"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Mr. Stanek is the author of many previously published books, including many bestsellers. Currently he lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and children. He is proud to have served in the Persian Gulf War as a combat crewmember on an electronic warfare aircraft. During the war, he flew numerous combat and combat support missions, logging over two hundred combat flight hours. His distinguished accomplishments during the Persian Gulf War earned him nine medals, including the United States of America's highest flying honor, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross. His career total was 29 medals in only 11 years of military service.
Overwhelmingly, readers agree that Robert's books are among the best they've ever read. His books have very vocal supporters who aren't afraid to voice their opinion and they frequently do so in online communities and lists. Strong reader support has led to strong sales, quickly making him one of the best-selling authors in the US.
Enter Ruin Mist
Ruin Mist Chronicles is a completed fantasy series of four books:
Keeper Martin's Tale, Book 1
Kingdom Alliance, Book 2
Fields of Honor, Book 3
Mark of the Dragon, Book 4
Officially, Ruin Mist is the name used for the fictional universe of Robert Stanek. The name "Ruin Mist" is the common language translation of an ancient elvish word, which means "the lost ages" or "the ruins of time."
The history of Ruin Mist is divided into four ages:
The First Age: the Age of Titans
The Second Age: the Age of Men, Elves, and Dwarves
The Third Age: the Age of Men and Elves
The Fourth Age: the Age of Men
Ruin Mist has three distinct realms of existence:
Over-Earth - the home of dragons and titans. But don't forget about the eagle lords. Those three are the great races of Ruin Mist's past.
Under-Earth - an otherworldly realm that has blood-red skies, and no sun or moon.
Mid-Earth - the home of elves and men.
During the early ages of Ruin Mist, travel between the realms was accomplished using the Gates of Uver. Uver is one of the great elven kings of old and the founder of Greye in Under-Earth. In all, there are believed to be seven gates fashioned by the Uver from a magic substance once mined from the deepest, darkest reaches of the Samguinne.
Each gate is fashioned for a different purpose and a different kind of traveler. Two gates are recorded in the histories of men. The gate in the Borderlands, fashioned for men, is opened with the following words of power: "Eh tera mir dolzh formus tan!" The only other known gate is located in the Twin Sonnets. Both gates are masked from the world by a veil of illusion.
History of the Ages
In an age long since lost to myth and memory, a race of supreme giants, known as titans, ruled over all the lands of Ruin Mist from their homes on Over-Earth. Without question, titans were the masters of the gates. They moved freely between realms and across lands.
Darkness came to mark the end of age of the titans as surely as there was ever light at the beginning. During this time of darkness, known as the Great Purge, it was the greatest of all titans, Ky'el, who gave the lesser races (men, elves, and dwarves) their freedom--at a great cost to himself and his people. Before the Great Purge, the lesser races were slaves to the greater races (dragons, titans, and eagle lords).
By the end of the purge, the only known gate to Over-Earth was sealed for all time ushering in a new beginning. A new age. An age of men, elves, and dwarves. Over the millennia, knowledge of Over-Earth's existence faded from the memory of the living, even that of the long-lived elves and dwarves until there came a time when most believed it was a place of myth and that it never truly existed.
After countless wars waged against themselves and the other races, men, elves, and dwarves settled in to an uneasy peace within their divided lands. In time, like titans before them, dwarves became folk of myth and legend, leaving only absence like a darkness where once there had been great presence and a light.
The age of men and elves had arrived, its arrival marked by the coming of the Great War. Some would call this war: Dnyarr's war after the elven king who started it. Others would call it the War of the Thousand Year Siege. Those that fought and died would call it the War of Ten Million Tears. Victory for men above all others brought little joy though it did usher in a new age. The age of men.
After the Great War that divided the peoples, the kingdoms of men plunged into a Dark Age that lasted 500 hundred years. To heal the lands and restore the light, the great kings decreed that magic and all that is magical, be it creature, man or device, shall be cleansed to dust. Creatures born of magic were hunted to extinction. The cleansing raged for so long that no human could recall a time without it and it is in this time that the Dark Lord Sathar returned from the dark beyond.
The one hope of the peoples of Ruin Mist was Queen Mother, the elf queen of old. She saw a way out of everlasting darkness, a path that required the union of the divided peoples. Yet the Elves of the West did not share her vision. They thought her mad and answered her call for help with a call to arms. Now for the first time in recorded history, the armies of the West are marching toward the sacred city of the East and an unholy war where elf must fight elf is inevitable.
Though despair abounds and evil seeks to reign, there is hope. Queen Mother sees hope through a union of the divided peoples: an alliance of men and elves to fight against the forces of darkness. But between men and elves, there is no love and little trust. Only truth and faith can guide their destinies.
Some fear this age to be Ruin Mist's last. For if men succumb to darkness there will be no beginning and darkness will surely rule forever. It is in this time at the twilight of the age of men that those long lost have returned to thwart the darkness. They are the fallen sons of ages past and present. They are the keepers, the watchers, and the guardians. They are those who hold the key to Ruin Mist's future.
The Ruin Mist books are foremost a story of a struggle for power. In the kingdoms, King Andrew and King Jarom fight for control, and there is intrigue, plotting, and scheming.
King Andrew is the patriarch of House Alder. The main characters in this family are King Andrew's children:
Adrina..........Youngest daughter of King Andrew. She is becoming a woman and has many concerns for her future and that of her family.
Midori..........Daughter of King Andrew who has been exiled. Her given name is Delinna. She took the name Midori after becoming a priestess.
Valam..........Only son of King Andrew, also known as the Lord and Prince of the South.
Calyin..........Oldest daughter of King Andrew. She lives in the far north with her husband the Lord of the North.
King Jarom is the patriarch of House Tyr'anth. In the early books not much information is provided about this powerful family. That changes as Emel makes his way through the southern kingdoms, and as King Jarom's plots become bolder.
Other characters in the books hail from places within and beyond the kingdoms. These characters include:
Emel..........Young guardsman who is one of Adrina's closest friends.
Galan..........Elf from East Reach across the great sea.
Jacob..........A priest of the father and friend to House Alder.
Martin..........A keeper of the lore, and guardian of the ancient texts and knowledge.
Seth..........Elf from East Reach across the great sea.
Vilmos..........Young boy from Tabborrath Village in Sever. Sever is one of the southern kingdoms.
William..........Prince of Sever who becomes king after his father's death.
Xith..........Vilmos' benefactor who rescues him and leads him away from his homeland.
These characters have significant parts to play in the books, but they are not the only characters in the books. Other characters you'll see include Edward Tallyback, the troant, Myrial, the servant girl, and Ansh Brodst, captain of the Imtal guard.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Mar2811580065569
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9781575455099
Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # IQ-9781575455099
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. This item is printed on demand. New copy - Usually dispatched within 5-9 working days. Seller Inventory # C9781575455099
Book Description Condition: New. PRINT ON DEMAND Book; New; Fast Shipping from the UK. No. book. Seller Inventory # ria9781575455099_lsuk
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 6666-IUK-9781575455099
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Seller Inventory # B9781575455099
Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Delivered from our UK warehouse in 4 to 14 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # IQ-9781575455099
Book Description Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. nach der Bestellung gedruckt Neuware - Printed after ordering - The #1 bestselling series finally back in print for the 20th Anniversary of the world-wide phenomenon that has been translated into 12 languages and sold over 5 million copies worldwide! 65 full-page illustrations from original paintings, 50 additional richly detailed illustrations, deluxe full-size format, and beautiful white paper. Finally released in the version envisioned by the author 20 years ago, this is the story of Ruin Mist completely unaltered to hint at the story's origins in ancient myth and legend. The ultimate Ruin Mist experience. Distinctive cover art features the wizard Xith and others, deluxe maps help you explore the realms, lavish illustrations bring the author's words to life, and an expansive guide to the world provides additional background to help you unravel the secrets of Ruin Mist. Robert Stanek has been called a modern day Tolkien, and his books have been called Star Wars with Elves.'A prolific non-fiction writer, Stanek's focus on instruction influences his fiction with a penchant for clear and simple prose. He also prefers swift, action-oriented scenes. Solidly built.' -- Foreword Magazine.'This wonderful adventure reminds me of a cross between J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Tad Williams, and C. S. Lewis.''Robert Stanek is one of our most featured and respected authors.' -- The Audio Book Store'Word of mouth turned it into a bestseller. Very satisfying.' -- The Fantasy Guide'Recommended series.'-- Ancient Art of Faery Magick'Stanek augments the beginning of this complex tale with illustrations that are sure to attract fans of graphic novels and classic Tolkien alike.' -- VOYA - the leading magazine for YA librarians.'The world of literary fiction featuring elves and fairies has a multitude of great authors. [and] Robert Stanek is one.' -- The Complete Idiots Guide to Elves and FairiesABOUT THE AUTHOR: A gifted and distinguished writer, respected and skilled teacher and recipient of our nation's highest flying honor, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Robert Stanek wrote over 200 books of both fiction and nonfiction in his 30-year career. Although his works were published and/or distributed by nearly every major US publisher, Robert operated against the grain and became the first breakout author of the digital publishing movement. The first to serialize an Elektronisches Buch, the first to e-author a bestseller, and the first to e-author a digital audio bestseller. Robert is the recipient of multiple awards recognizing his outstanding contributions and excellence in writing, and a recent nominee for a Lifetime Achievement award. Translated into 57 languages, Robert Stanek's books have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide.Achievements for Robert Stanek's Ruin Mist books.#1 Fiction, Audible (12 weeks, 2005)Top 50 Sci-fi/Fantasy, Amazon (26 weeks, 2002)Top 10 Fiction, Audible (25 weeks, 2005)Top 50 Fiction, Audible (52 weeks, 2005-2006)Top 10 Kids & YA, Audible (180 weeks, 2005-2007)#1 Featured Book Audible June-July 2005Featured in Cover Story, Publisher's Weekly (2009)Featured in VOYA (2007)Featured in Complete Idiots Guide to Elves and Fairies (2005)Featured in Ancient Art of Faery Magick (2005)Popular Series Fiction for Middle School and Teen Readers (2005, 2008)Top 10 Recommended Author -- SciFi Bookcase (2004 - 2012)Top 10 Book -- SciFi Bookcase (2004 - 2012)Top 20 Author -- RateItAll (2005 - 2012)A Top 100 Fantasy -- The Fantasy 100 (2005 - 2007). Seller Inventory # 9781575455099
Book Description Condition: New. Dieser Artikel ist ein Print on Demand Artikel und wird nach Ihrer Bestellung fuer Sie gedruckt. Über den AutorRobert Stanek also writes as William Stanek. Mr. Stanek has been writing stories for over 40 years. In 2020, he celebrated the publication of his 250th book and 20 millionth reader. That s a lot of books, a lot of year. Seller Inventory # 4218026