Jack L. Chalker books

Children of Flux and Anchor (1993)

Twilight at the Well of Souls (1986)

Like another reviewer here on GoodReads, I initially read this series out of order. The title "The Return of Nathan Brazil" grabbed my attention one day in my first year of college. Luckily, all but the last two books in the series can be read independently of the rest. Once I had gobbled up "...

The River of Dancing Gods (1986)

A number of other reviewers have made the obvious comparison to Xanth, and they're right - this first book in a prolonged series reads very much like a slightly more mature Piers Anthony novel. But only slightly. The River of Dancing Gods is part traditional portal-epic fantasy, part satire of th...

Entities: The Selected Novels (2001)

This volume contains five novels (Wasp, Sinister Barrier, Sentinels from Space, Next of Kin, and Call Him Dead) plus some short fiction (including “Legwork,” “Mechanical Mice,” and “Mana”). Introduction by Jack L. Chalker. Dustjacket art by Bob Eggleton. Contents: 9 • Editor's Introduction (Ent...

Midnight at the Well of Souls (2002)

This mid-70s science fiction work is a rather ambitious effort, which succeeds in places and fails in others, resulting in a somewhat mixed, but generally enjoyable, reading experience. In some ways it never rises much above the level of a standard boys’ adventure story, but within those rules it...

Echoes of the Well of Souls (1993)

I stumbled across this series in the 50-cent paperback section at The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles on a recent vacation. I had read the original Well World series in high school in the 1970s and remembered it somewhat fondly. It made me wonder what had happened to Jack L. Chalker. He was a longt...

The Return of Nathan Brazil (2005)

In a desolate sector of space floats the Well World: the ancient Markovian supercomputer that first created and now maintains the Universe.While attempting to repel an insidious intergalactic invasion, Mankind resorts to a weapon of such awesome destructive power that it undermines the Well World...

Horrors of the Dancing Gods (1995)

In this final volume of the Dancing Gods series, Ruddygore and his heroes must face an ancient evil seeping forth from the Sea of Dreams. **** Long dormant evil is rising to challenge reality as we know it and it will destroy Earth and the magical world of Husaguahr if left to its own devices. **...

Quest for the Well of Souls (2003)

Jack L. Chalker's "Quest for the Well of Souls" is the third book in his seven volume "Well World Saga." It's also the second book of a two book sub-series introducing Mavra Chang. And, even though the rating shows up here as 4 stars out of 5, I'm really rating it at 3-1/2 stars out of 5. Regardi...

War of the Maelstrom (1988)

The Magic of the Changewinds.....could alter the shape of every man and beast in Akahlar. The Evil of The Inner Hells....could take this power away from the Storm Princess, and place it in the destructive hands of the horned demon Klittichorn. The Savagery of Ultimate War....could be the only hop...

Exiles at the Well of Souls (2003)

Exiles at the Well of Souls by Jack ChalkerIn this second book of the Well of Souls series, Chalker introduces the main character for the remainder of the series. ***SYNOPSIS***Mavra Chang is a resourceful, driven smuggler, with a complicated past who is hired by a political leader to rescue a s...

Charon: A Dragon at the Gate (1982)

Jack L. Chalker's "Charon: A Dragon at the Gate" is the third in his "Four Lords of the Diamond" series. For the most part, if you've read the previous two books in the series, there will be no surprises here. About the only two differences I noticed are that the book has more of a "Chalkerish" f...

Ghost of the Well of Souls (2000)

A small band of travelers seeks to prevent a tyrant from finding the various pieces of a gate that, when fully assembled, will give him enormous power.

Riders of the Winds (1988)

With their people dominated for centuries by the Ahkbreed, a power-hungry band of sorcerers whose mastery over physical laws has made slaves of countless worlds, two brave young women find themselves swept up by the Changewinds.

Songs of the Dancing Gods (1990)

Joe has reunited with his son, who has accompanied Joe to Husaquahr. But their joy at being united is cut short by news that the Dark Baron has escaped once again and is gathering a force in the North to capture and enslave them all. *** Can Joe and Tiana (and Irving) make another stand for their...

A Jungle of Stars (1976)

The late Jack L. Chalker wrote some very creative books in his time, the pentalogy (plus) about Nathan Brazil and the mystery of the Well of Souls, the insightful satirical concept of a “fallen” (or should that be “risen”) demon working in an advertising agency (well before Don Draper haunted the...

Empires of Flux and Anchor (1988)

Thank you, gentle reader, for your kind words. It gives me great solace to know, as I force myself through this dreary chore, that in some small way I am serving my fellow man. Or woman. Or artificial intelligence. Or exceptionally literate chimpanzee.

Shadow of the Well of Souls (1994)

Immortal, unchanging, the eternal survivor, Nathan Brazil had tired of his long duty as the guardian of the Well World and had enlisted Mavra Chang, space pilot and adventurer, as his companion and equal, sharing with her the godlike power to control the universe's destiny. Now the Well World is ...

Cerberus: A Wolf in the Fold (1987)

Jack L. Chalker's "Cerberus: A Wolf in the Fold" holds no surprises (assuming you've read the first book, "Lilith: A Snake in the Grass"). For all intents and purposes, the writing is the same. The interesting thing here is the comparison of how the protagonist's character changes against his bas...

Medusa: A Tiger by the Tail (1983)

The Confederacy's grand scheme seemed to be working. They had substituted the mind of their best operator for the minds of four criminals - every one a top assassin - and sent one to each of the four Warden worlds to eliminate the resident Lord there. The agents on Lilith, Cerberus, and Charon ...

Lilith: A Snake in the Grass (1981)

An enjoyable piece of ‘80s pulp science fiction. Actually I think it would be more accurately described as science fantasy, not only because most of the book takes place on a planet where technology can’t exist, but also because the science that is actually discussed is far closer to magic than s...

Vengeance of the Dancing Gods (1985)

A FEW ALTERATIONS Throckmorton P. Ruddygore, master wizard, had troubles--again! Ruddygore had defeated the Dark Baron and exiled him from the magical realm of Husaquahr to Earth. But he hadn't counted on the Baron's using an earthly computer to create even more effective spells. Of course, the B...

Gods of the Well of Souls (1995)

In its hour of need, the Well World's guardians had been neutralized. Nathan Brazil was shipwrecked on a desert island with a seemingly harmless girl - but his contact with her had allowed his mind to be invaded, his will sapped, and his mission forgotten. Mavra Chang had been abducted by a vicio...

Masters of Flux and Anchor (1985)

The time of danger is at hand. Mervyn, wizard and Fluxlord, leader of the Nine Who Guard, faces the ultimate threat of the opposing Seven Who Wait: the opening of the Hellgates of the World. Closed more than two thousand years ago, they are portals to unknowable danger and, perhaps, great power. ...

The Shadow Dancers (1992)

It was the ultimate case: to stop the ultimate drug... I'm Horowitz. Brandy Horowitz. My husband Sam and I are private eyes who take cases for G.O.D., Inc. - the outfit that runs the Labyrinth to infinite alternate earths filled with crime, danger...and murder. Power-mad fanatics are running a na...

The Birth of Flux and Anchor (1992)

And the Devil Will Drag You Under (1979)

This was a fun sci-fi/fantasy book. A rouge asteroid is days away destroying Earth when Asmodeus Mogart, an alcoholic demon banished to Earth, offers two humans the chance to save the planet. Mogart sends the humans to alternate universes on a quest to steal 5 magical jewels from his fellow demon...

Dancers in the Afterglow (1978)

First came the tourists... Ondine was a resort planet. Sixteen million tourists travelled there from just about every world you could think of to live and love in sixteen million different ways. Then came the machists... They had gobbled up world after world, spreading their culture to thousand...

Pirates of the Thunder (1987)

After a slightly slow start this picked up to be a decent read. It was similar in quality to the first book. Fast paced pulp sci-fi with some cool technology. The slow start can be blammed on the fact that the first 15% of the book was spent with the characters recapping what they had done in the...

Messiah Choice (1986)

Sir Robert McKenzie, owner of the Magellan Corporation, dies suddenly in a mysterious and grisly way. His daughter may be next, for a Satanic cult is determined to herald the arrival of the apocalypse. Greg MacDonald unravels the mystery of the cult, run by scientists with a distorted sense of d...

The Maze in the Mirror (1989)

I'm Horowitz. Private eye. I work for G.O.D., Inc. - the Company that rules the Labyrinth between infinite alternate Earths. Only now I've got new clients - vengeful rebels out to wreck the Labyrinth. But their Big Plan's on hold: one of the inner circle's dead, leaving eight conspirator/prime su...

03. Gods at the Well of Souls

Gods at the Well of Souls 'Terry?" he said gently to her. "You understand me? If you do, nod your head up  and down."   Terry. He acted as if he knew her, but the name was unfamiliar. Well, she didn't  have one, so maybe that was as good as any. She nodded and felt his glow of joy  at actually co...

05. Children of Flux and Anchor

Children of Flux and Anchor "All the better if it does. Then we might end a big part of it right here. Now—go!" There was a flash of light, and Sondra became a great flying beast and soared off into the heavens and away from them.Matson sent Dell and Verdugo to get the horses ready, and he and Sp...

The Messiah Choice (1985)

Gregory MacDonald." "Lot of folks look for Mister MacDonald. He very wanted man. Dey say he some kind of Russian agent, y'know. Dere is big reward for his capture." She sighed. "I thought as much. Still, this was the only place I had and time's running out. She won't wait for anybody but him or m...

03. Quest for the Well of Souls

Quest for the Well of Souls Bozog, the Launch Site Next Day"Hey! I think I can see it!" Ben Yulin shouted over the suit radio. He was like a little boy, wildly excited and animated.Less than two kilometers across the plain lay the border with Uchjin, where he'd crashed so many years before. Since...

03. War of the Maelstrom

03. War of the Maelstrom "Crim! My God! Is that you? What are you doing here?And what happened to you?"She went over to him and tried to help him to one of thebeds, but he shook her off and collapsed in a chair instead.She immediately forgot her own thirst and offered the cup ofwine to him, which...

07. Ghost of the Well of Souls

Ghost of the Well of Souls Sanafe  IT WAS ALMOST COMICAL TO SEE THOSE HUGE CREATURES WITH their soft spiral shells and many tentacles boarding the special pneumatic train line in the northern part of Abudan, and being sucked away one at a time by controls operated by Kalindan engineers who'd buil...

Demons of the Dancing Gods

Demons of the Dancing Gods But, irrational or not, he couldn't shake his sense of hurtand perhaps jealousy, at least not yet, and he consistently refusedher advances as if, somehow, at least that could be preservedbetween them. She would remain, then, somehow, hispartner and his friend and nothin...

03. Masters of Flux and Anchor

Masters of Flux and Anchor  SOUL RIDER III: MASTERS OF FLUX AND ANCHORJack L. Chalker Copyright © 1985 by Jack L. ChalkerISBN: 0-812-53281-3e-book ver. 1.0   For Tim Sullivan, in the hope and expectation thathe will hit the big time, a giant spectacle with a dash of byap!   1POWER AND INFLUENCE  ...

02. Shadows of the Well of Souls

Shadows of the Well of Souls Isle of Mahguul, Dlubine  NATHAN BRAZIL AWOKE FROM THE DEEPEST SLEEP HE COULD ever remember in his very long life feeling energized, exceptionally well, and alert. He sat up and opened his eyes and was instantly wide-awake, and he realized that it was daylight.He sat ...

01. Spirits of Flux and Anchor

Spirits of Flux and Anchor "It's impossible^' somebody muttered, and it was what the others were thinking. "It can't be real! It just can't be!" "It's magic, that's what it is," a girl said wor- riedly. "He's an evil wizard back in his own foul home." Matson was all the way forward again before h...

02. Empires of Flux and Anchor

Empires of Flux and Anchor Now, though, Coydt, who'd been away for a while, had returned and a knock on her door by Yorek summoned her. "The boss wants to see you," he said simply, and that was enough.He sat in a comfortable, padded desk chair, rocking slightly and smoking a cigar. He looked over...

01. Midnight At the Well of Souls

Midnight At the Well of Souls DILLIA—UPLAKEWu Julee groaned and opened her eyes. Her head was splitting and the room was spinning around."She's comin' around!" someone's voice called out, and she was suddenly conscious of a number of people clustering around her.She tried to focus, but everything...

04. Birth of Flux and Anchor

Birth of Flux and Anchor A Prefatory Note from the Author  This book is a novel created not out of whole cloth but rather out of research notes for another book. That book, Spirits of Flux and Anchor, has be published in three volumes by Tor Books (as the Soul Rider series, Books One, Two, and Th...

02. Riders of the Winds

Riders of the Winds that! I can see the resemblance, almost like sisters, but you cannot really see the potential of one in the other."them, son. They don't care who or what you are. Interesting that Old Horny's still lurking around here, though. Guess he got frustrated when they used some of his...

02. The Shadow Dancers

The Shadow Dancers "Shut up, bitch! This ain't your business!" Monroe growled. That was a mistake."Girls," Addison said, calm as could be, "you have my permission, and my support, if you want to kill this idiot."Monroe gave a big laugh, but it didn't last long. You take two women bodybuilder type...

And The Devil Will Drag You Under (1979)

The little man looked out the slightly frosted win-dows of the bar and scowled. Although it was closer to noon than to evening time, it was dark out there, and there was a reddish color that made the scene more ominous. The frosting twisted; distorted, and bent the coloration, making it a deep, s...

04. The Return of Nathan Brazil

The Return of Nathan Brazil Parkatin, on the Frontier  IT WOULD HAVE  BEEN  FAR EASIER  FOR HAR BATEEN to conquer the world if he had had a cold. Unfortunately, the Dreel automatically cleaned up the bodies they used; so this time conquest had to be the hard way.Slabansport was a typical frontier...

03. The Maze in the Mirror

The Maze in the Mirror He chuckled. "And yet, is it not ironic that this is at the cost of your own moral sense? If you unmask our traitor, our project concludes. Betray him and you betray your own side.""I have less love and loyalty to my side than you do to yours," I replied frankly. "We will s...

Four Lords of Diamond - Book 1

In fact, he looked much the same as most of the other clerks, junior computer operators, and political men on the make in Military Systems Command. Two beady little brownish eyes set a bit too far apart by a hawk nose, a twitchy little mouth above a lantern jaw—the kind of nebbish nobody ever loo...

Identity Matrix (1982)

It was quite involved and elaborate, with all sorts of written exams—some forcing pretty bizarre choices—plus interviews, extensive questions on personal background and attitudes, everything. There were even a couple of very involved I.Q. tests, and those results they were willing to tell us. Min...

01. Labyrinth of Dreams

Labyrinth of Dreams THE LABYRINTH OF DREAMSCopyright © 1987 by Jack L. Chalkerebook ver. 1.0 For Jack Williamson,who seems to have come up with the idea firstback in the dark ages of SF,with love and respect. 1.Spade & Marlowe, P.I.'s  It ain't often when a big case just up and walks into you...

A Jungle of Stars (1976)

The inhabitant of one of the caves barely noticed the sight, but the scent from the fields was driving her almost mad with hunger. As the last rays of the setting sun vanished in the east, she came carefully out of her refuge, looking warily around her with caution born of weeks of being a fugiti...

01. When the Changewinds Blow

When the Changewinds Blow Personality Changes Sam removed the Jewel of Omak and gripped it tightly. "What is your range for hypnotism?" she whispered. "Tell me."Normal power three meters, the gem responded in her brain. I am now under severe power down, however. Perhaps one meter. I believe I can...

05. Twilight at the Well of Souls - The Legacy of Nathan Brazil

Twilight at the Well of Souls - The Legacy of Nathan Brazil  Mowrey, in the Ocean of Shadows  "SAIL HO!"Feet rushed in all directions around the deck of the brigantine, everyone going to their alert post.It was a large ship, and well put-together. Although it had only a small auxiliary engine for...