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SERRAted Edge #1 & 4
The Chrome Borne
Hot rods and high magic - previously published in two volumes as Born to Run and Chrome Circle - meet in a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek fantasy.
640 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
5 people are currently reading
679 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 25, 2007
A rather fantastic book that I recall reading with my head tilted at a permanent 45-degree angle. This being Mercedes Lackey, it's incredibly entertaining, but skirts the dark side of bad!fic. I mean really, the bad guys are elves who specialize in kiddie porn and snuff films.
September 1, 2008
elves on motorcycles. I had fun with this one.
March 23, 2021
Both of the stories in this book are brilliant - with the 1st story: Born to Run, and the 4th: Chrome Circle.
Both stories are part of the Serrated Edge Series, co-written by Mercedes Lackey, and Larry Dixon.
Both stories involve Tannim, a human, and a Mage, whose life is full of loud music, fast cars, and elves who are crazy about racing those fast cars.
As usual with any book written by Misty, they are full of deep characters, and plotlines that leave you guessing - in other words, a brilliant read!
I read both stories in this omnibus, with stories 2 & 3 in the other omnibus: The Other World.
All four stories were great, even for someone like me, who doesn't know her clutch from her hub cap! 😁
Both stories are part of the Serrated Edge Series, co-written by Mercedes Lackey, and Larry Dixon.
Both stories involve Tannim, a human, and a Mage, whose life is full of loud music, fast cars, and elves who are crazy about racing those fast cars.
As usual with any book written by Misty, they are full of deep characters, and plotlines that leave you guessing - in other words, a brilliant read!
I read both stories in this omnibus, with stories 2 & 3 in the other omnibus: The Other World.
All four stories were great, even for someone like me, who doesn't know her clutch from her hub cap! 😁
February 15, 2022
Full review here:
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
Other than the rather jarring tonal shift between the books coillected here, the series has held up well and remains a fun way to spend some free time.
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
Other than the rather jarring tonal shift between the books coillected here, the series has held up well and remains a fun way to spend some free time.
December 6, 2018
Muscle cars and high magic. My two favorite things in a book. This could honestly be a longer book or a series.
February 15, 2019
I enjoyed these two books...I liked the second one even more than the first! However, this is not a clean read—some language and situations aren’t good for young readers...but the humor is great!
Want to read
September 3, 2014A song written by Mercedes Lackey was put out a cassette/CD called "Serrated Edge" with Tempest's music of Traditional based reels and ballads of old England.
You can sample some of the songs on YouTube, although the only place to buy it is from the Firebird Arts and Music website.
Hal-an-Tow
Raggle Taggle Gypsy
A Kiss in the Morning Early
Reels on Fire(Heather Bell/Monaghan Twig/Wind That Shakes the Barley).
The House Carpenter
Dark Lover - the only Mercedes Lackey written song.
The Ballydesmond Set. (Ballydesmond/Born to Run (Sorbye)/Bill Sullivan’s).
(I was not able to find "Whiskey in the Jar", "Tam Lin" and "Mad Tom of Bedlam" for this album by Tempest.)
You can sample some of the songs on YouTube, although the only place to buy it is from the Firebird Arts and Music website.
Hal-an-Tow
Raggle Taggle Gypsy
A Kiss in the Morning Early
Reels on Fire(Heather Bell/Monaghan Twig/Wind That Shakes the Barley).
The House Carpenter
Dark Lover - the only Mercedes Lackey written song.
The Ballydesmond Set. (Ballydesmond/Born to Run (Sorbye)/Bill Sullivan’s).
(I was not able to find "Whiskey in the Jar", "Tam Lin" and "Mad Tom of Bedlam" for this album by Tempest.)
March 2, 2014
Tannim is a human mage fond of fast cars and loud music, working with the elf lord Keighvin to rescue runaway kids in serious trouble. But those kids are being used by Keighvin's enemies to bait a trap. What's more, Tannim's predilection for dangerous women may turn lethal. He thinks he's found Ms. Right, but she seems to want to kill him. Tannim's magery is sometimes erratic -- but his talent for getting himself into trouble is perfect!
-- My Notes
Omnibus edition of Serrated Edge volumes 1 & 4.
November 2, 2014
Tannim is a human mage fond of fast cars and loud music, working with the elf lord Keighvin to rescue runaway kids in serious trouble. But those kids are being used by Keighvin's enemies to bait a trap. What's more, Tannim's predilection for dangerous women may turn lethal. He thinks he's found Ms. Right, but she seems to want to kill him. Tannim's magery is sometimes erratic -- but his talent for getting himself into trouble is perfect!
March 13, 2014
I picked this up because I wanted something I knew would transport and capture me. As always with Mercedes Lackey, I was right. I very, very much enjoyed this book (or rather, two-books-in-one). Recommended to any Lackey fans and anyone else who thinks the idea of High Elves racing cars is too intriguing to let pass you by. Trust me on this one - read it.
November 20, 2008
This collection is light, enjoyable fare. Normally I'd rate it three stars, but the dreadful cover art mandates punishment.
August 20, 2010
I like the first story, "Born to Run", but lost interest in the second, "Chrome Circle" and never really finished it.
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November 23, 2015owned this once upon a time in high school....
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews