A Wizard In Peace : The Fourth Chronicle of the Rogue Wizard

Rating:
Summary: A madhouse in a spaceship?
Review: A Wizard in Peace is the 4th book in the Rouge wizard series where magnus and his sidekick Dirk once again find themselves on a planet abandoned by their old government but unlike the other stories this planet hasn't been taken over by a dictator but by bureaucrats. On their travels around the planet Dirk and Magnus stumble upon the local madhouse, which insodently is located in an abandoned spaceship. The mentaly insane inpersonate the bureaucrats to help Magnus and Dirk overthrow the local government. After all who could be better suited to impersonate bureaucrats then the insane?

Rating:
Summary: A Wizard not so peaceful....
Review: Depending on how long one has been reading the Warlock series, one could become rather bored with Stasheff's never-ending devotion to the family Gallowglass. This book is one that justifies HIS devotion, and rewards the reader for his/her loyalty. Time well spent!

It has been pointed out in many cases that it is difficult to give Magnus a task too difficult to accomplish, too daunting to undertake, but this one gives him a REAL challenge.

The plot is simple... Magnus' continuing goal to provide regressed colonies with the government best suited to the needs of the society present on each planet he encounters, primarily by inserting himself into said society. What he finds on this planet is a Brazil-esque bureaucracy managing every facet of society. With no open rebellion in sight, and fewer even capable of thinking of one, Magnus has no method to use short of bloody mayhem. What he actually does do is both innovative, and emotionally draining. Magnus does things which, while noble and compassionate in nature, still have him questioning his own ethics. The solution to this society's problems takes much longer to implement than in previous quests, a statement on how difficult it is, even with Magnus's considerable talents, to start a revolution where there is no conception of what revolution IS.

From the lofty viewpoint of three books later, it is easy to say that, so far, this is the BEST of the Wizard series. Magnus has to make some very difficult decisions on his own about HOW to use his abilities... Stasheff poses some difficult questions about what is the RIGHT THING to do. So... if you were slowing down on the Wizard series, this book will give you momentum to keep going onto future books.