Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Wizard (Wizard Knight, Bk 2)

The Wizard (Wizard Knight, Bk 2)
The Wizard - Wizard Knight, Bk 2
Author: Gene Wolfe
Sir Able returns to Mythgathr on his steed, Cloud, a great mare the color of her name. Able is filled with new knowledge of the ways of the seven-fold world and possessed of great magical secrets. His knighthood now beyond question, Able works to fulfill his vows to his king, his lover, his friends, his gods, and even his enemies. Able must set ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780765314703
ISBN-10: 0765314703
Publication Date: 10/1/2005
Pages: 480
Rating:
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 7

3.1 stars, based on 7 ratings
Publisher: Tor Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

althea avatar reviewed The Wizard (Wizard Knight, Bk 2) on + 774 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The Knight - Gene Wolfe
The Wizard - Gene Wolfe

One story, two books.
I expected to LOVE these - I'd really been anticipating reading them.
But - I didn't love them. I tried, but I just didn't.
For one thing, this story uses the exact same gimmick as Wolfe's The Book of the Short Sun trilogy (you are reading book written for an unseen, not-present person). Not only that, I am sorry, but the narrator has the EXACT SAME VOICE as in that other book. It is written as the exact same character, even though superficially, they are supposed to be two very different people. If you've read one of these books, the similiarity will be unavoidable and distracting.
Another distraction is that the main character is an American boy who, wandering in the woods, slips into a complicated hierarchy of seven other worlds altogether. Due to the magic of an Elf-Queen, he is instantly transformed into the shape of an older, big, muscular man.
The shape/age change is used in the book to some degree, mainly for the repeated philosophical observation that most men feel like boys masquerading as men.
But the fact that he is American, or even from our world, is not utilized in the story at all. He forgets most of his life in our world, it hardly ever comes up, and is not essential to the plot in any way. It's just an unnecessary complication. Odd things occur - and it's alomost as if the character just doesn't react - not like an American would react, and really not like the typical inhabitant of the world where he is would react either. It's just sort of odd. And dull.

I hate to say it, but the books are kind of boring. They're slow-moving, and I just didn't feel that Wolfe's usage of classic fantasy elements worked very well. (Not nearly as well as in any of Wolfe's other books that I've read.) His hierarchy-of-worlds had some interesting elements to it, and some of the characters, especially the fire-elf 'sisters' were cool - but I feel it either needed more action or a more-coherent philosophy pulling it all together.
Read All 3 Book Reviews of "The Wizard Wizard Knight Bk 2"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Wizard (Wizard Knight, Bk 2) on + 33 more book reviews
I did not finish this book. It is too confusing. I could not keep track of who was who.

Book Wiki

Series
Wizard Knight  2 of 2

Genres: