Lord Valentine’s Castle

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What to expect

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.

Critics Review

  • “A surefire page-turner…A brilliant concept of the imagination.”

    Chicago Sun-Times
  • “A grand, picaresque tale…by one of the great storytellers of the century. Lord Valentine’s Castle has everything.”

    Roger Zelazny
  • “[A] heady blend of rigorous SF worldbuilding and the poetic sensibility of fantasy fiction…[which] casts light on a variety of pertinent social concerns.”

    Sci Fi Weekly
  • “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.”

    AudioFile
  • “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.”

    SFFAudio.com
  • “[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.”

    SoundCommentary.com

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