What do you think?
Rate this book
The Witches of Karres #2
The Wizard of Karres
At last-the sequel to The Witches of Karres . Three top writers continue the bewitching adventures begun in one of science fiction's most beloved novels. First time in paperback.
It just wasn't fair! Captain Pausert had foiled the deadliest of space pirates and eliminated the threat of the Worm World, yet his troubles kept piling up. Sent on a secret mission to stop the nanite plague, a self-aware disease that could devastate whole worlds, he quickly found that someone had convinced the Imperial Fleet that he was actually a wanted criminal, which led to a battle leaving his ship in urgent need of repairs. And while Goth and the Leewit, two of the notorious witches of Karres, could do amazing things, ship repair was not in their line. So he stopped at the next planet for repairs, but found that somehow his bank account had been cut off, and the authorities were looking for someone matching his description. There was only one thing to do-join the circus! An interstellar traveling circus, that is. All the galaxy loves a clown-as long as Pausert, Goth and the Leewit can keep their disguises from slipping. The show must go on-or the galaxy is doomed!
It just wasn't fair! Captain Pausert had foiled the deadliest of space pirates and eliminated the threat of the Worm World, yet his troubles kept piling up. Sent on a secret mission to stop the nanite plague, a self-aware disease that could devastate whole worlds, he quickly found that someone had convinced the Imperial Fleet that he was actually a wanted criminal, which led to a battle leaving his ship in urgent need of repairs. And while Goth and the Leewit, two of the notorious witches of Karres, could do amazing things, ship repair was not in their line. So he stopped at the next planet for repairs, but found that somehow his bank account had been cut off, and the authorities were looking for someone matching his description. There was only one thing to do-join the circus! An interstellar traveling circus, that is. All the galaxy loves a clown-as long as Pausert, Goth and the Leewit can keep their disguises from slipping. The show must go on-or the galaxy is doomed!
447 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
446 books9,709 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 20, 2023
Very good but not great
Not as much fun as James Schmitz's original WITCHES OF KARRES despite being authored by three science fiction/fantasy greats. However still very much worth reading for fans of the original. My main complaint is that some of it was so obvious that it made me want to slap some of the characters and yell, "Pay attention!"
Not as much fun as James Schmitz's original WITCHES OF KARRES despite being authored by three science fiction/fantasy greats. However still very much worth reading for fans of the original. My main complaint is that some of it was so obvious that it made me want to slap some of the characters and yell, "Pay attention!"
May 19, 2019
This is a pretty good follow-up to the classic James H. Schmitz novel from 1966, The Witches of Karres. It would be interesting to know what Schmitz thought about it, but it appeared almost forty years after the original, and almost a quarter century after Schmitz died. I thought it stayed pretty true to the feel of the original, both with the characters and concepts. There's a certain ick-factor in the idea of the captain waiting around until Goth, the twelve year old girl, is old enough to marry that obviously wasn't as much of a thing back when LBJ was in office, but other than that I was pretty happy with the book. It didn't strike me as either enhancing or detracting from the reputation of the original. It's always fun when your characters run away and join the circus.
(I did take issue with the packaging, however: on the back cover Baen lists The Witches of Karres as the prequel to the current book. Really?! Would you define Gone With the Wind as the prequel to Scarlett?)
(I did take issue with the packaging, however: on the back cover Baen lists The Witches of Karres as the prequel to the current book. Really?! Would you define Gone With the Wind as the prequel to Scarlett?)
September 2, 2015
This book started a little slow. But after the first few chapters I really got into it. It was a lot of fun and very imaginative. I loved the characters and the situations they got into.
The concept of a circus in space that goes from planet to planet was a lot of fun. It took me a while to figure out just what some things in the book were but I really, really loved it. I was actually very sad when it ended.
The concept of a circus in space that goes from planet to planet was a lot of fun. It took me a while to figure out just what some things in the book were but I really, really loved it. I was actually very sad when it ended.
November 5, 2020
Published 38 years after the first book, this is a good sequel to a fun space opera. The characters carry over from the first book, written by a new team of writers. Indeed, there are two more sequels, both highly rated and the last published in 2020.
I discovered and enjoyed the first book a few years ago; I'm still searching for other books by James H. Schmitz. Some knowledge of the first book helps, but probably isn't necessary. The story is solid, though there is an aspect of Star Trek's "Q" towards the end. Schmitz wrote the witches as strong and distinct female characters, and that comes through in this book also.
Well known authors Eric Flint and Dave Freer co-authored this book with Mercedes Lackey; they went on to write the 3rd and 4th books without her. I haven't read anything else by them, though I've had an interest in Flint's 1632 universe books. Looking forward to finishing this series soon.
I discovered and enjoyed the first book a few years ago; I'm still searching for other books by James H. Schmitz. Some knowledge of the first book helps, but probably isn't necessary. The story is solid, though there is an aspect of Star Trek's "Q" towards the end. Schmitz wrote the witches as strong and distinct female characters, and that comes through in this book also.
Well known authors Eric Flint and Dave Freer co-authored this book with Mercedes Lackey; they went on to write the 3rd and 4th books without her. I haven't read anything else by them, though I've had an interest in Flint's 1632 universe books. Looking forward to finishing this series soon.
March 29, 2010
This is the second in the Witches of Karres series. It's not quite as good as the first. It was written by three top scifi authors and it definitely keeps the feel of the first book, not an easy thing to define or reproduce. It is about the further adventures of two of the witches and the captain. I can't say much without a spoiler alert, but they go through harrowing, life threatening adventures finding help in unexpected places and the girls and the captain bond ever more closely together as the fight for the lives, their freedom and the universe as we know it. I only gave it three stars because in several places I felt it was a bit wordy or I would have worded things more interestingly. But that's a minor complaint considering I really enjoyed the book. I'm reading all my books in Kindle format now...so much easier and no more piles of books everywhere.
July 14, 2011
This gets an extra star because it is a sequel James Schmitz’s 1966 classic The Witches of Karres and it is good to see the old characters come alive again. I enjoyed this sequel for the most part and would recommend it to anyone who really liked Witches but it falls short of the original. The plot (which I won’t give away as a spoiler) is a bit shaky and feels contrived. The main characters lack the charm they had and diverge from the personalities Schmitz built for them in subtle but perceptible ways. The minor characters feel cartoonish and two dimensional. You can see how the authors attempted to recreate the feel of the original 1960’s space opera and I applaud the effort but I’m afraid they couldn’t quite pull it off.
February 14, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction
I adore James Schmidt’s The Witches of Karres - enough so to pick this book up. I thought it was fun brain-candy. It felt (and really is) just professionally done fan-fic. I enjoyed re-visiting the universe. However, the characters don’t ring quite true to me: Hulik du Eldel and Sedmon of the Six Lives are almost unrecognizable as the same people, except for their positions. I think that’s caused by their being thrust willy-nilly into a romance. Captain Paussart and Goth are similar to their originals but occasionally say or do things that don’t ring true to me. In many cases it’s just the phrasing of their responses rather than specific actions that sat wrong. The original of the Lewitt was something of a caricature, so it’s not surprising that I enjoyed the rendition of her in this book, and felt it rang true to the original.
I’m not at all convinced that the basic story – fighting a microscopic invasion that sweeps though worlds like a plague -- was something that Schmidt would write; and I especially felt that the time the protagonists spend in the Circus was not very Schmidt-like, but it was fun. Don’t expect great writing – especially the relationships – I detect a lot of Lackey’s hand there – lots of saying that feelings were there, but no showing except in melodramatic set-pieces. Despite my complaints, it does scratch the itch to spend more time in the The Witches of Karres universe.
I adore James Schmidt’s The Witches of Karres - enough so to pick this book up. I thought it was fun brain-candy. It felt (and really is) just professionally done fan-fic. I enjoyed re-visiting the universe. However, the characters don’t ring quite true to me: Hulik du Eldel and Sedmon of the Six Lives are almost unrecognizable as the same people, except for their positions. I think that’s caused by their being thrust willy-nilly into a romance. Captain Paussart and Goth are similar to their originals but occasionally say or do things that don’t ring true to me. In many cases it’s just the phrasing of their responses rather than specific actions that sat wrong. The original of the Lewitt was something of a caricature, so it’s not surprising that I enjoyed the rendition of her in this book, and felt it rang true to the original.
I’m not at all convinced that the basic story – fighting a microscopic invasion that sweeps though worlds like a plague -- was something that Schmidt would write; and I especially felt that the time the protagonists spend in the Circus was not very Schmidt-like, but it was fun. Don’t expect great writing – especially the relationships – I detect a lot of Lackey’s hand there – lots of saying that feelings were there, but no showing except in melodramatic set-pieces. Despite my complaints, it does scratch the itch to spend more time in the The Witches of Karres universe.
January 27, 2023
“The Wizard of Karres” continues the adventures of the Captain and Goth. The Leewit also makes an important appearance. The story itself is a sprawling space opera with some quite interesting and unusual features such as a six clone ruler and a space circus. It is an enjoyable visit back to the world of Karres.
September 10, 2020
Late, but perfect sequel
I am not a major fan of James Schmitz' works (sorry!), but the one exception is "Witches of Karrres". Lackey, Flint and Freer take up the story where Schmitz left us, in a style nearly indistinguishable from his.
Witches of Karres and Wizard of Karres follow the sturdy and honest space trader Pausert who got involved with the infamous witches of Karres, when he rescued three of their kids and delivered them home. In Wizard of K., Pausert, accompanied by Goth and The Leewit, have to bring vital information to the empress, but are hindered by pirates, corrupt secret service personal and nannite-infected bad guys. Running literally out of air, fuel and money, they make their way by joining a space-traveling circus and Pausert finds himself treating the planks in the plays of the old bard.
Light-hearted space opera at its finest!
April 23, 2008
The authors did a great job continuing the story from "The Witches of Karres." It doesn't feel exactly the same as the first book, but does feel close enough that I wasn't groaning at any points. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One of the things that I liked was that the authors did not re-explain everything, just a few things. For example, we don't redo that The Leewit is The Leewit. For that reason, and since this book picks up at exactly the same moment The Witches leaves off, you may want to reread The Witches first if it has been a while.
One of the things that I liked was that the authors did not re-explain everything, just a few things. For example, we don't redo that The Leewit is The Leewit. For that reason, and since this book picks up at exactly the same moment The Witches leaves off, you may want to reread The Witches first if it has been a while.
November 5, 2012
3.5 stars
The Wizard of Karres is a delightful homage sequel to the 1966 classic The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz. Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and David Freer definitely capture the rollicking, zany tone of the original. Recommended for fans of Diana Wynne Jones.
The Wizard of Karres is a delightful homage sequel to the 1966 classic The Witches of Karres by James Schmitz. Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and David Freer definitely capture the rollicking, zany tone of the original. Recommended for fans of Diana Wynne Jones.
July 2, 2012
Deffenitly glad I read Schmitz book first, also glad did not read in the sixties as waiting so long for the seaqual not good. Lackey did a good job just a little update in lanquedge verry easily both books could have been written by same person. Ready to read the third book.
August 5, 2017
The original Witches of Karres by James Schmitz is one of the classics of 1960s science fiction with a lot of charm and humor. Unfortunately that is not true of this 2004 sequel by *three* different authors. This reads like poorly done fanfic that takes the characters but doesn't know what made the original book so good. Yes, the plot of the original was over the top not to be taken seriously, but the one here is worse as Captain Pausert and the witches end up joining the circus. I found this book disappointing.
June 19, 2018
Summary: Good fun, kept the same humour as the first book, but a much more structured and well thought out plot. Overly long but recommended
Plotline: Well thought out with some nice twists
Premise: Doesn't bear too much thinking or it all falls apart. And the circus ships. Hmmmm. Intelligent viruses. Hmmmmm.
