What do you think?
Rate this book
The Varayan Memoir #1
Son of the Hero
The Buffer Zone--that was what the seven kingdoms standing between mortal Earth and the realm of the immortal elves was called. When Gil Tyner planned to celebrate his 21st birthday with his parents, he didnt have any idea that he was about to spend not only his birthday but possibly the rest of his life in this zone. Original.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
6 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 29, 2014
I remember liking this book a lot about 15 years ago. I'm not entirely sure why, now. It's not that it's a bad book. It's just...not much out of the ordinary.
Our Hero, Gil, is just 21 and coming home from uni for the last holidays before he graduates. But something's wrong - his parents don't come to meet him and their house is deserted, with mail piling up and food going off in the fridge. And then he discovers that his father is a professional hero for the fantastical country of Varay, his mother is a native of said land, and they've both gone to deal with a threat and not come back. Now all the war games, survival training, and what-not that his father has put Gil through all his life start to make sense. Obviously, the rest of the book involves Gil going to Varay, looking for his parents, and dealing with the problem they went after.
There's stuff to like. The magic doors, and how they work and how to make them, are pretty cool. Several of the secondary characters, especially Uncle Parthet and Lesh, are quite engaging. I quite like the concept of Varay and its neighbouring kingdoms as a buffer zone between our world and Fairy.
But overall, the story's rather predictable and Gil isn't a very interesting hero. I am going to go on and read the rest of the trilogy, but that's mainly because for years I didn't have the last book and I want to satisfy that ancient curiosity about how it all ends.
Our Hero, Gil, is just 21 and coming home from uni for the last holidays before he graduates. But something's wrong - his parents don't come to meet him and their house is deserted, with mail piling up and food going off in the fridge. And then he discovers that his father is a professional hero for the fantastical country of Varay, his mother is a native of said land, and they've both gone to deal with a threat and not come back. Now all the war games, survival training, and what-not that his father has put Gil through all his life start to make sense. Obviously, the rest of the book involves Gil going to Varay, looking for his parents, and dealing with the problem they went after.
There's stuff to like. The magic doors, and how they work and how to make them, are pretty cool. Several of the secondary characters, especially Uncle Parthet and Lesh, are quite engaging. I quite like the concept of Varay and its neighbouring kingdoms as a buffer zone between our world and Fairy.
But overall, the story's rather predictable and Gil isn't a very interesting hero. I am going to go on and read the rest of the trilogy, but that's mainly because for years I didn't have the last book and I want to satisfy that ancient curiosity about how it all ends.
September 12, 2011
Gil comes home for Spring Break during his last year of college. His parents aren't home, only a note from his mother saying she went after his father when he didn't come home and some instructions on how to follow her if she wasn't home when he got there.
Great book. I would have been totally pissed at my parents for keeping me in the dark, too. There were a few phrases that the author used that didn't make any sense, but I wondered if they were typos made by the publisher. Not that it mattered. Still a very good story.
This was one of Al's that we picked up at a used book store a couple of weeks ago. When I was looking for something to read last week, I spied this one. Didn't choose it at that time but came back to it after reading another title. So glad I did. Al said it was a good series when he noticed me reading it. It's one he read years ago (probably already has it in a box somewhere) and bought it when he found it while browsing the used book store. Looking forward to reading the other two in the series.
Great book. I would have been totally pissed at my parents for keeping me in the dark, too. There were a few phrases that the author used that didn't make any sense, but I wondered if they were typos made by the publisher. Not that it mattered. Still a very good story.
This was one of Al's that we picked up at a used book store a couple of weeks ago. When I was looking for something to read last week, I spied this one. Didn't choose it at that time but came back to it after reading another title. So glad I did. Al said it was a good series when he noticed me reading it. It's one he read years ago (probably already has it in a box somewhere) and bought it when he found it while browsing the used book store. Looking forward to reading the other two in the series.
September 29, 2013
A fairly typical fantasy aimed at the 'young and male' audience.
When he comes home from college to celebrate his 21st birthday, Our Hero, Gil, is bemused to find his parents missing.
Looking down in the basement, he discovers a secret door that leads into a fantasy land, complete with elves, dragons, wizards, castles, and all the rest that you might expect.
Gil learns that his parents have been hiding a double life from him for all these years - he is actually the designated Hero of Varay and not only that, but the king's grandson and Heir to the Realm!
Although he was a computer science major, Gil is rather jock-like, and fighting and heroics seem to come naturally to him. Which is lucky, because when he discovers that his father has been killed in Varay's struggle against the encroachments of Faery, he of course must accept the quest to lead that struggle and seek his revenge.
Very light reading, and a bit silly at times.
When he comes home from college to celebrate his 21st birthday, Our Hero, Gil, is bemused to find his parents missing.
Looking down in the basement, he discovers a secret door that leads into a fantasy land, complete with elves, dragons, wizards, castles, and all the rest that you might expect.
Gil learns that his parents have been hiding a double life from him for all these years - he is actually the designated Hero of Varay and not only that, but the king's grandson and Heir to the Realm!
Although he was a computer science major, Gil is rather jock-like, and fighting and heroics seem to come naturally to him. Which is lucky, because when he discovers that his father has been killed in Varay's struggle against the encroachments of Faery, he of course must accept the quest to lead that struggle and seek his revenge.
Very light reading, and a bit silly at times.
July 10, 2010
I wish Rick Shelly would write more books. Well, a while after I wrote that, I discovered that he is deceased. Sometime early 2000's. RIP Rick.
October 14, 2014
Quick fun little romp through alternate reality/fantasy.
January 22, 2013
This was the second time, the last 15+ years ago, I was a little disappointed, perhaps my tastes have changed because I know I enjoyed it more the first time.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews