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THE DARK THAT BINDS

Fate is a fickle beast, and for Petrah of Acia, fate is not on his side.

A prophecy has foretold the end of the world at the hand of the Son of Darkness. His name is Aman, heralded as the Great One by the priests who follow the dark god. Petrah has seen the Great One in his visions, first as a slave and then as a mage apprentice. Through these revelations, Petrah has sought the mystery to his own identity, lost since childhood. Visited by the enigmatic Watcher, an agent of the dark god, Petrah learns the terrible truth: he, too, is a Son of Darkness, and he’s destined to play a pivotal role in Aman’s war against the followers of the God of Light.

Across a portal lies a dying land where Aman is marshaling a massive army, an army he will bring to Acia to crush his enemies and usher in a reign of terror. The only way Petrah can change his fate and save the woman and people he loves is to stop Aman from crossing over. The Watcher tricks him into bridging the boundary between worlds and falling right into the jaws of Aman and his army. Trapped and infinitely outmatched, Petrah must destroy his brother or perish. To do so, he must draw upon his own power to bind the darkness within.

GODNET

Near-future science fiction thriller: A scientist must help a resistance movement stop a godlike artificial superintelligence from enslaving the human race

GODNET

Near-future science fiction thriller: A scientist must help a resistance movement stop a godlike artificial superintelligence from enslaving the human race

GODNET

Near-future science fiction thriller: A scientist must help a resistance movement stop a godlike artificial superintelligence from enslaving the human race

GODNET

Near-future science fiction thriller: A scientist must help a resistance movement stop a godlike artificial superintelligence from enslaving the human race

GODNET

Near-future science fiction thriller: A scientist must help a resistance movement stop a godlike artificial superintelligence from enslaving the human race

GODNET

Near-future science fiction thriller: A scientist must help a resistance movement stop a godlike artificial superintelligence from enslaving the human race

-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR-

STEVE PANTAZIS

Watercolor Map of Acia

This is the original map of Acia that I made in 1993. I used watercolors to invoke a feel for the different terrains across the continent, blending desert with forest and mountains. The map served as the inspiration for my fully interactive digital map that I created in 2007. The watercolor map precedes the novels, which introduced geographic constraints for how the different cultures of Acia would traverse the landscapes and interact. The fact the waterways of Terjurmeh, Meerjurmeh and Korin don't connect adds to the logistical challenges faced in the novels. I had no idea how much this small detail would impact the shaping of the conflict in my story, but it certainly has uppded the ante with how the different peoples converge for alliance and warfare, particularly in the second and third novels. I am proud of this cartographic creation and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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