The Barnes & Noble Review
After almost four decades and 13 novels (beginning with The Warlock in Spite of Himself, 1969), Christopher Stasheff's Warlock of Gramarye saga is finally coming to a close. In the aptly titled The Warlock's Last Ride, Rod Gallowglass -- the renowned High Warlock of Gramarye -- must endure the death of his beloved wife, Gwen.
Just a year after the joyous triple wedding ceremony of two of Rod and Gwen's sons -- Geoffrey and Gregory -- and their daughter, Cordelia, Gwen is on her deathbed, with only days to live. Gwen's oldest son, Magnus -- along with his battle-mate Alea -- races home after ten years traveling throughout the universe, just in time to see his mother alive one last time. After Gwen's funeral, Rod -- still in shock -- begins working his way through his agonizing grief by riding off on the back of his robotic horse, Fess, in search of Tir Nan Og, the legendary Celtic Land of Eternal Youth. His four grown children and their mates, suddenly left alone to protect the people of Gramarye, must cope with their irreparably altered lives. Most affected is Magnus, who, having his father's job thrust upon him, must come to grips with returning home as well as his emerging relationship with the enigmatic Alea.
Stasheff's Warlock of Gramarye series is historically noteworthy for its audacious usage of both hard science fiction (space and time travel, artificial intelligences, etc.) and fantasy elements (elves, unicorns, dragons, etc.), and fans of this distinctive hybrid series will undoubtedly enjoy the bittersweet finale. Paul Goat Allen