Magician by Raymond E Feist

Shane van der Straaten from London

Simply the best fantasy novel of all time. And a side note... criticism of this novel should not be deemed valid by anyone who says - Carline should 'of' been with Pug, and would 'of' made a happy reunion @cody from NZ. Also @sam from Chicago and those who agree with him/her... I have to agree with the others who insinuate that he/she sounds like a frustrated writer who hasn't been published. As for LOTR, I like to view the comparisan to Magician as like looking at the first automobile compared to a Ferrari... just because it was first and original does not make it the best. LOTR...drag on much?

Adam from England

Generally a very good and well developed book, with a gripping narrative and characters the audience actually cares about! The only real criticism I have about the story is the way Pug doesn't end up with Carline, it just seemed a bit pointless to go to all that effort to establish the young romance, only to later say 'oh by the way Pug's getting married now' in the space of a single chapter.

Dana from Australia

I would give it a billion stars if I could, but ten will do, a simply amazing book and series.

Cody from new zealand

With this book i found it very exciting in the first part but it seemed to drag on and I found myself becoming more interested in finishing the book than enjoying it. I really think Carline should of been with Pug which would of made a very happy reunion. But when Carline sees pug for the first time she shows little emotion. If this book was shortened it would be more fast paced and exciting the only exciting scene was when Pug destroyed the stadium and that was out of the two parts and the only joke i found funny was when pug said (Capital punishment) when he was talking to Kulgan. I found the author to drag on the boring scenes and shortened the good one.

Troy from Australia

I actually enjoyed the various series by Feist. Having said that I believe that he made some significant blunders in the Magician and a lot of them have been already covered. I think one of the largest mistakes with the Magician was that he made Pug and Thomas too powerful. I don’t think Feist could have imagined the success his books would have and this early mistake led to contradictions in later books as he tried to balance the various enemies. Credit where credit is due and it can't be denied that he has produced some very popular books. I have spoken to many people that have read or tried to read the Magician and I found that for the most part that the readers read the first page and were hooked or read the first page and never bothered to go beyond that.

Joshua from Kent, UK

This, and the series in general is the best I've read. I agree with most the people on this site with reviews, but the select few who write bad reviews have no reason to do so. They may not like the book but what they say makes no sense. The characters certainly don't talk 'robotic' or 'one-dimensional' the character development and speech is very well done. There is no way this book could've become an international bestseller if what these people say is true. The characters are wonderful and likeable and of course, the story is great. It is the best in a long series and with little bad to say about it. To me, it seems the people who have written the bad reviews think of themselves as superior as they think differently. Theses books, in my opinion, are superior to Tolkien. Whilst certain aspects aren't, it is a very good book and series. If you are new to fantasy or a 'veteran' it is worth the read.

Anit from Engand

The book that hooked me on fantasy fiction. I have read it, probably, more than 20 times since picking it up 25 odd years ago... For those crying hackneyed and cliched - remember published in 1982... blazed a trial that has been improved and developed since then, but a great read in it's own right - the trilogy as whole holds up incredibly well in my opinion... the rest of the canon... less so. Can't belive some of the 1 and 3 star reviews... must be reading something else!

Paul from Leighton Buzzard

As someone who has only been reading fantasy literature in earnest for the past couple of years (I had read LOTR as a teenager and kept coming back for more, until a good friend recommended Robin Hobb's Farseer books, and I was hooked!), I felt it was incumbent on me to read the classics of the genre. With this in mind, I picked up Magician for a couple of pounds on Amazon. I'm going to be clear here: this book is not "great" in the way that LOTR is great, but it is very good indeed. It also fails, in my mind, to live up to the modern classics (I'm thinking of Robin Hobb, Scott Lynch, R. Scott Bakker and Patrick Rothfuss here) in terms of sheer originality, although I concede that it was written 25 years ago and is in all likelihood an influence in itself on all of the authors I've just mentioned. I found it a little hackneyed in places if I'm being honest - like a book I'd read before. There are also places where the dialogue is quite Americanised, and for me this removed the suspension of disbelief Feist works so hard to build up throughout the book. Having said that, it was very absorbing, and by the time I was a hundred pages in I was well into it and rooting for Pug and Tomas. I find the whole concept of the two worlds quite intriguing - the worlds themselves are hardly unique (one 12th century Europe, and the other Samurai-era Japan), but the rift is a great concept and allows a real clash of cultures to take place, which is for me what kept my interest throughout the book. It should also be noted that the chapter where Pug sees the beginning of the Empire is, in my opinion, one of the finest pieces of stand-alone literature I have ever read - up there with not only some of the fantasy greats, but some of the finest English-language writers of all time. All in all, I don't regret reading this book, and I intend to at least complete this trilogy before making a decision on whether or not to continue with Feist's frankly immense back catalogue.

