Travis Thompson is an investigative journalist. His latest assignment was investigating a man called Prenderghast. Unfortunately when he visited the man's office he discovers there is more to him than meets the eye for Prenderghast is a wizard and Travis wakes up in Vallium, a fantasy world that Travis feels resembles the set from a second rate medieval costume drama. This and he has a companion, a small demon who used to be a sleazy Hollwood sex film producer called Jack who has a liking for goat's testicles stew. At least Prenderghast had enough decency to give him a gun to help defend himself.

This is a fantasy novel very much in the Terry Pratchett/Robert Asprin territory - there's plenty of tongue in cheek joing at the expense of various fantasy worlds and characters. We encounter a really annoying Princess, Beatrice, who once saved from being sacrificed to a dragon, latches onto Travis and makes his life hell; we meet Rodney, a useless knight of Vallium who is besotted with Beatrice and is convinced that Travis is controlling her wife sorcery and so pursues him; as well as a succubus, the Prince of a neighbouring realm, a upstart court wizard and many more slightly off fantasy types.

The main thing this book has going for it is Mr. Brosnan's writing style. At times it feels almost transparent to the story and the gags (don't foget this is a comedy). The book is not up to the best comedy fantasy out there, but this easy style means the jokes aren't buried but come to the fore.

Also the author's use of Earthly things against the fantasy background is done well. From the start Travis's gun and Jack's never-emptying pack of Marlboro's these are woven into the plot at intervals without seeming forced.

This was a pleasant enjoyable read, and as the cover states this is the first in a series I would gladly look for other titles.