The Tail of the Arabian, Knight

In the mold of professor-turned-adventurer Indiana Jones, Marsh's hero Lincoln Blackthorne is a New Jersey tailor who also goes on dangerous quests for magical talismans. On his first treasure hunt, The King of Satan's Eyes, it was a deck of playing cards that promised immortality. This time it's the fabulously bejeweled tail of an Arabian horse, Knight, that is reputed to have mystical healing powers. The journey takes Blackthorne from an arid pueblo in New Mexico to the frozen Yukon. Along the way he has a near-fatal encounter every few pages; in fact, one would suspect a spoof if Marsh showed any signs of having a sense of humor. Like clockwork, there emerge the usual weapons, not forgetting a bow and arrow, a menagerie of snakes, spiders and scorpions, even earthquakes and flash floods. The story is more suitable for adventure/thriller fans than science fiction readers. (July 18)