Return from Avalon

by Rusty Rhoad

Road trips can go off road, but they should NEVER go into parallel worlds. Fueled by discontent and odd dreams, middle-aged Arnie Penders sells his used bookstore and goes on a road trip. He's driven-literally-toward something . . . but what? Unsure of his destination or his destiny he journals his trip in a group of letters to his ex-wife. This mild mannered bookseller with self-deprecating wit transforms into a man of action with a length of rebar during a mugging. A series of encounters with ghosts and offbeat women mark the ongoing road trip-including a potty-mouthed-waitress-turned-Baja-racecar-driver, and a new age enthusiast who takes him to a tarot card reading. A deck has only one of each card in it, and yet the King of Swords turns up twice. Haunting dreams, a guiding apparition, and a 200-year-old book of bad poetry herald the reincarnation of King Arthur in the 17th century. Driven to find the fictitious King Arthur in the poem, Arnie makes his way to Wales, reputed to be the location of Arthur's return. Can Arnie decipher-and survive-what the legendary King Arthur, the ghostly apparition, and the King of Swords want from him?

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2013

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who among us hasn’t had the fantasy of cashing it all in, packing up the car, and taking off for parts unknown? And who among us doesn’t imagine ourselves for one moment as the hero of the day?

Meet Arnie Penders, bored with his day-to-day life as a bookseller and prodded by the most unusual dreams. He packs up Delilah—that’s his car, not his girlfriend—and heads out on a road trip. Never expecting that he will see dead people—when the world once again has need of heroes.

This is Rusty Rhoad's debut novel and without a doubt his is a delightful new voice in the Tom Robbins and Christopher Moore tradition. He never misses an opportunity to appreciate life's ironies.

You will smile, chuckle, even laugh out loud at the smart, witty, clever writing. Rhoad's satirical view of the universe and his store of knowledge from all things Arthurian to the finer points of major league baseball guarantee a fun read. The epistolary format could be limiting, but not under his deft hand.

[Bruce D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return from Avalon is written as a series of letters by main character Arnie Penders to ex-wife Jen. Spurred on by strange dreams, Penders sells his successful rare book store in San Francisco and begins driving East, not quite comprehending where his adventure would eventually lead him. From the bleak scenery of The Badlands of South Dakota to the mysteries of Stonehenge, Penders discovers skills and abilities that would change the world in subtle ways and change his life profoundly.

Rhoad does a masterful job of gently moving from the every-day world through the realm of myths and legends and back, as Penders slowly begins realizing that the true nature of his quest goes far beyond the ordinary and explicable and is guided by forces that are beyond his comprehension.

This would be an excellent book for any fan of Arthurian legend but anyone not familiar with the lore will still be captivated by the story of Penders' quest.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that sets itself apart with clever, winning characters and entirely unique ghostly happenings in a time when original ideas are rare. One can't help but admire Rhoad's style and wit. I highly recommend.