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Wiz #2
Wizardry Compiled Lib/E
Wiz Zumwalt is enjoying his new status as the premier programmer of demons, but the Black League is acting up again, and Wiz must recruit other programmers to help him
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1990
14 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Rick Cook
35 books80 followersRick Cook is a journalist, computer hacker, and fantasy author best known for his "Wiz" series of books. Since his hospitalization in 2000 he has not resumed fiction writing.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 14, 2012
It seems Rick has a one-trick pony here. It does the trick very well, but it is just one trick. Interesting premise, but not a well-developed story.
Not so well written as the first of the series. More of the same.
Not so well written as the first of the series. More of the same.
October 15, 2018
Ok, I'm going to come right out and say--I loved Guido, even though he appeared for such a short time. Not to say that the other characters aren't interesting too, but, well, when you meet Guido you'll understand his appeal.
I got the first of these books, simply because long, long ago (back when your choices for programming were COBOL and FORTRAN and you used dot matrix printers and memory was in Bits and Bytes not Terabytes) I was a computer programmer. So having a computer programmer/hacker as the H was right up my alley. More, having him get the (beautiful) girl and defeat the villains--loved, loved, loved that.
The tech is a bit dated, but the story is good and you should enjoy it even if the tech IS a couple (or more) decades out of date.
I got the first of these books, simply because long, long ago (back when your choices for programming were COBOL and FORTRAN and you used dot matrix printers and memory was in Bits and Bytes not Terabytes) I was a computer programmer. So having a computer programmer/hacker as the H was right up my alley. More, having him get the (beautiful) girl and defeat the villains--loved, loved, loved that.
The tech is a bit dated, but the story is good and you should enjoy it even if the tech IS a couple (or more) decades out of date.
April 20, 2010
This is what happens when a computer programmer and avid D&D player tries to write a book. Interesting concept, bland execution, caricature characters and mind-numbingly bad dialogue.
A prime example of failure in the "show, don't tell" department.
A prime example of failure in the "show, don't tell" department.
November 4, 2012
This would have been a great book if I was a teenager, but instead it's a guilty pleasure.
July 17, 2017
This series is actually quite fun, in how it comes at magic from a whole new perspective... and the result is like CS Lewis had a baby with Douglas Coupland. Apart from the coding infra, the magic system is very, very standard... almost satirically banal.... until it gets armtwisted into this new paradigm neither it nor any of its practitioners have any idea what to do with.
This, the second, just extends the analogy a little further, but adds in a couple of interesting Silicon Valley gags, and a couple of nice insights.
Otherwise, it's more slow-paced than the first... but still a good story.
This, the second, just extends the analogy a little further, but adds in a couple of interesting Silicon Valley gags, and a couple of nice insights.
Otherwise, it's more slow-paced than the first... but still a good story.
August 12, 2021
From a second where the Earthling programmers are playing cards in the literal bullpen of the castle:
"We'll make it easy," Mike told her. "Five-card draw."
This time Karl shuffled the cards and dealt the first hand. Then he picked up his cards and looked at them.
The hand was assorted, but it was a dog. Not even a pair and no card higher than a five.
W. T. F. Don't bring Earth poker into your dragons and sorcery programming book unless you know how cards work.
Poorly written, more plot holes than plot, a truly pointless slog.
"We'll make it easy," Mike told her. "Five-card draw."
This time Karl shuffled the cards and dealt the first hand. Then he picked up his cards and looked at them.
The hand was assorted, but it was a dog. Not even a pair and no card higher than a five.
W. T. F. Don't bring Earth poker into your dragons and sorcery programming book unless you know how cards work.
Poorly written, more plot holes than plot, a truly pointless slog.
March 26, 2019
In my opinion this second part of the saga is better than the first one: more complex plot and different main characters. Besides, the serve of humour and the jokes and external references are still present, making the novel really enjoyable.
December 2, 2018
Entertaining - little depth. Some of the software engineering in jokes were sorta funny. Will probably read next installment as well, but first something with a little more meat to it.
January 23, 2019
This book uses my favorite trope: spell making as software development.
February 15, 2024
Fun, silly, light read. Writing style made it easy to pick up and run through fast. But still be entertained.
February 19, 2024
Not bad, but the main character was gone for half the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2014
Wiz Zumwalt thought his problems were over when he took out the City of Night and the Black League using his knowledge of computers to create a wholly different way to use magic. He never imagined how twisted up his happily ever after was going to get. With all those meetings for the Mighty, teaching new students, and dealing with general mayhem, he hasn't got time for his wife, let alone time to dig back into his magical experiment and really make it work. And time is something in short supply as the magical creatures of the world object to the use of Wiz's new power, threatening a new war, and one humanity is not very likely to win. After Wiz is kidnapped by the remnants of the Dark League, it's up to a team of programmers from Silicon Valley to figure out what Wiz was doing and build it correctly before everything crashes.
