Customer Reviews

Wizard and the Floating City (Bazil Broketail)

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

 

 

This book wasn't a very good read, but it wasn't terrible, either. It is useful in that it shows the reader more of the Bazil Broketail universe, and fleshes out some of the geography of the region. Reading this book between _Dragon at World's End_ and _Dragons of Argonath_ will help, as the latter book somewhat builds on the _Wizard_ and keeps the same "bad guy". So, while you shouldn't read this as your first Rowley book, it does have its redeeming qualities. Definitly not a stand alone.

Christopher Rowley's mastery of the written word is clearly seen once again within this tale. If you enjoy the Bazil Broketail series you might very well enjoy this book too, though set in a different place and time then Broketail it is well worth the reading. The only complaint can be that it ends in a way that leads the reader to believe or to hope that there might be another book in this series, there is an opening too and maybe someday there will be a second book, but until then this is well worth the reading.

The Wizard and The Floating City by Christopher Rowley

This book is set in the same world as Bazil Broketail. Bazil Broketail is the famous fighting dragon featured in an entire rollicking series. This book features a disposed Prince and his reluctant lover's battle against despicable evil.

First I really enjoyed Christopher Rowley's Bazil series. I did not think met the bar he established with that work. The book was entertaining but it wasn't nearly as captivating as Bazil. Prince Evander and Princess Serena were not loveable characters, likeable but not loveable. The realm was richly populated with all manner of interesting peoples and critters. There was reference to Bazil and his ilk.

The evil protagonists were thoroughly evil with strange chinks in their power. There was a good segue into intolerance and acceptance of change in the Neild and Eleem relationship. The carpet's personality was puzzling. Overall it was a quick and amusing read but do not look at it as a primo example of Rowley's work. If you enjoy this book a little, you should really enjoy the Bazil Broketail series.

I recommend the book.

Well first I think it is plain cheeky to critique a novel if one has yet to write one - not to mention write one succesfully. I notice other reviewers do not suffer from this compunction. Anyway, what a wonderful story. It teaches (without a hint of didactism - the bane of wannabe fantasy novelists) all of the key elements that will shape a Hero and that are so lacking in our X-generation. Self-sacrifice, valor, courage, chivalry, the character of evil and the character of good. Yes, the the 'sophisticated' post-modern reader (many from the haunts of the N-East and California, for some reason) will find this appraisal somehow naive - but then so would Waakzaam the Great. Well, well, for those who have ears to hear, this is a story to read, experience and live if you can! Wonderful reading! Have fun!

On a whole, I like the Bazil Broketail series. This book, however, set on the same world, was not on par with Rowley's other books. The characters are not as well formed, especially the princess, Serena, and the action is slow. Both prince and princess come off as whiners, although they are set up to be the heros. Go with the Broketail series and forget this one.

It is a good book because it will tell about one of the people that the Broketail will fight in one of his later books. If Rowley had probily not have wrote this book, we the readers, would have probiy be wondering who this person was in the later book, because there was no explanation for him in that book.