I am heavily interested in computers, software and information technology. Ok I admit it, I'm gadget...
I am heavily interested in computers, software and information technology. Ok I admit it, I'm gadget mad! I try to write honest opinions and sometimes they might be over technical, but thats the nature of computers.
Member since:28.09.2000
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Of all the fantasy books that I have ever read, Magician is probably the only one that I read every year. It is such a great story (and I read so many books) that i re-read it just to refresh my memory and so that I can escape this often mundane world of ours.
I first started reading fantasy novels after reading Stephen King's 'Eyes of the Dragon' which he wrote for his children. (I was a big horror fan in my teens.) Then I read the first three Dragonlance novels and it was while reading these that a friend noticed and loaned me Magician by Raymond E. Feist.
Such is Feist's narrative and style that I didn't put the book down for three days (I was on holiday), except to eat etc. It is an epic tale, mainly about an orphaned boy, Pug, taken in by his home castle's cook. The cook has a son, called Tomas, of the same age and the first couple of chapters deal with their friendship, the
trials of youth and the upcoming Choosing, when the various youths are apprenticed by the tradesmen of the castle and local town, Crydee.
Both Pug and Tomas have set their hearts on becoming soldiers, but due to his lack of height Pug is quite naturally worried. One day whilst out collecting shellfish for the kitchen, he dallies a little too long at the beach, almost gets trapped by the incoming tide, twists his ankle on a rock and falls asleep on the beach. Upon waking, he finds that it has got dark and to make matters worse a storm has arisen.
Limping home he is almost gored by a wild pig, but is saved by Meecham who takes him to reat with his master, the castle's magician Kulgan who is also advisor to the Duke of Crydee. Whilst at Kulgan's cottage, Pug gazes into a crystal ball, revealing to Kulgan that he has a talent for magic.
What follows is a little predictable, but then this criticism can be levelled at any book or film. It is how a book is written or in the case of films directed that makes it stand out from the crowd and such is Feist's skill that time flies by and you find yourself reading just one more page before you go to sleep.
The land of Midkemia (Pug's homeworld) is vividly described and you find yourself picturing Elvander (home of the elves) and Rillanon (capital city of the Kingdom of the Isles) with some ease.
Although the book starts out being primarily about Pug and his journey towards the Magician of the title, it deviates after the discovery that a warlike people from another world (Kelewan) have invaded Midkemia via a tear in the fabric of reality (called a rift) which has been fashioned by Kelewan's magicians.
The skirmishes and battles that follow are well described and are used as bridges between the continuing development of the books major characters, with more important characters being introduced as the story develops.
As far as the rest of the story goes, I will leave it for you to discover. I don't consider myself an authority on Fantasy books but I have read ever major author in the genre and this is one of the best books I have ever read. Such was it's influence that I use the name Valheru whenever I visit chat rooms.
The Magician is the first of a trilogy called The Riftwar Saga, and also the first of many books set on Midkemia. Below is a full list and where they fit in relation to each other, as some novels were published later but in terms of the history and timeline go before others.
Riftwar Saga Magician - 1982 Silverthorn - 1985 A Darkness at Sethanon - 1986
Riftwar Legacy Krondor - The Betrayal - 1998 Krondor - The Assasins - 1999 Krondor - Tear of the Gods - 2000
Prince of the Blood - 1989 The King's Buccaneer - 1992
The Serpentwar Saga Shadow of A Dark Queen - 1994 Rise of A Merchant Prince - 1995 Rage of A Demon King - 1997 Shards of A Broken Crown - 1998
Feist also co-wrote three stories about Kelewan, with Janny Wurts. These are:
Daughter of the Empire Servant of the Empire Mistress of the Empire
and has also written another book about Midkemia (with Joel Rosenberg) called:
Murder in Lamut
but this has not yet been published (due in 2002).
I've also found that Feist wll be publishing another novel this year called - Tales of the Riftwar. It is due to be published on the 2nd July 2001.
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very helpful :) not that my comments are.... xnaomix
Penfold49 28.09.2002 17:30
I usually re-read these books every two years, just a long enough gap to keep me from skimming instead of escaping into the story. Raymond E. Feist is a truly excellent fantasy writer. I must look around for the missing titles from my collection! Great review! Pen.
Lady-Dragon 28.06.2001 23:18
That was a very well written opinion and I heartily agree with everything that you have said. Magician is one of my favourites and I have read my copy so often it is falling to bits! Brilliant!
Mar 13th, 2001
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