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Ars Magica
Magic is still the most powerful seducer of all as young monk Gilbert knows. He risks his soul as a sorcerer's apprentice, only to steal the magic books--and the Head. The Head prophesies the rise of his power, and it is shadowed by death.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
13 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Judith Tarr
120 books419 followersAKA Caitlin Brennan, Kathleen Bryan.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 1, 2018
A real, historical person, Gerbert de Aurillac started life as a farmer's son in an unimportant town in tenth-century France. He died Pope Sylvester II in 1003.
Along the way, he became an important scholar, teacher, mathematician, and by tenth-century standards, scientist.
According to legend, he may also have been a master of the magical arts. This is that story, starting with young Gerbert meeting his first tutor in the arts of magic.
This is a good, solid, engrossing story of mediaevel magic, politics, and history, with really excellent characters. Tarr as always knows the history more than well enough to do believable but interesting things with it, and make a stronger story overall.
Gerbert, his friend Richer, his rival Arnulf, his first teacher of magic, the Saracen Ibrahim, Emperor Otto II, and the other significant characters all have the complexities, mixed motives, strengths and weaknesses. For this reread, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is very good.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
Along the way, he became an important scholar, teacher, mathematician, and by tenth-century standards, scientist.
According to legend, he may also have been a master of the magical arts. This is that story, starting with young Gerbert meeting his first tutor in the arts of magic.
This is a good, solid, engrossing story of mediaevel magic, politics, and history, with really excellent characters. Tarr as always knows the history more than well enough to do believable but interesting things with it, and make a stronger story overall.
Gerbert, his friend Richer, his rival Arnulf, his first teacher of magic, the Saracen Ibrahim, Emperor Otto II, and the other significant characters all have the complexities, mixed motives, strengths and weaknesses. For this reread, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is very good.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
June 17, 2011
I love the knowledge Judith Tarr's professional background brings to the historical periods she uses for her historical fantasies. They sound and look authentic to me. And how rare is it for a German to find a historical fantasy set practically at the founding of the Heiligen Römischen Reiches Deutscher Nation.
I wouldn't mind hearing about great-grandfather Heinrich and not just Otto III. Or about Otto's mum - Teophanu's life at the Saxon court, but it was an enjoyable view at church life, at the recovery of the Arts of the Antiquities (I loved the opinionated Richer, the mule Alba and what little we were allowed to see of the Jinnayah).
Of course (and historically correct) not many women have an impact on this story.
I wouldn't mind hearing about great-grandfather Heinrich and not just Otto III. Or about Otto's mum - Teophanu's life at the Saxon court, but it was an enjoyable view at church life, at the recovery of the Arts of the Antiquities (I loved the opinionated Richer, the mule Alba and what little we were allowed to see of the Jinnayah).
Of course (and historically correct) not many women have an impact on this story.
April 9, 2010
This is a historical fantasy of how a young peasant monk rose to be the Roman Catholic Pope in the 10th and 11th century. Ms. Tarr based almost all her characters on real people and real historical events. History also records rumors which said Pope Sylvester II, known to the readers as Gilbert, used magic and the forbidden Arts. Ms. Tarr took this rumor and turned it into a fascinating story of a young monk's rise to power helped by friends, his own resourcefulness and dedication, as well as a little help from his study of magic. The story also emphasizes that nothing comes without a price, as Gilbert is always haunted by death and suspicion.
A great story, especially if you enjoy historical fantasy. Anyone who knows the time period would probably love Ms. Tarr's references to historical information.
A great story, especially if you enjoy historical fantasy. Anyone who knows the time period would probably love Ms. Tarr's references to historical information.
May 23, 2010
A story of the temptation and corruption of power based on the real-life Pope Sylvester II. It was considerably more entertaining than I'd expected, mostly because the mood of the book was so similar to the Ars Magica game. I don't know offhand which came first. Worth checking out if you have an interest in high magic or medieval history.
June 29, 2013
I've had this for some years, and finally dusted it off. A good read if you like historical fiction with a twist of fantasy. Rumor had it that Pope Sylvester II was a practitioner of magic. This is his story.
September 16, 2012
An interesting history of Gerbert of Aurillac later Pope Sylvester in the years before 1000 ad. About him and magic and politics and it reads like history as most Judith Tarr novels do
June 27, 2008
This was a somewhat interesting historical fiction. The author took some actual historical figures and gave them some magical abilities. It was a little hard to follow at times, but I did enjoy it.
August 12, 2020
(Sorta read: I'm skipping ahead to the ending, but I've read a bunch of it.) I've hit my limit: Tarr does a wonderful job with the setting, but not a blamed interesting thing actually happens in this book. Intelligent peasant becomes monk, learns magic & mathematics, claims to pay the price (), has trouble becoming bishop, becomes pope.
Trouble is, it's not even an interesting character study, because it's difficult to get a grip on the main character's personality. The reader can't actually predict what he'll think or say or do; we just have to plod along and watch him do this and do that, with no actual explanation of why he does it. Pov might have something to do with this: we see his thoughts, but Tarr doesn't actually put the reader into his head.
