I was introduced to Spencer’s writing with her Ukiah Oregon series (loved that) and was expecting the same sort of seat-of-your-pants writing. I wasn’t disappointed. In Tinker, Spencer has created an interesting concept: the feedback from a “spacegate” has caused Pittsburg, USA, to become displaced on an alternate Earth known as Elfhome. Every thirty days the stargate is shutdown for a day and Pittsburg returns to earth for the length of one day. When the stargate is turned on again, Pittsburg returns to Elfhome. The main character of the book, Alexander Graham Bell, aka “Tinker” was born in the Pittsburg of Elfhome. It is the only home she has known. She runs a junkyard and “tinkers” with various inventions, such as a magic siphon/container. Just such an invention comes in handy when the high caste elf-Windwolf is chased into Tinker’s junkyard by some very nasty wargs intent on killing the elf—and the adventure begins. The book is filled with intrigue, action, romance, and the reason why you should never just trust an elf.
