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Spellsinger #5
The Paths of the Perambulator
With Clothahump and Mudge the Otter, Jonathan Meriweather, the Spellsinger, now faces the greatest challenge of all - for the mysterious Perambulator is threatening the very fabric of the universe.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
56 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
About the author
Alan Dean Foster
498 books2,031 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 22, 2025
The Paths of the Perambulator is a fantastical tale that blends adventure, magic, and the quirky charm Alan Dean Foster is known for. It follows a group of characters navigating a strange world filled with unexpected perils, odd creatures, and clever twists around every corner. The story balances humor with high-stakes challenges, keeping the journey engaging from start to finish.
I really enjoyed The Paths of the Perambulator – it’s a fun, imaginative read with Foster’s signature wit and inventiveness. The world-building is rich, the characters are memorable, and the story had enough twists to keep me turning the pages. Definitely a solid addition to his works.
I really enjoyed The Paths of the Perambulator – it’s a fun, imaginative read with Foster’s signature wit and inventiveness. The world-building is rich, the characters are memorable, and the story had enough twists to keep me turning the pages. Definitely a solid addition to his works.
October 6, 2019
The fifth installment of Alan Dean Foster’s Spellsinger series, which he dedicates to printers Alex Berman and Sid, opens with spellsinging protagonist Jon-Tom sensing something amiss, specifically that he has transformed into a giant blue crab. The reason is the eponymous perambulator, a part-organic, part-inorganic, part-orgasmic creature neither here nor there, only it’s both here and there. Clothahump the turtle wizard is just as scared as Jon-Tom, with he and his owl apprentice Sorbl encountering their own transformations as well. Thus, they begin the search for the perambulator, beginning with the cellar of Clothahump’s home.
For means of faster conveyance across the land, Jon-Tom summons a jeep and gasoline through spellsong, after which they reach the formerly-beautiful, now-downtrodden community of Ospenspri, where, unsurprisingly, the otter Mudge is drinking his worries away. Alcoholic precipitation is summoned to rectify the town’s problems, with Dormas the hinny joining the party. They soon rescue the rune-casting koala Colin from primitive cannibals, with occasional perambulations affecting the party, in one instance turning the animal characters briefly human. Eventually, they come to the fortress where their adversary is, with clones of Jon-Tom’s love Talea attacking.
A confrontation with the wolverine wizard Braglob ends the fifth novel, which is pretty much on par with its predecessors, by no means a bad thing, and, given its comical situations, is a good spiritual successor to classic works such as Lewis Carroll’s stories about Alice. Older audiences, moreover, will definitely appreciate the mature themes and occasional references to musicians, although these might fly over the heads of younger readers. Given my involvement in the furry fandom, moreover, I definitely have a place in my heart for this franchise, and would easily recommend it to those of equal persuasion.
For means of faster conveyance across the land, Jon-Tom summons a jeep and gasoline through spellsong, after which they reach the formerly-beautiful, now-downtrodden community of Ospenspri, where, unsurprisingly, the otter Mudge is drinking his worries away. Alcoholic precipitation is summoned to rectify the town’s problems, with Dormas the hinny joining the party. They soon rescue the rune-casting koala Colin from primitive cannibals, with occasional perambulations affecting the party, in one instance turning the animal characters briefly human. Eventually, they come to the fortress where their adversary is, with clones of Jon-Tom’s love Talea attacking.
A confrontation with the wolverine wizard Braglob ends the fifth novel, which is pretty much on par with its predecessors, by no means a bad thing, and, given its comical situations, is a good spiritual successor to classic works such as Lewis Carroll’s stories about Alice. Older audiences, moreover, will definitely appreciate the mature themes and occasional references to musicians, although these might fly over the heads of younger readers. Given my involvement in the furry fandom, moreover, I definitely have a place in my heart for this franchise, and would easily recommend it to those of equal persuasion.
February 27, 2017
This is my favourite Spellsinger book so far. The story is a little mad but it has a good premise and allows Foster a lot of freedom to try things out. The titular Perambulator is a well conceived "big evil" character and all the way through I was wondering what beast from Jon-Tom's world it would be. It made it clear to me what the earlier stories were missing - something that I actually care about!
My biggest issue with this book is a bit of blatant sexism about half way through which is handled quite poorly - there is an attempt to deflect it as being "oh, it's just his way" but that is then undone by another set of comments later. Perhaps this was acceptable at the time, but it's unpleasant now.
