Mercedes Lackey

Page Updated: 31/01/02

Mercedes Lackey

Brightly Burning

The Black Swan

pbk 10 Jan 02

Owlknight

Owlsight

Owlflight

and

Books By Mercedes Lackey

About the Author

Bibliography

Paperback - Gollancz (2001)

First British Edition Gollancz (2001)

Brightly Burning
The legendary story of Herald Lavan Firestorm
The kingdom of Valdemar faces war with its most powerful enemy, the neighbouring kingdom of Karse. And only one man can save Valdemar: a young man with a Gift so terrifying that even the Heralds, the country’s magical protectors, fear him.
Lavan Firestorm, a young man from a small rural village, has no desire to follow his family into any of the various Guilds as doth-maker, dyer or needleworker; all he really wants is to be back home in the wild, unconfined woods of his childhood.
In despair, his parents send him to an exclusive school, but the lanky, undersized sixteen-year-old Lan fares no better. Bullied and humiliated, he finally cracks and his ice-cold panic turns to burning rage, spawning a Gift unlike any before known in Valdemar.
Sent to the Heralds to learn how to deal with his Gift, the, unhappy boy expects the worst, for even Valdemar’s brightest and best are unsure how to handle him . . . until he is Chosen by a very special Companion.
And now Lan’s destiny becomes clear: he could be the saviour of Valdemar - or its nemesis.
With Brightly Burning, bestselling writer Mercedes Lackey returns to her greatest creation: the magical world of Valdemar.

First British Edition Gollancz (2001)

Paperback - Gollancz (2002)

The Black Swan
The story of Swan Lake has enchanted generations: a monumental tale of loyalty and betrayal, of magic used for good and evil, of love both carnal and pure, and of the incredible duality of human nature.
Baron Eric von Rothbart is a powerful sorcerer who devotes his life to capturing women who inspire his wrath and transforming them into swans, beautiful but powerless, who can regain their human shapes only by the light of the transitory moon. Over his flock he sets his daughter Odile, gifted in magic, but still spurned by her father…
Odette, noblest of the Baron’s enchanted flock, wrests from their captor a pact which could lead to freedom for all the swan-maidens - but von Rothbart is determined to use all his magical cunning to avoid honouring his promise to the princess.
Prince Siegfried comes upon the swan-maidens as day dissolves into dusk . . . and the game takes a new, more sinister twist: for Siegfried is a selfish hedonist and dissolute womaniser.
And then the woman he has wronged teaches him a lesson that will change the chorea bf his life for ever . . .
'Highly satisfying' SFX
`Mercedes Lackey has a genius for viewpoint; she has the rare knack of getting under the skin of her characters’ SFX
`In [Lackey’s] hands it is an absorbing tale of injustice . . . The Black Swan holds the attention instantly. A thoroughly enjoyable book’ Starburst
`One of her better works . . . Lackey is very good at building empathetic bonds between her characters and the reading audience’ SF Site

Paperback - Gollancz (2001)

First British Edition Gollancz (2000)

Owlknight
With Larry Dixon
Six years have passed since Darian Firkin fled from marauding barbarians into the Pelagiris Forest, where he was rescued by the mysterious Hawkbrothers. Though he fought long and hard to avoid his destiny, Darian has finally grown from a troubled and unhappy child to a responsible adult.
And now he's reaping the rewards of his endurance, receiving some of the highest honours in Valdemar: Darian has been made a Knight of Valdemar and a Clanbrother... and he has just passed all the tests and become a Master Mage. He has been named the head of a new community, the Vale of k'Valdemar, located near his old home of Errold's Grove.
Despite all this, life for Darian is not completely satisfactory. Though he has found a woman he hopes will be his life mate - the Healer Keisha Alder - she repeatedly refuses to wed him. Keisha has responsibilities of her own, caring for the people of Errold's Grove, and is concerned about potential conflicts in the future as Darian becomes more and more involved in negotiating disputes and policy. And his romantic problem is not the only one plaguing Darian; he is haunted by the loss of his parents, who vanished when his childhood home was attacked all those years ago.
For Darian, hero of Owlsight and Owlflight, the greatest adventure is yet to come...

First British Edition Gollancz (1999)

Paperback - Gollancz Millenium (2000)

Owlsight
with Larry Dixon
Darian left his home at the Pelagiris Forest's edge when Errold's Grove was attacked by barbarians and his guardian, Wizard Justyn, killed in valiant defence of his people. Darian is now honing his craft under the watchful eyes of the Hawkbrothers. Though he fought long and hard to avoid his destiny, Darian is gaining new skills as a mage: a mage with an affinity for mind-speaking, particularly with the Hawk Owl, Kuari, who has become his closest companion.
Back in Errold's Grove, Keisha, a natural born healer, is proving indispensable to all the villagers, though she is not yet officially recognised as such. Her destiny seems very ordinary indeed next to her sister Shandi's. Shandi has been Chosen - she is to be a Herald, an honour indeed. But between them, Keisha and Darian have a task to complete that could have consquences for all of Valdemar - their guide is to be no lesser a figure than the legendary Firesong, hero of the Mage-Storms.

Paperback - Gollancz Millenium (1999)

Owlflight
The latest news from Valdemar
with Larry Dixon
Once Errold's Grove had been prosperous. But that was before the Mage Storms. Now the devastated Pelagiris Forest is home to hideous beasts that only a few are brave enough to hunt. Darian's parents were hunters par excellence, but they didn't return from their last expedition. Darian found himself apprenticed to Wizard Justyn who insists that he has 'talent'. But for Darian magic is just nonsense - his only solace is the forest where he can mourn in private.
From his secret retreat at the forest's edge, Darian watches northern barbarians lay waste to Errold's Grove, killing his would-be mentor. Pursued, he flees deep into its heart - to find himself picked up by the mysterious Hawkbrothers. They too have a kind of magic, but one Darian is not ashamed to admit to. It is the beginning of a new life and a greater challenge than Wizard Justyn had ever foreseen…

About The Author
Mercedes Lackey has more than a million books in print, including the Owflight trilogy, the Mage Storm trilogy and the Mage Wars trilogy. Both she and her husband, SF artist and co-author Larry Dixon, are avid conservationists involved in wildlife rehabilitation, specialising in birds of prey. Currently living in 'the weirdest house in Oklahoma', they have an aviary complex for rehab birds and a stable/mews for horses and hawks.

Bibliography
N.B. dates and publishers in dark red indicate British First Editions. Dates and publishers in black indicate recent reprints.

Brightly Burning (Gollancz, 2001) Gollancz Pbk Jun 01

The Black Swan (Gollancz, 2001) Gollancz Pbk Jan 02

Owlknight (Gollancz, 2000) Gollancz Pbk Jan 01

Owlsight (Gollancz, 1999) Gollancz Millenium Pbk Jul 00

Owlflight Gollancz Millenium Pbk Sep 99