Mankind once ruled planet Earth, smugly ignoring the tiny creatures crawling underfoot. Then came the cosmic catastrophe which put man at the mercy of the giant spiders, icily intelligent conquerors armed with awesome mind powers. Now, the struggle for survival begins... The Death Lord spiders rule the Earth, herding humans like cattle. A few tribes of free men and women dwell in the desert, hiding underground, living by their wits. Now, a young warrior named Niall begins an epic search for the secrets of the spiders - secrets which might give humanity a fighting chance against the overlords... Edition note: while this is the first volume of the Spider World series, it was also originally (and later) part of most editions of "The Tower". The 1988 edition of "The Tower" split the formerly unified book into three, respectively "The Desert", "The Tower" and "The Fortress", leading to considerable confusion.

Among the multitude of tiny life forms who share our planet, there is one that inspires fear by its mere existence. Imagine a world where such creatures are no longer small where the few remaining humans must spend their lives in hiding or become servants of that which they most fear: creatures who use their terror-inspiring abilities to paralyze the minds of those who might oppose them. But one boy has the gift of seeing into the minds of other living things, disclosing them for what they are; and suddenly it is the masters who are afraid. This 1988 edition is the first - and so far only - version of "The Tower" that does not include the contents of "The Desert" and "The Fortress"; all other editions, including the original 1987 one, combine the three books into a single volume, also called "The Tower".

Mankind once ruled plant Earth, smugly ignoring the tiny creatures crawling underfoot. Then came the cosmic catastrophe which put man at the mercy of the giant spiders, icily intelligent conquerors armed with awesome mind powers. It's their planet now, except for...The Fortress. Enslaved humanity cherishes the legend of the lost Fortress and its world-shattering weaponry. Seeking the mythic citadel is Niall, the first of a new breed of psionic warriors. Battling monsters and traitors, he leads a rebel band on a desperate quest deep in the Death Lord spider's domain. And as they hunt for the ultimate weapon...a spider army hunts them. Edition note: while this is the third volume of the 1988-1989 Spider World series, it was also originally (and later) part of most editions of "The Tower". The 1988 edition of "The Tower" split the formerly unified book into three, respectively "The Desert", "The Tower" and "The Fortress", leading to considerable confusion.

In the twenty-fifth century, spiders are lords of the earth. Humans live as their slaves (or food) or as servants to the spiders' allies, the beetles. Challenging the spiders' deadly rule are a young man named Niall and his allies. In the first volume, Spider World: The Tower, Niall forced the seemingly invincible Spider Lord to an uneasy standoff. In this volume, Niall leads an expedition to the mysterious and deadly Delta, the purported source of the Spider Lord's powers. To read their destination the insurgents must brave stormy seas, transverse treacherous beaches, and escape the jaws of flesh-eating trees and other dangers of a sinister jungle.

Niall, now ruler of the spider city, is horrified by a brutal murder that threatens the delicate relationship between the spiders and humans who share the city. Niall uses his psychic ability to track down the killers, but is thwarted in his effort to solve the crime as each conspirator mysteriously dies. The most obvious clues lead to a being Niall has only seen in a dream: The Magician. In his quest to find the Magician, Niall makes shocking discoveries about both his own people and the rapidly evolving spiders, whose desire for peace forced them to conquer and forge an empire with the labor of human slaves.

In a bold effort to save his brother's life, Niall leaves the spider city and travels underground into Shadowland-the lair of the powerful Magician-who Niall must battle in a near superhuman contest of strength. Colin Wilson is the author of more than eighty books that include novels, psychology, and the paranormal. This edition replaces a previously announced but never released hardcover (ISBN 1-57174-281-6).

Vintage paperback