Shawn

Jack L. Chalker takes a lot of classic fantasy ideas—dragons, witches, barbarians, genies, unicorns, quests—and constantly flips your expectations. The monsters aren’t always monsters, the heroes have to earn everything they become, and magic behaves more like a science than a miracle.

The first third is mostly setup and worldbuilding, but once the Company forms the story finds its stride. I especially enjoyed how Joe and Marge slowly transformed into people who actually belonged in High Pothique instead of instantly becoming fantasy heroes. The dragon storyline and Dacaro’s betrayal were probably my favorite parts of the novel.

The biggest weakness is that some of the pacing drags while Chalker explains the Rules of the world, and the Dark Baron never becomes quite as compelling as the supporting cast around him. Still, the humor, creativity, and willingness to subvert fantasy clichés kept me invested all the way through.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced 1980s portal fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still building an imaginative world, this is an easy recommendation. I’ll definitely continue the series.