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Wizard in Rhyme #4
The Secular Wizard
THE WANDERING WIZARD
In sunny Latruria, the wicked old king was dead, and the new king spurned the rule of Evil. But turmoil began to spread, even across the border, when the new king also resisted Good! In nearby Merovence, Lord Wizard Matt Mantrell donned a disguise and set off to investigate--never dreaming that Latruria's sinister prime minister was mobilizing his minions...
"Minstrel" Matt sang his way south, dodging deadly enemies and music critics alike. He was teamed with a lovesick lad, menaced by a manticore, haunted by a ghost from Greece, and swept along in a flood of youngsters fleeing the provinces for the "glamour" of the city. But when they all washed up in the capital, harsh reality awaited them, not gold-paved streets.
And even harsher reality awaited Matt. The Lord Wizard faced the ultimate test of magic--and he would need a lot of help to pass!
From the Paperback edition.
In sunny Latruria, the wicked old king was dead, and the new king spurned the rule of Evil. But turmoil began to spread, even across the border, when the new king also resisted Good! In nearby Merovence, Lord Wizard Matt Mantrell donned a disguise and set off to investigate--never dreaming that Latruria's sinister prime minister was mobilizing his minions...
"Minstrel" Matt sang his way south, dodging deadly enemies and music critics alike. He was teamed with a lovesick lad, menaced by a manticore, haunted by a ghost from Greece, and swept along in a flood of youngsters fleeing the provinces for the "glamour" of the city. But when they all washed up in the capital, harsh reality awaited them, not gold-paved streets.
And even harsher reality awaited Matt. The Lord Wizard faced the ultimate test of magic--and he would need a lot of help to pass!
From the Paperback edition.
357 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
30 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Stasheff
105 books301 followersThe late Christopher Stasheff was an American science fiction and fantasy author. When teaching proved too real, he gave it up in favor of writing full-time. Stasheff was noted for his blending of science fiction and fantasy, as seen in his Warlock series. He spent his early childhood in Mount Vernon, New York, but spent the rest of his formative years in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stasheff taught at the University of Eastern New Mexico in Portales, before retiring to Champaign, Illinois, in 2009. He had a wife and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 11, 2011
While the series starts out as quite entertaining, it starts to fall off in plot quality after the first four titles.
January 10, 2016
The Secular Wizard (Wizard in Rhyme #4)
by Christopher Stasheff
the continuing adventures of the bumbling wizard who only half knows what he is doing
by Christopher Stasheff
the continuing adventures of the bumbling wizard who only half knows what he is doing
November 20, 2018
The fourth book in the Wizard in Rhyme series takes place largely in Latruria, the fantastic and morally simplified world's version of Italy. The king, Boncorro, is determined to follow neither good nor evil entirely, despite the influence of his evil sorcerer chancellor. He largely takes a practical approach to governing, trying to make the country prosperous through humanism and economic policies. Matthew Mantrell, the Wizard of Merovence, travels to Latruria in disguise as a minstrel, accompanied by a young poet and a manticore. We learn more about how the history of this world differed from our own, particularly in terms of a more peaceful Roman Empire (known as the Reman Empire because Remus won out against Romulus in this universe); and there's a visit to the Vatican and the Pope, as well as some more speculation on how magic and miracles work.
July 3, 2023
As usual I love a good yarn by Christopher Stasheff they are usually full of fun with some knowledge snuck in for those who love a little alternative history and fantasy. This is a great series and if you have already read the series this far you know that this particular series is about a young man from possibly our universe who has conjured himself to an alternate universe where magic is real. Another great example of what we can all dream of if we love RenFests and D&D type adventures.
February 14, 2024
This one didn't feel quite like the same formula as the last three (thankfully). Still, they're rather similar. A bit unnecessarily bawdy at times as well.
July 13, 2013
I do not know how I ended up borrowing this book without noticing that it was a sequel. Anyway, the story is independent enough that you can enjoy it without the knowledge of the previous books. However, I think I still missed some links between the characters.
The story in itself is enjoyable, and I had a good time reading it. The concept of an alternative middle-age world where things are a bit different from ours is interesting. However, the way those differences are introduced to the reader lacked in skills: rather than dropping here and there anecdotes about how this world is different, the author sometimes stalls the story by adding pages over pages of discussions between the main character and others as a pretext to create the world background.
Also, I was bothered by the strong association between Christianity and Good (by opposition to Evil). The idea that unfolds throughout the book is that atheists cannot be good, no matter how hard they try. They will end up having to willingly choose God or will be corrupted by Evil whether they accept it or not. I really disagree with such a way of thinking, even in a fiction.
So the book itself is enjoyable, 4 stars if you are a strong Catholic believer, 2 for others, and to be avoided by anti-clericals!
The story in itself is enjoyable, and I had a good time reading it. The concept of an alternative middle-age world where things are a bit different from ours is interesting. However, the way those differences are introduced to the reader lacked in skills: rather than dropping here and there anecdotes about how this world is different, the author sometimes stalls the story by adding pages over pages of discussions between the main character and others as a pretext to create the world background.
Also, I was bothered by the strong association between Christianity and Good (by opposition to Evil). The idea that unfolds throughout the book is that atheists cannot be good, no matter how hard they try. They will end up having to willingly choose God or will be corrupted by Evil whether they accept it or not. I really disagree with such a way of thinking, even in a fiction.
So the book itself is enjoyable, 4 stars if you are a strong Catholic believer, 2 for others, and to be avoided by anti-clericals!
July 18, 2021
Enjoyable
Enjoyable book though my least favorite of the series. Maybe because parts are a bit like a history text even if not our history. I still recommend this book, there is still plenty of story, humor and action with a touch of romance.
Enjoyable book though my least favorite of the series. Maybe because parts are a bit like a history text even if not our history. I still recommend this book, there is still plenty of story, humor and action with a touch of romance.
July 14, 2011
A little better than the first 3, but still basic, good fantasy
May 14, 2010
A fascinating novel with a fascinating ending.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews