Browse our Categories! Arms and Armor Celtic Lore Historical Fiction Historical Non-Fiction (A-H) Historical Non-Fiction (I-R) Historical Non-Fiction (S-Z) King Arthur Legends Miscellaneous Fiction Miscellaneous Non-Fiction

Miscellaneous The Way of Wizards by Tom Cross $34.95 / Andrew McMeel / 2001 Castles, gargoyles, wizards, gnomes, knights, dragons, mermaids, and magical scenes all are colorfully, imaginatively, and realistically rendered in The Way of Wizards. Illustrator Tom Cross has described his artwork as "nature folklore," with its roots in ecology and legend. Both naturalistic and fanciful elements are evident. The text is written in the voice of Penelo,"curator of the Cave of Names, scribe to the Wizard's Council, and ...eventual...Wizard of WoN." Penelo is our guide and his voice is at once playful and enchanting, instructive, yet mysterious. The book is divided into eight chapters which answer questions about where a wizard derives his powers, the domain and realms of the wizards, and where they dwell, as well as offering as insider's guide to the Cave of Names, the Hall of Beards, and the Wizard's Council. Other chapters are devoted to the tools of the wizard's trade, including the items of his wardrobe and the various keys and charms he uses to perform his magic, as well as the cats and owls that are a wizard's familiars. Penelo then lets us in on the vast secret society of wizards, including its universities, schools, academies, and apprenticeships, along with a peek at witches, alchemists, and sorcerers, and what distingushes each of these. In another chapter, Penelo tells us about mythical beasts (dragons) and how wizards communicate with them, and describes the magical powers associated with flowers, gems and precious metals. In short, Penelo gives us the skinny on wizardry from an insider's perspective, in this enchanting "instruction manual," which is designed to give us the impression that we are delving into an ancient book of lore. --Charles Rammilkamp

Click here to order:The Way of Wizards             To order Renaissance Magazine, click here. To order medieval tapestries and other period products, click here.