I did like the fantasy elements: the witches, the speaking bronze head. And Tarr's style is deft and lyrical. It's just that most of the book seems to be conversational jousting and descriptions of the characters sitting around thinking. I've been part of conversational jousting (I am, after all, a retired academic), and I've seen people sitting around thinking; and they're just not all that interesting to read about.
Trouble is, it's not even an interesting character study, because it's difficult to get a grip on the main character's personality. The reader can't actually predict what he'll think or say or do; we just have to plod along and watch him do this and do that, with no actual explanation of why he does it. Pov might have something to do with this: we see his thoughts, but Tarr doesn't actually put the reader into his head.
I did like the fantasy elements: the witches, the speaking bronze head. And Tarr's style is deft and lyrical. It's just that most of the book seems to be conversational jousting and descriptions of the characters sitting around thinking. I've been part of conversational jousting (I am, after all, a retired academic), and I've seen people sitting around thinking; and they're just not all that interesting to read about.
August 27, 2023
I first read this years ago and just now reread it.
Tarr does a good job of integrating non-historical fantasy elements into a historical tale in a "what if the legends were true" mission - which seems to be the novel's nature - an intellectual puzzle for the author to work out.
That said, as a story with interesting characters, suspense, important plot points where something is at stake etc., it's pretty bland. The most interesting part is the first section in which the protagonist first learns about magic and has a chance to learn, meets Moorish teacher etc. Whatever might have come of that is brought to a halt and the story moves on with the protagonist being moved like a chess piece along his historical path.
Tarr does a good job of integrating non-historical fantasy elements into a historical tale in a "what if the legends were true" mission - which seems to be the novel's nature - an intellectual puzzle for the author to work out.
That said, as a story with interesting characters, suspense, important plot points where something is at stake etc., it's pretty bland. The most interesting part is the first section in which the protagonist first learns about magic and has a chance to learn, meets Moorish teacher etc. Whatever might have come of that is brought to a halt and the story moves on with the protagonist being moved like a chess piece along his historical path.
April 18, 2019
I really liked it when I read it as a young adult. Would read again if I find a copy.
March 13, 2020
Okay, but definitely not as good as other of her books that I"ve read.
March 1, 2021
Continues Tarr's tradition to take historical fiction and ask herself 'what if we got crazy...with magic??"
December 15, 2009
Picked this up at a yard sale at a friend's house when they were moving. Not exactly my cup of tea, but it was OK. The story centers around the monk who would become Pope Sylvester II. It tells of how magic (The Art) played such an important role in his life even while the church frowned upon sorcery and magic. The novel follows his education from a young monk and through his life into the early years of his papacy. It is NOT a history, although Pope Sylvester II did exist. It was based on the "legends" surrounding him, not on the recorded history. It was an easy read, or I probably wouldn't have finished it. It didn't really grab me and draw me into it as my favorite stories do. But, if you have nothing else to read....
April 4, 2016
This was a bingo read. I’m not a big fan of historical fantasy, so this is a little outside my normal reading.
This is a very quick read. I didn’t particularly enjoy the book, but I can appreciate the great writing. It felt like every word was chosen to give you a feel of the time, while not losing you in the prose.
I wish I knew more about the time period it took place, I think it would have helped me to enjoy it more. As it is, I feel a little unfair even rating it, but it’s as much for me to keep track of my likes, then anything.
I’d recommend this to people who enjoy historical fantasy. It’s a beautifully written, quick read, just not quite my cup of tea.
This is a very quick read. I didn’t particularly enjoy the book, but I can appreciate the great writing. It felt like every word was chosen to give you a feel of the time, while not losing you in the prose.
I wish I knew more about the time period it took place, I think it would have helped me to enjoy it more. As it is, I feel a little unfair even rating it, but it’s as much for me to keep track of my likes, then anything.
I’d recommend this to people who enjoy historical fantasy. It’s a beautifully written, quick read, just not quite my cup of tea.
September 12, 2021
Retroactive Review (12 Sep 2021): This follows Gerbert of Aurillac from a young monk to an older archbishop and higher, as he chases after knowledge and magic. Much more a character study than if you were hoping for anything exciting (Tarr stays within the legends surrounding Gerbert for the most part). I really liked being inside Gerbert's head (and the platonic male love was nice, too).
May 28, 2020
Another Judith Tarr book about a too-good-for-the-world man of God struggling to fit his magic in with his faith! It's interesting but not one of her best efforts. The way it skips past a few years here, a few years there, annoyed me too.
May 1, 2009
I normally love her books, but just couldn't get into this one, I didn't even finsih it.
July 1, 2009
Pretty standard fantasy fare, with at least a slightly new take on magic. Much heavier emphasis on characters and personal struggle rather than battle or adventure. Overall average at best.
February 20, 2016
Not a bad historical fantasy story. Good mix of the religion and politics of the day. Recommended
Want to read
June 29, 2016Recommended by Doug R
August 11, 2010
No doubt, fantasy was better and more original then.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews