Across The Wall A Tale Of The Abhorsen And Other Stories

A spellbinding short story collection from bestselling fantasy author Garth Nix. Across the Wall brings together thirteen wide-ranging and gripping stories, each showcasing Garth's talent as a versatile writer and introduced by Garth himself. Whether your jaw drops as you read about Nicholas Sayre taking on a powerful blood-thirsty beast in the story set in the Old Kingdom, Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case, or you howl with laughter as you follow the instructions of the Choose Your Own Adventure parody, Down to the Scum Quarter, it is clear that Garth Nix has a story for every reader. The collection also features a fascinating bonus section of frequently asked questions for which Garth provides vital answers to his readers' burning queries.

From renowned fantasy author of the Old Kingdom series, Garth Nix, comes an entertaining collection of stories, including one Old Kingdom novella. Across the Wall brings together an electic mix of Garth Nix’s writing spanning several years, beginning with the novella set in the Old Kingdom, “Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case,” winner of two Aurealis Awards. The collection also includes two tales inspired by Arthurian legend, a war story, a western, a traditional tale with a twist and a hilarious choose-your-own-adventure spoof. The volume is introduced by the author himself and, even better, so is each story—giving context, anecdotes and a glimpse into the exceptional mind of Garth Nix.

Six months have passed since Lirael and Sameth fought off the Destroyer and saved Nicholas Sayre's life. Still recovering from his horrible ordeal, Nicholas is nonetheless eager to return to the Old Kingdom and his friends. But first he must endure a country house party organised by his powerful uncle, with the wealthy, eccentric Dorrance as the guest of honour. Nick hates the idea, especially since the people there don't believe in magic or necromancy. Even worse, they have a strange creature locked up in a display case. Things take a truly horrific turn when Nick is kidnapped, and his Charter-infused blood is fed to the creature, which promptly goes on a rampage, drinking blood from anyone it encounters to build its strength. With the Abhorsen days away and no way to stop a savage, incredibly strong Free Magic monster, what can Nick do to stop Dorrance and the creature in the case"?"

The collected short stories of Garth Nix, including a novella which follows on from the enthralling Old Kingdom fantasy adventures of Sabriel , Lirael and Abhorsen .

From renowned fantasy author of the Old Kingdom series, Garth Nix, comes a dystopian fantasy perfect for fans of Hunger Games and Divergent. Imagine a world where your fourteenth birthday is your last and where even your protector may not be trusted…. In a futuristic urban wasteland, evil Overlords have decreed that no human shall live a day past their fourteenth birthday. On that Sad Birthday, the children of the Dorms are taken to the Meat Factory, where they will be made into creatures whose sole purpose is to kill. The mysterious Shade—once a man, but now more like the machines he fights—recruits the few teenagers who escape into a secret resistance force. With luck, cunning, and skill, four of Shade's children come closer than any to discovering the source of the Overlords' power—and the key to their downfall. But the closer they get, the more ruthless Shade seems to become.

For fans of Sarah Dessen and Huntley Fitzpatrick comes this smart debut young adult novel, equal parts My Life Next Door and The Princess Diaries—plus a dash of The West Wing. Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option? Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be. "A real page-turner, full of romance and intrigue" —Chicago Tribune "Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, and Huntley Fitzpatrick" —Glitter.com "Both intelligent and heartfelt" —Booklist, starred review "Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will appreciate this well-crafted story about love and family" —SLJ "Smart, fresh, [with] a delicious, secret romance" —Publishers Weekly "Fast-paced...will keep the reader coming back for more"—SLC "High-stakes...a compulsively readable debut" —The Horn Book Guide "A 'can't put down' book" —San Jose Mercury News

Game of Thrones fans will love the New York Times bestselling Abhorsen series. Sabriel, the first installment in the trilogy, launched critically acclaimed author Garth Nix onto the fantasy scene as a rising star. Dark Secrets, Deep Love, and Dangerous Magic Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. She soon finds companions in Mogget, a cat whose aloof manner barely conceals its malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories. As the three travel deep into the Old Kingdom, threats mount on all sides. And every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death—and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own destiny. “Sabriel is a winner, a fantasy that reads like realism. Here is a world with the same solidity and four-dimensional authority as our own, created with invention, clarity and intelligence.” —Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials trilogy

In the final book in the Old Kingdom trilogy, master of fantasy and globally bestselling author Garth Nix returns to the fantastic world of Sabriel for an unforgettable conclusion. "Breathtaking, bittersweet, and utterly unforgettable.” * After centuries in captivity, the Destroyer is nearly free. Beneath the earth, a malignant force lies waiting, greedy for freedom from its ancient prison. As the Old Kingdom falls once more into a realm of darkness and terror, the people look desperately to the Abhorsen, the scourge of the Dead, to save them. Yet Abhorsen Sabriel is lost, missing in Ancelstierre. Only Lirael has any chance of stopping the Destroyer. With her companions Sameth, Mogget and the Disreputable Dog, she travels across the Old Kingdom in a race against time, battling Shadow Hands and dark necromancers to reach Ancelstierre before it is too late. But what hope can one young woman have against a terrible evil with the power to destroy life itself? This eagerly awaited conclusion to Garth Nix’s extraordinary trilogy of Old Kingdom books is a complex and vividly imagined story, powerful, terrifying and compelling. “Terror, courage, bitterness, love, desperation, and sacrifice all swirl together in an apocalyptic climax that pits both Life and Death together against the destruction of everything." —Kirkus*