The River of Dancing Gods

I picked up this book and the rest of the Dancing Gods series off a community free-books shelf a few weeks ago, knowing nothing about them but that they are in the fantasy genre.
If the men who wrote the Urantia Book had instead decided to just focus on writing halfway decent genre fantasy, they might have ended up with something like this book and the rest of the series.Based loosely on Christian mythology, this fantasy lands 2 people from our world in a bizarre place where they are turned into stereotypical comic book characters. The guy, a truck driver, is transformed into a character a bit like Conan, while his companion, a woman he picked up hitchhiking out in the middle of nowhere in Texas, winds up in a skimpy skirt like what Xena show more might wear. All along the characters are aware that the stereotypes they are playing out are rather artificial, but they are Rules developed by a committee that helps manage the world they must navigate through on their equally stereotypical quest. It is hard to work out how tongue-in-cheek some of this book is, but it is creative and entertaining. show less

I remember reading this book for the first time in 10th grade and then doing an oral book report on it in Mrs. Hassell's Sophomore English class. I know I probably went into waaaay too much detail and bored my classmates to death. But what can I say? I liked it!

Does it still hold up? Yes. Yes, it does. True, I identify a few plot weaknesses and continuity errors here and there. But it's still quite good.

In a nutshell, Joe & Marge are given the chance to start whole new lives in an parallel universe where elves, fairies, wizards, witches, dragons, and other magical and fantasy creatures/people exist. Of course, it's a world with its own unique bureaucracy. And there's a war going on. And demons from Hell are semi-active participants. But show more why sweat the small stuff? show less

For fantasy fans, particularly those who prefer somewhat tongue in cheek fantasy, this is an excellent book. The book starts in a very familiar fashion - people from 'normal' Earth cross over into a fantasy world, but then Chalker puts his own unique stamp on it. This is a world where heroes are literally made, then have to live with their roles. Great stuff.

Joe and Marge, two down-on-their-luck people destined to die, are rescued by a wizard named Throckmorton P. Ruddygore. They are transported to Husaquahr, a world of magic where they must help fight a war against the forces of evil. Joe becomes a warrior and Marge a sorceress as they navigate this dangerous, magical landscape,

I like Chalker's science fiction, but I'm not so sure about his fantasy. This was a slow read...it didn't start to get infesting until 2/3 through. But, because it had promise toward the end, I might try the remainder of the series.

A book written in the times of Lord of the Rings, with the same traditional feel. I think I prefer to read this to LoTR, its about a man and a woman who escape the problems and messes of their torn lives and go to another realm where they can live anew.. its the beginning of a lavish series, but I warn you, Jack L. Chalker never published the last novel in the series before he died... so you'll have to use your imagination.

I felt like I was reading back in high school again. Which it was written back then. Like a mix of tolkein and piers anthony. Humor mixed in with fantasy makes a fun read.