River Into Darkness [Paperback]

For the first time in an omnibus edition, this duology tells the tale of a twilight age for magic, as one ancient mage tries to hide the secrets that might destroy the world.

It is the twilight of the mages....

Only one of these terrifying and mysterious men still remains--the difficult and enigmatic Lord Eldrich. More than one hundred and thirty years of age, but appearing no older than forty, Eldrich dwells in seclusion, his precious knowledge disclosed to no one, his very existence subject to speculation. For motives of his own, he has dedicated his life to eliminating all remaining vestiges of magic in the world.

But his work does not go unchallenged: for there are those sworn to preserve the very lore Eldrich is striving to eradicate. Fanatical followers of a long-dead mage-apprentice, the Tellerites will stop at nothing to reclaim the forbidden powers of the magical arts--even if it means braving Eldrich's wrath and descending into the perilous depths of a labyrinthine cave system, in search of secrets that have lain hidden since the time of the first mage.Praise for the River into Darkness duology

A strange and beautiful book that offersan unusual depth and nuance of character, set forth in lustrous dialogue and prose the texture of honeyed silk. —Kirkus Reviews

Set in an imaginary land where magic is on the wane, this is a traditional quest fantasy of the best sort: where the quests are spiritual and person in nature as well as heroic.... Book by book, Russell is emerging asone of the best fantasists of his generation. —Year's Best Fantasy and Horror

Sean Russell has captured the atmosphere and the ethos ofa truly magical time. —SF SiteSean Russellpublished his first fantasy novel,The Initiate Brother, in 1991. He has since published six novels with DAW Books. His influence in the fantasy world comes from J. R. R. Tolkien, and he knew he lS