Book Jacket

 

rank 5467
word count 18755
date submitted 28.10.2010
date updated 05.02.2011
genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fantasy,...
classification: moderate
incomplete

The Xandrian Quarters

David Payne

What do a Collector of Tales and a berserker have in common?

The answer is: Not a lot but that doesn't stop them travelling together

 

This is the second book in the Collector of Tales series.

The Xandrian Quarters are a lawless archipelago of small islands. Following a chance meeting in the heat of the Xandrian City State, The Collector finds himself on the open sea headed for the island of Bretha Yenglesh to deliver a document. He has to find a man known as Malice although to his friends, if he had any, he would be called Billy.

Malice was once a surgeon and scholar but as a result of an inherited condition has had to abandon this calling. He has become a mercenary soldier and is a berserker in the medieval sense of the word. He carries about him an aura of latent danger. Through him the Collector is drawn into a world of increasing threat and violence as the tales that he gathers develop a more sinister twist.

The Collector’s experiences offer a fly-on-the-wall view of some of the nuances and in certain cases the extremes, of the human condition as he wanders across a landscape of increasing absurdity and complexity.

The cover is from a painting by the author


 
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tags

alternative world, fantasy, fiction, funny, humour, literary fiction, random, the collector of tales m

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5 comments

 

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Old Bob wrote 474 days ago

David, my first observation is that you write in the first person. So do I. Has that POV caused you any problems so far?

Excellent opening and great delivery. Your voice is strong, your descriptive narrative is good and your dialogue fits your characters. You've done a very good job weaving the story so far and have shown the ability to pull readers into it; even ones like me who don't usually read fantasy. I actually like it so far and am giving it 5 stars. Sorry I haven't room on my shelf right now, but later... Well done.

If you have the opportunity, please take a look at a chapter or two of my book, A PLACE IN LIFE. I'd appreciate your first impression of my work.

Old Bob
A PLACE IN LIFE

cicuta wrote 566 days ago

Dear David, I found your book, [ The Xandrian Quarters ],very professional, poignant and dripping with fantastical characters to carry the reader, longing to know what it is, that will happen next. I hope I get the chance to read the first one. Good luck for the future. Take care, until we meet again. Cicuta [ Carl, Arcane ].

SusieGulick wrote 572 days ago

Dear David, I love that you mentioned the pet bear :) - my twin brother has 80 acres in Oregon & they have a bear on their property (unlawful to shoot, plus his wife is American Indian & they believe it has a human soul, which is strange in itself, as the eagle is thought to, too). Your sequel is great like your 1st book. :) I've read, commented on, backed, & ****** 'd both of your books :) - could you please take a moment to back & ****** my memoirs book? :) Thank you from the bottom of my heart :) - I was 14 from the editor's desk, but now 22, so every backing & ****** 'ing moves our books closer to the editor's desk, according to the new rules. :) Love, Susie :)

Andrew Burans wrote 573 days ago

This is every bit as good as The Collector of Tales. Well done sir. Space should open up on my shelf in the next couple of days and I will back your book then.

Cheers,
Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

SusieGulick wrote 574 days ago

:) comment to follow - read & comented on 2 days later :)

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