The farming habitat is being attacked by pirates. If the habitat does not surrender its crops, it will soon be destroyed by powerful water bombs. Fortunately, there are three Travelers aboard the floating habitat, including Our Hero, Bobby Pendragon. Risking their lives to enact a bold plan, the Travelers take to the water to save the day. Watch out for that intake valve, Bobby Pendragon!

The Lost City of Faar is book two in D. J. MacHale's Pendragon series. Ten books are planned in the series, and five are in stores as of this writing. Book one, The Merchant of Death, establishes some of the framework for the stories, but is not necessary to enjoying Lost City, since plenty of background information is supplied throughout the second book.

Once again, fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon and his Uncle Press, two Travelers from Second Earth, are fighting Saint Dane, the shape-shifting Villain out to destroy "Halla," which is comprised of ten "territories," or alternate universes. The action in the second book, at least from Bobby's perspective, takes place on Cloral, a world completely covered by oceans. On Cloral, people live on habitats and have developed some interesting technologies to improve their lifestyles. Mostly, these are rather cool and improbable vehicles and weapons made of water that keep the action rolling along.

The major character on Cloral is Spader, a charismatic personality with a decidedly Australian-Pacific Rim bent. Spader, along with Bobby and Uncle Press, are Travelers, select people (assuming they're human) capable of traveling between the alternate universes. Cloral itself is a happier version of Waterworld, complete with an Atlantis legend. Pirate and shark attacks are merely nuisances compared to the real danger, one engineered by Saint Dane. It is this danger that the Travelers must stop, or else it will destroy Cloral and ultimately threaten Halla. Environmental issues and genetic engineering questions become part of the plot, giving the book at least the pretense of some higher purpose.

Meanwhile, back on good old Second Earth, Bobby's junior high classmates, Mark and Courtney, are having some adventures of their own. They are the characters who receive Bobby's journals, which he irregularly sends them via a finger ring. Mark is the nerdy best friend, Courtney the beautiful and athletic girlfriend (but the travel keeps them apart so much...). In the first book, Mark and Courtney were mainly involved in trying to decide the validity of Bobby's journals. In Lost City, they realize not only the truthfulness of Bobby's extraordinary accounts, but also the importance of his journals. The safekeeping of the journals becomes Mark and Courtney's chief concern, but that safety is threatened by Mark's nemesis, a bully by the name of Andy Mitchell. So, while Bobby is off saving worlds, Courtney and Mark are facing down threats at least slightly more typical of junior high existences.

In Lost City, Bobby has accepted his role as a traveler and, largely because of the fun he has on Cloral and through his friendship with Spader, has come to embrace his mission. Loosely stated, that mission is to halt Saint Dane from achieving chaos. Still, Bobby's general ignorance as to why he was chosen for this life, and who or what did the choosing, is disconcerting. Presumably, MacHale intends to reveal this knowledge over the span of the ten books. But why would Bobby, or anyone else, not insist on knowing the answer immediately? His lack of interest on this subject is similar to Harry Potter's lack of interest in his grandparents -- perhaps a literary "hook" to keep the reader wondering and reading along, but one that makes the character at least slightly less believable.

In all, though, Lost City is a fun read. Spader is a good character, and keeps the reader going through the realization that this sequel is essentially Merchant of Death placed in a different setting with a few different characters. Still, Lost City is a good addition to the series, and a fun and possibly favorite non-school reading for people around the age of Bobby, Mark, and Courtney.

My Pendragon Reviews:

Book One:Merchant of Death
Book Two:Lost City of Faar
Book Three:The Never War
Book Four:The Reality Bug
Book Five:Black Water
Guide to the Territories of Halla
Book Six:The Rivers of Zadaa
Book Seven:Quillan Games

Recommended: Yes