A Wizard in Peace (Chronicles of the Rogue Wizard, Book 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Christopher Stasheff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1997

Under the nom de guerre of Gar Pike, renegade psychic wizard Magnus D'Armand travels the stars fighting injustice and oppression, like his father, Rod Gallowglass, the Warlock in Spite of Himself. But this time the Rogue Wizard may have encountered a tyrant even he can't overthrow: a stern Protector who dictates the very thoughts of his "loyal" subjects. So successful if his regime that Magnus is hard-pressed to find anyone willing to oppose it--until a misguided handful of would-be aristocrats unwittingly provides a spark of rebellion. Here is Christopher Stasheff in top form: swashbuckling, stylish, and slightly subversive adventure from the author of the bestselling "Warlock" chronicles.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Interstellar fix-it men Gar and Dirk and their trusty computer, Herkimer, battle injustice again in Stasheff's fourth Chronicle of the Rogue Wizard (after A Wizard in War). On a long-lost colony world, Puritanism, "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy," has dominated the lives of the planet's citizens for a thousand years. To combat Puritanism and its Cromwellian Protector, who rules with an iron fist, Gar?aka Wizard Magnus Gallowglass?recruits dissenters such as Miles, who's fleeing from a state-mandated marriage, Orgoru, a quixotic misfit, and Ciletha, an embryonic feminist. Stasheff's usual wit is in sleep mode here, overwhelmed by gratuitously grisly torture scenes and heavy-handed injections from the Bill of Rights. Insipid characterizations and limp dialogue will enhance only the ennui likely to strike all but the most loyal Stasheff fans.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The fourth book in the "Rogue Wizard" series finds interstellar liberator Magnus Gallowglass recruiting two star-crossed lovers to fight the tyranny and oppression of the Protector. Stasheff (author of the famous "Warlock" series) again provides plenty of action and political scheming. Recommended for collections with the series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy; 2nd print edition (May 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812567978
• ISBN-13: 978-0812567977
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,547,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wizard not so peaceful...., May 26, 2000

By 

Erich Mohr "Arandil" (Sonoma County, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Wizard in Peace (Chronicles of the Rogue Wizard, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Depending on how long one has been reading the Warlock series, one could become rather bored with Stasheff's never-ending devotion to the family Gallowglass. This book is one that justifies HIS devotion, and rewards the reader for his/her loyalty. Time well spent!

It has been pointed out in many cases that it is difficult to give Magnus a task too difficult to accomplish, too daunting to undertake, but this one gives him a REAL challenge.

The plot is simple... Magnus' continuing goal to provide regressed colonies with the government best suited to the needs of the society present on each planet he encounters, primarily by inserting himself into said society. What he finds on this planet is a Brazil-esque bureaucracy managing every facet of society. With no open rebellion in sight, and fewer even capable of thinking of one, Magnus has no method to use short of bloody mayhem. What he actually does do is both innovative, and emotionally draining. Magnus does things which, while noble and compassionate in nature, still have him questioning his own ethics. The solution to this society's problems takes much longer to implement than in previous quests, a statement on how difficult it is, even with Magnus's considerable talents, to start a revolution where there is no conception of what revolution IS.

From the lofty viewpoint of three books later, it is easy to say that, so far, this is the BEST of the Wizard series. Magnus has to make some very difficult decisions on his own about HOW to use his abilities... Stasheff poses some difficult questions about what is the RIGHT THING to do. So... if you were slowing down on the Wizard series, this book will give you momentum to keep going onto future books.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A madhouse in a spaceship?, April 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Wizard in Peace (Chronicles of the Rogue Wizard, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

A Wizard in Peace is the 4th book in the Rouge wizard series where magnus and his sidekick Dirk once again find themselves on a planet abandoned by their old government but unlike the other stories this planet hasn't been taken over by a dictator but by bureaucrats. On their travels around the planet Dirk and Magnus stumble upon the local madhouse, which insodently is located in an abandoned spaceship. The mentaly insane inpersonate the bureaucrats to help Magnus and Dirk overthrow the local government. After all who could be better suited to impersonate bureaucrats then the insane?