The title is a phrase used by geologists for predetonation from radioactive uranium, one of the dangers facing Nevin Reasoner and friends as they try to pacify two warring kingdoms. Nevin Reasoner teams up with three others to use magery and scientific acumen to deal with obstacles posed by a rogue scientist, angry trolls, an even angrier Elf-Lord, desperate dwarves, and a megalomaniacal king.Book 2 in The Chronicles of Nevin Reasoner is not about mythical dragons, although it does offer a scientific explanation of the fiery effects of dragon breath. Tickling the Dragon’s Tail is a once-used phrase by geologists to describe the danger from clapping together rocks of radioactive uranium ore. That is one of the dangers faced by Nevin Reasoner and his friends as they try valiantly to end years of warfare between the kingdoms of Antrim and Gilsum. In Book 1, Nevin is fired as a science lecturer at Hempstead College in Ohio. He gets delivered to Antrim by arcane means—or is there a scientific explanation—where he teams up with a mage, soldier, and king’s confidante to end the devastation, anarchy and persecution caused by war. Along the way, Nevin finds himself in uncomfortable situations because of his size compared with indigenous folks, sometimes calling for unaccustomed physical altercations. Nevin sees nothing absurd like talking animals or shape-shifting, and no items are created out of nothing, so science must offer explanations if he can only figure it out. The troupe resorts to magery and scientific acumen to supplement their courage as they deal with obstacles posed by a rogue scientist name John Stryker, angry trolls, an even angrier Elf-Lord, a desperate community of dwarves, and a megalomaniacal king. Stryker concocts a crude explosive device that complicates the negotiations for peace. Advice, more or less, comes from a secretive council of high mages, but not without surprising revelations and mysteries. An introverted would-be scientist, Nevin must finally reconcile his feelings for Corissa as king’s consort as well as confidante.

On Nevin Reasoner's last day as a college lecturer, he meets a peculiar small man dressed in tunic and breeches. Anson claims he is a “mage” from a place Nevin cannot find on any map. Following some inspiring and amusing experiences, Nevin agrees to help. Magery and scientific acumen are needed to overcome obstacles and pacify the warring kingdoms.Book 1 of The Chronicles of Nevin Reasoner introduces the title character. Nevin Reasoner never completed an advanced degree because he wanted freedom to explore the sciences without pedantic constraints. As a result, he lost his job as a Lecturer at Hempstead College. On his last day, he discovered a peculiar small man in his office recovering from a physical assault. Anson, dressed in tunic and breeches, claimed he was a “mage” from a place Nevin could not find on any map. Anson pleaded for help in ending persecution, anarchy and devastation in his land.Nevin refused to believe that magery existed beyond sleight-of-hand, superstition, or rational explanations—until he was shamed for his own scientific chauvinism. Following some inspiring and amusing experiences, Nevin agreed to help Anson and together they contrived a plan. After a deliverance to Antrim by extraordinary means, Nevin gradually sorted out the scientific plausibility for the spellwork he witnessed and helped carry out. After all, he saw nothing supernatural, no talking animals, and no items created out of nothing. The mage and the “sage” teamed up with a soldier for a so-called alliance for Antrim. Both magery and scientific acumen would be needed to supplement their courage in overcoming obstacles to pacify the warring kingdoms. Sometimes they had to deal with physical altercations, forcing Nevin to use his relatively large size in an unfamiliar role as a fighter. Unfortunately, another stranger to the land brought science for nefarious uses to aide one side with impending tragic results. Forced to add a high-born woman to their troupe, they put their plan into action to turn the tide of war.Book 2 of The Chronicles of Nevin Reasoner picks up the story when they must face the destructive effects of science gone wild.