Off to Be the Wizard

Magic 2.0, Book 1

By: Scott Meyer

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

An io9 Can't Miss Science Fiction and Fantasy title in March 2014.

Martin Banks is just a normal guy who has made an abnormal discovery: he can manipulate reality, thanks to reality being nothing more than a computer program. With every use of this ability, though, Martin finds his little “tweaks” have not escaped notice. Rather than face prosecution, he decides instead to travel back in time to the Middle Ages and pose as a wizard.

What could possibly go wrong?

An American hacker in King Arthur’s court, Martin must now train to become a full-fledged master of his powers, discover the truth behind the ancient wizard Merlin…and not, y’know, die or anything.

©2013 Scott Meyer (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Wizard Just a Little Off

Audiobooks that are fun and funny are my favorites. Off to Be the Wizard is definitely fun and definitely funny. That's why I chose to listen to it, even though I knew nothing else about it or its first-time author. And that's what I liked about it. But is was off the mark, not in the same league as its nearest relatives in the comic sci-fi sub-genre. There were too many logical inconsistencies, even within the logic of its unique internal universe, and the voices were too far over the top -- in the end, a great premise somewhat squandered, but still a fun listen.

Most importantly, and I hope this isn't a spoiler (it is revealed early on), this is a time travel story in which nothing anyone does can affect the future outcome. Kind of pointless, no? Scott Meyer should have found a way to make the future part of what was at stake, as in most time travel stories. Similarly, on the flip side of that same coin, time travelers arrive from different points in time, but none of those are explored other than contemporary Seattle and medieval England, the start and end points of our protagonist Martin.

Luke Daniels, a prolific narrator, is known for his voices. Some of his voices here, though, are just too much. Philip could have just been given an English accent, not a loud annoying over the top English accent. Jimmy is supposed to be smart, so why does he sound so much like Ratso Rizzo? (That may have been the point, but if so, it doesn't work for me.) Thankfully, Martin sounds normal enough, and most of the book is in his voice, otherwise it would have been un-listenable even if the writing was flawless.

Still, despite my reservations, I continued with the Magic 2.0 series as it came out and enjoyed the subsequent entries more than this first one. I've also enjoyed Meyer's other books as well. He has grown as a humorist and writer, so I forgive him the growing pains that are evident in this, his first try. Give it a try, you may like it more that I did, as many others have, and then keep going, it gets better as it goes along.

Not a great book, but a funny one

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The story is mildly intriguing, not very believable, and predictable. There were several laugh-out-loud moments that made it worth it to me, though. The humor in this performance is about half due to the author, and half due to the great voice-acting job done by the reader. He really did a spectactular job with his over-the-top rendition of Philip the Wizard, among others. I'll definitely be on the lookout for other titles of his.

Luke Daniels is awesome

What did you love best about Off to Be the Wizard?

The story is good, light-hearted nerdy fun that is good to read, but Daniel's narration really makes this story a compulsion.

What other book might you compare Off to Be the Wizard to and why?

Ready Player One or Land of Dis

Which character – as performed by Luke Daniels – was your favorite?

Phillip? I don't know, they're all distinct and enjoyable.

Computers Time Travel and Wizards

This is a fun light hearted story of Martin a young computer hacker that discovers a computer program that allows him to do wonderful and amazing things, since the world we live in is just a computer program. Martin travels back to Medieval times to flee from the trouble he is in and to become a wizard. Martin soon discovers he is not the only one to discover the file.

Entertainment for everyone

What made the experience of listening to Off to Be the Wizard the most enjoyable?

A good & funny story whit an even better Narrator --> Luke Daniels too make it hilarious.

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Whatever Luke Daniels is reading he turns into pure gold. He could be reading the most boring book imaginable and he would make it funny. He is in my opinion the best narrator out there and this book is worth getting just too hear him.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud several times, I think my dad tought i was going crazy at some point.

