Robert Newcomb Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: steven vanzant SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Prince Tristan does not want to become a king when he turns thirty, he would much rather become a soldier. But during the coronation ceremony everyone is killed by unexpected Minions of Day and Night no one knew about. Tristan and Wig are the only one who get away, and have to save Tristan's twin sister, Shailiha, who was kidnapped by the evil sorceresses during the attack.
"
Del Rey, Aug 2002, 26.95, 624 pp.
ISBN: 0345448928
Over three centuries ago, the malevolent Coven nearly destroyed Eutracia. However, the kingdom's wizards managed to defeat the evil sorceresses. The victory resulted in exile of the surviving sorceresses across the vast ocean to Parthalon, the ban on female magic practitioners within the realm, and required vows by male applicators to remain on the side of the light.
Plotting vengeance and final destruction of their enemies, the sorceresses begin a plot to obliterate Eutracia and its magical do-gooders through the regal line. They plan to abduct Princess Shailiha so that a special doomsday machine incantation can be completed that will result in either their victory or the end of the planet. Only her brother Prince Tristan and his advisor Wigg the wizard stand in the way of the sorceresses' success.
THE FIFTH SORCERESS is clearly one of the top three fantasy tales of the year. The story line is typical good vs. evil epic with the forces of the light led by a reluctant hero and his wise advisory wizard while their opponents will stop at nothing including global destruction to gain victory. However, Wigg, whose advice does not always work, makes the tale as he misinterprets things leading to unfortunate calamity and even when he is on target things can still go wrong in a Murphy sort of way. Thus, the quest becomes real as the audience never knows what will succeed or fail even whether Tristan will win the day. This novel heralds a tremendous new force in the genre as Robert Newcomb casts quite a spell on the audience.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Robert Newcomb Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- ruler
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- rescue mission/escape from confinement
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- can change shapes
- mind reading
- mind control
- super strength
- can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Terrain
- Domed/Underground City
Earth setting:
- general past
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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