The Riftwar Saga is, in a sense, a double feature.

It commences as a classic high fantasy set in a medieval world populated by elves, dwarves, and humans. Subsequently, a second layer is appended in the form of a portal fantasy, with an invasion from a parallel world.

The high fantasy segment requires no further elucidation as it holds no surprises for an adept fantasy reader. The conception of the invaders was unanticipated for me; however, it must be admitted that it was not especially imaginative.

Regrettably, I did not enjoy the introduction to this series nearly as much as numerous other readers.

I frequently perceived the writing style as clumsy, particularly when it pertained to romantic themes, and the allusions to Tolkien were far more pronounced than I deem justifiable.

What particularly perturbed me was the lack of fluidity. The chapters are structured as self-contained episodes, and the subsequent chapter does not directly continue the story. For instance, one chapter at the outset depicts how the boys in the castle are chosen by their future masters. Our protagonist, Pug, is selected by the mage and follows him into his tower. End of chapter. The next chapter commences a year later with the meager indication that Pug is still encountering great difficulty in his apprenticeship. These absent transitions truly irked me.

I found the book legible but not necessarily recommendable. If someone were to solicit my recommendation for truly classic fantasy, I would be more inclined to suggest Eddings, Williams, or Sanderson.

I shall not pursue the series any further.

This is an extremely poor book, the worst one I've read among the great series of the 80s. It's a poorly disguised D&D adventure full of clichés. Elves and dwarves are in the same positions as always. Everything seems to conspire to make Pug, the titular Mage, succeed all the time. The succession of events is as follows: Pug is a kitchen helper who suddenly becomes a magic apprentice, saves the princess and becomes a squire (a noble position). When he is captured by the Tsuranis and becomes a slave, yet he still receives a position of respect and learns advanced forms of magic. When he returns to Midkemia as a great mage, the Duke declares him an adopted son and gives him an island. The characters are shallow and are either stupid or intelligent according to the convenience of the characteristic for the plot.

The only interesting thing in the book is the Tsuranis, but surprise, all their interesting characteristics were plagiarized from Empire of The Petal Throne, the RPG book used in Feist's campaign. The lack of metal, the lack of horses, the Cho'ja, the ten minor gods and ten major gods.

Almost nothing is salvaged then.

The first time I read this, I was completely enthralled, and I gave it a solid five stars without hesitation.

Back in those days, my fantasy repertoire was seriously lacking, and I instantly fell in love with all that is Midkemia. It was like a whole new world opened up before my eyes, filled with magic and adventure.

The second time around, I still loved it, but I found myself having to drop the rating to a four. It's not that I loved it any less. I'm not entirely sure what exactly happened.

It's just that now, having more experience with fantasy and knowing what else is out there, it was hard to give it a solid five-star "It was Amazing!" rating. But it's definitely four and a half!

The good aspects of this book are numerous. I absolutely love the characters. Pug, Thomas, and Fantus the Firedrake are all so well-developed and engaging.

Amos Trask and Anita, although they have only short interludes, also leave a lasting impression. Feist did an excellent job of making me feel connected to the characters and invested in their stories.

I also love the world that Feist has created. Although it may be traditional, with elves, goblins, dwarves, and trolls, it is very well done.

The details and the atmosphere he has managed to营造 make all the difference. And the plot? Although it does start out seeming like a traditional quest type fantasy novel, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way that set it apart from others of its type.

The bad? I'm not even sure I can name any. I'm drawing a blank. I pretty much loved it through and through.

Overall, I would rate this book four and a half stars. I'm interested to see if my other ratings stay at five stars or drop to four as well as I continue on with my reread of the rest of the series.

I suspect that my perspective may continue to change as I gain more reading experience, but for now, this book holds a special place in my heart.

Had I not read too much Martin, Bakker, Hobb, Carey and Erikson, I would have given this a five.

These authors have set a high standard in the world of literature, and their works have left a profound impact on me. Their unique writing styles, complex characters, and engaging storylines have spoiled me for other books.

However, this particular work still has its merits. It has some interesting ideas and moments that kept me engaged. The author shows promise and has the potential to grow and improve.

