[STARRED REVIEW] "When the portals open between 21st-century Earth and a place that looks like Tolkien's Middle-earth, complete with elves, dwarves, and orcs, armies in every country dig in, throw the monsters back through the portals, and defend the planet by making alliances with creatures out of a
Dungeons and Dragons handbook. One hard-bitten marine sergeant and his squad of newbies and nerds are escorting an elven princess to Manhattan when a dragon pushes them back from the gate and into an epic quest through forests, deadly blizzards, and evil-infested abandoned mines in order to reach an artifact (which will save the day or get them all killed), in a place far wilder than any gamer ever imagined. The novel takes military science fiction and throws it into a fantasy blender with John Scalzi's "Old Man's War," S.M. Stirling's "Emberverse," and David Drake and Eric Flint's "Belisarius." VERDICT The collaboration by Buckell (
A Stranger in the Citadel) and debuter Klecha is tons of fun and full of geeky references and in-jokes. Will be catnip to readers who love this combination of military SF, alternate history, and fantasy. -
Library Journal "Buckell and Klecha tell their story with so much humour and gusto and so much nerd JOY."
-Maria Haskins, author of Wolves and Girls
"Readers will delight in the nerd-culture references in this military-fantasy romp as the squad discusses Stark Ridge, FOB Vimes, and other landmarks named by the visiting humans." -Booklist
"Bestseller Buckell (A Stranger in the Citadel) and debut author Klecha, a former Marine, pair their talents and experiences in an impressive military fantasy adventure that combines Middle Earth lore with U.S. marine mystique. . . . It's an unlikely mash-up, but it works."
-Publishers Weekly
"Tobias S. Buckell and Dave Klecha have crafted a portal fantasy that gleefully asks, 'What if we sent in the Marines?' Equal parts grounded and tongue-in-cheek, this swiftly moving military adventure will fit in perfectly before your next D&D campaign." -Samantha Mills, author of The Wings Upon Her Back
"What would your Dungeons and Dragons campaign look like if the DM let you choose a squad of U.S. Marines for your characters? Most DMs know better, but Klecha and Buckell have shown us how that adventure might go. Spoiler alert: It will be fun, action-packed, occasionally gritty, and full of jokes for geeks and Marines alike." -Jim C. Hines, author of Terminal Alliance
"A story stitched from the greatest late-night dorm room debates. Who would win: Black Hawks versus dragons? Marines versus trolls? All the magic of Tolkien arrayed against the 21st-century American war machine?" -Brian Staveley, author of The Empire's Ruin
"This rollicking military fantasy follows a squad of Marines trapped in a magical Tolkienesque realm and their quest to return home." -Kirkus
"A fun read. Picture Call of Duty meets World of Warcraft with just a touch of comparative mythology for seasoning." -Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series
"As a lifelong fan of both nerdy pursuits and action movies, The Runes of Engagement is exactly what I didn't know I needed! The Marines are a fun mix of jarhead and scholar (sometimes both in one), and the various characters they encounter-an artsy troll, a mysterious ranger, a suspiciously helpful child who attracts danger-are absolutely the kind of characters I hope to encounter every time I play D&D!" -Rachel Copeland, Boswell Book Company
