The Reluctant Sorcerer

Reluctant Sorcerer #1

by Simon Hawke

Accidentally transported through time to a parallel universe where magic really works, bumbling genius Dr. Marvin Brewster is mistaken for a sorcerer and must escape through a route controlled by the Grand Director of the sorcerers' guild.

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

199 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't normally the kind of book I go for at all, much prefering romance and historical fiction. I was, however, pestered into reading it, something I'm now grateful for!
I enjoyed the Harry Potter books but they didn't give me a taste for fantasy, and I suppose neither has this, however I thoroughly enjoyed it, its light fantasy, fairly humorous and for someone like me who doesn't spend hours agonising over the details of a book, its a great read.
I'm off to read the sequel now, my favourite characters so far being Prince Brian, Mick and Rory the dragon! There's just something about the style of writing that made me smile, thanks, Simon!

[Chris Naylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series gets better as it goes along. The final volume contains some of the funniest stuff I've ever read.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book. I do not recall what I rated this the first time, though I suspect I read it in the 1990s (or early 2000s if it wasn't published by then) and probably gave it a near 4 star rating (possibly, even then, maybe closer to a 3). This time? Eh, every single character annoyed the hell out of me including the Narrator (yes, the narrator is a separate character in the book, observable by at least one of the characters in the book).

I've generally enjoyed reading Simon Hawke books, and have read 10+ of them in my live. And done several rereads of his books. Mostly his time travel series. That specific series was not easy to get a hold of way back when, so when Hawke regained the rights and started republishing them, I started rereading them. Never did get to the ones I hadn't read. Need to do that some day.

Right, only read this one if you like a particular type of humor, and much 'fourth-wall' breaking.

Rating: 1.3
December 2 2025

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the series , and it was competently written , but I don't feel the urge to read it again

[Foxglove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as amazing as I remembered.

[Del Coney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to go back and read this again

[Keith Kavanagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

shame the ending was as reluctant

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried when I started getting to the end of a very short book and there was no resolution...some people must have hated this book as it just sort of stops. Like a soap opera that says, 'tune in next time to find out if...'. It doesn't bother me all that much and since it is an older series it is easier not to have to wait - but I know many people who would not like it at all.

I found it very interesting if short.

[Jim Razinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

[2025] I owe two reviews and am in a bit of a funk so I turn to my comfort books. Hawke happens to have three series of them. This being one. Of course.

[2016] Delightful whimsy. Cross-over to fantasy universes are done and done again, but Hawke weaves in groan-inducing puns. a self-aware narrator, and a character who is aware of the narrator! A favorite, and just what the doctor ordered for post-surgery recovery.

Five stars because I'll keep coming back to it.

[Sean Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. i've yet to see an author with Hawke's style of narrative aside, the intrusions add a great punch to the story. The characters are utterly amusing, the dialog charming and spot-on, and the whole concept so lightly funny that one simply has to read all the way through then dive at the next one just for the sheer hell of it.

[MarsianMan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A flippant and excellent narrative. Several times during the story I would stop and quote the narrator to the people around me. Instead of going back in time, a mad scientist travels to a different dimension. The main character is an absent-minded genius, which makes him all the more endearing. I found it to be a much more tolerable flippancy than overbearing like I find the Pratchett books.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember loving this so much as a kid. I found a copy but am afraid to reread it, in case it isn't as hilariously amazing as I remember (and I'm sadly sure it wouldn't be). But darn it, I'm still a sucker for anything that breaks the fourth wall.

[BonnieBew Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is an entertaining, easy read. I originally read them when first published, and they seemed really novel and fresh back then. I'm going to reread to see how they hold up, but in general, I think this is a win if you like Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams.

[Joseph Panno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this I really liked. Very much a fantasy world with witty humor in the vein of Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Didn't know this was a series so I'm getting the next however many for sure.

[Bryan457 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absentminded scientist is transported to a world of magic.

A light enjoyable read.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun romp, interesting POV device

[Steve Markham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book at all. Funny and with a very interesting narator.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Sci-Fi book I ever read...I should entirely blame Simon Hawke for my book habit; not the fact I'm named after a science fiction author...