Despite not meeting the extremely high bar set by my favorite authors, it is still a decent read. I would recommend it to others who are looking for something new and different. Maybe they will have a different perspective and appreciate it more than I did.

This is the story of how Raymond Feist had a truly outstanding Dungeon Master.

I recently revisited this book for the first time since sixth grade. I was completely enamored with it back then, and to my surprise, I still hold some affection for it now.

Like many young geeks, Raymond had a passion for playing Dungeons & Dragons. His Dungeon Master, who ran the game, was a devotee of two of the most prominent world builders of his era: JRR Tolkien, who had crafted the now-familiar fantasy world of Middle Earth filled with elves and dwarves and celebrating Western myth, and the lesser-known MAR Barker, who created an alien, more science-fiction world with an Oriental flavor called Tekumel. The DM took these two settings, made some loose adjustments (Middle Earth became Midkemia, Tekumel became Tsurani), and set an apparently highly beloved game in those worlds with the intriguing premise - "What if these two worlds came into contact?" Young Mr. Feist, excited by the mind-boggling concepts introduced by the game and seemingly largely unaware that much of it was second-hand rather than originating from the mind of his formidable DM, and having thoroughly enjoyed the collectively produced story, decided to novelize the game and its major themes in his first novel, "Magician".

The 1st edition AD&D tropes are so prominent in the background of this novel that you can almost hear the echo and rattle of the dice every time you turn the page. What isn't derivative of Tolkien or Barker is derivative of Gygax. Virtually every aspect of the story can be traced back to some page or other of the D&D rules, so if you're familiar with them, you know the Hit Dice of just about everything on the page. Most readers will easily pick up on the Tolkien influence, and indeed much of the first half of the book has repeated echoes of The Fellowship of the Ring. Only the very well-read will notice the even greater influence of MAR Barker.

So, if it's all so derivative, what saves this work from the scorn that Terry Brook's "The Sword of Shannara" rightfully received, especially considering the Gifted and Talented High School level prose and character depth? And why don't we remember MAR Barker better than his second-hand plagiarist?

Well, first of all, Feist is a better storyteller than MAR Barker, and indeed better than just about anyone who has ever attempted to turn the transcript and ideas of a D&D campaign into a novel - certainly better than anyone who had tried up to that point, including the formidable Gary Gygax. Just as I can see through the text to the game that was played, I can also observe the alchemical transformation that Feist has wrought on the characters and story of the game to make it suitable for his Bildungsroman. Feist adds a touch of foreshadowing and a hint of metaphor to the canvas of his game, transforming his protagonists into something more than just playing pieces accumulating experience points.

The other crucial factor is that because we receive the source material through a distant hand, having been revised and transformed first by Gygax, then by Feist's skilled DM from Gygax, Tolkien, and Barker, and finally by Feist himself, the ultimate result is something almost entirely new. This is not the same as reading The Lord of the Rings, being amazed, and then retelling the same story with the serial numbers changed, as seen in "The Sword of Shannara". By the time we, the readers, encounter the story, the settings may be plagiarized, but the story itself is a new creation. I've long believed that creativity lies in what you do to fill in the gaps when you make a mistake, forget something, or can't see something clearly. What's fascinating about the Riftwar Saga is that, despite the quality of the source material, all the really excellent elements in this story are in those invented spaces.

However, for all of that, this story is saved and elevated by one thing and one thing only - the character of Tomas Ashen-Shugar. Without Tomas, the rest of the story is as shallow as a thimble and as forgettable and derivative as countless Tolkien-inspired epics that emerged in the decades following the publication of "The Lord of the Rings". But the story of Tomas, who is both mortal and immortal, living simultaneously in two times, where cause and effect become jumbled so that the future and the past are one and the same, ends up creating one of the coolest and most interesting characters in all of fantasy. In the overused trope of time travel, Tomas's story is by far one of the most effective uses of time because it never pretends to be linear and thus never creates the paradoxes involved in escaping the linear flow of time while acting as if cause and effect can proceed as normal.

Sadly, though, all that redeeming value is mostly found in the three subsequent volumes. This first volume mainly consists of exposition and introduction, is dreadfully slow, and forces the reader to rely on the wonderful foreshadowing of two boys with fantasies of manhood, one saying, "I will be the greatest warrior that ever lived," and the other saying, "I'll be the greatest magician that ever lived," and then we get the beginnings of the story of how they become precisely that.

