Saraband of Lost Time
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| Saraband of Lost Time | |
| Author | Richard Grant |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Avon Books |
| Publication date | March 1985 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 327 pp (first edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0380895331 (first edition, paperback) |
Saraband of Lost Time is a science fiction novel by Maine author Richard Grant (1952-present), published by Avon Books in 1985. It is his first of several novels, labeled as science fiction. Cover flavor text: "Their quest was for peace- in a future beyond the Apocalypse."
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
The front cover shows two (otherworldly) ships at sea, with a fleet of spaceships. One of the ships is shown up close, with several people aboard, looking worried about the spacecraft. Most of his books tell the name of the cover artist on the copyright page, but not this one. The title is in yellow lettering with black outline.
The back cover says: "The Overmind. The people of Earth whispered the name in fear...the Overmind...the powerful entity which could reactivate the dreaded machines of long ago, before the last great war.
- War had changed the planet in strange and terrible ways. But one thing had not changed. War still went on.
- In this troubled world, a brighter destiny has brought together an intrepid band of adventurers--among them an ancient scholar possessed of vision like no ordinary man, a royal warrior, and the frail but unafraid young woman with whom he has fallen in love.
- Across dangerous lands and through evil perils, they will venture to the secret place of the Overmind--somewhere not in space but in time--to a rendezvous with the beginning of a new future for their world."
[edit] Background
Richard Grant's books often include pictures to go along with texts. These are not so much illustrations (in the sense of images already described by the text that the reader no longer has to imagine) as images referred to by the text that take the place (more or less) of a description; something that would be too tricky to describe. At the same time, he is very good at descriptions, and is very insightful when it comes to narratives. He pulls a lot from many different aspects of reality.[citation needed]
[edit] Plot summary
The story takes place in thirty-five chapters. The characters come from a variety of locations, and travel across the land in their adventures. Grant created his own place names, drinks, songs and more for this novel. Unlike many fantasy novels, he did not create a map of the world, which is supposedly a futuristic Earth after the occurrence of an apocalypse of some kind. It may or may not be the same world as used in Rumors of Spring and Through the Heart. The characters are still human and are not a great deal different from modern humans in most cases. In all three books, the humans are mostly dealing with major environmental changes and the resulting changes in humanity, but some people have stood out as different.
[edit] Characters in "Saraband of Lost Time"
- Lord Erno,
- Lieutenant Hadron,
- Lady Illandra,
- Elfa,
- Captain Deosil,
- Sirraq,
- Rowan,
- the Warmaster,
- Wode, Young Thraus,
- Guddle,
- Falspur,
- Brass,
- Cundiff,
- Sahm,
- Alisha,
- Wicca,
- Inbote,
- King Scaeigh (prnounced like sky)
