Question about "Magician"

[red_temple]

I have just started reading a very old copy of Magician (circa 1982). After doing some snooping around, it appears that this novel has now been split into two separate books. Is this correct? The book that I am reading doesn't seem to be overly long (less than 600 pages hardcover with decent sized type). So I guess you can say that I am at a loss as to why it was split. Is there new/different material in the split books? Or is it just a scheme to make more money?

On a related note, I've also noticed that there is also an "Author's preferred edition" of Magician: Apprentice. Is this version significantly different than the original?

Comments and opinions will be much appreciated.

 

[The Master™]

Yes, the Magician book (published 1983) was split in 1993/1994 into two, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master... Personally I've never read these two books, so I've no idea if there are any changes to the original story... But, to be honest, I am more than happy to read the original...

I have also NOT read the "Author's Preferred Edition" from 1992... Which Amazon are trying to sell for £76.34!!! If you have a copy, then it could be worth holding onto it!!

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Is there new/different material in the split books? Or is it just a scheme to make more money?

On a related note, I've also noticed that there is also an "Author's preferred edition" of Magician: Apprentice. Is this version significantly different than the original?

Again, like Master, I have only got the full version not the 2 halves. However I think that there's no new material - it's just cut in half so it's not 1 huge 1000 page book!
As for the Author's version. I think I'll defend Fiest a little here. For the 20th Aniversary of Magician, Fiest "re-wrote" Magician using the skills and knowledge about writing he has now to tidy the narrative up. There's no huge changes (to be honest, I can't even remember any small ones!) it's just a 'tidy-up' of the syntax, grammar and such-like. Because he did this, this version is now being heralded as the "Author's preferred version" but Fiest has said that he is more than satisfied with the original work. He merely did this as a re-visit of his earlier successful work.
It's the publishers who have leapt upon this as a cash-cow and decided to milk it for all it's worth.
Fiest has firmly ruled out doing the same for Silverthorn & Sethanon though.

 

[red_temple]

Thanks guys!!! Looks like the version I'm reading is one to stick with. BTW, I'm quite enjoying it.

Any recommendations on where I should go next, after I finish "Magician?" I'v read Feist's "The Wood Boy" short story and enjoyed it as well. Feist has definitely impressed me and I would like to read more of him.

 

[rune]

Thanks guys!!! Looks like the version I'm reading is one to stick with. BTW, I'm quite enjoying it.

Any recommendations on where I should go next, after I finish "Magician?" I'v read Feist's "The Wood Boy" short story and enjoyed it as well. Feist has definitely impressed me and I would like to read more of him.

There is a bio posted for this author which should give you a good idea what to read next for this author

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Thanks guys!!! Looks like the version I'm reading is one to stick with. BTW, I'm quite enjoying it.

Any recommendations on where I should go next, after I finish "Magician?" I'v read Feist's "The Wood Boy" short story and enjoyed it as well. Feist has definitely impressed me and I would like to read more of him.

I'd recommend Silverthorn & Darkness at Sethanon - you're missing a treat if you don't finish the trilogy!

Also, his "Daughter of the Empire" series is very good

 

[stelfox1]

I have to agree with Winter's Sorrow, it is definitely worth reading Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethenon to finish the trilogy.

 

[Azash]

Definitly read silverthorn and sethanon but I thought that Sethanon was a bit of a let down. I wouldn't recommend rage of a demon king or shards of a broken crown becasue they just get incredibly stupid

 

[calvern]

there's only something like an extra chapter or so that expands character info slightly. Its Still the same book. The 1982 version is the original. A while later he added to it. And after that the company who publish him agreed to splitting it in two the way he wanted.
Personally i first read the original and am not too fussed over a chapter or so when there are still so many other books to read.

 

[hoefty]

Thanks guys!!! Looks like the version I'm reading is one to stick with. BTW, I'm quite enjoying it.

Any recommendations on where I should go next, after I finish "Magician?" I'v read Feist's "The Wood Boy" short story and enjoyed it as well. Feist has definitely impressed me and I would like to read more of him.

please read revised addition it maynot add a great deal but when it does your the better for it ie: death of the elf king in the grotto gives more depth to feists elves.

#Ive always believed fairytale by feist is overlooked somewhat compared to his riftwar saga

 

[cuhli]

yikes just realised my copy of "magician" is the authors preferred copy might have to find my other copy and put that one away in a little hidey hole lol

 

[Rahl Windsong]

Thanks guys!!! Looks like the version I'm reading is one to stick with. BTW, I'm quite enjoying it.

Any recommendations on where I should go next, after I finish "Magician?" I'v read Feist's "The Wood Boy" short story and enjoyed it as well. Feist has definitely impressed me and I would like to read more of him.

This series was my introduction to the fantasy genre and I think to this day its still my favorite!

 

[nixie]

Magican was my intro to fantasy and still remains my favourite

 

[NSMike]

Ditto on Rhal and Nixie.

 

[direghost]

I only read Magician recently, after reading lots of other fantasy, and while entertaining I think I had heard too much about it and my expectations were too high. It was good, but felt more like an AD&D campaign typed up and put into book form...but who knows maybe I'll read it again and be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Rahl Windsong]

I read the two halves and in paperback. The both seemed to be, if I remember correctly, more then 500 pages each and certainly not short books though as a hardcover they can fit more words on each page.

This was one of the first fantasy novels I ever read and to this day it holds a very special place in my heart. Wonderful, brilliant page turning excellence! I don't think I got a good nights sleep until it was finished, both the Apprentice and the Master! Then I promptly handed the books over to my brother and I never saw him or the books again for two days!

Also I do believe Feist's world was made into what I consider one of the best computer single player RPG's I have ever played. It was titled "Betrayal at Krondor" and this game captured the mood of Feist's fantastic world like no other book ever put to game.

Rahl

 

[Miranda]

Thanks guys!!! Looks like the version I'm reading is one to stick with. BTW, I'm quite enjoying it.

Any recommendations on where I should go next, after I finish "Magician?" I'v read Feist's "The Wood Boy" short story and enjoyed it as well. Feist has definitely impressed me and I would like to read more of him.

Read Silverthorn then Darkness at Sethanon next.

 

[darkshadow]

Definitly read silverthorn and sethanon but I thought that Sethanon was a bit of a let down. I wouldn't recommend rage of a demon king or shards of a broken crown becasue they just get incredibly stupid

you do know those two books are part of a quadrilogy and if you dont read the other two, they might well be stupid...
Book 1 is Shadow of a dark Queen
Book 2 is Rise of a Merchant prince

Now back onto topic,
There is no difference really, i think i have the authors prefered edition, but i cannot be sure, however mine is still in one book, so i don't care.
PS, do finish the trilogy, you are missing out if you don't.

 

[Lissa]

I read Magician:Apprentice and absolutely love it. It is a bit of a mystery to me though why they split Magician into two books. At the end of a book you tend to expect there to be some sort of resolution even if it is a series. This one there wasn't. I still love it and will continue reading but the only reason i can see why they would have split it is because they thought to get more money out of it making people buy two books instead of one. I have ordered the second one and look forward to reading it. I also have silverthorn and darkness at sethanon coming.

 

[GhostShell]

In reply to the original post of this thread:

The preferred edition is longer and has stuff fiest liked but couldn't get into the original. I don't know why its being peddled for so much at amazon, but hey they're peddling the legend (gemmel) graphic novel for 50 some odd quid.