Betleem Bethlehem

Now knowing what we know about the fact that Stasheff writes fantasy about planets that have regressed to medieval/feudal systems, it was interesting to me to learn this second definition for this word. I had always used the word with the first definition as a synonym for disorder or commotion, but in this book it is literally a story that contains our wizard Magnus/Gar actually spending actual time in an insane asylum. And in doing so, experiencing a very important plot point.

Like the first book, but unlike the second book, this novel opens with a different character (Dirk) being on the center stage. We jump in mid-activity as Dirk does the things that he is doing (I'm trying not to give you a spoiler) and only after we have learned somewhat of the world through description does Magnus/Gar enter the picture.

This book, more than any other I have read before it in the series, devotes a lot of prose to the discussion of ideas of socialist or communist governance and the question of whether genetics or environment shapes behavior. While interesting, those ideas distracted from the otherwise fantasy/action story taking place. There is, if you are paying attention, a teensy little nugget stuck in to one of these discussions that explains the likely source of Magnus's mental powers.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to.

[Dlynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by this author and it got me hooked; not only on Christopher Stasheff, but on Scifi/Fantasy. I read it while in college and it was the first novel I had ever read in the scifi/fantasy catagory that was not a school assignment. I enjoyed it so much that have hunted down most of this author's series concerning the wizards and warlock. To experience this series, start with The Warlock In Spite Of Himself. This book starts the life-long journey of Rodney d'Armand, the younger son of a younger son who wanders the stars for the inter-stellar government looking for "lost colonies". He and his artificial intelligent computer, are very much a product of scientific thinking, everything has a very logical and scientifically proven reason for being, there is no room for mysticism or magic. Imagine their surprise and chagrin when they land on Gramarye, a planet where magic actually works.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though rewritten to for part of a series, this book stands reasonably well on its own.

An interesting premise of a world created with a captive worker populace for the elite Lords. The story follows the revolt. Though all the elements of an interesting story are there, the flow is stilted and somehow the result is bland. The lead character feels like a beaten puppy dog following an overly powerful hero.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe it or not, I have the first edition of this book, removed from our Library, I was allowed to purchse it! The original version is quite different, as the main character wasn't Magnus to begin with...it was later rewritten a bit to fit in the series. Both versions are good and worth reading!

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was very confusing to me. Of course, I was pretty young when I read it. But when I went back and re-read it when I was a little older, it still seemed rather disjointed. Not as crisp as many of his other books.

[Frank Taranto · Rating 2 out of 5]

A light easy read.

[Centauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the book that introduced me to this extensive series that spans 30+ books and several decades. it was a great simple read with some philosophical concepts that peak here and there

[Peter Berg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring, too much repetition

[Cheryl]

This 3rd book in the Rogue Wizard series would do just fine as a stand-alone story but if you get the chance to read this or any of his other series about his parents or siblings, please try them out for a fun, easy read. If you like the magical stories or the Renaissance Festival, or Fantasy and Science Fiction Christopher Stasheff's books will blow you away. Just like when Magnus d'Armand son of High Wizard Rod Gallowglass goes to Bedlam he ends up going right out of his mind, and the Wizard DeCade, the leader of the last great revolt on planet Melange, steps in.