INCARNADINE.
The new novel by S.M. Guariento.
WINNER OF THE 2016 QUAGGA PRIZE SILVER MEDAL FOR FANTASY FICTION!
The ridiculous, in particular, has the right to exist.
The time: an alternative present still ruled by Imperial Rome. Over half the world’s people have vanished overnight, in a forgotten catastrophe known only as the Amnesis. The survivors share a common affliction: a pervasive sense of déjà vu, making the faces of strangers seem oddly familiar…
Stranger still is the Paradigma: a formula devised by elusive magus Zerkalo Incarnadine, and delivered to Caesar in his underground fortress. Before long, the true power of the Paradigma begins to reveal itself. It can turn the written word into a force for creation – or destruction.
When alchemist, intriguer and full-time rogue Andreas Stahlherz learns of the Paradigma, he is catapulted into an adventure that will soon see him fighting for his life. Darkly obsessed with the sister he has lost, and resolved to see her live again, Stahlherz must track down Incarnadine to find the answers he needs. His search will take him beyond the limits of the known cosmos – and further still, towards his own forgotten heart of darkness…
A wildly original and gripping debut, INCARNADINE is a novel of murder, obsession – and transformation.
SECRETISSIMUS: The Story Behind the Story of INCARNADINE
“Do yourself a favour and check out this demented little masterpiece… INCARNADINE is stunningly original, fluently written, playfully clever (without being smug), multi-layered, witty, engaging and memorable… A fresh and seriously impressive achievement, which will be enjoyed by anyone looking for something genuinely new and different in fantasy literature.”
– Sim Branaghan, Author of British Film Posters (BFI 2006)
“Sometimes you find a book that makes you go ‘Wow, I wish I could write like that’. INCARNADINE, by S.M Guariento, is one such book. This Alternate History novel is literary Science Fiction at its finest and a deserved Book of the Week… Like Neal Stephenson at his baroque best, INCARNADINE is literary Science Fiction at its most readable. Utterly original, this tale of the disintegration of reality in a Roman Empire that never fell is a must buy for the serious Science Fiction reader. If you enjoy Stephenson or China Mieville, S.M Guariento may just be your new hero.”
“Set in an alternate universe where reality seems to be disintegrating, this story is deeply weird yet strangely compelling… In the descriptions of self-published books, the word ‘metaphysical’ is usually not a good sign. But in this case, the writing is extremely good and well edited, and the characters and plot kept me reading. It’s undeniably strange and won’t be to everyone’s liking, but it will get you thinking. I have no idea what it’s all about, but I still enjoyed reading it.”
Available now from Amazon, in paperback and Kindle formats!
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