The Oathbound Wizard [Paperback]

Christopher Stasheff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2004

Matt Mandrell, unsuspecting graduate student, never imagined his research would lead him to a strange scrap of parchment that would change his life forever. . . .

Crossing the void of time and space, Matt is whisked away to an enchanted world where speaking in rhymes works the most dazzling magic. There he wins not only fame and power as the Lord High Wizard, but the heart of the beautiful Queen Alisande. His dreams are shattered, though, when he learns that he can’t marry his true love; wizard or not, Matt is just a commoner in this bizarre land.

So Matt makes a foolish vow: to conquer a kingdom, any kingdom, if that’s what it takes to claim his bride. But, as Matt discovers, in this world of enchantment, such an oath cannot be broken. He has truly committed himself to win a crown or die trying.

In search of lands to conquer, Matt sets his sights on neighboring Ibile, where the evil Gordorgrosso rules with an iron fist and sinister magic. Matt marches off against the tyrant, gathering a small band of unlikely allies, including a surly dracogriff, a well-spoken cyclop, and a damsel in distress. But against Gordogrosso’s foul genius, Matt is going to need much more than a few stout-hearted companions and some clever rhymes. . . .

Oathbound Wizard is the newest addition to the Del Rey Imagine program, which offers the best in fantasy and science fiction for readers twelve and up.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Poetry's magic--real magic--draws Matthew, Lord Wizard of Merovence, deeper into trouble in this sequel to Her Majesty's Wizard . In his alternative world, where words become truth and magic spells are created by verse, Matt's thoughtless declaration that (in order to be a worthy suitor to Alisande, the queen of Merovence) he would unthrone Gordogrosso, evil sorcerer-king of neighboring Ibile, lands him in the middle of that unhappy kingdom. He's joined by Narlh, a discontented dracogriff with an inferiority complex; Fadecourt, a cyclops with an unsavory reputation in Ibile; and the beautiful and noble Yverne, fleeing the attentions of the king's hoodlums. As the ill-assorted band moves in on Gordogrosso, Queen Alisande marshals her knights to save the beloved commoner whom she cannot wed (even though he is a wizard), and Matt's magic produces unusual results, including the addition of Robin Hood and his band to his forces. Stasheff's fantasy romp has a strong theological underpinning: God is serious about his creatures and about their taking responsibility for themselves, their actions and their words.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Prevented by his lack of royal blood from marrying the woman he loves, former college student Matt Mantrell--now Court Wizard to Queen Alisande--swears an oath to overthrow a neighboring tyrant and finds himself bound to carry out his promise. Aided by a group of companions, including a neurotic griffin, a cultured cyclops, and minions from heaven and faerie, Matt enters a land of darkness and evil to fight the good--and seemingly impossible--fight. Fans of pure fantasy will enjoy this sequel to Her Majesty's Wizard ( LJ 10/15/86).
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (June 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345461177
• ISBN-13: 978-0345461179
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #806,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theology meets fantasy - and fun, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oathbound Wizard (Vol 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Just when you think you've had enough of these "average modern-day Joe goes back to medieval alternate universe and saves the world," you meet Matt, who somehow manages to be both human and heroic. Goes into even more debate than the original about the role of God, Christianity, and the essence of good and Evil. Lots of unusual characters and amusing sideplots that weave well into the whole. A very satisfying conclusion to the story of Matt; but be sure to read the other books in this series about Matt's friend Saul.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good, September 12, 2011

By 

Stacie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Oathbound Wizard (Paperback)

I hate the cover, but the story is amazingly original and satisfying. Definitely worth the ugly cover. Make it into a normal sci-fi bound copy, and I'd love it.

4.0 out of 5 stars All For Love, February 12, 2007

By 

Paul Ash "OC reader" (Costa Mesa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Oathbound Wizard (Paperback)

How far would you go to prove your worth? In "The Oathbound Wizard", Stasheff's second book in the Wizard in Rhyme series, Matthew Mantrell (Lord High Wizard of Merovence) swears that he is will conquer the kingdom of Ibile to prove that he is worthy to marry his true love- Alisande the queen of Merovence.
This is the second book that I've read by Christopher Stasheff; and I have to say, I'm hooked. I enjoy his writing style, and the way he integrates the modern (Matt Mantrell) with the ancient. Fantasy has always been one of my favorite genres; and Stasheff brings it to a new level.
I would strongly recomend this book to anyone who has read "Her Majesty's Wizard"; the prequel to "The Oathbound Wizard". If you haven't read "Her Magesty's Wizard", you may still enjoy it; but some of the references will not make sense to you.