Sorcerer's Son

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Sorcerer's Son
First edition cover, March 1979
Author	Phyllis Eisenstein
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Book of Elementals
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Del Rey Books
Publication date	March 1979
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	380 (paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-451-15683-8 (paperback)
Followed by	The Crystal Palace

Sorcerer's Son, published in 1979, is the first novel in the Book of Elementals series by Phyllis Eisenstein. It was first published by Del Rey Books and has been reprinted several times since then, with the latest version as part of a 2002 omnibus which also includes the second novel, The Crystal Palace. The third novel, The City in Stone, was due for release in 2004 but is still being written.

[edit] Plot summary

Spurned by a rejected offer of marriage, the demon sorcerer Smada Rezhyk begins imagining that the sorceress Delivev of Castle Spinweb is plotting to bring him down. He sends his most faithful demon servant, Gildrum, to take the form of a handsome knight who has been injured in battle and comes to Castle Spinweb for refuge, with the plan to impregnate Delivev with a child - for this purpose, Rezhyk gives the demon his seed. Once Delivev is with child, Rezhyk imagines that he has eleven days to prepare his defences until Delivev discovers the weakening of her powers and aborts the child - what he does not dream of is that the sorceress will not abort her son, and that his faithful demon servant will fall in love with his mortal enemy. Once Cray Ormoru reaches maturity, he starts on a journey as a knight to discover what became of his mysterious father.

Cray gains a few clues to the identity of his father, however he eventually realises that he will be unable to complete his quest as a knight. Consequently, he decides to take up a sorcerous apprenticeship. Rezhyk volunteers to play the role of master to Cray, but secretly seeks to sabotage his magical education. Cray is discouraged, although this turns to anger when Gildrum reveals Rezhyk's falsehood. Gildrum secretly teaches Cray demon summoning. He learns that Rezhyk is his father, and abandons his apprenticeship. Rezhyk tires of his duplicity and orders Cray's death.

Gildrum manages to twist his order's from Rezhyk and hides Cray in the demon realms and continues to teach him sorcery. Cray befriends several demons and realises that he will gain easier success using demon allies than demon slaves. As freed demon slaves cannot be re-enslaved, he offers to free demons permanently in return for service. With an army of demons he returns to defeat Rezhyk, who is already seeking to destroy his mother Delivev. With Rezhyk vanquished, Gildrum is able to reveal his hidden passion for Delivev.