
Born to Run (SERRAted Edge #1) by Mercedes Lackey, Larry Dixon —Â cover: Larry Elmore
SERRAted Edge series — by Mercedes Lackey with Larry Dixon, Mark Shepherd, and Holly Lisle. This series if part of the Elves on the Road universe which includes the Diana Tregarde series.
Genres and Sub-Genres[]
Urban Fantasy / Sci-Urban Fantasy
Theme[]
the importance of home and family, even when you have grown up. Cosy Dragon
Series Description or Overview[]
Book one of a new urban fantasy series centered on hot cars, fast elves, and rock-n-roll. Good elves are intrigued by stock car racing, and bad elves run kiddie-porn and drug rings. Trapped in between are three runaways who are in serious trouble and about to get into more—unwitting pawns in a deadly game between good and evil. ~ Goodreads | Born to Run (SERRAted Edge, #1) by Mercedes Lackey
Tannim is a human mage with a taste for fast cars and loud music. Among his friends are Ross Canfield, a good old Southern boy who just happens to be dead and Keighvin, an elf lord who has been targeted for termination by a horde of evil elves, with the assistance of a vindictive banshee. Caught in the middle are three runaway kids in serious trouble, used as bait to trap Tannim and Keighvin.
If that wasn't enough, Tannim's predilection for dangerous women just went from dangerous to lethal. He thinks he's found Ms. Right, but there are three tiny problems: 1) Her father is a dragon. 2) She's not human though she definitely is a fox. 3) She seems to want to kill him... Tannim's magery is sometimes erratic - but his talent for getting himself into trouble is perfect!
The Bedlam Bards series, the SERRAted Edge series, and the Diana Tregard books are all set in the same universe, and feature elves, magic, and modern life. ~ Mercedes Lackey: Chrome Borne
Lead's Species[]
Mage
Primary Supe[]
Elves
What Sets it Apart[]
Narrative Type and Narrators[]
Books in Series[]
SERRAted Edge series:
- Born to Run ((1992) (with Larry Dixon)
- Wheels of Fire (1992) (with Mark Shepherd)
- When the Bough Breaks (1993) (with Holly Lisle)
- Chrome Circle (1994) (with Larry Dixon) (ISFdb lists only these four, same order)
- Stoned Souls (2006) (with Josepha Sherman) (title not listed on author's site, does not seem to have been released as of 2017)
- Elvendude (1994) by Mark Shepherd
- Spiritride (1997) by Mark Shepherd
- Lazerwarz (1999) by Mark Shepherd
(Fantastic Fiction lists only the first five titles in a different order; Author's site lists all titles except Stoned Souls in this order, un-numbered. Stoned Souls is listed on most book sites accept for ISFdb and the Author's site. Author was pursuing a re-write with Eric Flint prior to his death in 2022, that project is now in limbo)
Shorts, Novellas, Anthologies and Guides[]
- "False Knight on the Road" in Games Creatures Play (April 1st 2014)
Companion Series, Spinoffs, Sequels or Prequels[]
"Doubled Edge": (Historical Prequel fantasies)
- This Scepter'd Isle (2004) by Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis
- Ill Met by Moonlight (2005) by Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis
- By Slanderous Tongues (2007) by Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis
- And Less Than Kind (2008) by Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis
List of Series in the Elves on the Road universe:
- Bedlam's Bard series
- Diana Tregarde series
- SERRAted Edge series
- Doubled Edge series
Themes[]
Runaway teens;
World Building[]
Setting[]
- Date: 1992
- Place: Savannah, Georgia
Locations:
- Fairgrove Elfhame
- Underhill
Supernatural Elements[]
✥ Mages, elves, evil elves, ghost, unicorns, magic, Dragon, banshees, fox spirits, elven steeds, psi power, UFO, Aliens, salamanders, various creatures, Irish and Scottish mythology,
Glossary:[]
Groups & Organizations:[]
- Fairgrove Industries
- Runaway Hotline: 800-999-9999 The charity the proceeds from the book supports
World[]
✥ Elves and banshees and various creatures and circumstances of the Irish and Scottish mythology are real. The good elves are relatively well-disposed toward humans, and will generally help people, and the bad ones hate humans and will try to do them harm. The modernization of this basic story is that the good elves, led by Keighvin Silverhair, are building racecars in order to get money to help children, since in the modern world magically-created gold isn’t so useful, while the bad elves (and other creatures of the Unseleighe Court) are running a business creating kiddie porn and snuff films, enjoying both the monetary profit and the negative emotions. ~ Other Stuff Exists
✥ Tannim and the elves of Fairgrove Elfhame have a soft spot for children in need and hot cars. For the latter, they’ve set up a stock car racing club, including experiments with fusing magic and technology to shield elves from cold iron. With the former, they try to develop a rapport with streetkids until they can get them to a safe environment, such as Underhill. When Tannim, representing Fairgrove Industries, recruits Sam, a former Gulfstream employee to act as a technological front for them, he also finds himself distracted by a teen runaway. ~ the stacks my destination
✥ The Bedlam Bards series, the SERRAted Edge series, and the Diana Tregard books are all set in the same universe, and feature elves, magic, and modern life. ~ Mercedes Lackey - Website
Protagonist[]
Sidekick[]
Name: — What: — Sidekick-to: — About: — Book First Seen In:
Characters Chart[]
Characters | What | About |
---|---|---|
Tannim | human mage | taste for fast cars and loud music; predilection for dangerous women; Tannim's magery is sometimes erratic; gets Tania off streets; |
Ross Canfield | friend who is dead | good old Southern boy |
Keighvin Silverhair | elf lord | genuine do-gooder; targeted for termination by a horde of evil elves; |
Jamie Chase | kidnapped by his divorced father | becomes the prisoner of a radical cult |
Fairgrove | genuine do-gooder; | |
Tania Delaney | runaway teenager | left her home in hopes of finding people who cared about her, found herself living on the streets, selling her body for rent and food |
Ross Canfield | dead | good old Southern boy |
Al | mechanic | race car driving team; |
Bob | mechanic | race car driving team; |
Vidal Dhu | ||
To expand the table, right-press on a row of the table or (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add row.

Mercedes Lackey
Author[]
- Website: Mercedes Lackey - The Official Website
- Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Bio: Mercedes Lackey has a degree in biology from Purdue University. Like many writers she has worked at a variety of jobs, including short stints as a waitress, security guard and artist's model. She lives outside Tulsa, Oklahoma with her husband and collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, their several birds and two dogs. ~ Mercedes Lackey ~ FF
Cover Artist[]
- Artist: Larry Elmore (Bk: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
- Artist: Clyde Caldwell (Bk: 1, 2, 3)
- Artist: Barclay Shaw (Bk: 4)
- Artist: C. W. Kelly (Bk: 7)
~ Source: Serrated Edge - Series Bibliography
The Chrome Borne—omnibus (1–4):
- Artist: Clyde Caldwell — ISFdb
Publishing Information[]
- Publisher: Baen Books,
- Author Page: Harlequin.com | Mercedes Lackey
- Author Page: Mercedes Lackey - Penguin Books USA
- Bk-1: Paperback, 317 pages, Pub: Jan 2nd 2001—ISBN: 0671721100
- Bk-2: Paperback, 400 pages, Pub: Jan 2nd 2001—ISBN: 0671721380
- Bk-3: Paperback, 288 pages, Pub: Feb 1st 1993—ISBN: 0671721542
- Bk-4: Paperback, 368 pages, Pub: Jan 2nd 2001—ISBN: 0671876155
- Bk-5: Hardcover, 400 pages, Pub: —ISBN: 0743436148
- Bk-6: Paperback, 312 pages, Pub: 1994—ISBN: 0671876309
- Bk-7: Paperback, ?, Pub: April 1st 1997—ISBN: 0671877755
- Bk-8: Paperback, ?, Pub: May 1st 1999—ISBN: 0671578065
Book Cover Blurbs[]
✤ BOOK ONE BLURB—Born to Run (1992): Born To Run is the first book in the SERRAted Edge series. The Bedlam Bards series, the SERRAted Edge series, and the Diana Tregard books are all set in the same universe, and feature elves, magic, and modern life. Seeking to make their fortunes in human society, the elves of the underworld involve themselves in stock car racing, child pornography, and worse, and three runaway kids find themselves in a heap of trouble. Born to Run is currently out of print, but is part of Chrome Borne, an omnibus edition that includes Born to Run and Chrome Circle. ~ Author: Born To Run
Book one of a new urban fantasy series centered on hot cars, fast elves, and rock-n-roll. Good elves are intrigued by stock car racing, and bad elves run kiddie-porn and drug rings. Trapped in between are three runaways who are in serious trouble and about to get into more--unwitting pawns in a deadly game between good and evil. ~ Goodreads and Born to Run | Book Recommendations
✤ BOOK TWO BLURB—Wheels of Fire (1992): There are elves out there. But they're the good guys. In an age where plastics and superlight metals are replacing "cold iron" they are able to come out once more and work their magic on humans. And the humans they work most on are kids—hurt, neglected, abused children. The bad guys: Those who use children for their own ends. When young Jamie Chase is kidnapped by his divorced father, he becomes the prisoner of a radical cult. His mother gave up job and home to search for him—but now she's running out of resources; the only way she'll ever find her child is with the uncanny help of a fun loving, hard-driving elf. ~ Barnes & Noble
It's hot cars, lost boys, and Elves to the rescue in this sizzling new fantasy from bestselling author Mercedes Lackey and computer-operator Mark Shepherd. When a boy is kidnapped from his mother by her ex-husband, he becomes the prisoner of a radical cult. His mother gives up her job and home to search for him, but the only way she'll find him is with the help of a fun-loving, hard-driving elf. ~ FF
- Author's description: Mercedes Lackey: Wheels of Fire
✤ BOOK THREE BLURB—When the Bough Breaks (1993): In the latest installment of the SERRAted Edge series, elf-driver Maclyn, his road crew mechanic/mother Dierdre, and the spirit of an ancient Celtic witch come to the rescue of one frail blonde girl, who just might be the strongest psi power on either side of Faerie--and who just might destroy both worlds if her pain isn't healed. ~ Goodreads
Ingram Equipped with more inherent psi power than any mortal or elf, an abused little girl threatens to destroy Earth and the Faerie world, unless the elves can stop her. ~ Fantastic Fiction
- Author's description: Mercedes Lackey: When the Bough Breaks
✤ BOOK FOUR BLURB—Chrome Circle (1994): Fourth in the red-hot SERRAted Edge series. There are mages out there . . . and some of them are kind of cute—like Tannim, a young human mage with a taste for hot Celtic rock, fast cars and dangerous women. Now he thinks he's found Ms. Right, but there are some small problems: Her father is a dragon; she's not human, though she's definitely a fox; and she wants to kill him! ~ Goodreads and Fantastic Fiction
- Author's description: Mercedes Lackey: Chrome Circle
Quotes[]
Goodreads | Mercedes Lackey Quotes (Author of Arrows of the Queen)
- “Remember what I told you about them, that they can’t seem to create anything?” Tannim reminded him. “Keighvin thinks that if they withdraw, they’ll stagnate. That’s something a little more serious to them than it is to humans. They call it Dreaming; they can be forced into it by caffeine addiction, or they can drop into it from lack of stimulation, and being cut off from their old energy sources by Cold Iron. That’s happened to one group in California already. They managed to get out of it, but—it wasn’t pretty.”
- He didn’t like to think about that. They had all been damned lucky to pull out of their trap. And they wouldn’t have been able to without the aid of humans.
- He pulled his thoughts away; Elfhame Sundescending was all right now, and thriving. “Like the old story of the Lotus-Eaters; they lose all ambition and do next to nothing, sit around and listen to music and let their magic servants tend to everything, dance, and never think a single thought. Scary. I’ve seen it once, and I wouldn’t wish it even on the Folk who’d be pleased to see me six feet under. Keighvin’s got some plans to keep it from happening on this coast, and they involve all of us in Fairgrove.” ~ Born to Run | the stacks my destination
First Sentences[]
- Born to Run ((1992) —A dark red Mustang perched beside the ribbon of highway, alone but for the young man resting against its door.
- Wheels of Fire (1992) — Streamlined shapes of bright metal hurtled across asphalt, machines that roarted, whined and howled, leaving hot air and deafness in their wake.
- When the Bough Breaks (1993) — (not online)
- Chrome Circle (1994) — Gently bending the speed limit, eh?
- Stoned Souls (2006) — (not online)
- Elvendude (1994) — (not online)
- Spiritride (1997) — Petrus led his elvensteed toward a shallow stream, its trickling sound muted by fog.
- Lazerwarz (1999) — (not online)
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Lists That Contain Born to Run (SERRAted Edge, #1) by Mercedes Lackey
- Lists That Contain Wheels of Fire (SERRAted Edge, #2) by Mercedes Lackey
- Lists That Contain When the Bough Breaks (SERRAted Edge, #3) by Mercedes Lackey
- Lists That Contain Chrome Circle (SERRAted Edge, #4) by Mercedes Lackey
- Lists That Contain Elvendude (SERRAted Edge #6) by Mark Shepherd
- Lists That Contain Spiritride (SERRAted Edge #7) by Mark Shepherd
Awards[]
Read Alikes (similar elements)[]
Elves as Main Supe
Mages as main supe
- Allie Beckstrom series
- Arcadia Bell series
- Cassandra Palmer series
- Edge Series
- Dresden Files series
- Diamond City Magic series
- Hellequin Chronicles series
- Iron Druid Chronicles
- Scarlett Bernard series
- Sabina Kane series
- Prospero's War series
- Hidden Legacy series ~ New
- Sentinels of New Orleans series
Dragons, Dragon-Shifters:
- Fangborn series
- Fly by Night series ~ New
- Anya Kalinczyk series
- Bite Back series
- Entwined Realms series
- Heartstrikers series
- InCryptid series
- Jessie Shimmer series
- World of the Lupi series
- SPI Files series
- Stormwalker series
- Skindancer series
- Sarah Beauhall series
- Fae series ~ New
Early Urban Fantasy:
- Victoria Nelson series
- Vampire Files series
- Keeper Chronicles series
- Garrett Files series
- Borderland series
- Newford series
- Fault Lines series
- War for the Oaks
- Saint-Germain series
See Category links at bottom of this page
Notes[]
The story features a Ban-Sidhe (banshee), which is renamed a Bane-Sidhe and not only behaves like a cross between a vampire and a ghoul, but is male! (Ban-Sidhe just means female Sidhe).
See Also[]
- Diana Tregarde series
- Mercedes Lackey
- Games Creatures Play
- ~
- UF Book Release Schedules
- List of Sidekicks
- List of Vampires of Urban Fantasy
- Characters (category)
- Lists and Articles - Category: Urban Fantasy Wiki
- Urban Fantasy Links
See Category links at bottom of this page
External References[]
Books:
- Mercedes Lackey: Books by Series - The Official Website
- SERRAted Edge series by Mercedes Lackey ~ Goodreads
- Serrated Edge - Series Bibliography ~ ISFdb
- The SERRAted Edge Series ~ Shelfari
- Mercedes Lackey - Summary Bibliography ~ ISFdb
- Mercedes Lackey ~ FF
- SERRAted Edge | Series | LibraryThing
Excerpts and Freebies:
Summaries:
World, Characters, etc:
- The SERRAted Edge Series ~ Shelfari
Book titles:
- Born to Run ((1992) (with Larry Dixon)
- Wheels of Fire (1992) (with Mark Shepherd)
- When the Bough Breaks (1993) (with Holly Lisle)
- Chrome Circle (1994)
Reviews:
- The Cosy Dragon: Born to Run #1 - Review
- Born to Run #1 « Other Stuff Exists
- Born to Run #1, by Mercedes Lackey, Larry Dixon | SFReader.com Book Review
- Born to Run #1: A Novel of the SERRAted Edge | the stacks my destination
- Doug's Book Reviews: Born to Run
- Review: Born to Run#1 by Mercedes Lackey | Book Recommendations
- ~
- The Cosy Dragon - Wheels of Fire #2 - Review
- Doug's Book Reviews: #2 Wheels of Fire
- Wheels of Fire #2 Book Review
- ~
- Doug's Book Reviews: When the Bough Breaks #3
- When the Bough Breaks #3 - Book Review
- ~
- The Cosy Dragon: Chrome Circle #4 - Review
- Doug's Book Reviews: #4 Chrome Circle
- Chrome Circle #4 - Book Review
Interviews:
Author:
- Mercedes Lackey - The Official Website
- Goodreads | Mercedes Lackey (Author of Arrows of the Queen)
- Mercedes Lackey - Wikipedia
Community, Fan Sites: