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Rogue Wizard #1
A Wizard in Absentia
Magnus leaves Gramarye to seek own fame and fortune. On asteroid Maxima, he psychically persuades d'Armand relatives to reconcile, despite tempting blue-eyed blonde cousin Pelisse, also heir to dying uncle. Similar blonde Allouene recruits Magnus as SCENT agent like dad Rod.
On planet Taxhaven, hunted slave Ian 10 falls into 'Stone Egg' Safety Base, then apprentices to Magnus. With telekinesis and agent Siflot, they help kind Lord Aran and his grandchild Heloise 10. Aran treats peasants so well that tyrant aristocrats attack in force. But does SCENT want Aran to be a martyr?
On planet Taxhaven, hunted slave Ian 10 falls into 'Stone Egg' Safety Base, then apprentices to Magnus. With telekinesis and agent Siflot, they help kind Lord Aran and his grandchild Heloise 10. Aran treats peasants so well that tyrant aristocrats attack in force. But does SCENT want Aran to be a martyr?
263 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1993
17 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Stasheff
105 books300 followersThe 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.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 20, 2021
This is the first book in the spin-off series featuring Magnus Gallowglass, oldest son of Rod and Gwen of Graymayre. The chronology of the reading order can be a tad confusing, because this one was published by Ace, publishers of the Warlock-In-Spite-of-Himself books and the Heirs-to-the-Warlock series, but the subsequent books in Magnus's series appeared from Tor. Also, it would be helpful to have Warlock and Son before this one, but this one works pretty well on its own in any event. It's basically the start of a coming-of-age journey for Magnus, who travels to the ancestral home and meets the non-telepathic side of the family, follows in Rod's footsteps by becoming associated with the government agency SCENT, and begins his journey of independence, with a little help from hiss friends and family. I missed the mediaeval trappings and the mixture of fantasy and science fiction tropes, but Stasheff introduces new characters and clever situations enough to kick the new sequence off quite well.
April 1, 2013
I first encountered young Magnus when I read A Wizard in Mind which purported itself to be the first book of the Rogue Wizard series. As you can see from my review, I was rather confused by the already established relationship between Magnus and his ship, Hermiker. I was also annoyed at the introduction where Magnus discusses SCENT.
So, I decided to start at the beginning with A Wizard in Absentia (Rogue Wizard, #1), and I am glad that I did. This book filled in the much-needed background information that was missing in A Wizard in Mind.
I started off the book being entirely confused about the fact that Magnus was traveling with a sentient ship (that had a bunch of bodies) named Fess. Magnus kept referring to Fess as a horse, which helped me grasp the greater concept that in this universe, consciousness can be transferred between chassis like a simple file. Fess can then inhabit any number of forms including the ever-alluded-to horse.
No worries, for at the conclusion of Magnus's first adventure - which if I have a bone to pick it would be that I could hardly call such a thing an adventure - Magnus gets Herkimer and the reader learns the origins of the rather odd name.
After landing in Ceres City, Magnus hooks up with SCENT: his father's subversive "democracy yes; feudalism no" secret society. Driven by some instinct, Magnus provides the false name ED GAR to identify himself. He quickly gets nicknamed Gar Pike during infiltration training, and thus we learn the origin of the pseudonym that Magnus uses in both this novel and in A Wizard in Mind. I intend to continue to read the rest of the series in order to determine if this name keeps being used.
I found that Magnus relies tremendously on his mentalic powers in this novel. He even has the power of telekinesis, which is not present in A Wizard in Mind. Nor, too, is the ability to communicate with Hermiker without means of a transponder present in A Wizard in Mind, thought it is used frequently in this novel. Why, I wonder, did Stasheff reduce Magnus's powers?
So, I decided to start at the beginning with A Wizard in Absentia (Rogue Wizard, #1), and I am glad that I did. This book filled in the much-needed background information that was missing in A Wizard in Mind.
10.0% "@ digital 141 // I was just thinking that this book is nowhere near the writing style and quality of A Wizard in Mind, especially with our hero, Magnus, appearing to be younger than he should be, and the sentient ship having a different name. I came to this site to complain and realized that this is supposed to be the first book in the series."
I started off the book being entirely confused about the fact that Magnus was traveling with a sentient ship (that had a bunch of bodies) named Fess. Magnus kept referring to Fess as a horse, which helped me grasp the greater concept that in this universe, consciousness can be transferred between chassis like a simple file. Fess can then inhabit any number of forms including the ever-alluded-to horse.
No worries, for at the conclusion of Magnus's first adventure - which if I have a bone to pick it would be that I could hardly call such a thing an adventure - Magnus gets Herkimer and the reader learns the origins of the rather odd name.
"@ digital 297 // Magnus just told his computer to set a course for Ceres City in one sentence, pauses to have some thought-exposition, and in the next sentence he exits his ship and commands the ship to lock the door behind him. I'm all about removing boring parts, like tedious travel, but don't you think we should at least acknowledge that it happened?"
After landing in Ceres City, Magnus hooks up with SCENT: his father's subversive "democracy yes; feudalism no" secret society. Driven by some instinct, Magnus provides the false name ED GAR to identify himself. He quickly gets nicknamed Gar Pike during infiltration training, and thus we learn the origin of the pseudonym that Magnus uses in both this novel and in A Wizard in Mind. I intend to continue to read the rest of the series in order to determine if this name keeps being used.
I found that Magnus relies tremendously on his mentalic powers in this novel. He even has the power of telekinesis, which is not present in A Wizard in Mind. Nor, too, is the ability to communicate with Hermiker without means of a transponder present in A Wizard in Mind, thought it is used frequently in this novel. Why, I wonder, did Stasheff reduce Magnus's powers?
February 28, 2012
Magnus has left Graymarye in his father’s ship, with Fess, his cybernetic companion. Still a powerful esper, he keeps it hidden.
Reading this story, I was somewhat disappointed that all the magic and the Medieval society were no longer part of the story. But when I got into the book, I forgot about that and had a good time. Actually, this is better than the last book in the Graymarye saga. Stasheff seemed to be running out of ideas and his decision to tell another story centered around Magnus seems to be a good one.
One small negative: Magnus’ “magical?” aversion to women. Every woman he meets seems to be bent on taking advantage of him. There should be good women in every society, but only the bad ones are allowed to try to “vamp” him. I find that a bit unbelievable and it got old quickly. But not enough of a negative to remove a star from my rating.
Reading this story, I was somewhat disappointed that all the magic and the Medieval society were no longer part of the story. But when I got into the book, I forgot about that and had a good time. Actually, this is better than the last book in the Graymarye saga. Stasheff seemed to be running out of ideas and his decision to tell another story centered around Magnus seems to be a good one.
One small negative: Magnus’ “magical?” aversion to women. Every woman he meets seems to be bent on taking advantage of him. There should be good women in every society, but only the bad ones are allowed to try to “vamp” him. I find that a bit unbelievable and it got old quickly. But not enough of a negative to remove a star from my rating.
March 12, 2014
Ian 10, hunted by Count, accidentally falls into the Stone Egg aka "Safety Base Forty-three ready to function as you command" p 24, finds food and shelter. 1/3 book wasted while Magnus meets relatives on claustrophobic asteroid Maxima. Bits of Ian's tale intersperse until Magnus, as mercenary Gar Pike, rescues Ian for his apprentice.
Fun parts are like Louis L'Amour western combat, blow by blow fights in person, and destroying enemies. Confusing Magnus aka Gar aka Captain Pike p 210. Magnus defends castle of kindly Lord Aran with telekinesis, telepathic persuasion, no teleport. Aran treats his peasants so well that other aristocrats attack in force with high-tech atomic weapons. Ian helps Lady Heloise Aran's blue-eyed blonde grand-daughter also 10. Is there no other ideal of beauty?
Magnus resigns claim on fortune of dying uncle d'Armand. Via planetary phone to Terra, psychically persuades professor to return summers. Is plot purpose to show his long-distance power, shown closer later? Does author dislike blue-eyed blonde beauties? Magnus rejects cousin Pelisse, then Allouene. His relatives are manipulative, untrustworthy, yet he sends spaceship with proven loyal AI Fess back home, dubs gift ship AI Herkimer, could be just as epileptic.
Proficiency at martial arts when drunk attracts Allouene, recruiter/ trainer from same SCENT democracy-from-tyrants secret agency that sent his dad Rod to Gramarye. Magnus takes name Ed Gar from insignia initials on security force uniform at Ceres 'Sin' City, then instructor dubs him Pike for gar pike fish.
Scout Oswald Majorca, posing as merchant, calls for aid to planet Taxhaven. Much boring blather about origin, tyrants, government styles too typical of author, learned to skip. Fellow trainee Siflot jokes around, poses as wandering entertainer to spread political lessons in song, and helps, while other two on team vanish into obscurity. Poof.
Typo:
p 105 "Society for the Conversion of Etraterrestrial Nascent Totalianarianisms" Etra is Extra
Fun parts are like Louis L'Amour western combat, blow by blow fights in person, and destroying enemies. Confusing Magnus aka Gar aka Captain Pike p 210. Magnus defends castle of kindly Lord Aran with telekinesis, telepathic persuasion, no teleport. Aran treats his peasants so well that other aristocrats attack in force with high-tech atomic weapons. Ian helps Lady Heloise Aran's blue-eyed blonde grand-daughter also 10. Is there no other ideal of beauty?
