Customer Reviews

Madwand

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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 ...

An interesting book, where Zelazny writes in a cross-world setting mixing fantasy, science fiction and modern life. The mixture itself is effective, though not so much here as in his other works. Zelazny's imagination is often a delight, and in this one he gives us an introspective construct who's as interesting as the main character. Though part two of the Changeling saga, this is a better work than the first, and reading the first is not necessary to enjoy this.

Recommended for people who enjoy a modern / science fiction bend to fantasy.

Maybe not as good as the Amber series, but still an excellent
read (like most of Zelazny's work). Does not have a plausible
magical system? Come on ravenchai8, its a book about magic.
You do have to suspend belief. Its a mater of verisimilitude
not realism.

Ken

There are some interesting touches in this story that develop themes that Roger Zelazny has used in other books. From the book THE DREAM MASTER, another great story which started out as a short story and grew into a short novel, it is clear that the author is familiar with the Qabalah and other esoteric spiritual traditions. Because of this background, there is something realistic about how the characters function magically or cultivate their powers. It especially shows in the Amber series. In this series, starting with the book CHANGLING, the element of using music to invoke the shift is introduced and developed. What is nice about both CHANGLING and MADWAND is the amazing ink drawings that accompany the story, especially in MADWAND. I like those ink drawings and by themselves they would be worth the cost of the book. They are a high grade Tarot card quality that a person could use in meditation if they wanted to. They do seem to conjure a feeling for Jungian archetypes and inspire the use of "active imagination".

Magic as psionics, with special effects, along with the politics, power structures and intrigue that goes along with it. In opposition, masters of technology. An untrained sorceror is a 'Madwand'.

That is not all that exists in this particular world, it is a lot more complicated than that.

I have one thing to say, and it is a direct quote from this book:

"[The Harpy] flapped in quick patrol about the cavern, defecating profusely, imaginatively."

This book is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. Unfortunately, it isn't meant to be. If you want to read it, get it for free at a library. DO NOT PAY FOR IT OR SATAN WILL OWN YOUR SOUL!