After twenty years, Salman Rushdie invites readers back to Haroun’s Sea of Stories.  LUKA AND THE FIRE OF LIFE (Random House, $25) follows Haroun’s twelve-year-old little brother Luka on a quest to rescue his father from a vengeful curse.  Luka must use his wits—and the help of a whimsical crew consisting of a holograph, a princess, a bear named Dog, and a dog named Bear—to find the Fire of Life and break the curse. The novel deftly combines elements from myths, fairy tales, and video games as Luka faces increasingly perilous challenges to reach the different “levels” of his quest.  The wordplay and allegory are in classic Rushdie style, while still keeping a matter-of-fact, real-world tone.  Luka and the Fire of Life is a fast-paced tale of filial love, mortality, and the power of stories.