Off My Rocker:

Recommendations from a Book Nut

Waiting for Harry Potter
(June 2005)

As every Harry Potter fan knows Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is due out on July 16. For readers who are getting restless waiting, here a few titles about young mages to tide you over.

BOOK OF NIGHT WITH MOON, by Diane Duane

"In Life’s name, and for Life’s sake, I assert that I will employ the Art that is Its gift in Life’s service alone. I will guard growth and ease pain. I will fight to preserve what grows and lives well in its own way."

With these words young Arhu makes the choice and takes the Oath to serve Life and become a wizard – should he survive his Ordeal that is. Normally a potential wizard endures the Ordeal alone but in this case The Powers know that up ‘til now Arhu has had a hard and bitter life and will need help to survive both physically and spiritually. Rhiow’s team of wizards will try to nurture and aid Arhu while he and they fight evil by crossing the River of Fire to hunt the Children of the Serpent and engage in a battle in the ongoing war against evil and entropy.

Did I mention that Arhu and the others are cats?

ALPHABET OF THORN, by Particia McKillip

In this story that flows back and forth in time a young wizard studying at the famous Floating School for Mages brings to the Librarian-in-training, Nepenthe, a book for translating. It’s alphabet of thorns obsesses Nepenthe as from it she translates the story of Axis, an historical emperor and his sorcerer Kane and becomes involved in the destiny of the current young and untried queen Tessera.

COLLEGE OF MAGICS, by Caroline Stevermer

Set in an otherverse in which motorcars must be cranked in order to start and magic works, young ladies of good families are sent to Greenlaw College to acquire social graces and become marriageable. Some also come to learn to use magic. This is difficult when it is expressly forbidden to practice magic on campus even though it appears as part of the curriculum.

Faris Nallaneen, Duchess of Galazon, her best friend/social arbiter Jane Brailsford, and Faris's blood enemy are all expelled from Greenlaw after they are discovered actually using the magic they’re not being taught. If this is a bit confusing to you, think how Faris feels especially since she’s fairly sure that her uncle Brinker, who is acting as her regent and who has sent her to Greenlaw, is hoping that she suffers an "unfortunate accident" that will keep her away from the duchy permanently.

If you like your fantasy light and romantic but with some interesting insights into the human psyche, this one’s for you.

Other tales for your reading pleasure are School For Sorcery, By E. Rose Sabin, Riddle Master Of Hed, By Patricia Mckillip, Magician's Ward, By Patricia C. Wrede, Wizard Of Earthsea, By Ursula Leguin.