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Guardians of the Flame #2
The Sword and the Chain: Book Two of The Guardians of the Flame
Having passed through the Gate back to Earth, Karl Cullinane, Walter Slovotsky and other surviving fellow fantasy gamers now return to the Other Side, a place of mystery, magic, dragons -- and slavery.
The gamers build their own town, using engineering skills learned on Earth. But their fight against slavery continues. Karl and a small band of followers set out to raid wagons before slavers and their captives can reach the slave markets – and, on this latest trip, to deliver a freed slave child back to her family. They face attacks not only from slavers--the Wizards’ Guild, in alliance with the Slavers’ Guild, had set out to destroy them. Courage, ingenuity, and sharp fighting skills are required as these former college gamers make this wondrous but dangerous land their new home.
The second novel in Joel Rosenberg’s bestselling Guardians of the Flame series:
GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME
The Sleeping Dragon (#1)
The Sword and The Chain (#2)
The Silver Crown (#3)
The Heir Apparent (#4)
The Warrior Lives (#5)
Road to Ehvenor (#6)
The Road Home (#7)
Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (#8)
Not Quite Scaramouche (#9)
Not Really the Prisoner of Zenda (#10)
“A major star in the fantasy firmament”
- Mike Resnick, author of STALKING THE UNICORN
“One of the few writers I deliberately seek out . . . His splendid stories are intricate and fast-paced and exciting.”
- Dennis L. McKiernan, author of VOYAGE OF THE FOX RIDER
“If I see a book with Joel Rosenberg’s name on it, I buy it . . . His plots are fast-moving, meticulously crafted . . . his works are page-turners from first to last.”
- S.M. Stirling, author of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA
“One of the leading lights in fantasy.”
- William R. Forstchen
“Joel Rosenberg writes fantasy rich with intelligent humor and gritty, well-researched detail.”
- Janny Wurts
The gamers build their own town, using engineering skills learned on Earth. But their fight against slavery continues. Karl and a small band of followers set out to raid wagons before slavers and their captives can reach the slave markets – and, on this latest trip, to deliver a freed slave child back to her family. They face attacks not only from slavers--the Wizards’ Guild, in alliance with the Slavers’ Guild, had set out to destroy them. Courage, ingenuity, and sharp fighting skills are required as these former college gamers make this wondrous but dangerous land their new home.
The second novel in Joel Rosenberg’s bestselling Guardians of the Flame series:
GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME
The Sleeping Dragon (#1)
The Sword and The Chain (#2)
The Silver Crown (#3)
The Heir Apparent (#4)
The Warrior Lives (#5)
Road to Ehvenor (#6)
The Road Home (#7)
Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (#8)
Not Quite Scaramouche (#9)
Not Really the Prisoner of Zenda (#10)
“A major star in the fantasy firmament”
- Mike Resnick, author of STALKING THE UNICORN
“One of the few writers I deliberately seek out . . . His splendid stories are intricate and fast-paced and exciting.”
- Dennis L. McKiernan, author of VOYAGE OF THE FOX RIDER
“If I see a book with Joel Rosenberg’s name on it, I buy it . . . His plots are fast-moving, meticulously crafted . . . his works are page-turners from first to last.”
- S.M. Stirling, author of MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA
“One of the leading lights in fantasy.”
- William R. Forstchen
“Joel Rosenberg writes fantasy rich with intelligent humor and gritty, well-researched detail.”
- Janny Wurts
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1984
100 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
Joel Rosenberg
82 books235 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Note: This is a different person than the political/thriller author, Joel C. Rosenberg
Joel Rosenberg was the author of the bestselling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He made his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Note: This is a different person than the political/thriller author, Joel C. Rosenberg
Joel Rosenberg was the author of the bestselling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He made his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 8, 2013
Joel Rosenberg was one of the most inspirational fantasy authors to me, and is probably the second biggest reason I became a fantasy author myself, closely behind the legendary Sterling E. Lanier. The Sword and the Chain pulls you along with a perfect pace of action and risk, and the characters are as memorable as the most famous movie roles from Hollywood.
April 7, 2017
Really liked this more then the first book, my objection to multiple character names has been dealt with and the story seems a little better as well, an extra 1/2 star to 3 1/2 stars.
October 23, 2018
My review of the first book in this series talked about how this felt like 'false nostalgia' in a way. That is, this was a book I would have loved at twelve, but didn't read when I was twelve and am now not in a same position to enjoy it.
The Sword and the Chain is a weaker book than it's predecessor. The continuing adventures of a group of University Students propelled into a Fantasy world by the Dungeon Master of their D&D Group. That premise alone should be, and is fun, and I'll talk about the parts I didn't like a little bit later.
The Characters continue to be interesting if for no other reason than while we have our 'Main Character' who is sort of a Nerd transformed into Super-fighter, you get a sense from the others of a divergence of characteristics, opinions, etc. The impression that the course of action they are taking is because of the personalities involved but that were the composition fo the group different, the actions would be different.
Having freed a dragon and slain a Master slaver the group is hiding near a holy order of healers. They realize they cannot hide here forever and set off a ways. They start to persue their goal, given an oath they gave said healers group for helping a friend of theirs last book; To eliminate slavery from the world.
So this sets up the driving narrative of the series one presumes and of this book; Trying to create a community as a base of operations, made up principally of free'd slaves. Setting up attacks against slavers, etc. The book as it goes on also reveals a bit more of the world; the nature of Dwarves and Elves for example, and mysteries regarding what they 'know' of the world. Is their Former DM/Wizard using them as proxies in some sort of War against the Wizards guild? Is the nature of time not as precise here as they first believed? These are interesting mysteries, even if they occasional come across as attempts to direct the plot in contrived ways at times.
The adventure parts of the book are interesting, but it does suffer from some flaws. Some of these are simply a product of the time and place in which it was written. There are two principal female characters from the original troupe; One is not in the book at all, having suffered a catastrophic assault in the previous book. She is 'off healing'. The other spends the majority of the book being Pregnant and existing as a motivation for the principal character. These tropes, which were a little present in the last book become very noticeable in this one. Something I might have overlooked but it's a bit glaring.
The other big problem for me is a problem Ihave with much fiction of this kind. The old trope of introducing Gun Powder as a leveler is here, and I'll admit I just don't find it that interesting.
Related though is a sort of naivety about history, economics and social engineering which tend to raise their head in these sorts of things. There is always much crooning about the outsiders bringing in some superior methodology of technology, but rarely a recognition of what that might entail or how that technology might get away from them, how it might impact the broader society and how it mgiht interact with the magic at the heart of this society. Chattle Slaveries existence is a well researched topic and it's social implications don't' always so neatly align with the idea of 'Evil Greedy Slavers vs. Freedom'. Two of the largest Slave owning Societies in History billed themselves as bastions of Freedom, and I don't think that accidental.
But perhaps that me asking too much of a book series that is fundementally an imagining of 'Wow, how much would it actually kind of suck to be a D&D Character in real life'. That I can still applaud. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series, but it is a light read.
The Sword and the Chain is a weaker book than it's predecessor. The continuing adventures of a group of University Students propelled into a Fantasy world by the Dungeon Master of their D&D Group. That premise alone should be, and is fun, and I'll talk about the parts I didn't like a little bit later.
The Characters continue to be interesting if for no other reason than while we have our 'Main Character' who is sort of a Nerd transformed into Super-fighter, you get a sense from the others of a divergence of characteristics, opinions, etc. The impression that the course of action they are taking is because of the personalities involved but that were the composition fo the group different, the actions would be different.
Having freed a dragon and slain a Master slaver the group is hiding near a holy order of healers. They realize they cannot hide here forever and set off a ways. They start to persue their goal, given an oath they gave said healers group for helping a friend of theirs last book; To eliminate slavery from the world.
So this sets up the driving narrative of the series one presumes and of this book; Trying to create a community as a base of operations, made up principally of free'd slaves. Setting up attacks against slavers, etc. The book as it goes on also reveals a bit more of the world; the nature of Dwarves and Elves for example, and mysteries regarding what they 'know' of the world. Is their Former DM/Wizard using them as proxies in some sort of War against the Wizards guild? Is the nature of time not as precise here as they first believed? These are interesting mysteries, even if they occasional come across as attempts to direct the plot in contrived ways at times.
The adventure parts of the book are interesting, but it does suffer from some flaws. Some of these are simply a product of the time and place in which it was written. There are two principal female characters from the original troupe; One is not in the book at all, having suffered a catastrophic assault in the previous book. She is 'off healing'. The other spends the majority of the book being Pregnant and existing as a motivation for the principal character. These tropes, which were a little present in the last book become very noticeable in this one. Something I might have overlooked but it's a bit glaring.
The other big problem for me is a problem Ihave with much fiction of this kind. The old trope of introducing Gun Powder as a leveler is here, and I'll admit I just don't find it that interesting.
Related though is a sort of naivety about history, economics and social engineering which tend to raise their head in these sorts of things. There is always much crooning about the outsiders bringing in some superior methodology of technology, but rarely a recognition of what that might entail or how that technology might get away from them, how it might impact the broader society and how it mgiht interact with the magic at the heart of this society. Chattle Slaveries existence is a well researched topic and it's social implications don't' always so neatly align with the idea of 'Evil Greedy Slavers vs. Freedom'. Two of the largest Slave owning Societies in History billed themselves as bastions of Freedom, and I don't think that accidental.
But perhaps that me asking too much of a book series that is fundementally an imagining of 'Wow, how much would it actually kind of suck to be a D&D Character in real life'. That I can still applaud. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series, but it is a light read.
February 8, 2015
If I recall correctly, I actually read this book, the middle of the trilogy, before I was able to locate a copy of The Sleeping Dragon. This one had just come out, and for some reason all the bookstores only had the new book, and no one was carrying the first one. So, I finally gave in and read it, and loved it. But, apparently I didn’t love it as much as the first volume, because I don’t seem to remember it nearly as well, which suggests that I haven’t re-read it as often.
The book picks up where Sleeping Dragon left off, with a group of former college students choosing to remain in the fantasy world they were transported to by their professor/Dungeon Master. Each of them had to “give” something in order to earn the resurrection of their friend (the “disabled kid” of the previous book), and the most significant of these was former skinny nerd Karl Cullinane, who took on a quest for the powerful cleric that performed the miracle. He agreed to make it his personal mission to abolish slavery in this primitive world. His friends (of course!) agree to help him, and that’s the jumping-off point for the plot of this book.
Of course, abolishing slavery in any world is a long-term project, and so Rosenberg gives us a relatively short-term villain for Karl and his friends to fight (an important slaver), and focuses on how our heroes adjust to the world they’ve chosen to live in. The party is down in the magic department, since the cleric chooses to stay with her sisters in the Tabernacle, and the formerly powerful magician has transformed back into his geeky-engineer self of pre-fantasy days. All they’re left with is the girl who had just joined the game for the first time and was playing, in effect, a first-level Magic User. Fortunately, they picked up a daunting ally: Ellegon, a baby dragon. He’s got certain limitations, though, which they learn about as the first battle commences.
In general, the book has everything you’d expect from the previous one, including those pivotal epiphanies. The first of those comes early on, as Karl learns why his dragon friend is so frightened in certain combat situations. The characters continue to learn and grow, although from looking at it now, I’d say that’s less of an emphasis than it was in the first book. Maybe that’s because there’s a limit to how much growing one character can do in a short trilogy, and Rosenberg couldn’t come up with as many learning experiences for them. Or maybe he just needed to focus more conventionally on plot for the middle book. In all, I still remember it fondly, but not with quite the strength of affection I have of the first book.
The book picks up where Sleeping Dragon left off, with a group of former college students choosing to remain in the fantasy world they were transported to by their professor/Dungeon Master. Each of them had to “give” something in order to earn the resurrection of their friend (the “disabled kid” of the previous book), and the most significant of these was former skinny nerd Karl Cullinane, who took on a quest for the powerful cleric that performed the miracle. He agreed to make it his personal mission to abolish slavery in this primitive world. His friends (of course!) agree to help him, and that’s the jumping-off point for the plot of this book.
Of course, abolishing slavery in any world is a long-term project, and so Rosenberg gives us a relatively short-term villain for Karl and his friends to fight (an important slaver), and focuses on how our heroes adjust to the world they’ve chosen to live in. The party is down in the magic department, since the cleric chooses to stay with her sisters in the Tabernacle, and the formerly powerful magician has transformed back into his geeky-engineer self of pre-fantasy days. All they’re left with is the girl who had just joined the game for the first time and was playing, in effect, a first-level Magic User. Fortunately, they picked up a daunting ally: Ellegon, a baby dragon. He’s got certain limitations, though, which they learn about as the first battle commences.
In general, the book has everything you’d expect from the previous one, including those pivotal epiphanies. The first of those comes early on, as Karl learns why his dragon friend is so frightened in certain combat situations. The characters continue to learn and grow, although from looking at it now, I’d say that’s less of an emphasis than it was in the first book. Maybe that’s because there’s a limit to how much growing one character can do in a short trilogy, and Rosenberg couldn’t come up with as many learning experiences for them. Or maybe he just needed to focus more conventionally on plot for the middle book. In all, I still remember it fondly, but not with quite the strength of affection I have of the first book.
March 14, 2017
The second volume of this series picks up shortly after the end of the first book. The main characters are now forced to deal with the after-effects of the promises they made at the end of the first book, and must start to figure out how they're going to live in a world that is essentially medieval by their standards. As the book rolls along, it becomes clear that Karl Cullinane is going to be the main character of this book. His character gets built out a bit, and he starts to "grow up" as the responsibilities of his mission begin to weigh on him.
One element I didn't love was a "tease" of deus-ex-machina toward the end that implies a major plotline that will come to pass in the future, and which implies a long and interesting backstory, which is never explained. I feel like a major chance was missed here. Having read the next book in the series, also, I happen to know that this thread is brought up yet again, before being dropped yet again, with no satisfaction to be had. This is some long-range planning, here, that I hope will pay off someday.
Overall, this is an interesting thought experiment in how modern people might try to fit into and/or reshape a medieval society.
One element I didn't love was a "tease" of deus-ex-machina toward the end that implies a major plotline that will come to pass in the future, and which implies a long and interesting backstory, which is never explained. I feel like a major chance was missed here. Having read the next book in the series, also, I happen to know that this thread is brought up yet again, before being dropped yet again, with no satisfaction to be had. This is some long-range planning, here, that I hope will pay off someday.
Overall, this is an interesting thought experiment in how modern people might try to fit into and/or reshape a medieval society.
August 24, 2024
Second book in the series and the first in which our ordinary Americans transplanted into a fantasy world (now permanently) begin their task of destroying the slave trade. We see them establish their new little society at the edge of the settled lands, their student engineer throwing himself into construction and building with gusto - as a teenager I remember really enjoying this part because it ticked the same box in my brain that loved playing Age of Empires and Sim City. We don't stay very long, however, before Karl, Ahira and some liberated slaves head off south on a slave-freeing mission to Not Polynesia.
I didn't enjoy revisiting this book as much as I did the first, but hard to put a finger on why. The story is a bit less engaging, although there's some interesting insights into the way people and things can travel between the two worlds and why Deighton sent the main characters here (which unfortunately, if I recall correctly, never comes up again). I think some of the poorly-aged 1980s attitudes towards women and politics may be part of it - Karl's partner Andrea begins this book pregnant which comes with all the sexist baggage around that you'd expect, and for a book which makes such a big deal about only using violence for just causes, there's a lot of weird stuff around that. (Karl's specific attitude towards the village wizard at the end who - gasp! - chooses to heal his own injured people before tending to Karl's is bizarre.)
Of note: there's a joke about the Kessel run in here, which these days I would consider irritating nerd-pandering, but which in a book from 1984 is an interesting artefact indicating Star Wars really did become very popular very quickly.
I didn't enjoy revisiting this book as much as I did the first, but hard to put a finger on why. The story is a bit less engaging, although there's some interesting insights into the way people and things can travel between the two worlds and why Deighton sent the main characters here (which unfortunately, if I recall correctly, never comes up again). I think some of the poorly-aged 1980s attitudes towards women and politics may be part of it - Karl's partner Andrea begins this book pregnant which comes with all the sexist baggage around that you'd expect, and for a book which makes such a big deal about only using violence for just causes, there's a lot of weird stuff around that. (Karl's specific attitude towards the village wizard at the end who - gasp! - chooses to heal his own injured people before tending to Karl's is bizarre.)
Of note: there's a joke about the Kessel run in here, which these days I would consider irritating nerd-pandering, but which in a book from 1984 is an interesting artefact indicating Star Wars really did become very popular very quickly.
July 26, 2020
“The Sword and The Chain” the second book in the “Guardians of the Flame” series opens as fantasy gamers Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Walter and Lou are stranded in a magical time and place, far from their home in 20th century America. Ahira has been resurrected after dying in a confrontation with the dragon at the Gate; Andrea’s pregnant; and the Healing Hand Society has promised to restore the catatonic Doria if Karl will free the land from the slavers. With Karl being pursued by Ahrim for the death of his father Ohlmin, the warrior sets out on a journey to fulfill his pledge leaving behind Andrea the woman he loves, his friends Walter Slovotsky and Lou Ricetti to build a home for freed slaves in an isolated valley.
Fast-paced and action-packed intensity and suspense quickly build as Karl and his party begin their trek to take an eleven-year-old rape victim home to her family. In a secondary plot Ahrim son of Ohlmin sents out to capture and torture/kill Karl using a wizard to track him. Filled with violence and tragedy this well-developed plot flows smoothly to a reunion that promises further adventures for Karl and his friend Walter.
Although short in length and action-oriented the characters begin to grow and develop like Karl Cullinane, once a “ directionless flake” who seemed uncaring and uncommitted has been transformed into a strong, warrior and leader true to his word.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Sword and the Chain” which gets better with every new plot, and intend to read more of the series. I rate it a 4.5.
Fast-paced and action-packed intensity and suspense quickly build as Karl and his party begin their trek to take an eleven-year-old rape victim home to her family. In a secondary plot Ahrim son of Ohlmin sents out to capture and torture/kill Karl using a wizard to track him. Filled with violence and tragedy this well-developed plot flows smoothly to a reunion that promises further adventures for Karl and his friend Walter.
Although short in length and action-oriented the characters begin to grow and develop like Karl Cullinane, once a “ directionless flake” who seemed uncaring and uncommitted has been transformed into a strong, warrior and leader true to his word.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Sword and the Chain” which gets better with every new plot, and intend to read more of the series. I rate it a 4.5.
March 13, 2023
A lot of the things that made the first book so good, were really lacking in this book. We aren't getting to know the world so much, and we know the majority of the main characters. Because of this, the slow pacing of most of the book is disappointing, and made this a little bit of a challenge to read.
We do meet some new characters, and the commentary on morality, relative-morality, and slavery are all evident in this book, and are more in the fore-front.
We also learn more about some of the characters and we get a glimpse of where things might be headed.
The concepts of how things from this realm bled into Earth and vis-a-versa are also explored a bit more. And if you ever wondered how you could leverage the modern world in the ancient world, this begins to give you a glimpse into that crystal ball.
I was uninterested in continuing on in this series based on the pacing and where the story had been heading until the last section of the book, when things really sped up and a lot of things occurred.
I was a little disappointed in this book after the first one, but it was still a solid story, the characters remained true to themselves, and we get to meet and know some interesting new characters that grow on you.
I have started on book 3, and so far I am glad that I did.
We do meet some new characters, and the commentary on morality, relative-morality, and slavery are all evident in this book, and are more in the fore-front.
We also learn more about some of the characters and we get a glimpse of where things might be headed.
The concepts of how things from this realm bled into Earth and vis-a-versa are also explored a bit more. And if you ever wondered how you could leverage the modern world in the ancient world, this begins to give you a glimpse into that crystal ball.
I was uninterested in continuing on in this series based on the pacing and where the story had been heading until the last section of the book, when things really sped up and a lot of things occurred.
I was a little disappointed in this book after the first one, but it was still a solid story, the characters remained true to themselves, and we get to meet and know some interesting new characters that grow on you.
I have started on book 3, and so far I am glad that I did.
July 15, 2023
This series just continues to get better (though I did not care for the final chapter).
I will say, I don't LIKE Karl Cullinane as a character much, and a lot of the banter (especially with Ellegon) drives me batshit, but it feels REAL, and that's a large part of why it's so utterly frustrating.
So the survivors have decided to stay in the 'game world,' and their new goal is to eliminate slavery. But how does one go about that? Very slowly and carefully, obviously. Karl & friends go off to accomplish a few things while most of the original band stay behind and work on creating a home for everyone. It's a very simple setup, and I think that's why it works so well.
This reminds me a bit of Baen books in that people are often talking about how to start a free society, but they don't beat a dead horse with it. It's mostly just, 'eh, well, let's try this, I guess?' Like, it doesn't feel like Rosenberg has a manifesto hidden away he's fapped to a million times; it feels like characters honestly trying to navigate murky waters the best they can.
In any case, it's a long and emotional ride. More than one of the group does not make it back. I'll admit, I teared up a bit at spots.
I will say, I don't LIKE Karl Cullinane as a character much, and a lot of the banter (especially with Ellegon) drives me batshit, but it feels REAL, and that's a large part of why it's so utterly frustrating.
So the survivors have decided to stay in the 'game world,' and their new goal is to eliminate slavery. But how does one go about that? Very slowly and carefully, obviously. Karl & friends go off to accomplish a few things while most of the original band stay behind and work on creating a home for everyone. It's a very simple setup, and I think that's why it works so well.
This reminds me a bit of Baen books in that people are often talking about how to start a free society, but they don't beat a dead horse with it. It's mostly just, 'eh, well, let's try this, I guess?' Like, it doesn't feel like Rosenberg has a manifesto hidden away he's fapped to a million times; it feels like characters honestly trying to navigate murky waters the best they can.
In any case, it's a long and emotional ride. More than one of the group does not make it back. I'll admit, I teared up a bit at spots.
June 11, 2024
This was a book originally read in my high school years when playing DnD with friends; every weekend was a wonderful foray into magical realms. Rosenberg's Guardians series is a dark and realistic reflection upon how actions taken in a fantasy rpg can have repercussions for the people populating those imagined worlds.
What do you do when the fun hack/slash and bloody gore violence of a fun tabletop rpg turns into you literally swinging the sword that orphans children, creates widows, and has political ramifications?
Most of this series turns into an exposition upon slavery and who has the power - it is warranted in this series, but it also gets a bit bland and overstated.
I won't be reading the rest of the series because my older current self finds it tedious, but my teenage Saturday gaming self still is a bit awed by it.
If you have never read the series it is well worth the experience.
What do you do when the fun hack/slash and bloody gore violence of a fun tabletop rpg turns into you literally swinging the sword that orphans children, creates widows, and has political ramifications?
Most of this series turns into an exposition upon slavery and who has the power - it is warranted in this series, but it also gets a bit bland and overstated.
I won't be reading the rest of the series because my older current self finds it tedious, but my teenage Saturday gaming self still is a bit awed by it.
If you have never read the series it is well worth the experience.
Read
October 23, 2025WARRIOR, WIZARD, DWARF, THIEF, AND MASTER BUILDER all of them had chosen this world as their destiny, a realm where dragons were only too real and magic, not science, was the law of the land. Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Walter, and Lou knew there was no going back to twentieth-century America now. Instead they were stranded in a time and place where only healing spells and their own wits stood between them and the sharp, deadly edge of a slaver's blade. But even if they could have returned home by some sorcerous trick, all of them would have refused the chance, bound by their pledge to bring this incredible realm the one treasure it lacked -freedom! But leagued against them in their fight were the entire forces of both Wizards and the Slavers guilds. And, in this world where a wrong step or a twisted spell could transform friend into foe, how could Karl and his band fulfill their pledge?
July 11, 2022
This is an easy 2/5 ("It Was Okay"). The problems the first book had are still there, but we're getting a slightly more polished narrative. I do appreciate that the author seems to be improving. And the "grand mystery" that the first book only hinted at - why the characters ended up where they are - is brought more to the forefront. At the same time, the "portal fantasy" is now pretty much just part of the backstory, and the annoying LitRPG stuff is very much downplayed. (Though in defense of the author, LitRPG wasn't really a thing back in the 80s.)
It's by no means a great book, mind you, but if you made it through the first one, the second one will annoy you less. (I've already finished the third one, and the author's learning curve seems to continue.)
It's by no means a great book, mind you, but if you made it through the first one, the second one will annoy you less. (I've already finished the third one, and the author's learning curve seems to continue.)
May 26, 2024
This time the characters all find a new meaning in the fantasy world. And, curiously, they have reverted to their “real world” names except for one. I think I understand why, but it makes keeping track of everyone much easier. In the first book, I was getting whiplash as the scene shifted from name to name.
Their primary meaning and drivers are set by their history in the fantasy world. As per most RPG’s the characters have a big impact on their world. They have a bounty on their heads, are unwelcome in some major cities, and have decided to ride the world of slavery. And are establishing their own free colony in the midst of all the feudalism and other organizations.
I’m probably going to read all three of the first series pretty quickly, as they are in a collected edition.
Their primary meaning and drivers are set by their history in the fantasy world. As per most RPG’s the characters have a big impact on their world. They have a bounty on their heads, are unwelcome in some major cities, and have decided to ride the world of slavery. And are establishing their own free colony in the midst of all the feudalism and other organizations.
I’m probably going to read all three of the first series pretty quickly, as they are in a collected edition.
July 8, 2021
This still feels a a little dated to me at times, but that’s probably just because it was written a couple decades ago. Still an interesting concept and an enjoyable read — modern-day humans who have made the decision to exist as their fantasy characters in that world and who are going to bring about change.
My biggest concern, plotwise — the introduction of modern things into a medieval fantasy world. They figured out gunpowder in this book; how will that change everything?
Also (and this may be the datedness I mentioned earlier), the women seem undervalued in this book, there to have babies and be rescued by string males.
My biggest concern, plotwise — the introduction of modern things into a medieval fantasy world. They figured out gunpowder in this book; how will that change everything?
Also (and this may be the datedness I mentioned earlier), the women seem undervalued in this book, there to have babies and be rescued by string males.
April 2, 2020
A great escapist novel, in a D&D trend. It is the sequel to The Sleeping Dragon. Here Karl Cullinane becomes the leader, as the five friends begin their fight to rid their new world of slavery. They start a place called Home, and Karl takes teams out to attack slavers. It is a book which is lots of fun to read.
Probably 4.5 stars, and my favorite book by this author.,
Probably 4.5 stars, and my favorite book by this author.,
July 31, 2020
It's OK but still a very generic world that lacks some thing unique to make it stand out. While their is a comedic elements with the Ellegon character but unfortunately just not enough for me. I know the main focus of the story is about the characters trying to use real world logic on a fantasy D&D type world. But still not for me.
March 29, 2022
Building a free society in a world where slavery is common may not sound very reasonable, but is it written well? Oh yes, yes it is.
Blending adventure, swordfighting, magic, with a touch of Robinson Crusoe-style engineering, economics and philosophy, and making it all work together without feeling forced is delightful. I really enjoyed this book.
Blending adventure, swordfighting, magic, with a touch of Robinson Crusoe-style engineering, economics and philosophy, and making it all work together without feeling forced is delightful. I really enjoyed this book.
August 25, 2024
Ok pro-choice joel !!!
Really enjoyed this story, much more than the first. But the first got me acquainted with the characters, which is part of what made this one so fun. I love the new home, the Furneals, the humor (Ahira of the Lincoln Tunnels), and Aeia! The real world x DnD world crossovers were also fun!
Really enjoyed this story, much more than the first. But the first got me acquainted with the characters, which is part of what made this one so fun. I love the new home, the Furneals, the humor (Ahira of the Lincoln Tunnels), and Aeia! The real world x DnD world crossovers were also fun!
August 12, 2020
Not as excited about the reread of this one, felt like a step back from something that already had numerous flaws, the first novel was just tons more enjoyable for me... not sure I’ll make it to the books I’ve not yet read in the series, but I’m still open to trying!
January 15, 2021
Meh, I initially purchased the first 5 as the first book just sucked me in however, the second was well good. My interest in fantasy may have wained during the reading as I did read several fantasy books in a row so I give it a 3. Not great not bad just entertaining.
July 31, 2023
I nearly didn't finish this book. The premise wears thin, character motivations feel forced, and the story meandered too much to maintain my interest. It needs to stay put, slow down, and stick with a setting and group of characters so we can care about what's going on.
November 25, 2024
Loved the book when I was a teenager and I love it just as much now as I did then. This series is such a great series that I'm surprised that it never became an Audiobook. That would be my only complaint that I have to sit down and read my book to enjoy this great series.
July 8, 2017
Fun read. I enjoyed rereading this novel from back in my early D and D days.
May 4, 2019
So you've decided to bring an end to slavery in a swords & sorcery society, and all you've got is a copy of A Connecticut Yankee in your back pocket.
January 9, 2021
Slightly more classical fantasy than its predecessor, the story continues quite well in the second installment
January 8, 2022
Still a good book
June 3, 2023
It's better than the first. I now understand why there are so many books. It takes a whole book to get through one plot point. Hopefully, they get better as the series goes on
January 21, 2025
Losing its origins and just kinda generic fantasy still solid tho
September 27, 2025
After 40 years, I find I remembered more of this than I thought. Listening to it now brought back my college days. One of the original litrpg trilogies.
June 11, 2018
Great dialog and banter between characters for those who come from the 70’s and 80’s. If you are younger you may not get all the popular cultural references. Not an incredible story but simple and fun.
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