The Un-Magician (Outcast) [School & Library Binding]

Christopher Golden (Author), Thomas E. Sniegoski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Outcast (Book 1)

The most dangerous boy in the world?

Timothy is a freak, a weakling, an impossibility. He's the only person in existence without magical powers and has spent his entire life hidden on a remote island. When Timothy is finally taken back to the city of this birth, he is fascinated by the current of magic that fuels the world, and mesmerized by the buildings and orbs that hang weightlessly in the sky. But he is also marked for death.

Assassins are watching his every move, and the government wants him destroyed. Timothy can't imagine what threat he could possible pose; after all, he wields no power in this world.

Or does he?

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–Arcanum is a society completely based on magic. Hidden away since birth by his father, a powerful mage, Timothy is found by his father's former apprentice, Leander, after the man's death. Though the boy is unable to use magic, he does have some amazing skills, including nullifying enchantments with his touch and building virtually anything mechanical. Timothy is brought into the world of mages, where his mere presence arouses fear and suspicion, and he must determine who is his friend and who is using him. The first part of the book is confusing because the point of view switches often between Timothy and Leander and their voices are similar. Character development is sketchy. Despite these issues, the premise is clever, and the authors have created a unique story filled with adventure.–Tasha Saecker, Caestecker Public Library, Green Lake, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Christopher Golden is the award-winning, bestselling author of such novels as Wildwood Road, The Boys Are Back in Town, Of Saints and Shadows, and the Body of Evidence thriller series. He has cowritten a number of novels and comic books set in the worlds of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. There are more than eight million copies of his books in print. He lives in Massachusetts with his family.

Originally a comics writer, Tom Sniegoski grew a large fan base with his work on titles including Jeff Smith's bestselling BONE, Mike Mignola's HELLBOY, and the currently wildly popular GOON series.

His YA book series THE FALLEN for S&S was turned into a series of TV movies that have aired to strong ratings on the ABC Family Network. SLEEPER CODE and SLEEPER AGENDA, a YA two-part story for Razorbill/Penguin, was an ALA *Top Ten* Quick Pick in 2006.

Tom lives in Stoughton, Massachusetts with his wife and their dog, Kirby. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 227 pages
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417635657
• ISBN-13: 978-1417635658
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,155,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the award-winning, bestselling author of such novels as The Myth Hunters, Wildwood Road, The Boys Are Back in Town, The Ferryman, Strangewood, Of Saints and Shadows, and (with Tim Lebbon) The Map of Moments. He has also written books for teens and young adults, including Poison Ink, Soulless, and the thriller series Body of Evidence, honored by the New York Public Library and chosen as one of YALSA's Best Books for Young Readers. Upcoming teen novels include a new series of hardcover YA fantasy novels co-authored with Tim Lebbon and entitled The Secret Journeys of Jack London.

A lifelong fan of the "team-up," Golden frequently collaborates with other writers on books, comics, and scripts. In addition to his recent work with Tim Lebbon, he co-wrote the lavishly illustrated novel Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire with Mike Mignola. With Thomas E. Sniegoski, he is the co-author of the book series OutCast and The Menagerie, as well as comic book miniseries such as Talent, currently in development as a feature film. With Amber Benson, Golden co-created the online animated series Ghosts of Albion and co-wrote the book series of the same name.
As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies The New Dead and British Invasion, among others, and has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, the online animated series Ghosts of Albion (with Amber Benson) and a network television pilot.

The author is also known for his many media tie-in works, including novels, comics, and video games, in the worlds of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Angel, and X-Men, among others.

Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His original novels have been published in more than fourteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only one born without magic, is the most dangerous, March 24, 2005

By 

microjoe - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Un-Magician (Outcast, Book 1) (Paperback)

Let me start off by pointing out that my pre-teen son, myself, and my aunt all read this book separately and thoroughly enjoyed it. Arcanum is a world, a society, where everyone has magic powers. The homes that float in the air, shops, manufacturing, lighting, food preparation, mage robes, door locks, vehicles that fly, everything... is created and powered by magic. The social structure is set up by the politically powerful guilds that run everything. The guilds are hostile to one another, forming political alliances and enemies. They are often made up of different races and species, who have brutalized the weaker races to the point of extinction.

Thrown into this chaotic world is Timothy, who was believed by the guilds to be dead at birth, but was secretly whisked to another dimension that has no magic by his father. He lives with a few companions there where he grows to a teen and becomes educated in making mechanical devices that are completely unnecessary on Arcanum. Why would his father, the most respected and powerful wizard of his day do such a thing? Because Timothy was born without any magic powers at all! He would be a weakling in the world of powerful mages. You would assume as I did that this means that he would be ignored when he returns to a world run by magic, but this young man is feared enough to suffer multiple attempts to assassinate him as soon as he arrives in his fathers house. He has been labeled by the suspicious guilds to be the most dangerous person in the world, and he doesn't know why. The government weighs in and wants him destroyed too.

No one can be trusted in this environment, and danger leaps from every corner and even those that are supposed to protect Timothy may be his next attackers. This one keeps you on edge and guessing throughout the story.

Personally I couldn't put this page turner down to sleep at night. It is a shame that another reviewer stopped reading the book at a slow moment and never returned, and yet felt compelled to review an unfinished book. Yes, it does slow down a bit in parts, only to whisk off again like a roller coaster that gets over the hill. I like this variation of pacing, since real life is like that as well. I highly recommend and look forward to reading the sequel, "Dragon Secrets", also sold here at Amazon.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cut above., March 5, 2005

By 

A. J. Watson "Bones" (Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Un-Magician (Outcast, Book 1) (Paperback)

A cut above your normal teen-market fantasy that wouldn't be out of place on the adult shelves. In the same vein as 'Mortal Engines' this novel has a fluid quality that a collaboration of two authors doesn't normally have.

An unusual situation is presented; in a world where magic is the norm - in fact a must - appears a boy who possesses none. Moreover, magic doesn't seem to recognise him, and his touch dissolves spells. Add to this his extraordinary mechanical aptitude, which makes him an extremely dangerous quantity to the panicked establishment, who will stop at nothing to be rid of him. But is all as it seems? ...

Credulity is stretched at times, but one can forgive that as the pace and flow of this engaging fantasy carries one along, immersed in the story, that ends rather abruptly, in preparation for the sequel. ****

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Beginning, April 4, 2006

By 

Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Un-Magician (Outcast, Book 1) (Paperback)

In the world of OUTCAST, everyone and everything is magic. Everyone, that is, except for Timothy. For his own safety, his kind father kept him hidden away for years, providing him with a safe haven and a chance at a decent - albeit magic-free - childhood.

When his father passes away, Timothy is flung back into the world. Now everyone knows he exists. Who can he trust? Where can he go? He must decide who his allies are - and quickly, because assassins are coming for him.

The books are packed with action, fantasy, and drama. Timothy is surrounded by intriguing, strong characters: a warrior who can blend in with his surroundings; a robot buddy of his own creation; firebreathing, war-torn dragons; a talking raven named Edgar; and Cassandra, a girl who may or may not be on the same side as her power-hungry grandfather.

THE UN-MAGICIAN is a magical beginning to the OUTCAST quartet. Grammar school kids can read the series with very little trouble. The books are also great to read out loud. I recommend OUTCAST: THE UN-MAGICIAN to any family that enjoys fantasy series. There's something here for everyone, whether you like the otherworldly creatures in The Spiderwick Chronicles or the battles and tribunals featured in Star Wars.