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Dancing Gods #2
Demons of the Dancing Gods
While the initial battle for Husaquahr has been won, dark forces are gathering to the south. *** One of the Council of Thirteen has to be the Dark Baron and the Baron is plotting with the Demon Prince to shatter the fragile peace and bring Armageddon to the magic world beyond the Sea of Dreams. *** But before the Dark Baron and the Demon Prince can put their plans into action, they need to deal with Throckmorton P. Ruddygore, master sorcerer who suspects that all is not as it should be. *** Once again Ruddygore must call on the help of the two humans, Joe and Marge, and together they must face the evil forces that threaten Husaquahr with annihilation.
259 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 12, 1984
About the author
Jack L. Chalker
132 books359 followersBesides being a science fiction author, Jack Laurence Chalker was a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for a time, a member of the Washington Science Fiction Association, and was involved in the founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Some of his books said that he was born in Norfolk, Virginia although he later claimed that was a mistake.
He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).
Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.
His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.
Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.
On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.
Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).
He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).
Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.
His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.
Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.
On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.
Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 15, 2021
The second installment of the series picks up pretty soon after the first; the battle with the Dark Barron has been won, but the war is far from over. While the identity of the Dark Barron is still unknown, Ruddygore is sure it is one of the 13 council members-- the 13 most powerful sorcerers of the land, indeed, the world. Ruddymore hopes that at the annual conference of wizards, witches, and so forth he will be able to deduce who it is and take action...
The conference is a hoot; I think Chalker modeled it after something like a comicon. After Marge completes her transition to fairy (and oh, what a type of fairy!), her and Joe head to the conference, of course with some trials and tribulations along the way. At the conference, Joe meets Tiana- a friend of Ruddymore and part of his retinue, and she is something else: a beautiful barbarian woman about as big and shapely as Joe is manly...
I will stop with the plot, for with Chalker, getting there is half the fun. Lots of unexpected twists and turns of course, and also assorted mind transfers as one might expect from Chalker. While not a farce exactly, this series really flirts with it. Also, as usual with Chalker, it could use a little polish, but still a fun read. 3.5 stars rounding up.
The conference is a hoot; I think Chalker modeled it after something like a comicon. After Marge completes her transition to fairy (and oh, what a type of fairy!), her and Joe head to the conference, of course with some trials and tribulations along the way. At the conference, Joe meets Tiana- a friend of Ruddymore and part of his retinue, and she is something else: a beautiful barbarian woman about as big and shapely as Joe is manly...
I will stop with the plot, for with Chalker, getting there is half the fun. Lots of unexpected twists and turns of course, and also assorted mind transfers as one might expect from Chalker. While not a farce exactly, this series really flirts with it. Also, as usual with Chalker, it could use a little polish, but still a fun read. 3.5 stars rounding up.
December 8, 2022
Second in a series of fantasy novels that gently parody fantasy tropes. Fun, but familiarity has begun to sink in, and a lot of the events just aren't quite as novel or entertaining as the first. Chalker relies a lot on info dumps and exposition, too. But it was a quick, comforting fantasy read.
October 15, 2024
The ending felt like the author handed the story to another writer. Maybe he didn't know exactly where to go with the ending. I'm not mad at how the story went. Joe and Marge, what's next? I like how Chalkers writing is evolving from book 1. There are more gory moments. I don't mind when a book has wickedness. Other worlds could absolutely have sins just like ours.
April 16, 2020
An amazing fantasy novel, a complete improvement from book one. The adventures of the gang continue, but this time they are more adapted to the challanges ahead and as such they have a better handle of what must be faced. The best on this novel for me is that we got a better development of some characters, we truly understand in this novel the inmense level of power that a true Sorcerer or Master of the art carries, we get to know who the villain is and his true motives, as state in book one even though he is doing evil he is doing it for the rigth reasons. A wonderfull read, and I can see it will be a magnificent series.
July 19, 2012
Rearead in July 2012: This was a fun reread but not that great a book: a lot of preaching and not Chalker's best in my opinion. Dropping my rating to only two stars. I'll probably try the third book again too at some point and see how it holds up.
April 30, 2010
A great series. It is humorous while still having a great plotline. I like the characters. I like character development, and boy did I get it throughout this whole series.
March 2, 2016
While not as good as the first one, it manages to make some interesting twists in the story to make it reach a crescendo and then an unexpected ending.
April 21, 2023
Soon after reading the first book in the series, my order for the 2nd book in the series arrived. I believe it is as good as the first one and a bit more fleshed out as we get to know other inhabitants and places in the world of Husaquahr. While Marge and Joe have won the battle they still have a war to fight. The dark Baron and his demon prince are determined to take Throckmorton P. Ruddygore out of the picture! Consequently, Joe and Marge have to into battle again and this time the life of their friend is in grave danger!
Joe is now a super barbarian with a magic sword called Irving after his son on death and Marge has been changed into a flying fairy woman. Now mind you, Joe has been bitten by a weredog and Marge has developed some strange night routines so both of them have some changes to adjust to.
I agree with others that the plot was a bit thin but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book and/or series.
Joe is now a super barbarian with a magic sword called Irving after his son on death and Marge has been changed into a flying fairy woman. Now mind you, Joe has been bitten by a weredog and Marge has developed some strange night routines so both of them have some changes to adjust to.
I agree with others that the plot was a bit thin but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book and/or series.
June 6, 2023
The BEST comical Fantasy series... Part 2
The Adventures of Joe and Marge continue in Husaquahr. The Dark Baron is revealed and defeated, but is it for good? Read, and find out more!
The Adventures of Joe and Marge continue in Husaquahr. The Dark Baron is revealed and defeated, but is it for good? Read, and find out more!
September 29, 2023
Chalker definately has some sort of body swapping or trans fetish. And these characters are so dull, just going along with whatever happens. Very little internal monologue of any depth. Simple plot. The whole thing is an interesting idea just not told in an interesting way.
March 11, 2019
Chalker had quite the imagination, looking forward to starting book 3.
August 6, 2020
A cute fantasy
This was an easy read, with an ok plot. A good series to read on a rainy weekend, when all you want to do is relax.
This was an easy read, with an ok plot. A good series to read on a rainy weekend, when all you want to do is relax.
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August 4, 2023Enjoyed it. Especially after finishing the first novel and wanting more Joe and Marge adventures.
February 6, 2014
This is the first series by Chalker that I read on the recommendation of my brother. It was a fan immediately. I like the concept of this work in that real people enter a fantasy world that is mysteriously connected to the one we live in. This makes it easier to imagine that it is plausible and also allows you to explore the new world along with the characters.
August 13, 2007
Throckmorton P Ruddygore is a mighty name
July 21, 2009
book 2 of humorous fantasy.
May 5, 2010
See "River of the Dancing Gods".
June 16, 2011
Grade B+. Book Dg2.
May 30, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews