The Redemption of Althalus - Softcover

Eddings, David; Eddings, Leigh

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345440781 ISBN 13: 9780345440785

Publisher: Del Rey Books, 2001

Synopsis

David and Leigh Eddings were mythmakers and world builders of the first order. With The Redemption of Althalus, the authors of the Belgariad and Malloreon sagas created a thrilling stand-alone epic--boldly written and brilliantly imagined.

It would be sheer folly to try to conceal the true nature of Althalus, for his flaws are the stuff of legend. He is, as all men know, a thief, a liar, an occasional murderer, an outrageous braggart, and a man devoid of even the slightest hint of honor.

Yet of all the men in the world, it is Althalus, unrepentant rogue and scoundrel, who will become the champion of humanity in its desperate struggle against the forces of an ancient god determined to return the universe to nothingness. On his way to steal The Book from the House at the End of the World, Althalus is confronted by a cat--a cat with eyes like emeralds, the voice of a woman, and the powers of a goddess.

She is Dweia, sister to The Gods and a greater thief even than Althalus. She must be: for in no time at all, she has stolen his heart. And more. She has stolen time itself. For when Althalus leaves the House at the End of the World, much wiser but not a day older than when he'd first entered it, thousands of years have gone by.

But Dweia is not the only one able to manipulate time. Her evil brother shares the power, and while Dweia has been teaching Althalus the secrets of The Book, the ancient God has been using the dark magic of his own Book to rewrite history. Yet all is not lost. But only if Althalus, still a thief at heart, can bring together a ragtag group of men, women, and children with no reason to trust him or each other.

Praise for The Redemption of Althalus

"Highly recommended . . . Featuring a cast of engaging characters, some fanciful plot twists, and a light-hearted atmosphere that should appeal strongly to fans and first-time readers alike."--Library Journal

"The story takes off. The interactions between characters, straightforward plotting, and doses of wry humor keep the tale humming."--Booklist

"An engaging young reprobate hero . . . [A] magical realm of good-natured fun."--Publishers Weekly

"A compelling, involving story."--Science Fiction Chronicle

About this title

Review:

Althalus was just a thief, and only a good thief by the standards of the backwoods and hick towns where he spent most of his career; a trip to the big cities of the lowlands almost proved disastrous for him, because he could recognise neither real threats nor even more sophisticated forms of wealth. Hired to steal a magic book, he finds himself imprisoned by a talking cat and subjected to the extensive education that will make him leader of humanity's fight back against a death god and his cadre of thugs. Much of what is best in The Redemption of Althalus has to do with the process whereby he recruits his team--a spoiled princess, a witch rescued from the stake, a barbarian warrior and a street urchin with the brain of a great strategist; once the team is in place and their fight back against conquest and sinister magic begins, victory is more or less assured and a matter of watching a thoroughly entertaining process. It is interesting to see Eddings working on a smaller canvas than usual--there is a fundamental niceness to his books that entirely gets its head here, along with an attractive sense of humour.--Roz Kaveney

Review:

"Highly recommended . . . Featuring a cast of engaging characters, some fanciful plot twists, and a light-hearted atmosphere that should appeal strongly to fans and first-time readers alike."--Library Journal

"The story takes off. The interactions between characters, straightforward plotting, and doses of wry humor keep the tale humming."--Booklist

"An engaging young reprobate hero . . . [A] magical realm of good-natured fun."--Publishers Weekly

"A compelling, involving story."--Science Fiction Chronicle

About this edition

• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0345440781
• ISBN 13: 9780345440785
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 800