Into the Fire

Brimming with insubstantial stock fantasy characters, this sequel to last year's Into the Forge does, however, boast lots of plot. Our heroes, the warrows--short people reminiscent of hobbits but without the charm--take to heart the prophecy, ""Seek the aid of those not men to quench the fires of war,"" and spend much of their time with various supernatural creatures. Two-dimensional elves, dwarves, stone giants, magical wolves, warrior maidens and a host of good guys battle the forces of darkness and win only because of the quick thinking of the height-challenged heroes. Warrows Tipperton Thistledown and Beau Darby are on a quest to find the High King and deliver a token to him. Traveling the length of their beloved land, they plod from ambush to battle, striving to save the lives of their friends and stay one step ahead of the dread Modru and his Swarm. Plagues and pitfalls notwithstanding, the brave, half-pint warriors prove their mettle again and again as they are befriended by taller people of every ilk. Even with a war going on, romance blossoms, and, as one would expect, evil is eventually vanquished so that laughter and song can again peal forth across the land. What hath Tolkien wrought? (Sept.)