Dragonstar

The novels of New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly have broken new ground in the realm of fantasy. With a sweeping cast of characters whose powers are both awesome and heartachingly limited, the Dragon series is built around the touching relationship between a husband and wife separated by a flood of violence and chaos. Condemned to die for consorting with demons, dragonslayer Lord John Aversin sits in a dank prison cell and calculates the odds of escape, while smelling the smoke of the executioners’ pyres. In Winterlands, Jenny Waynest pays a heavy price for choosing to be human, mourning the loss of her husband, Lord John, and the dangers that engulf her family. But in a season of the Dragon Star, strange miracles are about to transpire. As a pitched battle between the Hellspawn and the human rages, Jenny and John will be reunited in a city under siege. And there, they will have one last chance to understand all that has happened to them and why, who their true enemies and true allies are, and most of all, for what magical purpose each has been chosen. A vast adventure and a powerful mystery teeming with demons and witches, gnomes and dragons, Dragonstar explores profound issues of faith, fate, and technology–while obscuring long held boundaries between good and evil, love and hate, what is human and what is fantastic. With this glorious finale to a breathtaking series, Barbara Hambly establishes herself as one of the most visionary and inventive storytellers in the field of fantasy fiction today.

A Thriller with a Heart... A group of inner city delinquent boys is engaging in a horrible crime of violence, when suddenly a strange man appears. He is immediately attacked, but he defeats their aggression. He subdues them and makes them listen to scary ghost stories, throughout the night until help arrives. The unwilling audience becomes enthralled by the excitement and thrills, and the mystery, as slowly the stranger captures their hearts and minds. Finally a tale of Islamic Jihad in 12th Century Spain directly relates back to their own conflicts in the modern urban so-called “ghetto”. The tales all touch on art, and the stranger is an artist, a tortured soul whose gifts and skills transform their lives, but at a terrible cost. The characters are very real and believable, as is the harshness of their reality that is motivating their behavior. As the plot builds from crisis to crisis, the changes that occur become clear and understandable, as logical results of the driving action. The ghost stories, embedded in the plot, can stand on their own and are exciting and entertaining in their own right, but their significance is slowly revealed as the book nears its conclusion, when the meaning of all the action begins to dawn on the boys, and the reader. Readers say my book makes them cry, a lot, quite unusual for a violent thriller, which this book certainly is. It does show some insight into the mentoring process taking boys from violent, macho 15 year olds to civilized adult men. Author: The author had formal training in the Fine Arts, had been a painter, and had mentored inner city delinquent boys. The author also amassed a vast collection of antiquities from the world’s ancient cultures, each piece having its own story. These factors in the author’s life were the direct inspiration for this fearful tale of mystery and harsh reality, yet touches the heart with love.

From epic fantasy author Sara Douglass comes Crusader, The sixth book in The Wayfarer Redemption series For countless millennia the Star Dance and the TimeKeeper Demons have battled their way across the universe, destroying innumerable planets, laying waste to civilizations across the cosmos. Choosing the land of Tencendor as their last battleground, the demons break through the Star Gate. The Gate destroyed, all magic in the world is gone and the three races of Tencendor are plunged into a vortex of chaos, madness, and death. Caelum SunSoar, son of the near-immortal Starman Axis and beloved ruler of all the land's peoples, is dead. Leaderless, those not killed outright or driven mad flee to the one place left to them, Sanctuary, a magical place created ages past to shield all who are good from the wrath of the demons. There is for some one hope left: DragonStar, Axis's other son. Many believe he is the true StarSon, the only being that can save their world. Others are just as convinced that he is in league with the demons and will be their doom. Only DragonStar knows the truth and as he and his companions go forth to do battle he prays that he may convince all that his motives are pure. What he does not know is that there is a traitor who plans to hand Sanctuary over to the Demons. A betrayer whose actions could force DragonStar to make a sacrifice so bloody and horrific that it could mean the destruction of everything that he holds dear in this life or the next. And if he fails, he could doom Tecendor to an eternal hell. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Pilgrim, Book Five of the Wayfarer Redemption from Sara Douglass The Star Gate is destroyed and the Star Dance is dead. Icarii Enchanters, gods, and humans alike are helpless as the TimeKeeper Demons lay waste to Tencendor. There must be hope left, but no one knows where to find it. Death lurks in every twist of the Maze, but only those who have the courage to endure death can learn the secrets of the ancient enemy. Caelum SunSoar and his parents know that the only way is to discover the ancient secrets that lay trapped in the mountain Star Finger, and Faraday, martyred heroine, grows ever fearful -- and ever bitter. Must she lose everything to the land? At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Starman is the third title in Sara Douglass's epic fantasy Wayfarer Redemption series. A sprawling tale of love and magic, enormous battles and true monsters Axis is the StarMan of prophecy and legend, destined to lead the three races of his world to unite as one people. The people of his world all know the Prophecy of the Destroyer, despite the failed attempts of the Seneschal to suppress it in the name of the god Artor the Ploughman, and it predicts and dictates Axis's path through war and destruction to the creation of Tencendor. The Prophecy foretold that Axis would defeat his half-brother and lay claim to the land that Tencendor will be created upon. The Prophecy told of the traitor in Axis's camp-Faraday's champion, Timozel. And the Prophecy foretold many a choice that Axis must make in order to fulfill his destiny . . . but neglected to mention the choice between the beautiful and courageous Faraday, his late half-brother's wife, and the feisty and hauntingly enchanting Azhure. To Faraday, he had pledged his love and a place by his side as ruler of Tencendor; to Azhure, he had given his children, his time, and his devotion. His love for both women is what the last twist of the Prophecy relies on. While Azhure explores her newfound powers as an Icarii Enchantress, and Faraday replants the ancient forests of the Mother, the evil Gorgrael is plotting Axis's downfall, invading the sky with ice and terror and the flesh-hungry Gryphons. His most daring move is to follow prophecy, to taunt Axis with the pain of his beloved. But which beloved woman will Gorgrael choose . . . and will she be the one whose death will distract Axis from saving the world? At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Whether you are new to the genre or looking for inspiration, this book provides the tools you need to succeed. Develop believable fantasy worlds Challenge your readers’ imaginations Practical techniques you can apply today Written by a successful author of SF and fantasy novels Master the craft of magical worlds Are you struggling to get started on your science fiction or fantasy novel? Stuck at chapter two or need a fresh approach? Find new direction and inspiration with this unique guide to creating original and convincing stories. Written by a successful author of more than ten science fiction and fantasy novels, Writing Science and Fantasy takes an in-depth look at these two best-selling genres. Kilian delves into the origins and conventions of science fiction and fantasy and goes over the many subgenres, including nanotechnology, space opera, and sword and sorcery. He forces you to ask yourself crucial questions about your own novel, and also offers practical advice on how to prepare and market your manuscript to publishers, editors, and agents. With this book as a guide, both novice and experienced writers can learn how to make their work both a literary and financial success. Learn about: Constructing a scene Showing versus telling Avoiding clichés Developing good writing and research habits Creating plausible fantasy worlds Using symbolism and imagery effectively