The Rat King

Marius dos Hellespont and his apprentice, Gerd, are professional looters of battlefields. When they stumble upon the corpse of the King of Scorby and Gerd is killed, Marius is mistaken for the monarch by one of the dead soldiers, is transported down to the Kingdom of the Dead. The dead need a King--the King is God's representative, and someone needs to remind God where they are. Marius is banished to the surface with one message: if he wants to recover his life he must find the dead a King. Which he fully intends to do. Just as soon as he stops running. File Under: Fantasy [ Royal Prospect | Loot | Keep Running | Living Dead ]

Award-winning author China Miéville began his astounding career with King Rat—now in a new Tor Essentials edition—a mix of a young man's search for identity with a pulse-pounding story of revenge and madness. With a new introduction by Tim Maughan, author of Infinite Detail. Something is stirring in London's dark, stamping out its territory in brickdust and blood. Something has murdered Saul Garamond's father, and left Saul to pay for the crime. But a shadow from the urban waste breaks into Saul's prison cell and leads him to freedom: a shadow called King Rat. King Rat reveals to Saul his own royal heritage, a heritage that opens a new world for him, the world below London's streets. With drum-and-bass pounding the backstreets, Saul must confront the forces that would use him, the ones that would destroy him, and those that have shaped his own bizarre identity. Tor Essentials presents new editions of science fiction and fantasy titles of proven merit and lasting value, each volume introduced by an appropriate literary figure. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The Legend of the Rat King is a touching and timely short story told in seven chapters of prose poetry, short fiction and songs about what happens to a prisoner on Death Row in Texas after he is executed. He meets the Angels of Death, the Devil, and others when he s given a second chance to live. It s a story of hope, compassion and human solidarity."

The Rat King is fourteen illustrated adventures exploring horror and its tributaries. Featuring stories adapted by The NoSleep Podcast, this collection will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

The classic holiday story of The Nutcracker is getting its own The Nightmare Before Christmas twist. We all know that Clara helped defeat the evil Rat King, and is taken to the Land of the Sweets to become their new queen. But what a lot of people don't know is that her younger brother Fritz had his own adventure that evening. Fritz the Rat King is being described as doing for The Nutcracker what Wicked did for The Wizard of Oz. This fully illustrated ballet adventure story will not only be enjoyed families who are familiar with the traditional holiday tale, but it will also encourage boys to look at ballet as thrilling and daring. The illustrations are created by multi award winning artist Eric Freeberg, who uses his skills and talents to bring the world of Fritz and his kingdom come alive.

"Colossal rats invade from the town belt. Your rent is going up but everyone is calling it a summer of love. Cryptic posters appear around Wellington inciting people to join an evening of mayhem. Until now the rats have contented themselves with scraps. But as summer heats up and the cost of living skyrockets, we can no longer ignore that our friends are seeking their own rung on the property ladder"--Cover verso.

*The book that inspired the big-hit new film starring Emilia Clarke, Himesh Patel, David Tennant, Hugh Laurie and Joe Sugg, coming 16th December. Read before you see! With amazing content, from scripts to film art* Even wizards produce leftovers. But a wizard's rubbish is laced with magic, and for the rats that forage this rubbish, the magic has changed them - they can speak and read, and have rather grand ambitions for a comfortable retirement. Which is perfect for a con-cat like Maurice. He has his own magical talents, and wants to get rich quick. Together with the rats, and young Keith, the 'piper', they work the towns to create their very own plague of rats - then lure them away for cash. But in the run-down town Bad Blintz, this little con goes wrong, and suddenly these educated rodents aren't playing to the piper's tune . . . 'An astonishing novel' Financial Times

This funny, original choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm any young fan of the genre, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader's hands! Grab your basket and your coat. Put on some walking shoes. Turn the page and begin: Which story will you choose? Award-winning creators Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat transform a crowd of classic tales into an ever-changing, fascinating, laugh-out-loud choose-your-path picture book, in which you may find a sleeping maiden, waste away in a sticky licorice cage, discover the gold at the end of a wild goose chase, or maybe (just maybe) save yourself—and the day! GIVES YOUNG READERS THE POWER OF CHOICE: Where do you want to take the story next? Choice and autonomy are essential concepts for children to learn at a young age, and this choose-your-path picture book puts the decision-making power right in their hands. FUNNY TWISTS ON CLASSIC FAIRY TALES: "The Three Little Pigs," "Hansel and Gretel," "Snow White," "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," and more—characters and settings from these classic fairy tales take on hilarious new life in a brand-new story, just right for the youngest fairy tale fans. TEACHES STORYTELLING BY EXAMPLE: This playful picture book offers young readers the chance to build their own narratives out of the decisions they make each step of the way, powerfully illustrating how a story is created and how it proceeds from beginning to middle to end. Both a teaching tool and an exciting adventure in its own right, this book is a great resource for learning storytelling. FABULOUS AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR TEAM: Laurel Snyder is the author of the Geisel Award–winning Charlie & Mouse early chapter book series. Her books have earned numerous starred reviews and Best Book designations, and her middle grade novel Orphan Island was longlisted for the National Book Award. Acclaimed artist Dan Santat has illustrated over 50 books for children, earning a Caldecott Medal for his picture book The Adventures of Beekle and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Drawn Together. Perfect for: • Teachers and librarians • Lovers of fairy tales and fairy tale retellings • Readers who enjoy choose-your-path stories • Parents and caregivers seeking a story that will continue to surprise and delight, even after the 100th time through • Gift-givers looking for a beautiful present that can be read again and again • Anyone who appreciates clever, hilarious takes on classic fairy tales