The Very Best of Tad Williams - Softcover

Williams, Tad

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1616961376 ISBN 13: 9781616961374

Publisher: Tachyon Publications, 2014

Synopsis

This marvelous short fiction retrospective testifies to the breadth of Williams’s creativity."
Publishers Weekly, starred review

Within these pages you will find such delightful and curious things as a strange storytelling vampire, two woefully-overmatched angels, a dragon in cahoots with a knight and a witch, an ineptly duplicitous fish, the loyal robot butler of Werner Von Secondstage Booster, and the Greatest Wizard of All (disputed).

From his epic fantasy series, including Memory Sorrow and Thorn which George R. R. Martin cited as an inspiration for Game of Thrones to the classic novel Tailchaser’s Song, Tad Williams has mastered every genre he has set his pen to. Here are the stories that showcase the exhilarating breadth of Williams’ imagination, hearkening back to such classic fantasists as J. R. R. Tolkien, Ray Bradbury, Peter S. Beagle, and beyond. Whether you are a devoted reader of his longer works, already a devotee of his short fiction, or even new to his writing entirely, The Very Best of Tad Williams is the perfect place to discover one of the most talented and versatile authors writing at any length today.

About this title

About the Author:

Tad Williams is a bestselling fantasy author whose works include Tailchaser's Song; The War of the Flowers; Caliban's Hour; and series novels including Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn; and Otherland. He is also the author of the comic miniseries, Next published by DC Comics. He lives in Soquel, California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Excerpt from "The Old Scale Game"

Flee or be broiled to crackling! Those are your only choices!” The monster rustled in the depths of the cave. Its voice was loud because it was large, and dry because centuries of breathing deadly fire had roughened its throat.

Neither, if you please.” The man in armor waited as patiently as he could, hoping he was far enough back from the entrance that he would not actually broil if the tenor of conversation failed to improve. I wish to discuss a proposition.”

A what?” The outrage was unfeigned. I had heard that there were knights abroad in this miserable modern age who practiced such perversities, but I never dreamed I should ever suffer such a foul offer myself! Prepare to be radiantly heated, young fool!”

I am not remotely young, and I don’t think I’m a fool either,” the knight said. And it’s not that kind of proposition. Ye gods, fellow, I haven’t even seen you yet, not to mention the smell of you is not pleasing, at least to a human being.”

When the dragon spoke after a longish silence, there was perhaps a touch of hurt feelings in its voice. Ah. Not that kind of proposition.” Another pause. How do I know that when I come out you will not attempt to slay me?”

If I felt sure I could slay you, I wouldn’t be here talking. I give you my word as a knight that you are safe from me as long as you offer me no harm.”

Hmmmph.” That noise, accompanied by a puff of steam, was followed shortly by the sound of something long and scaly dragging itself over stone as the dragon emerged from the cave. The knight noted that, although the great worm had clearly seen better days, his scales dingy and nicked, his color decidedly less than robust, he was still quite big enough and probably quite hot enough to keep negotiation more appealing than attack.

About this edition

• Publisher: Tachyon Publications
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1616961376
• ISBN 13: 9781616961374
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432