Convergence Books in Order

Convergence is Craig Alanson's move into contemporary urban fantasy, swapping starships for an old RV and battle fleets for gods, cults, and leaking magic. It keeps his trademark mix of action and humor, just set on modern highways instead of in deep space.

The series centers on Kazimir 'Kaz' Wolfe, a reluctant wizard who lives off the grid, taking odd jobs and staying just ahead of both law enforcement and a shadowy group that wants him dead. His closest companion is Duke, a golden retriever who talks because a Babylonian wizard accidentally anchored his spirit inside the dog.

At the start of Convergence there is barely any magic left in the world, and Kaz can only manage small tricks. That changes as the barrier between our reality and a parallel realm called the Nether starts to thin. An ancient secret society known as the Order sees opportunity in that shift and begins working to control the returning power.

Kaz would rather stay alone, but the crisis keeps pulling new allies into his orbit, including a Celtic warrior pulled forward through time, a battle hardened Egyptian fighter, and a self interested genie. Much of the series plays out as a road story in stolen vehicles and cramped RVs, with the group putting out magical brushfires while trying to understand the larger pattern.

In Dragonslayer a dragon that slipped through a portal has to be hunted down before someone films it over a city skyline. First Strike finds Kaz deciding that reacting is no longer enough, launching attacks on the Order before they can open a stable door to their gods. In Recon and Desperate Measures he pushes deeper into the Nether and into enemy strongholds, looking for the knowledge and leverage he will need to stop a full scale Convergence.

Despite the grim stakes, the books stay breezy in tone, with a lot of deadpan dialogue between Kaz and Duke, plus the culture clash of ancient warriors trying to cope with smartphones and roadside diners. Readers who enjoy Expeditionary Force's mix of banter and big danger will find a similar rhythm here, only with magic circles and monsters in place of plasma cannons and star cruisers.