A Wizard of Mars

Having read all of the previous books in the series, I eagerly purchased a Wizard of Mars as soon as it came out. I wasn't disappointed. The author obviously had a great deal of fun writing the book, and in the process poked some fun at other writers who have had "Mars on the brain." But overall, what I liked most was the continued development of her two main characters - Kit and Nita - who grow and change most convincingly in this latest addition to the series. Basic plot line starts with Kit's ongoing obsession with Mars, and the discovery that life may really have existed there in the past. Things get interesting when it turns out that the past may not be all that dead on Mars. Kit and Nita get caught up in rapidly accelerating events which reach an absolutely smashing finale. A couple of side plots were lightly touched upon in the book, mainly the continuing story of Kit's sister Carmela who is not-quite-a-wizard, Dairine's training on Wellakh, and the homecoming of Kit's eldest sister, who has finally reconciled herself to his wizardry in a very humorous manner. A great read!

I am a huge fan of Diane Duane and eagerly await each new installment in the Wizards' series. I enjoy watching Nita and Kit mature, and the story lines grow along with them. This book would be confusing if you hadn't read the preceding ones, so I would recommend you start at the beginning of the series and read them in order. I think that this series of books should be up there with the Harry Potter books - terrific writing, intriguing plots, and the battle between good and evil woven into cracking good stories.

Originally Posted at: [...] Magic and Mars. Teenagers and ancient people. Mix them up and you have a great book which holds the imagination throughout. Teenage wizards involved with recent discoveries on Mars now want to take the next step. Kit and Nita are in the forefront of the investigations. Kit finds himself drawn to Mars by a compulsion he is unable to resist. The young wizards work on opening the capsule or "message in a bottle" they have found. Both youngsters and their older mentors feel the capsule could hold the answer to the disappearance of the species who used to live on Mars. Kit's sister Carmela, although not a wizard, has powers of her own and a gateway pass to take her wherever she wants to go in space - usually the Galactic shopping mall. With the help of their elders and the individual wizard manuals they search for the secret Mars has hidden for so long. Nita and Carmela discover an important work of history, but it is Kit who finds the way to unlock the past and bring forth the ancient Martians. The young wizards still do not have their full powers and at times find it difficult to cope with all that is thrown at them. This book is attention grabbing. The reader is never quite sure what is going to happen next. For instance the young wizards meet up with Earth's Planetary Wizard, a young woman who comes complete with parrot and baby. Then there is Mamvish, a senior wizard Species Archivist who has six legs and loves tomatoes. The young wizards are ordinary teenagers with the usual ups and downs associated with that age, but with the added ability of wizardry. Wizards aims are to protect planets and objects and beings on the planet. One of their abilities is to talk to inanimate objects and receive a reply. Kit has talked the remote control into the ability to tune the TV in to alien television. A Wizard of Mars introduced me to a rich, descriptive world of Mars, both now and in the distant past. The story moved quickly from one scene to another, but slowed at just the right time to enable total absorption of what was happening. There is humor, adventure, magic and even a sinister undertone to the reasons behind the disappearance and reappearance of the ancient Martian inhabitants. This is not the first of the Young Wizard Series. I shall certainly look out for the other eight to find out what happens before the events that have unfolded in this, the ninth book.

This book, A Wizard of Mars is one of the best books in the series. It portrays Nita and Kit on a new adventure with new humor and sarcasm that appeals to anyone from ages nine to fourteen. I even made my fifteen year old cousin read it and she loved it. While book three is my favorite, this may lead it to be a close call.

I've been waiting for this one...well, as soon as one is published I start waiting for the next one. But this is (of course) a worthy chapter in the YW series. It's fun and suspenseful and fascinating as usual, full of sly inside jokes (kaboom!) and beauty. The characters continue their development, and no one is forgotten. (*sniffle* Ponch...) And that character development takes a turn that some of us have been waiting for for a lonnnnng time. Plus, there's plenty of stories left to be told! I'm so glad this series exists. From the day I abandoned the "Starman" episode I was watching just because I couldn't wait forty minutes to see how Deep Wizardry turned out, I have been in love with the books. And they're still going.