I've read some reviews of this book that are really quite disparaging. I have to disagree. In the series, I would actually rate this one quite highly. It's certainly possible that I do so only because I enjoy reading Piers Anthony and Rick Cook, too. It certainly seemed to me that Stasheff out-Piers Piers in this case. The Warlock Rock is absolutely chock full of puns, banter back and forth between all parties involved and music references galore. Of course, I'm a big music junkie, so maybe that's the reason I like it.

Speaking of music references, Stasheff hits several of the larger rock sub-genres: rock and roll, soft rock, progressive rock, acid rock, hard rock and heavy metal. He touches on several influential artists including: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister, Thelonius Monk, the Grateful Dead, and Led Zeppelin. He even brings in several songs in particular including: Rock Around the Clock, Purple Haze, and Blue Suede Shoes. And I'm sure I missed some references...

Of course, in this one there was some commentary about how the music industry is often guilty of producing crap that sells and warps the minds of the young instead of promoting good quality musical talent. That was certainly necessary, and is still relevant today. Most of the rest of the book, though, seemed to simply revel in pulling in as many rock music references as possible. So if you're not into that kind of thing, you probably won't enjoy the book...

Read 9/2007 ( )