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Throne of Shadows

by Alexander Verlangen

Harmony only wanted to survive. When the new gods defeat the Titans, Harmony is forced into a world of the gods. Three ambitious brothers seek to discover the most powerful mortals. The ones they love will join their ranks as immortals. The Academy of the Gods is filled with the wealthy and powerful.An orphan sent as one of the few survivors of his village, Harmony is an immediate outcast. Hated by Zeus and abandoned by most of the other students, Harmony is only protected by Hades. The god of the underworld is a mysterious and reclusive god. Harmony finds himself falling in love with Hades while detested by Zeus. Can Harmony survive the new gods and find love?

Through a Clouded Mirror

by Miya T. Beck

Inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and set in a magical imperial Japan, this is a breathtaking fantasy adventure from the acclaimed author of The Pearl Hunter.Yuki Snow wishes she were anywhere but here.She hates Santa Dolores, where her mom and stepdad just moved the family. Her BFF back home, Julio, has already forgotten his promise to stay in touch—and worse, he like likes Yuki’s mortal enemy. At her new school, the kids think she’s either invisible or a know-it-all nerd.The only friend she’s made so far is the shopkeeper at a Japanese antiques store. Among the treasures there is an ancient brass mirror supposedly once owned by celebrated Japanese writer Sei Shonagon. It’s also rumored to be a portal to Shonagon’s world, which opens every hundred years. So when a woman with long jet-black hair and flowing silk robes appears in the glass, beckoning, Yuki knows there’s only one thing to do—step through to the unknown….

Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit (Tidemagic #1)

by Clare Harlow

Magic, mystery, and monsters abound in this series opener about a girl with the rare magical ability to look like anyone she's ever seen.In misty Shelwich, magic rises and falls with the tides, everyone is born with a magical gift, and people have started to . . . disappear.Rumor has it they are snatched by monsters, but Ista Flit doesn't want to believe it. Not when her own father is missing. As she scours the city, searching for clues, a notorious thief finds her. Ista has a rare talent: she's a face-changer, able to take on the appearance of anyone she's seen, and Alexo could use a girl with her skill. Ista could use Alexo's help in her search--if only she could trust him.As more people disappear from the city, Ista finds unexpected allies in Nat and Ruby, each searching for their own missing loved ones. These three determined kids will need to use all the Tidemagic they can summon, infiltrate the city's highest elite circles, and dive into its lowest caverns, in order to find how thieves, monsters, and the missing are all connected.

To Cage a God (These Monstrous Gods #1)

by Elizabeth May

Perfect for romantasy fans of Fourth Wing and Shadow and Bone, this dark, Imperial Russia-inspired romantic fantasy novel launches the These Monstrous Gods duology of draconic gods, political revolutions, and deadly magical powers from a Sunday Times bestselling author"This series opener delivers on not just epic fantasy, but epic action and romance." —KirkusTo cage a god is divine.To be divine is to rule.To rule is to destroy.Using ancient secrets, Galina and Sera&’s mother grafted gods into their bones. Bound to brutal deities and granted forbidden power no commoner has held in a millennia, the sisters have grown up to become living weapons. Raised to overthrow an empire―no matter the cost.With their mother gone and their country on the brink of war, it falls to the sisters to take the helm of the rebellion and end the cruel reign of a royal family possessed by destructive gods. Because when the ruling alurea invade, they conquer with fire and blood. And when they clash, common folk burn.While Sera reunites with her estranged lover turned violent rebel leader, Galina infiltrates the palace. In this world of deception and danger, her only refuge is an isolated princess, whose whip-smart tongue and sharp gaze threaten to uncover Galina&’s secret. Torn between desire and duty, Galina must make a choice: work together to expose the lies of the empire―or bring it all down.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

by Molly X. Chang

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one? &“With hauntingly poetic prose, Molly X. Chang spins a tale at the intersection of science fiction, fantasy, and the very real devastation that colonialism brings down on colonized peoples.&”—Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron WidowHeroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn&’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.When Ruying&’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

