Magician: Master

See above, didn’t realize I put everything in the headline. Still loved the book, ordering again now

The book was not in the condition stated. It is falling apart.

Have read before, love the series, was disappointed that the cover art was not what was depicted as I was trying to create a matching set.

It is a joy to revisit this book in my growing library of epic fantasy. Pug follows the typical orphan-becomes-hero archetype, and in doing so becomes the most powerful sorcerer in the known universe. If you are new to epic fantasy or to Raymond Feist, this is the place to start. You will be drawn in by the cast of characters at Castle Crydee which lies on the edge of the frontier of the Kingdom of Isles. It is a world that is primitive and largely unknown. Magic here is uncommon and subtle at first, but emerges as a threat to the kingdom.

Raymond E. Feist created a masterpiece. As soon as I read the first book in this epic I knew I was in trouble. I was so enchanted by Magician: Master that I read it all in less than one day. I couldn't put it down. I totally recommend this book if you love Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. It reads faster than Lord of the Rings and keeps you on the edge of your seat. AWESOME!!!!!

I just read this book for the fifth time. The second book in the Riftwar Saga could be the ending of the series but why would anyone not wish to continue to read about all the wonderful characters created by Raymond Feist. The story picks up with Pug as a slave in Kelewan who is soon discovered to have the ability to become a powerful magician. Thomas continues to grow into the powers of the Valheru. Prince Arutha's struggle against the Tsuranuanni encompasses a lot of this novel as well.In deference to the negative reviews I must say that this is not a highly thought provoking book. However, it is a very fast paced enjoyable read. I have read hundreds of fantasy novels and this series is one that I have enjoyed more than most (Top Ten). I read novels in a series as some others read chapters, so it is a little hard to just review this book. I highly recommend any fantasy lover to read this series. There are also many novels that come after this series that are just as good (i.e. Serpentwar Saga).One last note, don't listen to any of these reviews (including mine). If you enjoy fantasy, read it yourself and form your own opinion.

Magician: Master is the absolute most outstanding book I have ever read, second only to Magician: Apprentice, the prequel to Magician: Master. If I had my way, I would rate this book a six out of five stars. In Magician: Apprentice, the orphan boy known as Pug trains under the master magician, Kulgan. As fate would have it, he also rescues the Duke of Crydee's Princess, Carline, and obtains the rank of Squire. With his newly found position, Pug quickly makes a name for himself, though he still tends to play with his lifelong friend, Tomas. When an alien vessel crash lands on the jagged cliffs known as Sailor's Grief, Pug and Tomas investigate the wreckage. After several tense meetings and councils, the aliens, known as the Tsurani, eventually appear in Midkemia and commence their massive invasion. On the way to the Kingdom capital of Rillanon, Tomas is separated from the others, is found by a dragon,and obtains a mystical armor. At the end of the first chapter of the war, which is known as the Riftwar, Pug is captured. On the Tsurani homeworld of Kelewan Pug becomes a Great One, one who is a master magician of the Greater Path, and soon becomes the most powerful magician on both worlds. As the war drags, Tomas falls in love with the elven Queen, Aglaranna. Tomas soon merges with the Valheru who once donned the mystical armor, and they become as one. Like a flying beacon he flies through the Tsurani ranks, bestowing death upon all who are so unfortunate to have been caught in his path. The story comes to a surprising conclusion at the end, and Feist creates his characters with such depth and detail that it is easy to imagine the characters in the world that he creates through his books. Book II of the Riftwar four book set (it's really three, but the original Magician was separated into Apprentice and Master), Magician: Master is definitely one of the best books ever written . . . if you like fantasy.

I bought a copy of the original Magician (with no embellishments) for $2 on a bargain table more than 15 years ago, simply for the magnificent representation of a jewelled dragon on the cover (I've never seen that edition again). It sat on the shelf, unread for months. After all, I was far to logical and practical to want to get involved in reading fantasy (even though I could appreciate an elegantly designed dragon). But all impulse book buyers suffer those times of "all these books and nothing to read", so I eventually picked it up. I must admit for the first few pages I wondered if I could really be bothered, but before I realised, I was 30+ pages beyond the 20 page barrier (... if I can't get involved within 20 pages, it gets tossed...) and realised I'd been transported - I was there, in Crydee. Then began the marathon reading sessions, including about several Midkemia and Kelewan sequels. Within a short time, I progressed from fantasy to SF fantasy, straight on to "hard core" sci-fi. Me, who had previously never seen a purpose to speculative fiction! Suddenly I found I could open my mind to absorb all these wonderful, imagined realms. Even though I can take my sci-fi straight now, I always remember I came to it via fantasy, and to a very large degree, I have Feist to thank for that.I lent the Magician out several times, but it didn't return from the last lending. So, when I was fortunate enough to attend a book signing by Raymond E Feist in Melbourne many years ago, along with the book he was flogging, I purchased another copy, personally dedicated to me. It has never been lent, and never will be. For me, it is one of "those" books; one that helped shape my reading habits. I don't know if the book signing was badly publicised or Melbourne only contained about 10 Feist fans, but after our books were signed, along with the other 9 or so who turned up, I was treated to a wonderful little Q & A time with this storyteller. Those we admire often take on larger-than-life proportions, and the generousity this quite ordinary bear of a man showed his (disappointingly) small group of fans revealed a man of impressive stature.My reading tastes changed and I didn't read any Feist for years, until a recent binge when I read from the Prince's Buccaneer (which I'd owned, unread, for about six years!) up to date (from the library) in about a month. (I was a bit sick of the endless highly detailed battle scenes, but that was a small criticism - after all, most of it was the SerpentWAR series!) I slipped back into Midkemia (and the other worlds - it doesn't stop at Kelwan!) like I'd never been away and picked up with all my old friends and met new; grieving at Arutha's death and falling in love with Calis along the way.After browsing the reviews posted here, it seems people either love the Magician or hate it. Like a lot of other books, you can easily pick it full of holes if you have particular areas of