(This book is a sequel to The Sorceress of Scath, and the final book in the quadrilogy.) Alan MacDougall enters Lucifer's world through the fourth and final gate, and discovers a whole new island. Avilion is a land where six cultures (Celtic, Indian, Chinese, Egyptian, and African) are allowed to grow in isolation. And, it turns out that this is for one reason: the training of Alan MacDougall. Lucifer has plans to make MacDougall an all-powerful world conqueror back on Earth. With such forces bent on making him into something new, can Alan MacDougall hope to win?

This book is a wonderful finale to the Alan MacDougall series! The book is somewhat different than the first three, with MacDougall's plight bringing some real suspense to the story. It rolls on, gathering speed, until the surprising conclusion. I enjoyed this book very much, and recommend it to everyone.

(This book is a sequel to The Land Beyond the Gate, and the second book in the quadrilogy.) When he receives a cry for help from the bard Taliesin, Alan MacDougall must reenter Lucifer's world, and see what lies beyond the second gate. Beyond the second gate is Ochren, a dismal land of the gods of the Celtic underworld. While seeking to avoid playing the game of Ahriman, MacDougall must outthink the gods to stay alive. But, with each adventure, he learns more about the powers he possesses in this world, and the true nature of the armlet he carries!

As with the last book, this one is quite interesting. The author makes copious use of dues ex machinas and populates his world with improbable people (Romans, Vikings, Chinese, etc.). However, for all that, the story is so very well written, that you have no trouble suspending your disbelief enough to like the story. I enjoyed the author's use of the Celtic pantheon, and really liked the way he inserted members of the Sumerian pantheon without straining credibility.

So, once again, I would say that this is a good book (though not a great one), one that I highly recommend to you!

Being the fantasy and sci-fi junkie that I am, whenever I know I'll have some time to enjoy reading, I stop by the used bookstore and I buy a small pile of paperbacks. This book was one of the treasures from my last used book foray.

One of Lloyd Arthur Eshbach's greatest strengths is that he combines the mythos and ethos of multiple cultures into tangible fantasy worlds. While in the beginning of the novel, Eshbach leans heavily towards Celtic mythos including flavor language such as laddie, dinna, sidhe, etc., it doesn't take long before Eshbach begins weaving into the story elements of Norse, Persian, Ancient Chinese, and even early Christian mythos. It was this wondrous mixing of exotic cultures that I liked best about the novel.

The novel begins shortly after Alan McDougall's younger brother disappears while doing archeological research in the Scottish highlands. Alan, naturally, flies out to Scotland to search for his brother. While hiking in the hills far from cities and civilization, Alan feels a sudden inclination to dig under an ancient Oak, a natural hiding spot, where he finds an ancient Celtic blade and an armband of curious design. No long after, a furious storm strikes and Alan runs through the wood searching for shelter when he happens upon an ancient tower, a broch, in which he takes refuge from the storm. Despite being a musty and old tower, it turns out that a guardian of sorts, a giant druid, who announces that the armband and sword that Alan found are his, inhabits the tower. Alan slays the monstrous druid in a fight to keep the word and armband.

After the fight, Alan explores the tower and finds an old brass doorway leading outside. After passing through the gateway, Alan discovers that the outside is curiously different than the woods that led to the old tower. The trees are curved an ancient like those out of an old Chinese painting. Strangest of all, there is an aurora borealis affect in the sky, a regular panoply of vibrant color.

Alan discovers later in the story that he has entered an alternative universe created by Satan at the beginning of time, and people by a motley crew of Celtic gods, Fomori (monsters from Celtic mythology), ancient Chinese warriors guarding princesses with porcelain faces, Norse warriors intent upon reaching Valhalla through combat, ancient Persian evil, a mob of zombies with hollow soulless bodies and a variety of other surprises. In an effort to escape, Alan becomes embroiled in the politics of this ancient world and finds out that nothing is what it seems in Satan's world.

I really enjoyed this charming and well-crafted fantasy novel and highly recommend it to others.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan

When Alan MacDougall's brother disappears during a visit to the Scottish Highlands, Alan goes off to investigate. Finding an unknown, ancient broch, Alan discovers that it contains four gates to another world. This is the world of Tartarus, built by Lucifer for the daughters of Lilith, but now populated by the people who served him on Earth, and by the gods of the Celtic pantheon. There is a prophesy that someone will come through a gate, and lead everyone back to Earth, so all eyes turn in Alan's direction. But Alan knows that anyone journeying from Tartarus to Earth will quickly wither to a ghost. And, only Alan can see Lucifer's lieutenant, Ahriman, who seems to be playing this world for a purpose beyond anyone's understanding

Lloyd Arthur Eshbach is something of an old hand in the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy, having published his first book in 1929. Therefore, it is not surprising that this book has the feel of older fiction. There are deus ex machinas that pull the hero through each crisis, and the villains are something less than terrifying. That said, though, this is a great book. The author spins a fascinating tale, impregnated with a mystery that I now wish to unravel. Also, I must admit that I did like the way that he incorporated the Celtic pantheon into the story.

So, let me say that this is a very interesting story, a very good one (though not a great one) that I highly recommend.

(This book is a sequel to The Armlet of the Gods, and the third book in the quadrilogy.) Compelled to return to the worlds of Lucifer, Alan MacDougall enters through the third gate, and finds himself on the Island of Scath. The island is divided in an eternal war between the sorceress Scathach and the god Amaraduk, and MacDougall is now caught in the middle. However, when a group of Celtic gods arrive, looking for revenge on MacDougall, things get really interesting!

This is another interesting book. This story is even more intense than the previous two, with Alan MacDougall learning more about himself, his friend the bard Taliesin, and the world that Lucifer created. Personally, I enjoyed the even more extensive use of the Sumerian pantheon in this book.

So, let me say that this is a very interesting book, one that I highly recommend!