Customer Reviews

The Last Magicians

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Here's another fine example of the inexpensive paperback original, from the heyday of such books. Never intended for hardcover, regarded as essentially disposable after a quick read, they were often more compelling than novels with greater artistic aspirations. John Jakes was soon to leave fantasy behind, moving onto the more rewarding field of mainstream fiction, but in this short novel he crafted a moving farewell.

The old order of magicians is all but vanished, and the tiny kingdoms of the known world are reeling under endless assaults by the Raised Dead. Cham, last of the Red Magicians, wants nothing more than to retire to his own lonely tower and let the end come as it will. Yet events won't allow that, especially after he meets a woman who reawakens his will to live. Too bad that she's the wife of the king who's requested his aid against the encroaching enemy ...

The tale is told well, with the initial chapters particularly memorable with their bleak winter landscape. The king is a good, decent man, and Cham hates himself for becoming involved with his wife, who wishes no harm to her husband, whom she respects but doesn't love. If Cham is a bit derivative of other fantasy heroes of that time -- his runeblade reminds one more than a little of Elric's soul-drinking Stormbringer, for example -- he remains an admirable tortured hero. A lover of fantasy could do far worse than to track down this slim volume! Recommended!