Max Schuchart Books

The film tie-in edition of the popular, one-volume, edition of the Book of the Century, featuring an exclusive image from the film. Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Nearly 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors' editions become prized and valuable items of publishing. Now, the epic fantasy is to be filmed, with the first part of the movie trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, being released simultaneously worldwide on 14 December 2001 -- the second and third parts, The Two Towers and The Return of The King, following at yearly intervals. Already, the hype surrounding the filming of this monumental work has reached fever pitch, and images of the characters and landscape have become eagerly sought after. In order to whet the appetites of the millions of fans around the globe we will be publishing a special edition of the popular one-volume paperback, featuring an exclusive early -- as yet unseen -- image from the film. A world exclusive edition

The third part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS

This is the second book in the trilogy The Lord of the Rings. It tells the epic story of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring and involves Gandalf the Wizard, Merry, Pippin and Sam, Gimli the Dwarf and Strider.

When J.R.R. Tolkien's eldest son, John, was three years old in 1920, the first of The Father Christmas Letters arrived, addressed from the North Pole. For over twenty years the annual news appeared, stamped with its Polar stamp, set out in its unmistakable script (a bit shaky as Father Christmas, after all, was nearly two thousand years old, quite apart from the weather) and decorated with painting and sketches. The text of the letters, many of them in facsimile, and the colour pictures are brought together in this book. Includes the letters from 1920, 1925-1938 and 1941 plus an appendix on an alphabet invented by North Polar Bear.

As a rule, a good novel does not always make a good play––especially a novel as unconventional as this one by Dylan Thomas. But Andrew Sinclair’s brilliant adaptation of Adventures in the Skin Trade is the exception. This is the story of young Samuel Bennet––a not entirely innocent provincial––who leaves his Welsh home to let adventure find him in London. Sam is soon deeply involved––all the while with his finger stuck fast in an ale bottle––with a fantastic assortment of odd characters whom only Dylan Thomas could have conceived. What The Times Literary Supplement said about Adventures in the Skin Trade as a novel still applies to the play: “There is no doubt of Thomas’s genius as a comic writer … there are memorable images and phrases on every page.” One reason is Andrew Sinclair’s exceptionally skillful adaptation.

One man, Richard Cypher, holds the key to the fate of three nations, of humanityBut until he learns the Wizard's First Rule his chances of succeeding in his task are slim. And his biggest problem is admitting that magic exists at all...A novel of incomparable scope and brimming with atmospheric detail: in a world where heart hounds stalk the boundaries for unwary human prey, blood-sucking flies hunt on behalf of their underworld masters, and where artists can draw more than your likeness, there is no place to hide, nowhere safe. Here magic makes love twice as sweet, betrayal and loss twice as bitter.

First rate epic fantasy from the man who deserves to become the Tolkien of his day. The young hero is just beginning to understand the magic he has at his command, and only under the tutelage of the Sisters of Light can he control the Gift to combat the dark powers still arrayed against him.

This is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit, fully corrected and reset for this edition and all beautifully illustrated in pencil by the award-winning artist, Alan Lee.

Here all five volumes that make up the story are published together in a single volume, as White himself always wished. Here is King Arthur and his shining Camelot, beasts who talk and men who fly; knights, wizardry and war. It is the book of all things lost and wonderful and sad; the masterpiece of fantasy by which all others are judged.

Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

A number-one New York Times bestseller upon its release, this work is the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing, with origins predating THE HOBBIT. Tolkien regarded it as his most significant achievement, and although published posthumously, it lays the groundwork for his other writings. It narrates the creation of the world and the events of the First Age, providing a backdrop for characters in THE LORD OF THE RINGS, such as Elrond and Galadriel, who participated in these ancient events. Central to the tale are the three Silmarils, jewels crafted by the gifted Elf Feanor, which contained the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor before their destruction by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Following this, the pure Light of Valinor was preserved only in the Silmarils, which Morgoth seized and placed in his crown, hidden within the fortress of Angband in northern Middle-earth. The narrative explores Feanor's rebellion against the gods, his kin's exile from Valinor, their return to Middle-earth, and their desperate, heroic struggle against the great Enemy. This second edition includes a letter from Tolkien detailing his intentions for the book, offering insight into his vision of the earlier Ages of Middle-earth.

