More Than Magick [Mass Market Paperback]

Rick Taubold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

A recent college graduate, Scott Madison is half-heartedly considering his future when he reads an ad on the dorm bulletin board. He ends up taking the job with Jake Kesten, Martial Arts expert and PhD math whiz, and finds himself busting computer hackers for the government. It’s an interesting job, if a little rough at times. Still, it’s just a job. Then Jake and Scott get a visit from what, apparently, is an old friend of Jake’s – Arion. Scott thinks Arion dresses a little funny, what with the robes and all. But then Arion proclaims himself an Adept at Magick. Before Scott can even roll his eyes, he finds himself whisked away to another world where he joins his fellow adventurers, all plucked as unceremoniously from their own home worlds. Their mission? To save the Elfaeden and their friends, the Crystal Dragons. Their secret weapon? Scott Madison. Who is about to discover that there is something, indeed, more than magick.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rick Taubold's fiction has been published in The Roswell Literary Review and New England Writer's Network. He has also had a number of his poems published. Rick and his wife live in Rochester, New York.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 451 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974363987
• ISBN-13: 978-0974363981
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,373,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Everything but the kitchen sink!, November 3, 2004

By 

William H. Stephenson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Than Magick (Mass Market Paperback)

The author has enough idea to write a dozen books. Unfortunately he puts them all into one book!

As something to read while on a trip this book is ok. But if you are looking for any true story development or plot, forget it! Magic, PSI, Dragons, High Tech civilizations, mysterious relics, elves, werewolves etc. they are all in there somewhere!

If the author used about 1/5th the ideas he put in the book then he could have had a good novel.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars!, May 10, 2005

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Than Magick (Mass Market Paperback)

Karaydeon is an Elfaeden "Elf" who lived centuries ago on a planet named Stracos. He imprisoned a malevolent being, Orfo, in a complex set of pocket universes and watched over by two intelligent dragons. Arion is his direct descendant. (Think Merlin the Magician with pointed elf ears.) He is an Adept at Magick. Arion learns that one of Orfo's followers, Lord Vraasz, has found the Tri-Lith of the Yorben. With it, Vraasz can free Orfo. The Tri-Lith combines the three Parton powers (Magick, Psi, and Pneuma) into the all-powerful Bahratic Power. (Okay Readers, this is as simple as I could explain it. Consider it as a very loose description.) Arion eventually travels to Earth to meet Jake and compels him to train Scott for his future.

Dr. "Jake" Kesten is a Martial Arts expert, Mathematician, and computer scientist. (Think hacker or cracker.) He convinces Scott to work with him. Their job is to persuade people NOT to attack government computers. At least that is what Scott thinks. It all changes when Jake's old friend, Arion, pops in.

"Scott" Madison is the main character and narrator of the story. Before Scott can even properly greet Arion, he finds himself teleported to another world where (once he no longer believes he is dreaming) he joins a group of shady adventures in a quest. Their mission? To save the Elfaeden, the Crystal Dragons, and themselves from total destruction. Their secret weapon? Scott. All poor Scott has been told is that he has a Pneuma Power, even though he is unaware of it. He must learn to control it and use it to save the day. Problem is that no one will tell him just HOW he is supposed to do it.

***** This novel is hard to write an enlightening synopsis for. In fact, my explanation of the story only touches the main plot. There are quite a few characters, each with interesting attitudes and abilities. There are just as many problems and obstacles too. Just when I thought I understood it all, the "malapert" author throws in twists. Not just one twist. Nooooo. All-in-all, you will find yourself royally entertained, never bored, and begging for more. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous tale, September 21, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Than Magick (Mass Market Paperback)

Scott Madison has just graduated from the University of California at San Diego as a marine biologist. Although he has no immediate plans for the future beyond getting a job, he knows what he will not follow in the footsteps of his father The Colonel. He accepts work with Dr. Jake Kesten after reading a weird ad on the bulletin board about a marine biologist working in war conditions. Over the next few years in Colorado, while Scott attends graduate school and Jake teaches advanced math, they stop computer hackers including getting physical with some lawbreakers. Through all this Scott remains a virgin.

Everything changes when Arion the Elfaeden mage arrives in Boulder. He quickly whisks Jake and Scott to his planet Stracos where magick works. As Scott seems to be a magnet to MORE THAN MAGICK and somehow "allergic" to magic, he and Jake learn that the twentyish earthling is the key to saving the universe. Hell, all Scott wants to do is make love.

This epic outer space fantasy is a tremendous tale that sub-genre fans will be thankful for as a one sitting read. The cast is the key as the prime players have unique personalities that enable the audience to believe in elves, dragons, flying horses, non-earthly humanoid species, and bad dudes. Somewhat tongue in cheek, the story line hooks the reader from the moment Jake's archeologist pal drags him to Lake Champlain before the Feds arrive and never lets up until the final confrontation in which Scott tries to save the universe from a powerful baddie.

Harriet Klausner