This is an interesting fantasy novel (and it is fantasy despite evoking parallel worlds via quantum mechanics) because it eventually develops into a sort of anti-quest with an unexpected villain.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of a particular character.

We start with Julia Brandon. After her mother’s death, she learns she has an older brother, Richard, she didn’t know about. He’s been in an uncommunicative, but not vegetative, state for years at Devereaux House, a care facility for special cases. He hasn’t always been uncommunicative though. Once he filled notebooks and drew pictures about a fantasy world he created – Midland – and its creation, mythology, and history.

We then meet another Richard Brandon, a doctor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University. He’s interested in exploring his nightmares about a world called Midland and its Kingdom of Quinque. To do that, at the beginning of a long July 4th weekend, he goes into an isolation tank without the usual supervision from one of his graduate students.

Next, we meet Rocky Brandon, an alcoholic cop on forced administrative leave. Then we meet Richie Brandon, a clever if small time criminal, about to incite a gang war between two competitors. Then it’s on to Rick Brandon, owner and editor of a failing independent newspaper. Finally we meet another Richard Brandon, an untenured English professor and poet.

All, it is revealed by various hints, inhabit different timelines. All, on the night of July 4th, see a violent thunderstorm and then experience the disorientation of finding themselves in the world of psychologist Richard. We all also meet some alternate versions of minor characters.

Circumstances gather them in a police station where they find out psychologist Richard was stabbed to death in his isolation tank.

And then the Thrall shows up, a horseman in spiked armor, and they find themselves pursued and thrust into the world of Midland.

Imprisoned in Quinque, they learn that an Adversary threatens this world. To fight him, the artifacts of Sword, Shield, Ring, and Crown must be found.

Meanwhile, Julia finds her brother’s condition strangely worsening.

I liked this one though I was a bit impatient at times during the quest portion of the story but the interaction between the four men was interesting, and I found Swann’s twist ending surprising. It saves the book from being another standard fantasy quest story. ( )

A cleverish idea, a mediocre execution. ( )