The Stranger's Magic — Max Frei

The Labyrinths of Echo series--the adventures of Sir Max, who was once a loser but discovers a new world--has earned comparisons to Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. In this book, Sir Max once again travels to the enchanted parallel world of Echo, where magic is commonplace and where he fits right in. Plunging back into the astounding realm first portrayed in The Stranger (Fandomania.com's #1 Book of 2009), continued in The Stranger's Woes, and concluding in The Stranger's Shadow (to be published by Overlook in May 2013), Frei's third book blends fantasy, horror, philosophy, and comedy.