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The Wizard of 4th Street #1
The Wizard of 4th Street
First came the Collapse, when the fossil fuels ran out and the world fell into a new dark age. Then, at the height of all the chaos, the legendary Merlin awoke from his long slumber and set the world on a path to using magic as the new energy base. Some fifty years later, society is based on magic use and Wyrdrune, a young New York City warlock kicked out of school for casting spells without a license, reads about an auction of artifacts unearthed in the Euphrates Valley. Among the items up for auction are some enchanted runestones of “unknown properties.” Hoping for a score, Wyrdrune plots to steal them. But at the same time, a streetwise cat burglar known as Kira also tries to steal the stones and the two barely manage to escape together with the loot. Neither of them has much use for the other, but all they have to do is fence the stones and split the take. The only problem is, the runestones won’t stay fenced. They keep magically returning to the thieves. Now, hunted by the authorities, by thugs employed by dealers in stolen goods who think the pair have cheated them, and by a mysterious international hitman known only by the name of Morpheus, the thieves have only one place left to run -- the home of Wyrdrune’s old professor, Merlin, who is the first to realize that the runestones are a key to an immensely powerful and dangerous spell dating back before the dawn of human civilization. And as if that were not frightening enough, the runestones are alive....
247 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1987
23 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Simon Hawke
90 books238 followersAlso published as J.D. Masters.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 20, 2016
What at first seems to be a typical humorous modern fantasy set in the near future shows a certain amount of depth (and darkness), with things that would never happen to a character in a Robert Asprin book of the same era - indicative of the earlier and more challenging books that Hawke wrote before submitting to producing long-form series work to appeal to publishers' bottom lines and less discerning readers. Enjoyable, with surprises, although the ending seems rushed and sets up later books (natch).
December 16, 2019
The Wizard of 4th Street was one of the novels in the Questor line from Warner Books. The line itself didn’t bear the prestige of Ballantine Books for fantasy or Ace and Signet for science-fiction. I, personally, have few of the Questor volumes in my library, but I was very excited to find an old copy of Simon Hawke’s The Wizard of 4th Street, even though I hadn’t known that it was the first of nine books in a series. I definitely enjoyed the first novel enough to read the rest (as I find them). However, I’m not sure that I enjoyed The Wizard of 4th Street as much as the Time Wars series (light-hearted romps where the protagonists traveled in time as though history had occurred as it did in epic, fantasy, pulp adventures, and early science-fiction) published by Ace Books, but it was definitely entertaining reading.
One gets a sense of where The Wizard of 4th Street is going as soon as one reads the protagonist’s name, Wyrdrune. Read it aloud if it isn’t immediately obvious. And the name seems particularly important in The Wizard of 4th Street because there are runes at the center of the story. One also gets a sense of where this is going when one discovers that Wyrdrune is, in point of fact, technically not a wizard. Much like the brilliant attorney in the Suits television series, Wyrdrune (or actually, Melvin Karpinsky) has been expelled from the prestigious thaumaturgical institute where he studied (much as Mike, the protagonist in Suits, was expelled from Harvard for taking bar exams for other people) because he was practicing his craft prematurely (ie. “illegally”) as a pyrotechnic effects artist at a rock concert.
The adventure begins with an attempted heist of some runestones. Wyrdrune intends to fence them and use the money to try to get back into thaumaturgical school. It turns out that he isn’t the only one who intends to steal and fence the artifacts. It also turns out that his rival becomes an unwitting partner (and then, makes her own decisions), and it turns out that Melvin…er…Wyrdrune is closer to being a wizard than he thought. Then, when the partners fence the stones, things really get strange.
With typical deftness regarding literary references, Hawke brings in the Arthurian legend. And though some of Ambrosius’ appearance (occasionally accompanied by an animated chest) and Wyrdrune’s circumstances seem similar to Rincewind’s in Pratchett’s Colour of Magic series (except the chest here is sans legs and Rincewind was incompetent where Ambrosius is the classic icon of a wizard), the resemblance ends there. For the record, the Pratchett book was published in 1983 with the Hawke book coming four years later. Maybe, there is a slight homage to the former. But there is definitely a connection with the Arthurian legend. Though characters may change their names, the interesting question is whether they can change their nature (or, at least, their attitudes).
There is much that is humorous in The Wizard of 4th Street, but my two favorite lines weren’t funny. A character who might be labeled “immortal” is considering the significance of his long-lived existence, observing, “The well-examined life allows for little self-justification, …” (p. 191). That’s a thought worth pondering, and the truth becomes more evident the more I…er…examine it. My other line of choice comes when a character (or characters) is (are) faced with the ethical consequences of what they are doing. “How far does one dare to go for the so-called ‘greater good,’ and how does one justify the arrogance of appointing oneself the arbiter of what is good and what is not?” (pp. 169-170)
Upon finishing The Wizard of 4th Street, I was delighted to discover that there are eight more books in the series. Who knows? If they get any better, they might supersede my love of the Timewars series.
One gets a sense of where The Wizard of 4th Street is going as soon as one reads the protagonist’s name, Wyrdrune. Read it aloud if it isn’t immediately obvious. And the name seems particularly important in The Wizard of 4th Street because there are runes at the center of the story. One also gets a sense of where this is going when one discovers that Wyrdrune is, in point of fact, technically not a wizard. Much like the brilliant attorney in the Suits television series, Wyrdrune (or actually, Melvin Karpinsky) has been expelled from the prestigious thaumaturgical institute where he studied (much as Mike, the protagonist in Suits, was expelled from Harvard for taking bar exams for other people) because he was practicing his craft prematurely (ie. “illegally”) as a pyrotechnic effects artist at a rock concert.
The adventure begins with an attempted heist of some runestones. Wyrdrune intends to fence them and use the money to try to get back into thaumaturgical school. It turns out that he isn’t the only one who intends to steal and fence the artifacts. It also turns out that his rival becomes an unwitting partner (and then, makes her own decisions), and it turns out that Melvin…er…Wyrdrune is closer to being a wizard than he thought. Then, when the partners fence the stones, things really get strange.
With typical deftness regarding literary references, Hawke brings in the Arthurian legend. And though some of Ambrosius’ appearance (occasionally accompanied by an animated chest) and Wyrdrune’s circumstances seem similar to Rincewind’s in Pratchett’s Colour of Magic series (except the chest here is sans legs and Rincewind was incompetent where Ambrosius is the classic icon of a wizard), the resemblance ends there. For the record, the Pratchett book was published in 1983 with the Hawke book coming four years later. Maybe, there is a slight homage to the former. But there is definitely a connection with the Arthurian legend. Though characters may change their names, the interesting question is whether they can change their nature (or, at least, their attitudes).
There is much that is humorous in The Wizard of 4th Street, but my two favorite lines weren’t funny. A character who might be labeled “immortal” is considering the significance of his long-lived existence, observing, “The well-examined life allows for little self-justification, …” (p. 191). That’s a thought worth pondering, and the truth becomes more evident the more I…er…examine it. My other line of choice comes when a character (or characters) is (are) faced with the ethical consequences of what they are doing. “How far does one dare to go for the so-called ‘greater good,’ and how does one justify the arrogance of appointing oneself the arbiter of what is good and what is not?” (pp. 169-170)
Upon finishing The Wizard of 4th Street, I was delighted to discover that there are eight more books in the series. Who knows? If they get any better, they might supersede my love of the Timewars series.
October 19, 2025
this was really fun, but i would have rated it higher if the last chapter hadn't felt so rushed. the earlier parts were doing a lot of heavy world building, and then once we got to the climax it all hurried through without really giving that build up a chance to feel like it mattered.
December 3, 2010
I really enjoyed this series a lot. Very hilarious and fun. I forget when I read it exactly, but I think it was an easier read.
March 28, 2023
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. The cover has a very YA feel to it, but the story surprised me in the depth of story and world building involved. It's a 'modern' or urban fantasy book with the hook being that the world's energy crisis came to a head along with mass civil unrest and death. Merlin (yes THAT merlin) emerges from his slumber and teaches humanity to use thaumaturgy (magic) to replace the use of fossil fuels and electricity. The world runs pretty much the same as it did, with airplanes and taxi cabs (for instance) being fueled by low-level spell casters. The book is brain candy to be sure, but I will read the next book in the series to see if my Hawke develops his characters and setting more.
August 17, 2025
Where's the movie?!?
This book is great -- fast-paced, compelling characters, humor, mystery, action, magic (It'd be a bit weird to not have magic withthe word "Wizard" in the title!) -- anda good deal of world-building that's actually interesting to read! My one gripe is that as the pages flicked by, it became apparent that this book was either going to end abruptly or end on a cliffhanger -- or both. I won't tell you which one, or ones, occurred, but . . . I was slightly irked. Still a solid 4-star read, and I look forward to reading more of this series!
This book is great -- fast-paced, compelling characters, humor, mystery, action, magic (It'd be a bit weird to not have magic withthe word "Wizard" in the title!) -- anda good deal of world-building that's actually interesting to read! My one gripe is that as the pages flicked by, it became apparent that this book was either going to end abruptly or end on a cliffhanger -- or both. I won't tell you which one, or ones, occurred, but . . . I was slightly irked. Still a solid 4-star read, and I look forward to reading more of this series!
November 13, 2019
The prequel to this series is called The Wizard of Camelot.
Wyrdrune is a student wizard with a penchant for botching spells when he meets Kira, a street-wise cutie, at an auction for the mysterious and powerful Euphrates rune stones. But he has no idea, when he tries to steal them, that the stones have already chosen him for a great adventure. From the author of the popular Timewars series.
May 1, 2025
What a writer!! This story is so imaginative, creative, magical, and very different. I love it! There's just enough history incorporated into the story to give it authenticity, and just enough magic to keep it believable. (Yes, I believe in magic.) If you want to read a book that is amazingly well written, and creates a never-before seen world, read this! I can't wait to start the second book in the series!
December 25, 2019
Bought the prequel and
first book second hand
now
(sigh)
I must find the rest and may be
forced to
(GASP) pay full price.
first book second hand
now
(sigh)
I must find the rest and may be
forced to
(GASP) pay full price.
September 16, 2021
This is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy piece. I think it perhaps moves a little too fast, because at the end it stumbles a little.
November 23, 2021
Entertaining. Quick candy book.
August 11, 2023
Ended fast. Written in the 80s. Definitely a product if its time. Weirdly some strong environmentalist vibes?
October 21, 2007
The reading date listed above is a bit of a lie. I first read this series of books when I was in Jr. high. They were fun, fast-paced, had just a bit of sex, and contained a completely new idea for the future of our society.
They still are.
However, time brings maturity which brings, hopefully, a bit of necessary critical faculty. Meaning, these are not the best written books I have ever read. There are info-dumps, overly long explanations of mundane events, chapter long recaps of the previous books, and a host of other pulp traditions one does not usually see in modern fantasy publishing.
The central idea here, is that Merlin was put in a tree, as per legend. Our society's polluting ways eventually lead to "the Collapse" of technology and civilization. Merlin is released from his tree and sets about putting the world right by setting everything up on a magical energy standard and teaching people how to use magic. Fast forward a hundred years and we have our protagonists, three disparate people who are bonded by three magical jewels. The three are set with the tasks of stopping the Dark Ones, ancient wizards from pre-history who see people as nothing more than cattle.
It is a good premise, and an excellent basis for a series. The characters are fun and engaging, and, for all that the plot is formulaic, it is fast and exciting. The stories take the protagonists all over the world, confronting evil and growing as people.
As I said, I loved these books as a young reader, and I still do. Unfortunately, the reality of growing older has taken away some of the magic they had when I was younger.
They still are.
However, time brings maturity which brings, hopefully, a bit of necessary critical faculty. Meaning, these are not the best written books I have ever read. There are info-dumps, overly long explanations of mundane events, chapter long recaps of the previous books, and a host of other pulp traditions one does not usually see in modern fantasy publishing.
The central idea here, is that Merlin was put in a tree, as per legend. Our society's polluting ways eventually lead to "the Collapse" of technology and civilization. Merlin is released from his tree and sets about putting the world right by setting everything up on a magical energy standard and teaching people how to use magic. Fast forward a hundred years and we have our protagonists, three disparate people who are bonded by three magical jewels. The three are set with the tasks of stopping the Dark Ones, ancient wizards from pre-history who see people as nothing more than cattle.
It is a good premise, and an excellent basis for a series. The characters are fun and engaging, and, for all that the plot is formulaic, it is fast and exciting. The stories take the protagonists all over the world, confronting evil and growing as people.
As I said, I loved these books as a young reader, and I still do. Unfortunately, the reality of growing older has taken away some of the magic they had when I was younger.
June 28, 2022
[update 6/28/2022: Yep...reading funk. Averted again enough to get to work on a review copy, Feynman's lectures, and someday I'll finish Isaacson's Leonardo da Vinci]
[Update 3/8/16: Another reading funk...lots of work reading, plus two monster books in progress (The Complete Sherlock Holmes, and Lisa Randall's Warped Passages), as well as a big ADD Tom Peters work Re-Imagine, recovering from a trip to Italy...I look to old standbys like this to break it. Yes, even more dated. But yes, still quite fun. Enough that I'll keep going, again.]
As I read and re-read traditional science fiction lately, I find that many of the classic authors don't grab me like when I was an adolescent. Niven/Pournelle and Chalker still can, as does Herbert (except the many Dune books after Dune Messiah), but I'm discovering a lack of imagination in straight up sci-fi that is hard to overcome with just space trappings.
Simon Hawke writes light, fun and imaginative fantasy. The Time Wars series does weave in sci-fi elements, but it is still fantasy. The Wizard of 4th Street is a welcome diversion from the plodding of Asimov (I'm still working my goal of reading all of his Foundation universe this calendar year...on Foundation's Edge right now.) Goofy, dated, but still fun.
[Update 3/8/16: Another reading funk...lots of work reading, plus two monster books in progress (The Complete Sherlock Holmes, and Lisa Randall's Warped Passages), as well as a big ADD Tom Peters work Re-Imagine, recovering from a trip to Italy...I look to old standbys like this to break it. Yes, even more dated. But yes, still quite fun. Enough that I'll keep going, again.]
As I read and re-read traditional science fiction lately, I find that many of the classic authors don't grab me like when I was an adolescent. Niven/Pournelle and Chalker still can, as does Herbert (except the many Dune books after Dune Messiah), but I'm discovering a lack of imagination in straight up sci-fi that is hard to overcome with just space trappings.
Simon Hawke writes light, fun and imaginative fantasy. The Time Wars series does weave in sci-fi elements, but it is still fantasy. The Wizard of 4th Street is a welcome diversion from the plodding of Asimov (I'm still working my goal of reading all of his Foundation universe this calendar year...on Foundation's Edge right now.) Goofy, dated, but still fun.
October 15, 2014
Simon Hawke uses a lot of tropes that are common in movies and on television. I see a lot of cliche characters, but he has fun with them. He is having fun with the story, and I am right there with him. This story reads fast and is very entertaining. Wyrdrune, Kira, Modred, and Merlin have a special chemistry when they are together in Hawke's world. Although it seems there is no interest in reviving this series, republishing it, or creating electronic books, I personally think that this and the rest of the series would make an awesome basis for adaptation to television as a short limited series or miniseries. The characters in this and the other Wizard novels are very entertaining and evocative, and I imagine how actors might portray these characters on-screen.
