My Son, the Wizard

Wizard in Rhyme #5

by Christopher Stasheff

A WORLD OF TROUBLES--TIMES TWO!

When Matt Mantrell--Her Majesty's Wizard--conjured himself from magical Merovence to his hometown in New Jersey, he discovered that vicious drug-dealing gangs had reduced the old neighborhood to a wasteland--and forced his parents to the brink of destitution. For Matt, the only answer was to transport them safely back to Merovence with him.

But the Mantrells weren't the only ones moving to Merovence: While Matt had been away, an army of Moors had invaded. As Queen Alisande led her army forth to engage the enemy, Matt launched his own campaign--with the aid of his fledgling wizard parents, the faithful dragon Stegoman, and a hapless tagalong thief. They sought to root out the real enemy behind the mayhem, even if it meant grappling with djinn, matching wits with a Moorish military genius, and trading spells with sinister sorcerers. For this enemy proved to be a cunning and deadly wizard--one who served the most evil master of all . . .


From the Paperback edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction, Magic, Alternate History, Humor

356 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

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

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

getting mom and dad involved was pretty great, but the author forgot a few details along the way. Spelling of Narlh's name, for one. The fact that he established that dragons teeth do not grow back, for another. He even brought up Maxwell's Demon but not as a character. possibly these books are greater appreciated when spaced out enough to forget the fine details.

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matthew Mantrell, Prince Consort and Royal Wizard of Merovence (an alternate-world version of France), returns to his old New Jersey home to find it overrun with gangs and drugs. He brings his parents to his new home with him, and it turns out they're able to work magic too. This is also the first book in the series to deal with the magical world's Muslims. Since the historical period paralleled in the fictional world is one in which the Moors were making incursions into Spain, perhaps this was unavoidable; but it's also a little difficult when it's already been established that medieval Catholicism is literally true in that universe. The Islamic invaders turn out to be unwittingly following an evil sorcerer who operates in both worlds, and is also using a magical drug to recruit criminals in our world. When they find out about this, they turn away from him and end up peacefully settling in Ibile. This book also brings jinn into the series. It's a little heavy-handed, but does make some interesting additions to the magical world and its connections to our own.

[Jason W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to describe

I find it hard to really summarize Christopher's work.

He writes well, and his characters have their own voices and personality. But more than that they are not cynical. His good characters, even the wicked, are earnest and sincere in their beliefs.

Christopher's death was a great loss to writing.

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Mantrell, Her Majesty's Wizard, begins to worry about his parents on the earth that he left when he traveled to Merovence. In a discussion with his friend Saul, the Witch Doctor, Saul propounds his theory about the difference in time between the two worlds. For example, 5 years have passed in Merovence, but only a few months on earth. Matt goes back to visit his parents, and with difficulty returns home to his wife. He returns to find the kingdom under attack. After talking with his wife (and actually receiving a letter from a friend of his mother), he goes back to bring his parents to his new life. And just in time, for the police are arriving as they are transported away.
Then Matt has to figure out who is causing this sudden eruption in warfare and why. And who is the very powerful sorcerer who almost prevented his returning and why. And how to stop the war.
In this world, a belief in good and evil matters. God is very present. Knighthood gives the receiver special abilities and good and evil behavior bind you to either God or the devil.
A fascinating read on a place where things are mostly black and white and rarely gray.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far, Stasheff's bible thumping has overpowered the fun and playfulness of this once vibrant series. His attempts to recapture the intrigue and wonder of the first book are overshadowed by his thinly-veiled attempts to illustrate the damage and dangers of drugs, all the while showing a very unrealistic reactions and behaviors by all of the characters. A weak and preachy chapter in an otherwise fun series.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book of the Wizard in Rhyme series that I ever read, and the one I always go back to when I feel like reading something that I know I'll enjoy reading again. Stasheff's style is very Fantasy, but the touches of skepticism and scientific leanings by the characters make it seem more believable than your average Fantasy book.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the series starts out as quite entertaining, it starts to fall off in plot quality after the first four titles.

[Jenniffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book of the wizard in ryme series!