From the Publisher

Christopher Stasheff is one-of-a-kind, the sort of writer whose books are both delightful and good for you. I've enjoyed Stasheff's writing from the first moment I came across it, and he never disappoints. Even non-fantasy readers tell me how much it means to them--and who am I to argue? Whether you follow the exploits of Matt of Merovence or the more epic exploits of The Star Stone, you'll have a fabulous time!

--Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor

From the Inside Flap

Matt read the forbidden runes and found himself in a world where reciting verses worked magic. He got himself locked in a dungeon, created a fire-breathing dragon, and eventually discovered a beautiful princess he swore to save. Little did he guess how hard that would be....

From Publishers Weekly

The third book in the Wizard of Rhyme series (after The Oathbound Wizard ) again features protagonist Saul Bremener, a hero so selectively thickheaded that there are several places where this often pleasant narrative seems more an excerpt from Kant's Critique of Pure Reason than a novel. Stasheff has a clever concept here: that Saul is neither good nor evil, while others in his fantasy world must be either one or the other. But he fails to make him a credible character; only a severe Calvinist could describe Saul as amoral. Saul is uncommonly dense when the author desires him to be, a trait he's not likely to share with most readers, who will find themselves way ahead of Saul in figuring out what's going on. Although he is surrounded by a crowd of well-wrought supporters--a knight, a bard, a ghost, a fairy and a delightful troll named Gruesome--Saul experiences a series of adventures that are more repetitive than suspenseful. Moreover, Stasheff's pedantry and philosophical hair-splitting rapidly become tedious.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

When Matt Mantrell, hero of The Oathbound Wizard , disappears suddenly, his closest friend, Saul Bremener, is worried. A search of Matt's apartment turns up a rune-covered sheepskin and spiders everywhere. His attention drawn to the manuscript, Saul barely feels the bite that transports him to Allustria, an alternate universe in which poetry is again the key to magic. Possessing a strong literary background and a wide streak of skepticism, Saul instantly becomes a powerful though reluctant wizard. But Saul seems to be the only means of toppling Allustria's reigning power--Queen Suettay--and freeing the people. Since in Allustria power is divided sharply between good and evil, Saul spends as much time debating ethics and his own fear of commitment as he does battling witches, and the whole tale is a shade deeper and more literary than the usual fantasy, albeit with a few lulls in the action. Yet there are plenty of plot twists to keep fans reading, and followers of the series A Wizard in Rhyme, of which this is the third installment, definitely will read it. Candace Smith

From Library Journal

Stasheff (The Secular Wizard, Ballantine, 1995) continues the adventures of the wizard Sir Matthew (Matt Mantrell), a doctoral student transported via an ancient poetic chant to the Middle Ages country of Merovence. Matt moves his parents from their decaying New Jersey neighborhood to Merovence where, with magical rhymes, they help him and his wife, Queen Alisande, fight off invading Moors and genies. Stasheff creates wonderful portraits of educated people, unappreciated at home but invaluable elsewhere. While there are scattered references to acclimate readers new to the series, a full understanding of the plot is best gained from reading the earlier books. For libraries with the series.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

I appreciate the Stasheff approach to family values. I've certainly read a lot of books where the hero is conveniently orphaned, or his folks just didn't understand him, or they can't appreciate the greatness that burns within his manly breast. But Stasheff gives us a hero who's spent a couple of years battling evil and now things are good and he slaps his hand up against his forehead and says, "Gosh, wonder how the folks are doing?" It's refreshing.

--Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor

From the Inside Flap

CAN THE WIZARD OF RHYME SOLVE A ROYAL CRIME?

There's little love lost between the kindly monarchs of Merovence and the scheming sovereigns of Bretanglia. But when the brutish Prince Gaheris--heir apparent to the Bretanglian throne--is murdered during a brawl in a Merovence tavern, any pretense of civility between the two kingdoms flies out the window faster than the mysterious brigand who committed the dastardly deed.

While the outraged king and queen of Bretanglia declare their intention to lay siege to Merovence, royal wizard Matthew Mantrell suspects the slain prince was done in by one of his own "loyal" subjects.

As both sides gird for battle, Matt sets out--with trusty dragon in tow--to catch the killer. But the road to royal justice is rocky indeed, and a powerful sorcerer, a sinister cult of false druids, and a mischievous spirit are just some of the obstacles Matt must conquer--by wit or wizardry--to save his enchanted land from unholy forces of darkness . . .

About the Author

Christopher Stasheff spent his early childhood in Mount Vernon, New York, but spent the rest of his formative years in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has always had difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality and has tried to compromise by teaching college. When teaching proved too real, he gave it up in favor of writing full-time. He tends to pre-script his life but doesn't understand why other people can't get their lines right.

Matt didn't know the scrap of parchment was a trap. So he read the runes - and found himself on a world where reciting poetry verses worked magic. His first effort got him locked in a dungeon by the evil sorcerer Malingo. Trying for light, he brought forth a fire-breathing, drunken dragon, who told him Princess Alisande, rightful ruler of Merovence, was also held in the dungeon.

Naturally, he had to free her, himself, and the dragon, using poetry lifted from Shakespeare. And because she was young and beautiful, he swore to serve as her wizard. Then he learned that his job as wizard was to fix it so the three of them could overcome all the dark magic and armies of Malingo!

The addition to the party of a lust-witch and a priest who became a werewolf now and then didn't seem much help. Matt figured he had got himself into quite a predicament.

For once, he was right!

**

From the Publisher

Christopher Stasheff is one-of-a-kind, the sort of writer whose books are both delightful and good for you. I've enjoyed Stasheff's writing from the first moment I came across it, and he never disappoints. Even non-fantasy readers tell me how much it means to them--and who am I to argue? Whether you follow the exploits of Matt of Merovence or the more epic exploits of The Star Stone, you'll have a fabulous time!

--Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor

From the Inside Flap

Matt read the forbidden runes and found himself in a world where reciting verses worked magic. He got himself locked in a dungeon, created a fire-breathing dragon, and eventually discovered a beautiful princess he swore to save. Little did he guess how hard that would be....