The Black Swan (GOLLANCZ S.F.) - Softcover

Lackey, Mercedes

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0575072857 ISBN 13: 9780575072855

Publisher: Gollancz, 2002

Synopsis

Baron Eric von Rothbert is a powerful sorcerer who devotes his life to capturing women who inspire his wrath and transforming them into swans. Over the flock he sets his daughter Odile, gifted in magic, but still spurned by her father.

Odette, noblest of the Baron¿s enchanted flock, wrests from their captor a promise which could lead to fredom for all the swan-maidens, but the Baron is determined to use all his magical cunning to avoid honouring that promise.

Prince Siegfried comes upon the swan-maidens as day dissolves into dusk -- and the game takes on a new twist, for Siegfried is a selfish hedonist and dissolute womaniser . . .

About this title

Book Description:

The story of SWAN LAKE, beautifully retold by a master storyteller

From the Back Cover:

As the only child of a powerful sorcerer, Odile Von Rothbart has studied the magical arts under her father's stern tutelage all her life. Yet she feels only fear toward him. For considering his wife's untimely death the ultimate betrayal, Baron Von Rothbart scours the land in the shape of a great bird of prey. His personal mission is to capture women who arouse his wrath and inspire his rage for vengeance against all womankind. These poor souls he turns into swans -- forcing them to spend their lives as beautiful but powerless animals who only regain their human forms briefly each night by the transitory light of the moon.

Yet though Odile is terrified of him, she has learned far more than her father, the baron, intended to teach her -- both of the magical arts and of Von Rothbart's idiosyncratic nature. And both as a woman and the guardian of his swan flock, her heart goes out to each and every young maiden ensorcelled by her vindictive father.

And then the noblest of Von Rothbart's enchanted flock, the Princess Odette, finds the courage to confront her captor, wresting from him a pact which could lead to freedom for herself and all the swan-maidens. Knowing Von Rothbart will use all of his magical cunning to avoid honoring this pact, will Odile have the strength to face him in a final magical confrontation which, if she fails, will lead to her death and the murder of all in her flock?

A monumental tale of loyalty and betrayal, of magic used for good and for evil, of love both carnal and pure, and of the incredible duality of human nature, THE BLACK SWAN is certain to be recognized as a masterpiece of fantasy.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0575072857
• ISBN 13: 9780575072855
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384