Book ash mary gentle

She won the sidewise award for alternate history in 2000 for the science fiction epic ash. Possible ex library copy, thatll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. She is punished for this, and from there on her life only i read this book a few years ago and remember thinking wow. This acclaimed book by mary gentle is available at in several formats for your ereader. Jul 27, 2008 ash a secret history can in many respects be regarded as mary gentles magnum opus, both in terms of volume a whopping 1100 pages and in terms of its ambition and scope. For the beautiful young woman ash, life has always been arquebuses and. A secret history in 1999, carthage ascendant, wild machines, and lost burgundy all in 2000.

Mary gentle is one of britains most outstanding writers of imaginative fiction, able to move seamlessly from science fiction to fantasy within the same story. For the beautiful young woman ash, life has always been arquebuses and artillery, swords and armour and the true horrors of handtohand combat. Mary gentle first came to prominence with the lovingly conceived and beautifully written sf novel golden witchbreed. Nov 23, 2015 mary gentle obviously has an elegant grasp of both the actual history of the region and its personalities, and the nuances of the changes she wrought upon that canvas, and the result is a fantastical europe that feels far more alive than the flat, underdeveloped whatifs of most alt history. I make no apology for presenting a new translation of these document which are our only contact with the life of that extraordinary woman, ash b.

The book of ash book series by mary gentle includes books a secret history, carthage ascendant, the wild machines, and several more. In unflinching prose, gentle describes the childs treatment in a mens camp, then the teenagers hard lessons in the art and craft of war, and finally the young womans rise to command a mercenary army. The story follows ashs campaigns in leading her mercinary company of warriors. She has fought her way to the command of a mercenary company, and on her unlikely shoulders lies the destiny of a europe threatened by the. Mary gentle made her debut as a novelist in 1977 with the standalone novel a hawk in silver. It opens with rape and death, and continues to look unflinchingly at medieval life and medieval war. In a secret history, the first of a fourvolume series, mary gentle began the story of ash, a mercenary captain, and her band of 800 veterans embroiled in a war in 15thcentury europe. Mar 31, 2017 author of ilario, the lions eye, golden witchbreed, rats and gargoyles, ash, scholars and soldiers, ash, scholars and soldiers, a sundial in a grave1610 mary gentle open library donate. Its long, epic fact the american version was spread out over 4 books, i read the british version which was one long, almost 1200 page brick. Ash, the largest single fantasy work ever longer even than the lord of the rings combines the authentic details of bernard cornwell and the magical storytelling of terry goodkind. It is filled with vivid and interesting details about medieval armor, weapons, tactics, warfare, politics, cultures, and the like, has plenty. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read ash.

Recently discovered after centuries hidden away, it reads in story format i. The book of ash 2 by mary gentle and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He is in the process of translating a newlydiscovered manuscript about ash, and the 1470s timeline is in effect his translation. A secret history mary gentle victor gollancz orion uk hardcover first isbn 0575069007 1,1 pages. A secret history has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Mary gentle keeps it interesting, even though ash is at her best when shes hacking and slashing, not hunkering down behind city walls. This is an alternate history series and is set in the medieval burgandy.

Dec 14, 2015 this was the arrival of ash a secret history notice the connection. She writes the orthe duology, book of ash, and other series. Set in the 15th century, the novel blends elements of fantasy, alternate history, and secret history. Ostensibly its about ash, a girl whose ability to hear voices giving her military advice allows her to lead a troop of mercenaries in 15th century. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ash. Mary has two masters degrees, and is an expert sword fighter. The primary storytext in the book is the story of ash, a female mercenary captain living in 15th century europe. This was the arrival of ash a secret history notice the connection. A secret history is actually two stories in one, though you wouldnt know it by reading the description on the back. A hodgepodge of small kingdoms and duchies vie for power.

Id liked it, but not got around to reading any more of her work. Id read and enjoyed other mary gentle books, so i picked the first volume up when i saw it in a used book store. A secret history im currently working my way through gentles ash, this huge, intense thing that mixes some gritty fantasy, secret histories, and golems into it. Carthage ascendant the book of ash 2 by mary gentle isbn. Yes i have read and accept the terms and conditions. This is one of those books that you read once to find out what happens, then you read again to enjoy how the tale was put together the you read advantages months later because you enjoyed it so much the first time. A secret history 2001 read online free book by mary. The wild machines, the third book of the ash tetralogy by mary gentle, only covers a span of three days, but manages to include many pivotal changes in the series. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included.

