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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

438.0. "Warlock Enlarged" by TSG::DOWNS (The Nike Ninja) Thu Feb 05 1987 12:29

    Has anybody read the book The Warlock enlarged from the Science
    Fiction Book Club. I think the first book is called The Warlock
    Inspite of himself. Is It any good. I hope so I'm planning to 
    read it.
    
    John
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438.1One man's opinion ...VACCIN::ROUTLEYThu Feb 05 1987 18:3829
I believe the SFBC edition is a collection of the three Warlock stories
"The Warlock in Spite of Himself", "Escape Velocity", and one of the two
"King Kobold Revived" or "The Warlock Unlocked".

"Escape Velocity" is a prelude to "The Warlock in Spite of Himself", even
though Stasheff wrote it after the latter book.

"King Kobold Revived" is a re-working of Stasheff's original "King Kobold".

Working from memory, the Warlock books are (in the approx. order of release):

	1 "The Warlock in Spite of Himself"
	2 "Escape Velocity"
	3 "King Kobold Revived"
	4 "The Warlock Unlocked"
	5 "The Warlock Enraged"
	6 (title forgotten)
	7 "The Warlock is Missing"

As previously mentioned, 2 is a prelude for 1. 1,3,4,5,6 happen in
chronological order.  6 and 7 happen concurrently.

I have seen comparison in SF-Lovers between Anthony's Xanth series and
Stasheff's Warlock series, with all the negative criticism that implies.
I partly agree in that the series seems to be dragging out a bit, the original
spontainaity (sp?) and humor lacking somewhat.  However, I have enjoyed the
series immensely, and will continue to buy the books if the sequel ever appears.

kevin
438.2Stasheff's series are better than Anthony'sTLE::MCCUTCHEONThe Karate MooseThu Feb 05 1987 19:415
    I think Stasheff is a little more even in his books than Anthony.
    Anthony seems to just drone on and on with endless words.
    
    I find Stasheff reasonably light and interesting.  I just read
    The Queen's Wizard (I think - I'm bad at titles).  Pretty good.
438.3Now Where's That Circuit Breaker Gotten To?SSDEVO::YOUNGERI haven't lost my mind - it's Backed-up on tape somewhereThu Apr 02 1987 21:588
    "Is it any good?"  Is Sturgeon "any good"?  The Warlock In Spite
    of Himself is, in my opinion, one of the ten greatest SF books of
    all time!!!!  It is true that the sequels are not quite in the same
    category, but they are all (with the exception of King Kobold and
    King Kobold Revived - almost the same book) brilliant exceptions
    to Sturgeon's Law.  Read and enjoy.  BTW, the later two books are
    also available in one volume from SFBC.  I used to have a first
    edition paperback of TWISOH, but that was back in High School (1967?)
438.4Me Too!MIST::IVERSONThere's a seeker born every minuteSun May 31 1987 17:287
    Yes! Yes! I loved The Warlock in Spite of Himself too!
    It is very light stuff, but I laughed all the way thru the
    book. The next books are good but not as funny. Sometimes, I
    just want to laugh! Next time I'm in that mood, I'll try
    #5 and #6.
    
    Renee
438.5AMRETO::CHELSEAMostly harmless.Wed Jun 03 1987 13:536
    Lauriat's in Pheasant Lane (second floor, just outside Lechmere's)
    has some copies of _Escape Velocity_, the prequel to _The Warlock
    In Spite of Himself_.  I was surprised to find it, since I've been
    keeping my eyes open for it for several months now and hadn't come
    across it.
438.6Another Stasheff fanBPT::MOREAUKen Moreau, VAX DEBUGWed Jun 03 1987 15:4112
RE: .2
    
>    I find Stasheff reasonably light and interesting.  I just read
>    The Queen's Wizard (I think - I'm bad at titles).  Pretty good.

The book is "Her Majesty's Wizard".  

I agree, Stasheff is quite good.  The only book of his I didn't enjoy was 
"A Wizard In Bedlam".  I don't know why, but it seemed really forced, and
not at all like his other books.

-- Ken Moreau