Writing: Good, much better than the original
Ending: Yes, well ... all good.
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: Well thought out with some nice twists
Premise: Doesn't bear too much thinking or it all falls apart. And the circus ships. Hmmmm. Intelligent viruses. Hmmmmm.
Writing: Good, much better than the original
Ending: Yes, well ... all good.
Pace: Never a dull moment!
June 5, 2025
VERY difficult to focus on the plot in points because a supporting character is named Himbo. Good lord. That pulled the rating back up a star because it was funny, though. The main character being an adult man who keeps wishing that the 12 year old witch-girl he's trying to keep out of trouble was older (or could be made older with the sci-fi magic present in this universe) so he could marry her knocked it down two stars.
February 13, 2019
This is the second book in the Witches of Karres series but written by Mercedes Lackey rather than James H Schmitz. It ties into his book very well, and is very well written with a good plot line, and continued development of the characters. It is well worth the time and money to read after you have finished the first book.
September 16, 2019
+++Captain Pausert with Goth, the Leewit, Vezzarn & Hulik do Eldel have a mission to deliver their supercargo of Hantis a Nartheby Sprit and Pul a grik-dog to the Empress Hailie and are being pursued by Imperial Navy, pirates, and by Sedmon the Sixth Daal of Uldune. The Venture makes planet fall in search of fuel. The crew is incarcerated, manages to escape with some outside help, and has no assets as they continue the run away and join the circus. Things get even more labor intensive, cultural and exciting.+++
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
Considering this was like 35 years after the original, I think they did a pretty good job as a sequel. A bit more "fluffy" compared to the original which was a bit darker. But glad to have a decent sequel by different authors which usually doesn't go well ( like Sherlock or James Bond) especially 3 different ones contributing.
June 23, 2019
Fantastic Read
The sequel to the Wizard of Karres is even better than the first book The Witches of Karres I can’t wait to read the next book in the series sadly it is the last one written.
The sequel to the Wizard of Karres is even better than the first book The Witches of Karres I can’t wait to read the next book in the series sadly it is the last one written.
October 26, 2019
A Fitting Sequel
I had forgotten that this sequel to The Witches of Karres existed. I loved revisiting these chasracters again. It was nice to have some loose ends resolved. I look forward to the next book, and the one after that-in-progress.
I had forgotten that this sequel to The Witches of Karres existed. I loved revisiting these chasracters again. It was nice to have some loose ends resolved. I look forward to the next book, and the one after that-in-progress.
June 20, 2020
Witches of Karres Continues
I thought Mercedes Lackey and the other contributors maintained the style of Schmitz's Karres universe and its characterization. I enjoyed the continued development of the plot and Captain Pausert skills.
I thought Mercedes Lackey and the other contributors maintained the style of Schmitz's Karres universe and its characterization. I enjoyed the continued development of the plot and Captain Pausert skills.
Read
January 6, 2021Once again I loved this series - so much so that I read them without having audio to whispersync - one after the other 1-4. The characters make me keep coming back to see what they would be up to next.
June 12, 2024
It was fun to revisit that world, and the threesome did a reasonable job of matching the charm of the original one, but there really is only one James H Schmitz.
Still, I'll probably check out the other sequels at some point.
Still, I'll probably check out the other sequels at some point.
June 14, 2026
What a hilarious, riotous, action-packed romp! For an urgent quest to save the Empire, Pausert and the crew of the Venture do seem to fall into the most ridiculous and implausible situations, but they succeed - with the 'biggest, messiest kids' party ever - times ten'. Such fun funniness!
November 27, 2017
the captain and goth relationship was really offputting! she is a child!
July 6, 2018
If you liked Witches of Karres, then you'll love Mercedes Lackey's sequel. Written in true Golden Age style and with Vatches galore !
October 10, 2021
Yes! Thank you!!! Now to get the next one!
April 7, 2023
Enjoyable.
Funny
Funny
August 19, 2024
Great follow-on to a great book! Thanks, Mercedes
February 25, 2026
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews