Showing results for "The Grandmaster" in Science Fiction & Fantasy

Some people just knew how to go out in style. Tim had never been one of those guys. Tim was always a planner. The plan was to get into college, graduate, and find a well-paying job. That plan was coming together nicely until he saw a presentation to get paid to play The Etheric Coast. At his graduation ceremony. After watching the company's employee recruitment video, Big Richie's words had a whole new meaning. He could spend his life going from a cubicle at work to a one-bedroom apartment and back again...or enter a virtual world of unlimited possibilities.

The themes that thread through these nine accomplished stories are drawn from the great tradition of the twentieth-century weird tale, and they are suffused with a distinctly cosmopolitan European feel. Mark Samuels writes about the fundamental fears of modern life, especially the effects of isolation and the dislocation that city dwellers can experience in their inhospitable man-made environment. The Grandmaster's Final Game: The Church of St Ignatius of Loyola appeared to be empty but the Reverend Mooney, S.J., still sat waiting in the confessional, squinting at his watch in the shadows.

Tim's plan didn't include going toe to toe with one of the most powerful men in Promethia, but he had, and he won. Wasn't winning supposed to make things easier? Instead of getting to live on easy street, Tim's victory only increased his reputation as a man who could solve problems. This time those problems had teeth. Thankfully Tim hit level 10, and once he settled on his upgraded class their newest adventure could began in earnest.

The Blue Dagger Society saved the city of Tristholm from Vitaria's minions and defeated the evil under the mountain. Keeping the Etheric Coast free of Vitaria's influence was going to take more aggressive measures than pounding a hammer into some steel. It was time to throw down with a goddess. Knowing they had their own goddess standing right behind them made Tim feel more optimistic about their chances. Eternia's influence was growing with each one of their victories. With the Goddess of Light standing behind them, how could they lose?

Eternia was almost back to full strength, but the Duke was making her move to take over the kingdom for the Dark Goddess Vitaria. Now the Blue Dagger Society would have to fight on two fronts. They had to secure the kingdom before taking the fight to Vitaria.

Does the Blue Dagger Society really want to go into this line of work? Their next quest would be decided over a heaping double stack of Joe's famous buttermilk pancakes. Doesn't everything work better with pancakes? King Rasmus has something Eternia needs. The Blue Dagger Society needs the experience. It was settled. They were about to embark on another epic adventure.