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The Mongolian Wizard #1
The Mongolian Wizard
With "The Mongolian Wizard," Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Michael Swanwick launches a new fiction series -- beginning with this story of a very unusual international conference in a fractured Europe that never was.
22 pages, ebook
First published July 4, 2012
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577 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 3, 2019
Review first posted at Fantasy Literature:
"The Mongolian Wizard" is the first story in a series of an alternative late 19th century Europe inhabited by wizards and magical creatures. (The author is up to nine of these short stories now, all available at Tor.com).
Junior Lieutenant Franz-Karl Ritter is an officer in the Werewolf Corps, a variant of the K9 Corps, except that the men have wolves with which they share a mind link. Ritter is responsible for security at a conference of European wizards in Schloss Greiffenhorst on a snowy mountaintop in the Riphean Mountains. On the third day of the conclave, Sir Toby Willoughby-Quirke barrels into Ritter, knocking him flat, then politely introduces himself. Sir Toby soon sets up a military demonstration using a platoon of two-inch high toy soldiers, who march in formation and display their shooting abilities, then disappear into the walls of the castle, ostensibly to hunt down rats and mice. But the miniature soldiers aren’t what they seem to be, and neither is the boisterous Sir Toby.
The Mongolian Wizard of the title is an ominous presence in the background of the tale, a powerful wizard who has taken over Russia and is on the path to invade the rest of Europe. With the choice to name this story after a character who doesn’t appear, Swanwick tips his hand to the fact that this story is introducing us to a world and characters that will be revisited in future tales. Nevertheless, this is a reasonably satisfying story, told in a clear, fairly precise manner, befitting the military man Ritter’s point of view, with an attention-grabbing setting. An unexpected turn at the end added a welcome note of depth to the tale, and sharpened my desire to continue reading this series.
Free online at Tor.com.
"The Mongolian Wizard" is the first story in a series of an alternative late 19th century Europe inhabited by wizards and magical creatures. (The author is up to nine of these short stories now, all available at Tor.com).
Junior Lieutenant Franz-Karl Ritter is an officer in the Werewolf Corps, a variant of the K9 Corps, except that the men have wolves with which they share a mind link. Ritter is responsible for security at a conference of European wizards in Schloss Greiffenhorst on a snowy mountaintop in the Riphean Mountains. On the third day of the conclave, Sir Toby Willoughby-Quirke barrels into Ritter, knocking him flat, then politely introduces himself. Sir Toby soon sets up a military demonstration using a platoon of two-inch high toy soldiers, who march in formation and display their shooting abilities, then disappear into the walls of the castle, ostensibly to hunt down rats and mice. But the miniature soldiers aren’t what they seem to be, and neither is the boisterous Sir Toby.
The Mongolian Wizard of the title is an ominous presence in the background of the tale, a powerful wizard who has taken over Russia and is on the path to invade the rest of Europe. With the choice to name this story after a character who doesn’t appear, Swanwick tips his hand to the fact that this story is introducing us to a world and characters that will be revisited in future tales. Nevertheless, this is a reasonably satisfying story, told in a clear, fairly precise manner, befitting the military man Ritter’s point of view, with an attention-grabbing setting. An unexpected turn at the end added a welcome note of depth to the tale, and sharpened my desire to continue reading this series.
Free online at Tor.com.
October 14, 2015
I started with The Night of the Salamander, not realizing it was part of a series. I believe this is the first installment, in which our German security officer protagonist and his alternative-history ~WWI world are introduced. Title aside, the Mongolian Wizard is not present in this story; he is the background, the mysterious and martial figure motivating events. No one knows where he came from or who he is, but 5 years ago he appeared on the international scene and launched a campaign of conquest.
I already noted in my review of The Night of the Salamander: A Tor.Com Original that this series is quite reminiscent of the late Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy stories; it occurs to me with the ending of this one that it also has a bit of a "Man From UNCLE" vibe. Hopefully we will get more recurring characters as it goes on, asn they haven't much personality development so far.
I already noted in my review of The Night of the Salamander: A Tor.Com Original that this series is quite reminiscent of the late Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy stories; it occurs to me with the ending of this one that it also has a bit of a "Man From UNCLE" vibe. Hopefully we will get more recurring characters as it goes on, asn they haven't much personality development so far.
October 21, 2024
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
It’s light. It’s fun. It’s original. It features small kettle-dragons that one carries around to warm one’s feet, platoons of miniature musketeers, and a lead who is smart, skeptical and has the potential to be delightfully ruthless, and a most delicious body count. Also, it’s Super Extra Short (SES™) and it’s free and it’s here. And stuff.
· Story #2: The Fire Gown ★★★★
· Story #3: Day of the Kraken ★★★★
· Story #4: House of Dreams ★★★★
· Story #5: The Night of the Salamander ★★★★
· Story #6: The Pyramid of Krakow ★★★★
· Story #7: The Phantom in the Maze ★★★★
· Story #8: Murder in the Spook House ★★★★
· Story #9: The New Prometheus ★★★
· Story #10: Halcyon Afternoon ★★★
· Story #11: Dragons of Paris ★★★★★
It’s light. It’s fun. It’s original. It features small kettle-dragons that one carries around to warm one’s feet, platoons of miniature musketeers, and a lead who is smart, skeptical and has the potential to be delightfully ruthless, and a most delicious body count. Also, it’s Super Extra Short (SES™) and it’s free and it’s here. And stuff.
· Story #2: The Fire Gown ★★★★
· Story #3: Day of the Kraken ★★★★
· Story #4: House of Dreams ★★★★
· Story #5: The Night of the Salamander ★★★★
· Story #6: The Pyramid of Krakow ★★★★
· Story #7: The Phantom in the Maze ★★★★
· Story #8: Murder in the Spook House ★★★★
· Story #9: The New Prometheus ★★★
· Story #10: Halcyon Afternoon ★★★
· Story #11: Dragons of Paris ★★★★★
September 27, 2021
Kapitänleutnant Franz-Karl Ritter works in the Werewolf Corps. He is usually accompanied by his wolf, Geri and they share a mind link with each other. When he is in attendance at the conclave of wizards in Europe, he meets Sir Toby. Sir Toby is representing Britain and he puts on a great demonstration.
When talks of The Mongolian Wizard start and how he has conquered Russia and is on the way to Europe, everyone wonders who he is or what he can actually do.
This story is set in late 19th century in Europe where Wizards exist. This started out very slow and confusing and I found myself not really caring much for it but then things took a turn and I started enjoying it and ended up loving it especially that twist at the end. It has a nice balance of fantasy and science-fiction and historical-fiction. I am so looking forward to reading all the short stories set in this world.
4 stars
When talks of The Mongolian Wizard start and how he has conquered Russia and is on the way to Europe, everyone wonders who he is or what he can actually do.
This story is set in late 19th century in Europe where Wizards exist. This started out very slow and confusing and I found myself not really caring much for it but then things took a turn and I started enjoying it and ended up loving it especially that twist at the end. It has a nice balance of fantasy and science-fiction and historical-fiction. I am so looking forward to reading all the short stories set in this world.
4 stars
November 5, 2020
This was originally published as a series of 9 connected short stories on Tor.Com. I am going to review the entire series here on the first book. Let's just start out with a BANG, this is an awesome read! I was reminded very much of Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy stories in the way the world was built up and the magic that the characters used. Very interesting concepts and nice characters made me jump from one story to the next without stopping. They are all connected and definitely in a timeline that could be the chapters in a novel. I really hope to see more of these come out. Very recommended
November 25, 2023
Three and a half stars
The beginning of a promising series of fantastic short stories. I enjoyed the first reading.
The beginning of a promising series of fantastic short stories. I enjoyed the first reading.
May 9, 2019
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this story more than I did. It wasn't bad by any means, but seemed rather slight. To be fair short stories aren't generally my favourite genre as it is so they probably have to work harder to impress me than other types of narrative. Also this is the introductory tale to what is a linked series taking place in an alternate history version of our world where magic is real, and wizards are the main movers and shakers. I can't quite pin-point if this is occurring in the 18th or 19th century, but either seem like they might fit.
Our main characters are Junior Lieutenant Franz-Karl Ritter, an officer in the Werewolf Corps of Prussia/Germany, and Sir Tobias Gracchus Willoughby-Quirke (or Sir Toby for short), a rotund diplomat, wizard, and spy. This is the story of their first meeting at an international conference apparently held to discuss the imminent threat of the mysterious 'Mongolian Wizard'.
The two men ultimately team up as they investigate some strange and dangerous goings-on at the conference, the result of which leaves some ambiguity as to what really happened and for what reasons. Of course the upshot is that the two men, so effective in overcoming this obstacle and able to work together, become a team whose adventures we will be following as the stories progess and the Mongolian Wizard's threat looms ever closer.
I wanted to like this story more than I did. It wasn't bad by any means, but seemed rather slight. To be fair short stories aren't generally my favourite genre as it is so they probably have to work harder to impress me than other types of narrative. Also this is the introductory tale to what is a linked series taking place in an alternate history version of our world where magic is real, and wizards are the main movers and shakers. I can't quite pin-point if this is occurring in the 18th or 19th century, but either seem like they might fit.
Our main characters are Junior Lieutenant Franz-Karl Ritter, an officer in the Werewolf Corps of Prussia/Germany, and Sir Tobias Gracchus Willoughby-Quirke (or Sir Toby for short), a rotund diplomat, wizard, and spy. This is the story of their first meeting at an international conference apparently held to discuss the imminent threat of the mysterious 'Mongolian Wizard'.
The two men ultimately team up as they investigate some strange and dangerous goings-on at the conference, the result of which leaves some ambiguity as to what really happened and for what reasons. Of course the upshot is that the two men, so effective in overcoming this obstacle and able to work together, become a team whose adventures we will be following as the stories progess and the Mongolian Wizard's threat looms ever closer.
January 1, 2022
The Mongolian Wizard by Michael Swanwick is the first in a series of short stand alone stories set in a fractured Europe that never was.
“Shouldn’t I be . . . ?”
The margrave raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips in a way that was clearly meant to look wise. “This is the largest conclave of wizards in Europe in over a decade and I pulled a lot of strings to bring you here. There are people to meet and connections to be made. Your parents would not be pleased if you wasted this opportunity by playing soldier.”
“No, uncle.”
The stage is being set in this first part and I feel it’s going to be very exciting. The world building is fun with plenty of magical happenings, political cloak and dagger, and spy business. Who is this mysterious wizard that forms an ominous threat to the peace in Europe? Wizard Tobias Gracchus Willoughby-Quirke (Sir Toby) and Junior Lieutenant Franz-Karl Ritter, an officer in the Werewolf Corps (and his wolf partner) are going to find out.
Themes: A conference at Schloss Greiffenhorst, wizards, a toy militia demonstration, publicly snubbed by Madame de Lafontaine, who smuggled the phoenix egg inside? War is coming.
4 Stars
“Shouldn’t I be . . . ?”
The margrave raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips in a way that was clearly meant to look wise. “This is the largest conclave of wizards in Europe in over a decade and I pulled a lot of strings to bring you here. There are people to meet and connections to be made. Your parents would not be pleased if you wasted this opportunity by playing soldier.”
“No, uncle.”
The stage is being set in this first part and I feel it’s going to be very exciting. The world building is fun with plenty of magical happenings, political cloak and dagger, and spy business. Who is this mysterious wizard that forms an ominous threat to the peace in Europe? Wizard Tobias Gracchus Willoughby-Quirke (Sir Toby) and Junior Lieutenant Franz-Karl Ritter, an officer in the Werewolf Corps (and his wolf partner) are going to find out.
Themes: A conference at Schloss Greiffenhorst, wizards, a toy militia demonstration, publicly snubbed by Madame de Lafontaine, who smuggled the phoenix egg inside? War is coming.
4 Stars
October 24, 2024
Free on Reactormag.
Interesting world building. Holds a lot of promise. A flintlock, paranormal fantasy.
Interesting world building. Holds a lot of promise. A flintlock, paranormal fantasy.
December 28, 2019
A series by award winning Michael Swanwick and free on Tor.com ! Think the latter decades of the 19th Century and you have the world created. Russia has been conquered by the Mongolian Wizard. A meeting of diplomats and wizards are brought together a young man named Ritter, his wolf and an English spy. A nice start to the series of short stories.
November 2, 2020
I wanted to love this short story so that I can read the rest of the series, but I couldn't really get into it. There were many characters that are presented and are involved, and the short length does not help with them getting all the action through. But, overall, it was well written.
January 14, 2019
Quite enjoyable. I haven't read Swanwick in ages and ages. Hope I'm not wrong in assuming there's a decent story arc across the whole series.
August 20, 2020
A very interesting little series of short stories, all available for free on Tor.com. A very strong sense of world-building, and it has a distinct fin-de-siecle sensibility that I adore. Characterization is generally strong and subtle, well done, and the writing is good.
Weakest point is probably the plots -- or more accurately, Swanwick does very good investigative type plots, but he wanders off into very esoteric terrain in later stories with dream narratives and time warping which is interesting but not quite my cup of tea.
Still, interesting stories, well done, and I'll be keeping an eye on them.
Weakest point is probably the plots -- or more accurately, Swanwick does very good investigative type plots, but he wanders off into very esoteric terrain in later stories with dream narratives and time warping which is interesting but not quite my cup of tea.
Still, interesting stories, well done, and I'll be keeping an eye on them.
Want to read
July 12, 2012Can be read for free: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/07/th...
February 2, 2018
Short story introducing young Jr Lt Ritter, working security for an international conference of wizards, and the concept of an evil Mongolian wizard who may be sending spies to disrupt the proceedings.
January 1, 2025
Nice short story about a different universe late 19th century europe. The main character Ritter is a special soldier who has a pet wolf with which he telepatically communicates. The story sets up the world and introduces and wraps up a nice mystery. Will try to read more of these as it is a whole series of short stories.
November 24, 2025
An international conference in a parallel Earth where magic still exists goes horribly awry.
There's a very Regency style to the narrative and the story moves briskly. Characters are introduced well for an ongoing series and this particular story is satisfying in both plot and world building.
There's a very Regency style to the narrative and the story moves briskly. Characters are introduced well for an ongoing series and this particular story is satisfying in both plot and world building.
November 13, 2025
No connection for me
Maybe I should reread it. But I probably won’t. I think it is supposed to prepare me for the sequel but I don’t feel prepared
Maybe I should reread it. But I probably won’t. I think it is supposed to prepare me for the sequel but I don’t feel prepared
November 24, 2023
The first of the series, which I just reread in late 2023. A promising beginning of this series. 9 have been published so far, all available free at tor.com
Direct story link: https://www.tor.com/2012/07/04/the-mo...
In an excellent new book, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Swanwick said: "I was thinking of the Lord Darcy series by Randall Garrett. ... Another influence was Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos stories. ... I loved both these series, and wanted to write something like them."
Direct story link: https://www.tor.com/2012/07/04/the-mo...
In an excellent new book, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Swanwick said: "I was thinking of the Lord Darcy series by Randall Garrett. ... Another influence was Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos stories. ... I loved both these series, and wanted to write something like them."
June 20, 2016
I enjoyed this very short story. It isn't a work of art, but it certainly isn't as bad as some of these reviews are saying. I saw no editorial errors nor failures of writing, either. The characters are well-drawn and introduced. I'm ready to read more!
October 22, 2012
Great fun. Pop corn for the mind. But at 16 pages hardly more than a single short story.
Great cover art.
Great cover art.
October 22, 2020
Neste primeiro volume, somos apresentados a Ritter e Sir Toby, os protagonistas desta primeira história. Uma conferência internacional é marcada para lidar com a ameaça iminente de um invasor conhecido como o Mago da Mongólia. Seus poderes são desconhecidos e seu exército é forte o suficiente para ameaçar as monarquias europeias. Só que os reis que estão na conferência não conseguem ultrapassar suas rivalidades para poderem enfrentar um inimigo comum. Cada um prefere mostrar o quanto é mais poderoso do que o outro. Durante as apresentações formais, aparece o estranho Sir Toby e seu exército de soldados de brinquedo. Tratado como um homem tolo e exótico pelos outros líderes, é visto de forma diferente por Ritter, o chefe do guarda do palácio onde acontece a conferência. Ele enxerga uma inteligência incomum em um homem que usa um manto de bufão para esconder os seus reais objetivos. Passadas as apresentações, um estranho evento de sabotagem vai desencadear uma investigação que envolverá a todos no palácio.
Esse primeiro volume é muito complicado de se avaliar. Pensar que essa é uma longa série de contos (são nove contos que compõem a série) me deixa animado, porém um pouco frustrado ao terminar esse primeiro volume. Porque nada muito importante acontece aqui. A escrita do Swanwick não é nada demais, é uma narrativa em terceira pessoa bem clássica de fantasia, e tirando os elementos diferenciais de cenário e as curiosidades que ele criou para a narrativa, posso dizer que tudo é normal demais. Conhecemos Ritter e Sir Toby; mais o primeiro do que o segundo. Ritter parece ser o nosso protagonista principal: um homem estoico e justiceiro, o típico herói de histórias de fantasia. Ao mesmo tempo ele é um personagem inteligente e percebe o que acontece ao seu redor. Ponto para o Swanwick porque normalmente protagonistas de fantasia clássica parecem possuir burrice como fator condicionante. Já Toby é um personagem cercado por diversos mistérios e é quem está mais a par da ameaça do Mago da Mongólia para os reinos europeus. Ele parece ter vários truques na manga e é um personagem que eu estou mais curioso para ver ser desenvolvido nos próximos volumes. Tem toda a pinta de ser aquele típico personagem cinza.
A narrativa se desenvolve bastante na linha de investigação e intriga de corte. É uma narrativa curtinha, mas consegue te passar bem o clima do que o autor parece querer entregar com a série. Se você leu e gostou da leitura, vá em frente e compre os próximos volumes. A narrativa do autor é essa mesma, e só tende a ganhar em escopo a seguir. É como uma fantasia clássica cujos perigos vão ficando maiores a cada nova aventura. Já vou pegar o segundo volume para ler.
Esse primeiro volume é muito complicado de se avaliar. Pensar que essa é uma longa série de contos (são nove contos que compõem a série) me deixa animado, porém um pouco frustrado ao terminar esse primeiro volume. Porque nada muito importante acontece aqui. A escrita do Swanwick não é nada demais, é uma narrativa em terceira pessoa bem clássica de fantasia, e tirando os elementos diferenciais de cenário e as curiosidades que ele criou para a narrativa, posso dizer que tudo é normal demais. Conhecemos Ritter e Sir Toby; mais o primeiro do que o segundo. Ritter parece ser o nosso protagonista principal: um homem estoico e justiceiro, o típico herói de histórias de fantasia. Ao mesmo tempo ele é um personagem inteligente e percebe o que acontece ao seu redor. Ponto para o Swanwick porque normalmente protagonistas de fantasia clássica parecem possuir burrice como fator condicionante. Já Toby é um personagem cercado por diversos mistérios e é quem está mais a par da ameaça do Mago da Mongólia para os reinos europeus. Ele parece ter vários truques na manga e é um personagem que eu estou mais curioso para ver ser desenvolvido nos próximos volumes. Tem toda a pinta de ser aquele típico personagem cinza.
A narrativa se desenvolve bastante na linha de investigação e intriga de corte. É uma narrativa curtinha, mas consegue te passar bem o clima do que o autor parece querer entregar com a série. Se você leu e gostou da leitura, vá em frente e compre os próximos volumes. A narrativa do autor é essa mesma, e só tende a ganhar em escopo a seguir. É como uma fantasia clássica cujos perigos vão ficando maiores a cada nova aventura. Já vou pegar o segundo volume para ler.
March 9, 2021
I enjoy this story as an interesting introduction to an intriguing alternate history tale. I'm rather curious about the titular Mongolian Wizard, and whether certain characters are to be trusted. This is actually my second read of this story, but seeing as I never really got to follow up beyond the third story in the collection, I have decided to revisit it. I think it is as solid as the first time. For a novel this might constitute only three stars, but for a short story I think it more than earns 4, and I hope all the rest will be of a similar quality.
December 30, 2024
A telescopic view to a grand opera which has competing wizards and teams of magicians, set in 1940s Europe. Swanwick may have turned the second world war on its head and lead us to this mouthwatering treat involving invisible cloaks, mind-controlled wolves, phoenix eggs, basilisk and various other such magical elements. The book introduces 'The Mongolian Wizard' as a great wizard who has conquered Russia and is now teeming to invade Europe and a war is fast approaching. I look forward to the rest of the series. Alternate history doesn't get more magical!
August 1, 2019
I ran across one of the later stories in this series, and decided I should pick them all up and give them a read.
There's not a ton sketched out of the world in this first story, just enough to be tantalizing. There's an evil wizard that's taken over Russia, and a NATO meeting (of sorts) of assorted and sundry wizards. We have a flamboyant Sherlock Holmes type wizard, and a Watsonesque werewolf-sh character.
Looking forward to reading the rest.
There's not a ton sketched out of the world in this first story, just enough to be tantalizing. There's an evil wizard that's taken over Russia, and a NATO meeting (of sorts) of assorted and sundry wizards. We have a flamboyant Sherlock Holmes type wizard, and a Watsonesque werewolf-sh character.
Looking forward to reading the rest.
August 6, 2018
Read as part of The Stories: Five Years of Original Fiction on Tor.com but the story can be found online, here
February 25, 2021
A very short story set in a quasi steampunk, magic, Napoleonic alternate world. Very interesting set up and characters. Hope this develops into a full blown novel/series. The actual Mongolian Wizard barely gets a mention so I would think of that as the overarching title rather than story specific for this piece.
June 6, 2022
Holy cow, short sweet and packs a punch. It took a little for the ball to roll, but man did it pull you in. Alot of really cool magic, great characters and fun promises and payoffs. Great job lacing in worldbuilding and promised to the other short stories in this series.
October 20, 2024
Relato gratuito de este buen autor sobre una Europa de finales del S.XIX con todo tipo de magia y animales mitológicos (incluido un ave fénix). Lo suficientemente bueno para seguir con la serie (gratuita, insisto, en Reactormag.com). C+
November 7, 2024
Alternate Magical History
I enjoy stories that show the real world with magic involved. There were some spots where it was hard to follow who was who, but the concept of the world is interesting.
I enjoy stories that show the real world with magic involved. There were some spots where it was hard to follow who was who, but the concept of the world is interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews