Wizard in Chaos

December proves a double-Stasheff month as this talented writer offers not only the fifth book in his Wizard in Rhyme series (reviewed above) but also the fifth in his Rogue Wizard series (A Wizard in Peace, etc.). Magnus D'Armand, aka Gar Pike, travels from planet to planet helping people free themselves from unjust governments. When Gar and his loyal companion, Dirk DuLaine, start investigating the seemingly endless warfare on a world called Durvie, however, they discover that this time there is no central government to overthrow. Durvie's original colonists were anarchists, and now that world is in chaos. Can Gar and Dirk bring order to a planet run by skirmishing feudal lords with no leader to rein them in? As usual, Stasheff delivers a brisk story with smart twists and lots of action, as well as a nicely textured alternate world. Whether his fans dig into either or both of his two new novels, they won't be let down. (Dec.)