Joel from Athens

Afraid I have to agree with @Sam and others. I've read well-written novels with well-developed characters, and this is not one. That's not to say that the book isn't worth reading - the story itself is fun in several places, but on the whole, I fail to understand how Feist's novel was capable of capturing a generation of readers, particularly when published in a similar time to authors like Heinlein and Herbert. Feist's characters are flat and jump from one developmental stage to another, and their dialogue is painfully one-dimentional. His cultures are incredibly shallow and underdeveloped. I'm hoping that Feist developed as a writer as the series progressed, otherwise, there is little to recommend Magician: Apprentice other than a slightly interesting story arc.

James from Swindon

I'll just chime in to agree with Sam from Chicago, and add one further point about the supposedly impressive creation of two whole worlds (gasp!). In our Earth history, the templates for both of these civilizations existed on the same planet, at the same time, and with a whole lot of other distinct groups as well. Why anyone thought it was clever to have to introduce a whole other world to accomplish a clash of civilizations needs their world view expanded by more than derivative fantasy.

Colin from Perth, Australia

A book very close to my heart. Short of cash while living with friends, I picked up Magician one weekend and couldn't put it down. I've read every one of Feist's novels and haven't read a bad one yet. To Sam of Chicago: Before you rip into the works of a man who is a best selling author please, for the love of God, stop using words you don't know the meaning of. In the age of spell check, there is no excuse for you to have such bad spelling and grammar. Especially someone who is aspiring to be a novelist. So take the hate speech, jam it up your arse and go back to reading books with pictures, you dickhead.

Barry from Australia

Have to agree with Sam. Boring as anything. Cardboard dialogue. Embarrassing humour.

Rob from Stamford, UK

Read this 20 years ago when I was 15 and have been hooked on the ongoing plot ever since. Even 20 books in (I think) with A Kingdom Besieged I'm finding it almost impossible to put down.

Shell from Winchester

Having read Magician had to buy rest of series - and was not disappointed.

David from The Netherlands

I completely agree with Sam from Chicago here. Although the book was enjoyable to read, especially at the second half, it is not 'great'. Feist`s writing is bland and simple for a big part. There is a lack of scenery descriptions and character development and the dialogue is just annoying at times. Despite these things the book has a very good plot and in the end I found it to be an enjoyable read. It just doesn't equal the best fantasy books out there.

AliaOfDune from Romania

I found this to be an exciting fantasy book with a well developed plot, good twists and a great background. It is set in an apparently not such an original world, but as the book evolves we learn more about the very creation and foundation of the world and the surprises are abundant there. I loved the descriptions of the environment as well as the whole intrigue.

Allen Toby from Melbourne

This book is my favourite book in the world. It's intresting and it's cool the way they do things. My favourite part is when they go in to war and he stops the war.

Anthony from Cardiff

Sam from Chicago - I am afraid you are wrong, this novel is a superb piece of work. Pug is a legend!

Peter from Scotland

I don't believe it's possible for me to do this book justice in a mini review. So instead I'll just say that by far and away 'Magician' is my favourite book and Raymond Feist my favourite author (and I don't see this changing anytime soon).

Josh from New South Wales

This is a truly fantastic novel, that I have read to within an inch of its life; front and back covers long disintegrated, I managed to read it in a day and every time I pick it up again, I have to read it, the hold that it has on me is so truly magnetic!!! @sam from chicago; I do not know what you are on about, but like Rob and Rave say above, please show me your own work before judging a master writer of the first class. Truly Feist's best novel to date.

Rave Critic from Australia

Sam from Chicago as above, please grow up, and do not spend your whole day writing a vapid and substance less response to a novel that you have obviously loved. Magician is a wonderful text, embodying all of the aspects of the traditional fantasy genre, and the day that anyone gives it one star on a reviewing site is a sad day for humanity. Poor sport, Mr. Sam, as I don't see you writing a fantastic novel that has so many fans around the world and is still on the top 100 after being published decades ago! A simpleton name or even alter ego as your personality has been shown to be through your writing. Even the evidence in this case, would go against you. When you write a novel as classic, fantastic and as masterfully crafted as Mr. Feist, you just let me know and I will rate it for you. I wonder what your children will grow up as, if you do indeed have any, with such a sad, hopelessly judgmental father as you are. Brilliantly Indignant Rave Critic.

Rob from Huddersfield

@sam from Chicago. Did you read the same book I did? What do you want from a book? If you think you can do better, which apparently you do, then you write one and get it published and sell hundreds of thousands of copies. You have no taste whatsoever. Stick to reading comics.

Jack from Southampton, UK

I came to this series late when I stumbled upon 'Magician' in a second hand book shop. I only read the first chapter and then dropped the book when the latest in a different series came out. I forgot about the book for about a year but when I went back to it I finished the whole book in a weekend and went straight out and bought the sequel the next weekend. While I didn't continue at this speed through the whole series, I did get up to speed with the then 23 other books in about 2 years I have loved every book so far and am eagerly anticipating the final trilogy. The only criticism is that the book is somewhat cliche both in the plot and the setting. However on both points, setting especially, this improves as the series goes on.

