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story identification - 80's (or earlier) book about a role-playing group getting sucked into a new realm


The details I can remember are:



  • The trope of a role-playing group getting sucked into a different realm, possibly becoming their characters.

  • One of the females becomes graceful, has the power to fly like a moth, possibly something about bracelets as part of her abilities(?).


  • In one scene she might get stuck in a huge spider web.

  • One of the males is a scrawny guy but becomes a muscle-bound oaf in the realm they travel to.

  • They do get back to their own Earth realm, to the gaming table, but everyone was pretty bummed because they no longer had their alternate abilities/bodies.

  • It seems to have been some "journey to adulthood" type theme overall.


This was a book that was in my high school library in the 90's, was possibly published in the 80's or earlier. I've searched for a bit, but have not found any books that fit what I remember.



Answer



This could be The Twilight Realm by Christopher Carpenter which was first published in 1987.


Description from Amazon editorial review:




Unemployed or starting college, Paul and his friends are uncertain what life holds for them. Their weekly meetings to indulge in role-playing games are a peaceful escape, until one night they step through a mirror into another world and the game becomes real. In Xhandarre, each of the five possesses special powers that complement their earthly attributes. These are powers they need in their quest to free the land from the despotic sorcerer Avron Kromar. Water serpents, birdbats, human wolves and deep dungeons lie in wait for them, but so do Prince Jarmassad (the rightful heir to the throne) and his loyal wizard Meldorion.


This pleasant fantasy-adventure is distinguished by its characterization: the friends remain fallible people who must conquer their own weaknesses as well as magical foes




  • One character (Teresa) gains powers of mental illusions and thought sensing, plus the ability to become incorporeal when she strikes her bracelets together. In this incorporeal form she can pass through solid matter and fly

  • When her RPG character is introduced it includes a reference to appearing like a delicate dragonfly (due to her clothes & posture)

  • Another character (Justin) is transformed from a "slim young man" into a "huge musclebound man"

  • Once transformed he also finds he can no longer speak properly, when he tries "all that emerged were a series of grunts"

  • At one point Teresa is trapped in a giant web "spread eagled like a giant butterfly"

  • At the end of the story they are returned to their normal lives with varying degrees of happiness


  • From memory & quick scan there is a theme of growing up or learning about themselves. Certainly when they return some of the characters make decisions to change their lives based on their experience in the alternate realm.


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