Occasionally wise in spite of himself, the self-absorbed wizard with the enormously long name offers clever aphorisms on life to the reader while his reluctantly obedient scribe provides a cynical commentary in chapter end notes. The writing has a nicely convoluted style, perfectly suited to the content, with enjoyably droll humor both in the wizard's egotism and his scribe's objections. Some nicely timed surprises add to the enjoyment as a wizard proves the truth of his statement "Be open to your limitations that you may learn. Look on your failures as successes that you may grow." What I liked best were the suggested approaches to being under attack, reminding me of Monty Python's "What if he comes at me with a pointed stick" sketch. What I liked least was flipping through pages to remember what some of the end-notes meant. Short fun satire, by equal shares odd and humorous, Mulogo's guide is an enjoyable quick read.
Monty Python meets Voldemort
Occasionally wise in spite of himself, the self-absorbed wizard with the enormously long name offers clever aphorisms on life to the reader while his reluctantly obedient scribe provides a cynical commentary in chapter end notes. The writing has a nicely convoluted style, perfectly suited to the content, with enjoyably droll humor both in the wizard's egotism and his scribe's objections. Some nicely timed surprises add to the enjoyment as a wizard proves the truth of his statement "Be open to your limitations that you may learn. Look on your failures as successes that you may grow." What I liked best were the suggested approaches to being under attack, reminding me of Monty Python's "What if he comes at me with a pointed stick" sketch. What I liked least was flipping through pages to remember what some of the end-notes meant. Short fun satire, by equal shares odd and humorous, Mulogo's guide is an enjoyable quick read.
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5 Ravens on Great Minds Think Think Aloud Literary Community! Many thanks, Mallory! I’m kind of pleased that I don’t have to know Wizard Mulogo in real life; after 3,000 plus years of life, the man is a little-well, egotistical. He does, however, in some cases know his stuff (he masquerades as a confectioner in order to avoid adventuring mobs seeking plunder) and his conceit, when backdropped by his scribe’s footnoted humour, is laugh-out-loud tongue-in-cheek droll. So, if you really want to learn to be a wizard, you might do better to try another grimoire; but if you want to chuckle over those long-set-in-stone conventions of the fantasy genre, role-playing games, and other such appurtenances, then grab up Mulogo’s Treatise on Wizardry (with its longer extended title) and laugh right along. Personally, although I’m not planning on taking up wizardry nor a three-millenium life, I am anticipating Author Bailey’s next tome.
![]() 5 stars! Thanks, Oleg! Sage wisdom both for wizards and whatever the rest call themselves
The thoughts of a great (1) wizard, Mulogo, are recorded on these pages by his humble (2) scribe Ludaceous Vaer Mordicanum, Lesser Under Understudy, Apprentice Wizard 3rd Order, etc., ect. While this lowly scribe does, at times, and most inappropriately, attempt to make light of the wiser, more experienced, and obviously superior in every way Mulogo, who is the greatest wizard of his Age (3), the profound truth of the words in this Treatise cannot be denied by a mere common man (4). Some of the passages might prove useful to even the most commonplace and boring of readers that do not posses even an iota of magical prowess. Take, for example, the chapter aptly named "On Combat (and Sometimes Avoiding It.)" It is clear that Mulogo, being a mighty wizard (5), would phrase it so - "avoiding it sometimes." Yet to readers who are keen to pick up on even smallest of clues, the meaning will be perfectly transparent and the chapter will read more as "On Combat, and Avoiding Thereof." A sage advice to us all. The chapter "When Griffins Attack" might not seem as containing information that a regular person could use in everyday life but judging it by the name alone does not do it justice. It also covers manticores, wyverns, spectres, and other common pests. To sum up this great work of wisdom so profound yet so accessible even to the most unwashed of masses, allow me to leave you with these two small yet very important gems of an advice that could be glimpsed, among others, from reading this volume: ✔ A. If you are currently employed as a disposable henchman (6), you might want to reconsider your career priorities. ✔ B. Always check that your boots are in a good working order (7). ➨ Notes and Annotations: ◕ 1. As is plainly apparent from Mulogo's own self-description. ◕ 2. Humble and Ludaceous are not synonymous. ◕ 3. See 1. ◕ 4. Or a woman, child, an apparition, or any other being, be it corporeal, astral, or in between. ◕ 5. See 3. ◕ 6. The politically correct term is "Hench-person". ◕ 7. This is generously assuming that you actually can afford to buy a pair. There is usually more than one answer for any question and this one is no different.
Mulogo's Treatise has two subtitles. The official subtitle, as written by Mulogo, appears on the book's cover and title page. The summarized subtitle, as written by Ludaceous the Scribe and provided as a commentary along with all his other notations, also appears on the cover and cover page as a notation. Ludaceous's subtitle also appears as the official product listing and ISBN registry because, quite frankly, Mulogo was a bit too long-winded in his choice of a subtitle, so his selection would not fit in the alloted space either on Amazon or with ISBN. Mulogo strives for accuracy and assistance without limitation... digital forms, not so much. Mulogo's Treatise is really two stories... a concise tome of wizardly advice and then the satiricial commentary on that advice by Mulogo's scribe. The dual subtitles maintain the consistent back and forth that is the relationship between Mulogo and his scribe, preparing the reader for the banter between the lines ahead. Also, Ludaceous likes to think his is the catchier subtitle to which Mulogo would heartily disagree... if he ever gave the matter any consideration. |
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