Her Majesty's Wizard [Mass Market Paperback]

Christopher Stasheff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 1986

Matt read the forbidden runes and found himself in a world where reciting verses worked magic. He got himself locked in a dungeon, created a fire-breathing dragon, and eventually discovered a beautiful princess he swore to save. Little did he guess how hard that would be....

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Christopher Stasheff is one-of-a-kind, the sort of writer whose books are both delightful and good for you. I've enjoyed Stasheff's writing from the first moment I came across it, and he never disappoints. Even non-fantasy readers tell me how much it means to them--and who am I to argue? Whether you follow the exploits of Matt of Merovence or the more epic exploits of The Star Stone, you'll have a fabulous time!

--Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor

From the Inside Flap

Matt read the forbidden runes and found himself in a world where reciting verses worked magic. He got himself locked in a dungeon, created a fire-breathing dragon, and eventually discovered a beautiful princess he swore to save. Little did he guess how hard that would be....

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; 1st edition (September 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345274563
• ISBN-13: 978-0345274564
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Surprise!, July 10, 2002

By 

A. Wolverton (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Her Majesty's Wizard (Mass Market Paperback)

Just by looking at the cover, 'Her Majesty's Wizard' would appear to be just another fantasy adventure. Well, not so fast...

A graduate student named Matt finds and reads an ancient manuscript, unknowingly transporting himself to another time/another world that has some interesting differences from our own world. Matt finds that through reciting poetry and literature, he can cast "spells" which help him and his new-found friends through some really tough spots as they seek to reclaim their kingdom from a wicked tyrant and his magic.

Two aspects of 'Her Majesty's Wizard' kept me hooked:

1 - The action is practically non-stop. You will have to turn many, many pages from the very beginning to find a place to breathe! Stasheff has given action/adventure fans their money's worth.

2 - The deeper implications of moral and theological thought. Stasheff's writing goes way beyond a casual look at "good vs. evil." He is able to examine, without getting too preachy, what drives his characters to do what they do. Stasheff gives us some very good scenes in which characters have to make some serious and possibly costly decisions that affect not only themselves, but many others. I appreciated the deeper look into the moral and theological issues, although it seems from other reviews that other readers don't. I found it refreshing.

If you enjoy fantasy or just like a good adventure, I highly recommend 'Her Majesty's Wizard.'

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light entertainment, August 3, 2000

By 

C.E. Crowder - See all my reviews

This review is from: Her Majesty's Wizard (Mass Market Paperback)

A university student from 1980s Earth is sent into a fantasy world, where he finds himself its most powerful wizard and must quickly adapt to the role. This world is build on an alternative reality concept: a medieval Europe where magic is worked by reciting poetry. Naturally the hero's vast knowledge of Shakespeare et al. comes in handy.

Had I taken the book too seriously, I would have been disappointed with magic where any rhyme will do and always works according to plan. The book could have been much shorter if the hero had simply said 'Yawn, yawn, evil's gone'. Fortunately the magic doesn't get overly abused. The battles involving magic were great, it's only the rules that need adjusting.

Stasheff is clearly a talented and well studied author. He's a bit too heavy on the religious angle, but that aside if you're looking for a read to just relax and have fun, this will do nicely.

[ Similar (and better): Terry Brooks, "Magic Kingdom For Sale - Sold" ]

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Fantasy books I have ever read!, July 2, 2000

By 

Peter Dykhuis (Grandville, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Her Majesty's Wizard (Mass Market Paperback)

I do not read nearly as much Fantasy as I used too. There was, however, a time, which Fantasy was the only genre, I had any desire to partake in. Enter "Her Majesty's Wizard" by Christopher Stasheff.

This novel is a perfect mix of Fantasy, Humor and Morality all spoon-fed to us with the masterful prose of Stasheff. First published in 1986 this novel was released by DelRey when they were at the top of their game. Time was in the mid 1980's to early 1990's if the cover had the DelRey imprint on it I would buy it. This is a great example of the strong staff of editors they had in this era.

"Her Majesty's Wizard" is an example of what I like to call Reality based Fantasy. What I mean by this is that one of the primary characters, usually the hero, starts out in our reality and is transported into another reality which is different in many ways usually involving magic of some sort. This is the case in "HMW".

I hate giving away too much of the plot of a book in a review. This tendency drives me crazy when others tell me the beginning, middle and end of books so please forgive me as I only give a gist of events. The hero, Mathew Mantrell, is transported to a realm where his penchant for archaic writings and rhymes gives him magical powers. Matt's challenges are many fold. The challenges include whether or not to believe in what is happening. Secondly, whether or not to defend good, side with evil or sit on the sidelines. Thirdly, whether or not to accept universality God and what that means to Matt's existence and many more challenges. All of this sounds pretty heavy but it really isn't. One of the great aspects of this book is how light is really is in some ways. The novel does not take itself to seriously and it makes for wonderful experience.

Christopher Stasheff followed this book up with a torrent of novels that take place in this same universe as Matt. All of the novels are good but this is the best of them and, in my humble opinion, it is Mr. Stasheff's best novel period. Read and enjoy.