Allan from Bridgend

It is about 15 years since I read this and the following books in the series. I remember being spellbound by it and falling in love with Pug and Tomas. At first the size daunted me but once I started I could not put it down. I have since recommended it to my wife and mother in law, and while these do not read fantasy they both read the whole series and loved it! I have also now discovered a new book to read called 'The King's Buccaneer... AWESOME!

Raj from Solihull, UK

Magician was passed to me by my brother in law and I read it after reading the likes of Gemmell and Tolkien as I was looking for something new. The book itself is a very good read but there are instances when the detail is lacking. Some of the dialogues are worn albeit entertaining. All in all - a book worthy of a read and the writing style of this author only gets better as you go through the series(s).

Fantasy Reader

Fast pace, good characters and long plot coming together at the end. What more can you ask of a fantasy story?

Sam from Chicago

An absolutely horrific novel. I have to admit, the plot is acceptable. Yet the others, especially Feist's writing is almost unbearable, and his characters are too shallow and undeveloped. For instance, Feist describes Arutha as quiet and sly, and Lyam as cheerful and adorable, yet as far as the dialogues go, Arutha talks as much as Lyam. I can't even detect the slyness of his character in any part of the book except when Feist states he is sly. Another example is how Feist describes the elves. He states they "had pointed ears." Well duh! It is obvious elves have pointed ears. That's their trademark. His bad writing is even more evident in the dialogues. The characters are talking like robots, and they seemed to be talking to the readers more than to each other. For instance, Laurie does not need to say Katala is prettier than Almorella, because he or Pug does not need to know this fact. However, it is necessary for Feist to establish to the reader that Pug's girl is hotter than any other girl in the world, so he placed it there, although he probably knows clearly that the phrase is unnecessary. (Here's a funny test you should take when you read this book. Just cover up the characters' names in every dialogue and try to figure out who's talking what. Trust me, you wouldn't know who is talking what because they all talk in the same tone, language, etc." Another glaring problem with this book is that it has virtually no description. For instance, when Feist is describing the waves of Tsurani soldiers attacking Crydee, he just describes it as "And they still came." What kind of description is that? It could be described vividly like, "a horde of black-armoured men like demons from hell, ripped through the thick fabric of silence that lingered above the battlefield with their cries, and marched up to the walls in tight columns, their boots scathed through the earth like ploughs in the desert...etc." Phrases like this could always use some descriptive juices, and it would put more emphasis on the battle scenes. And the character development is too superficial and unrealistic. For instance, Roland became a man in just two chapters and was able to snag Carline with only a few choice words. Nobody matures that fast, even characters in Hollywood movies. This is just an example of bad writing, as Mittelmark in "How not to write a novel" describes it as "The Underpants Gnomes", where crucial steps are omitted since the author does not know how to get from point A to point B, in this case from a immature Roland to a mature Roland. The last problem with this book is that the worlds Feist's portrays in his book are just plainly undeveloped. They do have potential, yet Feist failed to develop them vividly. For instance, the Tsurani world is just another form of Eastern Asia, and nothing of his creation, therefore is uninteresting. And to cover this up, he creates creatures like the Then, and insect-men that are not appealing so that it appears as though he created the world. I'm not saying one cannot base off of something else. All writers do, even Joyce and Bradbury. However, in the case with Feist, it has gone offhand. Architecture, every clothes they wore (excluding armour), and their customs are all of those from Asia. To be acceptable, the book needs to create a more concise hierarchical system, and a new form of government and kingdoms that is nothing similar to Asia. He is welcomed to use the appearances of Japanese to describe the Tsurani. But Japan's institutions, and its customs should be left untouched, if that is the case. Otherwise, it makes the readers wonder where the credibility of this creation lies. Overall, Feist's failure to display a realistic view of his world to his readers, write a well developed sentences and paragraphs to enrapture the readers' attention, and show clearly the development of his numerous characters that are like stick figures in the book made me rate this book one star out of ten.

Dean from Portsmouth

A great book with a free flowing and exciting narrative. One of the best of Feist's stories alongside the Mistress of the Empire series.

Dan from Tunbridge Wells

This book is superb and I still remember writing a letter to the publisher after I read it (I was 15, so perhaps a little over-keen), suggesting he write sequels. Little did I know what was already in the pipeline.... All - most - of the Midkemia and Kelewan stories have been fun, but some part of me wishes he'd stopped at either the end of Magician or A Darkness At Sethanon. Everything since then has lessened the impact of this book somewhat. It's been a great cash cow, but it would have been good if he'd been able to write about a completely different universe. That said, I'm looking forward to reading Wrath Of A Mad God... albeit a library copy

Ed from Nottingham

If anyone is new to the fantasy genre and doesn't really know what book to start with - this is the one! This is an enjoyable, exciting book which is well written - and is very easy to read. The character development is probably the best in any book I have ever read, and you really feel for the main character and share the experiences.

Duncan from Scotland

I have read many, many fantasy novels and this was one of the first. I find that this is still one of the best. The fact that the story concerns two worlds makes this one of the most interesting, thought-provoking and enjoyable novels. A must read for any fantasy fans but it is a shame that Raymond E Feist never reached these heights again.