Product Description

When Jack Churchill and Ruth Gallagher encounter a terrifying, misshapen giant beneath a London bridge they are plunged into a mystery which portends the end of the world as we know it. All over the country, the ancient gods of Celtic myth are returning to the land from which they were banished millennia ago. Following in their footsteps are creatures of folklore: fabulous bests, wonders and dark terrors As technology starts to fail, Jack and Ruth are forced to embark on a desperate quest for four magical items - the last chance for humanity in the face of powers barely comprehended.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #241111 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 557 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Mark Chadbourn's first four novels were horror. This, his fifth, opens a contemporary fantasy sequence crammed with horrific events. Its interesting premise is that the New Agers' gooey rhetoric was partly right. Our age of reason is ending on Earth, giving way to "The Age of Misrule"--and it's not just brownies, mermaids and ley-line energies that return, but the worst nightmares of myth. A dragon strafes M4 traffic, shapeshifting demons infiltrate Heston Services and the Wild Hunt slashes bloodily through a pub crowd. Technology is fading, with random power and equipment failures. More conventionally, the hero and four varyingly dysfunctional companions have been Chosen to oppose the darkness by collecting a familiar set of magic objects hidden in booby-trapped locations around Britain: the eternal sword, spear, stone and cauldron/grail/kitchen sink. An ageing hippy who's strayed from an old ballad gives cryptic advice that doesn't seem much help when the legions of hell are in hot pursuit. All the main characters are painfully manipulated by non-human forces, with the distinction between good and bad guys growing blurred. Chadbourn is over-fond of magical "with one bound he was free" escapes from impossible situations, but his story rattles along compulsively--with many a nerve-tingling frisson--to a chill and unconventional finale. --David Langford

About the Author
SALES POINTS 'One of the most accomplished new authors to have been published in recent years' Starburst A heady mixture of modern day and ancient magics, drawing in Celtic, Arthurian and Irish mythologies. "This story rattles along compulsively--with many a nerve-tingling frisson--to a chill and unconventional finale.' David Langford

Customer Reviews

The beginning of an epic
When Jack 'Church' Churchill and Ruth Gallagher simultaneously witness the murder of a government official at the hands of a monstrous, undefinable being, their lives are changed dramatically as they find themselves on the run from dark demons from the dawn of time, known as the Fomorii, with only a drifter named Tom to turn to for help. Revealed to be two of the fabled Brothers and Sisters of Dragons - five mortals imbued with the power to save the world - they must seek out the remaining members of their group - Laura, an opinionated ecowarrior, Shavi, a deeply spiritual shaman, and Veitch, a well-meaning thug - and locate four objects of power that will summon the Tuatha De Danann, the Gods of old, back to our world to drive out the Fomorii. But Church has already been tainted by darkness - and the Gods are not to be trusted . . .

This, is quite simply, stunning. Read these books, because Mark Chadbourn is well on his way to becoming one of the world's best writers of fantasy fiction.

The scope of his vision is breathtaking, with painstaking research done into all the old Celtic myths and legends to create modern-day interpretations that have proven factually right and fictionally gripping. His portrayal of the six very different characters that lead the book is of particular note - even Tom, who by nature is shrouded in mystery, can be understood and sympathised with.

Having read all three of the Age of Misrule series and its sequel, The Dark Age, it's also clear to me that there are many, many clues to the events of future books in this beginning novel, and only by reading through all of them can you begin to grasp the huge scale of Chadbourn's imagination.

If you like fantasy fiction - if you like fiction at all - read these books. Once you've read one, you won't regret it and I guarantee you'll want to keep on reading.

A powerfully imaginitive,yet often darkly seductive
Mark Chadbourn has written a powerfully imaginative, yet often darkly seductive and disturbing epic, with modern day heroes-both fallible and believable-on a magical quest around Britain to save it and the world from another dark age, brought on by the return of once-mythical Celtic gods. Brilliantly researched, and told at an even pace, World's End is the best new work I've read for twenty years! If you're into Celtic mythology, standing stones, leylines, fairies, magic and a bloody good

read-then but this now!

Stunned
I'd seen this book in a few shops, and each time I passed it over for no good reason. Thus, after reading it, and after getting over my delighted shock, I am writing this so no one makes the same mistake.
If you like mythology, especially Celtic, magic, anything 'New Age', dragons, or if you just have a feeling that the human race can't last much longer, then you have to read this - and the rest of the trilogy. The only dissapointment was the whole 'prophecy' idea - the five Brothers and Sisters of Dragons, the guardians of the blood of the earth (magic), must arise and defeat the darkness by finding the four talismans od the Danaan. But the origonal, amazing way in which the whole thing is accomplished - not to mention the horrific twist at the end - is enough to sweep any fantasy fan away.
I'm currently reading the second book, and Chadbourn's keeping it up. (Mind you, I'm only on the first chapter, but the prologue took FOREVER...)
All I can say is - READ IT!!!