Unlike the first book, where the hints of computer-wizardry never really got time to develop, this book digs into them full force. From hackers to project review meetings, the book explores how computer culture translates to real culture. And the result is frequently hilarious. I particularly enjoyed the various scenes where the team was trying to figure out Wiz's code, with only the knowledge that Wiz is brilliant, if eccentric, and has a penchant for bad puns.
Wiz gets a lot more development as well. Forced to withhold from any magic, he has to think of non-technical solutions to his problems. He realizes that not every problem needs magic to solve it, and he also faces how his own pride got him into this mess.
Like the first book, the good parts of this plot are surrounded by mediocre writing. It really isn't hard to see the problems in Wiz and Moira's marriage, nor is it ever in doubt that they'll work out. The various traitors are far too easy to spot, all of the hints about Danny never go anywhere, and trying to read the book as a novel instead of a parody of a computer project will result in disappointment.
Also, there were a horrible number of technical errors, particularly in regards to scene breaks. Someone would speak, and the next line would be from a completely random character in some other part of the world. It was usually obvious within two or three lines that the change had occurred, but it was still very jarring. Many of these errors occurred within the first few chapters, as well.
Overall this was still an amusing read, particularly for those who have been in these kinds of projects. But the general weakness of the overall story would make me hesitate to recommend it to many people. I rate this book Neutral.
Unlike the first book, where the hints of computer-wizardry never really got time to develop, this book digs into them full force. From hackers to project review meetings, the book explores how computer culture translates to real culture. And the result is frequently hilarious. I particularly enjoyed the various scenes where the team was trying to figure out Wiz's code, with only the knowledge that Wiz is brilliant, if eccentric, and has a penchant for bad puns.
Wiz gets a lot more development as well. Forced to withhold from any magic, he has to think of non-technical solutions to his problems. He realizes that not every problem needs magic to solve it, and he also faces how his own pride got him into this mess.
Like the first book, the good parts of this plot are surrounded by mediocre writing. It really isn't hard to see the problems in Wiz and Moira's marriage, nor is it ever in doubt that they'll work out. The various traitors are far too easy to spot, all of the hints about Danny never go anywhere, and trying to read the book as a novel instead of a parody of a computer project will result in disappointment.
Also, there were a horrible number of technical errors, particularly in regards to scene breaks. Someone would speak, and the next line would be from a completely random character in some other part of the world. It was usually obvious within two or three lines that the change had occurred, but it was still very jarring. Many of these errors occurred within the first few chapters, as well.
Overall this was still an amusing read, particularly for those who have been in these kinds of projects. But the general weakness of the overall story would make me hesitate to recommend it to many people. I rate this book Neutral.
December 28, 2012
It's sad that Rick Cook has lost his ability to write novels. I enjoy the many many hidden and not so hidden references in his text. Wizardry Compiled is a very clever book where Rick convinces us that Magic can be designed and constructed much like a computer program and he's working on a Magic compiler based on FORTH. But the adventures, characters and affections in this book warm the heart and kept me on the edge of my seat. Rick suffered a sever heart attack and complications that left him unable to write novels any longer. I'm hoping he's still around as I haven't seen anything about him since 20009. He released book six, the last in the Wizardry series into the public domain and it's available online. It is incomplete, but readable and he includes notes to help the reader construct some of the missing pieces.
February 10, 2025
In which our reluctant and clumsy hero W. I. Zumwalt is kidnapped and in peril for most of the book, and a team of other programmers is secretly recruited from our world to try to make something more generally useful out of his initial attempts at programming with magic.
This is the second in a series of five novels, and it’s the one I like best. Our hero still makes mistakes, but he’s becoming gradually more competent. I enjoy the clashes between the cultures of the two worlds, and the new team of programmers introduces a greater variety of characters.
There are two parallel plots going on here: Wiz on his own, trying to survive, and the other programmers trying to adapt to their novel situation. I prefer the latter. Wiz on his own isn’t boring; but, once I’ve read it, I’m not highly motivated to read it again any time soon.
This is the second in a series of five novels, and it’s the one I like best. Our hero still makes mistakes, but he’s becoming gradually more competent. I enjoy the clashes between the cultures of the two worlds, and the new team of programmers introduces a greater variety of characters.
There are two parallel plots going on here: Wiz on his own, trying to survive, and the other programmers trying to adapt to their novel situation. I prefer the latter. Wiz on his own isn’t boring; but, once I’ve read it, I’m not highly motivated to read it again any time soon.
September 9, 2016
Book two in the series. This continues the adventures of Wiz Zumwalt. Wiz was transported from souther california to a world of magic and wizards.
Of course he makes many enemies and they want his magic and his head. In this one Wiz is kidnapped by the remaining members of the Dark League and they have found a way to temporarily neutralize his abilities.
Wiz must use his brain to outwit the bad guys and stay alive. Meanwhile many of his friends have be transported to this new world as well to aid him in making his brand of magic work better.
the is much computer programming humour as well as the usual cut and slash action.
It is a good second book - it continues to develop characters, introduce new ones and foreshadow events to come in the next book.
overall i enjoyed it and will continue on with the series.
Of course he makes many enemies and they want his magic and his head. In this one Wiz is kidnapped by the remaining members of the Dark League and they have found a way to temporarily neutralize his abilities.
Wiz must use his brain to outwit the bad guys and stay alive. Meanwhile many of his friends have be transported to this new world as well to aid him in making his brand of magic work better.
the is much computer programming humour as well as the usual cut and slash action.
It is a good second book - it continues to develop characters, introduce new ones and foreshadow events to come in the next book.
overall i enjoyed it and will continue on with the series.
January 25, 2012
"Now I understand why they invented television, he thought as he splashed cold water on his face and neck. No hangover."
This is an excellent follow-on from the first book. The chapters are short and light, so it's perfect for a quick read, and the introduction of more people from our world adds spice and flavour to a formula which could've gotten old quickly. The technical programming side of things is as deliciously funny as ever, probably more so as things are already established. This isn't a book for epic character development, but there are messages here if you care to read them and the whole world is still beautifully painted.
This is an excellent follow-on from the first book. The chapters are short and light, so it's perfect for a quick read, and the introduction of more people from our world adds spice and flavour to a formula which could've gotten old quickly. The technical programming side of things is as deliciously funny as ever, probably more so as things are already established. This isn't a book for epic character development, but there are messages here if you care to read them and the whole world is still beautifully painted.
July 21, 2014
This book greatly improved over the original, both in the style of the prose and the development of the characters. I would also say that the pacing is better as well. However, it does still have some of the problems of the original, with an unclear focus and lack of narrative flow.
The thing to understand about this book is that its primary draw is the concept, which is well-executed and thought out. This book will appeal to anyone in the niche of the computer nerd. This book further expands upon that idea, in ways I found fascinating.
Overall, read for the interesting premise, but nothing else.
The thing to understand about this book is that its primary draw is the concept, which is well-executed and thought out. This book will appeal to anyone in the niche of the computer nerd. This book further expands upon that idea, in ways I found fascinating.
Overall, read for the interesting premise, but nothing else.
October 5, 2014
Wiz and Moira have some marital problems in this book (Not much fun). Wiz spends most of his time trapped by the dark league and unable to use his magic in this book (Again not fun). But, Moira gets to go to California and recruit some more programmers to help them out (tons of fun).
I did not like this one as much as I liked the 1st one, but still a pretty good read.
I did not like this one as much as I liked the 1st one, but still a pretty good read.
May 10, 2011
Hmmmm, it's been a while since I used a big word. I'll put one here. Seriously, I did like it, but its not a deep book. Pure entertainment only and it's kinda easy to gloss over the defects. Need a fast, geeky read, this isn't too bad.
April 25, 2012
Well, I finally got around to reading the second installment of the Wiz series, and it is just as incredibly fun, interesting and funny as the first one.
Sadly I do not have the other 4 books, but I'm going to work on finding them somewhere. I'm loving this series :)
Sadly I do not have the other 4 books, but I'm going to work on finding them somewhere. I'm loving this series :)
November 29, 2014
Again, not a great story but a lot of nostalgia. The inside jokes are getting a little more obscure (ah, the Dragon Book!). This is also the point in the series where Rick Cook seems to get over his original gimmick and start telling stories in his world.
June 6, 2021
Consequences of when you change a world's power base and try to teach all at the same time. Love this continuation!
July 24, 2009
I wasn't sure whether to read book 2 or not, it may've got a bit more technical (in the programming sense) but I warmed to it much easier, and much prefered it to the first ... on we go!
June 17, 2010
Highly amusing, and very nerdy. You may have to be a programmer who likes scifi/fantasy to enjoy it though.
June 25, 2011
Enjoyable. Not quite as good as the first book, mainly because it was a little crude in some parts. Not raunchy or anything, but just not as clean as the first book.
July 13, 2011
Didn't read the first book. This one was way too boring to finish...
Want to read
November 24, 2015I need to finish this series and get it back to a friend. Its really good old-school scifi with wizards, and unix.
November 13, 2011
Richer and more developed than the predecessor, but with less novelty to the premise. Also freely available.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews