The Warlock's Last Ride

Warlock #12

by Christopher Stasheff

THE FINAL ADVENTURE IN THE PHENOMENAL SERIES
After an incredible 35-year run, the story of Ron Gallowglass - The Warlock in Spite of Himself - comes to its fantastic finale in the weird and wonderful world of Gramarye.
When Gwendolyn - the witch-wife of Rod Gallowglass, the Lord High Warlock of Gramarye - suddenly dies, she leaves behind a husband dangerously unhinged by grief and a land without a Protector.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy

314 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 25, 2004

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I can't say anything objective about this last book of the Graymayre saga. I read Stasheff's first novel, The Warlock in Spite of Himself, in 1971, and followed his adventures for a third of a century. I fell in love with Gwen along with Rod and then grew up along with their children and kept their company through all of the Heirs and Wizard and other Warlock books. Stasheff was a master of mixing fantasy and science fiction concepts, and at portraying family foibles. There were ups and downs and challenges, but they saw it all through as a family, and (except for Fess, of course), they grew older, as friends and families do. When Gwen died it brought a tear to my eye. This one brings it all together and wraps it up satisfactorily, which is something not many such series ever manage to do. The ending is not all gloom, but offers a somewhat bittersweet feeling of hope, which is all that one should ask.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading the Warlock series since I was just a kid. The first in the series Services The Warlock in Spite of Himself came out when I was 4 and was ready for me once I started making my own decisions about what to read. As a result, I grew up with Rod Gallowglass and his family as the series progressed, doing one of those wonderful things where the characters age and mature and don't stay frozen in amber.

This is the final book int he Warlock series and while I can't say it's my favorite in the series it's one of the best and really served to remind me of what I enjoyed most (and to nudge me to get my kids to start reading it).

Gwen has died, Rod is in denial and that leaves the children, all grown to adulthood, to deal with a kingdom that's once again under assault. Frankly, while there is some action this is mostly about the characters and how they have ended up as people. That might not be satisfying for everyone, but for me it was the perfect way to wrap up the series.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in the Warlock's Adventure. If you haven't read this series check it out. It's a wonderful world of magic and technology.
The series is great!!!

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Sad but good.

[Stuart Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fitting end to the series I suppose. Once again, the bad guy is captured and good has prevailed over all with no defeating of the real enemy, just their agent taken away in chains to disappear in the sands of time. I am sure if there was another novel it would be the resources of Tyr Na whatever assisting the rulers to rule after it appeared the futurists were going to win somehow now that Gwen and Rod were “out of the picture” somehow. I did not believe that Allouette would turn traitor a 2nd time, so there was no surprise to the ending for me. At the end, this series was mediocre at best and more novels would just wind up making is another Piers Anthony Waterloo. It should take the reader maybe 3 weeks of their life at most to read this series and while that is mandatory for any collector, the casual fan should simply read Escape Velocity and move on. That however, is not in my nature.

[Đenis · Rating 5 out of 5]

V angličtine to bol záhul, vetné skladby, slovíčka a celkovo... Ale doraziť som to musel.
A koniec to bol parádny. Gwendolyn umiera a tým povoláva Magnusa domov.
Mladá generácia je už dospelá a stavia sa na vlastné nohy. Chlapci sa stali mužmi a oženili sa, Cordelia si vzala princátko. Magnus sa vrátil so svojou spolubojovníčkou, s ktorou celú knihu odmietajú svoju lásku. Deti sú teda zaobstarané a Rod cíti, že ho už toho moc doma nedrží a tak vyráža na cesty, hľadať Tir Na Nog - krajinu, kde odchádzajú všetky žive bytosti.
A samozrejme anarchisti a totalitári kujú ďalšiu veľkú rebéliu. Tentokrát prepracovaným plánom poštvú proti lordstvu a kráľovi a královnej.
Rod síce pomáha, ale ponecháva rozhodnutia a boj na deti. Bojov a akcie tu už nie je tak moc, ale o to viac je rozobraná povaha každého z Gallowglassovych, v čo dospel.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the entire series and enjoyed most of them. Even with the retcons and occasional outright rewrites the entire series was literally a nice ride.

That said I had second thoughts with the last novel. The moment I saw the title...and read the official summary I had misgivings. Nonetheless I wanted to find out myself.

This story did not have the same cohesion of the others. In addition, unlike the rest of the series, the somber overtones are never really quite overcome. I suppose that the author felt it was necessary, but it was a departure in many ways not just in theme but actual style.

I would have had better time accepting the story if it had the same quality as the ones before. If you loved the rest of the series as much as I did, I could not honestly recommend this one.

To me, the entire series on the shelf stops with #11. #12 was uh, misplaced. :)

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the last in the Warlock's series. It will be best having read at least the first book, and also some in the middle involving the children. I think it could stand alone okay, but would have more context with these books. I read 1, 8, and 9.

This brings the eldest child home, and also sees a fair amount of the Warlock's children growing into their own, then has the Warlock himself riding off into the sunset. A few poignant moments, a lot of convenient timing. It was okay. A decent wrap to a series, but nothing special for me to hold on to.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful ending to the Warlock series. I cried when Gwen died. It was surprising and gratifying to close the story of their oldest enemies as well.

[Ken Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sad end to a great series

[Richard Littel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching finale to the series.

[C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book of the series. If you have read the series and are invested in the characters, don't read it in public - some very sad things happen, but it is a fitting end to the series. There is one more book about St. Vidicon but I'm going to leave that for later.

[Tanner]

Stasheff weaves together the Warlock and Wizard series to finally give Rod and Gwen an ending. The book sometimes groans under the weight of all the various characters, but for those who have read the other books in the two series, it works very well.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in the "Warlock" and spin-off series, this book ends Rod's life and shows the children off in their new lives. Like all faerie tales, it truly does have a happy ending.

[Tanya Frolick Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried at the end of this one. It's so very hard to let go of characters you love.

[Salome · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very long, very repetitive and very predictible. And all that you-are-my-truest-and-deepest-love,how-can-you-doubt talk almost made me sick. I love the rebelion part, though.

[Vader · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish

[DavidO · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I read this one in the series, but I'm not entirel sure. I am sure I read 0 through 9.

[Rainbowjay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sucky Ending!!!!

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic end to a great series of books