Magician: Master (The Riftwar Saga #2)

“Apprentice” introduced readers to most of the beloved characters of Midkemia, and the Riftwar conflict with the Tsurani. This, the second volume of the “Magician” books, brings Pug to his full magical powers as a Great One known as Milamber on the other side of the Rift. New, important Tsurani characters are introduced even as certain people on Midkemia continue to be followed. Even as Pug becomes a person of two natures or, rather, of two worlds, likewise his boyhood friend Tomas ends up sharing a single body with the ancient Valheru Ashen-Shugar.

Tsurani traits seemed to be drawn from Japanese samurai, Aztec and even ancient Roman traditions, and not always the best of them. Pug/Milamber starts as a captured slave, becomes a paramount Great One by virtue of his magic, and must find a way to end the Riftwar between his two worlds. Even though his magic plays a critical part in all that, Mr. Feist is more interested in the politics of both worlds. Kingdom politics become complicated for the conDoin line, but the politics of the other world are absolutely byzantine.

Pug/Milamber is a central character, but others are just as fully formed — one of the great strengths of the series. Most readers will want to read more to see how their favorites fare, but the two books that make up “Magician” are complete in themselves.

Magician: apprentice, and Magician: Master is a decent intro to the world of Mikedemia. The riftwar saga chronicles the war with the Tsurani (possible allegory for the Hun empire) and the people’s (elves, humans, dwarves) of mikedemia. Feist mixes up the fantasy genre by adding a bit of sci-fi to the mix. The problem is, while there is interesting ideas being thrown about, it is delivered poorly, and comes across as half baked. Many terms and concepts are introduced, but do not match with the time periods portrayed. Mikedemia is described to be a mix of a Victorian, Renaissance, and medieval setting, yet uses terms and knowledge that would be more appropriate for a post ww1 society. Then there is magic… It is clear that Feist was unsure how to handle the subject, and is thus the least explored subject in the book surnamed Magician! Also, this book is a representation of its times. Women are little more than talking wet rags for our protags to occasionally profess their angst. The relationships, especially with classism are totally unbelievable. No way a kitchen boy, no matter what he did, even if elevated to a magician apprentice, would ever be alone with a lady of noble birth. The characters have titles attached to them, but nobody acts the part. In olden times, nobles were thought of just like the word meant, beyond reproach, the best of man. Once you sit and think about all these characters actions, nothing really lands . Truthfully, the story Is okay, but don’t expect any consistency in the world building.

Apprentice and Master as a duology would be enough to earn Feist a place near the top of the era’s fantasy writers.

In the concluding half of the story we see the boys reach adulthood, the height of their powers and a war reach its most desperate hour. Pug, Thomas, Martin Longbow and half a dozen other characters return to play pivotal parts in the narrative as we see formative times of their lives.

I have been a fan of Feist for many many many years. I first read the Riftwar books as a young man growing up in the Highlands. The characters in this series have always been well written and likeable. The story line is awesome and enthralling, love it.
I can draw the following strong comparisons to myself:
Like Pug I was once a boy and I grew up, I was also abducted by aliens and forced into slavery
Like Tomas I put on some cloths that were too big and I grew into them
Like Marcos I am pretty much all powerful and awesome
I decided to get the guy reads the book to me version so I could listen in the wagon. I am so lazy, can’t even read a book all by my self anymore.

Another winner by an amazingly talented writer. All of the books in the series are “Winners” and we get to watch these characters grow into the men who we would all like to be and do the things they do. Ive traveled to so many different places and to so many different worlds, and have experienced things beyond the things of this world, just by picking up a book ( or tablet, iPhone or Android phone). As a young kid in grade school, I discovered “Sci-Fi” and as I call it “Sword and Sorcery”. What a ride its been. Thank You Raymond Feist for the trip of a lifetime~!

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