Joshua Waters had always vicariously enjoyed the adventures of others from the comfort of his reading chair until an intriguing new neighbor asked him for a simple favor involving a family matter. Unprepared both physically and psychologically, Joshua is plunged into a world which resembles a medieval version of his own world, a place where he believes he can safely experience just a little real adventure. Dealing with a task which has been grossly misrepresented, he finds himself trapped in a land where the acquisition of vital skills and powerful new friends and allies may still prove insufficient to offset the daunting challenges from both the environment and murderous enemies on all sides.