THE ROAD TO EHVENOR: Vol. VI of Guardians of the Flame

A long, long road indeed: sixth of Rosenberg's fantasy ""Guardians of the Flame"" series (The Warrior Lives, 1988), wherein various characters from Earth struggle to right wrongs in a world where magic works. Here, a doorway into the dark land of Faerie has opened, allowing assorted dire creatures through. So our heroes set forth to investigate: Jason, callow son and heir of the late, famous Karl Cullinane; narrator and leader, the gabby wiseacre Walter Slovotsky; the female warrior Tennetty; the dwarf Ahira; and Andrea Cullinane, who will expend all her wizardly powers to close the opening into Faerie. To complicate the picture somewhat, another ""warrior lives"" character has appeared, masquerading as the dead Karl Cullinane in order to attack and daunt the slave dealers; unfortunately, Mikyn, a friend of Jason's, has also taken to murdering law-abiding citizens. Oh, and Walter has marital problems. The same recipe as before: heroic travelogue in a hollow and makeshift setting, sustained by verbose commentary and interspersed with bouts of bloodthirsty action. An inflatable yarn with no real reason for being.