About This Book
Adventures in the Vortex is the first book in a new fantasy/adventure series for young readers (although adults will love it, too). Written by authors Lane and Louis Lambert, Adventures in the Vortex shines a beacon of silliness into a sometimes dark and gloomy genre. Lord of the Rings, Eragon and even the Chronicles of Narnia teem with battles and slaughter. There's certainly not much to laugh at in His Dark Materials, The Dark is Rising or Wizard of Earthsea. And Harry Potter fans wait anxiously for the final book in the series, wondering which beloved character will meet his or her end. No need to despair. Adventures in the Vortex is here. Transported to the strange yet familiar landscape of the Vortex by the entirely self-centered wizard Dragonslime, 11-year old Tyler and his 12-year old cousin Sara have to find their way back home to Kansas. Yes, as in most fantasy novels, our heroes are pursued by all manner of evil and dangerous things, and they must call on their inner resources and learn they are stronger than they think they are. But Adventures in the Vortex owes more to Monty Python and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy than to more serious sources, though it does have a little fun at their expense, with sly allusions to dozens of books and movies, ranging from Jurassic Park to Sherlock Holmes. There's even a scene in a pub featuring a gold ring and some small fellows with furry feet. We'll always love Harry, Aragorn and Aslan, but there's no harm in having a good laugh once in a while.