I overall enjoyed the story and whilst it is definitely not worth reading all the books just for this one (as it might be for, say, the later Harry Potter books) it's a nice joy to have it appear in the middle of the series as a reward for (suffering?) coming this far.
I'm a big fan of the John Wayne-alike that appears too..
My biggest issue with this book is a bit of blatant sexism about half way through which is handled quite poorly - there is an attempt to deflect it as being "oh, it's just his way" but that is then undone by another set of comments later. Perhaps this was acceptable at the time, but it's unpleasant now.
I overall enjoyed the story and whilst it is definitely not worth reading all the books just for this one (as it might be for, say, the later Harry Potter books) it's a nice joy to have it appear in the middle of the series as a reward for (suffering?) coming this far.
I'm a big fan of the John Wayne-alike that appears too..
August 13, 2018
8/11/2018 - 4/10
Another adventure romp with a sloppy, scattershot, non-cohesive plot that only consists of dealing with perambulation after perambulation. The romance is very juvenile.
Some passages I liked:
Location: 237
“Anyone is capable of anything,” Clothahump informed him sternly. “There is nothing that can be imagined that cannot be done given enough time, devotion, intelligence, and blind luck.”
Location: 969
I never drink to excess, mate. Me body don’t know the meani’ of the word. I just drink till I’m full. Then I piss it out and start over. So I never reach excess, wot?
Location: 2,537
This was a different kind of magic, ancient and simple, as alien to Jon-Tom as Republican economic policy.
Another adventure romp with a sloppy, scattershot, non-cohesive plot that only consists of dealing with perambulation after perambulation. The romance is very juvenile.
Some passages I liked:
Location: 237
“Anyone is capable of anything,” Clothahump informed him sternly. “There is nothing that can be imagined that cannot be done given enough time, devotion, intelligence, and blind luck.”
Location: 969
I never drink to excess, mate. Me body don’t know the meani’ of the word. I just drink till I’m full. Then I piss it out and start over. So I never reach excess, wot?
Location: 2,537
This was a different kind of magic, ancient and simple, as alien to Jon-Tom as Republican economic policy.
March 9, 2020
This is one of my favourite books the spellsinger series has everything action magic sex appeal and an otter with attitude
June 1, 2024
The continuing adventures of Jon-Tom the Spellsinger. He sets off with his mentor Clothahump to find the source of unexpected and unpredictable changes to the world - with some unpleasant consequences - great read!
October 22, 2019
Continues to hold my attention, this one had a Koala in it :)
December 10, 2021
I do find that I like the Characters in this series, but feel that the series sort of drags on for me. this book was still a good read
Read
October 23, 2025With Clothahump and Mudge the Otter, Jonathan Meriweather, the Spellsinger, now faces the greatest challenge of all - for the mysterious Perambulator is threatening the very fabric of the universe.
March 5, 2017
Graphic Audio makes these books a hoot to read! Hoot Hoot Hoot!
September 18, 2015
Off to fight a baby carriage
4 February 2012
It appears from looking at some of the reviews that the concept of anthropomorphic animals wearing clothes is something more for children and teenagers as opposed to adults, however I would hardly call the Spellsinger series a children's book. It is probably more suited to the young adult market, but then by the time one gets to being a young adul, the whole concept of talking animals simply seems to be a little childish, despite Foster attempting to make some of them (like Mudge) crewed and sex mad.
It seems that Foster's imagination was declining a bit in these later books, particularly since all of the book's titles have been alliterative (that is using the same letter to start each of the main words – I believe that is what alliteration is, but please correct me if I am wrong). This is not really all that surprising since most of Foster's works tends to be the novelisation of movies. I'm not a big fan of novelisations since if a movie is made from a book, the adaptation generally does not adequately bring out the best of the book, whereas I struggle to understand how novelising a movie can really produce a decent work of literature.
As for the idea of talking animals, I am sort of on a borderline with that idea. When I consider C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, which included talking animals, I find that the strength of Lewis' story telling easily outweighs the use of such animals. There is a similar idea with Alice in Wonderland (not that I have actually read the book so I cannot say whether this is the same thing). However Narnia is clearly a children's book, and both Narnia and Alice in Wonderland are allegories. This is the form that most fantasy novels would take up to Lord of the Rings (though one can also argue that Tolkien is writing allegorically as well, exploring the conflict between the idyllic and the industrial, despite the fact that he vehemently denied it).
