Magnus and Alea this time find a lost earth colony - one that suffered all the catastrophes associated with Earth withdrawing its support from them after the colony was established but before it had completely taken root. Famine, plague, technological reversion - the whole nine yards. And into the vacuum that left stepped a new class of magicians - some technological, some animal handlers and some ghost leaders. Yes, ghosts. With the help of a bumbling apprentice ghost leader and a nascent wyverneer, Magnus and Alea teach the oppressed serfs about the Way of Taoism. This becomes their level with which to pull down the magicians.

Again, slightly different. In this one, Magnus and Alea do more running away and more coaxing and teaching than in other books. And this one starts to have some of the goofiness of the Warlock series - the ghost to ghost network and the duel against the ghost in ruined city - with all kinds of body part puns were memorable in that regard. ( )