Tim Lebbon - Echo City

Praise for DUSK by Tim Lebbon
Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel, 2006

Totally original. Ive never read anything like itnew wonders at every turn. One might subtitle it A Riveting Work of Staggering Imagination.

F. P AUL W ILSON

Lebbon has a way of throwing staggering images at you which you almost have to pause and think about before you can fully grasp. This is fantasy for grownupsand the ending made my jaw drop. This is an excellent book, and I would not say that unless I meant it.

P AUL K EARNEY

Dusk is a deliciously dark and daring fantasy novel, proof of a startling imagination at work. Lebbons writing is a twisted spiral of cunning, compassion, and cruelty.

C HRISTOPHER G OLDEN

An exquisitely written, unique world is revealed in this novel. Its rare indeed to witness the conventions of fantasy so thoroughly grabbed by the throat and shaken awake. Even more enticing, this first novel in the series concludes with a jaw-dropping finale, and for what its worth, such a reaction from me is not a common occurrence.

S TEVEN E RIKSON

A gripping and visceral dark fantasy. Lebbon has etched a powerful new version/telling of the traditional magical quest, whose tortured twists and turns will (alternately) disturb and electrify its readers.

S ARAH A SH

A compelling, if harrowing, read dark, nasty, and visceral and yet a real page-turner. Definitely worth reading.

SFFWorld

Well-drawn characters and a literate way with the grisly distinguish this first of a new fantasy series from Stoker winner Lebbon.

Publishers Weekly

Dark, gripping swords-and-sorcery noir A promising departure for horror novelist Lebbon.

Kirkus Reviews

Praise for DAWN

A terrific horror fantasy The story line is action-packed and filled with the usual creative war gadgetry that keeps Tim Lebbon tales fresh. A superior tale.

SFRevu

This sequel to Dusk again demonstrates Bram Stoker Award winner Lebbons consummate talent for viscerally visual fantasy [with] strong and unusual characters and a plot of epic proportions.

Library Journal

The relentless imagination and evocative prose that made Dusk such a thrilling read are still in evidence Lebbon has shaken up high fantasy with his duology, and it was a pleasure to read.

SF Site

Praise for FALLEN

Stoker winner Lebbon successfully combines quest adventure and horror in this gripping and disturbing tale. Lebbon creates vivid and convincing major and minor characters, places and creatures, blending wonder and nightmare in this dark and memorable novel.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The joy of reading one of Tim Lebbons Noreela tales is discovering what new surprises the author has conjured up. Shocking, tragic, and haunting Fallen is just another outstanding addition to the Noreela mythos, and every time I visit this terrifying yet fascinating world, the harder it becomes to tear myself away.

Fantasy Book Critic

What makes this such a rollicking read is not only the plota fast-moving story, laced with action, a smattering of sex and a very pleasant sense of wonderbut also the way that Tim has used his obvious writing skills to produce a damn good yarn. the best yet.

SFFWorld

If Lebbon continues writing the Noreela stories to this high standard, the series could be as exciting as George R.R. Martins Song of Ice and Fire novels. 4 out of 5 stars.

SFX

Praise for THE ISLAND

Gripping offers hope that the compelling protagonists can achieve believable heroism if theyre willing to pay for it.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A uniquely terrifying horror fantasy that contrasts the homey comforts of a small seaport town with horrors that come from the realm of nightmares. A standout choice for most dark fantasy readers.

Library Journal

Riveting This stand-alone story is a pulse-pounding adventure with visceral thrills and Lebbons signature moral ambiguity and Noreela is as inspired and fascinating as ever.

Booklist

A LSO BY T IM L EBBON

NOVELS

Noreela
The Island
Fallen
Dawn
Dusk

The Hidden Cities (with Christopher Golden)
Mind the Gap
The Map of Moments
The Chamber of Ten

Hellboy
Hellboy: Unnatural Selection
Hellboy: The Fire Wolves

Bar None
Mesmer
The Nature of Balance
Hush (with Gavin Williams)
Face
Until She Sleeps
Desolation
30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night: Fear of the Dark
The Everlasting
Berserk

NOVELLAS

White
Naming of Parts
Changing of Faces
Exorcising Angels (with Simon Clark)
Dead Mans Hand
Pieces of Hate
A Whisper of Southern Lights
The Reach of Children
The Thief of Broken Toys

COLLECTIONS

Faith in the Flesh
As the Sun Goes Down
White and Other Tales of Ruin
Fears Unnamed
Last Exit for the Lost
After the War

Echo City is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2010 by Tim Lebbon

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Spectra, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

S PECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed s are trademarks of Random House, Inc.

eISBN: 978-0-345-52270-2

www.ballantinebooks.com

v3.1

For my sister Joan

In conclusion, my despair: the concept that Echo City could be all there is; the thought that we are alone; the conceit that humanity rose from one man, expanding into one place, shunning the beyond though dangerous it must be. This is abhorrent to me. It denies our nature, which has been proven again and again to be exultant and brave. It disregards the very idea of our progress as a race and the ultimate triumph that must come. But such ignorance is clasped to the heart of those who claim rule over us. And though I see glory in our future, before glory, I see pain.

B ENJERMEN D AXIA ,
TruthAn Exhortation to Revolt

Thanks once again to editor extraordinaire Anne Groell, who always sees the big picture and helps me find it. Also thanks to David Pomerico and everyone at Bantam, my ever-wise agent Howard Morhaim, and all those writers and friends who make sure its never a lonely business. You are too numerous to list, but you know who you are.

As it left the city, the thing did not once look back. It walked with heavy steps, looked forward with rheumy eyes, and its misted breath soon dispersed in the air. It did not look back, because its purpose was ahead, and large though this thing was, its brain was small and simple, its reason for being very precise. It moved away from the world and out into the Bonelands, and it would never return.