Some have said that Foster has returned to a good novel in this one, but it is something that I can't really say too much since it has been a while since I read these books (and the fact that I am writing about them now is evidence that it is unlikely that I will read them again). Apparently an extra-dimensional being, known as the Perambulator, has appeared and is causing havoc and turning the world into a chaotic mess, so Jon-Tom, Mudge, and Clothahump go and attempt to kick it off into another dimension. The funny thing is that a perambulator is actually the proper name for a pram, the type used to push babies around.
4 February 2012
It appears from looking at some of the reviews that the concept of anthropomorphic animals wearing clothes is something more for children and teenagers as opposed to adults, however I would hardly call the Spellsinger series a children's book. It is probably more suited to the young adult market, but then by the time one gets to being a young adul, the whole concept of talking animals simply seems to be a little childish, despite Foster attempting to make some of them (like Mudge) crewed and sex mad.
It seems that Foster's imagination was declining a bit in these later books, particularly since all of the book's titles have been alliterative (that is using the same letter to start each of the main words – I believe that is what alliteration is, but please correct me if I am wrong). This is not really all that surprising since most of Foster's works tends to be the novelisation of movies. I'm not a big fan of novelisations since if a movie is made from a book, the adaptation generally does not adequately bring out the best of the book, whereas I struggle to understand how novelising a movie can really produce a decent work of literature.
As for the idea of talking animals, I am sort of on a borderline with that idea. When I consider C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, which included talking animals, I find that the strength of Lewis' story telling easily outweighs the use of such animals. There is a similar idea with Alice in Wonderland (not that I have actually read the book so I cannot say whether this is the same thing). However Narnia is clearly a children's book, and both Narnia and Alice in Wonderland are allegories. This is the form that most fantasy novels would take up to Lord of the Rings (though one can also argue that Tolkien is writing allegorically as well, exploring the conflict between the idyllic and the industrial, despite the fact that he vehemently denied it).
Some have said that Foster has returned to a good novel in this one, but it is something that I can't really say too much since it has been a while since I read these books (and the fact that I am writing about them now is evidence that it is unlikely that I will read them again). Apparently an extra-dimensional being, known as the Perambulator, has appeared and is causing havoc and turning the world into a chaotic mess, so Jon-Tom, Mudge, and Clothahump go and attempt to kick it off into another dimension. The funny thing is that a perambulator is actually the proper name for a pram, the type used to push babies around.
May 15, 2014
The same-ness starts getting to you in binge reading.
This is the fifth book of the spellsinger series. However, there ends up (other than the first) being a level of same-ness to the stories. A problem appears. Jon-Tom has to go take care of it. Mudge doesn't want to go (Although I'll note he does want to go this time, after deciding that everywhere else is too dangerous). They take a long journey. Jon-Tom succeeds in getting them past the problem, except for one time when Mudge has to save them. They get to the problem, and things go badly, until Jon-Tom manages to defeat/solve the problem. There is a hint that more adventures continue. When the next book starts, those adventures haven't appeared, but details from the previous story have been dropped.
This book: Problem = magical force of the universe is trapped, making widespread changes to reality.
Problem Mudge has to solve = Cage of insults
Dropped threads into the next novel = Colin (and technically Dormas, but that one at least makes sense.) I *am* glad to see that the Jon-Tom / Talea relationship didn't suddenly reset / disappear into the next novel, like it did between 2 & 3.
Last book, problem = An evil wizard who may be from Jon-Tom's world that's taken over a town. Problem Mudge has to solve = Plated folk colony. Dropped threads into the next novel = the troupe of otters they've picked up along the way.
That said, they're entertaining escapist fiction. If you've liked the others, you'll like this one.
This is the fifth book of the spellsinger series. However, there ends up (other than the first) being a level of same-ness to the stories. A problem appears. Jon-Tom has to go take care of it. Mudge doesn't want to go (Although I'll note he does want to go this time, after deciding that everywhere else is too dangerous). They take a long journey. Jon-Tom succeeds in getting them past the problem, except for one time when Mudge has to save them. They get to the problem, and things go badly, until Jon-Tom manages to defeat/solve the problem. There is a hint that more adventures continue. When the next book starts, those adventures haven't appeared, but details from the previous story have been dropped.
This book: Problem = magical force of the universe is trapped, making widespread changes to reality.
Problem Mudge has to solve = Cage of insults
Dropped threads into the next novel = Colin (and technically Dormas, but that one at least makes sense.) I *am* glad to see that the Jon-Tom / Talea relationship didn't suddenly reset / disappear into the next novel, like it did between 2 & 3.
Last book, problem = An evil wizard who may be from Jon-Tom's world that's taken over a town. Problem Mudge has to solve = Plated folk colony. Dropped threads into the next novel = the troupe of otters they've picked up along the way.
That said, they're entertaining escapist fiction. If you've liked the others, you'll like this one.
September 25, 2021
And the portal fantasy saga continues. The last couple of books have been fun, but I missed Talea as a main character. Not that I really got her as a main, but as an important secondary who finally comes back into our hero's life in the midst of an adventure that once again has Jon-Tom, Mudge, and Clothahump needing to save the world.
Still enjoying this trip through a fantasy series of my youth that I look back on with a lot of fond memories. Not sure how many times I read these as a teenager, but I have two three-in-one SF Book Club editions to cover the six volumes that I considered the series then. The last two came later. If I recall, the sixth ties up the storyline nicely and sets up for a nice happily ever after. But that's the next volume.
Still enjoying this trip through a fantasy series of my youth that I look back on with a lot of fond memories. Not sure how many times I read these as a teenager, but I have two three-in-one SF Book Club editions to cover the six volumes that I considered the series then. The last two came later. If I recall, the sixth ties up the storyline nicely and sets up for a nice happily ever after. But that's the next volume.
April 1, 2013
A huge improvement over the last one; and maybe I expected too much from a fantasy series about magic anthropomorphic animals. The only sketchy parts for this one were two places where the humor bits were predictable. As for the rest, the book was imaginative, funny and extremely entertaining. (I would like just a little more realism in the characters' actions, more motivations than humor… but that’s a minor complaint.)
February 24, 2012
I read this as a teenager.
Back then I read sci-fi and fantasy almost exclusively, and this author (ADF) was one of my favorites; in particular, his Spellsinger series.
This is the first book in the series that I read, after my cousin Michael recommended it to me. I liked it so much at the time that I read the whole series.
Don't know if I would like this book the same if I re-read it as an adult, but in my memory it was an entertaining read.
Back then I read sci-fi and fantasy almost exclusively, and this author (ADF) was one of my favorites; in particular, his Spellsinger series.
This is the first book in the series that I read, after my cousin Michael recommended it to me. I liked it so much at the time that I read the whole series.
Don't know if I would like this book the same if I re-read it as an adult, but in my memory it was an entertaining read.
April 15, 2012
As entertaining as the rest of the series. The concept of the perambulator is fairly creative. The cover is quite different from the others, but to me it feels like it's perhaps a more accurate depiction of the tone of the novel than the more realistic covers on the previous and subsequent volumes.
November 24, 2015
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
June 10, 2009
Re-reading this one. Always liked Alan Dean Foster.
August 10, 2009
read this series in high school. I'm sure I liked it much more then than I would now.
Read
August 25, 2010OTHERS IN THE SERIES: 1. SPELLSINGER; 2. THE HOUR OF THE GATE; 3. THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE; 4. THE MOMENT OF THE MAGICIAN.
September 28, 2010
GAH!!!!! Anthropomorphised animals with funny names and they wear clothing! I didn't get more than 3 pages. :p
Young adult, I guess.
Young adult, I guess.
Read
September 22, 2012Another book in the series that I enjoyed. Some particularly funny scenes when the perambulator changes up reality for the characters.
October 8, 2014
This is the only book I know of, fantasy or otherwise, with a title containing the word "Perambulator". FYI.
Read
March 21, 2016this was a good one
Read
July 6, 2014This was a great series. I'm considering re-reading it now. I'm looking for images of Clothahump to use on a pathtag, perhaps. I'm a Whizard from Turtle Creek, so it fits.
November 22, 2014
1986 grade C+
2006 grade C-
Series book SS5
2006 grade C-
Series book SS5
Read
April 11, 2010The paths of the Perambulator (Spellsinger series) by Alan Dean Foster (1985)
June 12, 2013
This is what happens when you finally run out of plot.
March 2, 2019
Jammed with a force of the universe! Claim that Jack Black@!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews