The Inadequate Adept

Reluctant Sorcerer #2

by Simon Hawke

Trapped in a parallel universe, reluctant sorcerer Marvin Brewster must stop an evil wizard who has captured a time machine.

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

216 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

Also 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.

Reviews

[Kim]

Wow! I love this trilogy. Considering it took some persuation to get me reading the first one, I admit I covered all three in just over 24 hours! Now, admitting the following may have me tracked down and sanctioned but never mind.
I actually heard the characters and sounds in my head - in my own little world that's a sure sign of a good book! The narrator, Rachel drum tapping away .. it just all seemed so real and magical. I'm not completely nutty, honest, I just thoroughly enjoyed the series.
I've never read books with a narrator like that, I doubt many exist - but it was a great technique, and in general the books just took over my life for a day! Amusing, magical, fantastic!

[James Cazzaly]

Isekai story before there were isekai anime. The only issue I had with this series was its length, the books were way too short. Not bad for a middle school reader. All three books could’ve been one book.
Loved the ending. You won’t see it coming.

[Foxglove]

Fun

A bit disorganized but still rather fun. I enjoyed the humor and the plot line, but I wanted more Warwick!

[Alice McLeod]

I first read this book when I was a teenager. It's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since, and the other day I picked it up on impulse when I was looking for something light and fun. A decade and a half or so after my first read, I'd managed to forget most of the plot points (and for some reason remembered one that wasn't even in there), so it was almost like reading it fresh.

Anyway. 'Tis a silly, silly book. Sort of like S.M. Stirling's Nantucket series would be if it didn't take itself even a tiny little bit seriously. A scientist in 1993 builds a time machine and then accidentally transports himself to an alternate universe populated by medieval fantasy genre cliches. This book is the second in a trilogy and I have neither the first nor the third books, so I don't really know how the story begins or ends. But the silliness is the main point.

What I like best about the book is the 4th-wall-breaking villain, Warrick, who gets into arguments and eventually even power struggles with the narrator. That was worth the price of admission.

[Jim Razinha]

More whimsy, this time adding a dimensionally-crossing telepathic dragon, a coffee-drinking beatnik vampire (albeit-vegetarian) elf, and more late 1980s-early 90s contemporary kitsch references Hawke liked with tongue firmly planted in cheek...

Wish I could find a replacement third book to finish it (again). Must needs call a local HPB to check before heading to the online search...

[Vomithatsteve]

It's been years since I read this book, but I remember it being pretty good. Nice use of meta-humor and good juxtapositions of magic and technology.

[Sean Randall]

A great continuation, and no mistake. The fun is all still there, and things are only looking more interesting

[Bryan457]

The evil wizard gets hold of the scientists time machine, his only route home.

An enjoyable light read, on the silly side of things.

[Tom]

Silly fun!

[Just Josh]

Hilarious!

[Melissa Jane]

Without the annoying talking to the narrator bits, I think this series could be a 3.5 or even a 4. Still, fun and easy read even if a b I t outdated.

[Helen Fleischer]

Arrgh! I don't have #3!

[Steve Markham]

a very good second novel in the series. More fun than the first and if possible even weirder.