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Highmage's Plight #1
Highmage's Plight
Professor George Bradley, computer staff in hand, “envisions” an archaeological site, which could turn history on its head. Then he falls through a ripple in reality.
He enters a world trolls think they are human; elves believe humans can’t do magic since they don’t have souls; a child of prophecy is dying of a curse; a shape-changer is bent on killing him; a seeress keeps too many secrets; and an ogre and a boy struggle to defend a keep against the evil ruling it.
This is a world where a starship crash landed, bringing about a war, which led to the laws of magic defeating those of science.
Here a demon rages, intent on destroying all life, its minions intent on killing the human mage from another world.
If that wasn’t bad enough, George’s computer is now rather sarcastic.
He enters a world trolls think they are human; elves believe humans can’t do magic since they don’t have souls; a child of prophecy is dying of a curse; a shape-changer is bent on killing him; a seeress keeps too many secrets; and an ogre and a boy struggle to defend a keep against the evil ruling it.
This is a world where a starship crash landed, bringing about a war, which led to the laws of magic defeating those of science.
Here a demon rages, intent on destroying all life, its minions intent on killing the human mage from another world.
If that wasn’t bad enough, George’s computer is now rather sarcastic.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2012
153 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 14, 2023
Wow this book, the first in the series, has so much going on, it really has it all. George Bradley is an archaeologist and he is intent on discovering something that would put him in the limelight but instead whilst excavating he is thrown down into another realm in time and space completely. He seems to have been summoned and is forever being pulled towards the Empire. He encounters trolls who believe they are human, and see George as a small ugly person, and elves who believe they are the only ones able to wield magic since humans have no soul, and he ends up saving the life of a 2nd son Vyss, which is so rare in the Cathartan people that he gets rewarded by many women who he is meant to marry. Poor George does not know how to get out of all the trouble he finds himself in but he travels with an ogre and forges forward towards the empire hoping that the one who summoned him would be able to send him back home. However when he gets to the Empire the summoning changes, it feels different and George is worried and with reason too. The demon lord who was trying to eradicate humankind has many doing his bidding and they are out to kill the foreign mage and steal his staff. The staff being George's computer which was linked to him and could not be stolen in fact, but the world he finds himself in is one where magic had killed science, so they had no idea what his staff really was. I love the staff's sarcastic comments, and Balfour who is so intent to learn healing from the staff. The Cathartan women are crazy but very good warriors but poor George does not stand a chance in ridding himself of them it seems!
May 23, 2017
I've been binge reading a lot of fantasy lately. I can't get enough of it. I've especially been loving to read fantasy by indie authors. Therefore, I was hoping that I would love Highmage's Plight. Unfortunately, I didn't really care for it at all.
Highmage's Plight reminded me a lot of the Thomas Covenant series, which for me isn't a good thing. The reader is dropped into the story with no world building whatsoever. It made everything so confusing. I spent most of the book trying to figure out what the heck was going on. The different races, traditions, and characters of the world weren't explained well at all. There were times when I thought the story line was starting to make sense and became interesting, only to be confused again a page or two later.
I had such high hopes for Highmage's Plight, but in the end, I was letdown. It wasn't the epic fantasy that I expected. It was so disappointing. There are several more books in the series, but I will not be picking them up to read. I honestly can't say I recommend this series to anyone.
Highmage's Plight reminded me a lot of the Thomas Covenant series, which for me isn't a good thing. The reader is dropped into the story with no world building whatsoever. It made everything so confusing. I spent most of the book trying to figure out what the heck was going on. The different races, traditions, and characters of the world weren't explained well at all. There were times when I thought the story line was starting to make sense and became interesting, only to be confused again a page or two later.
I had such high hopes for Highmage's Plight, but in the end, I was letdown. It wasn't the epic fantasy that I expected. It was so disappointing. There are several more books in the series, but I will not be picking them up to read. I honestly can't say I recommend this series to anyone.
April 29, 2022
From a scientific archaeology dig to a world of magic!
George Bradley is studying an Elven ruin then falls through a gateway to a world of magic! George has no magic and only wants to find a way home... I thought this book was interesting and I really like the characters. I was drawn in from the beginning and enjoyed some surprising twists. This was an entertaining read. There are more books to this series so I'm looking forward to more fun...
George Bradley is studying an Elven ruin then falls through a gateway to a world of magic! George has no magic and only wants to find a way home... I thought this book was interesting and I really like the characters. I was drawn in from the beginning and enjoyed some surprising twists. This was an entertaining read. There are more books to this series so I'm looking forward to more fun...
March 9, 2018
If you skip ahead several chapters to George's entrance into this world, the book gets really interesting. I finished it and am into the second. I didn't even need to go back and read the chapters I skipped. It is a good book.
January 27, 2021
Good story, confusing writing.
Sometimes the author switches characters or situations without giving a clear indication that he has done so. And then you have to reread where you lost your self.
Sometimes the author switches characters or situations without giving a clear indication that he has done so. And then you have to reread where you lost your self.
June 10, 2023
ugh!
I chose three stars because I did not like the way this book was written dreams meshed with thoughts and then reality to move ahead the story had no sense. Will I read the continued story in book 2?, nope not a chance
I chose three stars because I did not like the way this book was written dreams meshed with thoughts and then reality to move ahead the story had no sense. Will I read the continued story in book 2?, nope not a chance
June 4, 2020
Yeah!
Lovely tale. I am glad that the writing errors have been corrected making Highmage quiet enjoyable. Hopefully we will see more of these characters in future stories.
