In the eighth and final chapter of So You Want to Be a Wizard, we have a choice. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Young Wizards.Â
I love this book. I love this book so much.
While there are a ton of themes you could pull out of So You Want to Be a Wizard, in the end I’m drawn to the one hinted at in the title. Nita and Kit ultimately wanted to be wizards, and they chose to be. They chose to go after the Lone One, and they chose to put themselves in harm’s way in order to save Manhattan from the oppressive powers of the Starsnuffer. I was so thrilled that Nita gave the Lone One the same choice, not because I knew it would change him, but because it was only fair that he be given the chance to be someone else. The power of free will is perhaps the major theme in this book, and the final chapter exemplifies that.
We see Joanne again. REMEMBER WHEN JOANNE WAS THE ONLY ANTAGONIST??? Oh, I had no idea what was to come, y’all. But it’s fitting that she’s here at the end because like the Lone One, she’s been given an out. She doesn’t have to be a hateful, mean person anymore than she wants to be. Thus, Nita shows her the way out:
She swallowed and did her best to look Joanne in the eye, calmly and not in threat. “Come on over to my place after supper sometime, when it’s dark,” she said, “and you can check out the digital interface I got for my telescope last Christmas. You can see Jupiter’s moons live on the computer. Or Mars.”
It might be nothing more than an innocent offer, but it’s an offer Joanne has never heard. Nita presents her with a choice, and even if Joanne swats it down this first time, it’s still there. Unspoken. Quietly within her. It’s only a matter of time, right?
Speaking of time, I WAS WRONG. THE TIMESLIDE LOOP DID NOT ACTUALLY ERASE THE EVENTS FROM THE PUBLIC MEMORY. EVERYTHING HAPPENED AND THE SUN DISAPPEARED AND CENTRAL PARK EXPLODED AND ALL OF IT IS REAL AND THIS IS SO GODDAMN COOL, I AM SO PLEASED THAT DIANE DUANE KEPT THIS IN THE TEXT. IT IS 100% A GOOD CHOICE, BRAVO, THIS WAS SO EXCITING TO READ. I think my excitement helped to temper the sadness of Nita living through Fred’s death again, though I admit that was not an easy scene to read.
The final scenes, though, hit me much harder than Nita’s time spent beneath Liused. I didn’t figure out that Kit and Nita had made it to Timeheart until Nita flat-out said it. I’m reminded of a certain plot in LOST in this, and I won’t say any further in order to avoid spoiling others. But the Timeheart is a lovely idea, a way in which the positive memories of Fred and Lotus allow them to live on despite their deaths. Y’all, Lotus talking nearly ruined me. LOTUS CAN FINALLY COMMUNICATE WITH KIT. STOP IT. Plus, I feel like hiding the Book in Timeheart is genius because… well, the Lone One can’t get in there, right? And it’s such a huge place, too!
But really, the confirmation that the Lone One now has the chance to change was huge to me. Not as huge as this, though.
Fred! Did we do right?
Even here she couldn’t keep the pain out of her question, the fear that she could somehow prevented his death. But Fred radiated a serene and wondering joy that took her breath and reassured her and filled her with wonder to match his, all at once. Go find out, he said.
God, what a good answer. Go find out if you made the world a better place. He tells his friends to keep moving, keep living, keep striving to do good within the universe. That hope is the brightest light of all.
Diane Duane is still offering a massive discount on the first 9 books in the Young Wizards series just to this community, so please take advantage of this deal while you still can:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU7RXqJIThA
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
– IÂ will be at numerous conventions in 2016! Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be Death Note and Neon Genesis Evangelion. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
