SOLVED: Fantasy: alternate reality with no metallurgy, swords/armor made of wood/resin [s]

[TheDenizen]

Trying to recall the name of a fantasy series (pretty sure there were 3 books at least, maybe more) I read way back in high school, so the books are earlier than the mid 90s.

The main character was from our world (possibly even modern day?), but gets pulled through some kind of portal into an alternate reality where the technology is more or less medieval, but with no metal-smithing at all. Their armor and weapons were made from wood, lacquer and various resins. I can't recall if there were any spell casters or not.

The only other significant detail I can think of is the the inhabitants of this alternate world were portrayed as a kind of mix between Tolkien's elves and Japanese people.

Thanks in advance and hope I'm posting this in the right spot/way. :D

[Wayne Baxter]

The world without metallurgy, that rely on wood and resin sounds like Magician. However, as the title of the book implies there is magic everywhere.

But Pug, one of the main characters, was taken prisoner at the end of the first book, and the second book starts as his days as a slave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician...

[Dawn]

and then there was the trilogy set totally there... Daughter of the Empire

Servant of the Empire

and another one ;)

[TheDenizen]

Well, after reading through a couple of synopses, I can only conclude that you are completely correct...although there's tons of details I don't really remember at all. It's odd what stays with you years later.

Of course I've read so many fantasy novels that they often kinda run together in my mind. Thanks for the help! I'm off to buy the Riftwar trilogy.

[Wayne Baxter]

He's compiled the whole trilogy into one book called, Magician.