Customer Reviews

Sorcerer's Son

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

 

 

This book was published in 1979, a few years after the original Ballantine Adult Fantasy series had ended and right before the amazing fantasy fiction boom of the 1980's. As a result I've always considered this book a major transitional work in Fantasy fiction. The story of Cray (the son of the title) is a great coming of age story and shows how an author can create a Fantasy novel that does not require huge armies or huge casts of characters but focuses on a boy trying to find out something about himself. The love between son and mother is also heartwarming and quite a feel good. The writing is clean and descriptive with no false dialog or emotions. The ending is satisfying and touching (I love to re-read the ending). A book on a small scale that grows into a large wonderful read.

Born in magic and raised with sorcery, Cray Ormoru dwelt in a world of happiness within the walls of Castle Spinweb.... Cray set out upon a journey which would take him from town to castle to a fortress of bronze, totally unprepared for the sorrows and dangers that lay ahead. For the fate of Cray's father would only be discovered in the light of demon fire... "I couldn't stop reading Sorcorer's Son, from it's intriguing beginning to it's thunderous close."-Roger Zelazny, Author of The Chronicles Of Amber ---If you like demons, you'll love this. The book takes a turn in which Cray becomes a demonologists, and lives upon the demon plane... Decidedly interesting

After the sorceress Delivev Ormoru rejects his marriage proposal, sorcerer Smada Rezhyk becomes worried that she's out to get him. In order to reduce her powers so that he'll have time to weave himself a protective gold shirt, Rezhyk sends his demon slave Gildrum to impregnate Delivev with Rezhyk's own seed. Gildrum takes on the form of a handsome young knight (Mellor) and shows up injured at Delivev's doorstep. As expected, Delivev falls in love with Mellor, but unexpectedly, Gildrum (who doesn't even have a heart) falls in love with her, too. However, Gildrum must return to serve Rezhyk. He doesn't tell Delivev that he's really a demon -- he lies and tells her that he'll come back after he delivers a message.

Sure enough, Delivev becomes pregnant and gives birth to Cray. And, of course, Mellor never returns. When Cray becomes a teenager, he decides to find out what happened to the father whom his mother still loves. This leads to a series of adventures which create more questions than answers.

Phyllis Eisenstein's Sorcerer's Son is a pleasant coming-of-age novel. The writing, for the most part, is lovely -- it flows well and is not overdone or pretentious. The dialogue, however, (and there is more of it than their needs to be) is sometimes stilted and unrealistic.

The plot of Sorcerer's Son is original and interesting -- especially the parts in which Delivev or Rezhyk appear. Delivev has control over nature -- particularly snakes, spiders, and ivy. Rezhyk summons and enslaves various types of demons who live in a complex world and follow strict rules about summoning. These parts are very creative and entertaining and I found that I have developed a respect for Phyllis Eisenstein's imagination.

Unfortunately, I just could not believe in Cray, the hero of the story. He was too nice, good at everything he tried, rarely complaining, and too mature, noble, and philosophical for a teenager. Except for the very rare occasions when he lost his temper, he was boring. I'm not into angsty teenage brooding, but Cray could have used a couple more personality dimensions.

The ending of Sorcerer's Son was a little too sweet for me, but if you like that sort of story, then this is a good read.

I love the world Eisenstein has created here, one where nature and magic interact, and where demons have their own worlds far from the call of man. It is one of the few books that I can start rereading as soon as I finish the last page, because it is always new and refreshing to me!

This is honestly the best book i have ever read. I had Pottermania for a while, but not anymore. I'm surprised this book is so underrated, because none of my fantasy/sci-fi friends have ever even heard of it! Trust me, it's absolutely wicked!

Phyllis's writing style flows effortlessly, breaking through the duldrums of setting descriptions and character portrayals like a rose through thinly shaved ice. Remembering the heart-warming trek of tragic and personal discovery re-awakens my mind to the fringe of fantasy and the beauty of free creative impulse. I am still in love with this story.

After having read several of the reviews for this book, I decided to give it a try. Never before have I read a book with such cookie cutter characters. They are simple and unchanging, with no depths, thoughts, or emotions (the one exception is the knight's mother, she displays her everlasting sadness, but even then, that is her only emotion.) The young knight, the loyal squire, the recluse sorcerers, the nonspecific seer, etc. You needn't waste your time reading this book. Halfway through, you'll throw it down and say "Who cares?"