River of Dancing Gods

by Jack L. Chalker

Book Overview

Joe and Marge, minutes away from death, are rescued and brought from Earth to the magical world of Husaquahr by the wizard Throckmorton P. Ruddygore to battle the forces of Hell itself!

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345345010
• ISBN13: 9780345345011
• Release Date: December 1986
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

a favorite fantasy novel from a great author

Jack L. Chalker is best known for his "Lost Souls," series but "River of the Dancing Gods," is one of my favorite fantasy novels. Imagine on your worst day finding a new world full of adventure. That's how the story begins for Joe and Marge.

May be my favorite Chalker.

River of the Dancing Gods is a quirky intelligent fantasy novel that manages to be a compelling read while holding up the entire genre for gentle parody. Marge and Joe are not your typical fantasy heroes, but are probably all the better for not being typical. Marge is a down-at-the-heels 30-something waitress/housewife. Joe is a trucker who somehow lost the plot along the way. Together they meet a strange character called Ruddigore, and the adventure begins. This was a re-read for me, and as I recall the rest of the series does not live up to the promise of this one. Still, a decent place to begin with Chalker. There is significantly less of the sniggering 12-year-old boy humor that can make Chalker so irritating at times. Should appeal to readers who like fantasy of the Xanth and Spellsinger variety.

Are we living someone else's dream?

Have you ever wanted to just BE in another world or universe? All the wonderful fantasy books have to come from somewhere. What if they actually happened somewhere. That is what this book is about. This is the first book in a wonderful series. Maybe we can just get away from it all even if it is by reading this book. This is an easy feel good book. It is a little predictable in the main plot twists but it is the little things that keep you on your toes. This book is easily read in one or two sittings on a weekend. When you need an outlet to a new land pick this up and continue with the rest of the series.

My second favorite series.

The is my second favorite series by Jack L. Chalker. My first favorite series is the "Well of Souls." Whether you are a Jack L. Chalker reader or not, you will enjoy these series. His character development and vivid descriptions are a great read.

A wonderful introduction to a whole new world

This was the first true series of medieval fantasy books I had ever read and it was fantastic. Jack Chalker starts us here in our own time and then spins us into another world with our heroes Joe and Marge, two loners who are picked up off a lonely road and brought to the new world, by the sorcerer Ruddygore.Chalker does a great job with character development, allowing us to follow both Joe and Marge through their transformations into legends. He keeps the action moving along and even gives the readers some humor as well. Ruddygore's importance to the story is noted in almost every situation, since he seems to have affected everybody and everything around him. What I like about this book (and the Dancing Gods series in general) is that Chalker shows us real imagination in every situation he throws his characters in. Joe the barabarian isn't your typical barbarian hero so it makes sense that he shouldn't be in typical situations. Joe's problems are recognizable to the reader which helps us get into the character, and yet only Joe could solve them. Marge isn't your average changeling magic-user either, although we don't follow her nearly as closely as we do Joe the barabarian.Chalker's style of writing is also very easy to follow. It flows well and isn't cluttered with lots of words you would need a dictionary to look up. I'm not saying that his writing is simple, it isn't, but it's not written above the reader, either. It is a very enjoyable book and Chalker does us the favor of wrapping up the story as well. You can follow Joe and Marge in their next adventure or, if you don't like it, you can stop here and be content in finishing the book.