Warlock Spite Himself

I picked up this book in the early 80's and since then, has always held a special place in my heart. I really enjoyed Rod's self-depracating humor and the book's ability to blend fantasy and sci-fi into a cohesive whole. In later novels in this series, I felt Rod was far too angry at times, since it was his rage that helped fuel his magic, but in the first novel, we don't really see that. What we do see is a warm tale, an author's deft touch, and a book that deserves to be in print for over 35 years.

What a treat this book was. I picked it up in a used bookstore and can't wait to delve into the rest of Stasheff's books. The hero Rod Gallowglass is one of the most enjoyable heroes I have read in a long time. His adventures on a world where elves and magic exist are one of a kind. When the book started I thought I misread the back of the book and was reading a science fiction story but the fantasy element soon came into play and they both combined to make a truly wonderful story. I recommend this book highly.

There are only a few sci-fi books that I have carried around over the years (Foundation series, City, Dune) and - while certainly not of the literary merit of those, this has been an entertaining read many times over. You have to get past some of the cutesy acronyms in the first part of the book - and some of the characters are a little 2-dimensional. However, this is an enjoyable ride and excellent for what it is. The character of Gwen, in particular, is such a treat.I read a number of the other Warlock series, but none had the whimsy and magic of this first book. Too bad, because we need more like this. It somewhat reminds me of Heinlein in his "Glory Days" and "Starman Jones" period. Written as juvenile fiction, but fun for adult kids-at-heart.I'm going to have to buy a new copy - mine is over 30 years old and falling apart from being read so much.

The author writes a wonderful whimsical story. There is a lot of catholicism in this book, but I didn't take it as an attempt to convert people (as some readers apparently did). I believe the author was using his experiences and knowledge as a tool to weave a tapestry of fantasy for the reader (and no, I'm not Catholic). I loved reading this story. This entire series is a pleasure to read.

"The Warlock In Spite of Himself" is one of the best books I've ever read. Combining elements of fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction has never seemed so easy, or been so entertaining. The book follows the adventures of Rod Gallowglass (nee D'Armand) and his struggle to free the planet of Gramarye (a lost world of colonists from Terra) from the clutches of a dictator. What follows has some of the best elements of fantasy swashbuckling and futuristic hocus-pocus of any book in existence. What clinches the book for me, though, is the inclusion of my favorite Fantasy/SF topic: psychic powers! That's right! Gramarye (whose society has reverted to a medieval setting) has it's own set of "witches" and "warlocks," each with psychic powers of varying degrees. How Rod gains their trust and friendship, and eventualy enlists their help in his crusade to bring Democracy to the land, makes for a most interesting part of the story. This is the first book of a rather lengthy series. I urge everyone to read it, but I offer this note of warning: if you read "The Warlock In Spite of Himself," you'll want to read *all* of the "Warlock" series... and you won't regret a second of it