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Magician [Hardcover]

Raymond E Feist
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (328 customer reviews)

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Hardcover, 1 Jan 2003 --  
Paperback £3.86  
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 681 pages
  • Publisher: Barnes & Noble; [Rev. ed.] edition (1 Jan 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0760741778
  • ISBN-13: 978-0760741771
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15 x 6.1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (328 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,130,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars It captures your imagination 11 Jun 1999
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This was my first Feist book, and what an excellent read it turned out to be. The characters were introduced at timely intervals, so they didn't overlap. The plot of the book was never lost , but in the middle you cover such a lot of ground it becomes hard to follow. It all comes together in the end with quite a bang. The characters develop realistically, and the twists and turns they go through in the cause of fate, adds a real feeling of realism. There is one charachter who is instrumental in the final chapters, and you suddenly realise that you had knowledge of him from the very first part of the book. I've read a lot of fantasy books in my time, but I cannot recall a time when I have had been wrong in guessing what would happen next. This had me on the edge of my seat more times than I can remember. If someone asked my to recommend a good book for a long journey this would be it, If you are a fantasy fan and you haven't read it already it is a must. If you have never read a fantasy book before, I couldn't think of a better one to start with.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant book 19 Nov 2010
Format:Paperback
This is a brilliant book as are most of the books that came after that are part of the series. I got this book many years ago when it first came out and now as a 35 yr old, i still think its one of the best I ever read. I had just finished Lord of the Rings and was delighted to get stuck into this one. I am a bookworm so I'd like to think I know a good book when I read it and I loved this, it was a page turner and I couldn't wait to get stuck into the other books in the series, highly highly recommended, would have made a great film (although it might have been a crap film, probably hard to get the whole story in). Loved it.
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59 of 65 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The benchmark for fantasy 6 Oct 2005
By Fantasy Lore TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fantasy stories tend to rely on stock characters, as well as some pretty standard clichés. Characters such as the naïve but uniquely gifted young boy and his powerful yet mysterious instructor, and clichés such as the seemingly undefeatable foe and journeys across great distances that function as the backdrop to passages into adulthood. Depending on your point of view these can either be negative or positive aspects of the genre. But considering this is my absolute favourite genre of all- obviously these are characters and clichés I just can't get enough of, even if I must occasionally trudge through those plainly unimaginative and painfully formulaic examples.

'Magician' however, whilst containing all these characters and clichés and more common themes besides, is an exceptionally original and absolutely gripping novel. At first Pug is the uninspired hero, who aspires to the service of the Duke of Crydee and in companionship with his boyhood friend Thomas begins his unrelenting pursuit of that goal. But the twists and turns in Pug's story are unlike those in most fantasy stories- his ascendance into adulthood and the form his service to his country takes are completely different from that of his fellow apprentices and indeed his fellow heroes in fantasy.

Concepts of space and time, as well as the mastery of magic are areas terrifically brought to life by Feist and it's in the education of Pug in these arts that this book really comes into its own and where all competition is completely blown away. Clearly Feist has done a lot of research into this area, particularly in regards to some unequivocally harsh teaching techniques that seem to take their inspiration from Eastern philosophies, as do the 'undefeatable' foes and their far-off land.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Simon
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have never before been compelled to write a review, but feel the splendour of this magnificent novel deserves further praise.

I am somewhat new to the fantasy genre, having only read Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy about ten years ago, and Iain Banks' Transition in recent months.

In all truth, I had never heard anything of Feist's books, and it was only by chance that I saw Magician on offer on Amazon. I read the description and thought it sounded a promising concept. It only took a few pages before I was completely hooked - transported to a faraway world I immediately wanted to know all about. We are taken on an incredible journey through the author's wildest imagination.

Feist's ability to transport his readers to his world is matched only by his ability to create believable, three-dimensional characters. The usual fantasy characters are all here, plus a whole host of new friends and foes to get to grips with.

I won't harp on and on as I don't want to give away any of the plot. What I will say is this - If you enjoy epic fantasy, or even just appreciate great writing, then this is the book for you.

I've just finished this book in the last half hour and I intend to start the second in the trilogy this evening. Magician is one of the finest books I have ever had the pleasure to read, and has rekindled my own desire to write fiction. In a word, a masterpiece.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars fun with elves and dwarves 4 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback
Where to go after Tolkien and Lord of the Rings? Here's not a bad place to start.

Epic fantast is overloaded with authors these days, each offering what could be called 'map' fiction. You know the type of book- big map in the front intended to show the epic scope and scale, and depth of the world you're about to enter.

Magician goes one better than most- it has two maps, and two fantasy worlds across which the story unfolds. A neat trick, and one handled quite well in this first book of the riftwar saga (although it stands well enough on its own).

In this, the revised edition, you get 600-odd pages of story with nearly ten years of events (compared to LotR's 1500 pages covering about a year). Loads of things happen, and mostly at a break-neck pace- no bad thing, and for those wanting a bit more action with elves and dwarves and dragons than you get in Tolkien, you get plenty of that.

This is very much an American book though. The characters we begin with are humble enough, but instead of Frodo-like epic heroism resulting in permanent scarring and having to leave the world they've saved, here Pug and Thomas go from young boys to well powerful beings rather rapidly. Nothing wrong with that per se, and here it's very good. In later books , it's a problem for Feist in where he can take the characters (just like in Dungeons and Dragons games from childhoos- if you cheat on your stats nad make yourself super powerful, it's hard to generate any real dramatic tension to what happens). So it's the American dream in fantasy form- anyone can end up the world's most powerful magician (against the melancholic realism of duty in LotR).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Classical Fantasy entertainment
I enjoyed this book. And as it was written in the 70's I think it is unfair to compare it to books that have come since that use similar plots and twists. Read more
Published 11 hours ago by Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars Cannot recommend it enough
This book is absolutely brilliant. I don't see why it's not that well known, it should be a household name. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Harry Copping
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant read
stupendous read again, hooked from the first page to the last, i can't wait for the next installment. Highly recommended
Published 10 days ago by Mr. T. J. riach
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Awesome series which I have read over and over again. Still find bits I must have read before and thought wow that's new
Published 13 days ago by Andy Ray
5.0 out of 5 stars Magician
Best book ever have read hardback four times and have different versions including signed copy. The rest of the series is great just finished Magician's End.
Published 17 days ago by Pob Peyton
5.0 out of 5 stars magic!
I love this book. its the book that introduced me to fantasy 25 years ago and opened up many new worlds to me. I now have 4 different editions of the same book. Read more
Published 28 days ago by A M Thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars Magician Raymond E Feist
It's the first book off Raymond E Feist I've read. Enjoyed ever page. Already brought the next 2. Can't wait to start next part of the journey.
Published 1 month ago by Lorraine Choudhary
4.0 out of 5 stars A sweeping fantasy
I was really gripped by this novel. Didn't want to put it down, just wanted to keep reading. I find sometimes with fantasy you begin to wonder if the author hasn't stretched... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gill Rowland
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good read
I gave 5 stars because I really enjoyed this book,it was used but in very good condition.I will be buying the rest of the rift war books very soon.
Published 1 month ago by Lynda Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars magician
This is a good entertaining story, He keeps you spellbound and you have to keep saying just one more chapter all the time .
Published 1 month ago by poppet
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