Amazon.com: With A Single Spell (9780586200094): Lawrence Watt-Evans: Books

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I've been writing fantasy for thirty years... no, my fantasy's been published for thirty years. I've been writing it since I was eight. It's what I always wanted to do for a living, and I've been very fortunate in that I've been able to manage that. I try to write fantasy with an element of common sense to it -- not so much mythic archetypes as sensible people.

Other than my job, my life's pretty ordinary -- a nice house in a quiet neighborhood, a wife, two grown kids, and an overweight cat.

Customer Reviews

20 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, April 23, 2002

By

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: With A Single Spell (Mass Market Paperback)

Tobas has always been considered unlucky. But, when the wizard to whom he is apprenticed suddenly dies, leaving him half trained and with only a single spell, his situation becomes desperate. Setting off to the more advanced lands of Ethshar, Tobas hopes to find make a life for himself. But, what can a wizard do with only one spell? Adventure and danger await Tobas, and it just might be a that single spell will suffice...

This is the third book I have read by Lawrence Watt-Evans, and it is just as excellent as the others. I found the story fascinating, and could not put the book down until I reached the end. I loved the characters, the setting, and Mr. Watt-Evans' fascinating magic system. This is a wonderful story, one that I highly recommend to any D&D or other RPG player, or to any other fan of high-magic adventures!

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple and wonderful story, November 20, 2000

By

Andrew X. Lias "http://andrewlias.blogspot.com" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: With A Single Spell (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is, perhaps, the best example of what makes the Ethshar series tick: there is a problem and the character or characters work towards resolving it.

It sounds simplistic when put that way, and it IS a very simple concept, but what makes Watt-Evans books in this series stand out is the relentlessly logical and believable way that the problems are addressed.

With a Single Spell is a charming story about an apprentice wizard who has the misfortune of losing his teacher after only learning a single spell (a simple fire conjuration). You can't get any simpler than that. And yet, the book takes off from that starting point and leads us through some truly marvelous terrain, including a dragon hunt and a very, very mysterious castle that seems to have crashed (!) into the ground.

It is a very fun and inventive story that, while not being exactly Tolstoy in depth, is utterly enjoyable to read.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another LWE Classic, February 24, 2002

By

B. Robertson (Cordova, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: With A Single Spell (Paperback)

I love this book. It epitomizes some of the characteristics that make Lawrence Watt-Evans' books great. This story presents unorthodox fantasy elements with a seemingly improbably plot and weaves it together masterfully. An aprentice who knows a single spell and is expected to kill a dragon???? As crazy as it sounds, it is an immensely entertaining story with colorful characters, good dialogue, and creative writing. Given it is a light fantasy read, but many of his earlier books should be treated as such. Relax, kick up your feet, and read it in one sitting, enjoying it for what it is.......great fantasy.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting
Reviews Of Unusual Size

Re: Tobas the wizard's apprentice knows one spell. He can light fires. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Kris Cowell

4.0 out of 5 stars Early Esthshar
Very enjoyable. The typical Watt-Evans hero, a bit bumbling, but smarter than he seems. The author has a wry view of heroes and fairy tales, and our hero goes through some... Read more

Published 22 months ago by G. Schultz

2.0 out of 5 stars Could Barely Stay Awake
While the book was written well grammatically, the overall presentation of the story was very dull. There was a great deal of detail but it was all presented in a manner that left... Read more

Published on June 22, 2008 by Miznettie

4.0 out of 5 stars Light Fantasy
Tired of epic stories that go on and on and on? Sick of novels in which the Hero saves the world five times and that's just in chapter one? Read more

Published on May 28, 2007 by Michael Valdivielso

5.0 out of 5 stars Hardcover please!
All of Lawrence Watt-Evans books are wonderful. Please print these in hardcover though!!! I hope somebody is listening out there.

Published on January 15, 2007 by J. Gardner

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what Fantasy should be
When I read this book for the first time I was inspired. Finally an author had imbued originality into Fantasy. Read more

Published on May 25, 2005 by Todd R

5.0 out of 5 stars Seers and Sorcerers
This was my first experience with the Ethshar Hegemony and its world. I first read the book about 10 years ago, and have since re-read it many times. Read more

Published on January 11, 2005 by Zapotetico

5.0 out of 5 stars Another classic in the vein of Misenchanted Sword
Great, great, great book. Lots of fun. A little light, but at the same time not simplistic, just a great read.

Published on December 4, 2003 by Leon

3.0 out of 5 stars Fluxuates between good and bad
This was the first Watt-Evans book I ever read, and it's difficult to write a strong review for it. The story is simple enough: a boy too old for apprenticeship finds himself... Read more

Published on August 20, 2003 by Hannah Foster

5.0 out of 5 stars Every book in the series is great...
but this novel, near the beginning of the series, is definitely one of the best. Watt-Evans manages an engagingly humorous romantic subplot, while still keeping the realistic... Read more

Published on July 24, 2002

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
single spell, flying castle, fallen castle, caravan master, more spells, few spells

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lawrence Watt-Evans, Small Kingdoms, Dwomor Keep, Ethshar of the Spices, Ethshar of the Sands, Free Lands, Thrindle's Combustion, Great Hall, Lord Chamberlain, Peren the White, Old Ethshar, Book of Spells, Pirate Towns, Wizard Street, Tobas of Telven, Karanissa of the Mountains, Hegemony of Ethshar, Lugwiler's Haunting Phantasm, Great War, Derithon the Mage, The Transporting Tapestry, Trader's Tongue, Ekeroa Lake, Fire Magic

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