To Root Somewhere Beautiful: An Anthology of Reclamation

by Katalina Watt Amparo Ortiz Laura Galán-Wells Daphne Dador Nicholas Perez Morgan Spraker Laura G. Southern Sj Whitby Isa Arsén Rien Gray Alyssa Grant Rj Joseph Wen-Yi Lee Mallory Jones Alex Brown Sam Elyse Darci Meadows Rachal Marquez Jones C. M. Leyva R. M. Virtues

Imagine a world in which nature has lost patience with humanity. The wild is done waiting for humans to change their ways. Nature is ready to take matters into her own hands... And she is angry.In this new anthology, twenty two diverse authors explore what nature's vengeance might be like, and how humanity could adapt and change, giving these stories of climate change and disasters a center of hope. Within these pages, you will meetA grandmother who promises both bitterness and love.A desperate husband seeking to supernaturally win back his wife.Cafe patrons facing down vigilante trees.The last remaining flight attendants in Singapore after a climate apocalypse.The recipient of a mysterious gift, who might change or doom the future.And many more.Here, nature has a voice; what will you do once you hear what she says?

Tomahawk Angel Volume 2

by Odysseas Theodoratos

In the year 2050, a ruined world is overrun by monsters and humanity is on the verge of extinction. An 18-year-old amnesiac seeks answers to her past, and uncovers the dark history of this corrupt new world, and her role in it.Is she a savior or does she have more in common with the monsters themselves?Tomahawk Angel Volume 2 is available in print for the first time, written and drawn by celebrated creator Odysseas Theodoratos (aka Mangaka Ody), as part of the new collaboration between Dark Horse and Tapas Entertainment.

Tomorrowing (Practices)

by Terry Bisson

For twenty years, Terry Bisson published a regular “This Month in History” column in the science fiction magazine Locus. Tomorrowing collects these two decades of memorable events---four per month---each set in a totally different imaginary yet possible, inevitable yet avoidable future. From the first AI president to the first dog on Mars to the funeral of Earth’s last glacier, these stories are speculative SF at its most (and least) serious. Collected as a series for the first time, Tomorrowing will amuse, alarm, intrigue, entertain, and like all good science fiction, make readers think. Bisson’s short stories have won every major award in science fiction, including the Hugo and the Nebula, but never, ever anything for this series.

Tomorrow's Children

by Daniel Polansky

From Hugo Award nominated author comes a high-octane post-apocalyptic romp set in the ruins of Manhattan.Years ago, Tomorrow - a noxious cloud of funky gas - descended on Manhattan, cutting the island off from the rest of the world and mutating the remaining population.Now, survivors exist amid the rubble of modernity, wearing cast-off clothing from generations past, worshipping celebrities from the past as ambivalent gods and communicating through roughly drawn emojis. Manhattan exists in a state of delicate balance between neighbourhoods, with each group protecting themselves with Molotov cocktails and scrap metal spears.But when the first tourist in centuries arrives on the island under mysterious circumstances, the uneasy web tangled between factions is about to unravel…Frantic and full of anarchy, Tomorrow's Children is a high-octane dystopian tale from Hugo Award nominated author Daniel Polansky.

A Touch of Chaos (Hades x Persephone Saga #7)

by Scarlett St. Clair

The world will burn in the final installment of Scarlett St. Clair's bestselling Hades X Persephone saga. <p><p>The gods are at war, the Titans have been released, and Hades and Persephone must fight tooth and nail for their happy ending. Persephone, Goddess of Spring, never guessed that a chance encounter with Hades, God of the Underworld, would change her life forever—but he did. Now embroiled in a fight for humanity and battles between the gods, Persephone and Hades have entered a world they never thought they would see. To end the chaos, Persephone must draw upon her darkness and embrace who she's become—goddess, wife, queen of the Underworld. Once, Persephone made bargains to save those she loves. Now, she will go to war for them. <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>

The Toxins Case: The Adventures of Constable Smith

by Grant Ross

The Toxins Case: The Adventures of Constable Smith continues the story of Capella Smith from Grant Ross’s previous book Read the Small Print. Having left her flesh and blood body on Earth, Capella is now in spirit form and has adopted a new spirit body. She has teamed up with Angelina Skyward, the Chief Detective Inspector of the Interstellar Police (ISP), to pursue criminals throughout the Milky Way. Their main challenge is the Interstellar Mafia (ISM), who plan to steal dangerous toxins and viruses for interplanetary blackmail. Their goal is to coerce other planets into surrendering valuable resources, including rare metals. Capella and Angelina quickly find themselves on the trail of the ISM, racing to stop their quarry’s threatening scheme.

Toxxic

by Jane Hennigan

Forty years ago, the world changed. Men became crazed killers and threatened all humanity. Now the world might be about to change again, but will it be for the better?Forty-four years ago, as any schoolgirl can tell you, the moth&’s eggs hatched and an army of caterpillars spread their tiny toxic threads on every breath of wind. Since then, men have been cloistered, protected from birth against the deadly poison.But now there&’s a vaccine - a way that men can leave the facility without dying or suffering from psychosis. Emerging, into their new world, eyes wide with wonder at every new experience, the truth soon becomes clear.This world was not made for men. And they are not safe.File Under: Science Fiction [ Threads of Chaos | Long Road Ahead | A Changed Society | What Remains ]

Travis Daventhorpe Powers Up! (Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! #2)

by Wes Molebash

Can a wimp like Travis Daventhorpe master the Legendary Sword of Legends and fulfill his cosmic destiny? For fans of Hilo and The Last Kids on Earth comes the second volume of this hilarious fantasy/sci-fi graphic novel series!Travis Daventhorpe is destined to save the multiverse—at least, that’s what the prophecy says. But if he’s a legendary warrior in the making, shouldn’t he be a little better at sword fighting? With his engineering genius, Travis could develop technology to make himself unstoppable, but the wise sorcerer Bela says he needs to find his power within. Wherever he finds it, he better do it soon! The evil Nol Invictus, the ruler of the mystical realm Solusterra, is preparing a second attack—and this time, his lieutenant, the Rogue, has an army of velociborgs for backup!From Wes Molebash comes the second volume in this pun-filled, video game–inspired, sci-fi fantasy adventures series. Join Travis Daventhorpe as he dodges bullies, forges friendships, and does his best to survive gym class . . . all while trying to fulfill his magical destiny!

Treasure of Gor (Gorean Saga #38)

by John Norman

A brilliant woman&’s dangerous discovery on Earth leads to her enslavement on the planet Gor in this long-running sci-fi fantasy series. In a remote corner of the American southwest, there is a small, private observatory. To most of the staff, it is just another stargazing facility. But a select few know its true function as a liaison point between two alien worlds: the decimated planet of the warlike Kurii, and the planet Gor, which the Kurii now covet. When the young scientist Agnes Morrison Atherton comes across an unintelligible file containing mysterious coordinates, she decides to decode them—and discovers two large, spherical, seemingly artificial objects in the asteroid belt. But it seems that Atherton&’s remarkable discovery is less than welcome. Abducted and drugged, she awakens to find herself on the planet Gor—being sold as a Gorean slave girl.

Trial by Betrayal: Yr4 - The Nightshade Guild: The Trials Of The Guild (YR4 - The Nightshade Guild: The Trials of the Guild #3)

by Jennifer Wedmore

Morwen and Fauxon made it home from 1968, but there's no time to relax! The Creator of Magic said they are abusing their powers and doing more harm than good. Morwen has to prove she is worthy of magic, the Guild, and herself. She's facing seven trials with family and friends as her accusers. Can she survive the emotional toll of each person's accusations? She has to convince the judges, and most importantly herself that her actions in the Guild were with the best of intentions, but can the words hurled at her shake her confidence or will she be found innocent and keep her place in the Guild? Seven trials to determine her fate. Seven trials to determine if she keeps her life with Fauxon and her Magic.

The Trials of Empire (Empire of the Wolf #3)

by Richard Swan

The Trials of Empire is the epic conclusion to the bestselling Empire of the Wolf series, where Sir Konrad Vonvalt - the most powerful and feared of the Emperor's Justices - must finally face the dark powers that seek to detroy the Empire.THE TIME OF JUDGEMENT IS AT HANDThe Empire of the Wolf is on its knees, but there's life in the great beast yet.To save it, Sir Konrad Vonvalt and Helena must look beyond its borders for allies - to the wolfmen of the southern plains, and the pagan clans in the north. But old grievances run deep, and both factions would benefit from the fall of Sova.Even these allies might not be enough. Their enemy, the zealot Bartholomew Claver, wields infernal powers bestowed on him by a mysterious demonic patron. If Vonvalt and Helena are to stand against him, they will need friends on both sides of the mortal plane - but such allegiances carry a heavy price.As the battlelines are drawn in both Sova and the afterlife, the final reckoning draws close. Here, at the beating heart of the Empire, the two-headed wolf will be reborn in a blaze of justice . . . or crushed beneath the shadow of tyranny. Praise for the Empire of the Wolf series'A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing' RJ Barker'Utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing and written with such skilful assurance I could barely put it down' Nicholas Eames'A fantastic debut' Peter McLean'Equal parts heroic fantasy and murder mystery . . . Richard Swan's sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more' Sebastien de Castell'Great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series' James Islington'Totally addictive' Novel Notions'A brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down' Grimdark Magazine'An absorbing fantasy murder mystery . . . I have been thoroughly hooked by this series and cannot wait for the next helping of political upheaval' Fantasy Book Critic'Fantasy, mystery, drama, intrigue, action - The Justice of Kings has it all' Bibliosanctum'One of those utterly compelling and believable books that begs to be read in one sitting. This is going to be one of the standouts of the year' British Fantasy Society'Swan's debut is a thrilling epic fantasy with a murder mystery and supernatural twist that will delight fans of Sherlock Holmes. It certainly delighted me' Fantasy Hive'Swan has built a dark and gritty world, filled it with beautifully written characters and lays out a master-crafted story to create an incredible book that you can't put down' FanFiAddictThe Empire of the Wolf trilogyThe Justice of KingsThe Tyranny of FaithThe Trials of Empire

The Trials of Empire (Empire of the Wolf #3)

by Richard Swan

The Trials of Empire is the epic conclusion to the bestselling Empire of the Wolf series, where Sir Konrad Vonvalt - the most powerful and feared of the Emperor's Justices - must finally face the dark powers that seek to detroy the Empire.THE TIME OF JUDGEMENT IS AT HANDThe Empire of the Wolf is on its knees, but there's life in the great beast yet.To save it, Sir Konrad Vonvalt and Helena must look beyond its borders for allies - to the wolfmen of the southern plains, and the pagan clans in the north. But old grievances run deep, and both factions would benefit from the fall of Sova.Even these allies might not be enough. Their enemy, the zealot Bartholomew Claver, wields infernal powers bestowed on him by a mysterious demonic patron. If Vonvalt and Helena are to stand against him, they will need friends on both sides of the mortal plane - but such allegiances carry a heavy price.As the battlelines are drawn in both Sova and the afterlife, the final reckoning draws close. Here, at the beating heart of the Empire, the two-headed wolf will be reborn in a blaze of justice . . . or crushed beneath the shadow of tyranny. Praise for the Empire of the Wolf series'A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing' RJ Barker'Utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing and written with such skilful assurance I could barely put it down' Nicholas Eames'A fantastic debut' Peter McLean'Equal parts heroic fantasy and murder mystery . . . Richard Swan's sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more' Sebastien de Castell'Great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series' James Islington'Totally addictive' Novel Notions'A brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down' Grimdark Magazine'An absorbing fantasy murder mystery . . . I have been thoroughly hooked by this series and cannot wait for the next helping of political upheaval' Fantasy Book Critic'Fantasy, mystery, drama, intrigue, action - The Justice of Kings has it all' Bibliosanctum'One of those utterly compelling and believable books that begs to be read in one sitting. This is going to be one of the standouts of the year' British Fantasy Society'Swan's debut is a thrilling epic fantasy with a murder mystery and supernatural twist that will delight fans of Sherlock Holmes. It certainly delighted me' Fantasy Hive'Swan has built a dark and gritty world, filled it with beautifully written characters and lays out a master-crafted story to create an incredible book that you can't put down' FanFiAddictThe Empire of the Wolf trilogyThe Justice of KingsThe Tyranny of FaithThe Trials of Empire

The Trials of Empire (Empire of the Wolf #3)

by Richard Swan

The third novel in Richard Swan's acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy triumphantly concludes the tale of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor&’s Justice – a detective, judge and executioner all in one. THE TIME OF JUDGEMENT IS AT HAND The Empire of the Wolf is on its knees, but there's life in the great beast yet. To save it, Sir Konrad Vonvalt and Helena must look beyond its borders for allies - to the wolfmen of the southern plains, and the pagan clans in the north. But old grievances run deep, and both factions would benefit from the fall of Sova. Even these allies might not be enough. Their enemy, the zealot Bartholomew Claver, wields infernal powers bestowed on him by a mysterious demonic patron. If Vonvalt and Helena are to stand against him, they will need friends on both sides of the mortal plane—but such allegiances carry a heavy price. As the battlelines are drawn in both Sova and the afterlife, the final reckoning draws close. Here, at the beating heart of the Empire, the two-headed wolf will be reborn in a blaze of justice . . . or crushed beneath the shadow of tyranny. Also by Richard Swan:The Empire of the Wolf The Justice of Kings The Tyranny of Faith The Trials of Empire

True Colors

by Abby Cooper

Turning Red meets The Giver in this novel about a town where everyone agrees to think positively—but one girl, whose emotions manifest as colors, can&’t hide her true feelings.In Serenity, Minnesota, everyone looks on the bright side, and that&’s on purpose: to live in this town, people have to agree to talk positively and only focus on the good things in life. For twelve-year-old Mackenzie Werner, who has the rare gift of her emotions showing up as a colorful haze around her body, this town seems like the perfect place; she&’ll never face the embarrassment of a grumbly grapefruit smog if everyone and everything is set up to be happy. But when a documentary maker comes to town and starts asking questions, Mackenzie, overwhelmed with emotion, can&’t hold her haze back—and it explodes onto the whole town. Now everyone has their own haze, revealing their real feelings. As Mackenzie learns that emotions go beyond surface level, the whole town must reckon with what it means now that these true colors are on display.

The Truth of the Aleke (The Forever Desert #2)

by Moses Ose Utomi

Moses Ose Utomi returns to his Forever Desert series with The Truth of the Aleke, continuing his epic fable about truth, falsehood, and the shackles of history.The Aleke is cruel. The Aleke is clever. The Aleke is coming. 500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo, the City of Truth stands as the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged it for three centuries, attempting to destroy its warriors and subjugate its people.Seventeen-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the City. When the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God's Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home. For his bravery he is tasked with a tremendous responsibility—destroy the Cult of Tutu, bring back the God's Eyes, and discover the truth of the Aleke.The Forever Desert seriesThe Lies of the AjungoThe Truth of the AlekeAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (The Jules Verne Collection)

by Jules Verne

Climb aboard the Nautilus with Captain Nemo and embark on an undersea journey around the world in this Jules Verne classic with an arresting new look!When word about sightings of a sea monster spread, three men embark on a journey to find the creature. But when they get thrown overboard, they soon find themselves in the belly of the beast—the underwater vessel named the Nautilus, manned by Captain Nemo. Having discovered his secret submarine, the sailors are taken as Nemo&’s captives. The trio&’s expedition shifts to an entirely new adventure beneath the vast ocean with giant sea creatures, sunken treasure, and even the lost world of Atlantis. Though the voyage is wondrous, they are still Captain Nemo&’s prisoners and seek freedom from their mysterious kidnapper.

Twiblets - Their Earthly Adventures

by Martin Firestone

Have you even wondered how the surface of the earth became so lush and beautiful? It was not always that way, and not made beautiful without a great deal of special help from the Twiblets. Twiblets come from the sun. It was a huge risk for them to venture to the Earth to provide their special magic and assistance to coax life and beauty from Earth&’s may dry and brittle seeds on its surface. In fact, several areas of the Earth were especially a challenge to the Twiblets unique abilities. One in particular of these was the deserts. This story is about the Twiblet adventures and challenges in the earthly deserts.

Twice Lived

by Joma West

Torn between two families and two lives, a troubled teen must come to terms with losing half their world. Two Worlds. Two Minds. One Life. There are two Earths. Perfectly ordinary and existing in parallel. There are no doorways between them, no way to cross from one world to another. Unless you’re a shifter. Canna and Lily are the same person but they refuse to admit it. Their split psyche has forced them to shift randomly between worlds – between lives and between families – for far longer than they should. But one mind can’t bear this much life. It’ll break under the weight of it all. Soon they’ll experience their final shift and settle at last in one world, but how can they prepare both families for the eventuality of them disappearing forever? Twice Lived is a novel about family and friendships, and about loss and acceptance, and about the ways we learn to deal with the sheer randomness of life.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Twice Upon a Time

by Michelle Harrison

Can stopping time solve a murder . . .? A delicious mystery adventure for fans of Robin Stevens and Cressida Cowell from the award-winning author Michelle Harrison, author of the Pinch of Magic series. When the Morrow twins, Merry and Spike, arrive at dusty old Fox House, they think spending their holidays there is going to be dull. But they soon discover that there are secrets to the old house. A missing woman, a baby left on the doorstep, a locked study; as the mysteries pile up, the girls begin to investigate. The twins also have a secret of their own: they can stop time. What happened in this old house? And can their strange powers help them solve a decades-old crime?Praise for the Pinch of Magic Adventures &‘A spellbinding story, steeped in magic. I adored it.&’ Abi Elphinstone &‘Brilliant&’ Emma Carroll &‘What a gorgeous, funny, creepy, page-turny story! If you&’re yet to discover the Widdershins sisters books, you&’re in for a TREAT!&’ Lucy Strange&‘A stunner. Such great writing!&’ Peter Bunzl &‘I love Michelle Harrison - I hadn&’t read much fantasy but this series hooked me! Brilliant writing, beautiful!&’ Lisa Thompson &‘Simply phenomenal&’ Sophie Anderson &‘The wry enchantment of an E. Nesbit classic&’ Guardian &‘Fantasy and adventure appear on every page of this spellbinding tale&’ Daily Mail

Ultima and Worldbuilding in the Computer Role-Playing Game

by Carly A. Kocurek Matthew Payne

Ultima and World-Building in the Computer Role-Playing Game is the first scholarly book to focus exclusively on the long-running Ultima series of computer role-playing games (RPG) and to assess its lasting impact on the RPG genre and video game industry. Through archival and popular media sources, examinations of fan communities, and the game itself, this book historicizes the games and their authors. By attending to the salient moments and sites of game creation throughout the series’ storied past, authors Carly A. Kocurek and Matthew Thomas Payne detail the creative choices and structural forces that brought Ultima’s celebrated brand of role-playing to fruition. This book first considers the contributions of series founder and lead designer, Richard Garriott, examining how his fame and notoriety as a pioneering computer game auteur shaped Ultima’s reception and paved the way for the evolution of the series. Next, the authors retrace the steps that Garriott took in fusing analog, tabletop role-playing with his self-taught lessons in computer programming. Close textual analyses of Ultima I outline how its gameplay elements offered a foundational framework for subsequent innovations in design and storytelling. Moving beyond the game itself, the authors assess how marketing materials and physical collectibles amplified its immersive hold and how the series’ legions of fans have preserved the series. Game designers, long-time gamers, and fans will enjoy digging into the games’ production history and mechanics while media studies and game scholars will find Ultima and World-Building in the Computer Role-Playing Game a useful extension of inquiry into authorship, media history, and the role of fantasy in computer game design.

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