Back cover:
The Sword and the Spell
A near-miss on a modern battlefield - and Holger finds himself no longer a soldier but a knight-at-arms, exiled to a realm of sorcery and magic where a bloodsome war is gathering. The enchantress le Fay would have his sword for Chaos; the swan-may would have him serve her gentler kind. At first he denies them both to return to "reality" - but it was Earth that was his exile: it is here, in the lowering dragon-smoke, that he must fight and die...
The Sword and the Spell
A near-miss on a modern battlefield - and Holger finds himself no longer a soldier but a knight-at-arms, exiled to a realm of sorcery and magic where a bloodsome war is gathering. The enchantress le Fay would have his sword for Chaos; the swan-may would have him serve her gentler kind. At first he denies them both to return to "reality" - but it was Earth that was his exile: it is here, in the lowering dragon-smoke, that he must fight and die...
A masterful fantasy classic, full of dashing heros, magic, and daring-do. My only complaint is that all the female characters are either damsels in distress or evil temptresses. Even for the 1950s it seems somewhat behind the times. The ending is also somewhat unsatisfying, but does not detract from the bulk of the narrative - which is well written and includes a welcome bit of humor.
