From Library Journal
The ancient Patryn-Sartan conflict over control of the four elemental realms enters a new phase as Patryn agent Haplo returns to the Realm of Sky, only to discover its invasion by serpentlike creatures whose evil ambitions threaten the destruction of all the realms. This fifth installment of a seven-volume fantasy epic bears the now-familiar Weis/Hickman trademarks: offbeat humor, complex villain/heroes, and an emphasis on moral responsibility. Despite a tendency toward wordiness, the authors have a knack for sustaining a good story. Purchase where the other series titles are in demand. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/92.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Volume five of the apparently interminable Death Gate Cycle (Serpent Mage, 1992, etc.). Now that the evil-magic serpents of the water-world Chelestra have escaped through the Death Gate, new power alliances are possible--such as that between the serpents and Xar, Haplo's powerful Patryn boss. Despite Haplo's feeble warnings about the serpents' malevolent intentions (they can assume any shape, retaining only tell-tale red eyes), Xar dispatches Haplo and his yappy-dog sidekick to the air-world Arianus, with orders to set species against species and generally create chaos among the lower- order ``mensch.'' And this time Haplo's old rival/accomplice, Albert the Sartan, languishes trapped inside the Labyrinth. So, by himself Haplo must somehow stop the elf-dwarf war by helping the human and elf magicians while placating Xar and devising a means to repel the serpents--oh, yes, and preventing various assassinations, including his own. A hypercomplicated plot whose increasingly improbable convolutions seem designed only to distract attention from the ludicrously implausible scenario, plodding narrative, and irritatingly obtuse characters. Which, being translated into Fannish, means: another smash hit. (First printing of 60,000) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


The publisher, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
Chaos is everywhere as the Lord of the Nexus orders his servant Haplo and the human child known as Bane to further their master's work on Arianus, the realm of air. But their one time companion Alfred has been cast into the deadly Labyrinth. And somehow the assassin Hugh the Hand has been resurrected to complete his dark mission. More important, the evil force that Haplo and Alfred discovered on Arianus has escaped. As Haplo's doubts about his master grow deeper, he must decide whether to obey the Lord of the Nexus or betray the powerful Patryn... and endeavor to bring peace to the universe.


From the Inside Flap
Chaos is everywhere as the Lord of the Nexus orders his servant Haplo and the human child known as Bane to further their master's work on Arianus, the realm of air. But their one time companion Alfred has been cast into the deadly Labyrinth. And somehow the assassin Hugh the Hand has been resurrected to complete his dark mission. More important, the evil force that Haplo and Alfred discovered on Arianus has escaped. As Haplo's doubts about his master grow deeper, he must decide whether to obey the Lord of the Nexus or betray the powerful Patryn...and endeavor to bring peace to the universe.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

With the publication of their first fantasy novel, New York Times bestselling authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman were an instant success. Seven years later, there are nearly ten million copies of their novels in print around the world. Their most ambitious project to date, the Death Gate novels showcase the lively imagination of this innovative duo. The first four volumes in the seven-book cycle each introduced a distinct and fully developed world with its individual story, each written in a different voice. In the final three volumes, an age-old battle to control all of the realms rages anew as Sartan and Patryn - powerful races who once believed they were gods - rediscover their old hatred of one another...and that they have an even more terrifying enemy in common. Haplo the Patryn has been ordered by the Lord of the Nexus to explore the elemental realms - Arianus, Realm of Sky; Pryan, Realm of Fire; Abarrach, Realm of Stone: Chelestra, Realm of Sea - and to instigate chaos where he can. Though Haplo discovered his archnemesis Alfred the Sartan early on, the two were drawn to one another and came to travel together more often as time passed. Side by side, they found small bits of forgotten information that help them understand the long-ago Sundering of their universe into four realms. But now Alfred has been imprisoned in the deadly Labyrinth, the very same Labyrinth from which Haplo once escaped. Haplo himself and the human child Bane have been sent once again to Arianus to further their master's work. Chaos seems everywhere, a perfect setup for the Lord of the Nexus. Still, Haplo is troubled. Amidst the maelstrom of Arianus, all is not as it should be. Bane is too eager to prove his loyalty to his lord...perhaps at Haplo's expense. Somehow, the assassin Hugh the Hand has been resurrected - and he has a job to complete. But, most important, the evil force Haplo and Alfred discovered on Arianus has escaped. Haplo must decide whether to obey the Lord of t

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

The ancient Patryn-Sartan conflict over control of the four elemental realms enters a new phase as Patryn agent Haplo returns to the Realm of Sky, only to discover its invasion by serpentlike creatures whose evil ambitions threaten the destruction of all the realms. This fifth installment of a seven-volume fantasy epic bears the now-familiar Weis/Hickman trademarks: offbeat humor, complex villain/heroes, and an emphasis on moral responsibility. Despite a tendency toward wordiness, the authors have a knack for sustaining a good story. Purchase where the other series titles are in demand. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/92.

BookList - Roland Green