Twilight Realm

by Carpenter C.

Five young people addicted to a fantasy role-playing game are transformed into characters with remarkable powers and sent into a strange and dangerous parallel world.

Genres: Fantasy

302 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1987

Reviews

[alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

good idea lacks depth

[Daniel Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a kid (and just read the prologue again tonight, having obtained another copy recently). It was the first major work of Fantasy I read in younger years, and followed it up with 'Pawn of Prophecy' by David Eddings. But the Twilight Realm remains a classic of fantasy literature. I think critics can always find things to poke at with books, always wanting things to work out in some sort of way as a testimony to their morals and ideals. But life isn't like that. This book, like all books really, follows the logic of the author for the most part and, if you don't really like what the author is writing, fair enough, but some people do. I adored the Twilight Realm as a kid and was lost in the adventure for many days, reading it at home and at school. Following the 5 from Sharalidor to Madrimar was as big and as important to me in my teen years as the Bulldogs winning the Rugby League Grand Final. I was hooked. Ultimately it is a classic teen novel, and if you look for faults I guess you will find them, and if you over intellectualize what is supposed to be an adventure novel for teens, go right ahead. Either way, I won't be losing sleep because the 'Twilight Realm' is one of the best and most entertaining of works for young readers that I have ever read. Filled with heart, soul and compassion - real characters, and not throwaway action heroes. Real people confronting fantastic realities. All in all it is another 'Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' and it is surely a triumphant classic for the ages. I ADORED it. 12 out of 10.

[CL · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the character development made this book. I could take or leave the battle scenes: exciting for the moment, they weren't the things that lasted. What the characters learned about themselves and took back to earth gave the book meaning. The distancing of some relationships, and the tightening of others was what I enjoyed about this book. The trip to the alien planet was a trip outside of their stuck, entrenched selves on earth. They returned to earth with no certain answers about their lives but with a new perspective on what used to lurk in the dark corners of their personalities. Through this uncertainty about themselves, lies the hope for new growth into better human beings. A hope that all healthy people long for.

[Charles Lupo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am trying to clear my bookshelf of old books, by rereading them on last time. This book has moved with me and survived many, many purges over the last 30 years. It must have made quite impression on my teenage self, because I don't recall reading it more than once.

As a reread it was just OK. I vaguely recalled the major plot twists, but not the exact details. It is one of the reasons I rarely reread books. I think this sort of book is called RPG lit now. I can see why my younger self liked it, but now it's time to let it move on.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twilight Realm by Christopher Carpenter.

Five friends, meeting for their weekly fantasy game where they are great heroes battling monsters and evil wizards, are transported to a realm of magic and danger as characters of great power where they take up the quest to defeat the evil sorcerer spreading fear and despair over the land.

The story and characters were a little flat with little characterisation, but I did enjoy this book, overall. The fantastical nature of the world wasn't utilised enough and the ending came surprisingly quickly. It had a lot of good ideas that should have been explored further.

[Tauna Garvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent book. Very imaginative and thought provoking.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheesy, lots of fun, like a D&D session.

[Erica Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book. The only character I was upset with was Teresa. She was an ugly ducking and then when she went to the other world, she was a beautiful swan. Her powers were weak to me, because everytime something gross happened, she would fly away. It seemed like she never appreciated how she looked at her old self.