The Cold Commands - Softcover

Morgan, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0575084871 ISBN 13: 9780575084872

Publisher: Gollancz, 2011

Synopsis

Ringil Eskiath, scarred wielder of the kiriath-forged broadsword Ravensfriend, is a man on the run - from his past and the family who have disowned him, from the slave trade magnates of Trelayne who want him dead, and apparently from the dark gods themselves, who are taking an interest but making no more sense than they ever have. Outlawed and exiled from his ancestral home in the north, Ringil has only one place left to turn - Yhelteth, city heart of the southern Empire, where perhaps he can seek asylum with the kiriath half-breed Archeth Indamaninarmal, former war comrade and now high-up advisor to the Emperor Jhiral Khimran II.

But Archeth Indamaninarmal has problems of her own to contend with, as does her house guest, bodyguard and one time steppe nomad Egar the Dragonbane. And far from gaining the respite he is seeks, Ringil will instead find himself implicated in fresh schemes and doubtful allegiances no safer than those he has left behind. Old enemies are stirring, the old order is rotted through and crumbling, and though no-one yet knows it, the city of Yhelteth is about to explode . . .

About this title

Review

Praise for The Cold Commands:
"Morgan brings a fresh approach to epic fantasy, giving his world a hard edge and blending in such sf elements as machine intelligences and extraterrestrial races...Morgan's protagonists, with their tough outward demeanor and lofty ethics, lend depth and seriousness of purpose to high fantasy and should appeal to fans of George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series." --Library Journal
Praise for Richard K. Morgan's "The Steel Remains, "
Book One of A Land Fit for Heroes

"Bold, brutal, and making no compromises--Morgan doesn't so much twist the cliches of fantasy as take an axe to them."--Joe Abercrombie

"The award-winning author of "Altered Carbon "and" Market Forces" brings the same iconoclastic approach to his fantasy debut as he did to his sf technothrillers. . . . Morgan's storytelling talent and his atmospheric, hard-hitting prose make this a strong addition to mature fantasy collections."--"Library Journal"

"Spellbinding . . . There's so much to like about the adventure."--"The Star-Ledger"

"Morgan has taken traditional sword and sorcery tropes and given them a hard, contemporary kick. The antithesis of the cosy fairytale, this one is for big boys."--"The Times" (London)

"A powerful turn-everything-up-to-eleven reading experience . . . Morgan is a gifted writer, and his gifts are lavishly on display here."--Adam Roberts, author of "Yellow Blue Tibia"

"It compels you to read on with its gritty, visceral writing and intelligent plot. It's tense and fascinatingly peopled, and given that the follow-ups will doubtless be tremendous you're encouraged to jump on from the start. Just, ahem, steel yourself.""--SFX"
"From the Hardcover edition."

"Heroic fantasy [with] several surprising twists."--The Wall Street Journal

"[Richard K.] Morgan brings a fresh approach to epic fantasy. . . . [The Cold Commands] should appeal to fans of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series."--Library Journal

"Pulpy and hard-core, but with a heart of gold . . . Imagine a drawing by Frank Frazetta, come to life in an intelligent story full of dry wit and characters you actually care about."--io9

"Passionate, fast-paced, smart and furious . . . This is a character-driven and intelligent fantasy. . . . Robert E. Howard would have approved."--SFX

"The action sequences are sheer brilliance. . . . Morgan's writing has a power and energy that few can match."--SFRevu

Book Description

Fantasy: harder, faster, bloodier. The king of noir SF takes on Fantasy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0575084871
• ISBN 13: 9780575084872
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416