From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Harry Potter fans will enjoy this third book in Diane Duane's Wizardry series (Delacorte, pap. 1997) which includes So You Want to Be a Wizard (Harcourt, pap. 1996), Deep Wizardry (Harcourt, pap. 1996), and A Wizard Abroad (Harcourt, 1997). Narrator Christina Moore does a fine job, changing voice and pitch to match the characters in the book. Young wizards Nita and her friend, Kit, must try to save Nita's younger sister, Darine, from a dark power called the Lone One, when she begins experimenting with her new found wizard skills. The sixth tape is an interesting interview with the author. With the current interest in Harry Potter, this is another series in the same genre that will appeal to youngsters.
Kay Stith, Manhattan USD 383, KS
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Duane is tops in the high adventure business. . . . This rollicking yarn will delight readers."--Publishers Weekly
"High Wizardry is . . . high entertainment."--Locus
About the Author
Diane Duane, a descendant of New Yorks first mayor, worked as a psychiatric nurse in New York before beginning her writing career. A New York Times bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy, Duane boasts a large resume of written work. In addition to her numerous novels and popular series Young Wizards, Duane has written short stories, comics, screenplays and computer games, all to great recognition. She lives in Ireland with her husband.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Passwords
Nita went white with shock at the sight of Dairine. Dairine didn't care. "You're going to tell me everything," she said, and ran down the beach to distract her parents just long enough for Nita and Kit-also just changed back from a whale-to get back into their bathing suits. And after the noisy, angry scene with their parents that followed, after the house was quiet, Dairine went to Nita's room, where Kit was waiting, too, and let them tell her the whole story.
Wizard's manuals, oaths, wizardry, spells, quests, terrible dangers beyond the world, great powers that moved unseen and unsuspected beneath the surface of everyday existence and every now and then broke surface-Dairine was ecstatic. It was all there, everything she had longed for. And if they could have it, she could have it too. . . .
Dairine saw their faces fall and felt the soft laughter of the world starting behind her back again. You couldn't have this magic unless you were offered it by the Powers that controlled it. Yes, sometimes it ran in families, but there was no guarantee that it would ever pass to you. . . .
At that point Dairine began to shut their words out. She promised to keep their secret for the time being and to cover for them the best she could. But inside she was all one great frustrated cry of rage: Why them-why them and not me! Days later, when the cry ebbed, the frustration gave way to blunt, stubborn determination. I'll have it. I will.
Copyright © 1990 by Diane Duane
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to the following address:
Permissions Department, Harcourt, Inc.,
6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887
HIGH WIZARDRY is the third book in a fantasy series that involves our world, space, and alternate universes. The plots tend to get very technical with scientific jargon--in this case, computer technology--which makes them far easier to listen to than to read. This story focuses on Darine, a 10-year-old new to wizardry and the necessary spells, but a genius with--and without--computers. Christina Moore's narration imbues Darine with intelligence, impatience, and arrogance. Lacking the emotional maturity and wisdom of the older children and adults, she is a child who holds herself apart from others. Darine's sister Nita and her friend Kit, along with the parents and others they meet, are easily distinguished by tone and accent. Moore's vocal flexibility truly shines through as she gives a distinct voice and personality to each of the computer robots Darine creates--within the clipped, modulated speech pattern typical of all mechanical voices. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
