If you are a fantasy lover and pick up R. Stikmanz' Prelude to a Change of Mind, be prepared for a wild ride. This slim little volume is the first in a series about fire ranger Meg Christmas and the inhabitants of a reality hidden from the world Meg and we all know.

The world of the dvarsh (similar to dwarves) and the thrm'm (similar to elves) intersects with Meg's. She realizes that she has a larger role to play, not only in their world, but in the future of her own.

Though this book bears blurbs by English professors, especially those who support poets, such as Stikmanz himself, I found the title pretentious and a lot of the story bogged down with experimental poetry. The story idea is interesting, but most of the book involves exposition (mainly by one character, Jack) about who the dvarsh and thrm'm are while Meg drifts in and out of consciousness as these being help heal her from an illness that is described as having its root in the ills of the modern world. The characters are interesting, especially the thrm'm, and Jack's observations about Meg's world give the reader much to think about.

That said, Stikmanz could be the next Terry Pratchett, who has been able to satirize every institution in Britain from the postal system to the police to religion. Stikmanz does offer some curious comments about society. Choosing the literary medium for this satire may limit his readership.