What do you think?
Rate this book
Vortex of Worlds #2
Into the Vortex
BOOK TWO IN CHARLES E. GANNON’S VORTEX OF WORLDS EPIC FANTASY SERIES
A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing . . . but knowing the full truth might get you killed.
Druadaen, Outrider for the once-mighty Dunarran Consentium, has proven that there are irreconcilable contradictions between magic and physics on Arrdanc, the world of his birth. And what is his reward for this important discovery, made against all odds and at considerable personal risk? Exile—organized and compelled by nervous temple hierarchs.
However, Druadaen remains determined to uncover what several ancient persons and beings have urged him to “the truth of the world”—which might only be gained by traveling beyond it. Indeed, the mysterious Lady of the Mirror speculates that he might find the answers by journeying to the other side of her unusual looking a reflective, ethereal portal that she calls a “shimmer.”
But there’s a because the mysterious portal only allows a single person to pass through, Druadaen must leave his companions behind. Unfortunately, once he has, they discover that the “shimmer” only allows travelers to leave Arrdanc, not return to it. So his friends, led by stalwart swordsman Ahearn, resolve to find another means by which they can retrieve Druadaen—and with him, the truth of the world.
There’s just one small problem with their the closer they come to finding a solution, the more obvious it becomes that various powers on Arrdanc don’t want them to succeed. In fact, they’d rather Druadaen doesn’t return at all.
So much so that they might kill both him and his friends in order to prevent it.
About This Broken World :
“Charles Gannon puts the skills he has honed writing science fiction and fantasy to good use crafting a story that will keep the reader fairly entertained.” — Manhattan Book Review
About Charles E.
“Chuck Gannon is one of those marvelous finds—someone as comfortable with characters as he is with technology, and equally adept at providing those characters with problems to solve. Imaginative, fun, and not afraid to step on the occasional toe or gore the occasional sacred cow, his stories do not disappoint.” —David Weber
“If we meet strong aliens out there, will we suffer the fate of the Aztecs and Incas, or find the agility to survive? Gannon fizzes with ideas about the dangerous politics of first contact.” —David Brin
“Chuck Gannon writes the kind of science fiction we all grew up rousing, mind-expanding, pulse-pounding sagas of spaceships and aliens. He's a terrific writer, and we're lucky to have him.” —Robert J. Sawyer
“[A] strong [writer of] . . . military SF . . . [much] action going on in his work, with a lot of physics behind it. There is a real sense of the urgency of war and the sacrifices it demands.” — Locus
About the work of Charles E.
Caine’s
“This is military Science Fiction the way it’s supposed to be written. . . . All in all, a highly satisfying tale of the Terran Republic that moves the story forward and sets us up for the next chapter, which promises to be interesting at worst and explosive at best.” — SFcrowsnest
Raising Caine :
“ Raising Caine unveils a lot of thought-provoking ideas but ultimately this is a space opera adventure. There are space battles, daring emergency landings, desperate quests, hand-to-hand combat, and double-and-triple crosses. It’s an engrossing read. You owe it to yourself to read the two previous books in order. Then enjoy Raising Caine . It’s an intergalactic thrill-ride.” — Fantasy and Science Fiction Book and Audiobook Reviews
“This is science-fiction adventure on a grand scale.” — Kirkus
“Gannon’s harrowing . . . military space opera (following Trial by Fire ) builds well on his established setting . . . Gannon’s signature attention to developing realistic alien worlds makes this installment satisfying.” — Publishers Weekly
“[A]n incredibly active book . . . as our protagonists are confronted by the beautiful, terrible, and sometimes lethal variety of the universe and its inhabitants. . . . [A] whole mess of fun . . . that manages to be scientifically accurate while refraining from excessive wonkiness. Those who value meticulous world-building . . . will certainly have their needs met.” — BN Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog
Nebula-nominated Trial by
“I seriously enjoyed Trial by Fire. This one’s a tidal wave—can’t put it down. An excellent book.” —Jack McDevitt
“Gannon's whiz-bang second Tales of the Terran Republic interstellar adventure delivers on the promise of the first ( Fire with Fire ). . . . The charm of Caine's harrowing adventure lies in Gannon's attention to detail, which keeps the layers of political intrigue and military action from getting too dense. The dozens of key characters, multiple theaters of operations, and various alien cultures all receive the appropriate amount of attention. The satisfying resolution is enhanced by the promise of more excitement to come in this...
A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing . . . but knowing the full truth might get you killed.
Druadaen, Outrider for the once-mighty Dunarran Consentium, has proven that there are irreconcilable contradictions between magic and physics on Arrdanc, the world of his birth. And what is his reward for this important discovery, made against all odds and at considerable personal risk? Exile—organized and compelled by nervous temple hierarchs.
However, Druadaen remains determined to uncover what several ancient persons and beings have urged him to “the truth of the world”—which might only be gained by traveling beyond it. Indeed, the mysterious Lady of the Mirror speculates that he might find the answers by journeying to the other side of her unusual looking a reflective, ethereal portal that she calls a “shimmer.”
But there’s a because the mysterious portal only allows a single person to pass through, Druadaen must leave his companions behind. Unfortunately, once he has, they discover that the “shimmer” only allows travelers to leave Arrdanc, not return to it. So his friends, led by stalwart swordsman Ahearn, resolve to find another means by which they can retrieve Druadaen—and with him, the truth of the world.
There’s just one small problem with their the closer they come to finding a solution, the more obvious it becomes that various powers on Arrdanc don’t want them to succeed. In fact, they’d rather Druadaen doesn’t return at all.
So much so that they might kill both him and his friends in order to prevent it.
About This Broken World :
“Charles Gannon puts the skills he has honed writing science fiction and fantasy to good use crafting a story that will keep the reader fairly entertained.” — Manhattan Book Review
About Charles E.
“Chuck Gannon is one of those marvelous finds—someone as comfortable with characters as he is with technology, and equally adept at providing those characters with problems to solve. Imaginative, fun, and not afraid to step on the occasional toe or gore the occasional sacred cow, his stories do not disappoint.” —David Weber
“If we meet strong aliens out there, will we suffer the fate of the Aztecs and Incas, or find the agility to survive? Gannon fizzes with ideas about the dangerous politics of first contact.” —David Brin
“Chuck Gannon writes the kind of science fiction we all grew up rousing, mind-expanding, pulse-pounding sagas of spaceships and aliens. He's a terrific writer, and we're lucky to have him.” —Robert J. Sawyer
“[A] strong [writer of] . . . military SF . . . [much] action going on in his work, with a lot of physics behind it. There is a real sense of the urgency of war and the sacrifices it demands.” — Locus
About the work of Charles E.
Caine’s
“This is military Science Fiction the way it’s supposed to be written. . . . All in all, a highly satisfying tale of the Terran Republic that moves the story forward and sets us up for the next chapter, which promises to be interesting at worst and explosive at best.” — SFcrowsnest
Raising Caine :
“ Raising Caine unveils a lot of thought-provoking ideas but ultimately this is a space opera adventure. There are space battles, daring emergency landings, desperate quests, hand-to-hand combat, and double-and-triple crosses. It’s an engrossing read. You owe it to yourself to read the two previous books in order. Then enjoy Raising Caine . It’s an intergalactic thrill-ride.” — Fantasy and Science Fiction Book and Audiobook Reviews
“This is science-fiction adventure on a grand scale.” — Kirkus
“Gannon’s harrowing . . . military space opera (following Trial by Fire ) builds well on his established setting . . . Gannon’s signature attention to developing realistic alien worlds makes this installment satisfying.” — Publishers Weekly
“[A]n incredibly active book . . . as our protagonists are confronted by the beautiful, terrible, and sometimes lethal variety of the universe and its inhabitants. . . . [A] whole mess of fun . . . that manages to be scientifically accurate while refraining from excessive wonkiness. Those who value meticulous world-building . . . will certainly have their needs met.” — BN Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog
Nebula-nominated Trial by
“I seriously enjoyed Trial by Fire. This one’s a tidal wave—can’t put it down. An excellent book.” —Jack McDevitt
“Gannon's whiz-bang second Tales of the Terran Republic interstellar adventure delivers on the promise of the first ( Fire with Fire ). . . . The charm of Caine's harrowing adventure lies in Gannon's attention to detail, which keeps the layers of political intrigue and military action from getting too dense. The dozens of key characters, multiple theaters of operations, and various alien cultures all receive the appropriate amount of attention. The satisfying resolution is enhanced by the promise of more excitement to come in this...
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
810 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published May 28, 2024
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Charles E. Gannon
78 books207 followersDr. Charles E. Gannon is a Distinguished Professor of English (St. Bonaventure U.) & Fulbright Senior Specialist (American Lit & Culture). He has had novellas in Analog and the War World series. His nonfiction book "Rumors of War and Infernal Machines" won the 2006 ALA Outstanding Text Award. He also worked as author and editor for GDW, and was a routine contributor to both the scientific/technical content and story-line in the award-winning games "Traveller," and "2300 AD." He has been awarded Fulbrights to England, Scotland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Netherlands, and worked 8 years as scriptwriter/producer in NYC.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 30, 2024
TL;DR: Tons of plot thickening as opposed to book one. Druadaen strikes out for answers in a world beyond his own, while his compatriots back on Arrdanc try to find a way to reach him.
A slight step down in terms of sheer excitement and action as opposed to book one. Into the Vortex spends a lot of time exploring the nature of the mirrors or "osmotium" between worlds - though we still don't understand how they work, there's a lot of theory. It's this theory that receives a good amount of page-time and reduces my enjoyment a bit: I realize it could be interesting for many, but I just don't care that much.
Druadaen meets a new companion on the other side of the Mirror, and his story is the more enticing of the two halves, as he has a lot of straight-up surviving to do in a strange, semi-familiar land. Meanwhile, Ahearn, Elweyr, S'ythreni and company get shipwrecked, attacked by bandits, stare into timeless pools, and plumb the depths of a lost city in search of a portal to find their friend.
My favorite character at this point is almost certainly the Dragon, and while this book is lighter on the action than the first, the encounter with the Eye of Oblivion near the end of the book was superbly written and thrilling.
A slight step down in terms of sheer excitement and action as opposed to book one. Into the Vortex spends a lot of time exploring the nature of the mirrors or "osmotium" between worlds - though we still don't understand how they work, there's a lot of theory. It's this theory that receives a good amount of page-time and reduces my enjoyment a bit: I realize it could be interesting for many, but I just don't care that much.
Druadaen meets a new companion on the other side of the Mirror, and his story is the more enticing of the two halves, as he has a lot of straight-up surviving to do in a strange, semi-familiar land. Meanwhile, Ahearn, Elweyr, S'ythreni and company get shipwrecked, attacked by bandits, stare into timeless pools, and plumb the depths of a lost city in search of a portal to find their friend.
My favorite character at this point is almost certainly the Dragon, and while this book is lighter on the action than the first, the encounter with the Eye of Oblivion near the end of the book was superbly written and thrilling.
May 27, 2023
I was able to read the first two books back to back, allowing for an uninterrupted flow of words about Druadaen and company. It has a different tenor, owing to the fact Druadaen and the rest of his companions are eventually separated (per the blurb). I missed the interplay between Druadaen & Ahearn once Druadaen stepped through the Mirror.
With the splitting of the fellowship, Druadaen moves through a new world and makes new friends. And enemies. It seems asking the wrong questions, being curious about how the world works nets the ire of those in power.
Ahearn takes the company to other parts of their world, seeking potential portals in order to link up with Druadaen. With the dragon part of the group, the verbal sparing makes for wonderful reading.
What I missed from the first book was the interactions between all of the characters. With Druadaen missing, the group changes its tone a bit. At the same time, we learn more about the rest of the members. The author is taking us down a rabbit hole and it is deep.
Now to wait for the third book to learn Vortex of Worlds actually is.
With the splitting of the fellowship, Druadaen moves through a new world and makes new friends. And enemies. It seems asking the wrong questions, being curious about how the world works nets the ire of those in power.
Ahearn takes the company to other parts of their world, seeking potential portals in order to link up with Druadaen. With the dragon part of the group, the verbal sparing makes for wonderful reading.
What I missed from the first book was the interactions between all of the characters. With Druadaen missing, the group changes its tone a bit. At the same time, we learn more about the rest of the members. The author is taking us down a rabbit hole and it is deep.
Now to wait for the third book to learn Vortex of Worlds actually is.
May 20, 2023
Another Great Fantasy Novel from Chuck Gannon
This book continues the story of This Broken World, a quest to discover what underlays the strange physics defying nature of this fantasy world--the very power that creates its fantastic powers. The story has a protagonist who is supported by a mixed ensemble of fantasy peoples, and they 'split the party' in their ongoing search for the underlying truth of their world.
Fantastic places and ancient secrets are visited and uncovered. The story keeps up a solid pace throughout.
If you haven't read the first book, do yourself the favor of reading it now, then come to this book for your second course!
This book continues the story of This Broken World, a quest to discover what underlays the strange physics defying nature of this fantasy world--the very power that creates its fantastic powers. The story has a protagonist who is supported by a mixed ensemble of fantasy peoples, and they 'split the party' in their ongoing search for the underlying truth of their world.
Fantastic places and ancient secrets are visited and uncovered. The story keeps up a solid pace throughout.
If you haven't read the first book, do yourself the favor of reading it now, then come to this book for your second course!
May 3, 2023
Charles E. Gannon continues his tale of Druadaen who was exiled from his home because of his discoveries in This Broken World (paper). Sent to a tower with a magical mirror, he elects to pass through the mirror Into the Vortex (hard from Baen) not knowing he would be dumped naked into another world. His friends, with the help of a magical ring, travel to another possible gat, all the while dealing with bar fights, shipwrecks, and buried cities. Everything will all come together in the next book. ,
July 5, 2025
A great middle book. The plot here is split between the MC who is sent through a portal to another world, and the rest of his allies who undergo their own adventures to try and find a way to get the MC back.
One element I like is that characters THINK! They make plans, adjust their ideas, and further explore their respective worlds.
ALSO we get the idea that there is an over arching force/ intelligence that are guiding things to some benevolent end.
Finally, at no time was I bored by any of the characters. I really look forward to the next instalment!
One element I like is that characters THINK! They make plans, adjust their ideas, and further explore their respective worlds.
ALSO we get the idea that there is an over arching force/ intelligence that are guiding things to some benevolent end.
Finally, at no time was I bored by any of the characters. I really look forward to the next instalment!
March 23, 2023
What a world
Gannon has populated a huge cast of characters into several worlds built with rich history and details. I have trouble keeping track of it all! I am looking forward to book three, though.
Gannon has populated a huge cast of characters into several worlds built with rich history and details. I have trouble keeping track of it all! I am looking forward to book three, though.
September 4, 2023
A quest on one world chasing a quest on another world with characters that surprise and grow on you. Complex at times but fun to dig it all out.
November 18, 2023
Second in the Vortex series was unsatisfying in that it ended without resolving the quests described throughout this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews