Best of
Epic-Fantasy

2004

A Game of Thrones: The Book of Ice and Fire RPG rulebook


Simone Cooper - 2004
    R. Martin's A Game of Thrones - the first book in the author's epic A Song of Ice and Fire series - to life for gamers everywhere! Now is your chance to explore the mysteries of the Seven Kingdoms and its noble houses -- Starks, Lannisters, Tullys, and more! This authorized reference guide and RPG features Westeros character archetypes, new character creation options, and innovative rules appropriate to the series -- along with noble house analyses, character profiles, and setting details.

Forgotten Realms: The War of the Spider-Queen Omnibus


R.A. Salvatore - 2004
    ReidCondemnation: Book III by Richard BakerExtinction: Book IV by Lisa SmedmanAnnihilation: War of the Spider Queen, Book V by Philip AthansResurrection: Book VI by Paul S. KempDissolution (Book 1)While their whole world is changing around them, four dark elves struggle against different enemies. Yet their paths will lead them all to the most terrifying discovery in the long history of the drow, and set them on a quest to save not only Menzoberranzan but the entire dark elf race from Dissolution.The War of the Spider Queen begins here.The first novel in an epic six-part series from the fertile imaginations of R.A. Salvatore and a select group of the newest, most exciting authors in the genre. Join them as they peel back the surface of the richest fantasy world ever created, to show the dark heart beneath. Insurrection (Book 2)The War of the Spider Queen spreads...A hand-picked team of the most capable drow adventurers begin a perilous journey through the treacherous Underdark, all the while surrounded by the chaos of war. Their path will take them through the very heart of darkness, and the Underdark will be shaken to its core. If the powerful dark elves falter, the world below is open for Insurrection. Condemnation (Book 3)From the burning sands of Anauroch to the limitless labyrinth of the Underdark, an epic quest for the very essence of the Spider Queen takes one startling turn after another. Powerful forces are at work to find answers to where Lolth has gone. She may return as something greater than she was, or she may have gone from her drow children forever, leaving them to their own devices in a chilling condemnation.The War of the Spider Queen explodes.  Extinction (Book 4)Halisstra Melarn has lived her life in the service of Lolth, every second knowing she would spend her endless afterlife at her godess's side. Serving the capricious whims of a chaotic demon goddess was never easy, but it promised great reward. Now the Spider Queen is gone, and she may never come back. What then? For one priestess, turning her back on teh goddess who abandoned her might be her only way out, her only way to escape oblivion. While Pharaun, Quenthel, Jeggred, Danifae, and Valas search for a way into the burning infinity of the Abyss itself, all the while selling each other cheap, Halisstra and Ryld discover a world where life has value and the shadows are free of assassins. But in an effort to survive, will they lose everything it means to be a dark elf? The simple act of asking that question could bring the entire drow race to teh brink of extinction. The War of the Spider Queen gets personal.  Annihilation (Book 5)The New York Times best-seller, now in paperback! This paperback edition of the New York Times best-selling title expands the civilupheaval among the drow, one of the most popular races in the ForgottenRealms setting. Best-selling author R.A. Salvatore wrote the prologue toAnnihilation and continues to consult on the series, lending his expertise asthe author who brought drow society to the forefront of the Forgotten Realmssetting.  Resurrection (Book 6)"Danifae Yauntyrr, former battle-captive of House Melarn, has come too far to stop now. She has regained her freedom after years of servitude, but has yet to exact her revenge. Though she has grown in both power and ambition, Danifae still needs to kill Halisstra Melarn. But how can she when she's followed by Quenthel and Pharaun into the heart of Lolth's reformed domain, a hellish world of demonic spiders bent on eating each other, and anything else stupid enough to get in their way - including the chosen vessel of Lolth herself." Halisstra has come to Demonweb Pits with a very different agenda. In her hands she holds the fabled Crescent Blade, a sword she believes will grant her the power to kill the Spider Queen herself - but only if she finds Lolth before the goddess fully completes her mysterious resurrection.

Furies of Calderon


Jim Butcher - 2004
    But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light the lamps. Yet as the Alerans' most savage enemy - the Marat horde - returns to the Valley, Tavi's courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war ...

The Elven


Bernhard Hennen - 2004
    Northlander Jarl Mandred witnesses the ruthless attack on his men, and he seeks vengeance with the help of the elf queen, Emerelle. Despite Mandred’s barbaric human nature, the queen orchestrates an elfhunt joined by the two strongest warriors in Albenmark to pursue the beast. Farodin, the fiercest fighter in the land, and Nuramon, the healer, seize the opportunity to make history alongside Mandred in a life-defining series of battles waged in parallel universes.The Elven is an epic tale, bringing heroes together across the boundaries of their worlds to avenge past losses and influence fates yet to be decided.

Sethra Lavode


Steven Brust - 2004
    She's Sethra Lavode, the undead Enchantress of Dzur Mountain. Now, after a long absence, she's returned to take an active role in the Empire's affairs—and the affairs of Khaavren, Pel, Tazendra, Aerich, and all their friends and relations. Since the day Adron's Disaster reduced Dragaera City to a barren sea of amorphia, the Empire has been in ruins. The Emperor is gone, along with the Orb that was both his badge of office and the source of the magical power that in former times was practically a public utility. Trade has collapsed. Brigands rule the roads. Plagues sweep through the population. And an ambitious Dragonlord has moved to rebuild the Empire—in his own name, of course. Unknown to him, Sethra Lavode has already helped the Phoenix Zerika, true heir to the throne, retrieve the Orb from the Paths of the Dead. Sethra means to see Zerika on the throne. But making it so will entail a climactic battle of sorcery and arms.  Sethra Lavode, Book Three of The Viscount of Adrilankha, is an epic fantasy—told with all the swashbuckling flair for which Steven Brust is known.

Covenants


Lorna Freeman - 2004
    But when his patrol encounters a Faena-one of the magical guardians of an uneasy ally-Rabbit is thrust into a political and magical intrigue that could start a war. Because Rabbit isn't just another trooper. He is the son of nobility-and a mage who doesn't know his own power...

Lost Lands of Witch World


Andre Norton - 2004
    Having written adventure science fiction for almost thirty years, she turned to something new, science-fantasy, with Witch World. This unique world of sorceresses and the many others who fight such adversaries as the Kolder, the Hounds of Alizon and other threats, has proven to be Miss Norton's most beloved and popular creation. Three Against the Witch World, Warlock of the Witch World , and Sorceress of the Witch World, the fourth, fifth, and sixth novels in the series, have long been recognized as novels that comprise the core of the series, along with the first three novels.Today, four decades after their first publication, these novels of adventure, excitement, and daring remain as fresh and original as when they first appeared. For the first time they are now available in a single volume for new readers of all ages to discover, and for fans to rediscover in an attractive, durable new format.Includes a long introduction by Mercedes Lackey.

Wolfblade


Jennifer Fallon - 2004
    She must make sure her son Damin lives to be old enough to restore the Wolfblade name to its former glory.Elezaar the Dwarf is a small man with big secrets -- but that doesn't matter to Marla Wolfblade. Her brother is the High Prince of Hythria, and, in this fiercely patriarchal society, her fate will be decided on his whim. She needs someone politically astute to guide her through the maze of court politics -- and Elezaar the Dwarf knows more than he lets on.As Elezaar teaches Marla the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power, Marla starts on the road to becoming a tactician and a wily diplomat -- but will that be enough to keep her son alive?

Black Blossom


Boban Knežević - 2004
    In my mind, "Black Blossom" is the only book I know that accurately and seamlessly integrates seamlessly mixes traditional and modern genres of completely different storytelling techniques. The result is sharp and touching, a Jungian drama with long-term echoes. Being old enough not to believe in coincidences, I think it should be obvious now why the author's very surname literally means "prince's son" --Zoran Stefanovi

Guardians of the Flame: To Home and Ehvenor


Joel Rosenberg - 2004
    But a real wizard intervened, and the students found themselves in a world where magic worked-too well-and caught up in a battle between the forces of slavery and freedom. Years later, Jason Cullinane, son of the now-legendary Karl Cullinane, has taken up his mysteriously vanished father's role as baron when reports reach him of an attack in his realm by a wolfpack that seems to be more than an ordinary wolfpack. When he and his comrades investigate, they find a rift into the world Faerie from which evil creatures are entering the mortal world to kill and conquer. Cullinane now must not only battle his father's old enemies in the Slavers' Guild, but somehow defeat this powerful supernatural menace. And the greatest danger to the band may come from one of their own who has seemingly switched sides in the struggle . .