Review: A Wizard Abroad.

[starlady]

Yup, another reread, this time of the much-maligned fourth volume in Diane Duane's Young Wizards series, partially in honor of the fact that the ninth, A Wizard of Mars, is due out some time this year.

Well, I say much-maligned because I think there is a general consensus that AWA is the slightest of the eight books in the series, but I have to say that even Duane's slighter books, such as this one, still manage to pack a decent amount of thinky thoughts in. On rereading, I can see that this book is Duane processing her having relocated from New York to Ireland after her marriage, and having been to Ireland, I think she gets a lot of the country right. Compared with the other books in the series, though, the narrative simply lacks punch; it's no where near as evocative or as urgent as any of the others before or since, and I'm not sure I could say why, unless it's the insistence that what's threatening Ireland is the past coming alive again (not that this might not be an issue in Ireland in reality, har har). Replaying old roles just inherently lacks pizazz, for all that Duane gives Irish legends her own spin with customary flair, and the ending is positively anti-climactic. There's interesting hints, though, of what is becoming more of an issue in the later books--Nita's fraught relationship with the Lone Power. Since in this book the Lone One is a hill with a malevolent eyeball that has perhaps one line of dialogue, as opposed to Its other sexy and/or wittier incarnations in the other books, that's a drag too. Worth a read as part of the series, and I'm glad I finally have my matched copy, but no great shakes. Though I will say, I do like how Duane has managed to write a nine-volume series that has stretched from 1983 to 2009 in which only about two years has gone by internally, while having each book be both of its time and yet perennial.

Comments

[spacevlad.livejournal.com]

Jesus, just how much are you reading lately!?

[fiveforsilver]

Hi, I'm from the YW comm :)

I've never understood why people dislike that book so much. While it's not my favorite - but it is hard for anything after the first three to be a favorite for me (and that the other oft-maligned A Wizard Alone) - I've always liked it, and after all the running hell-bent in the first three books I think it's good to have a calmer one.

The pace of it makes a lot of sense to me, too; for one, it's not just one or two beginner wizards rushing around trying to save the world, there's a veritable army of wizards and it takes time to figure out how to gather and use an army and to get them where they need to go. It also says right there in the text, talking about the energetic American branch of wizardry vs the Irish branch, which is more about planning and less about jumping head-first into the fray.

[deutscheami.livejournal.com]

I really like A Wizard Abroad-- it's certainly not perfect, but as something bordering on a Ronan fan-girl, I'm fond of the book for its introduction and initial development of his character.

I also love the Easter Egg of Aunt Anne being a fictional portrait of Anne McCaffrey.

[triad-serpent.livejournal.com]

I personally love A Wizard Abroad, but I've always considered myself to be somewhat multi-cultural, and as the majority of my heritage is Irish, it was particularly enjoyable for me.

...of course, Ronan was a definite plus. Who on this planet can resist the yumminess of a bad-boy with an Irish accent...? ^______^

That said, I tend to view AWAb as a transition book. It is the calm before the storm, so to speak. After the adventure that is HW, Nita needs something of a break before diving into the heartbreak that is AWD. Wizard's Holiday was the same. A deep breath, before plunging again. (I'm also slightly bias towards that one, because I've been through an exchange program of my own!)

...that's my two cents. ^___^