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
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