Wizard of the Winds (Tales of the Timuras) [Paperback]

Allan Cole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 1997 | Series: Tales of the Timuras (Book 1)

KING OF KINGS, LORD OVER MEN AND DEMONS ALIKE

Only one ruler had ever held that title, and now Iraj Protarus, an orphaned prince exiled to a small village high in the Valley of the Clouds, dreamed of being the next great conqueror. The key to his destiny would be Safar Timura, a youth with an awesome gift for sorcery, whose visions foretold Iraj's rise to power. And in those visions, Safar stood at Iraj's side, his soul-blasting spells enabling his friend to attain his dreams.  

But Safar had other visions with darker portents, and his spellbound knowledge raised secrets better left buried. The road the two men followed would be rich in titles and fortunes, but it would also be rich in death and disaster, in intrigue--and in unforgivable betrayal . . .

Let the Wizard of the Winds sweep you away with a tale of such power and passion that you will forget every other fantasy you've ever read. Enter a world where humans and demons are deadly enemies, where the destiny of entire dynasties is buffeted mercilessly by the stormy winds of sorcery powerful beyond imagination. Like the masters who have come before him, Allan Cole has created a haunting and unique world peopled with characters you will hate to love and love to hate . . . a unique world whose siren song will be irresistible to fantasy lovers everywhere . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Cole, often Chris Bunch's collaborator, strikes off on his own again. Warrior Iraj Protarus was a boyhood friend of Safar Timura, who, raised to be a potter, turned out to have an at first unsuspected talent for sorcery. The visions they share and the battles they fight side by side as they set off on a journey impeded by intrigue, enemies, plots, betrayals, adventures, and all the other trappings of the fantasy quest are the basic stuff of the book. Eventually, Iraj has a throne and Safar is his high magician, but realistically, the tale cannot end there, for the friends have hardly seen the last of the host of enemies who customarily badger the possessors of power. Although a trifle short on originality, Cole's second solo outing does feature fine characterization, finer narrative technique, and superlative pacing. A book to make fantasy fans' lives more pleasant. Roland Green

From Kirkus Reviews

First of a fantasy trilogy from the author of The Warrior Returns (1996), etc. Young Safar, of the Timura family of expert potters, becomes friends with warrior Iraj Protarus when the latter takes refuge in Kyrania after having been driven from his home by a blood feud. In Safar's prophetic dream, Iraj is crowned King of Kings; Iraj dreams that Safar, a mighty wizard, stands at his side. Safar and Iraj then save a caravan from demon raiders. In time, Iraj returns home to claim his throne and begins to conquer neighboring states. Safar joins a traveling circus whose beautiful owner, Methydia, teaches him first to accept his magic talents, then how to exploit them. Eventually Safar, despite misgivings, agrees to join Iraj as his Grand Wazier. Demon King Manacia, meanwhile, mounts an invasion, but Safar and Iraj defeat him and occupy the demon capital, Zanzair. As Iraj surrounds himself with the wizards and advisors of his vanquished foes, however, he and Safar fall out over a woman; Safar, forced to flee, skulks in the wilds plotting revenge. Hardworking, competently wrought, and independently intelligible, but talky and undistinguished. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; Advance copy edition (June 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034540176X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345401762
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,384,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ALLAN COLE is a best-selling author, screenwriter and former prize-winning newsman. The son of a CIA operative, Cole was raised in Europe and the Far East. For details see Allan's website at www.acole.com. Here's what critics have said about Cole's work: The Sten Series: Landmark science fiction -Publishers Weekly; When The Gods Slept: Page turner of the year - Locus; The Far Kingdoms Series: Glorious... Swashbuckling - Locus; A Reckoning For Kings: Classic war novel - SF Chronicle; Lucky In Cyprus - A haunting, enlightening experience - BookLoons.com; A Cop's Life: Must read by anyone with a badge - Philadelphia Fraternal Order Of Police.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars make sure you understand what you're in for, February 27, 2005

By 

Anthony "mrwhy" (San Gabriel Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Wizard of the Winds (Tales of the Timuras) (Mass Market Paperback)

The main attraction this book held for me was the fact that it is not "european" fantasy. Instead, the backdrop offers us a middle eastern flair, and in my mind this made all the difference in the world because other than that, the book really is your standard fantasy fair. The characters are two dimensional, the plot is a little above average, but still never really takes off, and the demons are unconvincing.

If you are looking for a great read, great literature, or anything that will move you, move on. If you are looking for something that is a little different to pass the time in between your series favorites, then this may be worth a shot. (One bonus is that even though it is part of a series, this book works perfectly fine as a stand alone. Therefore, if you do not like it enough to move on, then you have not lost anything.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unsual idea of demon appearance and mentality, June 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wizard of the Winds (Tales of the Timuras) (Mass Market Paperback)

Everything about the book was superb in nature except the author's idea of what a demon should be. The idea of demons having a human-like society was too strange to me. They lived in houses and castles. None of his demons had wings, and they did not have tails, or leathery skin (it looks likes a goats head with fur on the cover). Sorry it was just hard to follow the whole concept without thinking it as comical. Otherwise everything about this book was excellent and his unique demons were an original idea. Originality should always be appreciated.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Entertaining, April 19, 2001

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wizard of the Winds (Tales of the Timuras) (Mass Market Paperback)

Timur Safar (the protagonist) begins out as a naive, trusting young man who graudually matures into his fated station in life. His relationship with a childhood friend, Protarus, is the main focus of this tale. When demons invade their land and threaten the sanctity of Protarus's reign, Safar must come in and aid his long time friend. However, time has distanced the two as well as destiny. This story for me was heartbreaking, maybe it was the music in the background of my room, or the late hour in which I stayed up to finish the book, but I think that it was the touching reality in which Cole described the most painful separation of people who care. This is a must read:)