A Wizard of Mars

by Diane Duane Narrated by Christina Moore

Overview

In the hotly anticipated ninth installment of the Young Wizards series, Kit Rodriguez and Nita Callahan become part of an elite team investigating the mysterious “message in a bottle,” which holds the first clues to the secrets of the long-lost inhabitants of Mars. But not even wizardry can help them cope with the strange events that unfold when the “bottle” is uncorked and a life form from another era emerges.

Though the Martians seem friendly, they have a plan that could change the shape of more than one world. As the shadow of interplanetary war stretches over both worlds, Kit and Nita must fight to master the strange and ancient synergy binding them to Mars and its last inhabitants. If they don't succeed, the history that left Mars lifeless will repeat itself on Earth.

“One of [the] finest current writers of speculative fiction pays loving homage to its Golden Age in this ninth title in the Young Wizards series.”-Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

One of finest current writers of speculative fiction pays loving homage to its Golden Age in this ninth title in the Young Wizards series. Kit, Nita and their companions are recuperating from the Pullulus event by concentrating on their individual magic projects (Wizards at War, 2007). For Kit that means Mars, the planet that has fascinated him all his life. When surveying wizards awaken an ancient spell, Kit is sucked into a legendary Martian past, threatening both his own identity and the entire System; Nita, meanwhile, faces an agonizing conflict between destiny, duty and heart's desire. Duane's worldbuilding gleams with crystalline precision, a-glitter with lapidary characterization. Mundane dilemmas integrate smoothly with world-shaking crises, shot through with sparkling humor, and space-opera adventures resolve upon the subtle ethical interplay between right choices for wrong reasons, wrong choices for right reasons and all the shades of gray in between. With its large cast and elaborate back story, probably a poor entry point to the series, but for its many fans, an eminently satisfying addition. Best of all, unresolved subplots promise number ten is on the way. (Fantasy. YA)

From the Publisher

"One of finest current writers of speculative fiction pays loving homage to its Golden Age in this ninth title in the Young Wizards series...Duane's worldbuilding gleams with crystalline precision, a-glitter with lapidary characterization...Best of all, unresolved subplots promise number ten is on the way. --Kirkus

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170672561
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	01/21/2010
Series:	Young Wizards , #9
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Read an Excerpt

Another War of the Worlds?

"You are the wizard’s wizard, man! You have turned Mars into New Jersey!"

Even in the general alarm of the moment, Kit had to snicker. Ronan stood there looking as cool as usual, but something in his eyes betrayed the fact that he wasn’t sure he was being complimented. "Could have been worse," Ronan said under his breath as he looked around. "I could have done it the other way round."

"This is the place where that old radio version of War of the Worlds happened, isn’t it?" Kit said. "The one they did on Halloween way back whenever it was, and they pretended it was happening in New Jersey somewhere, instead of England."

"And it’s not even the right New Jersey!" Darryl said. "It’s New Jersey now! Look over there—" He pointed. Off to their right, across the street, was a big handsome blue building with a long, peaked roof. On the opposite side of the road in front of it stood a pole with road signs that said ROUTE 629 and TO NJ TURNPIKE. Farther down the pole were posted a laser-printed ad for an Internet café and a faded picture of somebody’s lost dog.

Darryl was looking at the big blue building. "Bet you that was the mill once," Darryl said. "Look, I was right! There’s the old millstones. They’ve got ’em

sunk into the ground so cars won’t ruin their lawn when they turn the corner. There’s where the water came out past the mill. But no Martians!" He started laughing again.

"I wouldn’t be too sure about that," Ronan said, very quietly.

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