Epic: Legends of Fantasy
John Joseph Adams
Language: English
Pages: 608
ISBN: 1616960841
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Epic fantasy is storytelling at its biggest and best. From the creation myths and quest sagas of ancient times to the mega-popular fantasy novels of today, these are the stories that express our greatest hopes and fears, that create worlds so rich we long to return to them again and again, and that inspire us with their timeless values of courage and friendship in the face of ultimate evil—tales that transport us to the most ancient realms and show us the most noble sacrifices, the most astonishing wonders.
Now acclaimed editor John Joseph Adams (Wastelands, The Living Dead) brings you seventeen tales by today’s leading authors of epic fantasy, including George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire), Ursula K. Le Guin (Earthsea), Robin Hobb (Realms of Elderlings), Kate Elliott (Crown of Stars), Tad Williams (Of Memory, Sorrow & Thorn), Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle), and more.
Return again to lands you’ve loved or visit magical new worlds. Victory against the coming darkness is never certain, but one thing’s for sure—your adventure will be epic.
self-mutilation, she slid the needle back out of her tongue, leaned over Belek, and let those drops of blood mingle with the drying froth on Belek’s lips. He struggled, but he too was bound tight. He gasped, swallowed, grimaced; then he sighed as if his breath had been pulled out of him, and abruptly his head lolled back. He had fainted. Or been murdered. “Tarkan’s curse on you!” Kereka shouted. “I’ll have my revenge in my brother’s name and in the name of the Kirshat tribe! Our father will
fleeing something she feared more deeply than death itself. Vayek thundered up behind her, sword raised for the running kill, but Kereka held her ground with the griffin’s feather shielding the witch’s body. “I’ve killed her!” she shouted. “Your courage has emboldened me! Now it won’t be said that you laid hands on a mere woman! Quickly, let us go before her sorcery sickens me! I am so frightened, husband!” She bolted toward the fire like an arrow released from Tarkan’s heavenly bow, praying
melee at a marriage, ser.” “It’s customary to have a feast, though. We have a long way to go. Why not set out with our bellies full for once?” The sun was low in the west by the time they saw the lake, its waters glimmering red and gold, bright as a sheet of beaten copper. When they glimpsed the turrets of the inn above some willows, Dunk donned his sweaty tunic once again and stopped to splash some water on his face. He washed off the dust of the road as best he could, and ran wet fingers
whispered, but the wind carried the word away. Two shadows coalesced at the heart of the darkness. Dai-Yu watched them take on substance, transfixed. “Dai-Yu,” Tiger said, in a feline growl. “It is time.” “Choose,” Crane said. Wind whipped at Dai-Yu’s sleeves. Tortoise still stood frozen beside her. “Leave her.” Tiger laughed. “Too late, brother. You relinquished your mantle to her. Now she must do what you could not.” “Tiger—” Tortoise said, moving to stand in front of Dai-Yu. A hand
me privately that we do best to let this happen, for soon enough the company will see that common farmers, pickpockets and adventurers are not suited to rule. For now, we heed their rules. The Council has gathered the dwindling food supplies into a common hoard. We are parceled out a pittance each day. The Council says that all men will share the work equally. Thus Jathan must stand a night watch with his fellows as if he were a common soldier. The men stand watch in pairs, for a sole watchman is