Paperback, 304 pages
Published Aug. 5, 2002 by Voyager.
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.
A strange and rather wonderful book. A man in Seattle is living on the margins as part of the requirements to maintain his wizard powers. He must defend Seattle from a magical attack. Or he's a crazy, homeless guy whose family doesn't want him back.[return][return]I got caught up in each story, and uncomfortable with the portrayal of homelessness.
It takes a while to really get going, but when it does it's good. I especially loved the strange, complex character of Cassie, and the tenuous rules and networks built around the wizard community.
Felt more like a novella than a novel, and I really wish it weren't a stand-alone book. Too many good ideas to cut it off so short, and leave so much unresolved.
I also disagree with the reading the one spoiler reviewer had: there is definitely a real fantasy world here, it's just a very hard one to accept, and so takes a lot of strength on the part of the wizards to do so.