**Executive Summary**: Traditional fantasy, while pleasurable for me, doesn't measure up to the fantasy being published nowadays.

**Full Review**

Last month, I paid a visit to Borderlands. I wanted to pick up something to read on my flight home. Indeed, I have a plethora of unread ebooks, but I still have a preference for paper books, especially when on a plane. Also, I have a bit of a problem when it comes to buying books.

I had been meaning to check out Raymond Feist for some time, so this seemed like an opportune moment to finally do so. I read approximately half of the book during my journey home and was enjoying it. However, upon arriving home, I was never overly eager to pick it back up. I often went several days between reading sessions, even though most of the time I read at least an hour each day.

To be fair to the book, I'm currently in a bit of a reading slump (at least when it comes to text). But a truly excellent book would have been more likely to pull me out of that slump.

The setting and characters all have a rather standard feel for older fantasy. The story also contains many common tropes, including a sort of chosen one narrative. Or perhaps two chosen one stories. You also have elves and dwarves, warriors and wizards. The enemy origins and their culture, however, are somewhat different, and this is the part that interests me the most.

This book is definitely the first in a series. Things don't really conclude neatly so much as simply stop. I'm definitely interested in continuing with the series at some point. But given how many other things I have to read, it's unlikely to be anytime soon.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but not as much as many other newer fantasy series that I've been reading.

Ah, at last I finished it! Strangely enough, I have mixed feelings about this one. It was actually a really engaging book. The characters were likable, and the plot was nice, although it wasn't without its flaws. The writing was good, and the story was interesting. However, it was soooo long! I felt as if I was wading through the pages, oppressed by the amount of the remaining pages. It was a bit of a struggle to get through. But despite that, I still have some interest in the series. I'll probably read the next one, but much later. I need to gather some courage to face it again. I'm curious to see where the story will go, but I'm also a bit intimidated by the length. It's a dilemma, really.

This is SOLID, truly an outstanding and highly enjoyable classic fantasy.

It features elves, dwarves, dragons, and magicians. The entire work is exceptionally well-crafted and deeply realistic in terms of character dynamics, politics, magic systems, and cultures.

And let's not forget that the whole series spans more than a hundred years and at least two parallel universes!

Disclaimer: This may "deserve" a rating more like 4.5 stars, but I have a profound and emotional connection to this book. Indeed, it was the very book that introduced me to the world of fantasy.

I first read this when I was 12. After finishing Harry Potter (the first three books, as Azkaban had been published just two weeks before), I politely asked my dad for more books.

My wonderful and caring dad then went to a bookstore (though he didn't take me, and I noticed even back then). We were in rural Perigord, where the countryside is breathtaking, the ducks are plump, and you have to drive 10km to buy your daily baguette. Somehow, he found a bookstore and asked a kind bookseller (who shall remain unknown forever and be blessed as an angel) for something similar. The bookseller gave him the first two books of the Riftwar Saga. He brought them home, and I devoured them in about 1.5 days (including the night in between).

Fast forward 16 years later: My dad has stopped complaining that I "read too much," but he looks heartbroken by the sheer volume of sci-fi and fantasy in my house. Plus, I'm currently writing a sci-fi/fantasy novel.

Sorry, dad.

I was initially inclined to give this book 4 stars. However, as I reached the 60 - 70% mark, my enthusiasm started to wane.

The last part of the book turned out to be rather dull. The main character departs from the story around this point, and shortly after, the second main character also exits. From then on, it simply feels like filler material until the very end.

Nonetheless, I did like many of the characters. Unlike some reviewers, I wasn't overly bothered by the so-called "fantasy cliche" aspects of the book.

At present, I find myself on the fence about this series. I suppose I will have to read the next book to determine whether I want to continue or not.

It's a bit of a dilemma, as there were elements I enjoyed, but the latter part of this book left me somewhat disappointed. Only time will tell if the next installment can reignite my interest.

What a wonderful treat it is to experience old-fashioned story-telling! There is no political correctness here, nor is there any need to force minority opinions down the readers' throats.

I suppose in today's world, the beginning of this tale about two medieval worlds clashing through a magical portal might be classified as "Young Adult" or "Coming of Age." However, back in 1982, such designations were not in fashion. Slavery? Absolutely. When we read history, we can see that early conquerors did convert captives into slavery. Were there battles between those of different beliefs? History is filled with such documentation. "Riftwar" has no anchors or chains upon it because of modern-day appeasement.

The young people in the stories learn the necessary values to progress into adulthood. They are apprenticed to masters. In one case, to a magician. In another, to a soldier or sword master. The intrigues of the royal court thrive, and then the world is plunged into chaos as "aliens" (foreigners) open a rift in the world to seek what they lack.

The races learn to fight together: dwarves, elves, and humans. Subtly, we discover that the enemy also has traits of honor, order, and reason. "The Riftwars" is a wonderful tale of human nature. I have already started reading book two. It's really fun to read.

Okay, so here's the deal with books written about campaigns that the authors participated in. It's like the vintages with the labels scratched off.

Dungeons & Dragons is truly great. You can share some enjoyable stories, engage in cool activities, and have an absolute blast while playing.

However, it always features the same races, the same statistics, and combat is anticipated 4 - 6 times per in-game day, which means there will be a significant number of battles.

This isn't necessarily bad, nor does it imply that it can't tell a good story. But it often feels like the same things are happening over and over again. This book was no different. I could almost envision the dice rolls and the ways the Dungeon Master was manipulating the scenarios to make it both epic and yet not insurmountable for low-level characters. I could probably even predict what spells they would obtain next. So, I wouldn't approach this book expecting something entirely unique.

From a technical perspective, this one was better written than some others I've read, and I might even continue reading it at some point. Therefore, I'm giving it 3 stars.

CONTENT WARNING:

After finishing the first book of the Riftwar Saga, Magician, I understood why everyone told me I should have read it earlier. Raymond Feist's writing is amazing, with beautiful descriptions of Midkemia, the world of the book, and well-written characters.

The story begins by describing the life of an orphan boy, Pug, who lives in the castle of Crydee as a servant. After a series of events, he becomes the apprentice of the magician Kulgan. Along with his friend Tomas, they cause chaos in the castle with their adventures as children. The training of the young magician goes through many stages, but his difficulty in applying the spells discourages him. On a horseback riding expedition, accompanying the daughter of Duke Borric, Carline, he encounters two trolls and manages to kill them in a way that even his own teacher cannot explain! Pug earns the trust of the Duke, as well as the title of Squire along with estates and a great fortune as a reward for saving the princess!

During his new duties, Pug and his friend Tomas encounter a people who do not look like any in their own world. This encounter will be the trigger for the events to begin. Up to this point, the story is simple, perhaps I would say of a young adult book. From this point on, however, the plot becomes stormy. This new people who threaten Midkemia come from another world through portals (hence the Riftwar Saga). The heroes of the book, Pug and Tomas, will accompany Duke Borric, the son of Arutha, the magician Kulgan and others and will begin a journey to warn the entire kingdom of the arrival of the extraterrestrials. Intrigues and plots clone the entire kingdom and in the midst of all the difficulties, the war breaks out.

On this journey, we get to know a large part of the kingdom, we will meet elves, dwarves but also dragons! The two friends will separate and each will live a great adventure.

The author does an amazing job with the world he has created and takes us on a journey without getting us tired at all. The title of the book is a bit misleading as you expect to see the story of Pug unfold on all the pages, but the reality is a bit different. We have large parts with Tomas but also with battles that the apprentice magician is not involved in. This is not a negative thing of course because the scenes that are described are enjoyable. Of course, we have a magic system in the book which I would describe as a soft magic system, since we do not have clear indications of how it works nor restrictions that govern it.

In conclusion, we have a well-written first book of the series that is easy and quick to read as it draws you in to see the course of the conflict and the result of it. It has intense action and the building of the characters is done patiently with the aim of having a complete picture of the protagonists in the future. It is worth adding to the library of all fans of fantastic literature and especially those who are lovers of epic fantasy! Happy reading!