Written during the Vietnam War, Stasheff's novel clothed his thinly veiled commentary about the proper uses of government and democracy in a fantasy about interstellar travel, fairies, unusual flora and refugees fleeing persecution.

Immediately upon landing he is thrust into a world of medieval people, witches and warlocks, and all manner of mythical creatures.

Shortly thereafter the "wee people", who saw him land, declare him a warlock and put him to a test to determine if he is good or evil by forcing him to fight a werewolf.

Though defeated, Rod is permitted to join the Queen under the promise to solve the mystery of the Banshee which is continuously spotted upon the castle battlements.

Passing themselves off as minstrels, Rod and Big Tom gain entrance to the fortress and find the old Duke losing his grasp on the other lords.

Upon saving the Duke, who is then replaced by his son Anselm, they make their escape into the forest and back to the Queen's castle.

Events soon take a turn for the worst when Rod finds himself betrayed by Big Tom, who is revealed to be a VETO agent from the future.

While in jail the Mocker's plan is unveiled that he, with his lieutenants armed with futuristic guns, would throw the country into anarchy.

Rod, having witnessed Tom's death, rides with haste wielding a blaster from Fess's saddle and kills Durer.

In 1982, Ace Books published The Warlock Unlocked, in which the Gallowglass family accidentally go through a portal to an alternate universe, where magic really works.

[2] The success of this novel led to the publication of the 1983 Escape Velocity, a prequel to the original series, recounting the events leading to the colonisation of Gramarye by members of the Society for Creative Anachronism.