From Publishers Weekly
In this delightful blend of fantasy and space opera, the ninth in Stasheff's (The Warlock in Spite of Himself) Rogue Wizard series, Gar Pike and his colleague, Alea, must reunite a lost planetary colony, apparently consisting of Scots, who no longer possess the parts, fuels and know-how to keep a technological civilization going. While the colony has spread, society has broken down into constantly warring clans equipped with muskets. Add to this mix two intelligent, alien species, each with six limbs. In the more evolved species, the fairies, two of the limbs have become wings. Their ground-dwelling cousins, elves, are equipped with two sets of arms. Fairies, elves and humans exist in an uneasy truce. The humans have learned to avoid the deep forests, while the fairy and elves avoid the farms and the ill-kept roads threatened by outlaws and traveled mainly by peddlers and priests of a religion that has largely fallen into disbelief. On occasion lovers from feuding clans take up residence near the fairy mounds or clearings protected by the aliens' psychic powers and herbalism. The various conflicts and plot twists will keep new readers happily turning the pages, while established fans will probably find of most interest the evolving relationship between Gar and Alea. The author of several other series (Starship Troupers, the Warlock's Heirs, etc.), Stasheff shows once again that he's the master of easy, entertaining fantasy. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gar Pike and Alea are back, with Alea no mere sidekick but a formidable partner in the effort to eliminate tyranny on one planet after another. The latest planet to receive their ministrations is inhabited by basically decent people who have a murderous tradition of feuding from which they can find no escape. The local aliens, who appear to the humans as "fairies" and "elves," play a key role in breaking the deadly cycle of violence and revenge, though not without functioning collectively as yet one more deus ex machina. Detailed depiction of local society, the planet's people's awareness of the price they are paying, the characterization, and the strong Celtic flavor of much of the story all raise the novel well above the level of other recent volumes in Stasheff's Wizard series. That is just as well, because neither Stasheff nor his readers are likely to wind things up before Gar and Alea do something about their growing mutual attraction. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
When Gar Pike—the Rogue Wizard—and his traveling companion Alea land their ship on a planet harboring a lost colony to do some minor repairs to the ship’s computer, they decided to take some time for shore leave, and explore. It’s not long before they meet one of the indigenous life forms of the planet: Fairies.

As Gar and Alea explore more of the world and meet more of the inhabitants, they quickly come to realize that every clan is feuding with their neighboring clans. Though everyone secretly wants peace, nobody will listen to those with the courage to preach it, those who have been sent into exile for wanting everyone to get along.

Posing as traders and healers, Gar and Alea team up with the Fairies, the Wee Folk, the Druid priests, and two particularly courageous exiles to reintroduce the abandoned Druidic religious tradition to the people and, hopefully, reintroduce peace to all the clans.

Under the nom de guerre of Gar Pike, renegade psychic wizard Magnus D’Armand travels the stars fighting injustice and oppression, like his father, Rod Gallowglass, the Warlock in Spite of Himself. But unlike his famous father, Magnus refuses to play by the rules, sowing the seeds of freedom and revolution throughout the galaxy.

When Gar and Alea land their ship on a planet for computer system maintenance, they aren’t expecting to run into Fairies, Wee Folk, Druid priests, and feuding clans transplanted from Scotland and then forgotten. Can they, along with two courageous exiles and the psychic powers of the Fairies, and Wee Folk, bring peace and order to this world?



About the Author
In addition to his Rogue Wizard novels, Christopher Stasheff is the author of the popular Warlock series, beginning with the bestselling The Warlock in Spite of Himself. He lives in Champaign, Illinois, with his wife and four children.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"When Gar Pike - the Rogue Wizard - and his traveling companion, Alea, land their ship on a planet harboring a lost colony to do some minor repairs to the ship's computer, they decide to take some time for shore leave and explore. It's not long before they meet one of the indigenous life forms: Fairies." "As Gar and Alea explore more of the planet and meet more of the inhabitants, they quickly come to realize that every clan is feuding with the neighboring clans. Though everyone secretly wants peace, nobody will listen to those with the courage to preach it, those who have been sent into exile for wanting everyone to get along." "Posing as traders and healers, Gar and Alea team up with the Fairies, the Wee Folk, the Druid priests, and two particularly courageous exiles to reintroduce the abandoned Druidic religious tradition to the people and, hopefully, bring peace to all the clans."--BOOK JACKET.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA

In this ninth volume of Stasheff's RogueWizard series, Gar Pike and Alea land on yet another planet that needs their help. A lost colony of Terrans, originally from Scotland, has divided into warring clans perpetually locked in bloody conflict. The indigenous inhabitants of the planet are the Wee Folk, elf and fairylike, who despise and fear the fighting. With the help of the Wee Folk, two clan outcasts, and Evanescent, a powerful, benign alien who travels undetected on their space ship, Gar and Alea are able to frighten the clans into observing a cease fire. At the same time, they reintroduce the neglected religion of the Druids, emphasizing the gods' desire for peace and justice. Stasheff writes to a formula, and students who have enjoyed his previous books will not be disappointed with this one. It includes plenty of action, a light touch, and a convenient, if simplistic, plot resolution. About the only uncertainty is whether Alea and Gar will finally admit to their growing attraction for each other. Wait for the next in the series. VOYA CODES:3Q 3P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects;Will appeal with pushing;Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12;Adult and Young Adult). 2001, Tor, 208p, $22.95. Ages 15 to Adult. Reviewer:Rayna Patton—VOYA, December 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 5)

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