Beyond Sanctuary [Paperback]

Janet Morris (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ace (February 15, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441056369
• ISBN-13: 978-0441056361
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,915,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 20 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Beyond Sanctuary with Tempus and the Sacred Band of Stepsons, January 26, 2012

By 

Larry E. Atchley Jr. "From the Shadows..." (Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond Sanctuary (Paperback)

This is the first spin-off novel from the Thieves' World shared world anthology setting, which involves some of my favorite characters from the series.
In Beyond Sanctuary, the Sacred Band of Stepsons must leave the rogues den, cess-pool of a city that they have sworn to protect and fight in a war against sorcery and the archmage Datan, upon the famed Wizardwall. The dangers that await them might cost them more than thier lives as they must battle the Nisibis witch Roxane, Death's Queen, for the very heart and soul of one of their best fighters, Nikodimus, the Bandaran Adept martial artist called Stealth.
Tempus Thales, avatar of the storm god Enlil, called The Riddler, leads the Stepsons on their toughest and most dangerous mission yet in this tale of sword versus sorcery, and sacred warriors against profane mages.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sacred Band on a mission, April 22, 2010

By 

altos (KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Sanctuary (Paperback)

This novel is the first of the Sacred Band of Stepsons novels. It takes Tempus and the Sacred Band far 'beyond' Sanctuary into Nisibis and Mygdonia and new adventures much deeper and darker than they've had before. This book is more like a myth that a fantasy. It was a Science Fiction Book Club selection in hardcover. The adventure takes the Sacred Band of paired lovers and friends further than they've ever been before. There are three "Beyond' novels; this is the first. The characters are strong and complex, intelligent and flawed and ultimately heroic. Their relationships with one another and their Band drive the narrative. In retrospect, this is the first book in the Sacred Band of Stepsons series, although it stands on its own. War and witchery, history and myth, all through the eyes of the paired lovers and friends of Tempus's Sacred Band...and their sorcerous and infernal enemies.

A wonderful book that I've read time and again and always find enthralling. Especially recommended if you've read the Morrises' "The Sacred Band" and are hungry for more about the early exploits of these heroes.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sacred Band goes to War, May 21, 2010

By 

Bad Dog - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Sanctuary (Paperback)

'Beyond Sanctuary' is the first full length Thieves' World spin-off novel. As such, it begins with two Thieves' World 'Sacred Band of Stepsons' stories, both important in their own right. Then Tempus and the Band get out of Dodge and arrive in Tyse, and this book is into new territory. Tyse is darker and more cohesive than Sanctuary (perhaps due to a single voice). War-gamers have long prized this novel for its set and setting and for the way these unique characters play against a sophisticated conflict-driven scenario. Inventive magic and lusty witches with grandiose plans fuel the plot.

'Beyond Sanctuary' takes the immortal Tempus and his Band into a war against wizardry that is most inventive and exciting. The Nisibisi (Nisibis is a real ancient place) witch-caste is the enemy and they are formidable. Tempus, Niko, the good wizard Randal, and the Sacred Band have their hands full as they find their way through enemies and partisans. No one in Tyse is neutral in this struggle. The conflict is so real, and the characters so well-drawn and unique, that the tempo and risk are intense.

Action, passion, adventure, and wizardry push this ancient cavalry squadron to its limits. And the gods, of course, take sides against each other and against the sorcerers. An epic beginning to Morris's "Beyond" trilogy. The seeds of the greater adventures of the Sacred Band of Stepsons are all here. Beautifully written, this story is enjoyable as a Thieves' World spin-off, as a stand-alone novel, or as the beginning of the Sacred Band of Stepsons saga. This book was a hardcover, a Science Fiction Book Club Selection (as were the other two Beyond books: 'Beyond the Veil' and 'Beyond Wizardwall'), and very well reviewed by the professional critics in places where no Sanctuary books had gotten noticed.

If you like action, adventure, and romance mixed with mythology and wizardry, once you start reading this one, you'll have trouble putting it down.