The Sorcerers Guide to Power (The Book of Wit and Wisdom)

The World consists of city states with an asian inspiration, each looking to gain political influence. This is where much of the novel lies. Not in fighting, or magic, though both are present, but human interaction. Part of that is presented in the growth of characters, which is presented in an entirely unique way. Each book in the series is spaced fifteen years apart, presenting a change in the characters that can only be achieved by time. The central character is Itani, a laborer who is much more than he pretends to be.

The Long Price Quartet follows him from the age of 12 through to 80, and from a young boy to an emperor. Ambitious in its timeframe, the series is much more than the sum of its parts, and far more nuanced than can be described in a short summary. This Hugo and Nebula nominee goes outside the realm of traditional fantasy in a blend of steampunk and dark magic. Maia is a little more exotic, the subject of an arranged marriage between human and elf. He's considered an abomination, but unfortunate circumstances lead to the young prince reluctantly taking the throne.

What follows is a book of politics, intrigue, and friendship. Maia isn't the usual perfect, arrogant protagonist. He's kind and extremely likable. As he's thrust into having more responsibilities, he has to learn many things. Social skills, dancing, ruling, and, importantly, his own worth. There's no huge scale battles here, no needless action sequences, and that's what makes it special. Addison manages to weave an entertaining story of political intrigue and mystery through her characters alone.

There's little romance, little magic. It's entirely about the personal journey. Mark Lawrence's debut series is one that seems to divide readers, and a lot of the criticism comes from its non-traditional take. The story of thirteen-year-old Jorg Ancrath doesn't follow those tropes. Jorg is a sociopath. He's not a good person, he's a killer and a marauder. He rapes, burns, and tortures, reminiscing in cold detail. This book doesn't ask for empathy like many in the sub-genre.

Instead, it keeps readers hooked with a grim fascination and great prose. The protagonist's transformation is less of a transformation of morals, and more in power. The series details Jorgs journey from boy to king, and the things he has to do along the way. Despite this, Lawrence creates moments that make you question everything. A kind gesture here, a moment of vulnerability there. Just enough to keep you caring, before the horror show begins once more.

The fallout will make you wonder if Jorg is the victim of his circumstances, or if he was just born a broken boy. A Song of Ice and Fire. Most of the world has heard of Game of Thrones by now, but R. Martin's book series is still overlooked in favor of the more accessible TV show. For fans of coming of age, that could be a huge mistake. There are many ways A Song of Ice and Fire differs from its counterpart, and one of those is the depth and growth of younger characters.

Martin's tale is a slow and weaving one, taking the perspective of many characters in the third person. With this variety comes multiple coming of age stories. In just one family there's growth in swordsmanship, magical ability, and inner strength. Then there's the story of Daenerys Targaryen, from girl to Khaleesi, and from Khaleesi to the mother of dragons.

However, Martin's novels are set apart by a realistic portrayal of not just "good" characters, but bad ones too. Joffrey Baratheon is one of the most hated names in fantasy, yet he still manages to present a story of growth not in morals, but in power, insecurity, and the lengths he's willing to go to.

The contrast is tied together with the incredible blend of politics, death, and betrayal the series is known for. This incredible series has inspired countless children and a good number of adults too. In a time when coming of age stories were incredibly popular, L'Engle's books stood above the rest in their refusal to conform. A Wrinkle In Time tells the story of Meg Murry and her brother Charles as they travel through time and space to rescue their father. It's a simple plot at its core, but with tons of hidden depth. Meg is not the subject of typical 60s girl books.

She's awkward, wears braces, and has bad eyesight. In some ways, she parallels to J. Throughout the course of the series, she comes to realize that intelligence and family are more important than her appearance. It's a growth in unconformity, self-confidence, and the ability to ask the right questions. L'Engle's work shines just as much in secondary characters such as Calvin, the love interest. Though he lacks Meg's mathematical intelligence, his journey is no less poignant. It's an evolution in thinking, self-acceptance, and love. These themes combine with an overall conflict of good versus evil, creating a christian story that's as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

Tears of a Heart marks the tale of a young man, Aeden, who unwittingly shapes the world. The writing is beautiful, layered, and timely. Chase Blackwood weaves an intricate tale that hints at so much more. And that may be its greatest challenge. Tears of a Heart, the first book in the series, was beautifully written, and interesting. It shows us an amazing world filled with detail and depth, but for a portion of it, just a touch slow. The writing, such beautiful writing, overshadows this, as does the ending.

Tower of the Arkein , the next book in the series, is where the story truly begins to unfold, and where Chase Blackwood shines as an author.

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It is fast paced, full of action, adventure, and love. A very strong entry in the fantasy genre, and if the next book is equally as good, expect it to make quite a splash. You can buy on Amazon now. This trilogy offers another refreshing take on traditional coming of age stories. Often in fantasy, magic is seen as a way out for the protagonist. It lets them move away from their humble beginnings to a magic college where everything is better. In McKillip's world, that's not quite true. The wizards are all dead, and the only way to uncover their secrets is through riddles.

Morgon is not a peasant boy, he's the ruler of a farming island called Hed. He's not happy with adventure, or the dangerous journey through magic. Unfortunately, he was born with three stars on his head, marking him for prophecy. However, this prophecy is not complete, and Morgon spends much of the novel reluctantly trying to figure out who he is and what he's supposed to be. The result is a hero with a real sense of vulnerability, both internally and in his ability to defend himself. His journey is a slow one, stretching out across the whole trilogy, tied together with elegant prose, unique magic and incredible attention to detail.

Ostensibly a Science Fiction read, but when you dig down deep, it's a book that can easily cross over into the fantasy sphere. This series gets a lot of comparisons, not least with Divergent and The Hunger Games. The truth, however, is that though Red Rising presents a similar, dystopian setting, the parallels do it a disservice.

At its core, the series is closer to high and epic fantasy. It has a slow pace, a nuanced world, and steady character development. Brown tells the story of sixteen-year-old Darrow, a miner on Mars who is at the very bottom of society's rungs. His only hope of a pleasant life is to win a 'laurel' from his overlords, providing goods and luxuries for his group.

Thankfully, he's no ordinary person, possessed with reflexes and abilities that put him above the average miner. Throughout the course of the series, Darrow works his way to the upper echelons of society in a world far more brutal than others in its genre. In his quest, he must face the realization that everything he knew was a lie and risk his life in a twisted and bloody contest. In the words of the author:. Gaiman is one of the biggest names in modern fantasy, and for good reason.

His ability to craft fairytale-like, lyrical stories is almost unparalleled. With The Graveyard Book, he goes a little outside of that norm, presenting us with a slightly darker story. Despite being for children, the novel starts with a very macabre tone. Following a triple homicide, Nobody Owens seeks a new family in his local graveyard.

Adopted by ghosts, vampires and other creatures, he makes his home among the tombstones. In a blend of creepy and sweet, the author manages to appeal to a whole spectrum of ages. Along the way, Nobody learns to use magic, the history of the ghosts, and the truth about his parents killer. More importantly, though, he struggles to gain the skill to return to the world of the living. Gaiman's book draws parallels with the same challenges children face today, raising questions about traditional upbringings and if you can truly be prepared for adulthood. Entwined in that is a brilliant exploration of death and living in spite of loss.

It's impossible to even gauge the impact Tolkien had on the genre when he created The Hobbit. It's the grandfather of coming of age fantasy, inspiring generations of authors to create. It was written as a simple story for his children, but its brilliance gave it international acclaim. Now, Bilbo is not the age you'd expect for such a story. At the start of the novel, he's 50 years old.

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Not ancient by hobbit standards, but not young either. Still, it's hard to deny that the book fits into this list. It's a story of dragons, magic, and great evil. It details elves, trolls, orcs, and more. But the underlying theme is Bilbo's growth into his true self. At the start of The Hobbit, he's shy, complacent, happy to live a simple life. By the time the journey ends, he is an adventurer, a legend, and much more confident. The events in the novel serve primarily as a catalyst for Bilbo's change, forcing him to rely on his own strengths. It's this aspect that makes the tale so relatable, reaching across age brackets to bring joy to both adults and children.

Tolkien's unmatched world-building, lyrical prose, and standout characters only enhance this, creating a must-read for any fantasy fan. It's an incredible accomplishment for Polish video game studio CDProjekt, but much of that success comes from the work of one man, Andrzej Sapkowski. Though his stories are popular domestically, Sapkowski didn't hit it quite as big outside of eastern Europe. Thankfully, that's not due to any lack of quality. More than anything, The Witcher series promises a unique experience.

There's nothing that quite matches the brooding, creature-infested world and its incredible depth. The story follows Geralt, a mutated monster-hunter or 'Witcher', and his protege, Ciri. It's in her that we see the main transformation. Born with elven blood, she will soon come into incredible power. Eager to protect her, Geralt and the other Witchers teach her to slay monsters, use a sword, and figure out her magical abilities. Throughout, Sapkowski manages to expertly juggle emotional scenes, action sequences, and politics to create a series that is an easy equal to its sister games.

The Wheel of Time sits next to Tolkien's series as some of the most distinguished fantasy series of all time. That's not an accident, it's an incredible epic that starts with a strong but familiar coming of age story. Rand starts in a small farming community and makes his way into legend. The premise has been done hundreds of times before, though admittedly Jordan got in pretty early.

However, this book transcends those simply by its incredible attention to detail in world building and character. Every person in this series is a living, breathing human, and none more so than Rand. Jordan follows the classic 'chosen one' trope, quickly establishing Rand as the dragon reborn. Joined by Mat and Perrin, he avoids the dark creatures that hunt him. The journey is offset by intense personal battles. Rand has to accept his destiny, Perrin has to face his fears, and Mat struggles with an evil influence.

Everything unfolds so organically that you find yourself completely lost in Jordan's world, carried along by culture, growth, and perfect pacing.

CEREMONIAL MAGIC AND SORCERY

Pullman's multi award-winning series is as inventive as it is emotional. It sits in a parallel to our world, with references to Oxford college yet beautifully crafted fantastical elements. It starts with Lyra, a young orphan, who, like everyone else, has a daemon. It takes the form of various animals, mirroring the soul of the human and settling into a final form with adulthood. In that single element, Pullman manages to weave a coming of age into the heart of his story.

There's a layered plot of other worlds, child thieves, and polar bears, tied together through the perspective of Lyra. It's far from predictable, forcing the reader and protagonist to confront their views as she's thrust into dangerous situations. With sparse prose, it describes the growth from a disobedient child to a strong young woman.

It's hard to say what makes this series so special, but there's no question that it is just that. It has all the elements of a generic fantasy story an orphan, thieving, an island city. Yet Lynch manages to tell a story so compelling and fresh that it makes you evaluate your bias for those tropes. Some of that is thanks to the brilliance that is Locke Lamora. The character builds an instant and likable connection with the reader. He's not a particularly nice person; in fact, he's a thief and a liar.

Even so, his humor, energy, and loyalty leaving you pining for his next word and wondering what heist he will pull next. Locke's development isn't an easy one, nor is it thrown in your face. It's a slow build, a realization that things need to change, a need to adapt to circumstances. He struggles his way into legend, building an empire bit by bit through pure resilience. He gets angry, he gets jubilant, and he learns the importance of both. A clever, turning plot runs through those themes, pairing with memorable characters to build an incredible yet unfinished series.

Schools are a common theme in coming of age, be it a magic academy or just a mentor. It's difficult though, to do that in an original way, and Ryan's series offers something fresh. Vaelin was given to the Sixth Order at ten years old, a secular group with a penchant for both battle and god.

In a blend of high fantasy and excellent storytelling, we learn of Vaelin's journey from a boy to a hardened warrior, with a hint of power beyond comprehension. It's not an easy path, fraught with dangerous trials that are only offset by the loyalty between his peers. This book is regularly compared to The Name of The Wind, and in some ways it's justifiable. Both are told through flashbacks. Both are coming of age stories.

However, Raven Shadow is not about a man who is good at everything, but at a single discipline. Vaelin is not a Mary Sue. He's flawed, and if you didn't like Rothfuss' character, you'll probably like this one. Where his immersion is next-level, Ryan's storms ahead with his intensity. Intricate subplots weave together, atmosphere overwhelms, and you always wonder how it will end. Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne.

Staveley's Unhewn Throne series presents an intelligent mash-up of three simultaneous coming of age stories. Separated for eight years, three royal children must face the fallout of the Emperor's assassination and learn to deal with their complex new duties. It's a simple premise, but it's hard to describe how complex and weaving Stavely manages to make it. Each of the children has a feeling of relatability, trapped by their obligations yet likable and down-to-earth. They present an entirely different viewpoint on the same world the view of a soldier, a monk, and a finance minister.

With the touch of a true master, Stavely manipulates these plot threads, expanding some, abandoning others, giving glimpses at a grand design. Then, with sweeping grandeur, he manages to tie them all together in a rush of revelations and satisfaction. It ends with a real sense of development, the characters undeniably shaped by their roles and experiences. Nobody writes coming of age quite like Garth Nix, and this quickly became clear with Sabriel in In this world, the dead refuse to stay that way, and the Abhorsen are needed to keep them in check.

With her father missing, that job falls down to Sabriel, and she has a lot to learn. Nix writes his female protagonist, not as a whiny girl, or ridiculously strong, but somewhere in between. Sabriel is flawed, yet her worries feel real and acceptable. Her thoughts and motives feel intensely human, as do her sidekicks a magic bound cat and a royal guard that was frozen in time. Incredible attention to detail transports readers straight into the Old Kingdom, blending zombies, swordplay, and a unique and detailed magic system. Nix is a master of selecting the right information at the right time, forgoing info dumps and forging understanding through action and lyrical prose.

As Sabriel grows into her role, the story reaches a dark crescendo of action and emotion. Though Sanderson's main criticism is a lack of character depth, it's hard to deny the satisfying coming of age stories in Mistborn. The novel describes a classic rags-to-riches story, Vin progressing from street scammer to metal ingesting magician.

However, Vin's development and the scope of the story goes much further than that. Sanderson raises many important questions through the protagonist and lets her grow as she comes to her own conclusions. There's an exploration of class, religion, moral ambiguity, and, most importantly, trust. Rather just presenting a story of powerless to powerful, the author explores how one so exploited can come to form meaningful relationships. While some would be content to leave it there, this tale contains similar progression in other characters.

The latter books focus on the growth of Elend from an intellectual to a leader, while a minor character plot explores the quest to find meaning among powerful friends. These plot arches combine with an incredible magic system, detailed worldbuilding, and intense action sequences to create an easy and entertaining read. Flewelling's series takes place in the medieval country of Skala and presents a near-perfect sword and sorcery experience.

It details the growth of Alec, saved from prison by Seregil, a hired thief and member of a secretive group called 'The Watchers'. Flewelling has always written strong characters, and this series is no exception. The bond between the two men is the defining feature of these novels, with Seregil acting as both mentor and friend.

Where Alec is naive, Seregil is sharp and witty, creating a perfect contrast in morals and personality. However, at its base level, Nightrunner is a coming of age story. It's about Alec learning to accept his new profession, but also to trust. He's thrown into a tight-knit group, so ready to accept him that it almost feels suspect.

He comes to respect them and believe in himself, meeting wizards, learning, and discovering his sexuality. Flewelling manages to write bisexual characters while keeping it incredibly natural. There's no dwelling, and if there is a clear message in Alec's growth, it's of loyalty and acceptance. Abercrombie kicked off his Shattered Sea series with the award-winning Half a King , but his second novel approaches true mastery. Half the World picks up many years after the first, featuring some crossover characters but working perfectly as a standalone. Thorn Bathu is the new protagonist, and she presents a familiar dilemma.

She was born to be a warrior, but she was also born female. Though she can train with the rest of the boys, she will never be one of them, and that's only made worse when she's branded a murderer. Abercrombie's foray into YA is a slightly more lighthearted take than his usual taste. Thorn's story is one of failure, learning to accept infallibility, accepting she isn't perfect.

There's a deep exploration of morals through Brand, a naive warrior who tries not to kill. It's a divergence from the usual gore and killing off main characters, but that somehow makes it feel more intelligent. Together, Thorn and Brand must travel the world, convince allies, and start a war. The Deed of Paksenarrion. The Paksenarrion trilogy introduces another female warrior lead, but that doesn't mean its protagonist is ordinary.

Paks doesn't start out a strong, brooding hero. She's not particularly intelligent, she doesn't question orders, she doesn't want children. It's loyalty that holds her together, and it's what eventually leads her to change. The pure scope of Moon's trilogy makes the number of books feel warranted, and that's partly thanks to the huge character development. It's not just a case of sheep farmer to paladin Paks changes right down to her very core. Her morality, psychology, and religion are all influenced by the events in the series, leaving a feeling of real change, rather than an afterthought.

There's a sense of a classic chronicle to the book, a medieval world complete with elves and dwarves. It's high fantasy, but also very clearly an epic adventure. Its battle scenes are littered with Moon's experience as a marine, complete with gory scenes and the ambiguity of hero or tool. A lot of novels on this list are either children's stories or young adult. While they make for great stories, there are some great coming of age stories that feature very mature content. Primarily, Phedre's Trilogy is a fantasy series. It features a medieval world in Terre d'Ange, a mirror of France.

It's complete with angelic powers, myths, and warriors. It also contains some BDSM. In the hands of a novice writer, this could become a Fifty Shades sleaze-fest. And though this is Carey's debut, she's far more subtle than that. Sexuality is tied into the very fabric of the world, feeling like an extension of it rather than being thrown in randomly. It's a fantasy book first, and a romance one second. Still, Carey realizes that the discovery of sex is an important role in coming of age.

She doesn't linger on it unnecessarily, but it does tie naturally into the thread of the story. We follow Phedre from her roots as a courtesan, where a red mote in her eye makes her undesirable. However, it's more than just a blemish. According to her new patron, it's a mark from the heavens. What follows is an education surpassing her humble beginning. She learns not just language and history but to observe and influence.

It's a telling that's epic in scale, stretching across three large books as Phedre uses her knowledge to combat conspiracies and save the ones she loves. Her flawless writing skill brings something really special to the YA genre and won her Newbery Honor in McKinley's country of Damar takes readers away from the popular medieval setting and into a sandy world. There's stunning detail here, not just in vivid description but the cultures of each group. When Harry is captured by the nomadic Hillfolk, things only get better. Finding she has kelar in her blood, she slowly comes to terms with her heritage and magical ability.

She quickly takes to the Hillfolk, feeling at home for the first time with the horses and language. But there's a war coming from the north, and Harry has a lot of growing up to do before she can face it. She learns to become unbeholden to the wills of others, control her kelar, and become a hero. While some of the books on this list offer a fresh take on the classics, Jim Butcher creates something entirely new. It began on a writer's workshop board during an argument, where he was challenged to write a book out of two central ideas the lost roman legion and Pokmon.

Despite its source material, the result is surprisingly unique. Butcher details a world in which aggressive races are complemented by elemental creatures called furies. Tavi from the rome-like Alera, and at fifteen years old he still can't furycraft. Butcher manages to flip expectations by creating a protagonist who doesn't come into great power.

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In fact, Tavi seems to be the only one without magic, and for once that makes things more interesting. As their next door neighbors prepare to declare war, Tavi has to rely on his wits to survive. As the series progresses, he learns his lack of magic doesn't make him worthless, facing emotional turmoil and coming out a strong, well-trained man. The Amber Chronicles is a complex blend of genres and plot.

It starts like a murder mystery, drawing the reader in, then it moves on to a mixture of sci-fi and fantasy. However, while Zelanzy's tension-building goes a long way, it's the character that keeps the reader invested throughout this ten book series. The book is from the perspective of Corwin, a hospitalized amnesiac trying to remember his true identity.

We follow along as he tries to unravel his thoughts with the hard resourcefulness. But then Corwin learns that he's not in his home world but has been banished to shadowland that is earth. More than that, he has a claim to the throne, and his siblings are all too happy to kill him to take it. In an inspiring change, Zelazny details Corwin's growth as he comes to remember little details about himself and his personality changes as a result.

It's a subtle beginning, opening to flood as he both realizes himself and is altered by the events of the series. Throughout it all, he remains intensely lovable, human, and eloquent. The Chronicles of Prydain. Alexander's Wales-inspired epic fantasy offers little in the way of originality when compared to the novels of today. It's a simple tale of Taran, a pig farmer who has always wanted more, and gets more than he's bargained for. But as is common in these stories, execution is the key, and this author has it down to a tee.

The Chronicles of Prydain is an adventure novel at its core, detailing the fight and journey a band of heroes against evil. There are some incredibly strong characters, from half animals to princesses and soulless warriors. There's no Mary Sue characters in this book, each defined as much by their flaws as their weaknesses. But that doesn't mean they have no redeemable qualities, and many of their internal journeys are about finding those. Despite this, none of them reach the depth of Taran, which is where Alexander's true mastery shows. He manages to create a feeling of care for the character despite his clumsiness and irritability.

Taran is not a stalwart warrior with no emotion, he's fragile and still learning. Still, he has such a strong presence that Alexander never has to describe his face. Every now and then, a book comes along that reinvigorates your love for a genre. They bring something new to the table unique ideas that prove innovation isn't dead.

