A Wizard and a Warlord

Rogue Wizard #8

by Christopher Stasheff

During his last flight for peace and democracy on a forgotten planet, Gar Pike somehow managed to get himself a new traveling Alea, a young with a certain amount of psychic ability--and a heavy dose of attitude to boot. Now he can't get anything done. The ship feels like it's shrinking, and Alea's always around, asking questions, sticking her nose in, and generally making a nuisance of herself. When they finally land of their next target planet, she even tries to convince him that the people there don't need his help, since they have no government to overthrow! Obviously, Alea isn't cut out for this business. However, as Gar continues to stick his nose where it doesn't belong, he Could it be that a planet without any government can survive peacefully and happily? And stranger Could it be that having Alea around isn't so bad after all?

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 2, 2000

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 3 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in the Rogue Wizard series, and sees Magnus/Gar trying to adapt to his new female companion while wondering how to help the citizens of an ungoverned planet. It's an amusing if light-weight entry in the series, with plenty of social satire and speculation and amusing dialog. Fun stuff, but not among Stasheff's best.

[Elar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whole series is quite light weight adventure entertainment with introduction to different political situations, characters are little bit too naive at the times and it has heavy repetition in all of the books.

[Squeaky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story ended up better than I thought it was going to be. I'm giving it three stars, I'll read some more in the series and see how it goes.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite the imaginative world - one I would enjoy going to.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

@ 1.0% // "fairly glowing with rage", "fairly sizzling with anger"? Overuse of the word "fairly" does not sit well with me.

@ 48.7% // And this time the modified story is Cinderella. How interesting. I didn't realize that I was reading a compilation of folk tales from around the world with a formulaic Magnus d'Armand plot as a wrapper, but it appears that I am. Good stuff, though.

@ 64.8% // I need which MagnusGar reveals himself to be an Act Utilitarian: "I seek the greatest good of the greatest number..."

@ 72.6% // Ah, MagnusGar's new deus ex machina mental talent: the ability to instantly self-teleport. Well then. If it weren't for his self-imposed ethics rules, which seem to vary in restriction from tale to tale, we wouldn't have any plot conflict, would we? He can already command the bodies of others and the minds of others and non-sentient objects. It is a wonder he feels any anxiety at all, really.

@ 93.1% // And just like that, the deed was done. Assassination, again.

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Stasheff's Rogue Wizard series. They're quick, they have good social commentary but also have some fun.

Actually come to think of it, I've enjoyed all three of his Wizard series. I don't know why he doesn't write anymore, but he should.

[Whizilliam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given this book a 3/5 But it let me down at the end and made me feel like the story was pointless, at least it was short.