Book two of John Varley's Gaea Trilogy is interesting in contrast to the Ringworld series. I really liked the first Ringworld book. But, after that, Niven seemed more interested in talking about alien inter-species sex than in writing a coherent and interesting story. (That's right! I'm dissing Ringworld. Ender's Game sucks too.) Wizard also delves into sex with aliens, but it doesn't detract from the story, much.

Nor is the book simply more of the same. This is a very different book from Titan. The characters have more depth. It's pretty damn good. Certainly good enough to make me read final book. It's only real drawback, common to most middle installments of trilogies, is that it's really just setting things in place for the final book. Given that inherent limitation, it's still a fine read.

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This sequel to Titan picks up 75 years later with Cirocco Jones a drunk, and the Titan Gaea's chief trouble shooter, a wizard. The story also involves her sidekick Gaby Plauget.
Pilgrims make journeys from Earth to beg Gaea for aid with their problems. They can get it - if they are entertaining enough for her, or undertake an interesting enough quest.
Wizard is about Cirocco, Gaby and two pligrims from Earth, Chris Major and Robin the Nine-Fingered. Its a lot of fun, with wold building taking much of the center stage, especially for the centauroid Titanides and things like the buzz bombs.

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