Next month, Tachyon Publications are due to publish the new novel by Dave Klecha and Tobias S. Buckell: The Runes of Engagement. Pitched as “The Lord of the Rings meets Slaughterhouse-Five by way of World of Warcraft“, it’s a “delirious mashup” that pits the U.S. military against legendary monsters from fantasy novels and roleplaying games. And that sounds very cool indeed! To celebrate the upcoming release, the publisher has provided CR with an excerpt to share. But first, here’s the synopsis:
No one could have been prepared for the day when orcs, trolls, and dragons fell from portals in the sky. But the world fought back against the invaders as best it could, with soldiers, tactical weapons, and even some rudimentary magic.
Now a tough but not-quite-prepared platoon of Marines is trapped on the wrong side of the portals. The enchanting landscape looks like Middle Earth but — to the dismay of the nerdiest soldiers — is nothing like it. While the Marines fend off dangerous, improbable, and very rude assailants, their mission is to escort a VIP (Very Important Princess) who could broker a strategic alliance between worlds.