Lovely tale. I am glad that the writing errors have been corrected making Highmage quiet enjoyable. Hopefully we will see more of these characters in future stories.
June 26, 2020
I found it hard to follow.
February 23, 2021
Very entertaining read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like space opera with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like space opera with lots of action.
November 16, 2022
Not my favorite
It took me a long time to finish this. The story simply dragged. I can't tell you why with examples. I doubt I will get anything else
It took me a long time to finish this. The story simply dragged. I can't tell you why with examples. I doubt I will get anything else
March 7, 2015
I love
Highmage's Plight
and know the author. The novel was first serialized in the ezine, Separate Worlds. I was an early reader.
This is the story of a world on the brink. A colony ship crash landed on a distant planet only to later learn its inhabited by elves. A devastating war ensues between science and magic. Science loses.
Five thousand years later the Highmage of the Empire realizes his world is about to fall to the Demonlord, once king of the Elves who was twisted by the war, which led a group of elves to breakaway and protect humanity with their greatest power, the elvin gate. Highmage summons the gate, seeking help from another world.
Archeologist George Bradley is having a bad day. He's found a dig that's impossible in Northern Europe and ends up falling through an elvin gate he literally stumbles upon.
The story gets better and better from that point on. George doesn't do magic, but he's a "modern" human with a computer staff, which now has apparently at least half a mind of its own.
This is truly a sci fi/fantasy tale. Protagonist George will end up crossing a world on his way to a human/elvin empire with an expanding group of "friends," not all of whom he wants anything to do with, and will battle a witch and her shapeshifting beast, bandits, and ultimately a goblin mage, who is poised to aid the Empire's enemies and the Demonlord's plan to eradicate humanity and ultimately all life.
I've loved this tale since the day I first read it. It addresses a central question: when's science magic and is there really a difference?
The author's website is: http://www.Dhr2believe.net.
This is the story of a world on the brink. A colony ship crash landed on a distant planet only to later learn its inhabited by elves. A devastating war ensues between science and magic. Science loses.
Five thousand years later the Highmage of the Empire realizes his world is about to fall to the Demonlord, once king of the Elves who was twisted by the war, which led a group of elves to breakaway and protect humanity with their greatest power, the elvin gate. Highmage summons the gate, seeking help from another world.
Archeologist George Bradley is having a bad day. He's found a dig that's impossible in Northern Europe and ends up falling through an elvin gate he literally stumbles upon.
The story gets better and better from that point on. George doesn't do magic, but he's a "modern" human with a computer staff, which now has apparently at least half a mind of its own.
This is truly a sci fi/fantasy tale. Protagonist George will end up crossing a world on his way to a human/elvin empire with an expanding group of "friends," not all of whom he wants anything to do with, and will battle a witch and her shapeshifting beast, bandits, and ultimately a goblin mage, who is poised to aid the Empire's enemies and the Demonlord's plan to eradicate humanity and ultimately all life.
I've loved this tale since the day I first read it. It addresses a central question: when's science magic and is there really a difference?
The author's website is: http://www.Dhr2believe.net.
August 20, 2016
2.5stars..... much to be desired. Didn't really like the MC. Really the guys acted like 12 year old virgin pussy's going to their first party/dance. I can understand not wanting promise anything but fuck if they insist you take advantage go for it otherwise you might as well say they're not good enough.
The whole not killing thing too was kind of weak too. If someone broke into my hotel room trying to steal something that i need to stay alive then they're on the approved KOS list. Also who thinks the despot torturer of children should be left alive? Really, he's too much a pussy to kill. That move there should be ground for the main character to die in the next chapter on moral grounds as well as receive the darwin award for stupidity. One of the bodyguards should have at least slit his though when the pussy wasn't looking. I get he's telepathic and all but if this is the shit that happens when people get telepathy then no wonder it had never evolved. Because the fuckers would die out as soon as a mildly mean guy stabbed then all.
Hopefully something happens and this dude gets straightened out in some character development but since the bad guy is the Demon Lord the author is probably going with the boring watered down fairy tale bullshit. As in the hero will try and save everyone even the slime balls who rape and torture children because they are people too and killing is bad.
The whole not killing thing too was kind of weak too. If someone broke into my hotel room trying to steal something that i need to stay alive then they're on the approved KOS list. Also who thinks the despot torturer of children should be left alive? Really, he's too much a pussy to kill. That move there should be ground for the main character to die in the next chapter on moral grounds as well as receive the darwin award for stupidity. One of the bodyguards should have at least slit his though when the pussy wasn't looking. I get he's telepathic and all but if this is the shit that happens when people get telepathy then no wonder it had never evolved. Because the fuckers would die out as soon as a mildly mean guy stabbed then all.
Hopefully something happens and this dude gets straightened out in some character development but since the bad guy is the Demon Lord the author is probably going with the boring watered down fairy tale bullshit. As in the hero will try and save everyone even the slime balls who rape and torture children because they are people too and killing is bad.
July 29, 2013
Good first effort. Interested to see where the sequel leads and in which ways the story develops.
I've reviewed the book in full on my website:
http://alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpre...
And was lucky enough to participate in an interview with the author about the work. Also on my site:
http://alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpre...
Hope you enjoy!
I've reviewed the book in full on my website:
http://alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpre...
And was lucky enough to participate in an interview with the author about the work. Also on my site:
http://alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpre...
Hope you enjoy!
April 4, 2016
not bad
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews