Book description
All of Europe is under the control of the Khan, whose conquering armies
swept across the West in 1244. Scotland, in addition, lies under the
heel of England. Young Toby Strangerson, a half-English bastard, reared
by a witchwife, wants only to shed his hated "Sassenach" blood
and free his beloved highlands.
Toby wields a sword as the outlaw Longdirk. The sword can cut down men
like so many stalks of corn. But stranger winds are swirling and howling
across the lochs, eldritch winds that are ridden by "hobs" and
"wisps" and demons. The enemy Sassenach king is also a
sorcerer. His demon soul needs a body and his Black Arts can free Europe
from the Khan's Golden Horde.
This book was originally published under the name Ken Hood. Dave
Duncan, born in Scotland in 1933, is a Canadian citizen. He received his
diploma from Dundee High School and got his college education at the
University of Saint Andrews. He moved to Canada in 1955, where he still
lives with his wife. He has three grown children and four grandchildren.
He spent thirty years as a petroleum geologist.
He has had dozens of fantasy and science fiction novels published,
among them A ROSE-RED CITY, MAGIC CASEMENT and THE REAVER ROAD, as well
as a highly praised historical novel, DAUGHTER OF TROY, published, for
commercial reasons, under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin. He also
published the "Longdirk" series of novels, DEMON SWORD, DEMON
KNIGHT and DEMON RIDER, under the name Ken Hood.
His website is DaveDuncan. com.
In the Fall of 2007, Duncan's 2006 novel, CHILDREN OF CHAOS, published
by Tor Books, was nominated for both the Prix Aurora Award and the
Endeavour Award.
