Lucian is a bored counting clerk in the ruling house of Arkadia. When he unwittingly gets caught up in political intrigue he must flee for his life. On the road, he meets Fonto, a poet who has been turned into a donkey, and Joy-in-the-Dance, a young woman who is also the Pythoness, an oracle from the line of Arkadia's pre-patriarchal era. In a blend of Greek myth with contemporary storytelling spiced by feminist politics, the three set out on a journey in which Lucian seeks his true calling, Fonto seeks a return to human form, and Joy-in-the-Dance seeks a peaceful future for the people of Arkadia. Memorable characters, witty dialogue and droll humor propel the action in this this epic-like adventure novel. (Ages 12-14)

Meet the Arkadians--a young bean counter turned hero, a poet turned jackass, a girl of marvels, a king disguised as a peasant, and others who play across an epic stage, firmly connecting the quest of a young protagonist to those of classical heroes and heroines of ancient Greek storytelling--and reminding readers that danger, daring, and romance are still the most thrilling of literary devices.