Title: Born to Run
Author: Mercedes Lackey
First published February 1, 1992
317 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780671721107 (ISBN10: 0671721100)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
Introducing the thrilling first installment of an urban fantasy series filled with adrenaline-fueled car chases, mischievous elves, and head-banging rock music. The virtuous elves have developed a newfound fascination with drag racing, while the malevolent ones have delved into illicit activities such as peddling drugs and child pornography.
Caught in the crossfire are three youngsters on the run, facing imminent danger and about to become entangled in a perilous scheme between the forces of good and evil.
About the Author
Mercedes was born in Chicago on June 24, 1950, and grew up like any regular child. After graduating from Purdue University in 1972, she worked as an artist’s model before eventually transitioning into computer programming.
Ultimately, she landed a job at American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Alongside her fantasy writing, Mercedes has also written lyrics for nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company that specializes in science-fiction folk music.
Mercedes considers herself a storyteller above all else. Her stories derive from her characters and how they would react to various situations.
This approach has allowed her to receive letters from readers ranging from thirteen to sixty-odd years old. She writes song lyrics because she sees them as a way to encapsulate a particular moment in time or reduce a story to its bare essentials.
Additionally, music plays an important role in her novels, which are set in a semi-medieval other-world. Bards are the chief newsbringers, and writing the “folk music” of these peoples enriches her world even if she doesn’t use the song in the text.
Mercedes began writing out of boredom and continues out of addiction. She simply can’t not write, which has resulted in her having no social life.
While she loves writing fantasy, she puts in the same amount of care as a “high-tech” science-fiction writer when constructing her fantasy worlds. For example, she applies the principle of TANSTAAFL (“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”), credited to Robert Heinlein, to magic.
In her worlds, magic comes at a cost, and the price to the magician is often high. She tries to keep her world as realistic as possible, with her characters dealing with stubborn pumps, bugs in their porridge, and complicated love lives, all while fighting off invading armies and evil magicians.
Even the “evil magicians” are more than flat stereotypes, and they sometimes get up in the middle of the night looking for cookies.
In all of her writing, Mercedes aims to expound the creed she gave her character Diana Tregarde: “There’s no such thing as ‘one, true way’; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good—they’re the things worth living and dying for.
And if you aren’t willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race.” She also writes under another name.
Editoral Review
Born to Run by Mercedes Lackey is the first book in the SERRAted Edge series, first published in February 1992. Lackey is a prolific author known for her fantasy and science-fiction works, including the Valdemar series and the Elemental Masters series.
The SERRAted Edge series focuses on a group of elfin race known as SERRAted Edge, who fight against evil supernatural creatures that prey on humans. The novel is set in modern-day America and follows a young woman named Tannim, who is a member of the SERRAted Edge.
Tannim has been hiding her elven nature from the human world, until one day she is forced to reveal herself to save a teenager from a dangerous spirit. This leads Tannim to join forces with the teenager, a computer hacker named Sarah, and a group of bikers known as the Guardians of the Night.
Together, they must stop a powerful evil force that is threatening to destroy the world as they know it. Lackey explores themes of identity, family, and the struggle against evil in Born to Run.
She creates a rich and complex world that blends fantasy and contemporary culture, making it accessible to both fantasy and non-fantasy readers. The novel’s mix of supernatural elements and gritty realism is sure to appeal to fans of urban fantasy.
Lackey’s writing is compelling, with vivid descriptions and a strong sense of pacing. The characters are well-drawn and engaging, with Tannim serving as a complex and relatable protagonist.
The story’s blending of fantastical and modern elements creates a unique atmosphere that is both suspenseful and immersive. One potential weakness of Born to Run is its heavy reliance on tropes found in the urban fantasy genre.
The SERRAted Edge series may not offer much new material for readers who are familiar with the genre. However, Lackey’s mastery of the genre is apparent in her skillful execution of the genre’s tropes and conventions.
Overall, Born to Run is a well-crafted and engaging novel that successfully blends fantasy and contemporary culture. Fans of urban fantasy and Lackey’s previous work are sure to enjoy this novel, while non-fantasy readers may find it to be an accessible entry point into the genre.
Born to Run earns a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for its strong writing, engaging characters, and immersive world-building.