Brett's The Warded Man is one of those novels, but it's also much more. In this world, the author creates a feeling of constant tension and danger. Demons skulk in the night, ready to kill anybody caught outside when the sun sets. The only thing that holds them back are wards, but they also confine society to a small area. Arlen believes his people should not trade safety for freedom and seeks to end the threat one and for all.

In a society confined both physically and by its thinking, he's an outside thinker. There's the regular journey from a nobody to a hero, but Brett also gives Arlen a feeling of morality and bravery without a lack of intelligence. Tying it together is a perfect pace that keeps you turning page after page. Before you know it, the word novel is over, and Arlen is almost a man. Most of you will have read it already, some of you will be sick of it, but you can't do a coming of age list without mentioning it. Harry Potter is one of the most influential stories of this generation, and at its heart is a story of growth, friendship, and learning.

The first book presents a typical orphan-to-legend trope as Harry slowly discovers who his parents were and the wizarding world he's been sheltered from. His affinity for magic and thwarting Voldemort quickly turns him into a legend, and his character matures into that role as the series continues.

However, things get more interesting when you consider the other characters in the story. Rowling manages to create incredible depth in every single one of her characters, evolving them organically from book to book. Ron, for example, learns to get over his disdain for Harry's fame, while Hermione ditches the know-it-all attitude and becomes more compassionate.

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Neville has a great transformation from a clumsy, self-hating child to a competent and loyal resistance leader. The same attention is paid to the story's antagonists. Malfoy begins a spiteful child and progresses into something far more dangerous. Working in tandem with some truly amazing world building, this character progression makes Harry Potter well worth the praise it receives.

The Chronicles of Narnia. At this point, there's very little to be said about Narnia that hasn't been put better already. But I have to justify this list somehow, so I may as well try. Lewis remains one of the most influential figures of the last century, and he will continue to be for years to come. It starts when four children step through a wardrobe and into a fantasy world.

For this reason a black magician will go to inconceivable ends to prolong his physical life, since there is nothing for him beyond the grave. The most dangerous form of black magic is the scientific perversion of occult power for the gratification of personal desire. Its less complex and more universal form is human selfishness, for selfishness is the fundamental cause of all worldly evil.

A man will barter his eternal soul for temporal power, and down through the ages a mysterious process has been evolved which actually enables him to make this exchange. In its various branches the black art includes nearly all forms of ceremonial magic, necromancy, witchcraft, sorcery, and vampirism. Under the same general heading are also included mesmerism and hypnotism, except when used solely for medical purposes, and even then there is an element of risk for all concerned. Though the demonism of the Middle Ages seems to have disappeared, there is abundant evidence that in many forms of modern thought--especially the so-called "prosperity" psychology, "willpower-building" metaphysics, and systems of "high-pressure" salesmanship The practice of magic--either white or black --depends upon the ability of the adept to control the universal life force--that which Eliphas Levi calls the great magical agent or the astral light.

By the manipulation of this fluidic essence the phenomena of transcendentalism are produced. The famous hermaphroditic Goat of Mendes was a composite creature formulated to symbolize this astral light. It is identical with Baphomet the mystic pantheos of those disciples of ceremonial magic, the Templars, who probably obtained it from the Arabians.

A well-known magician of the Middle Ages was Dr. Johannes Faustus, more commonly known as Dr. By a study of magical writings he was enabled to bind to his service an elemental who served him for many years in various capacities. Strange legends are told concerning the magical powers possessed by Dr. Upon one occasion the philosopher, being apparently in a playful mood, threw his mantle over a number of eggs in a market-woman's basket, causing them to hatch instantly. At another time, having fallen overboard from a small boat, he was picked up and returned to the craft with his clothes still dry.

But, like nearly all other magicians, Dr. Faust came at length to disaster; he was found one morning with a knife in his back, and it was commonly believed that his familiar spirit had murdered him. Faust is generally regarded as merely a fictional character, this old magician actually lived during the sixteenth century.

Faust wrote a book describing his experiences with spirits, a section of which is reprinted below. Faust must not be confused with Johann Fust, the printer. In this book I discovered information to the effect that a spirit, whether he be of the fire, the water, the earth or the air, can be compelled to do the will of a magician capable of controlling him.

