The Tale of the Five — (1979-2001) Publisher: Herewiss, Prince of the Brightwood, is the only man in centuries to possess the Power of the Flame, but he cannot use or control it—not even to help his dearest friend, Freelorn, the exiled Prince of Arlen. Herewiss faces a devastating choice. Shall he join Freelorn in his fight to regain his kingdom? Or shall he abandon his friend to seek out the ancient castle where doors are said to lead to other worlds, worlds where, perhaps, he can learn to control the Power that burns within him.
Space Cops — (1991-1992) With Peter Morwood. Publisher: Solar Patrol — Elite champions of justice in a lawless galactic frontier.
The Feline Wizardry Sequence — (1997-1998) Young adult. Diane Duane says these novels “are offshoots of the Young Wizards series, taking place in the same universe, and with the occasional crossover of characters from the older, larger series. In the YW universe, it’s understood that wizardry is sometimes offered to Earth-based species besides humanity if they are either intelligent enough, or just high enough up their local food chain. Cats qualify on both counts: any animal smart enough to routinely get humans to give it food for nothing will plainly have no problem mastering wizardry.” The second novel was published as On Her Majesty’s Wizardly Service in the UK. The third novel, The Big Meow, is available to read here. Publisher: Rhiow appears to be a pampered New York pet cat, but in reality she is a wizard, working alongside human beings and other animals to protect the world from the forces of darkness, which are attacking the city via the underground tunnels.
The third novel, The Big Meow is available to read online here.
Raetian Tales — (2011) Publisher: A goddess in the making… or a demon reborn? In the remote mountain village where she was born, Mariarta dil Alicg lives the untroubled life of a peasant girl… until, soon after a mysterious stranger’s arrival, she starts to hear voices in the wind. The voices whisper strange secrets in Mariarta’s ears — promising her the power to command the stormwind, hinting at an unknown, magical heritage, and prophesying a fate marvelous past all Mariarta’s imaginings. Then a curse falls on Mariarta’s village, shattering the lives of her family and friends. Mariarta must set out across the mountain realm of Raetia in search of a way to break the curse — while also hunting for the truth about the beautiful and terrible being who Mariarta discovers is trying to possess her soul. Mariarta’s search will lead her into hidden domains of sorcery both dreadful and wondrous, and will finally embroil the young woman in the growing rebellion against her land’s cruel Austriac oppressors — but not before Mariarta comes face to face at last with the immortal Lady of the Storms, and challenges her to one final battle for control of her life, her soul, and her destiny…
Stand-alones and collections:
X-Com: UFO Defense — (1995) Publisher: Commander Jonelle Barrett is determined to win. Having moved from Morocco to a new base in Switzerland, she is well-placed to build a fortified base and defend Europe from the marauding aliens who harvest humans as lab animals for breeding stock… and for their dinner tables! Barrett soon finds that her new territory is already riddled with alien invaders. Her handpicked garrison is all she has—until she learns that one of her most trusted people may be a traitor. Her task is twofold: keep the aliens at bay and keep her own sanity in the face of despair. She doesn’t know which will prove more difficult.
Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses — (2002) Publisher: In an alternate-world Los Angeles, prosecutor/psychic Lee Enfield and her partner, Gelert, investigate the murder of an elf. They soon reveal a deadly network of ties among organized crime, multinational corporations, and planetary governments of the Seven Worlds — all working together on the “ethnic cleansing” of elves from the alternate world of Alfheim.
Uptown Local: And Other Interventions — (2011) Publisher: This new anthology collects for the first time some of Diane Duane’s most popular short work — stories that range across time and space, with a visit to Duane’s best-known creation, the seminal “Young Wizards” young adult / urban fantasy series. The anthology contains:
* In The Company of Heroes — A billionaire “living the dream” goes on a desperate quest for the one thing he needs to make his life perfect: a very special comic book…
* The Rizzoli Bag — A sad young man in a Roman cafe is offered a once-in-a-lifetime bargain…
* Out of the Frying Pan — The life of a part-time witch working in a shopping mall is turned upside down in a day…
* The Queen and the Thief and the Dragon – A (fairy) tale of the True West, and a young monarch’s solution to a thorny diplomatic problem…
* Bears — An ancient sorrow (with a modern twist) wanders through the tumult of a pre-Lenten street carnival…
* The Fix — In the dark guts of Rome’s Colosseum, a slave boy with an impossible dream becomes entangled in the machinations of immortals…
* Herself — In the heart of Dublin, something is killing the People of the Hills — and it’s going to take Ireland’s only superhero to stop it…
* Hopper Painting — Desolation and redemption in a midnight diner, as trapped and desperate characters struggle with the tormented soul of the artist who created them…
* The Back Door — Two terrorists meet in Zurich to carry out a very unusual heist with a confederate who’s more dangerous than they imagine…
…And of course, the title story, beloved and sought after for a quarter-century by Young Wizards fans, in print again for the first time since being featured in the “So You Want to Be a Wizard” 20th anniversary hardcover: and along with it, the only other Young Wizards short story, “Theobroma.”
We’re updating our theme, so things may be a little messy or slow until we’re finished. Thank you for being patient with us!
Recent Discussion