The Redemption of Althalus - Hardcover

DAVID & LEIGH EDDINGS

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0345443985 ISBN 13: 9780345443984

Publisher: BALLANTINE BOOKS, 2000

Synopsis

A fabulous brand new Eddings standalone fantasy, set in an entirely new magical world. Burglar, armed robber and sometime murderer, our hero Althalus is commissioned to steal a book from the House at the End of the World by a mysterious cloaked stranger named Ghend.At the House at the End of the World, he finds a talking cat... in the same room as the book Ghend described. What he can't find once he's in the house is the door by which he entered. Only 2467 years and an ice age later does Althalus re-emerge with the cat, Emmy. He's read the book written by the god Deiwos, whose evil brother Daeva is trying to unmake the world. Emmy is in fact their sister and she's setting out to save the world with Althalus to help her.No easy task. First there is a quest to unearth the magical knife that will enable Emmy to assemble her band of essential helpers: Eliar (young soldier), Andine (leader of a small country), Bheid (black-robed priest), Gher (ten-year old orphan), Leitha (telepath/witch).Battles follow against Gelta the Queen of Night and the armies of Daeva involving many devious manoeuvres in and out of the House where Doors can be opened to any place at any time. Daeva has his Doors, too. When Daeva can't win through battle, he tries revolution. When Dweia (Emmy) can't win any other way, Althalus will persuade her to lie, cheat and steal - reciprocating the lessons in truth, justice and morality Emmy has been giving him for some while.The existence of the world hangs in the balance and love cannot be guaranteed to triumph in this glorious epic fantasy.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

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.

From the Back Cover:

"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: BALLANTINE BOOKS
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0345443985
• ISBN 13: 9780345443984
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 792