Book description
Unseen by an apathetic society, a stupendous battle is being waged
between good and evil. In the center of an unassuming town, gathered in
a nondescript hotel, are the most powerful forces of time eternal: the
thirteen black covens. On All Hallow's Eve they unite to summon the
Black Magician, the darkest and deadliest being of all time.
They are a rag-tag group of misfits: an inexperienced but lovely witch,
an ancient sorcerer obsessed with math, and a private detective who
can't seem to solve a case, but they are humanity's only hope. The world
is unaware of the battle, but it will suffer the ultimate consequence if
the war is won by the black evil.
Can a group of social rejects save the world? Or will humanity plunge
forever into the abyss? James Gunn has worked as an editor of
paperback reprints; as managing editor of Kansas University alumni
publications; as director of K. U. public relations; as a professor of
English; and now is professor emeritus of English and director of the
Center for the Study of Science Fiction. He won national awards for his
work as an editor and a director of public relations. He was awarded the
Byron Caldwell Smith Award in recognition of literary achievement and
the Edward Grier Award for excellence in teaching; was president of the
Science Fiction Writers of America for 1971-72 and president of the
Science Fiction Research Association from 1980-82; has been guest of
honor at many regional SF conventions, including SFeracon in Zagreb,
Yugoslavia, and Polcon, the Polish National SF convention, in Katowice;
was presented the Pilgrim Award of SFRA in 1976; a special award from
the 1976 World SF Convention for ALTERNATE WORLDS; a Science Fiction
Achievement Award (Hugo) by the 1983 World SF Convention for ISAAC
ASIMOV: THE FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE FICTION; and the Eaton Award in 1992
for lifetime achievement; was a K. U. Mellon Fellow in 1981 and 1984;
and served from 1978-80 and 1985-present as chairman of the Campbell
Award jury to select the best science fiction novel of the year. He has
lectured in Denmark, China, Iceland, Japan, Poland, Romania, Singapore,
Sweden, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union for the U. S.
Information Agency.
