The Road to Ehvenor

The moderately involving sixth installment in the Guardians of the Flame series, following The Warrior Lives , finds Walter Slovotsky, the dwarf Ahira, wizard Andrea Cullinane and her son Jason on the road to Ehvenor to find out why the world of Faerie appears to be increasing its disruptive incursions into Eren, the world of men. They are also searching for Mikyn, Jason's childhood friend, who appears to have taken on the identity of the Warrior (originally Jason's father, Karl) and begun indiscriminately killing slave owners. The rescue of Walter's associates from Home, the settlement devoted to developing Earth technology in Eren, nearly leads to the group's destruction. But they finally reach Ehvenor, only to find an even more dangerous mission involving a malignant spirit (or faerie lord) and Faerie's chaotic, vastly different natural laws. Rosenberg's continuing saga of seven fantasy-game players translated from Earth to a magic-ridden medieval land has its moments, training a wry modern sensibility on unsavory practices like slave trading. Unfortunately, as is the case with many series, it will be difficult for new readers to drop in at this point and find their bearings, although a few hints are vouchsafed. (Dec.)