Wizard

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

24375

Title

Wizard

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in 1605 Speyer, this science fiction tale follows Jonas, a telepathic hero navigating a world of superstition and the Holy Inquisition. When accused of witchcraft, he must prove his innocence without magic, using his unique mind-reading abilities to expose the Inquisitor's fears and secure a future for his secret Brotherhood.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the year 1605 in the town of Speyer, the story follows Jonas, a member of the Brotherhood, a hidden group of telepaths. Jonas arrives in the town seeking shelter after being pursued by the zealous Inquisitor, Herr Knupf, who recently burned Jonas's host's son for heresy. The Scharpe family takes Jonas in, though they remain fearful of the Inquisition's power. Jonas possesses the ability to read minds, a talent the Inquisition interprets as demonic wizardry. Accused of heresy, he is imprisoned and brought before Knupf to face execution at the stake. Jonas realizes that the Inquisition's authority rests entirely on the superstition that telepathy is magic. To save himself and the Brotherhood, he devises a psychological strategy to dismantle this belief. During his confrontation with Knupf, Jonas does not cast spells but instead uses his telepathic abilities to read the Inquisitor's thoughts and predict his actions. He frames these feats as natural human capacities rather than supernatural powers. His ultimate proof comes when he challenges Knupf to pray. Since a 'wizard' could not pray, Jonas's ability to meditate and invoke the name of God demonstrates his humanity and innocence. Knupf, initially skeptical and hostile, is gradually swayed by Jonas's calm demeanor and the logical impossibility of a wizard praying. Convinced that telepaths are ordinary men, Knupf halts the witch trials and burnings in Speyer. Jonas is released, and the Inquisitor becomes a powerful ally to the Brotherhood. The narrative concludes with the cessation of executions in the region, achieved not through supernatural force but through reason and psychological insight. The story highlights the theme that truth and logic can dismantle deep-seated superstition, while also exploring the dangers of prejudice and the resilience of the human spirit against tyranny.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg24375.epub

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Categories

• Supernatural Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Conspiracy Fiction