The Steel of Raithskar ((The Gandalara Cycle, No.1)

There was nothing in the travel brochure about a time machine. A bloke on his holiday cruise, minding his own business doesn't expect to get blown up and transported millions of years into the past and discovered that he is a talented adventurer type, good at chopping people up, and also wanted by various authorities for doing what they would call naughty things. At times like this it helps to have a telepathic supercat around to explain things to you and help you out. 3.5 out of 5

Recently, I came across this series packed away and even though I have over 100 books still waiting to be read, I couldn't resist reading this again. This six set series cries out to be published again for a new generation because its story is timeless and the best fantasy/science fiction that I can ever remember reading. I read this previously about 20 years ago and I have never forgotten its terrific tale. "The Steel of Raithskar" is the first book in the series and opens with Ricardo Carillo, a 60-ish language professor who has 6-months to live - hurt and barely alive in a desert. As he gains consciousness, he is amazed to discover that he is in a strange new world. How did he get there? His last known memory is of him on a cruise ship - talking to a beautiful young woman whose company he finds delightful. Suddenly, he sees the meteor falling to earth and straight toward the ship. He now realizes that not only is he in a strange new world, but he is young and strong and wait...his facial features and species are even different! He has become Markasset, a master swordsman and son of a powerful leader. But the greatest thrill is that he is a Rider, who belongs to an elite group, where each man has been chosen by a sha'um (kinda like a Sabertooth tiger). They are bound forever to their sha'ums and not only ride them, but communicate with them telepathically. This series is worth hunting around for and is truly a classic!

I highly recommend this series to any fantasy lover. These books rate a spot on my bookshelf right next to my Narnia series and the Lord of the Rings. The wondrous relationship between Ricardo (or should I say Rikardon) and Keeshah, the large desert cat, made me long for a Shaum friend of my own! Oh, to feel the wind in my hair, riding across the hot shining desert on the back of a huge, telepathic cat! Anyone who is hooked on the Ann McCaffrey dragonrider series, or even the new Phillip Pullman series (The Golden Compass) will love these books. I have reread them numerous times and never tire of them. They will keep you hooked right up until the last book, The River Wall, where the mystery of Gandalara is revealed, as well as Rikardon's true purpose for being transported there from his own world. Believe me, at 30+ years old I have read everything from C.S Lewis, Greg Bear, Frank Herbert, you name it. I still love these books better than any of them. Its a real shame they are out of print. If you can find a used copy do so, and you won't want to part with them!

I loved the gandalara cycle as a whole and highly recommend it to anyone who can find it. They've been out of print for a long time, but the plot, the deasert scenes and the telepathic horse-sized ridable cats are the best! There is also an interesting twist at the end, and a talented illusionist named Tarani who really lifted the story, by far the best literature I've every read, if you've read The Catswold Portal, The ghatti's tale and the black gryphon, and loved 'em, I promise these top them all!