Zenith: The First Book of Ascension

Can you see the story breathing? Imagine A mountain so great it takes a year to travel from base to summit A sun so powerful it drives you into madness if you look at it An ascent so vital it determines the fate of the world A summit so precious it holds the key to the divine The world of the great Mountain is unstable. Giant pillars erupt from the surface and yawning chasms form unpredictably underfoot. Since the Maelir first stood on its slopes in the distant past, they have sought to still its anger and control its power. Each year, twin brothers are chosen to make a perilous journey to the summit. If they survive they will be witness to Zenith, and the secrets will be revealed to them. When Atreu and Teyth embark on their Ascent, their Talismans lead them onto conflicting paths that will ultimately set brother against brother. And this time the Ascent itself is in peril as unknown forces that have long craved the power of Zenith will stop at nothing to make it their own even if it means destroying the very thing that sustains all life the Mountain itself.

Dirk Strasser has won multiple Australian Publisher Association Awards and a Ditmar for Best Professional Achievement. His short story, ‘The Doppelgänger Effect’, appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology, Dreaming Down Under. His short fiction has been translated into a number of languages, and his acclaimed fantasy trilogy, The Books of Ascension – Zenith, Equinox and Eclipse – has also been published in German. His fantasy and science fiction short stories have been collected in Stories of the Sand. He founded the Aurealis Awards and has co-published and co-edited Aurealis magazine over 20 years. Where to find Dirk: www.dirkstrasser.com @DirkStrasser