Magnus resigns claim on fortune of dying uncle d'Armand. Via planetary phone to Terra, psychically persuades professor to return summers. Is plot purpose to show his long-distance power, shown closer later? Does author dislike blue-eyed blonde beauties? Magnus rejects cousin Pelisse, then Allouene. His relatives are manipulative, untrustworthy, yet he sends spaceship with proven loyal AI Fess back home, dubs gift ship AI Herkimer, could be just as epileptic.
Proficiency at martial arts when drunk attracts Allouene, recruiter/ trainer from same SCENT democracy-from-tyrants secret agency that sent his dad Rod to Gramarye. Magnus takes name Ed Gar from insignia initials on security force uniform at Ceres 'Sin' City, then instructor dubs him Pike for gar pike fish.
Scout Oswald Majorca, posing as merchant, calls for aid to planet Taxhaven. Much boring blather about origin, tyrants, government styles too typical of author, learned to skip. Fellow trainee Siflot jokes around, poses as wandering entertainer to spread political lessons in song, and helps, while other two on team vanish into obscurity. Poof.
Typo:
p 105 "Society for the Conversion of Etraterrestrial Nascent Totalianarianisms" Etra is Extra
July 19, 2022
I ran across this in a bookshop in my wandering, and didn't remember reading it, so I bought it and read it. I was a fan of the original series involving this character's father, but read them a long time ago.
I'm not sure whether it was the passage of time that kept me from enjoying this more, or just that the story wasn't as interesting as the early books in the Warlock series, but I found myself wondering where the rest of the story was. That's really how it felt, in that the obstacles faced by Magnus didn't really amount to much because his abilities were so powerful. It reminded me a bit of the Doc Smith Lensman stories, where sometimes both the heroes and villains just seemed too powerful to exist. In this story, for example, his suddenly-mentioned telekinesis is both powerful and precise enough to adjust the direction of a cannonball after it has been fired, and he manages to sabotage enemy weapons at a great distance. At some point, it felt like the bad guys just didn't stand a chance, and neither did the good guys who didn't agree with Magnus.
It wasn't a bad book, but not a great one, at least compared to the other Stasheff books as I remember them.
I'm not sure whether it was the passage of time that kept me from enjoying this more, or just that the story wasn't as interesting as the early books in the Warlock series, but I found myself wondering where the rest of the story was. That's really how it felt, in that the obstacles faced by Magnus didn't really amount to much because his abilities were so powerful. It reminded me a bit of the Doc Smith Lensman stories, where sometimes both the heroes and villains just seemed too powerful to exist. In this story, for example, his suddenly-mentioned telekinesis is both powerful and precise enough to adjust the direction of a cannonball after it has been fired, and he manages to sabotage enemy weapons at a great distance. At some point, it felt like the bad guys just didn't stand a chance, and neither did the good guys who didn't agree with Magnus.
It wasn't a bad book, but not a great one, at least compared to the other Stasheff books as I remember them.
July 7, 2019
Need to have read "Warlock and Son" before this in order to understand everything going on.
March 22, 2017
I'm always pleasantly surprised when I re-read a story from my childhood and it still holds up. I remember it being a smidge cheesy at the time, so I was genuinely concerned that the time that had passed would make it terribly cheesy.
Thankfully, that is not the case. It's still a smidge cheesy, but just a smidge. The plot and concepts are interesting, and the storyline is fun and easy to follow.
Thankfully, that is not the case. It's still a smidge cheesy, but just a smidge. The plot and concepts are interesting, and the storyline is fun and easy to follow.
September 14, 2008
The start of Magnus' adventures made you wonder what to expect of this series. In a few books, you get the idea, but his books are never dull...you wonder just how Magnus will get out of the next mess!
January 25, 2015
Amusing, but simple. A little too black and white - not enough shades of gray. The hero is just a little too perfect even though there are references to a darker side, it has little or no affect on him.
January 22, 2016
Me pareció un libro con ideas interesantes pero no tan bien escrito.
Llegó a mí entre los restos que dejó la ola cuando fui a rescatar libros en una biblioteca que dio de baja una gran colección de libros principalmente en inglés.
Llegó a mí entre los restos que dejó la ola cuando fui a rescatar libros en una biblioteca que dio de baja una gran colección de libros principalmente en inglés.
April 24, 2016
Started off a bit rough but came together in the end If you start it don't give up , it will get better, in fact i think that my problem with the start was that I had not read any of the warlock series before to give me a better reference as to what was going on.
April 6, 2014
The first of the Magnus stand-alone series, although written almost 15 years after "A Wizard in Bedlam" so there is some repetition of circumstances.
October 5, 2009
Just fun.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews