Published: June 17, 2011
Words: 31,131 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458089199

Short description

Newly-graduated imperial officer Justin is convinced he has no future, and hearing the details of the secret mission he's assigned for the Emperor won't change his mind. Civil War threatens the North Mark. Justin must race against time to form a company, and lead his men into the center of the web; but what happens when his loyalty to the Empire means the death of those who follow him?

Extended description

In 2002 ADR, the Empire of Argens is still reeling from the usurpation of its centuries-old throne by a landless adventurer. A ferocious dwarven warrior named Yula and his sorcerous human allies not only defeated the flower of elvish knighthood, but exposed the former dynasty as nothing less than demons in disguise. Now a young captain, ruined by his loyalty to the old regime, has one last chance to redeem his family name in the officer training corps being established by the hated new emperor.
Captain Justin gets much more than he bargained for, however, as he is sent on a secret mission to the North Mark, hotbed of disloyalty even in the old days and now on a trip-wire for revolt. Given only days to assemble a company, march north and defuse the conspiracy, the new captain will be tested too often, too hard and far too soon.
"The Ring and the Flag" is the first story in the Shards of Light saga set in the Lands of Hope, the creation of Wm. L. Hahn. More than twenty years in the mak.. (Read more) In 2002 ADR, the Empire of Argens is still reeling from the usurpation of its centuries-old throne by a landless adventurer. A ferocious dwarven warrior named Yula and his sorcerous human allies not only defeated the flower of elvish knighthood, but exposed the former dynasty as nothing less than demons in disguise. Now a young captain, ruined by his loyalty to the old regime, has one last chance to redeem his family name in the officer training corps being established by the hated new emperor.
Captain Justin gets much more than he bargained for, however, as he is sent on a secret mission to the North Mark, hotbed of disloyalty even in the old days and now on a trip-wire for revolt. Given only days to assemble a company, march north and defuse the conspiracy, the new captain will be tested too often, too hard and far too soon.
"The Ring and the Flag" is the first story in the Shards of Light saga set in the Lands of Hope, the creation of Wm. L. Hahn. More than twenty years in the making, the Lands hold tremendous adventure, a sense of history, and a strong theme of the difficult choices heroes must make when faced by the power of Despair.
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Tags

demon, magic, strategy, conspiracy, epic fantasy, elves, heroic fantasy, empire, griffin, rebellion, officer, tactics, military adventure novels, officer corps, lands of hope

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Reviews

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Review by: Katharina Gerlach on July 23, 2012 :
This is a wonderful story. I don't much care for epic or heroic fantasy, but with this author I always make an exception. His prose is stunning but never gets in the way of the story -- and what a story. It tells of human officer Justin who has to swallow his pride to become a secret backup for an important mission of the newly founded empire. Finding warriors who trust his expertise is challenging enough without the unknown dangers awaiting his small group en route. This is a riveting tale. Make sure you read it.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: David Miller on Sep. 23, 2011 :
It was with great pleasure that I read, before its publication here, the story I had first lived through as Captain Justin in the role-playing game Bill created out of a discarded gaming system and his own prolific imagination. Bill was a master of the genre, filling our weekends with wonders and terrors, histories and cultures, songs and poems, intricate plots and complex characters, and occasionally, fried dough. I am delighted to see him so ably revive those adventures in a new medium. With his new mastery of literary narrative, dialogue and structure and all his old skills of wonder intact, the story reads as if it was always meant to be the first installment of a novel. It is in fact better than I remembered the game to be because it is now pure Bill Hahn, the story Bill wanted to tell all along and would have, if only we dim and capricious players had stayed out of his way. For you lucky readers just finding him, I can tell you that all the richness and passion of the Lands of Hope now flow undiluted from his soaring imagination to the page, and the quotidian world the rest of us live in is just a little bit better for it.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Morinack on July 06, 2011 :
So real! So life like! Almost as if I were there...

It is wonderful to hear the voice of "The Man" again.
Makes me want to break out my copper palmettes.
As always, Justin living up to his namesake :-).
Very nice job Will. Keep em coming!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: bidaud on July 04, 2011 :
I want more!
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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