Pilgrim

September 1, 2005
Douglass realizes the world of Tencendor more fully with each volume of the Wayfarer Redemption, but in volume 5 that world is in hideous trouble. The Star Gate has been destroyed, and people and gods alike are helpless against the Timekeeper Demons laying waste to the land. Although deprived of immortality, Drago, a son of the old hero-king, Axis, remains powerful. But as destruction increases, some factions, seeing in Drago's brother, Caelum, the Starson who will restore magic, support Caelum against him. But that magic cannot return unless the demon Qeteb is allowed to ruin the land. The plot developed under those circumstances includes treachery, spectacular magic, near and actual madness in major and minor characters, and lots of action. Drago battles Axis but resists the demons' magic at the cost of much of his sanity. Many beasts are driven mad or wind up with power of their own. Confusion reigns. No place to start the series--that place would be " The Wayfarer Redemption" (2000)--but crucial for faithful followers. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)