We’re incredibly excited to reveal the cover for the fifth—and final—novel in Marie Brennan’s Memoirs of Lady Trent. Isabella has journeyed far and wide in the pursuit of scientific discovery, but the true story of her most notorious adventure is ready to be told…
Well, what are you waiting for?! Feast your eyes below on Within the Sanctuary of Wings, featuring more amazing dragon art from the great Todd Lockwood!
Within the Sanctuary of Wings is available April 2017 from Tor Books. From the catalog copy:
After nearly five decades (and, indeed, the same number of volumes), one might think they were well-acquainted with the Lady Isabella Trent—dragon naturalist, scandalous explorer, and perhaps as infamous for her company and feats of daring as she is famous for her discoveries and additions to the scientific field.
And yet—after her initial adventure in the mountains of Vystrana, and her exploits in the depths of war-torn Eriga, to the high seas aboard the Basilisk, and then to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia—the Lady Trent has captivated hearts along with fierce minds. This concluding volume will finally reveal the truths behind her most notorious adventure—scaling the tallest peak in the world, buried behind the territory of Scirland’s enemies—and what she discovered there, within the Sanctuary of Wings.
Good article.
Excession is one of my favourite of Bank’s books, both for the plot, and for the many overlapping OCPs that exist – there is the micro situation of Dajeil and her relationships, the Affront and those they conquer, the Interesting Times Gang and what they plan on the Affront, Sleeper Service and its actions, and over all of them the artifact itself and the entire universe. It’s a wonderful multilayered narrative.
To the premise behind it, I can only add the wonderful Penny Arcade comic for Empire Earth II, which really brings the situation home.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/presents/page/empire-earth-2-page-1
Great article. As for wanting more interplay between Minds: you’ll be very pleased when you get to The Hydrogen Sonata, which features lots of that (and also many references to Excession).
Excession is a Big Idea, but as far as Big Idea Culture books go, I like the not-totally-Culture-but-totally-Culture story in Inversions. The “email or forum” structure of the Minds I think sort of dates as the internet unfolds but I still really enjoy it…mostly on account of how much I like the Monolith in 2001…
“Civilisation” makes an appearance in another Iain Banks (no M) novel, “Complicity” – thinly disguised and thoroughly Banksified as the addictive and complex strategy game DESPOT. One winning strategy is to undermine the power of the rising church by spending money on making your court as sybaritic and decadent as possible, thus tempting and corrupting the bishops… and if that doesn’t work, get your secret police to scour the bazaars for drug pushers, bring them to court, and get all the bishops hooked on heroin.
Still waiting for someone to actually write the game. I’d buy it.
Actually playing Civ 4 at this moment, supposed to be working on a research paper…
I see @@.-@ has beaten me to it. I didn’t really notice anything of Civ in Excession, but Despot in Complicity was clearly based on the game.
Favorite tactic in Civilization (and also usable in Civilization II, if I recall correctly):
Build a Phalanx. Move your phalanx right into your neighbor’s civilization. Stick your phalanxup in the tallest mountain you can find. The enemy civilization will stop whatever it’s doing and start building warrior units. They will surround the mountain, getting angry, trying (unsuccessfully due to a huge defense bonus) to kill the phalanx standing guard at the top. As your brave soldiers kills dozens of enemies, you can continue growing and researching new technologies without any fear of invasion from your neighbor. By the time the enemy civilization discovers cavalry, you’re ready to invade them with tanks and bombers.
Fun times.
Great article, thank you….
@Mayhem Thank you very much! Oh, loved that Penny Arcade comic, ha ha. So appropriate!
@Stefan Raets, thanks for letting me know. I’ve heard Hydrogen Sonata is one of the best and that’s part of why I’ve taken my time getting to it as I know that’s the last one. But now, I can’t wait to get to it! =)
@mordicai: Thanks on Inversions! And yeah, I hear you on the dating, ha ha. I wonder what it would have been like if he wrote it now. (and I was thinking the same about the games in Player of Games)
@a1ay and @Gerry__Quinn: I’m going to definitely check out Complicity now. Thanks so much!
@FaceofYo! The story of my Civ life =)
@LuisMilan That’s a great tactic, thanks for sharing that. I usually raced to get chariots and tried to swarm everyone. Your strategy is a lot more efficient! =)
Thanks @woogwhy!
As much as I’m a grouchy old man and hate the term “4X” (it should be 4E, dag nabbit!), I look forward to seeing how science fiction and fantasy novels are influenced by games from here on out. Started thinking about it with Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive novels, as Szeth is so obviously an assassin from Assassin’s Creed.