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3.0 out of 5 stars
Could I have been reading a different book?, Oct 16 2002
Once again, I have to wonder what book I was reading. It couldn't possibly be this book, with glowing reviews of how funny it was.
Now, don't get me wrong; this book was funny. In a few places, and at certain moments, sure. But it wasn't great humor, or, to me, even very good humor. When I was 12, I'm sure I would have found this book wonderfully funny. But I think I've passed the point where I can overlook all of the things about this book that irked me. Even in a comedy, I really prefer to have my characters and plots thought out better.
Good idea, the whole story, but there was nothing to this book at all. I know there's such a thing as light humorous fantasy, but this was a little much, even for me.
The characters are bare bones in development, and the plot just seems to go in circles. The humor has it's moments; unfortunately, they're few, and far between.
All in all, I much prefer, say, the Myth series, or Phule's Company.
I'll probably finish the series, just to see how it turns out, but I have to say, I'm not enjoying it all that much.
And, to those who love this book, I'm sorry. I just don't see it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful, Feb 7 2002
Suspended somewhere between the shallow-silly world of Xanth and the wry quirkiness of Discworld is the strange world of Ebenezum and his hapless apprentice Wuntvor. Wuntvor is the apprentice of the famed magician Ebenezum (whose main vice is being somewhat greedy). But when a sinister demon, Guxx Unfufadoo, is conjured up -- the worst kind, a rhyming demon, whose power grows with every rhyme he utters. (Fortunately he's not too good at it) And Ebenezum manages to survive Guxx's attempt to kill him. But he soon discovers that Guxx has made him allergic to magic: whenever he's near magic, he starts sneezing uncontrollably. After self-treatment fails (miserably) Ebenezum concludes that he can only be cured in Vushta, the City of Forbidden Delights. Wuntvor, being a typical teenage male, has no problems at all with this. But their way is fraught with peril -- much of it with silly dialogue, beautiful girls, and more than a few lunatics. Along the way they will encounter a singing-dancing dragon, a used-weapons dealer (who is also a demon), a mildly crazed warrior Hendrek with his club called Headbasher, Death in a game-show setting ("Now, Wuntvor, are you ready to double your lifespan?"), a cult that worships Plaugg the Fairly Magnificent, trial by custard, and demons trying to invade the world from the supernatural Netherhells. As you can tell, this is not a particularly serious book. It reads like a series of loosely interconnected vignettes (because it was originally published that way) but somehow the episodic tendencies never bothered me. Every chapter is started with a hilarious quote from the Teachings of Ebenezum.
The humor ranges from the character oriented (Wuntvor's perpetually hormone-addled state) to the wry and funny (the hideous torment of aspirin commercials) to the low ("Neebekenezer's Syndrome of Universal Flatulence" and the chicken that... well, never mind). The humor generally stems from the characters (Wuntvor's perpetually hormone-addled state) or the silly situations (Ebenezum being chased out by Grandmother) or the delightful dialogue ("What rhymes with silver?" "Orange!") such as Ebenezum critiquing Guxx's terrible rhymes. ("There is no justice in the cosmos. At least no poetic justice.") The characters are hilarious: Ebenezum is the archetypical wizard, with a few secrets and flaws up his voluminous blue sleeve. Wuntvor is the character we see the world through, but he is as quirky as Ebenezum in his own realistic manner: He falls for every pretty girl nearby, looks forward to Vushta, and is a little too gangly and earnest for his own good. Supporting characters (with the exception of Snarks and Hendrek) are generally not developed as well, since they often vanish after a few chapters. This book is okay for most kids and all teens -- a few kisses between Wuntvor and his various love interests is about all that is objectionable. It's fantastic that this book is back in print. A must-read for fans of fantasy and comedy.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Masterpiece, Sheer and Unchallenged!, April 28 2001
First and formost, I would like to express my most dire sorrow that this book and it's fellows were ever allowed to go out of print. I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of the first three books in this series at a used bookstore some time past, and was amazed to discover that I had purchased one of the greatest reads of my entire life! Truly absorbing, these novels weave along the border of the ludicrous, but never betray their sincere nature to crack humour. Each character is at once incredibly distinct and incredibly funny! A MUST-READ for any fan of fiction!
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