We continue to feature our multiple-award-nominated author, Dave Duncan, and this time around we’re covering another one of his many series. It’s A Man of His Word and it’s actually a precursor to another series we’ve already featured, A Handful of Men. A princess and a stableboy? It sounds like the worst sort of hackneyed formula romance. Think again, for A Man of His Word may well be the most original fantasy you ever read. The magic is unique and applied in unexpected ways, some of which the late Lester del Rey admitted he had not met in fifty years as writer and editor. The world itself is unique–there are no humans in Pandemia, only imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, and many more, all of whom you will recognize as “human”.

Magic Casement (Book One of A Man of His Word)

In Magic Casement the tale begins gently, even slowly, with Inosolan enjoying an idyllic childhood in a tiny backwater kingdom, too carefree and innocent even to understand that the feelings she shares with her friend Rap are more than friendship. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, and from then on the story grows in scope and power to straddle the world, and adversity thrusts rapid maturity on Rap and Inos. Populated by unforgettable characters–Aunt Kade, Little Chicken, Doctor Sagorn, and many more–Pandemia is an incredible world of credible people and infinite surprises.

Faery Lands Forlorn (Book Two of A Man of His Word)

When Inos was abducted through the magic casement and Rap tried to follow her, they arrived in places very strange-and very far apart…

Perilous Seas (Book Three of A Man of His Word)

Hunted now by the fearsome warlock wardens who rule the world, Inos is convinced that Rap is dead. But Rap is not, and the tide may be about to turn…

She thought he was dead. Queen Inos feels Rap’s presence as if he has risen from the grave to be beside her, but she knows all that is left of him is his voice, which echoed in her mind–well, so she thinks. Her duty is to serve her people, and Queen Inos doesn’t know her galley slave, Rap, is alive and, with his magic wand, trying to bring happiness to his beloved Queen. But when the evil Nordland raider, Kalkor, arrives in port, Rap’s plans begin to fall apart.

Emperor and Clown (Book Four of A Man of His Word)

With Inos married to the wrong man and Rap dying in a dungeon, obviously the cause is hopeless. Only Aunt Kade refuses to admit defeat…
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Dave Duncan does fantasy like no one else and this early series shows him working at the top of his form.