Fantasy 2005

File Updated: 23/10/2005

Tangled Web UK: New Fantasy Titles 2005

Jennifer Fallon Treason Keep Pbk published January 2005 by Orbit at Ł7.99 ISBN: 1841493279

The Demon Child Trilogy: Book Two
R’shiel is dying, her destiny unfulfilled. To save her, the renegade Harshini, Brak, reluctantly makes a terrible bargain, as survival of the hidden Harshini race hangs in the balance.
Political turmoil spreads across Medalon and its neighbouring countries as the gods vie for power, using humans as pawns in a deadly battle for supremacy. To avert bloodshed on a massive scale, three warring kingdoms must unite to defuse the threat of Karien, a nation led by possessed priests and fanatics.
But is alliance possible in a climate of fear and mistrust? Only the demon child - half human and half Harshini - has the power to compel obedience, but will she master her new talents in time to stop a divine war ... ?

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by Jennifer Fallon at Amazon.co.uk

David Farland The Lair of Bones Pbk published April 2005 by Pocket Books at Ł6.99 ISBN: 0 671 02951 7

Book Four of the Runelords
The stars fall from heaven and the very earth trembles in pain. With Gaborn’s kingdom of Mystarria in ruins, four powerful kings march to claim its spoils, even as a vast army of reavers sallies forth from the underworld, intending to put an end to mankind.
In one last-ditch effort to heal the earth, the wizardborn Averan leads the Earth King. Gaborn Val Orden, far below the surface to the Lair of Bones, to face the leader of the reaver hordes. There Gaborn must confront an ancient evil - before the world is torn apart.
In this fourth volume of The Runelords series, David Farland continues to rewrite the boundaries of epic fantasy. There are only impossible decisions for his protagonists, and even the evil of the reavers may simply be a mask for the true horrors to come...
'Treat yourself to an adventure you won't forget' Terry Brooks
Praise For David Farland And The Runelords
`This series is the best I’ve read in ages’ Outland
`Offers epic sweep, much bloodstained action and interesting characters’ SFX
`Highly recommended’ Starlog
`That rare book that will remind you why you started reading fantasy in the first place’ amazon.com
`It’s a surefire winner with fans of Robert Jordan and David Eddings’ Booklist

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by David Farland at Amazon.co.uk

Jude Fisher Rose of the World Pbk published August 2005 by Gollancz at Ł11.99 ISBN: 0 7432 5936 X

Book One of Fool's Gold
Stolen away from the Master of Sanctuary, the Goddess of Elda, known as the Rose of the World, is now free, and happily married to King Ravn of the Northern Isles. Her memories and powers are slowly returning to her; increasingly she is torn between her love for Ravn Asharson and knowledge of her true nature. But the ships of the Southern Empire, under the fanatical leadership of Lord Tycho Issian, are bringing holy war to the North; and she may soon become a prize of combat.
Meanwhile, Katla Aransen is fighting battles of her own. Abducted by Istrian raiders from her home, alongside her mother and several of Rockfall’s women, she finds herself in the harem of Rui Finco, Lord of Forent, a notorious rake and womanizer. There she will learn for herself the oppression and hardship suffered by the women of the South; but she will also learn their strengths. Saro Vingo finds himself in even more dire straits: imprisoned in the dungeons beneath the Eternal City, listening to the cries of the men and women tortured by his mad brother, Tanto, Tycho Issian’s henchman, in the fevered drive to decimate the nomadic peoples of Elda. Can he escape and put an end to his brother’s atrocities?
Forces are gathering for a terrible war. North will fight South and all those caught in the vice of their passage will be crushed - unless sanity prevails against all the odds and the guardianship of Elda is taken from the bloody hands of the warmongers and returned to those who truly care for it.
'Relentlessly sweeping from the first page' Robin Hobb
About The Author
Jude Fisher is a pseudonym for Jane Johnson, publishing director of HarperCollins’ SF imprint, Voyager. She holds two literature degrees, specialising in Anglo Saxon and Old Icelandic texts, and is also a qualified lecturer. For the last seventeen years, Jane has been the publisher of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. She is the author of the official Visual Companions to Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy of The Lord Of The Rings, and with M. John Harrison has had four novels published under the pseudonym of Gabriel King.

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by Jude Fisher at Amazon.co.uk

David Gemmell Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow Published September 2005 by Bantam at Ł17.99 ISBN: 0593052196
Lord of the Silver Bow is the first of a trilogy of novels encompassing the Trojan War.

TROY
City of gold; beloved of the gods; peopled by heroes; Where romance, privilege and rapacious greed walk hand in hand; And the greatest of tragedies is set to unfold.

