The Wizard : Book Two of The Wizard Knight

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent, if at time frustrating...
Review: In "The Wizard," Gene Wolfe continues the groundbreaking work began in "The Knight." Like it's predecesor, "The Wizard" has nothing in common with other fantasy novels except for the props: knights, swords, castles, dragons, magic, etc. The characters that populate this book will constantly surprise, thrill and disappoint you, just like real life. Bring no expectations, because you simply cannot predict where a Gene Wolfe story will go. Characters rise and fall like waves, and the plot itself twists and turns almost beyond description.

The greatest attribute of Gene Wolfe's writing is the ability to put the awe back into the overworked and underserved genre of fantasy. In this story, something is sure to surprise and delight even the most hardened reader. While most fantasy novels play on ideas and characters that we are all very familiar with, "The Wizard" is so inventive that oftentimes one new idea or characterization is heaped upon another, so that you will find yourself going back to reread parts of this book as soon as you are finished.

Of course, this is not without some negative side effects. At some points, the book moves too quickly to be entirely enjoyable. I'm thinking mostly about the last 50 pages or so, when you get the distinct impression that the end approached much quicker than even Wolfe expected, so that he must cram an unbelievable amount of buildup, climax and denouement into the last few pages. Unfortunately, that means that certain events are given the short shrift. So much so, in fact, that you might find yourself wondering why certain things even happened at all. Then again, this is Wolfe, so that is simply par for the course, but the abrupt and obscure nature of some of his conclusions to the events that have building over the course of two books is hard to make a positive argument for.

All in all, however, it is still impossible to make an unfavorable comparison of "The Wizard" to nearly all other fantasy being made today. I truly believe that this quality of writing and imagination is the future of the fantasy genre. Read this book and I think you'll agree that if fantasy can be like this, why should we read anything less?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent part of the whole
Review: The Wizard is an absolutely wonderful book, and would stand as a worthy rival to the Knight were they in competition.

Luckily, that is not the case. Not only does the Wizard succeed tremendously in its own right, but it complements the Knight wonderfully. The two make each other better, and the final product is superior to either on their own. If you have read the Knight, you owe it to yourself to read the Wizard, because it is great, and because it makes the Knight that much better.

Rating:
Summary: Fantasy As it Should Be
Review: The Wizard, like its predecessor, is beautifully done. A pleasure to read for its delightful language, humor, and adventure. But like all of Wolfe's books that I've read, it never underestimates the reader and has a depth I couldn't help but find refreshing after years of shallow, derivative fantasy. As he did with science fiction, Wolfe has renewed my faith in the fantasy genre. Although I hesitate to categorize the book at all. It may have knights and dragons and magic, but it is foremost a great story, regardless of the setting.

My only regret upon finishing The Wizard is that I have to wait another year to read Wolfe's next novel, whatever that may be.

Rating:
Summary: Worthy, but not excellent, Successor to the Knight
Review: The Wizard, the concluding part two of "The Wizard Knight" duology, is a strong read. It does not, however, meet the lofty level of excellence that its predecessor, The Knight, met. Whereas "The Knight" will retain its place on my shortlist of best fantasy novels ever written (and the top one of 2004), The Wizard is (merely) a good read.

Gone, in my estimation, are the intricacies of The Knight-- the striving to attain (or have accepted) Able's Knighthood; the heart-wrenching moments associated with the absence of Disiri; the subtle nuisances flowing through the text as a result of the protagonist's youth (but not Able's).

In its stead, are near-standard fantasy fair battles: Jotunland, RedHall, the Five Fates (description only) and the concluding sequence. And of them all, only the concluding, final chapter of the book (comprising, of course, the final battle) is exemplary. And, as with many Wolfe novels, the end rushes in: a swift wind undeterred by a readers desire for a less abrupt cessation. Additionally, the swift rise and sudden disappearance of Toug (and his centric views) and Mani (gotta love that Cat) were both hearteningly fresh and sorely noticed.

Nonetheless, this book is better than all but the finest of fantasy (or other fictional) work. Its highpoints are very good: the ruinous portrayal of Morcaine; the torn relationship between Idnn and Svonn; the tattered mind of Etela's mother; Baki and Uri.

I can only hope that Wolfe returns to this universe. It's worthy of more of his time just as The Wizard was worthy of mine.

Rating:
Summary: best writer with some of his best work
Review: This is not for you typical fantasy readers. Sure you will find ogr's and giants, swords and sorcery but not in the adolescent fashion that it is usually laid out with. Wolfe is a complicated writer who reveals information as he chooses and keeps you guessing what is truly going on right until the end.
This series is unbelievably well written and thought out. Wolfe seems to imagine a story as a whole and does not seem to have the story come to him as he goes. Important info is delivered out of order and sometimes dropped in seemingly casual remarks. It is wonderful.