1610: A Sundial in a Grave
by Mary Gentle
Locus Award nominee 2004.
Spies and assassins, mathematical magicians,
swordsmen and kings and one indomitable, incorrigible woman share the
stage in a stunning epic alternate history.
Four hundred years ago, Hermetic magic is about to transform into science: 1610 is the year when everything could change.
Robert Fludd, English physician and astrologer, wields the heritage of
Doctor John Dee and Giordano Bruno to foretell the future. But Fludd
doesn't like the centuries that he is predicting. So someone will have
to change the future...
Valentin Rochefort, duellist,
down-at-heels aristocrat and spy for the Duc de Sully, France's
powerful finance minister, has troubles of his own, thank you very much – not the least of which is Dariole, a young man of his acquaintance
who is (in Rochefort's opinion) lust walking on legs – and as
irresponsible as an alley-cat. The last thing Rochefort needs is a mad
English astrologer in his life.
Continental Europe is briefly at
peace, but Henri IV of France is planning to invade the German
principalities. In England, only 5 years earlier, conspirators nearly
succeeded in blowing up King James and his Parliament. The seeds of the
English Civil War and the Thirty Years War are visibly being sown...
For a man of no conscience, Rochefort is about to find himself caught
between loyalty, love, and blackmail, between kings, queens,
politicians and Rosicrucians – and the woman he has, unknowingly,
crossed land and sea to meet.
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Mary Gentle
Mary Gentle is one of the world's most acclaimed writers of fantasy and science fiction; ASH, the largest single fantasy work ever – longer even than THE LORD OF THE RINGS – combines the authentic details of Bernard Cornwell and the magical storytelling of Terry Goodkind.
Mary has a number of academic degrees, including an MA in War Studies, and has hands-on experience of sword-fighting and armour, amongst many other useful talents.
She lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
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