The premise sort of speaks to our current economic situation and springboards from speculation about what it would be like in a post-collapse world in which magic is the standard form of energy. It would make a very hip television show or movie.
The premise sort of speaks to our current economic situation and springboards from speculation about what it would be like in a post-collapse world in which magic is the standard form of energy. It would make a very hip television show or movie.
June 6, 2016
This was one of the first series I ever read that I suppose you could not classify as "urban fantasy" though there were no werewolves or vampires in it.
The premise is that Merlin returns to a world that has passed him by and become, well, our world. Technology and civilization have mostly replaced mysticism and the fantastic, and Merlin decides to return magic to the world, to give it back what it once had. Or something.
Anyway, the series is fun, light (with dark undertones), and I blew through four or five novels in this series in a week or two, as I remember. They are, amazingly, still on my shelves as I write this, despite 10 or 15 moves over the decades.
The premise is that Merlin returns to a world that has passed him by and become, well, our world. Technology and civilization have mostly replaced mysticism and the fantastic, and Merlin decides to return magic to the world, to give it back what it once had. Or something.
Anyway, the series is fun, light (with dark undertones), and I blew through four or five novels in this series in a week or two, as I remember. They are, amazingly, still on my shelves as I write this, despite 10 or 15 moves over the decades.
September 7, 2010
I was first introduced to Hawke with the incomparable sorcerer series, and while none of the other material of his I've read has topped that, most of it has been pretty good. I am struggling with this one, though.
The idea is quite a novel one and the characters and setting work well, but something didn't quite grip me. I found myself reading and drifting, coming back to it then, before I quite realised, the story was all over and everything had happened.
Still there's plenty of leeway for a sequel or two, so I'll probably pick at those at some point and see where things go.
The idea is quite a novel one and the characters and setting work well, but something didn't quite grip me. I found myself reading and drifting, coming back to it then, before I quite realised, the story was all over and everything had happened.
Still there's plenty of leeway for a sequel or two, so I'll probably pick at those at some point and see where things go.
September 27, 2010
This book was amazing. There were parts that i should have seen coming but i didnt and i would frequently just gasp loudly in the middle of silent reading in school and shout "Oh my god! I cannot BELIEVE that just happened!!!" and then i would get in trouble (i know, i know, i get in trouble for being enthusiastic about a book at school. my school is retarted) but i highly recommend this book for anyone who likes wizards and magic and a good book.
May 31, 2009
I found the world to be fascinating because of the use of magic as a power source for technology. It also involves some Arthurian legend (I used to be very fascinated Camelot).
Overall I found the book a short read and fun, but nothing amazing. The characters were likable, and the story was good but brief.
Overall I found the book a short read and fun, but nothing amazing. The characters were likable, and the story was good but brief.
September 18, 2007
I have read this book 5 or 6 times it is one of my favorate brain candy type books. It is an Arthurian type book that has Merlin and Modred and Morgan LeFay and it takes place in the 23rd centary so it is just different. It is the first in a series of books.
June 16, 2010
Wyrdrune and Kira meet at an auction while both are trying to steal the mysterious and powerful Euphrates rune stones. The stones bind them together and set them on an adventure to save the world.
March 31, 2011
fast, complex tale from same world as Catseye Gomez, actually the first, not as polished
May 15, 2011
For a futuristic comedy it wasn't very creative.
October 15, 2012
It's not my favorite Simon Hawke series, and the writing isn't perfect, but it's still plenty entertaining.
September 14, 2016
No politics. Very little social commentary. Just a good fun story.
November 15, 2015
Fun read. Ending disappointed me a bit.
July 6, 2017
Very engaging story with some magic, some immortals, some intrigue, some humour, and some local, national, and international sleuthing. Thought that this short book was too short. The story could have been developed more, and the ending was a bit too abrupt for my liking. Still some loose ends remain after the last page. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews