A collection of four new short stories, a novella, and additional fiction by David C. Smith, author of dozens of sword-and-sorcery, horror, and fantasy novels for more than forty years. The title story is a dark comedy about a young novelist who is jealous of Stephen King's commercial success and whose bitter complaints are overheard by King himself, who visits the writer in the odd domain where all stories and dreams—and horrors—come from. "The Shadow of Dia-Sust" is Smith's FIRST NEW ORON STORY in 30 years; in it, the young barbarian helps a dying witch exact an overdue revenge and puts himself on the path of a destiny that will lead him into the events featured in Oron, the previously published first novel in the series. "Ug-hul-ene" is a horror story about zombies set in ancient Sumeria, and "Nerve Endings" tells about an uncommonly horrible means of destruction utilized by a modern-day terrorist. "We Went to See the Vampire on Halloween Night" reveals what happened to three people who visited an actual vampire on the outskirts of Chicago thirty years ago—a visit that anticipated the world we find ourselves living in today. Also included are a sample chapter from "The West Is Dying," the first volume of Smith's fantasy trilogy "The Fall of the First World," back in print for the first time in thirty years, and a chapter from the author's work in progress, "Sometime Lofty Towers," a literary sword-and-sorcery novel. There are also author notes that provide background information about each of the stories.

Oron the Nevgan walked among his fallen comrades, mercifully slashing throats and breaking open brains. He was a young man, this Oron, a young warrior, but his mien was that of a slayer of men. His young man's face was scarred and hardened with lines; his full beard was matted and coarse. The knotted hands that held so well the rough steel were stained and calloused; his eyes under the somber brows were shadowed with a hundred crimson conflicts... The rain beat at the hardened gore and mud. It ran in rivulets down stilled swords thrust in the earth, filling up the sockets of the open and eyes and mouths of the dead and dying warriors; scattered or contorted, singly or in heaps, they lay everywhere, men fallen on the field of battle, death the only reward for their bravery. There was a time long past when he fought not for wealth or women, just for the pleasure of being Oron the warrior. But now he was civilized and wielded his sword for gold. Now he was in the employ of the one they called Amrik THE BULL MAN.

Akram, the wanderer, battles an ageless curse. He must slay the immortal sorceress, Nidyis, or be destroyed by her love.

YOU HAVE AN ENEMY, MOSUTHA! Intrigued, the magus commanded the voice of the smoke "Tell me further, Spirit of Hell, who is this enemy?" "He is the Blood of the Sword. He is a hero, born of the line of the First Hero. He is a wolf in the skin of a man; he is a god wrapped in human flesh. " "Tell me his name." The smoke demon began to dissolve, then the barbaric sorcerer hurled more blood onthe grate. "He is the son of the Aksakin, and he is called Oron!" "It cannot be!" Mosutha went cold to his bowels. "Where is he now? How will I know of him?" "You will know him when you face his sword, sorcerer. He hunts you, magician. But he can die. He will die!" "Then I shall slay him. I shall use mysorcery and I shall slay this Wolf. I shall smith ORON."

Oron faces the Barbaric Chieftain Ogrum

WONDERFUL COPY.