Three lives will change the destiny of nations.
Helikaon, the young prince of Dardania, haunted by a scarred and traumatic childhood.
The priestess Andromache, whose fiery spirit and fierce independence threaten the might of kings.
And the legendary warrior Argurios, cloaked in loneliness and driven only by thoughts of revenge.
In Troy they find a city torn apart by destructive rivalries - a maelstrom of jealousy, deceit and murderous treachery. And beyond its fabled walls blood-hungry enemies eye its riches and plot its downfall.
It is a time of bravery and betrayal; a time of bloodshed and fear.
A time for heroes.
In Lord of the Silver Bow, the first in an epic trilogy, David Gemmell combines vivid characterization with a wealth of historical detail in a compelling, unputdownable novel of love and hatred, ambition and rivalry, peace and war.
‘This is the grand style of storytelling. Gemmell’s triumph is creating men and woment so real that their trials are agony and their triumph is glorious’ Conn Iggulden
‘Hail to Lord of the Silver Bow! Bravo, Mr Gemmell!’ Steven Pressfield

About The Author
Published in 1984, David A. Gemmell’s first novel, Legend, has become a classic. His subsequent novels have included Bloodstone, Waylander and In the Realm of the Wolf. Gemmell’s most recent novels, The Legend of Deathwalker, Dark Moon, Winter Warriors, Echoes of the Great Song, Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon, have all been published by Bantam Press. His latest novels Hero In The Shadows and Ravenheart have been Sunday Times bestsellers. A full-time novelist since 1986, he lives in East Sussex.

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by David Gemmell at Amazon.co.uk

David Gemmell The Swords of Night and Day Pbk published April 2005 by Corgi at Ł6.99 ISBN: 0 552 14678 1

A novel of Skilgannon the Damned
A thousand years after they fell in battle, two heroes - Druss and Skilgannon - are revered throughout the war-torn lands of the Drenai. Yet men and women live in abject fear of the Joinings, abominable meldings of man and beast, and of their mistress, the dark sorceress known as the Eternal.
But what if the soul of one such hero could be called back from the void, his bones housed again in flesh? An ancient prophecy foretold that Skilgannon would return in his people’s darkest hour. To most, this was a foolish hope. But not so to Landis Kan. As the power of the Eternal grew, Kan searched for the tomb of Skilgannon the Damned. And at last he found it, gathering up the bones and performing the mystic ritual.
But the reborn hero is an enigma: a young man whose warrior skills are blunted and whose memories are fragmented. This Skilgannon is a man out of time, marooned in a world as strange to him as a dream, remote from all he knew and loved. Or nearly all. Before bringing Skilgannon back, Landis Kan had experimented upon other bone fragments found in the hero’s tomb. That ritual resulted in a surly giant who possessed astounding strength but no memories. To Kan, he is a dangerous failure. To Skilgannon, this giant represents their last hope.
As the ageless evil of the Eternal threatens to drown the Drenai lands in blood, two legendary heroes will once again lead the way to freedom.
'Gemmell is a fireside mythmonger; his characters and plots have the authentic feel of legends handed down through the ages' SFX
‘Gemmell is past the point of needing recommending - he is an institution that becomes more valuable with each new novel.’ Enigma
`A tale of love, revenge and redemption set against a broader background of battles and invasions ... packed with vividly drawn, instantly intriguing players.’ SFX
`The story flows like a torrent; and if the devil has all the best tunes, then the Damned definitely gets the best weapons.’ Guardian
About The Author
Published in 1984, David A. Gemmell’s first novel, Legend, has become a classic. His subsequent novels have included Bloodstone, Waylander and In the Realm of the Wolf. Gemmell’s most recent novels, The Legend of Deathwalker, Dark Moon, Winter Warriors, Echoes of the Great Song, Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon, have all been published by Bantam Press. His latest novels Hero In The Shadows and Ravenheart have been Sunday Times bestsellers. A full-time novelist since 1986, he lives in East Sussex.

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by David Gemmell at Amazon.co.uk

Ian Irvine Chimaera Pbk published December 2004 by Orbit at Ł12.99 ISBN: 1-84149-324 4

Volume Four of The Well of Echoes
Ian Irvine’s epic Well of Echoes series reaches its shattering conclusion…
All resistance has been crushed. In a few minutes of overwhelming violence the Council’s air-dreadnought fleet has destroyed Fiz Gorgo’s defences. Xervish Flydd, Irisis and their allies have been condemned to die in a brutal aerial spectacle designed to reinforce Chief Scrutator Ghorr’s power and majesty.
Nish is their one remaining hope. But Nish is trapped in a burning watchtower, and hunted by both the scrutators and his former lover, Ullii, whose twin brother he accidentally killed. Before Nish can hope to rescue his friends, he must convince Ullii to spare him, then overcome the most powerful cabal of mancers in the world as well as the Council’s four hundred crack guards.
And even if he succeeds, to win the war the allies still have to defeat the scrutators and overthrow Nennifer, the corrupt Council’s dread bastion, before the rampaging lyrinx overwhelm all Santhenar.
`Readers of Eddings, Goodkind and Jordan will lap this one up’ Starlog
‘A page-turner of the highest order ... formidable’ SFX
About The Author
Ian Irvine was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, in 1950, and educated at Chevalier College and the University of Sydney, where he took a PhD in marine sciences in 1981. He has worked in a variety of jobs, including sweeping up in a cement factory, as a research assistant in microbiology and as an environmental project manager.
In the early 1980s Ian led several disastrous expeditions to Sumatra, which gave him many ideas for his books. He has spent too much of his life diving on filthy harbour bottoms investigating pollution.
Ian Irvine set up his own consulting firm in 1986, carrying out environmental studies for clients in Australia and overseas. He has worked in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Air expert in marine pollution, he has developed some of Australia’s national environmental guidelines.
Ian is married and lives in the mountains of northern New South Wales.

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by Ian Irvine at Amazon.co.uk

Gwyneth Jones Band of Gypsys Pbk published May 2005 by Gollancz at Ł10.99 ISBN: 0 575 07044 7

Winner of the Arthur C Clarke Award
Hard times and sweet music: scandal and betrayal for Ax as England embraces the fearsome new world order; the Rock and Roll Reich goes Country.
Ax Preston, former dictator, returns to England to take up the Green President job. At close quarters he finds some outrageous details in the contract, so the Triumvirate decamps for Paris to sit out the first hard winter after the A-team destroyed crude oil in ostentatious poverty. Ax is quite certain he can negotiate a better deal. But while Ax and Sage and Fiorinda are embarrassing the English government over conditions in the new-slavery labour camps, bad things are happening for the President of the USA. Fred Eiffrich’s enemies in Washington are about to drop a bombshell that will shatter any hope of a return to former realities, former certainties. What happened at Lavoisier is not over. It’s coming back, it’s never going to end ...
... not while Fiorinda lives - or her child.
'Never has the nature of Englishness been as sweet, or more bitter' Jon Courtenay Grimwood in the Guardian
‘This is fantasy of the order of Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker’ Enigma
‘lain Banks on acid ... mesmerising’ Guardian
‘A writer of visionary skills, with a striking and poetic narrative style’ Independent
About The Author

Gwyneth Jones was born in Manchester. She now lives in Brighton with her husband and son, but lived and worked for some time in Singapore. She spent the summer of 1992 in Southern India on the trail of the Hindu dynasts who colonized Malaysia, Java and Sumatra one thousand years ago and created the distinctive cultural blend borrowed by Divine Endurance.

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by Gwyneth Jones at Amazon.co.uk

Robert Jordan New Spring Pbk published December 2004 by Orbit at Ł6.99 ISBN: 1-84149-261 2

The International No 1 Bestseller
A Wheel Of Time Novel

The wheel of time turns, and ages come and go. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow.
Let the dragon ride again on the winds of time.

The Wheel of Time series is an international number one bestseller and one of the most popular fantasy epics ever. Now Robert Jordan presents a stunning prequel that will be a must-read for existing fans and a great opportunity for new readers to enter his extraordinary world.
The city of Canluum lies close to the scarred and desolate wastes of the Blight, a walled haven from the dangers away to the north, and a refuge from the ill works of those who serve the Dark One. Or so it is said. The city that greets AI’Lan Mandragoran, exiled king of Malkier and the finest swordsman of his generation, is instead one that is rife with rumour and the whisperings of Shadowspawn. Proof, should he have required it, that the Dark One grows powerful once more and that his minions are at work throughout the lands.
And yet it is within Canluum’s walls that Lan will meet a woman who will shape his destiny. Moiraine is a young and powerful Aes Sedai who has journeyed to the city in search of a bondsman. She requires aid in a desperate quest to prove the truth of a vague and largely discredited prophecy - one that speaks of a means to turn back the shadow, and of a child who is the dragon reborn.
New Spring, a major expansion of his novella of the same name, is a triumph of epic storytelling and a magnificent addition to the greatest fantasy saga of all time.
A fantasy phenomenon’ SFX
A powerful vision of good and evil’ Orson Scott Card
`Epic in every sense’ Sunday Times
'With the Wheel of Time, Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal' The New York Times
About The Author
Robert Jordan was born in 1948 in Charleston, South Carolina, where he now lives with his wife, Harriet, in a house built in 1797 He is a graduate of The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina) with a degree in physics. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and among his decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with ‘V’, and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. He enjoys the outdoor sports of hunting, fishing and sailing, and the indoor sports of poker, chess, pool and pipe collecting. Robert Jordan has been writing since 1977 and intends to continue until they nail shut his coffin.

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by Robert Jordan at Amazon.co.uk