A Wizard in Mind (Rogue Wizard) - Hardcover

Stasheff, Christopher

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312856954 ISBN 13: 9780312856953

Publisher: Tor Books, 1995

Synopsis

Magnus Gallowglass leaves his home planet to find his own destiny, spread democracy everywhere, and destroy petty planetary tyrants

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Reviews

This volume kicks off a new series dedicated to the travels of Magnus d'Armand, who is rebelling against his famous father, Rod Gallowglass, hero of several Stasheff novels (The Warlock in Spite of Himself). Magnus, under the alias of Gar Pike, travels to the island of Pirogia on the planet Petrarch, which he wishes to convert into a democracy. There, he befriends Gianni Braccalese, the son of a leading merchant. Gianni's attempts to trade his father's goods with other lands are impeded by the Stiletto Company, mercenaries in the employ of one Prince Raginaldi. (At one point, to disguise themselves from marauding soldiers, Magnus (as Gar) suggests that he and Gianni call themselves Giorgio and Lenni-and does several riffs on rabbits, just in case the reader misses the point.) During his quest Magnus encounters several competing factions-with more than one originating off-world-to be overcome. But battle scenes are either described after the fact or rendered in lackluster exposition, and too many familiar names are invoked (Vladimir; Estragon; Feste) but generally ill used. While this series may develop into something interesting, this first volume doesn't bode well.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Stasheff's earlier series hero Rod Gallowglass' eldest son, Magnus, has left his birth world, Gramayre, to roam the galaxy in a sentient spaceship and foil the plots of the evil and the well-intentioned but stupid. It is some of the latter he runs into on a planet whose human civilization has evolved into something very like Renaissance Italy. Befriending a young trader, Magnus embarks on a quest to find out who is causing an outbreak of war on the planet and then to stop it. Stasheff's pacing is brisk, his historical literacy high, and his wit abundant and dry as ever. In this first outing on his own for Magnus, his creator has not quite solved the problem--posed by the facts that Magnus is physically imposing and telekinetic and has a spaceship on call--of making his victories seem less than inevitable. It's agreeable reading, though, boding well for further Magnus Gallowglass adventures. Roland Green

Magnus Gallowglass, scion of technological warlock Rod Gallowglass, leaves the shelter of his father's reputation as he sets out for distant planets in need of delivery from oppressive governments. On a distant planet, Magnus encounters a complex web of political intrigue and despotism that has been made worse by the ill-informed meddlings of a rival group of intergalactic interventionists. As a spin-off from the author's popular Warlock novels (begun in 1969 with The Warlock in Spite of Himself), this series opener should find a built-in readership. Stasheff has a knack for crafting a lighthearted, action-filled tale.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Tor Books
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312856954
• ISBN 13: 9780312856953
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224