Dragon Circle: Dra Hc

The author of An Excess of Enchantments presents, in his latest fantasy, a seemingly straightforward portrait of suburban life complete with such stereotypical sites as Chestnut Circle and Oak Street. And though Gardner's characters, too, seem familiar--a divorced mother (whose son Nick figures prominently in the action), two tough teenagers, a bickering elderly couple--they turn out to be an odd amalgam, set in an unusual environment where they often act against type (and against readers' expectations) in order to survive. Contrasted with these ``normal'' folk is a singular supporting cast: rival ``brother wizards'' named Nunn and Obar, a race of beings called the Anno and several other sentient characters whom Gardner imbues with particularly distinctive personalities. Despite the novel's bizarre happenings, Gardner remains up front with his characters and their actions, setting up situations and taking advantage of them immediately, rather than prolonging the suspense. And though he is not a consistently adept stylist, his clear enjoyment of the proceedings should be infectious. As if signalling that it is the first in a series, the book ends with a cliffhanger that is certain to lure readers into the sequel. (May)