Demonland and Witchland wage war in this massively influential fantasy classicWith the arrival of a Witchland envoy making demands of Demonland's chief lords, peace between the two lands is irrevocably shattered. The chief lords Juss and Spitfire send their brother Goldry to defeat the witch king. Though he is initially victorious, Goldry ultimately gets captured, leaving it up to his brothers to rescue him. So begins a fantasy adventure whose influence has endured ...

"The greatest and most convincing writer of invented worlds that I have read." —J.R.R. TolkienThe Mezentian Gate is a fantasy novel by English writer E. R. Eddison, third in his Zimiamvian Trilogy. It is primarily a history of the rule of the fictional King Mezentius (the Tyrant of Fingiswold), and his methods of gaining and holding the Three Kingdoms of Fingiswold, Meszria, and Rerek in sway.Published posthumously, The Mezentian Gate is only part...

A Nebula Award winner presents tales that shaped modern science fiction and fantasy—five complete novels by Mark Twain, H. G. Wells, and more.In this handpicked collection, New York Times–bestselling author Greg Bear travels back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when novelists let their imaginations soar beyond conventional boundaries of time and space and contributed to the emergence of imaginative new literary genres.In 1889, ...

Edward Lessingham of England is dead, the last chapter of his extraordinary life written.Edward Lessingham of Zimiamvia is alive: now Lord Lessingham, cousin to the villainous Vicar of Rerek, scourge of King Mezentius in that fabled land.But the king is dead and his passing has left a dangerous power vacuum and the fate of the three kingdoms in the balance. Lord Lessingham makes valiant attempts to bring peace to the land but is stalled by the vicar's treachery and the stra...

"The Worm Ouroboros" is a heroic high fantasy novel by Eric Rucker Eddison, first published in 1922. The book describes the protracted war between the domineering King Gorice of Witchland and the Lords of Demonland in an imaginary world that appears mainly medieval and partly reminiscent of Norse sagas. The work is slightly related to Eddison's later Zimiamvian Trilogy, and collectively they are sometimes referred to as the Zimiamvian series.

This is the book that shaped the landscape of contemporary science fiction and fantasy. When The Lord of the Rings first appeared, the critics inevitably compared it to this 1922 landmark work. Tolkien himself frankly acknowledged its influence, with warm praise for its imaginative appeal. The story of a remote planet's great war between two kingdoms, it ranks as the Iliad of heroic fantasy. In the best traditions of Homeric epics, Norse sagas, and Arthurian myths, author E. R. Eddison wea...

E. R. Eddison's "The Worm Ouroboros" stands as a monumental work of fantasy literature, weaving an intricate tapestry of adventure, moral complexity, and philosophical contemplation. Set in the mythical realm of Mercury, the narrative intertwines the fates of noble houses embroiled in a grand conflict, marked by its lush prose and archaic diction that evokes the epic traditions of Homer and medieval romance. The novel's structure, composed of richly developed characters and lyrical dialogu...

In "The Worm Ouroboros," E. R. Eddison crafts a grand tapestry of heroic fantasy, intricately woven with allegory and rich, archaic prose. Set in a mythical realm where noble houses vie for dominance, the narrative centers on the epic conflict between the kingdoms of Witchland and Aelfrice. Eddison's literary style echoes that of classical epics, filled with poetic dialogues and vivid imagery, resonating with the aesthetics of Old English literature. The novel invites readers to explore th...

The lost classic masterpiece of magical realms, admired by Tolkien and the great prototype for The Lord of the Rings and modern fantasy fiction.On the far side of darkness lies a world where two mighty forces are making ready for a war of kingdom against kingdom, warrior against witch, and honour against treachery. It is a world that beckons Edward Lessingham and is totally at odds with his Edwardian background.Torn by greater passions than mere mortals can know, the adventu...

The book that set the stage for Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings', 'The Worm Ouroboros' tells a sweeping tale of political – and mystical - battles between heroic warriors, witches on crooked mountaintops and the ocean's darkest depths. Interlaced with brewing romances and devilish trickery, The Lords of Demonland go head-to-head with the Lords of Witchland in one epic fantasy. Crafted with expert language, Eddison provides a reading experience like no other. 'The Worm Ouroboros' is ideal ...

In early 20th-century England, Edward Lessingham and Lasy Mary Scarnsdale conduct a passionate if tumultuous courtship. After the First World War, they raise their children in their Cumbrian idyll, until tragedy strikes.On the world of Zimiamvia, Duke Barganax pursues the divine Lady Florinda who toys with his affections like a cat with a mouse. Meanwhile, King Mezentius struggles to hold his Threee Kingdoms together against the intrigues of his enemies.And over a fish dinn...

E. R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros is a monumental work of high fantasy, renowned for its rich, ornate prose, sweeping epic battles, and imaginative world-building. First published in 1922, the novel is considered a cornerstone of classic fantasy literature, predating and influencing many later legends of heroic quests and intricate imaginary realms. Set in the mythical lands of Mercury, the story chronicles the epic struggle between the proud, noble heroes of Demonland and the sinister fo...