The Wizard of Zao

'A few years ago it occurred to me that it might be fun to design an entire solar system full of planets, and set a novel on each planet —and not science fiction novels either, as you might logically expect—but heroic fantasy. Not only would this be fun to do,but, since nobody else has ever done it before, it could be an original and interesting experiment:'
— Lin Carter

THE WIZARD OF ZAO is just such a novel. Taking place on a planet revolving around the star Kylix in the Constellation of the Unicorn, it is Lin Carter at his most imaginative. For the story of the wandering green wizard, the most powerful wonder-worker of that amazing sphere, of his newly purchased slave girl who knew nothing of civilized ways, and of the mythical beasts and curious humans they encountered is a constant source of delight. For the wizard did have a purpose to his travels—and thereby hangs the tale!