The Wizard
Publication(s)
- First publication 2004 by Tor.
Analysis
Summary
Complete plot summary -- SPOILERS
Comments
- The story of the giant's glove (p. 38, Tor paperback) is from the legend of Thor and Skymir.
- Able seems to have played the role of the Green Knight who challenged Sir Gawain (pp. 97-98, Tor paperback).
- The poem Svon quotes (p. 210, Tor paperback) is based on Tom o'Bedlam. Here is the original stanza:
With a host of furious fancies
Whereof I am commander,
With a burning spear and a horse of air,
To the wilderness I wander.
By a knight of ghostes and shadowes
I summon'd am to tourney
Ten leagues beyond the wild world's end.
Methinks it is no journey
- "I found myself drawn into a tunnel whose sides were green glass," (p. 265, Tor paperback) could be a reference to Green Glass.
- General comments on place in Wolfe's corpus
- Sources of quotes
- Meanings of names
- References to other works
- Etc.
Interpretations
Unresolved Questions
- Who killed King Gilling?
Crom 20081209
On p, 324 (int the Tor paperback), Garvaon is accused and does not deny it. "What you did I judge to be no crime. Neither the first time nor the second." His motive was probably to save Idnn from a fatal pregnancy. A strong peasant woman like Gerda might bear a giant's offspring and live, but a pampered noble lady like Idnn stood no chance.
DaveTallman 20090101
- Was there another plot to kill King Gilling the night of the first attack? What was the fire-Aelf warning about? Who put out the lights?
DaveTallman 20090102
- Who became king after Arnthor?
DaveTallman 20090109
(I think it was the rejuvenated Bold Berthold, with a good claim as a blood relative of the hero Able, who could have become king himself if he hadn't left. Morcaine and Gaynor hoped to retain power on Able's coat-tails. The fact that Berthold later killed the giant king is a confirmation, since kings can challenge kings.)