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# The Other World

## ELVES AT THE WHEEL,
KIDS ON THE EDGE

There are elves out there. And, mostly, they're the good guys. Oh, they drive too fast (they love hot cars) but we'll forgive them that since they also make a habit of rescuing children in peril.

But this time it isn't just the children who are in peril. Jamie's father has joined a fanatical cult that is in contact with a supernatural entity that is ancient, powerful—and unspeakably evil. And Amanda is an abused little girl who has unheard of psychic powers. In her pain, she might lash out and destroy Earth and Faerie both!

"[This] is one of her rollicking action comedies.... The comedy is clever, the characters strong.... As with any book Lackey works on, the principal joy is story; she sweeps you along and never lets you go." —Locus

". . . Lackey's usual sound characterization, brisk pacing, and intelligently detailed world building . . . Lackey remains an undoubted mistress of the well-told tale...." —Booklist

"Romance, action intrigue all blend in a believable fantastic setting. Fans of Lackey and fantasy will be delighted" —Kliatt

Publisher's Note: Previously published in parts

Paperback Cover art by Clyde Caldwell This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. First printing, February 2000

Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Printed in the United States of America

### ISBN: 0-671-57852-9

Wheels of Fire copyright (c) 1992 by Mercedes Lackey and Mark Shepherd, When the Bough Breaks copyright (c) 1993 by Mercedes Lackey and Holly Lisle

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
http://www.baen.com

Typeset by Brilliant Press

Electronic version by WebWrights
http://www.webwrights.com

### Dedicated, with love and gratitude to:
Mothers—ours and others—
Who believe, nurture, and forgive just about anything

OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

The SERRAted Edge
The Chrome Borne
(Born to Run & Chrome Circle)
Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon

The Otherworld
(Wheels of Fire & When the Bough Breaks)
Mercedes Lackey with
Mark Shepherd & Holly Lisle

Urban Fantasies
Knight of Ghosts and Shadows
Mercedes Lackey & Ellen Guon
Summoned to Tourney
Mercedes Lackey & Ellen Guon
Bedlam Boyz
Ellen Guon

ALSO BY MERCEDES LACKEY
FROM BAEN BOOKS

Bardic Voices: The Lark & the Wren
Bardic Voices: The Robin & the Kestrel
Bardic Choices: A Cast of Corbies
(with Josepha Sherman)

Fortress of Frost & Fire: A Bard's Tale Novel
(with Ru Emerson)

Prison of Souls: A Bard's Tale Novel
(with Mark Shepherd)

The Ship Who Searched
(with Anne McCaffrey)

Wing Commander: Freedom Flight
(with Ellen Guon)

If I Pay Thee Not in Gold
(with Piers Anthony)

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