WISHING SEASON

There are—count them—nine genies in this slapstick tale of pride going before a fall, love requited (and unrequited), and don't-count-your-chickens. Genie Khalid, star pupil of master teacher Ishmael, forgets to say (on his trial rub) that none of Haroun's three wishes can be a wish for more wishes. Result: Khalid is doomed to serve Haroun and no one else, while Ishmael is imprisoned by the genie council. But Haroun agrees to free Khalid after beautiful genie Tamar brings princess Nur to Haroun's palace, despite the machinations of evil genie Gamal- -who's jealous of Tamar's love for Khalid—and the interference of the entire council of five. (It also takes the help of talking cat Boabdil, who ends up with three wishes apiece from six genies.) Aye, there's the rub... Each entry in the ``Dragonflight'' series (this is the eighth) deals with a major fantasy theme. Is the one here goofy humor, or tales of the Djiin? Either way, it's a smoothly written tale, and SF great Kelly Freas's drawings are as apt and appealing as they were 30 years ago. (Fiction. 12+)