"A Trip Like No Other"

Matthias Southers is your typical modern graduate student. He has a permanent booth at the local library where he researches his thesis, a class of undergraduates to teach, and a shabby apartment that he calls his own. Out of the blue he is given a choice: to go to an alternate world and take the place of a man who is his exact double -- the Prince.

Though his agreement might not stand up in court, Matt awakens in a world not his own. Then he learns that things might be a bit more dangerous than his *cough* kidnappers *cough* made it out to be. Not only is the realm he is pretending to rule torn by war, but the reason he is so needed is because Prince-in-hiding Methos has been killed! Oh... he can't go back for a few months, either, which neatly rules out the 'flee in haste' plan.

Can a modern man in a world not his own make a difference? With the help of his new companions, Matt may just surprise everyone -- including himself.

THE PLAUSIBLE PRINCE is a fantasy novel with a bit of romance woven in. While hardcore romance fans may not find themselves enamored, those who enjoy reading high fantasy should definitely look into the title. The world that McAbee paints comes to life, and the characters live and breathe and make you love them. (This reviewer was particularly tickled by the flaws that made them so very human.) Danger, intrigue, and the subtle spice of (mostly off-screen) romance blend together perfectly in this first book in a projected trilogy. One hopes that the next volume of Matt's adventures will be released soon!

Sensuality Level: Mild.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted February 7, 2003

Summary

Matt Southers isn't enjoying his low-paying job teaching at the local community college, and he misses his home, his friends and their cutthroat role-playing games. So when two oddly dressed men make him an unbelievable proposition, Matt is willing to hear more - especially when the hearing involves supper in a local greasy spoon and a great deal of beer.

But when Matt awakes in a castle on a distant world so obviously not his own, and everyone starts calling him 'Prince Methos,' he suspects that Verene the mage and Captain Imre weren't kidding about their offer - they've brought him here to Urrathe to take the place of the recently-deceased prince of the realm and to rally the troops against a dangerous menace.

This menace turns out to be the powerful wizard Gremian Brecc, who is close to taking over the land. With the help of his new friends, and the distant and enigmatic commander of the prince's guard, Ria Hawkmoon, Matt must scramble to learn all he can before he ends up in the same state as the real prince - quite uncomfortably dead!