The life of a man born at the moment of India's independence becomes inextricably linked to that of his nation and is a whirlwind of disasters and triumphs that mirror modern India's course, in a twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the Booker Prize-winning novel

An extraordinary discovery is waiting for you on these pages. Mythic lore and forgotten legends unearthed by Christopher Tolkien from his father's archives unveil never-before-told stories of the three ages of ancient Middle-earth. THE FIRST AGE Young lord Turin fled from Morgoth’s forces, wandering in disguise as an outlaw until he could avenge his people against the evil that had razed his home. But Turin lived under the curse of a hateful dragon—and the lord’s secret identity hid more than he knew. THE SECOND AGE Prince Aldarion’s heart belonged to Erendis, but his passion lay with the ocean, and the great ships that sailed beyond the sight of the land. But no man could serve two mistresses—and no mortal’s love could withstand the lure of the sea. THE THIRD AGE The great warrior Isildur escaped with the One Ring, cut from the Dark Lord Sauron’s hand, to hide it from Evil’s grasp. But Isildur would learn the burden of a ringbearer—and of its temptation and despair.

This is the 50th anniversary edition of Tolkien's best-loved short fairy story, originally told to his children in the 1920s and expanded for publication in 1949. Bluff Farmer Giles lives in a land-of-fable England, full of giants and dragons. A reluctant hero like the Brave Little Tailor or Bilbo in The Hobbit , Giles wins a great reputation by firing his blunderbuss at a wandering giant--who retreats not in fear but to avoid this tiresome stinging "insect". One thing leads to another, and despite all his excuses the now famous Giles is called to save his country from the marauding dragon Chrysophylax. He has a legendary anti-dragon sword and a lot of luck, but dragons can be as devious as politicians... Tolkien crammed much sly wit into his little story, plus jokey philological explanations that Giles's amazing adventures are commemorated in Thames Valley placenames like Worminghall and Thame. It's illustrated with nearly 50 line drawings by Paula Baynes: Tolkien loved these, but some look sadly faded here, like fourth-generation photocopies. As a bonus, the anniversary edition includes an introduction telling the story's history, a transcription of the original, unfinished draft, and 23 pages of notes on allusions and names (Chrysophylax means "keeper of gold", which is indeed what dragons do). A pleasant gift book. -- David Langford

In Osten Ard, the evil of the Storm King covers the land, the country is riven by war, and nature, unbalanced by the tide of evil, slips into a permanent winter. Simon, once a kitchen boy, now a hero hiding in the troll stronghold of Yiquanuc, has prophetic dreams ... only he and his companions can save the land, but to do this he must embark on the second part of his quest ... to the Stone of Farewell.

Fontana 1987 paperback, vg++ In stock shipped from our UK warehouse

Four thousand years have passed since Covenant first freed the Land from the devastating grip of Lord Foul and his minions. But he is back, and Convenant, armed with his stunning white gold magic, must battle the evil forces and his own despair

Meet Fritti Tailchaser, a ginger tom cat of rare courage and curiosity, a born survivor in a world of heroes and villains, of powerful feline gods and whiskery legends about those strange furless, erect creatures called M’an. “The hour of Unfolding Dark had begun, and the rooftop where Tailchaser lay was smothered in shadow. He was deep in a dream of leaping and flying when he felt an unusual tingling in his whiskers. Fritti Tailchaser, hunterchild of the Folk, came suddenly awake and sniffed the air. Ears pricked and whiskers flared straight, he sifted the evening breeze. Nothing unusual. Then what had awakened him? Pondering, he splayed his claws and began a spine-limbering stretch that finally ended at the tip of his reddish tail.” Join Tailchaser on his magical quest to rescue his catfriend Hushpad on a quest that will take him all the way to cat hell and beyond.

De Drakentroon is het verhaal van Simon, een koksjongen en tovenaarsleerling, wiens dromen over grote daden en heroïsche oorlogen maar al te waar worden wanneer zijn wereld verscheurd wordt door een verschrikkelijke burgeroorlog, gevoed door oude haatgevoelens, eeuwige vijanden en duistere machten van tovenarij. Want in Osten Ard, een land dat eens bewoond werd door de elfachtige Sithi, ligt Prester John, de Hoge Koning, op sterven. En met zijn dood zal een sluimerend kwaad worden ontketent wanneer de Stormkoning, de niet-gestorven vorst van de Sithi, zijn verloren gegane rijk tracht te herwinnen. Slechts een kleine groep, het Verbond van de Rol, herkent het ware gevaar dat Osten Ard wacht. En aan Simon wordt de taak opgedragen om de queeste te leiden naar de oplossing van een raadsel dat de enige hoop op redding biedt - een raadsel van lang verloren gegane woorden van macht...

The Creator Of Thomas Covenant Adds Eight New Wonders To The World. In his first collection of short fiction, the bestselling author of White Gold Wielder presents eight superb stories, including "Gilden-Fire, " the famous "outtake" from Illearth War, and two brand new novellas written especially for this edition. Enter a world of mystics and unicorns, angels and kings -- all realized with the same dazzling style and imagination that has made Stephen R. Donaldson a modern master of the fantasy genre. Daughter of Regals is a fantasy novella concerning a unique royal line and an unusual conception of magic. The Conqueror Worm is a deliciously creepy "horror" piece in which havoc is wreaked by one lowly centipede. Ser Visal's Tale begins as a simple story told over several flagons of wine at the local inn, this novella ends with a surprising twist. Gilden-Fire is the famous chapter about Korik of the Bloodguard and his mission to Seareach that was part of the original manuscript of The Illearth War, but omitted from the published version.

"... a personal as well as historical story that crisscrosses the centuries on the question of war & peace." - NY Times This magical account of King Arthur's last night on earth spent weeks on the New York Times Best-seller List following its publication in 1977. Even in addressing the profound issues of war & peace, The Book of Merlyn retains the life & sparkle for which White is known. The tale brings Arthur full circle, an ending, White wrote, that "will turn my completed epic into a perfect fruit, 'rounded off & bright & done'."

Richard Adams's Watership Down was a number one bestseller, a stunning work of the imagination, and an acknowledged modern classic. In Shardik Adams sets a different yet equally compelling tale in a far-off fantasy world. Shardik is a fantasy of tragic character, centered on the long-awaited reincarnation of the gigantic bear Shardik and his appearance among the half-barbaric Ortelgan people. Mighty, ferocious, and unpredictable, Shardik changes the life of every person in the story. His advent commences a momentous chain of events. Kelderek the hunter, who loves and trusts the great bear, is swept up by destiny to become first devotee and then prophet, then victorious soldier, then ruler of an empire and priest-king of Lord Shardik--Messenger of God--only to discover ever-deeper layers of meaning implicit in his passionate belief in the bear's divinity.

As Moll Flanders struggles for survival amid the harsh social realities of seventeenth-century England, there is but one thing she is determined to avoid: the deadly snare of poverty. On the twisting path that leads from her birth in Newgate Prison to her final prosperous respectability, love is regarded as worth no more than its weight in gold; and such matters as bigamy, incest, theft, and prostitution occasion but a brief blush before they are reckoned in terms of profit and loss. Yet so pure is her candor, so healthy her animal appetites, so indomitable her resiliency through every vicissitude of fortune, that this extraordinary woman emerges as one of the most appealing heroines in English literature. With a New Introduction and with an Afterword by Regina Barreca

Wanneer Frodo van zijn excentrieke oom Bilbo Balings een ring cadeau krijgt, kan hij niet vermoeden dat dit het begin is van een groot avontuur. De tovenaar Gandalf legt hem uit dat het geen gewone ring is; het is de Ene Ring die door de Donkere Vorst Sauron is gemaakt om er de wereld mee te overheersen. En zolang de Ring niet vernietigd is, zal die dreiging blijven bestaan. Met een groep vrolijke metgezellen reist Frodo naar Rivendel, waar in de Raad van Elrond beslist zal worden over het lot van de Ene Ring. De Raad zendt het Gezelschap van de Ring erop uit om het kleinood in de vuren van de Doemberg te gooien. Een barre tocht begint.

Een dwerg wordt door een tovenaar uitgezonden om een groep dwergen te leiden bij hun speurtocht naar de draak die de schatten van het dwergenvolk heeft geroofd.