Ken Scholes is een bekroonde en door critici geprezen auteur, wiens schrijven is gevormd door een opmerkelijk eclectische achtergrond. Zijn verhalen duiken in de complexiteit van menselijke verbindingen en morele ambiguïteit, vaak gesitueerd in fantasierijke werelden die maatschappelijke normen uitdagen. Scholes creëert verhalen met een onderscheidende stem, waarbij hij diepgaande thema's verkent door een vaardige beheersing van taal en vertelkunst. Zijn werk nodigt lezers uit om na te denken over de aard van de mensheid en de structuren die we bouwen.
In the Sixteenth Year of the Sixteen Princes the world came to an end when the dragon's back gave out. Poetry died first followed by faith. One by one the world-strands burst and bled until ash snowed down on huddled masses whimpering in the cold. The Santaman came reeking of love into this place and we did not know him.
Immerse yourself in a collection of 17 imaginative tales featuring whimsical characters and unexpected adventures. Encounter a toy bear on a quest, a metal man with a heavy heart, and Meriwether Lewis searching for a futuristic currency. Experience the humorous exploits of Andro Giantslayer alongside Luendyl, and discover Cain's quest for love. From alien babies to messianic Santas, each story offers a blend of laughter, emotion, and unique twists, promising an extraordinary journey through the wonders of the Imagination Forest.
In a world where nothing is as it seems, ancient powers challenge the Androfrancine Order. Nebios, fleeing from warriors and haunted by his father's warnings, navigates vast deserts. Meanwhile, Jin Li Tam protects her son from threats and a usurper queen, as remnants of the Androfrancine order prepare to respond to a mysterious song.
Quirky and imaginative, this collection features seventeen short stories brimming with eccentric characters and surreal scenarios. Readers will meet cynical Santas, navigate the dating lives of superheroes, and witness a post-apocalyptic quest led by Reverend Sparkle Jones and his misfit crew. The stories blend humor and fantasy, including encounters with God and Satan in a bar, and the Lady of the Lake during the Dust Bowl. Each tale invites readers into a whimsical world where the unexpected is the norm, ensuring a delightful reading experience.
Noble allies gather in the Ninefold Forest for a feast celebrating General Rudolfo's first-born child. As his wife, Jin Li Tam, lies in childbed, the festivities are interrupted by invisible assassins launching an attack.
An ancient weapon has completely destroyed the city of Windwir. From many miles away, Rudolfo, Lord of the Nine Forest Houses, sees the horrifying column of smoke rising. He knows that war is coming to the Named Lands. Nearer to the Devastation, a young apprentice is the only survivor of the city – he sat waiting for his father outside the walls, and was transformed as he watched everyone he knew die in an instant. Soon all the Kingdoms of the Named Lands will be at each others' throats, as alliances are challenged and hidden plots are uncovered. This remarkable first novel from an award-winning short fiction writer will take readers away to a new world – an Earth so far in the distant future that our time is not even a memory; a world where magick is commonplace and great areas of the planet are impassable wastes. But human nature hasn't changed through the ages: War and faith and love still move princes and nations.