Elvendude

SERRAted Edge #6

by Mercedes Lackey (Series Creator), Mark Shepherd, Larry Elmore (cover artist)

Adam was born an elven prince, but when his father's realm seems doomed to fall before the onslaught of the evil Unseleighes, the royal youth is sent into our world so he can grow to elven manhood and fight another day. Given memories to make him believe he belongs here, he is unaware that the Dark Elves are trying to track him down.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook, Ebooks, Fiction

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Mercedes 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

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and, although it was written by Mark Shepherd, not Mercedes Lackey, it stuck so well within the worlds that she has created, that it fit seamlessly - and I got to read about a different bunch of elves, too.

I have been trying to get the next two books in the Serrated Edge series, also written by Mark Shepherd, and have only just managed to order online both Spiritride, and Lazerwarz, although, no matter how hard I've tried, I can't get the following book to these, called Stoned Souls, which is co-written by Misty, plus Holly Lisle - but it's not available for love nor money - well, except one copy priced at hundreds of dollars, which is well beyond my means - so I guess that's one book I'll never have! 😢

I do have the five books in the series following this, though - although I won't be able to start Spiritride, nor Lazerwarz, until they get here in the post but, until then, I'll probably take a few days off from reading, to catch up on my YouTube vids, or Netflix, until they get here.

I might even crochet while I watch, as I've been neglecting all of it, in favour of reading all of my Mercedes Lackey books, plus co-authors like Mark - mainly because they are so very hard to put down! Lol

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember the first few entries in this series being a lot more fun. That might be because I was a teenager when I read them, but I think it's more likely the change in author. This was less light fantasy adventure and more dull after school special. This book read like it was sponsored by D.A.R.E. and also felt very of the time, but more in a lame, trying to hard, than entertaining way. The anti-drug message was incredibly ham-handed and unsubtle. I could forgive being hammered over the head on practically every page this way if the book had some other entertainment factor, but it really doesn't. The characters are dull. The action is nearly nonexistent. The reason I rated this as "ok" rather than just "did not like it" is mostly because I have such fond memories of the first books in this series, but I think if I'd started with this entry I wouldn't have bothered to read any others.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a D20 Urban Arcana modern/magic rpg turned into a book. Interesting story but a bit too dark for kids, and not quite enough for me to keep for myself. Would be interested to read others in the series.

[Briana Grenert]

This was the most 1990's book I have ever read- there's not much about elves, and a lot about crack.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both a bit silly and very 80's. Its loosely tied into other Urban Fantasy books by Mercedes Lackey and a stable of other authors.

For anyone that likes elves, magic and the whole fantasy gambit mixed into a modern (when it was written) setting and doesn't mind books on the lighter side. Its not literature but its fun and the characters are likeable.

[Pam Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal fantasy - elves. It's great.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crack-dealing elves in all black Volkswagen Beetles threaten suburban Texas. Endlessly amazing.