Black Water
(Pendragon, Book Five)

by D. J. MacHale

As the Pendragon series continues, the battle of Bobby Pendragon and his fellow Travelers against the time-and-space-hopping demon, Saint Dane, grows more and more intense. I hope I’m not going to ruin The Reality Bug for you right now but...well, there’s something about knowing that Bobby Pendragon can lose, and Saint Dane can win, that “ups the ante” on the suspense. Not only does Bobby’s imperfect record of wins vs. losses mean that anything can happen, but now, in Saint Dane’s words, “the rules have changed” – most likely to Saint Dane’s advantage!

Now that I probably HAVE spoiled your enjoyment of The Reality Bug, I’m going to make it up by not telling you much about Black Water. To tell you almost anything about the story would be to rob you of some delicious surprises and startling discoveries. But I’ll tell you a few things: Bobby’s next assignment is on a territory called Eelong, where intelligent cats populate a vast forest, and the humans (a.k.a. “gars”) aren’t considered second-class citizens because that would be a step up for them. Bobby has to find a way to deal with a Traveler who isn’t even the same species as he, and one who doesn’t believe in being a Traveler at all, before Saint Dane carries out a monstrous plan of genocide that will destroy Eelong forever.

Meanwhile, back on Second Earth, Mark and Courtney have discovered that even as mere acolytes, they can travel through the Flume from territory to territory. It isn’t a smooth ride, but they have to do it in order to help Bobby stop a Saint Dane plan that he doesn’t know about. Even though they have been longing for some adventure, they definitely get more than they hoped for; and even though the fate of Eelong really depends on them, it also seems their new ability to fly the friendly Flume is part of Saint Dane’s plan to take control of Halla – everyone, everywhere, at all times.

Yes, fellow acolytes, I know this isn’t the last book in the series. I understand a sixth book called The River of Zadaa is out there somewhere, and when I see it I’ll read it. I expect there to be nine or ten books in the series all told. And based on the last couple of books, I expect the stakes to get higher, the danger greater, and the chances of Bobby Pendragon beating Saint Dane to grow slimmer with each additional book. Who wouldn’t look forward to a thrill ride like that? That is, if we can stand the tension! But like Bobby’s friends, we have to wait for his next journal to arrive.

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 14+

8/30/05

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