Highly Entertaining: A Real Gem

Okay, by now, having read a little of the publisher's summary, listened to the sample audio, and skimmed one or two of the hundreds of reader-review headlines that "Off To See The Wizard" has inspired, you may be getting the idea that this novel has a bit more going for it than just a totally cool, "simulated-world" premise (as enormously appealing as that may be), and in fact it does; namely it has the ridiculously gifted and unique writing talents of Scott Meyer--and that's no small thing. As you will no doubt quickly surmise shortly after downloading this gem of a novel, Scott Meyer is one hell of a hilarious and relatable writer. He has the common touch. And in the end, what makes "Wizard" a success is not the flash and sizzle of its premise, but the ability of its author to keep the reader entertained by the power of his narrative.

Neither overly crass nor saccharine, Meyer is more of an absurdist. His comedy builds and calls back upon itself, utilizing a little slapstick and silliness here and there but always to delightful affect. His comedic foils are never easy targets, and one gets the impression that Meyer adores all of his characters--even the villains. In fact, if a political message exists at all in this decidedly lighthearted, ongoing series of novels, it may just be that despite the situation or so-called moral authority, the value of a single human life should transcend all else. If all of this were not enough to recommend it, "Wizard" is infinitely enhanced by Luke Daniels, who turns in a truly sublime performance, transforming Meyer's novel into something indefinable yet superior to the book itself in the hands of the reader.

Paradoxically, the best thing about audiobooks also happens to be the one thing that detractors always smugly cite as the medium's greatest disadvantage: a novel must be interpreted and read by someone, and if that someone is not you, then it's not really "reading," now is it? It's "listening," they say. Well, whatever; reading a story is like making waffles: sometimes I prefer making my own waffles, and other times I like going to Waffle House.

And with that said, if Luke Daniels, the narrator of "Off to See the Wizard," had decided to become a waffle chef rather than a voice actor, undoubtedly he would have become the greatest ever in the field of waffle making; he would be the Waffle Master. His waffles would be traded on the open market like commodities or Microsoft stock, and tales of their unique flavor would be passed down as legend. Instead of making addictive, delicious waffles, however, he conjures delicious, addictive narration, and he is a prime example of why I say that audiobooks, although they must differ in some respects from sitting down with a text and "reading," nonetheless the experience can at times surpass that act of textual consumption. Luke adds a layer of accessibility to whatever he narrates that cannot be added by a reader alone. His ability to morph into an entire cast of characters, for example, is endlessly fascinating. Each voice is authentic and pleasing: he is the Platonic ideal of narrators. And with Meyer supplying the text, the pair of them are the very definition of outstanding audio.

Delightfully Geeky

This book has a very fun story with a lot of geeky references and belly laughs. The narrator does a great job as well.

Perfect for what it is! Good Fun nerdy fiction!

Where does Off to Be the Wizard rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not a fair question. Of course it is not the best audio book I have listened to thus far, but that it not what it is aspiring to be. It is aspiring to be a super fun romp through magically awesome neediness, and in that, it succeeds beautifully!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Phillip. Seriously, the narrator really brought him to life. The treasury agents are also brought to life by Luke's killer narration. Dear heavens, there were some hilarious moments.

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Life! OMG, I am not sure I have ever heard such awesome narration. Sarcasm, effects, he is amazing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really a moving book. Funny, yes. Awesome, yes.

Any additional comments?

This book has been a great break from my more heady sci fi endeavors of late. Needed something a bit easier after Red Rising, Seveneves, and Fear the Sky (all amazing books btw).

A Very Enjoyable Experience!

What made the experience of listening to Off to Be the Wizard the most enjoyable?

A delightful book. The perfect laid back summer read.

What did you like best about this story?

I was worried about the main character at first, but he becomes very likable. He learns, grows, and doesn’t complain while working with his mentor.

What about Luke Daniels’s performance did you like?

Amazing! He gave each character a separate voice and personality. This really brought them to life and enhanced the experience. One of but best performances I have heard thus far.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wanted a book that was easy going and fun. This delivered that and then some.

Absolutely Brilliant!

What did you love best about Off to Be the Wizard?

Narration was the best I have ever heard. I was grinning from ear to ear through the entire book. Luke Daniels is a master!

What did you like best about this story?

Unique and very intriguing! Time travel, wizards, orcs!

What about Luke Daniels’s performance did you like?

Every character was so different from the others. His voice was so engaging, every time I listened I was enveloped into the story!