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jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
3.0
This book and its sequels are based on the idea of applying computer programming skills to magic, a rather unlikely notion that I don't think I've come across elsewhere. As fiction, it makes a competent, entertaining, and likeable fantasy novel, and the basic idea is developed quite ingeniously. The characters tend to fall into predictable types, but they're varied and good enough for this kind of novel.
I give it only three stars because, although I like it, I don't seem to reread it frequently. The author was keen to avoid the sort of improbable hero who cuts irresistibly through all problems and opponents; he gives us a much more realistic clumsy hero who's a talented programmer but blunders at everything else he does. This is commendable in principle, but I find it a bit irritating in practice.
You'll best appreciate this book if you have some programming experience. If not, you should be able to follow and enjoy the story anyway, but some of the details will go over your head.
Bear in mind that the book dates from 1989 and the author presumably acquired his own programming experience somewhat earlier, so his programming references are bit dated; although some aspects of programming probably don't change much.
I give it only three stars because, although I like it, I don't seem to reread it frequently. The author was keen to avoid the sort of improbable hero who cuts irresistibly through all problems and opponents; he gives us a much more realistic clumsy hero who's a talented programmer but blunders at everything else he does. This is commendable in principle, but I find it a bit irritating in practice.
You'll best appreciate this book if you have some programming experience. If not, you should be able to follow and enjoy the story anyway, but some of the details will go over your head.
Bear in mind that the book dates from 1989 and the author presumably acquired his own programming experience somewhat earlier, so his programming references are bit dated; although some aspects of programming probably don't change much.
ninj's review against another edition
3.0
Was okay, fairly generic stuff though the programming bits are a saving grace.
kidgoldenarm's review against another edition
3.0
This book is really nerdy, silly, and fun.
It's not written very well. The plotting is clumsy. The way magic works in this world and how it can be literally programmed is so unbelievable that you have to immediately accept it as a convention of the story before you even start reading it. If you don't, there is no point in even picking up this book.
However, if you can accept this silly story convention, and you are a geek that knows about computer programming, you will find this book rather amusing and fun.
Let me be clear, this book is not good. But it's a guilty pleasure for programming nerds.
I'm just saying when the main character brandishes a staff over his head and yells "backslash!" you will do one of three things:
1) laugh yourself silly and keep reading
2) groan and throw this book into a woodchipper
3) scratch your head and wonder what the joke was, and then probably abandon the book about half way through
I obviously went with #1!!!
Especially when he summons spells by saying things like "backslash! search Moira exe!"
LOL
It's not written very well. The plotting is clumsy. The way magic works in this world and how it can be literally programmed is so unbelievable that you have to immediately accept it as a convention of the story before you even start reading it. If you don't, there is no point in even picking up this book.
However, if you can accept this silly story convention, and you are a geek that knows about computer programming, you will find this book rather amusing and fun.
Let me be clear, this book is not good. But it's a guilty pleasure for programming nerds.
I'm just saying when the main character brandishes a staff over his head and yells "backslash!" you will do one of three things:
1) laugh yourself silly and keep reading
2) groan and throw this book into a woodchipper
3) scratch your head and wonder what the joke was, and then probably abandon the book about half way through
I obviously went with #1!!!
Especially when he summons spells by saying things like "backslash! search Moira exe!"
LOL
satyajitc's review against another edition
3.0
Proto-isekai that I read back in 2000, about a software programmer that gets pulled into a world of magic and creates a compiler for spells. I wanted to reread after Rick Cook's passing this month. It has its moments with the programming details, but at the end of the day, is barely entertaining. The kind of D&D-inspired fantasy that had its heyday in the 80s and has thankfully been replaced for the better. Great for the memories, though.
fancybone's review against another edition
3.0
A quick, fun easy read, and a fun idea.
I wish we'd seen more of Wiz learning magic; he seemed to go from nothing to writing a compiler for it, after discovering one spell on accident and talking to Shiara about magic in very general terms. In a fantasy novel, it still felt unrealistic.
Also, of course the relationship was obviously going to happen, and Bal-Simba's actions revealed at the end were pretty guessable, it still vaguely irks me to have such an obvious "of course she'll fall in love with him, she's a damsel in distress!" conclusion.
I wish we'd seen more of Wiz learning magic; he seemed to go from nothing to writing a compiler for it, after discovering one spell on accident and talking to Shiara about magic in very general terms. In a fantasy novel, it still felt unrealistic.
Also, of course the relationship was obviously going to happen, and Bal-Simba's actions revealed at the end were pretty guessable, it still vaguely irks me to have such an obvious "of course she'll fall in love with him, she's a damsel in distress!" conclusion.
webgambit's review against another edition
4.0
Computer programming = Magic. Every nerds dream. Solid book, easy to read.
araleith's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I like how they did the whole programming meets magic thing, and how there was kinda a love story but not really. :D
archerofyail's review
2.0
I remembered liking this book the first time I read it. After reading it a second time it's flaws are very apparent. The whole "programming magic" concept is amazing, and it would be cool to see how it could work, but it's not explained in the slightest, and only shows up in the last 1/4th of the book. I would love if they went into specific details on how exactly he created an interpreter, a text editor, a debugger, etc. with magic, but it's just handwaved away, with no explanations other than "he wrote some stuff down".
It also takes way way too long to get to the central plot point, as most of the book is just world building and Wiz traveling and being (and moping about being) useless. And when he does start using magic programs, there's not a whole lot of cool stuff he does with it.
Also, as has been said in many a review, the ebook version has an atrocious amount of mistakes. So many straight up spelling errors that can be caught with a spell checker are just there, in the published ebook. It's mind-boggling to me how that can even happen. Whoever let this go out the door should be embarrassed.
It also takes way way too long to get to the central plot point, as most of the book is just world building and Wiz traveling and being (and moping about being) useless. And when he does start using magic programs, there's not a whole lot of cool stuff he does with it.
Also, as has been said in many a review, the ebook version has an atrocious amount of mistakes. So many straight up spelling errors that can be caught with a spell checker are just there, in the published ebook. It's mind-boggling to me how that can even happen. Whoever let this go out the door should be embarrassed.
gitarrlillan's review
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thepinknarwhal's review
3.0
Fun story but a bit cringey in the way the author chose to describe women.