Read an excerpt of The Thirteenth Magician.


Now available from Twilight Times Books. Print edition coming soon!


Here's what some reviewers are saying.


Review
This is an exceptional story. It is enjoyable, it is exciting, and it is also interesting. The characters and actions may be bizarre, but they shadow forth realities that haunt our everyday world hidden in ordinary forms. This novel attempts what few modern works do: it attempts to account for evil in a sane way and operates in a universe not yet bankrupt of rational, ethical discourse. If offered a choice between a Stephen King work and this one by Patrick Welch, unhesitantingly and with alacrity, I would choose Welch's THE THIRTEENTH MAGICIAN.

The Thirteenth Magician, by Patrick Welch ... is an epic fantasy, drawing the reader into the world inhabited by Daasek, a Guild Fisherman and slave-assassin of the Magician Nyxx. For reasons known only to Nyxx and his god (demon?) patron, all of the other magicians in Daasek's world must be destroyed...Welch's characterization and story are well crafted and a (comparatively) fast read. Very few of his characters are two dimensional throw-aways. There is enough background to provide a backdrop without being oppressive and there is very little (or none - take your pick) excess wordage. Fred Nowek Ibn Qirtaiba

The Thirteenth Magician is a much darker tale than I expected from Mr. Welch. Woven in the adventure/fantasy is a subtle allegorical tale of power, and a tale for today...Highly recommended. Diana Moreland, editor Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy

An explosive debut onto the fantasy scene, Patrick Welch's The Thirteenth Magiciandeparts from the linear novel in form and structure. But this departure never detracts from the book's readability or the excitement to be found within its electronic pages. Multi-layered, diverse in its message, this book should be read, pondered, remembered, then read again...I tried and tried -- and failed -- to think of a fantasy author whose work could be compared to Welch's. The Thirteenth Magician displays elements of C.S. Lewis's trilogy, a bit of Robin Hobb's Assassin Series, and possibly some of Roger Zelazny's Amber series. But nothing quite captures the scope of Welch's vision. Patricia White Crescent Blues

If all e-books are of this high quality, then I foresee that area of publishing gaining more acceptance soon. I hope that one day The Thirteenth Magician will also be in print, but don't wait for that day to read it. Jonathan Fesmire, SF Site

...The Thirteenth Magician is one of those rare fantasy novels that capture your attention right from the very first sentence. I know I kept on reading because I needed to know more about Daasek. I wanted to find out just as much as he did, why and who, controlled him and why he couldn't remember his past. Patrick Welch did a superb job of answering all my questions and I came away with a sense that Daasek and his world were just as real as our world and we are. A very talented writer indeed. Readers you don't want to miss out on The Thirteenth Magician! 4 1/2 stars Reviewed by Jewel Dartt Midnight Scribe Reviews

And read the new review in Eternal Night!




Art copyright 2003 Ardy Scott

Last updated 8-11-03