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Next: Chimera's Cradle

Had humanity retained their ancient lore they would understand these changes but in this as in so much the truth is lost behind a cloud of legend and myth.

Together with their companions, Andris Myrasol and Princess Lucrezia are travelling towards the centre of mysteries: Salamander's Fire and Chimera's Cradle. Their motives are complex, their fellow- travellers varied. From the merchant Carus Fraxinus to the Serpent Mossassor and the massive dragomites each member of the band has his or her own motive. However, motives come a bad second to war and a length of steel. As the band is split up new clues come to light and new alliances are formed.

It may be that the history of this world is stranger than we can imagine...

Cover art by Mark Salwowski. Design by Slatter-Anderson

Published in 1996 by Legend.
ISBN:0-09-944351-1

T heir motives are complex, their fellow-travellers varied. From the merchant Carus Fraxinus to the serpent Mossassor and the massive dragomites, each member of the band has his or her own motive.

However, motives come a bad second to war and a length of steel. As the band is split up new clues come to light and new alliances are formed.

It may be that the history of this world is stranger than we can imagine...

PRAISE FOR BRIAN STABLEFORD
"Salamander's Fire continues the adventures, which combine serious speculation about biology with splendid melodrama" - THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE

"Science fiction's Number One expert is designing exotic biosystems...after Book One the lead characters still have a long journey ahead of them and I'm looking forward to it" - David Langford, SFX

"Always compelling and compulsively readable" - FEAR

Published in 1996 by Legend.
ISBN:0-09-944361-9
Cover art by Mark Salwowski; design by Slatter-Anderson.

Review by Ian Braidwood

Cast of Characters:
Andris Myrasol, Ereleth, Princess Lucrezia, Dhalla, Hyry Keshvara, Sergeant Purkin, Guardsman Herriman, Captain Jacom Cerri, Checuti, Carus Fraxinus, Aulakh Phar, Guardsman Fernal, Guardsman Kristoforo, Merel Zabio, Guardsman Aaron, Guardsman Pavel, Guardsman Luca, Koraismi, Jume Metra, Ssifuss, Mossassor, Seth, General Shabir, Colonel Obran, Captain Joakim, Captain Semadin, Tarlok Nath, Captain Kahan, Captain Burak, Vaca Metra, Amyas, Munir Zanarin, Philamon Taub, Verina Sirelis, Ssumssurum, Ixtlplt, Milkiel, Rayner.

At the start of this book, we join our protagonists as they complete their crossing of the dragomite hills and enter terra incognita.

Lead by the merchant Carus Fraxinus, the group are now accompanied by three serpents and a troop of dragomites; whose imposing presence would have been a reassurance, were it not for the first thing they encounter: a huge wall composed entirely of dragomite carapaces. Obviously, the natives aren't friendly.

Having fought long and hard against encroachment by dragomites, the people of the nine towns are alarmed by the presence of the insect-like warriors and threaten to destroy the whole expedition, rather than allow them passage. However, thanks to Fraxinus' negotiating skills, the army of the nine towns - lead by General Shabir - agree to escort the group south along the river, until they can continue their journey through the Spangled Desert.

All seems to be going well, but as the expedition heads south, internal politics prove to be more dangerous to the outsiders and they are forced to split. Fraxinus leading a party into the Spangled Desert, while Lucrezia and Checuti head into the Soursweet Marshes and Jacom travels with Merel by river.

As they wend their seperate ways, we are given an opportunity to experience many varied environments, to which the world of the genesys plays host and also ponder the mysteries in the light of experiences in the dragomite nest.

One of the most important lessons of modern biology is that our skins aren't quite the impermiable barrier we had assumed. We are open to influence by bacteria, viruses, prion proteins and if Mr Dawkins is right, the action of genes in other bodies.

In this light, the central premise - that the borders between organisms on the genesys world are even less hermetic than on our own - seems almost mundane. However, like most good ideas, it ramifies beyond all expectation and gives Andris & co plenty to discover as they stumble from crisis to crisis, all the while trying to work their way closer to Chimera's Cradle and it's central mystery.

A review by Simeon Shoul is online HERE

The Brian Stableford Website