If magic primarily expanded our awareness of ordinary life, on what journey of fantasy would that launch us? Under the River is a story about Gary, a high school social misfit who enters the world of castles and magic that he fantasies will make his life work. Nothing new to that. But despite his awareness that he's in an artificial world, he still can't act freely. His growth as a person starts when he's forced to give up his dreams of power, detach himself from day to day action and reflect on what is happening. Suddenly he stumbles into magic powers but it isn't what he expected, and he has no theory to understand it. We watch him live his way into a spiritual maturity, until his desire is to return to Earth and face real problems within the limits of reality (which he now knows are much wider than he thought).

Gary's brother in this new world is also trapped by his situation, but his personality and skills require him to grow in a different direction. Thandar's self-pity puts him in a situation where he must take charge of his life or die. And yes, there are two strong, distinct, female characters and relationships that are about more than physical attraction.

In this novel novices do not become expert swordsmen instantly. Not everyone acquires a vast fund of physical courage. The magic Esgard finds has nothing to do with spells and secret names. Instead, the story explores the possibilities of a power based on awareness and peace rather than manipulating the world by a series of arbitrary formulas. And finally, while the main characters are in positions of power, the novel does not overlook the grim lot of the ordinary folk.

I hope it is a novel with engaging characters, plausible action and ideas to ponder.

Chapter 1 In which it all begins

Chapter 6 Jailbreak

Chapter 11 In which Esgard finds his magic