Magic Casement


Book Description

The Man of His Word series debut—a novel “with enough fresh ideas to allow it to sit unashamedly alongside the great fantasy books of recent times” (Fantasy Book Review). “Duncan’s unique concept of goblins, fauns, and imps adds a new twist to this imaginative fantasy adventure” as Princess Inosolan is forced to leave behind her carefree childhood—as well as her dear friend, the stableboy Rap (Library Journal). Now of marriageable age, she is sent to a finishing school to hone the skills that all noble ladies should possess. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, as Inos and Rap begin to discover their magical powers, even as Inos is courted by a charming man with motives far more dangerous than the eye—and heart—can see . . . “Magic Casement has a charm and vibrant sense of humor. . . . If it’s traditional fantasy adventure with a bit of nudge-nudge wink-wink you’re after, Dave Duncan is your go-to guy.” —SFReviews.net




The Earth and I


Book Description

Asch has created an environmental tale that encourages readers to observe the world around them and to forge their own friendships with the Earth.




The Man of Gold


Book Description

Governess and sleuth Harriet Unwin investigates the murder of her employer in a Victorian mystery by the Gold Dagger Award–winning author of The Governess. For a respectable governess like Harriet Unwin, her first few weeks in the wealthy yet inhospitable home of the Partingtons are as unhappy as any she could remember. The bone-chilling cold, the grim sparseness of the meals, and the embittered meanness of old Mr. Partington all contribute to an overall air of gloom. If not for the kindness shown by Mr. Partington’s son, Richard, her spirit would surely be crushed. But worse is yet to come for Harriet. When a chance discovery reveals Mr. Partington’s most cherished secret, Harriet is sure that the shock is what causes the old man’s fatal heart attack. The doctor, however, thinks otherwise. It was neither illness nor old age that killed poor Mr. Partington. It was poison. And when suspicion falls on Richard, it’s up to Harriet to find the real killer and save an innocent man from the gallows. Author of the popular Inspector Ghote series, H.R.F. Keating writes the charming and chilling Harriet Unwin mysteries under the pseudonym Evelyn Hervey.




The Grey Bastards


Book Description

“[A] fantasy masterwork . . . a dirty, blood-soaked gem of a novel [that reads] like Mad Max set in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Jackal and his fellow half-orcs patrol the barren wastes of the Lot Lands, spilling their own damned blood to keep civilized folk safe. A rabble of hard-talking, hog-riding, whore-mongering brawlers they may be, but the Grey Bastards are Jackal’s sworn brothers, fighting at his side in a land where there’s no room for softness. And once Jackal’s in charge—as soon as he can unseat the Bastards’ tyrannical, seemingly unkillable founder—there’s a few things they’ll do different. Better. Or at least, that’s the plan. Until the fallout from a deadly showdown makes Jackal start investigating the Lot Lands for himself. Soon, he’s wondering if his feelings have blinded him to ugly truths about this world, and the Bastards’ place in it. In a quest for answers that takes him from decaying dungeons to the frontlines of an ancient feud, Jackal finds himself battling invading orcs, rampaging centaurs, and grubby human conspiracies alike—along with a host of dark magics so terrifying they’d give even the heartiest Bastard pause. Finally, Jackal must ride to confront a threat that’s lain in wait for generations, even as he wonders whether the Bastards can—or should--survive. Delivered with a generous wink to Sons of Anarchy, featuring sneaky-smart worldbuilding and gobs of fearsomely foul-mouthed charm, The Grey Bastards is a grimy, pulpy, masterpiece—and a raunchy, swaggering, cunningly clever adventure that’s like nothing you’ve read before. Praise for The Grey Bastards “Saddle up the war boar and set off on a wild, gory thrill-ride that ends in an awesome climax and begs for a sequel.”—Daily Mail (UK) “Non-stop action, though not for faint hearts . . . the Grey Bastards live up to their name in all respects.”—The Wall Street Journal




The Mark of Ran


Book Description

A stunning blend of visionary storytelling and majestic prose, The Mark of Ran is a new masterpiece of imaginative fiction. In this epic adventure, Paul Kearney records the voyages of a reluctant hero, a band of outcasts, and a quest into the unknown no one has ever dared before . . . In a world abandoned by its Creator, an ancient race once existed—one with powers mankind cannot imagine. Some believe they were the last of the angels. Others think they were demons. Rol Cortishane was raised in a remote fishing village with no idea of his true place in the world. But in his veins runs the blood of this long-forgotten race and he shares their dangerous destiny. Driven from home, accused of witchcraft and black magic, Rol takes refuge in the brooding tower sanctuary of the enigmatic Michal Psellos. There Rol is trained in the assassin’s craft and tutored by the beautiful but troubled Rowen. It’s no accident that Rol and Rowen have been brought together, but the truth about their past is a secret they will have to fight to discover. Now they’ve set their sights across the sea in search of the Hidden City and an adventure that will make them legends . . . if it doesn’ t kill them first. Praise for The Mark of Ran “[A] gritty fantasy swashbuckler . . . Kearney’s crisp, often lyrical writing shines brightest when his characters take to the sea.”—Publishers Weekly “One of the very best fantasy writers around.”—Steven Erikson




Words are My Matter


Book Description

A bright and wide-ranging collection of essays, reviews, talks, and more fromone of today's best and most thoughtful writers.




Flamesong


Book Description

A commander of the Petal Throne, the ruling empire of Tekumel, and his captive, an enemy female officer carrying a powerful ancient weapon, join forces unwillingly to escape uncharted subterranean passages inhabited by horrific monsters




Dawn


Book Description

There is only one Final Fantasy. Through more than a dozen wildly diverse adventures, from the release of the first game in 1987 to the most recent expansion on the story, the international influence of the game is legendary both inside the video-game industry and throughout popular culture. It is a tale of bold heroes and heroines, breathtaking landscapes and terrifying creatures. Through Final Fantasy, names like Luneth, Refia, Rosa Farrell, Cecil Harvey, and many others have become household names to millions of players across the globe.




Secondary Worlds


Book Description

Discussion of the primary worlds of the senses and historical reality, and the secondary worlds of imagination and poetry.




Worlds of Wonder


Book Description

Offers advice for would-be science fiction writers, covering such topics as setting, plot, character, and dialogue, as well as the mechanics of grammar, tense, sentence structure, and paragraph transition.