WTF, Gandalf?

What's so awesome about Gandalf, and what makes him a wizard besides being old, having a beard, and being generally sneaky?  I haven't heard a single mention of a magic wand or anything tied to sorcery.  So far, he has a map and he's out seeking a magical treasure. 

Gandalf is not a wizard.  He's a conniving, drinking, smoking, bearded, smooth-talking, well-connected, sword-fighting pirate.  

Comments

[finn]

Didn't he set those pine cones on fire with magic already?

[nataliepo]

"He gathered the huge pine-cones from the branches of the tree. Then he set one alight with bright blue fire, and threw it whizzing down among the circle of wolves."

The magic involved is questionable, and I'm confident that a pirate could have carried out those very same steps with a match or a lighter.

[Adam Rice]

I loved it when he tricked the trolls by doing their voices.

[Xris Ernest Hall]

It's impossible to answer this honestly without getting into major spoiler territory, but suffice it to say, there's a method to his madness.

[David Jacobs]

Natalie is trolling, it's safe to ignore her in this case. She doesn't want the book to be spoiled, although I suspect she may find this site (esp. the comments) more entertaining than the book itself.

[nataliepo]

Come on. I'm dying for a spoiler here or at least a strong outcry against my pirate claims. It's already clear that I would have stopped reading this book if it weren't for this backchannel of my analysis.

[rayners]

"Magic" is a relative term. You have to remember that a lighter *would* be magic for these backwards neanderthals.

[Xris Ernest Hall]

Gandalf's role in Middle Earth is like that of a mega-powerful guardian angel, sent by the Gods of Middle-earth once they had figured that directly interfering in the affairs of MIddle-Earth wasn't working out that well (see, Numenor), but one with a mandate that combines Star Trek's Prime Directive with the Hippocratic Oath--his role is to make the right thing happen with the absolute minimum use of his power. So mostly he is there to nudge people long and give them the motivation to solve their problems themselves. In that sense, he's like a really good engineering manager.

Rest assured, he is capable of very powerful magic if the occasion demands.

[Adam Rice]

What Chris said -- true wizardry lies not in the exercise of power.

[David Jacobs]

As a great wizard once said "Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them."

[Victor Ganata]

"That is most of it, being a wizard--seeing and listening. The rest is technique." -- Schmendrick the Magician "The Last Unicorn" ;)

[Mark Simmons]

I'm pretty sure DJ Chall didn't even read the book.

Natalie: He is not a pirate. He is not a wizard. He's a robot.

Sorry, had to spoil. But at least I didn't tell you about his flying shoes...doh!

[Jay Allen]

djchall, I believe that by mentioning Star Trek's Prime Directive in a discussion about LotR, you have just violated the fourth rule of Fight Club.

[nataliepo]

Speaking of fighting, Gandalf is the only one involved. I just envision the dwarves running the hell away from everything that ever crosses their path, and Gandalf rolling his eyes and pulling out a light saber-like sword to slay everything with ease.

[Will Mallette]

As a published author of part one of a fantasy trilogy, I appreciate a good story about a wizard. The Hobbit is good, and Gandalf does some magic eventually. The Lord of the rings trilogy is good also.
If you like stories about wizard and some good magic, I'd like to draw your attention to my latest book, The Magic of Fuller, "Keeper of the Stone." http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheMagicofFullerBookOne-KeeperoftheStone.html