The Wizard - Gene Wolfe Book Review

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Review Summary

The Wizard picks up where the book The Knight leaves off. Recently knighted Sir Able has helped lead a diplomatic mission to the kingdom of the Angrborn, the land of Frost Giants. Duke Beel and his daughter, Lady Idnn lead this mission, a small army, to secure peace with the Frost Giants.

Following the mysterious assisination of the Frost Giant King, Sir Able, Duke Beel, Idnn and the small army try to escape the giants' kingdom. Having aquired magical pets and a magical sword in "The Knight," Sir Able now has aquired a magical horse, a steed named Cloud, which aid in their escape. Their journey leads them to Aelfrice, another world, where they fight more battles.

Sir Able is visited occasionally by his two Aelf slaves Uri and Baki, and by his love, the Aelf Queen Disiri, who aid the fleeing band of humans back to their world Mythgarthr, where they find their kingdom is soon to be attacked by the viscious flesh eating Osterlings. Sir Able leads his band to the King's fortified castle. Foolishly, the King imprisons Sir Able in his dungeons, to the dismay of the dukes and knights Sir Able has fought along side. With the help of an Earl, Able escapes below the dungeons to the world of Aelfrice.

Upon his return to Mythgarthr, Sir Able gathers a small poorly outfitted army to help fight off the Osterlings.
Roger Perry, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Wizard

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - roaming fantasy world, battling hostile monsters
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - warrior/knight
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - bulging muscles

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - bulging muscles

Setting
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book? Yes
How much dialogue? - mostly dialog

Most similar books to The Wizard
The Book of New Sun by Gene Wolfe
The Mapping of Markesh by Paul Tonks
Lure of the Basilisk by Lawrence Watt-Evans
Dark Moon by David Gemmell
Rising Tide: Forgotten Realms: The Threat from the Sea Book One by Mel Odom

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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