Sorcerer's Son (Signet) [Paperback]

Phyllis Eisenstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 1989 | Series: Signet

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...

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Roc (February 7, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451156838
• ISBN-13: 978-0451156839
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #840,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best fantasies of the 1970's, March 9, 2001

By 

Wigberto Rivera "crooked dreamer" (Elgin, Il USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sorcerer's Son (Signet) (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting book that makes use of few characters..., April 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Sorcerer's Son (Signet) (Paperback)

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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars: Hell hath no fury like a sorcerer scorned, March 7, 2009

By 

Kat at Fantasy Literature - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sorcerer's Son (Signet) (Paperback)

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.