Game 48: Book 1 Reminder, Book 2
About 24 hours or so left to get in your votes on Book one, which is right now at 4/6 votes.
In the meantime:
For Our second book, we turn to the authors of the first book of the first game ever on this site, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The year was 1993, and the book was The Hand of Chaos, the fifth (of seven) book in the Death Gate series.
From the jacket:
With the publication of their first fantasy novel, New York Times bestselling authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman were an instant success. Seven years later, there are nearly ten million copies of their novels in print around the world.
Their most ambitious project to date, the Death Gate novels showcase the lively imagination of this innovative duo. The first four volumes in the seven-book cycle each introduced a distinct and fully developed world with its individual story, each written in a different voice. In the final three volumes an age-old battle to control all of the realms rages anew as Sartan and Patryn- powerful races who once believed they were gods- rediscover their old hatred of one another and that they have an even more terrifying enemy in common.
Haplo the Patryn has been ordered by the Lord of the Nexus to explore the elemental realms- Arianus, Realm of Sky; Pyran, Realm of Fire; Abarrach, Realm of Stone; Chelestra, Realm of Sea- and to instigate chaos where he can. Though Haplo discovered his archnemesis Alfred the Sartan early on, the two were drawn to one another and came to travel together more often as time passed. Side by side, they found small bits of forgotten information that help them understand the long-ago Sundering of their universe into four realms.
But now Alfred has been imprisoned in the deadly Labyrinth, the very same Labyrinth from which Haplo once escaped. Haplo himself and the human child Bane have been sent once again to Arianus to further their master's work. Chaos seems everywhere, a perfect setup for the Lord of the Nexus.
Still, Haplo is troubled. Amidst the maelstrom of Arianus, all is not as it should be. Bane is too eager to prove his loyalty to his lord...perhaps at Haplo's expense. Somehow, the assassin Hugh the Hand has been resurrected- and he has a job to complete. But, most important, the evil force Haplo and Alfred discovered on Ariansu has escaped. Haplo must decide whether to obey the Lord of the Nexus who rescued him from the Labyrinth or to betray this powerful Patryn...and hope to save a universe.
Excerpt from a quasi-random page (148-149, to be precise)
The captain was obviously impressed. Hell, Haplo was impressed. He'd forgotten how smart and manipulative Bane could be. The Patryn relaxed, took time to study the soldiers, tried to decide what magic he could use that would render the elves helpless and leave Bane unharmed.
"I'm a prison, King Stephen's prisoner. I've been looking for a way to escape and, when the stupid Gegs left to attack your ship, I had my chance. I ran away and came searching for you, only I got lost, coming down here. Take me back to Tribus. It will be well worth your while." Bane smiled ingenuously.
"Take you back to Tribus?" The elven captain was highly amused. "You'll be lucky if I waste energy enough taking you back up the stairs! The only reason I haven't killed you yet, you little worm, is that you are right about one thing: I am curious to know what a human brat is doing down here. And I suggest that this time you tell me the truth."
"I don't see the need to tell you anything. I'm not alone!" Bane crowed shrilly. Turning, he pointed down the hallway, back the way he'd come. "There's a man guarding me, one of the mysteriarchs. And some Gegs are with him. Help me escape before he can stop me!"
Bane ducked beneath the elf captain's arm, headed for the shelter of the stairs. The dog, after a swift glance back at Haplo, bolted after the boy.
"You two, catch the brat!" shouted the captain swiftly. "The rest of you, come with me!"
He drew a dagger from a sheath worn on his belt, headed down the hallway in the direction Bane had pointed.
Damn the little bastard! Haplo sword. He called upon the magic, speaking a drawing the sigla that would fill the hallway with a noxious gas. Within seconds, everyone - including Bane - would be comatose. Haplo raised his hand. As the first fiery sigil burned in the air beneath his fingers, he wondered who Bane was truly trying to escape.
Poll Game 48 Book 2
In the meantime:
For Our second book, we turn to the authors of the first book of the first game ever on this site, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The year was 1993, and the book was The Hand of Chaos, the fifth (of seven) book in the Death Gate series.
From the jacket:
With the publication of their first fantasy novel, New York Times bestselling authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman were an instant success. Seven years later, there are nearly ten million copies of their novels in print around the world.
Their most ambitious project to date, the Death Gate novels showcase the lively imagination of this innovative duo. The first four volumes in the seven-book cycle each introduced a distinct and fully developed world with its individual story, each written in a different voice. In the final three volumes an age-old battle to control all of the realms rages anew as Sartan and Patryn- powerful races who once believed they were gods- rediscover their old hatred of one another and that they have an even more terrifying enemy in common.
Haplo the Patryn has been ordered by the Lord of the Nexus to explore the elemental realms- Arianus, Realm of Sky; Pyran, Realm of Fire; Abarrach, Realm of Stone; Chelestra, Realm of Sea- and to instigate chaos where he can. Though Haplo discovered his archnemesis Alfred the Sartan early on, the two were drawn to one another and came to travel together more often as time passed. Side by side, they found small bits of forgotten information that help them understand the long-ago Sundering of their universe into four realms.
But now Alfred has been imprisoned in the deadly Labyrinth, the very same Labyrinth from which Haplo once escaped. Haplo himself and the human child Bane have been sent once again to Arianus to further their master's work. Chaos seems everywhere, a perfect setup for the Lord of the Nexus.
Still, Haplo is troubled. Amidst the maelstrom of Arianus, all is not as it should be. Bane is too eager to prove his loyalty to his lord...perhaps at Haplo's expense. Somehow, the assassin Hugh the Hand has been resurrected- and he has a job to complete. But, most important, the evil force Haplo and Alfred discovered on Ariansu has escaped. Haplo must decide whether to obey the Lord of the Nexus who rescued him from the Labyrinth or to betray this powerful Patryn...and hope to save a universe.
Excerpt from a quasi-random page (148-149, to be precise)
The captain was obviously impressed. Hell, Haplo was impressed. He'd forgotten how smart and manipulative Bane could be. The Patryn relaxed, took time to study the soldiers, tried to decide what magic he could use that would render the elves helpless and leave Bane unharmed.
"I'm a prison, King Stephen's prisoner. I've been looking for a way to escape and, when the stupid Gegs left to attack your ship, I had my chance. I ran away and came searching for you, only I got lost, coming down here. Take me back to Tribus. It will be well worth your while." Bane smiled ingenuously.
"Take you back to Tribus?" The elven captain was highly amused. "You'll be lucky if I waste energy enough taking you back up the stairs! The only reason I haven't killed you yet, you little worm, is that you are right about one thing: I am curious to know what a human brat is doing down here. And I suggest that this time you tell me the truth."
"I don't see the need to tell you anything. I'm not alone!" Bane crowed shrilly. Turning, he pointed down the hallway, back the way he'd come. "There's a man guarding me, one of the mysteriarchs. And some Gegs are with him. Help me escape before he can stop me!"
Bane ducked beneath the elf captain's arm, headed for the shelter of the stairs. The dog, after a swift glance back at Haplo, bolted after the boy.
"You two, catch the brat!" shouted the captain swiftly. "The rest of you, come with me!"
He drew a dagger from a sheath worn on his belt, headed down the hallway in the direction Bane had pointed.
Damn the little bastard! Haplo sword. He called upon the magic, speaking a drawing the sigla that would fill the hallway with a noxious gas. Within seconds, everyone - including Bane - would be comatose. Haplo raised his hand. As the first fiery sigil burned in the air beneath his fingers, he wondered who Bane was truly trying to escape.
Poll Game 48 Book 2