Journeys of the Catechist

The New York Times–bestselling author's epic fantasy finale to the series "featuring a fast-paced mix of wry humor, high fantasy, and amazing new places and creatures" (Publishers Weekly). Hymneth the Possessed has been warned. He is coming-and he's not alone. A master of necromantic arts, a questioner of all that is unanswered, a seeker of justice. Hymneth feels no threat in the warning, for no one in all the kingdoms in all the realms is as powerful as he is. His only weakness is the beautiful woman trapped in his tower: the Visioness of Laconda. Since her captivity, she has continued to ignore and despise him. He possesses no more of her presence than he does of her passion. But herdsman Etjole Ehomba is on his way, hardened by his adventures, ready to complete his quest to find the Visioness and return her to her people. At his side are his loyal companions-a swordsman, a gigantic black cat, and an ape-like creature. Together they have crossed the Semordria Ocean, languished in its doldrums, fenced its winds, helped by sargassum men, crabs, and krakens. Their journey is coming to end. And the showdown between humble herder and malevolent wizard will unleash forces that the world has never seen . . . Praise for the Journeys of the Catechist Trilogy "The effect of this book is that of tales within tales, like those of Sinbad and his many voyages; a thousand dissimilar elements somehow fit together seamlessly. This is Foster at his best, thoughtful and fun." -Booklist

A hero's quest begins in this first book of "perhaps [the] most highly regarded fantasy trilogy" from the New York Times–bestselling author (Black Gate). They washed up on the beach, dead men clad in strange, intricate garments. The Naumkib tribe will eat well tonight. Simple herdsman Etjole Ehomba is wandering among the corpses, when he hears a faint cry . . . One of the men is still alive-and he implores Etjole for help. His countess-to-be, the Visioness Themaryl of Laconda, has been abducted, carried off by Hymneth the Possessed. The dying man charges Etjole with the duty to find her and restore her to the people of Laconda. Etjole-herder, fisherman, father, warrior, tracker-is a man of conviction. He cannot ignore a brave and noble man's plea. So he sets off on a journey to find a woman many men were willing to die for and to face his destiny in the Unstable Lands, where people are swallowed up by unreality-by things that should not even exist . . . "Odd and engaging . . . A wondrous journey." -Locus "Inventive and filled with flavorsome incident." -Kirkus Reviews "An epic series which is sure to please many readers." -SF Site

From the New York Times–bestselling author of Carnivores of Light and Darkness comes the second fantasy adventure in the Journeys of the Catechist saga. With his two companions-Simna ibn Sind the swordsman and the massive black cat Ahlitah-at his side, Etjole Ehomba continues his honor-driven quest to find the Visioness of Laconda. Imprisoned in the fortress of an evil necromancer, she is both her captor's obsession and his torment. Seeking to cross the blighted Semordria Ocean, Etjole and his sidekicks find no one willing to risk its legendary monsters-until they meet a collector of rare animals. He points them to the northern realm of Hamacassar, and then drugs them in order to steal Ahlitah. Escaping the man's conjured assassins, the trio head to the Thinking Kingdoms, across snow-covered mountains to Laconda, with danger and dark magic nipping at their heels . . . "Foster's latest series combines elements of epic fantasy with folkloric motifs in an engaging picaresque tale of a simple man's honor-bound journey into adventure." -Library Journal "The story's swift pace and Foster's boundless imagination deliver something very different from the usual fantasy quest saga. In these magical lands, Foster shows that character and common sense can be as important, and as powerful, as any magic." -Publishers Weekly "There's no doubt that Alan Dean Foster is a master storyteller. I finished Into the Thinking Kingdoms in a single sitting." -Black Gate "Splendidly packed with illustrious incidents, not to mention a protagonist who grows steadily more intriguing and enigmatic." -Kirkus Reviews

Three epic adventures in the trilogy "of tales within tales, like those of Sinbad and his many voyages . . . Foster at his best, thoughtful and fun" (Booklist). Follow a humble herdsman as he embarks on an honor-driven quest to rescue a beautiful Visioness in this "fast-paced mix of wry humor, high fantasy, and amazing new places and creatures" (Publishers Weekly). Carnivores of Light and Darkness A dying man implores Etjole Ehomba for help: find the Visioness Themaryl of Laconda and restore her to her people. Etjole-herder, fisherman, father, warrior, tracker-is a man of conviction, so he sets off to face his destiny in the Unstable Lands, where people are swallowed up by unreality-by things that should not even exist . . . Into the Thinking Kingdoms Now with two companions at his side-a swordsman and a gigantic black cat-Etjole Ehomba seeks to cross the blighted Semordria Ocean to reach the Visioness being held captive by an evil necromancer. But first he'll have to head into the Thinking Kingdoms, with danger and dark magic nipping at his heels . . . A Triumph of Souls Together Etjole and his loyal friends have crossed the Semordria Ocean, languished in its doldrums and fenced its winds, with the help of  sargassum men, crabs, and krakens. Their journey is coming to end. And the showdown between humble herder and malevolent wizard will unleash forces that the world has never seen . . . Praise for Alan Dean Foster "A master storyteller." -SF Site "One of the most consistently and fertile writers of science fiction and fantasy." -The Times (London)