THE ROAD HOME

The seventh part of Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame series (The Road to Ehvenor, 1991, etc.), wherein various exiles from Earth struggle to eradicate slavery from, and introduce technology to, a world where magic works and telepathic dragons are real. This time, young Jason Cullinane, Ahira the dwarf, and their uneasy ally, Toryn of the Slavers' Guild, combine to track down the elusive Mikyn, who's masquerading as the dreaded, semi-mythical Warrior while indiscriminately murdering slave owners and slave- takers. Meanwhile, Walter Slovotsky, an opinionated, middle-aged know-it-all, joins forces with hated rival Bren Adahan to follow Jason and thus avoid the unwelcome attentions of the Emperor's mother. It turns out that the Slavers' Guild has arranged matters to draw Walter and Bren away from Home in order to threaten their womenfolk. All ends well, however, as Mikyn is serendipitously slain, Toryn turns out to be a good guy, sort of, and a cooperative dragon, Ellegon, whisks Walter and Bren back home just in time to thwart the Guild's plans. Walter, whose first-person narrative alternates with an authorial third person, is as tiresome a character as they come. Add on the nonexistent plot and absence of action—and this entry will certainly try the patience of even the most devoted series fans.