Madwand (Changeling Saga # 2) [Paperback]

Roger Zelazny (Author), Judy King Rieniets (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1981

Pol Detson, son of Lord Det of Rondoval, has come home. He is now a powerful sorceror of unsurpassed natural ability - in a world where the power of magic is the only kind that matters. But Pol is still an untrained talent, a 'MADWAND'. To take control of his powers, to rule in his father's place, he must survive arduous training and a fantastic initiation into the rites of sorcery. As friends, Pol has one dragon and one thief. As enemies he has the most powerful wizards of the land. And at least one of them wants him dead. About the Author Zelazny wrote many novels, short stories, and novellas, including Nebula and Hugo Award winners 24 VIEWS OF MOUNT FUJI, BY HOKUSAI, PERMAFROST and HOME IS THE HANGMAN.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Zelazny wrote many novels, short stories, and novellas, including Nebula and Hugo Award winners 24 VIEWS OF MOUNT FUJI, BY HOKUSAI, PERMAFROST and HOME IS THE HANGMAN. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Ace Books (November 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044151510X
• ISBN-13: 978-0441515103
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,512,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madwand Deserves a Read, March 24, 2000

By 

David Balmer "technology geek" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Madwand (Changeling Saga # 2) (Paperback)

Zelazny always explored plausible mechanics to magic. In Madwand (and Changeling, the prequel) he introduces the idea that all the fireworks and fanfare is really an illusion over base telekinetic abilities. The idea that each adept has a deeply personal 'system' of perceiving the works and effects of magic around them is quite intriguing.

Pol Detson (the protagonist) was born with a keen natural 'magic' ability. Since he was not trained in the traditional sense, he is considered a 'madwand' by the establishment. Madwands are noted for their raw power, but most become quite insane when they attempt to tune their abilities. The story has some of the most detailed magical conflicts I've read and is quite interesting.

Like many of Zelazny's works, I'm left wanting the story to continue indefinitely. I wish he had time to write a sequel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zelazny, simply the best writer of the 20th century., May 16, 2006

By 

Nicholas Pietrzak (Macon, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Madwand (Paperback)

This is not Zelazny's greatest work.

However, that is like writing that Michelangelo's "Bacchus" is not as great as his "David", or that his "Last Judgement" is not as great as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Where Changeling begins with a basic magic/technology dichotomy, Madwand fully explores a magic system that attempts to encompass a pantheon of other authors' magic systems under one roof. It also has a host of characters all acting in their own ways and interests, fully fleshed out.

The greatest part of this book is the exploration of an amnestic non-corporeal presence that at times gives a third person viewpoint to the story, yet by the end is one of the most vibrant and interesting characters in the book.

It's a quick read (and should be preceded with a read of Changeling) and well worth a sawbuck. No doubt you can get it cheaper, but it's worth that much.

If you're new to Zelazny, get hooked with this, or with his Amber series, and only then progress to his 2 greatest novels, "Creatures of Light and Darkness" and "Lord of Light". After that, you ought to read "This Immortal" for fun, and then join the rest of us on an obsessive hunt for every short story he's ever written, including those brief forays into other authors' universes, like "Itself Surprised" in the Berserker stories.

If he had lived to be a hundred, he would still have been taken from us too soon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Imagination at its best, August 3, 2011

By 

Linda Wang - See all my reviews

This review is from: Madwand (Paperback)

Madwand continues the story of Pol Detson, the story who started in Changeling.

In this book, Pol goes to the wizard gathering on Mount Belken in order to strengthen his knowledge and his magical power. However, Pol unwitingly stumbles into a conspiracy that is older than him, a dark thing that already killed his father, caused Pol banishment to another world as a baby and now threatens to kill him. In a world of magic Pol must be carefull becuase sometimes death is the better option ...

In this book Zelazny takes to extreme his concept of magic and the clashing of world, ideas he started exploring in his first book, Changeling. Dark rituals, mysterious things of magic, black knowledge and will power are the things Zelazny brings to the fore. In addition, Zelazny puts the ultimate temptation in front of his characters - would they become gods at the price of changing everything they know in the world ?

The only gripe I have in the book is the characters, who seem a little underdeveloped. However, this does not distact in any way from enjoying the book ...