High Wizardry
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 Cover art for High Wizardry |
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| Author | Diane Duane |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Cliff Nielsen |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Young Wizards |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Harcourt Trade Publishers |
| Released | 1990 (first printing by Delacorte Press, reprinted 1997 by Harcourt) |
| Media type | Print (Mass market paperback) |
| Pages | 368 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-15-216244-5 |
| Preceded by | Deep Wizardry |
| Followed by | A Wizard Abroad |
High Wizardry is the third book in the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane, and the sequel to Deep Wizardry.
[edit] Plot introduction
High Wizardry is unique from the other books in the series in its setup: the first half of the book is split into present time (Nita Callahan and Kit Rodriguez), what happened a few hours before (Dairine Callahan and Spot), and flashbacks of Dairine's and Nita's childhood. Dairine is also much more of a major character than a supporting one in this novel, since the plot revolves around her Ordeal.
[edit] Plot summary
When Dairine, Nita's younger sister, finds Nita's copy of the Wizard's manual, she proceeds to take the Wizard's Oath. Dairine is given her Wizard's manual in the form of a computer, which Dairine nicknames "Spot." Dairine uses her new power to travel to Mars, then to the Crossings. She is attacked by agents of the Lone Power. When she uses a worldgate to flee, she finds herself on a giant planet consisting entirely of silicon. In the meantime, Nita and Kit discover she is missing and chase after her. Dairine awakens the massive computer embedded in the planet and gets to work designing and naming 'mobiles' after the planet begins to create quicklife (computer-based) creatures. She names them in a variety of ways ranging from computer programs to Star Wars characters. When The Lone Power infects a mobile and attacks Dairine, Nita and Kit arrive in time to help her, assisted by the macaw Maccu Picchu (Peach), who reveals herself as one of the Powers That Be incarnate. With Peach's assistance, the Lone Power is defeated by stopping the universe from expanding. The resulting light that explodes as a result of this destroys the Lone Power. The Lone Power then returns to "home" with one of the Powers That Be. As he leaves, he tells Kit and Nita to destroy the "shadows" of him that remain. The universe continues to expand and Nita, Kit and Dairine return to their home, where Dairine's computer sprouts legs and follows her upstairs as Nita and Kit talk to their parents.
