Book Review of Zenith
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Book blurbs and covers
Zenith – The First Book of Ascension
Can you see the
story breathing?
Imagine
A mountain so great
it takes a year to travel from base to summit
A sun so powerful
it drives you into madness if you look at it
An ascent so vital
it determines the fate of the world
A summit so
precious it holds the key to the divine
The world of the great
Mountain is unstable. Giant pillars erupt from the surface and yawning chasms
form unpredictably underfoot. Since the Maelir first stood on its slopes in the
distant past, they have sought to still its anger and control its power. Each
year, twin brothers are chosen to make a perilous journey to the summit. If
they survive they will be witness to Zenith, and the secrets will be revealed
to them.
When Atreu and Teyth
embark on their Ascent, their Talismans lead them onto conflicting paths that
will ultimately set brother against brother. And this time the Ascent itself is
in peril as unknown forces that have long craved the power of Zenith will stop
at nothing to make it their own even if it means destroying the very thing that
sustains all life the Mountain itself.
Equinox – The Second Book of Ascension
Can you see the
story breathing?
The Keep
The most beautiful
city on the great Mountain
The pinnacle of
Maelir culture
The home of the
Inner Sanctum
The place where
secrets hide
The fate of the
Mountain hangs in balance at the time of Equinox, and even the Keep can no
longer remain untouched. The Maelir are desperate to defend it, the Faemir to
demolish it, the windriders to claim it. But unknown to them all, a dark force
has already emerged from the chaos to seize power.
As Atreu and Verlinden
strive to decipher the power of the Talisman that has defined Atreu’s Ascent,
Teyth and Valkyra are locked in a desperate battle that neither of them can
win. At a time when darkness and light are in perfect equilibrium, when Maelir
and Faemir must find a way to break the deadlock and avoid annihilation, the
world’s fate lies in the Book of Ascension.
Eclipse – The Lost Book of Ascension
Can you see the
story breathing?
What happens if
after the winter solstice, the days keep getting shorter?
And shorter?
Until there is an
eternal night?
What happens as the
darkness grows?
And the creatures
of dusk take control of the Mountain?
And the quest for
the third Book is the only hope?
The Mountain is in its
death throes as the Nazir send their wraiths to finish what the dusk-rats and
grale had begun. Soon there will be no daylight to protect the Maelir and
Faemir, and with each twilight there are fewer places to hide. Will the
Mountain finally collapse under its own instability or will Atreu and
Verlinden’s descent find the words of salvation in the Lost Book of Ascension?
Author Bio
Dirk Strasser has written
over 30 books for major publishers in Australia and is an Active Member of the
SFWA. He has won multiple Australian Publisher Association Awards, a Ditmar for
Best Professional Achievement, and has been short-listed for the Aurealis and
Ditmar Awards a number of times. His short story, “The Doppelgänger Effect”,
appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology, Dreaming Down Under.
His acclaimed fantasy series The Books of Ascension – including Zenith and Equinox – was originally published by Pan Macmillan
in Australia and by Heyne Verlag in Germany and has been re-published by the
Macmillan Momentum imprint, this time including the “lost” third book. His
fiction has been translated into a number of languages. His short stories
include “The Jesus Particle“ in Cosmos magazine, “Stories of the Sand”
in Realms of Fantasy, and “The Vigilant” in Fantasy magazine. His most recent
sale was “The Mandelbrot Bet” to the 2014 Tor anthology Carbide Tipped
Pens, edited by Ben Bova and Eric Choi. He founded the Aurealis Awards and has co-published and co-edited Aurealis magazine for over 20 years.
Links
Twitter:
@DirkStrasser
Buy the books!
Book Excerpts
Zenith excerpt: Chapter Four
Metheus walked over to the fissure and beckoned Atreu to follow.
‘Stop there,’ commanded the old man. ‘Do not get too close.’ Metheus was
a step away from the fissure. ‘Now, watch and believe.’
He approached the large crack, and Atreu stared as the old man closed
his eyes and bent his head over into the steam. Atreu could just make out his
lined features which were softened by the haze. Metheus was inhaling deeply. He
then slowly stepped back from the fissure, his eyes still closed. Bending his
neck back, he exhaled towards the ceiling.
Atreu gasped.
A cloud issued from Metheus’ mouth and floated upwards. As it floated it
took the form of a small boy. And as soon as the image was complete, it
changed. Now it was a serpent writhing with life. And then a fish. And a
leafless tree. And a geyer with wings beating gracefully. And then something
with long teeth dripping with blood. And then a woman. And finally an old man,
fading as the image struck the webbing on the ceiling of the cave.
The air was shrouded in silence as Atreu slowly bowed his head and
looked at the ground.
‘This is my art,’ said the ancient voice.
Atreu lifted his head and looked Metheus in the eyes. ‘I … I didn’t
know,’ he stammered.
‘Come here,’ said Metheus. Atreu walked towards him, the old man put his
hand on his shoulder and they both sat down. ‘You see, Atreu, it is in your
breath that all answers are found. I have not devoted my life to nothing. You
take what the Mountain offers you, and you create so that it belongs to both of
you. Inhale, exhale. They belong together, you see.’
Atreu nodded. He was suddenly very aware of his own breathing.
Review:
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