Wizard of the Pigeons

Wizard of the Pigeons

First edition cover
Author Megan Lindholm
Cover artist Robert Gould
Country United States
Language English
Genre Urban fantasy
Publisher Ace Books
Publication date
28 January 1986
Pages 214
ISBN 0-441-89467-4
OCLC 14054439

Wizard of the Pigeons is a 1985 urban fantasy novel set in Seattle by Megan Lindholm, issued as a paperback original by Ace Books and reprinted in hardcover by Hypatia Press in 1994. Several UK editions have also been published. The book deals delicately with many serious topics such as homelessness, poverty, and mental illness, asking more questions than it answers.

The novel is often classified as modern Arthurian fantasy, with the title character identified with Merlin Ambrosius.[1] This book is also categorized as Urban Fantasy.[2] Roger Zelazny called it "terrific".

Plot

The plot focuses on the homeless character 'Wizard' and his battle with a malignant force from his forgotten past.[3] In order to survive, Wizard must rely on his powerful gift of 'Knowing'. This allows him to know the truth of things, to receive fortunes and to reveal to people the answers to their troubles. Aiding him in his battle for survival is the enigmatic 'Cassie' and several other people from the streets.

Reception

Orson Scott Card praised the novel as "miraculously good" (although he faulted the ending); he described it as "so real, so original, you won't regret buying it and reading it."[4]

References

  1. Ann F. Howey & Stephen Ray Reimer, A Bibliography of Modern Arthurian Fantasy, Boydell & Brewer Ltd., 2006, p.235
  2. Walton, Jo. "Homeless and Magical: Megan Lindholm's Wizard of the Pigeons". Tor.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  3. Carroll, Siobhan (Fall 2012). "Imagined Nation: place and national identity in Neil Gaiman's American Gods". Extrapolation. 53 (3): 307–326. doi:10.3828/extr.2012.17.
  4. "The Light Fantastic", If, September 1986, p.26


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