Quite a good book. Not one of David Brin's best but still good. ( )

Cualquier tecnología suficientemente avanzada es vista como magia. La frase, a menudo atribuida a Arthur C. Clarke, se hace realidad en esta amena y divertida novela de David Brin. Dennis Nuel, profesor universitario de física, es transportado a un mundo alternativo donde el segundo principio de la termodinámica está invertido y los objetos mejoran con su uso en lugar de deteriorarse. Inevitablemente, Dennis recibe en ese mundo dotado de una organización feudal la consideración de mago. Deberá intervenir en innumerables aventuras y participar en viajes sorprendentes donde encontrará a una rubia princesa y deberá enfrentarse a un inteligente señor de la guerra y a los habituales villanos envidiosos. Todo ello en un mundo dotado de una tecnología de pacotilla.

David Brin has made his name writing hard science fiction, but this earlier work (1984) is one of his softer pieces.

The premise of a new world which has slightly different physical laws from Earth, and how those laws affect everyday life, is fascinating. However, the reader should not expect any great depth of insight from this novel, since is it written in the manner of a nonstop action adventure. It is highly readable in the manner of pulp fiction like Burroughs' A Princess of Mars, and science fiction is mixed with traditional fantasy elements such as castles, dungeons, an imprisoned princess who needs rescuing, and an calculating baron who wants to take over the world.

The storytelling is engaging, but the characters could perhaps have been developed more fully and the central concept explored in more depth. But on the other hand, it is evident that Brin was not aiming for any great profoundness of meaning when he wrote this work, since a light-hearted humour permeates the whole book.

Although it is an action adventure, it reads more like science fiction than fantasy, and Brin provides a scientific explanation (albeit not a very convincing one) for everything at the end of the novel.

For me it was a light but thoroughly enjoyable read.

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NA

Dennis Nuel gets stranded on another world - where cause and effect aren't that straightforward. So... he becomes a wizard.

This was a very fun read. Right up my alley.