Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera, Band 1) - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

A martial arts enthusiast whose résumé includes a long list of skills rendered obsolete at least two hundred years ago, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher turned to writing as a career because anything else probably would have driven him insane. He lives mostly inside his own head so that he can write down the conversation of his imaginary friends, but his head can generally be found in Independence, Missouri. Jim is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera novels, and the Cinder Spires series, which began with The Aeronaut’s Windlass.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

CHAPTER 37

CHAPTER 38

CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 42

CHAPTER 43

CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER 45

CHAPTER 46

CHAPTER 47

Teaser chapter

Praise for FURIES OF CALDERON

“Jim Butcher’s new novel is epic fantasy in the best way, inspired by Tolkien, but not just another imitation. Like Tolkien, Butcher’s book understands that even the greatest of stories can be guided by the smallest of people. It’s the men and women on the ground, at the cutting edge, who get to decide all the things that really matter. Butcher’s book is sharp, fast-moving, full of deadly dangers and double dealing.” —New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green

“Filled with plot twists and white-knuckled suspense, this is a ripping good yarn that delivers terrific magic and non-stop action. A page-turner all the way.”

—Deborah Chester, national bestselling author of The King Betrayed

“Butcher has created a fascinating world and magic system, and peopled it with some truly engaging characters — and intriguing hints of a great Destiny . . . the start of a promising series.” —Locus

“With strong, likable characters and a graceful storytelling style, this series debut should appeal to fans of epic fantasy.” —Library Journal

“Absorbing fantasy . . . Butcher does a thorough job of world-building, to say nothing of developing his action scenes with an abundance of convincing detail. This page-turner bodes well for future volumes.” —Publishers Weekly

“A real page-turner, with the classic plot of a kingdom threatened by both an outside invader and internal treachery enlivened by an abundance of original details and sheer storytelling gusto . . . A promising series-launcher.”

—Booklist

Praise for Jim Butcher’s
THE DRESDEN FILES

“What’s not to like about this series? . . . I would, could, have, and will continue to recommend [it] for as long as my breath holds out. It takes the best elements of urban fantasy, mixes it with some good old-fashioned noir mystery, tosses in a dash of romance and a lot of high-octane action, shakes, stirs, and serves.” —SF Site

“Filled with sizzling magic and intrigue . . . will have fans rapidly turning the pages.” —Booklist

“Intense and wild . . . a skillful blend of urban fantasy and noir, sure to satisfy any fan and leave them begging for more.” —Green Man Review

“A haunting, fantastical novel that begins almost as innocently as those of another famous literary wizard named Harry.” —Publishers Weekly

“Few horror, fantasy, or mystery tales get any better than this wonderful plot that smoothly combines all three genres into one novel.” —BookBrowser

“Good fun for fans of dark fantasy mystery.” —Locus

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

FURIES OF CALDERON

An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author

Copyright © 2004 by Jim Butcher.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

For information address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

ISBN: 9781440631849

ACE
Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014,
ACE and the “A” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

For my son, hero in training. And in memory of my father, a hero in truth.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Jennifer Jackson, for her excellent advice in reworking this book. Thanks to my wife and son, as always, and to the beta reading asylum. And a whole ton of thanks to all those insane men and women of the International Fantasy Gaming Society, with whom I have spent many a weekend slaying and being slain in return. Keep your foam swords dry, carry lots of water on course, and watch out for snakes and head shots.

But can anyone tell me why I have to keep carrying these whistles into games?

PROLOGUE

The course of history is determined not by battles, by sieges, or usurpations, but by the actions of the individual. The strongest city, the largest army is, at its most basic level, a collection of individuals. Their decisions, their passions, their foolishness, and their dreams shape the years to come. If there is any lesson to be learned from history, it is that all too often the fate of armies, of cities, of entire realms rests upon the actions of one person. In that dire moment of uncertainty, that person’s decision, good or bad, right or wrong, big or small, can unwittingly change the world.

But history can be quite the slattern. One never knows who that person is, where he might be, or what decision he might make.

It is almost enough to make me believe in Destiny.

FROM THE WRITINGS OF GAIUS PRIMUS FIRST LORD OF ALERA

“Please, Tavi,” wheedled the girl in the predawn darkness outside the steadholt’s kitchen. “Just this one little favor?”

“I don’t know,” said the boy. “There’s so much work today.”

She leaned in closer to him, and the boy felt her slender body mold against his, soft...