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The Wizard of 4th Street #8
The Wizard of Lovecraft's Cafe
In order to survive a necromantic ambush, the mystic Runestones merge Wyrdrune the bumbling warlock, cockney kid Billy Slade, immortal king Gorlois, deadly Mordred, and the great Merlin into one being.
210 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 1993
About the author
Simon Hawke
90 books239 followersAlso published as J.D. Masters.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 27, 2024
This book is on my frequent-reader list. I have read it multiple times. I especially like the multiple personality issues of one of the characters, but there are many characters that I enjoy. Unlike many sequels, this book stands alone, with strong action, entertaining characters, and believable events (well -believable in a world where magic works).
The one event that I struggled with was the introduction of the detective as part of the clique - unwelcome and unwilling but still a part.
But there is so much happening that even that is reasonable. Highly recommended!
The power of three comes through and the reluctant addition to the trio is well done, and as the story progresses the new guy begins to fit in.
***update 2013
This is one of my favorite books. It starts with a police raid, led by agents of a futuristic magic-patrollers squad who are after a reported criminal, our hero from the previous book in the series.
The main issue I had was there were places where the point of view changed, and it wasn’t totally obvious at first. It’s a short novel, easily read in an evening, but without going into detail, I will state that the power of this book is such that when I first encountered the runestones I immediately knew the connection between them, even though it has been several years since my last reading.
This take on the King Arthur story actually brings a more believable line to the story, linking the ancients, Uther, Arthur, and Merlin in a different way than has been cast before. It is refreshing to have a King Arthur story, with Merlin, but without them at the same time.
There is magic, and fairies, and good and evil, woven together in a masterful tale of righting an ancient wrong, or perhaps you could say cleaning an ancient wound.
The one event that I struggled with was the introduction of the detective as part of the clique - unwelcome and unwilling but still a part.
But there is so much happening that even that is reasonable. Highly recommended!
The power of three comes through and the reluctant addition to the trio is well done, and as the story progresses the new guy begins to fit in.
***update 2013
This is one of my favorite books. It starts with a police raid, led by agents of a futuristic magic-patrollers squad who are after a reported criminal, our hero from the previous book in the series.
The main issue I had was there were places where the point of view changed, and it wasn’t totally obvious at first. It’s a short novel, easily read in an evening, but without going into detail, I will state that the power of this book is such that when I first encountered the runestones I immediately knew the connection between them, even though it has been several years since my last reading.
This take on the King Arthur story actually brings a more believable line to the story, linking the ancients, Uther, Arthur, and Merlin in a different way than has been cast before. It is refreshing to have a King Arthur story, with Merlin, but without them at the same time.
There is magic, and fairies, and good and evil, woven together in a masterful tale of righting an ancient wrong, or perhaps you could say cleaning an ancient wound.
March 1, 2025
Each of these in this series got darker and darker and there is little humor in this one. But it is still engaging. I really thought I’d read this long ago but while some seemed familiar, a lot didn’t, so I’d probably just forgotten it. Regardless, after trying multiple times, I finally made it through Catseye Gome. And I decided to pick up the series again to finish/refinish it. Now there is just one left.
Except… I learned only yesterday that there is a tenth (or eleventh if you count the standalone Gomez), published in 2023, 26 years after the series ended. And… I learned today that there is another published just two weeks ago! So, for now, there is one left … on my shelf.
Except… I learned only yesterday that there is a tenth (or eleventh if you count the standalone Gomez), published in 2023, 26 years after the series ended. And… I learned today that there is another published just two weeks ago! So, for now, there is one left … on my shelf.
May 24, 2024
Judging by the cover...a thing you should never do :) ......I thought this would be a silly wizard romp. It was actually a very good story about good wizards facing off against the "dark ones".
March 6, 2015
This book, like all the books in this series, is a fun read. I truly enjoyed the interaction between all the characters. The pacing was a little better than most of the books in this series and resolved nicely.
June 9, 2009
Things are building up to the climax.
March 31, 2011
fast, fun read. Oops, last one I have but story's not done
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews