From Publishers Weekly
The prolific Stasheff's third novel of 1995 (after A Wizard in Mind and A Wizard in Bedlam) finds Magnus Gallowglass, hero of those first two volumes in the Rogue Wizard series, returning to use his psi-based magic and his political savvy in order to help establish peace and impartial government on the planet Maltroit. Aiding Magnus is Dirk Dulaine, his second-in-command in this war against wars. Dirk and Gar (as Gallowglass is familiarly called) are joined by Coll, an escaped serf facing death for protecting his sister from a lusty knight. Much of the narrative features robust action, as the major characters are impressed into the king's army, hide out with a persecuted troupe of actors, are jailed and engage in various fights. For all the derring-do, however, each event furthers Gar's plans for a sustainable revolution. With some humor and a love interest salted into the mix, this proves to be another light and lively fantasy from an accomplished hand.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Stasheff is clearly bloody, bold, and resolute in his determination to follow all of Rod Gallowglass' offspring to their destinies. The third volume of the interstellar travels of eldest son Magnus lands him on a planet that has reverted to the worst excesses of medieval feudalism. With the aid of a shrewd peasant, Magnus teaches the serfs that they can influence the nobles, the nobles that they can influence the king, and the king that he has to listen to something other than his own ego. The problem of keeping seven-foot, telepathic Magnus from becoming a deus ex machina isn't fully under control, but the yarn is full of good things for Stasheff fans, especially one lovely sequence in which Magnus is disguised as a traveling player.
Roland Green
