So for this Friday, I thought I’d reign it in a bit and talk about some lighter fare. Today’s review will be of Scott Meyer’s “Off to Be the Wizard.” Every time I re-read this quirky science fiction novel, it never fails to put me in a good mood.
***The Non-Spoiler part of this review***
What I love about this book:
It takes an existential concept, i.e., that reality is an illusion—like the matrix—and further points out that all of human existence is equally fictional, we’re not trapped in a simulation, but products of that simulation. All of which would be normally weighty and frightening and turns the concept on its head, and makes it funny. That idea is the very soul of comedy, taking an idea that is tragic and creating laughter.
Finding the computer file that controls all of reality inevitably leads to Martin trying to use it to make himself rich. This, of course, doesn’t go exactly as planned because you can’t just suddenly create millions of dollars in your checking account without someone, namely someone in law enforcement, from noticing. What I love about all of this is his back up plan is to use the file to time travel back in time to the dark ages in England and set himself up as a wizard. I’d do that—that would be me too.
Without spoiling too much—I love that the governing principles of the wizards in “Off to Be the Wizard” are as follows: be cool, don’t be a dick, let’s eat all the junk food we want because there are no consequences so long as you observe the first two principles. After all, we’re freaking wizards!
What I don’t love about this book:
Nerdy characters who are pathologically bad with women, to an unbelievable scale, is my chief dislike with this book. Martin himself is only moderately bad with women. Still, the other wizards with the possible exceptions of Phillip and Jimmy, are stock character terrible with them—and that’s a bit lazy characterization.
The urgency of the pacing of this novel becomes sedentary once Martin starts his training to become a wizard. Mainly this part of the story is to immerse you in the world and give you the time to meet the other wizards, and this is all fine, assuming you like those things, but if you don’t, then the middle of the book is going to be a slog. I was unbothered by it, because other than the women thing above, I found myself liking most of the characters in this novel, so mentally “hanging” out with them for a while was good enough for me. But this means the whole book has that sandwich quality I’ve talked about before—all the vital action bits happen at the beginning and end of the novel.
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Author's Website: https://www.scottmeyer.rocks/
***The Spoiler part of this review***
***Ye be warned to turn back now***