A Wizard in Rhyme

Updated on Oct 01, 2024

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Author Christopher Stasheff

Books Her Majesty's Wizard, The Oathbound Wizard, The Witch Doctor, The Secular Wizard, My Son - the Wizard

A Wizard in Rhyme is a series of fantasy novels written by Christopher Stasheff. The series follows the character of Matthew Mantrell, a Ph.D. student, who is transported to a magical world where poetry is used to cast spells. There his knowledge of poetry, gained through his literature studies, establishes him as a powerful wizard and positions him as "lord wizard of the realm". The series consists of eight novels, and is said to have hints of L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt.

A Wizard in Rhyme takes place in an alternate history of medieval Europe, featuring several geographical differences (most notably a land-bridge connecting Britain to the mainland) and two major supernatural differences: the existence of magic, which can be influenced by the speaking of rhymed verse; and the established and real presence of the Judeo-Christian God and Devil, leading to a prevalence of Christian thought and morality.

Geography

The following are domains of the realms covered in the novel, with the approximate geographical counterparts in the real world.

Merovence: (France) When introduced in Book 1, it was ruled by recent usurper Astaulf, who shared power with his sorcerer-henchman Malingo. Merovence was, at the time, the last bastion of morality and Christianity within Europe, as its rightful ruler, the uncrowned Princess Alisande, was still devoted to good. Its patron saint, Saint Moncaire, took action to save it from destruction: he sent a magic spell, encrypted in the language of Merovence, out into the other universes; the first person to interpret it would be drawn into Merovence and help in the crusade against evil. That man was Matthew Mantrell. Its name is probably derived from the Merovingian line or from Merovech, and its capital is called Bordestang.

Ibile: (Spain/Portugal) When introduced in Book 2, it was ruled by sorcerer-king Gordogrosso, and then by Prince Rinaldo after The Gross One's defeat. The name Ibile seems to have been derived from Iberia, and its capital is called Orlequedrille.

Allustria: (Germany/Austria) When introduced in Book 3, it was ruled by the witch-queen Suettay, and an army of scribes in an extensive bureaucratic network. The name Allustria is either derived from Allemagne (French for Germany) combined with Austria or Austrasia.

Latruria: (Italy) When introduced in Book 4, it was ruled an evil sorcerer-king who was succeeded by his grandson, Boncorro. The name Latruria seems to have been derived from Latium combined with Etruria. Its capital is Venarra.

Bretanglia: (Britain) When introduced in Book 6, it was ruled by an ambitious king who was succeeded by Prince John then King Brion. The name Bretanglia seems to have been derived from Britain and Anglia, the medieval Latin name for England. Its capital is Dunlinom (a near-anagram of Londinium).

Erin: (Ireland) also known as the 'Isle of Doctors and Saints' in many of the previous books. Not much is known about Erin, other than druids live there. The name Erin is another name for Ireland

Note: There are some inconsistencies with the actual name of Britain and Ireland in the series. In book 4, Matthew mentions that the countries England, Scotland and Ireland are respectfully named Angland, Scotia and Erie, yet in Book 6 Britain is called "Bretanglia," and Ireland, "Erin." However, this may be Stasheff making reference to England and Scotland when referring to Angland and Scotia respectively, while Bretanglia refers to Great Britain as a whole.

Novel series

Her Majesty's Wizard (1986)
The Oathbound Wizard (1993)
The Witch Doctor (1994)
The Secular Wizard (1995)
My Son, the Wizard (1997)
The Haunted Wizard (1999)
The Crusading Wizard (2000)
The Feline Wizard (2000)

References

A Wizard in Rhyme Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Geography

Novel series

References