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Young Wizards
Sywbaw cover.jpg
Cover of So You Want to Be a Wizard, the first book in the series
Author Diane Duane
Country United States
Language English
Genre Children's literature, fantasy, science fiction
Publisher Delacorte Press; Corgi; Harcourt Children's Books; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published 1983-present
No. of books 11

Young Wizards is a thrilling series of novels written by Diane Duane. It follows the amazing adventures of two young wizards, Nita and Kit.

In each book, Nita and Kit face off against a powerful enemy called the "Lone Power." This being wants to destroy the entire universe! The series started in 1983 with So You Want to Be a Wizard, which tells how Nita and Kit first discovered their magic. There's also a spin-off series called Feline Wizards, which features different characters but is set in the same magical world.

This series mixes exciting elements of fantasy, science fiction, and even some ideas from religion. It explores big topics like death, making big sacrifices, and redemption.

The Young Wizards Books

The Young Wizards series has many exciting stories. Here are the main books and some other tales set in this universe:

A short story called "Uptown Local" is also part of this world. It was first in a collection called Dragons and Dreams. You can also find it in the 20th-anniversary edition of So You Want to Be a Wizard.

Interim Errantry is a collection of three stories that happen between A Wizard of Mars and Games Wizards Play. These include "Not on My Patch," "How Lovely Are Thy Branches," and the novel Lifeboats.

In 2016, the tenth novel, Games Wizards Play, was released. It's about a big tournament called "The Invitational." Hundreds of wizards compete to win a year-long apprenticeship with Earth's Planetary Wizard.

There are also three "On Ordeal" books. These stories focus on other wizards and their first big challenges against the Lone Power.

  • On Ordeal: Roshaun ke Nelaid is about a prince who first appeared in Wizard's Holiday.
  • On Ordeal: Mamvish fsh Wimsih is about a lizard-like wizard who moves endangered animals. You first met this character in A Wizard of Mars.
  • On Ordeal: Ronan Nolan Jnr. is about Ronan, a young human wizard Nita met in A Wizard Abroad.

These three "On Ordeal" books are now available together as a digital book called Interim Errantry 2: On Ordeal.

The twelfth book in the series is still being written. Its working title is Wizardry in Shadow.

Feline Wizards

These three books are not part of the main Young Wizards series, but they happen in the same magical universe. They are about cat wizards!

Adult Wizards

There are also short stories about older wizards in this world. One is called Short Circuit.

Key Ideas in the Series

The Powers That Be

The series features powerful, almost god-like beings called the Powers That Be. They are like angels or ancient gods from myths. These Powers were created by "the One," who is the source of all magic and creation in the universe. The Powers help the One create and maintain the universe.

However, one of these Powers, who was once the greatest, decided to create something new: death. This being became known as the Lone Power. It was cast out by the One because of its destructive actions. The Lone Power now travels through different universes, trying to trick living things into accepting its "gift" of death.

When a species becomes smart enough to make choices, the Lone Power appears. It offers them a choice that seems good but actually leads to destruction. This is called "The Choice." The Lone Power is often compared to The Devil. It's tricky, so making the right choice is very hard.

A big idea in the series is that the Lone Power actually wants to return to the light. In High Wizardry, something happens that starts this process. But because the Powers exist outside of normal time, the Lone Power still causes trouble in other parts of the universe.

Wizardry and Magic

To fight the Lone Power, the One created wizards. Wizards use a special language called The Speech to make magic happen. It's the language of the entire universe! Only wizards can use it to change things, but anyone can learn to speak it.

The Powers That Be choose people who have the potential to become wizards. If someone accepts this chance, they take the "Wizard's Oath." This is a promise to fight against entropy wherever it is found.

After taking the Oath, a new wizard goes through an Ordeal. This is a difficult task or a direct fight against the Lone Power. Wizards are usually strongest during their Ordeal. The younger they are when they take the Oath, the more powerful they become, but their Ordeal will also be bigger. As wizards get older, they lose some power but gain more experience. Not all Ordeals are successful, and sometimes new wizards even die trying to save a species or planet.

Every wizard has a "Wizard's Manual." This is a special book (or other form) written in the Speech. It gives wizards all the information and spells they need. The Manual changes to fit the wizard. For example, dolphin and whale wizards use the ocean itself as their Manual. Cat wizards use "The Whispering." Human wizards often use actual books, but some hear voices. Irish wizards memorize the information. Today, some wizards even use digital versions of the Manual, like special iPods called WizPods.

Main Characters

Nita

Juanita "Nita" Louise Callahan is one of the main heroes. When the series begins, she's in junior high and loves books. She sometimes gets picked on by other kids. As the series goes on, she learns about friendship, family, and even romance. Nita lives with her parents and her super-smart younger sister, Dairine. Her friends call her "Neets." She loves horse books and the band Journey.

Nita's magic specialty first seems to be with plants and living things. But later, she becomes very good at understanding wizardry theory and working with "kernels." These are like energy cores found in every person, planet, and even universe. Recently, Nita has also started to show skills in seeing the future and connecting with water.

In A Wizard of Mars, Nita realizes she has feelings for Kit. She even calls him her "boyfriend" during a fight, and they officially become a couple by the end of the book. Nita also had a brief relationship with an Irish wizard named Ronan in A Wizard Abroad.

Kit

Christopher "Kit" Kellen Rodriguez is Nita's best friend and fellow wizard. He's a year younger than Nita but is often more mature. Kit skipped a grade, so he's in Nita's class. His birthday is August 25. In the first book, he was sometimes teased for his Spanish accent and being short. Kit lives in Nita's neighborhood with his parents, older sister Carmela, and his dog Ponch. His oldest sister, Helena, is away at college.

Kit is very good with machines and can sometimes use his dog Ponch's sense of smell for magic. He found his Wizard's Manual in a used bookstore.

In A Wizard of Mars, Kit realizes he likes Nita. He was afraid to tell her because he didn't want to mess up their friendship. He thought he was attracted to a Martian princess named Aurilelde, but it turned out she was a tricky version of Nita.

Dairine

Dairine "Dair" E. Callahan is Nita's younger sister. She's super smart and loves everything about Star Wars, wanting to be a Jedi. She hates it if Nita knows something she doesn't. Dairine figures out Nita's secret powers and becomes a wizard herself in High Wizardry. She's incredibly powerful and skilled for her age.

Dairine's magic works best with computers. She's even mentally connected to a race of silicon beings and their smart planet. Her computer, which is also her Manual, is named Spot. Many fans think she might have romantic feelings for Roshaun. Her birthday is October 20, 1997.

The Lone Power

The Lone Power is the main bad guy in the series. It appears in different forms in each book. It's also called "the Witherer" or "the Starsnuffer." This powerful being invented death and all its destructive forms. Wizards exist to fight its influence. The Lone Power was once a "good" Power That Be, but its actions were seen as "evil," and it fell from grace.

Throughout the series, the Lone Power is often compared to Satan or The Devil. For example, in the second book, Nita is asked if she made a deal with the devil to get her magic. She replies that she and Kit are the last people that being would want to deal with.

Other Wizards

Humans

Tom & Carl

Tom B. Swale and Carl J. Romeo are Senior Wizards who help Nita and Kit. They live in the same neighborhood. Tom writes spells and stories, while Carl sells TV advertising time. Carl's magic specialty seems to be controlling time. Tom and Carl are wise, patient, and funny. Nita often looks up to them as examples of what adult wizards are like.

Ronan

Ronan Nolan, Jr. is an Irish wizard Nita meets in A Wizard Abroad. He is very powerful because he hosts the One's Champion and has the Spear Luin (Spear of Light). He loses some of this power in Wizards at War. Ronan is a main character in Wizards at War and was Nita's love interest in A Wizard Abroad. During his Ordeal, he briefly controlled a part of the ocean. In Wizards at War and A Wizard of Mars, he becomes interested in Kit's sister, Carmela.

Darryl

Darryl McAllister is introduced in A Wizard Alone. Kit is sent to help Darryl with his Ordeal. Kit learns that Darryl is autistic and that the Lone Power is trying to mess up his Ordeal. Kit enters Darryl's mind to help him. Nita discovers that Darryl is an Abdal, a very powerful person who can bring goodness from the One. Darryl tricks the Lone Power, making it think it's in control. Nita and Kit help Darryl trap the Lone Power's manifestation in a universe he created. In newer versions of the books, Darryl remains autistic but regains his coping skills.

Non-Humans

S'reee

S'reee is a whale wizard and the Senior Wizard for Earth's oceans. She has a special bond with Nita, who saved her life in Deep Wizardry. S'reee became responsible very young after her mentor died. She helps Kit clean up the waters around Manhattan in The Wizard's Dilemma. In A Wizard of Mars, it's mentioned that S'reee is dating another whale who is a food critic.

Roshaun

Roshaun ke Nelaid am Seriv am Teliuyve am Meseph am Veliz am Teriaunst am det Nuiiliat is a proud alien prince from the planet Wellakh. He first appears in Wizard's Holiday as an exchange student in the wizardry program. His magic focuses on stars. He has a special friendship with Dairine that seems to be romantic.

Sker'ret

Sker'ret is another exchange student from Wizard's Holiday. His species, the Rirhait, look like giant metal centipedes and can eat almost anything. Sker'ret is good with machines and teleportation magic.

Filif

Filifermanhathrhumneits'elhhessaifnth, nicknamed "Filif" by Kit, is an exchange student in Wizard's Holiday. He looks like a Christmas tree, so learning about human diets was a big shock for him!

Filif is friendly, curious, and easygoing. He loves learning about human culture. His favorite discoveries are baseball hats and bright colors. He's very powerful at magic and great at writing new spells and creating illusions.

Pralaya

Pralaya is a wizard from another universe. Nita meets him in The Wizard's Dilemma while experimenting with kernels. He looks like an otter but has six legs and antennae. The Lone Power takes over his body and tries to trick Nita into giving up her powers to save her mother. When Nita tells Pralaya what happened, the Lone Power kills him.

Quelt

Quelt is an Alaalid wizard Nita and Kit visit in Wizard's Holiday. She is the only wizard of her kind, besides Druvah.

Pont

Pont is an alien Nita meets in The Wizard's Dilemma. Pont is a "plural," meaning one person exists in multiple bodies, which is normal in his universe. To Nita, he looks like five giant blue ball bearings.

Other Important Characters

Humans

Harry Callahan

Harold Edward Callahan is Nita and Dairine's father. He's a florist and landscape gardener. Nita believes she got her talent with plants from him. After his wife's death, he becomes closer to his daughters and learns more about wizardry. He often comforts wizards who are having a hard time. Nita and Dairine inherited their magic from his side of the family.

Betty Callahan

Nita and Dairine's mother. She was a professional ballerina. Betty passed away between The Wizard's Dilemma and A Wizard Alone. She is a main focus of The Wizard's Dilemma.

Carmela Rodriguez

Kit's older sister. She bought a special laser device that she uses to help Nita and Sker'ret defend The Crossings. Carmela is learning The Speech, even though she's not a wizard. She seems good at languages and helps Dairine with the exchange wizards in Wizard's Holiday. In Wizards at War, Carmela helps free the group when they are captured. She also helps translate an old text in A Wizard of Mars.

Helena Rodriguez

Kit's oldest sister. She is away at college. She first thought Kit had made a deal with the devil. Now, she thinks he is a mutant.

Mr. Millman

Robert Millman is the school therapist. He first appears in A Wizard Alone to help Nita and Dairine with their mother's death. He knows about wizards and recognizes Nita's powers. In Wizards at War, he helps them get time off from school.

Non-humans

Ponch

Poncho is Kit's black Labrador/Border Collie dog. He loves food and chasing squirrels. Ponch goes with Kit and Nita on some of their adventures. As the series goes on, it becomes clear that Ponch is special. He starts finding and even creating other universes. Eventually, it's revealed that he is a dog version of the One, a powerful being. Kit is sad when Ponch seems to be gone, but then a stray dog shows up and reveals that Ponch is now inside all dogs.

Peach

Machu Picchu, or Peach, is a grumpy scarlet macaw owned by Tom and Carl. She can tell the future, and her advice saves Nita and Kit many times. In High Wizardry, Nita and Kit discover that Peach is actually the Winged Defender, or The One's Champion, one of the Powers That Be. Nita recognizes Peach in Ronan in A Wizard Abroad.

Fred

Khairelikoblepharehglukumeilichephreidosd'enagouni, nicknamed Fred by Kit, is a white hole who appears in So You Want to Be a Wizard. He shows up when Nita and Kit do a spell and brings a message for Tom and Carl. Fred helps start Nita and Kit's big quest to find the Book of Night with Moon. He loves Earth's delights and becomes good friends with Nita and Kit. At the end of SYWTBAW, he sacrifices himself to relight the moon and help Nita and Kit save Manhattan.

Ed

ed'Rashtekeresket t'k Gh'shestaesteh, also known as the Master Shark and the Pale Slayer, appears in Deep Wizardry. He is a great white shark and the leader of his species. He seems distant and scary at first, but he and Nita form an unusual friendship. He has a dry sense of humor. In the story, Ed is supposed to eat Nita, but he sacrifices himself instead, borrowing her magic to take her place in the song.

Transcendent Pig

This mysterious being is first mentioned in So You Want to Be a Wizard and first seen in The Wizard's Dilemma. He is called Chao. The Pig is more than a normal creature but less than a Power That Be. He is everywhere, but not all-knowing. No one, not even the Powers That Be, knows where the Pig came from. His purpose is unknown, but it's believed he knows the meaning of life. Because of this, wizards always ask him the meaning of life when they see him. He also appears in Wizards at War.

Spot

Spot is Dairine's smart computer. He started as an Apple IIc and later became a Macintosh PowerBook. He also serves as Dairine's wizard's manual. Spot is shy around others but talks a lot when he's alone with Dairine. He can upgrade himself, changing his look and technology as the series goes on. After an upgrade from his "siblings," he seems to develop a sense of the future.

Timeline of the Series

The timeline in the Young Wizards series can be a bit confusing. For example, in So You Want to Be a Wizard, Carmela is fifteen, Nita is thirteen, Kit twelve, and Dairine eleven. But later books don't always show them aging consistently.

The books are usually set in the year they were published. For instance, Deep Wizardry says it happens in 1985. The technology also changes with the times. In High Wizardry, Nita's family gets a new Apple computer, but later, Dairine's computer, Spot, acts like a modern PowerBook. In Wizards at War, wizards use "WizPods" (like iPods), and the book mentions events similar to 9/11. This means the timeline "slides" to keep up with the real world, similar to how James Bond films or DC Comics and Marvel comics do.

New Timeline

In 2012, Diane Duane released "The New Millennium Edition" of So You Want To Be a Wizard. This version sets the first book in 2008. These new editions aim to fix the confusing timeline, making it easier for new readers to follow. In the new timeline, the first nine books happen over about three years. Dairine is eleven in the first book and thirteen in the ninth. The tenth book, Games Wizards Play, was already written with this new timeline in mind.

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