Spell of Catastrophe — Mayer Alan Brenner

The fantastical Dance of Gods series kicks off with “a huge blast of action . . . leaving the reader breathless but satisfied” (Kliatt).
 
In a world of magic, where computers and nanotechnology are long gone, where thoughtless gods struggle for power with little regard for those below, one unlucky man must make some tough decisions . . .
 
Maximillian the Vaguely Disreputable isn't sure what's going on in the village of Roosing Oolvaya. Someone -- probably a god -- has trapped Max's friend, the Great Karlini, in a castle that keeps trying to move at the most inconvenient times, and naturally it's up to Max to figure out how to spring him. But the gods throwing their weight around in Roosing Oolvaya are more than Max bargained for, and soon he's caught between necromancers, working with a detective named the Creeping Sword, and even dancing with Death itself in a desperate attempt to save the city from catastrophe.
 
“A generally humorous and entertaining piece.” -- Science Fiction Chronicle
 
“An enjoyable book. The characters have a sense of who they are and can laugh at their own foibles. The action moves swiftly.” -- Locus
 
“Another bit of good reading . . . Plenty of action, likeable characters, plot twists galore a light-hearted humorous style and some pretty good lines.” -- Out of This World Tribune & Niekas