Aged eight, ash gets raped by drunken soliders on about page 8, as i remember and manages to kill one of them. Mary gentle is one of the worlds most acclaimed writers of fantasy and science fiction. A secret history by mary gentle i feel i have to recommend this book with table pounding intensity to all of you. A secret history published in four volumes in the us was a long science fantasy epic that won the sidewise award for alternate history in 2000. While the book itself is stamped fantasy on the spine, all the topics above apply at one time or another. In the united states, it was published in four paperback volumes. The woman warrior ash and her compatriots are some of the most compelling characters ive come across in a long time. Mary gentle s first published novel was hawk in silver 1977, a youngadult fantasy. A secret history and carthage ascendant by mary gentle. A secret history was advertised in the uk as the largest singlevolume fantasy novel ever, which is quite possibly true at 1100 pages.

See the complete book of ash series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Mary gentle lagger i sitt forfattarskap inte sa mycket tonvikten vid snabb, rastlos action. Mary gentle has an ma in military studies, and this is a wellresearched story of latemedieval warfare, modernday scholarship, and crazy speculative physics. A secret history im currently working my way through gentle s ash, this huge, intense thing that mixes some gritty fantasy, secret histories, and golems into it. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. She came to prominence with the orthe duology, which consists of golden witchbreed 1983 and ancient light 1987 the novels rats and gargoyles 1990, the architecture of desire 1991, and left to his own devices 1994, together with several short stories, form a loosely linked series. For the beautiful young woman ash, life has always been arquebuses and artillery, swords and armour and the true horrors. Mary gentle books list of books by author mary gentle. The presentday one is given as a series of emails between a historian and his publisher. A secret history by mary gentle is an amazing book recounting several important months in the life of ash, a fictional medieval female mercenary captain who plays a key role in the fate of her world. Ash ebook by mary gentle 9780575128767 rakuten kobo. Her main character is ash, who seems to be based on the joan of arc type character.

A secret history, the first of the four books of ash, is difficult to categorize. A secret history is a book that proceeds along two lines. I think its something a lot of people here would dig especially those of you into the hybridcrossover genres of fantasy and im curious if many people have. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. She has also written a number of erotic novels under the name roxanne morgan. The first is purported to be the modern translation of ash s autobiography. A secret history is a fantasy novel by british author mary gentle, published in 2000. The complete series list for book of ash mary gentle. What makes this novel special is the 15th century environment mary gentle has placed the reader in. As the war assumes epic proportions, ashwho hears a tactically astute voice in her headbecomes a. Read ash a secret history by mary gentle available from rakuten kobo.

A secret history, carthage ascendant, the wild machines, and lost burgundy. Gentle formed part of the midnight rose collective in the early 1990s. This allows gentle to use some modern, anachronistic words, especially when it comes to cussing. Gentle uses secret history, alternate history, and the moldability of history to explore a 15th century that wasnt but perhaps once was. It is also a work of literature that is very difficult, if not impossible, to categorize.

The book of ash novel series written by mary gentle is comprised of four books in total, which were released between the years 1999 and 2000. Ash, it seems, is not only strong and fast but has the advantage of hearing a voice that instructs her on troop deployment. The story follows a 15thcentury female mercenary captain, ash, as she gets involved in literally worldchanging events. Mary gentle project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.

Mary gentle, an accomplished scholar herself, acquired an ma in war studies as part of the writing process of this novel. Ash has escaped from carthage, where she has learned about her own background and has begun to delve into the mysterious wild machines, the beings who are behind the voices which she. Mary gentle is an author of fantasy and science fiction, her first published novel was the 1977 young adult novel hawk in silver but it was the science fiction duology orthe that really brought her to prominence. A secret history is a 2001 fantasy alternate history historical fiction science fiction novel by mary gentle. As part of her research for this novel, she acquired a masters in war studies. Mary gentles style is light making her books remarkably easy to read, and always enjoyable and memorable. A sundial in a grave and the omnibus volumes white crow and orthe, comes cartomancy, the definitive collection of mary gentle s short fiction. Buy a cheap copy of a secret history book by mary gentle. Fantasy, science fiction, nonfiction, general fiction. Aug 20, 2015 that sudden disappearance of burgundy from history is the historical seed for ash. Gentle has since published ilario, set in the same timeline. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Mary gentle is an english author of science fiction and fantasy novels.