Wizard (Gaea) by John Varley Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.26 You Save: $3.73 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Wizard (Gaea)
Book Review: Increasing sophistication but increasing bias
Summary: 4 Stars
For those of you who liked Titan, Wizard will not disappoint. But for those of you who thought some of Varley's editorializing in Titan was annoying, you will also encounter more of it in Wizard. While Titan tells us that humanity is vicious and animalistic, and abortion is a sensible option for any career-minded woman, Wizard lets us now that smart people are atheists and all the males of any species want to do is rape the females. That said, it's still a great book. Varley introduces a number of new characters, particularly Chris, Valiha, and Robin, who invigorate Gaia's landscape.Book Review: John Varley Wizard
Summary: 1 Stars
The printing quality of the book is atrocious. It's as if it had been scanned in at low-resolution from a bad copy. The text is blurry and noticeably bitmapped, making it less-than-enjoyable to read. The first and third reprints of the series -- Titan and Demon -- don't seem to share this problem.
Book Review: Loved the series: Titan, Wizard, Demon
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a series of books I've read multiple times. They are well-written, nicely plotted and there are many memorable characters in this story who stick with you after you are done reading about them. I'd love to find out more about what happens to Cirocco Jones and her friends after the events described in Demon.Book Review: Rama like.
Summary: 4 Stars
The Rama like adventure continues. The story is a little more bland then Titan, but the characters are wonderful.Book Review: Surpasses Titan
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd give it 4.5 stars if I was able.Whereas Titan was a very good explore the big space object novel as good as or better than Ringworld or Rendezvous with Rama, Wizard improves with some new characters and fleshes out Cirroco and Gaby from Titan.
Gaea, the living entity/world has now established an embassy on Earth and allows immigration/visitors a few generations after Titan. Supplicants in need of something from Gaea such as a disease cured are allowed to come to Gaea and she amuses herself by making them perform "heroic" feats to get the boon they wish.
We are introduced to two characters from Earth, a youngish girl from a space colony of lesbians suffering from a type of epilipsy, and a fellow with what seems to be multiple personality disorder. After reaching Gaea they join up with Cirroco and Gaby and the story really takes off.
All of the sense of wonder of exploration from Titan is still evidenced here, and is even more imaginative. However the characters struggling with their issues as well as the environment is what drives the story and makes you care what happens. Cirroco has become a functional alchoholic, Gaby remains the most normal but bears the scars of loving Cirroco.
Visiting the regional brains of Gaea allows the two visitors from Earth to develop their character while showing us more of the wonders of Gaea. Eventually we learn the visit is to sound out the possibility of a rebellion and the dramatic tension heightens.
Though the book provides full closure to the story, there is a definite hook to Demon which will make you want to move right on.
This is a fast-paced, fun read that is more than worth your while. I cannot believe I have waited this long to experience this bravura performance.