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Sign up todayLord Valentine’s Castle
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“The first book of Robert Silverberg’s classic Majipoor series begins with the laid-back Valentine finding himself wandering into the city of Pidruid, with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. He ends up joining a wandering troupe of jugglers performing for the visiting Coronal, one of the four rulers of Majipoor...who coincidentally shares his name. Valentine pays this no mind, until insistent dreams tell him that his true place lies not with the troupe, but high up on Castle Mount. In his quest to reclaim his crown, Valentine must choose between the man he was and the man he’s become. Silberberg has effortlessly blended sci-fi and fantasy into the dreamy world of Majipoor, with the amnesiac protagonist acting as our guide as he travels across the world — from the chalky cliffs of the Isle of Sleep, to the desert continent of Suvrael, all the way up to the titular Lord Valentine’s Castle. This book is a must-read for those who love surreal landscapes, alien societies, and imaginative world-building.”
— Darcy • Mysterious Galaxy Books
The search for his lost past leads to a battle for his future.
The planet Majipoor is shared by humans and several alien races, including four-armed Skandars, three-eyed Liiman, and the native, shape-shifting Metamorphs. All are watched over by the King of Dreams, the labyrinth-dwelling Pontifex, and the Lady of the Isle of Sleep, while the Coronal officially rules from atop Castle Mount.
One of the best-loved and bestselling fantasy classics of all time, the Majipoor Cycle begins as young Valentine, a man with no memory, is hired as an apprentice juggler by a group of eccentric performers. While the traveling troupe takes to the road, Valentine's sleep is disturbed by nightmare visions of warring brothers and difficulties on faraway Castle Mount. In a quest to discover Valentine'strue identity, his wise and peculiar companions resolve to help him claim the rewards of his birth. But another trial awaits Valentine that will test his belief, resolve, and strength of character.
Robert Silverberg’s first published story appeared in 1954 when he was a sophomore at Columbia University. Since then, he has won the prestigious Nebula Award five times and the Hugo Award five times. He has been nominated for both awards more times than any other writer. In 1999 he was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and in 2004 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America gave him their Grand Master Award for career achievement. He remains one of the most imaginative and versatile writers in science fiction.
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than three thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than three hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.
Reviews
“A surefire page-turner…A brilliant concept of the imagination.”
“A grand, picaresque tale…by one of the great storytellers of the century. Lord Valentine’s Castle has everything.”
“[A] heady blend of rigorous SF worldbuilding and the poetic sensibility of fantasy fiction…[which] casts light on a variety of pertinent social concerns.”
“The first installment of Silverberg’s celebrated Majipoor Cycle makes for relaxing listening. In an unhurried bass voice, Stefan Rudnicki calmly escorts the listener through the expansively descriptive world of Majipoor, an ancient and fantastical kingdom which, having forgotten conflict, is, nonetheless, on the brink of civil war. Particularly difficult vocal challenges include a bureaucratic two-headed alien, who is achieved though vocal skill rather than special effects…Rudnicki ably performs a myriad of characters, most notably the whimsical Lord Valentine.”
“Robert Silverberg’s writing and imagination soar with nary a false step. It is truly a extraordinary tale, well told. The story is enhanced by Stefan Rudnicki’s nuanced reading. For a narrator with such a deep voice, Rudnicki is able to tweak his reading to provide a wide range of characters, from the dour Skandars to more delicate female characters…Highly recommended.”
“[A] wonderful science fiction tale…Rudnicki’s excellent semi-voiced reading adds a great deal to the enjoyment of this tale. He has won numerous audiobook awards as a reader and as a producer, including a Grammy. He uses his sonorous voice effectively to capture the various personalities of Valentine and his multicultural friends.”
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