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Mary Gentle

    March 29, 1956

    This author crafts narratives that intricately weave together history, magic, and science, often set in alternate 17th-century England where Hermetic magic supersedes scientific inquiry. Her works are rich with obscure allusions to real history and literature, constructing complex and captivating worlds. She demonstrates a versatile command of genre, exploring realms from young-adult fantasy to cyberpunk futures. Her distinctive voice lies in her ability to blend scholarly depth with imaginative flair, creating thought-provoking and immersive literary experiences.

    Mary Gentle
    Left to His Own Devices
    Ilario
    Black Opera
    Scholars and Soldiers
    Cartomancy
    A Secret History
    • 2012

      Black Opera

      • 688 pages
      • 25 hours of reading
      3.4(81)Add rating

      An astonishing new historical epic fantasy from the author of ASH.

      Black Opera
    • 2007

      Ilario

      The Lion's Eye

      • 608 pages
      • 22 hours of reading
      3.2(47)Add rating

      Born a true hermaphrodite, Ilario has lived as the king's freak in the Iberian kingdom of Tarraconensis. All Ilario wants is to be one of the first - and best - Renaissance painters. In order to do so, Ilario must embark on a quest to escape the wrath of the court.

      Ilario
    • 2004

      Cartomancy

      • 313 pages
      • 11 hours of reading
      3.6(79)Add rating

      Mary Gentle is one of Britain's most outstanding writers of imaginative fiction, able to move seamlessly from science fiction to fantasy within the same story. Following on from the success of ASH, 1610: A SUNDIAL IN A GRAVE and the omnibus volumes WHITE CROW and ORTHE, comes CARTOMANCY, the definitive collection of Mary Gentle's short fiction. CARTOMANCY includes the stories from SOLDIERS AND SCHOLARS as well as a number of tales previously unpublished in book form, all with new afterwords and topped and tailed with a specially revised version of her split story 'Cartomancy'.

      Cartomancy
    • 2001

      Ash

      A Secret History

      • 1113 pages
      • 39 hours of reading

      For the beautiful young woman Ash, life has always been arquebuses and artillery, swords and armour and the true horrors of hand-to-hand combat. War is her job. She has fought her way to the command of a mercenary company, and on her unlikely shoulders lies the destiny of a Europe threatened by the depredations of an Infidel army more terrible than any nightmare.

      Ash
    • 1999

      A Secret History

      • 424 pages
      • 15 hours of reading

      There Is More Than One History Of The World...In the mid-fifteenth century there was Burgundy, the jewel of Europe - opulant and powerful, the undisputed center of an uncivilized world.In an epoch of war and madness there was Ash. A girl born in mud and dung, she slew her first men while only eight. Scarred and ravaged, but still beautiful, she rose up to lead a great mercenary army before the age of twenty - and followed a sacred voice wise in the bloody ways of battle to a pinnacle unattainable to even the most potent of legends.In a time when empires and alliances shifted like sand - when Mithras the bull was worshiped freely alongside the Christ - a great cloud arose out of Africa to darken the sun. The Visgoths came with their terrible machines - powered by magic or a science unknown to this day - and aimed their irresistible might toward the rich Burgundian prize, wrenching the wheel of civilization in an unknown and unexpected direction. And with their coming, one incomparable warrior raised on Destiny's ash heap became more than anyone thought one woman could be.

      A Secret History
    • 1995

      Left to His Own Devices

      • 378 pages
      • 14 hours of reading

      SF novel (alternate history of London) with The White Crow and Causaubon, characters from Rats & Gargoyles and The Architecture of Desire. Contents:* Left To His Own Devices* Black Motley * What God Abandoned * The Road To Jerusalem

      Left to His Own Devices
    • 1992

      In 17th-century London two powerful magicians--the White Crow and her husband the Lord-Architect Casaubon--are embroiled in a deadly game of politics and magic. Only drawing upon long-forsaken talent will save them from "justice". A critically acclaimed work comparable to that of Ursula LeGuin and Frank Herbert.

      The Architecture of Desire
    • 1989

      Scholars and Soldiers

      A Story Collection

      • 192 pages
      • 7 hours of reading
      3.4(61)Add rating

      This is the first story collection by the fantasy author of Golden Witchbread. The collection includes two previously unpublished novellas - Beggars in Satin and The Knot Garden.

      Scholars and Soldiers