I also discovered that according as one spirit has more power than another, each is adapted for a different operation and each is capable of producing certain supernatural effects. At first I had little faith that what was promised would take place. But at the very first invocation which I attempted a mighty spirit manifested to me, desiring to know why I had invoked him.

His coming so amazed me that I scarcely knew what to say, but finally asked him if he would serve me in my magical investigations. He replied that if certain conditions were agreed upon he would. The conditions were that I should make a pact with him. This I did not desire to do, but as in my ignorance I had not protected myself with a circle and was actually at the mercy of the spirit, I did not dare to refuse his request and resigned myself to the inevitable, considering it wisest to turn my mantle according to the wind. After the pact had been arranged, this mighty spirit, whose name was Asteroth , introduced me to another spirit by the name of Marbuel , who was appointed to be my servant.

I questioned Marbuel as to his suitability for my needs. I asked him how quick he was, and he answered, 'As swift as the winds. Go again whence you have come. Upon asking him the same question he answered that he was swift as a bird in the air. I said, 'You are still too slow for me.

Go whence you came. For the third time I asked my question and he answered, 'I am as swift as human thought. This spirit was faithful for a long time, but to tell you how he served me is not possible in a document of this length and I will here only indicate how spirits are to be invoked and how the circles for protection are to be prepared. There are many kinds of spirits which will permit themselves to be invoked by man and become his servant. Of these I will list a few:. The mightiest among those who serve men.

He manifests in pleasing human form about three feet high. He must be invoked three times before he will come forth into the circle prepared for him. He will furnish riches and will instantly fetch things from a great distance, according to the will of the magician. He is as swift as human thought. Serviceable and most useful, and comes in the form of a ten-year-old boy. He must be invoked three times. His special power is to discover treasures and minerals hidden in the ground, which he will furnish to the magician.

A true lord of the mountains and swift as a bird on the wing. He is an opposing and troublesome spirit, hard to control. You must invoke him four times. He appears in the person of Mars [a warrior in heavy armor]. He will furnish the magician those things which grow above and under the earth. He is particularly the lord of the spring-root. If placed against a locked door, it would open the door. The Hermetists believed that the red-capped woodpecker was specially endowed with the faculty of discovering spring-root , so they followed this bird to its nest, and then stopped up the hole in the tree where its young were.

The red-crested woodpecker went at once in quest of the spring-root, and, discovering it, brought it to the tree. It immediately drew forth the stopper from the entrance to the nest. The magician then secured the root from the bird. It was also asserted that because of its structure, the etheric body of the spring-root was utilized as a vehicle of expression by certain elemental spirits which manifested through the proclivity of drawing out or opening things.

A mighty ruler of the sea, controlling things both upon and under the water. He furnishes things lost or sunk in rivers, lakes, and oceans, such as sunken ships and treasures. The more sharply you invoke him, the swifter he is upon his errands. Comes in the form of a beautiful maiden and by her aid the magician is raised to honor and dignity. She makes those she serves worthy and noble, gracious and kindly, and assists in all matters of litigation and justice.

She will not come unless invoked twice. The master of all arts. He manifests as a master workman and comes wearing an apron. He can teach a magician more in a moment than all the master workmen of the world combined could accomplish in twenty years. Now, if you desire the aid of the spirit to get this or that, then you must first draw the sign of the spirit whom you desire to invoke.

The drawing must be made just in front of a circle made before sunrise, in which you and your assistants will stand. If you desire financial assistance, then you must invoke the spirit Aciel. Draw his sign in front of the circle. If you need other things, then draw the sign of the spirit capable of furnishing them. On the place where you intend to make the circle, you must first draw a great cross with a large sword with which no one ever has been hurt.

Then you must make three concentric circles. The innermost circle is made of a. Eliphas Levi describes the preparation of a magical sword in substance as follows: The steel blade should be forged in the hour of Mars, with new tools. The pommel should be of hollow silver containing quicksilver, and the symbols of Mercury and the moon and the signatures of Gabriel and Samael should be engraved upon it. The hilt should be encased with tin, with the symbol of Jupiter and the signature of Michael engraved upon it.

Sorcerer to the Crown

A copper triangle should extend from the hilt along the blade a short distance on each side: Five Sephiroth should be engraved upon the handle, as shown. The blade itself should have the word Malchut upon one side and Quis ut Deus upon the other. The sword should be consecrated on Sunday. The words about the circle are the names of the invisible intelligences, and the small crosses mark points at which certain prayers and invocations are recited.