The Magic Kingdom of Landover Volume 1

Capture the fantasy, thrills, and far-flung adventure of the first three novels in Terry Brooks's enchanting Magic Kingdom of Landover seriesnow for the first time in one gripping volume. Chicago lawyer Ben Holiday can't fathom what lies ahead when he purchases Landovera magical kingdom of chivalry and sorceryfrom Meeks, the mysterious seller who placed the ad. Weary and jaded, Ben clings to the ad's promise: "Escape into your dreams." But Landover is not the enchanted idyll he expected. The kingdom is in ruin. The barons refuse to recognize Ben as King, a dragon is decimating the countryside, and a demon lord has challenged any prospective ruler to a fatal duel. To make matters worse, the Paladin, renowned champion of the Kings of Landover, seems to be merely a legend. Ben's only allies are a bumbling court magician, a talking dog turned court scribe, and the beautiful Willow, who is part girl, part tree. With his friends in tow, Ben sets out to claim the throne. But when Meeks decides he wants Landover back, Ben will face supernatural foes of every stripe to prove himself worthy of the kingship. The question is: Can he survive?

Terry Brooks is the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including the Genesis of Shannara novels Armageddon’s Children and The Elves of Cintra; The Sword of Shannara; the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy: Ilse Witch, Antrax, and Morgawr; the High Druid of Shannara trilogy: Jarka Ruus, Tanequil, and Straken; the nonfiction book Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life; and the novel based upon the screenplay and story by George Lucas, Star Wars®: Episode I The Phantom Menace.™ His novels Running with the Demon and A Knight of the Word were selected by the Rocky Mountain News as two of the best science fiction/fantasy novels of the twentieth century. The author was a practicing attorney for many years but now writes full-time. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.

Ben


 The catalogue was from Rosen’s, Ltd. It was the department store’s annual Christmas Wishbook. 

It was addressed to Annie. 

Ben Holiday stood frozen before the open cubicle of his mailbox, eyes slipping across the gaily decorated cover of the catalogue to the white address label and the name of his dead wife. The lobby of the Chicago high rise seemed oddly still in the graying dusk of the late afternoon rush hour, empty of everyone but the security guard and himself. Outside, past the line of floor- toceiling windows that fronted the building entry, the autumn wind blew in chill gusts down the canyon of Michigan Avenue and whispered of winter’s coming. 

He ran his thumb over the smooth surface of the Wishbook. Annie had loved to shop, even when the shopping had only been through the mail- order catalogues. Rosen’s had been one of her favorite stores. 

Sudden tears filled his eyes. He hadn’t gotten over losing her, even after two years. Sometimes it seemed to him that losing her was nothing more than a trick of his imagination—that when he came home she would still be there waiting for him. 

He took a deep breath, fighting back against the emotions that were aroused in him simply by seeing her name on that catalogue cover. It was silly to feel like this. Nothing could bring her back to him. Nothing could change what had happened. 

His eyes lifted to stare into the dark square of the now- empty mailbox. He remembered what it had been like when he had first learned that she had been killed. He had just returned from court, a pre- trial on the Microlab case with old Wilson Frink and his sons. Ben was in his office, thinking of ways to persuade his opposition, a lawyer named Bates, that his latest offer of settlement would serve everyone’s best interests, when the call had come in. Annie had been in an accident on the Kennedy. She was at St. Jude’s in critical condition. Could he come right over . . . ?

 He shook his head. He could still hear the voice of the doctor telling him what had happened. The voice had sounded so calm and rational. He had known at once that Annie was dying. He had known instantly. By the time he had gotten to the hospital, she was dead. The baby was dead, too. Annie had been only three months pregnant. 

“Mr. Holiday?” 

He looked about sharply, startled by the voice. George, the security guard, was looking over at him from behind the lobby desk. 

“Everything all right, sir?” 

He nodded and forced a quick smile. “Yes—just thinking about something.” He closed the mailbox door, shoved everything he had taken from it save the catalogue into one coat pocket and, still gripping the Wishbook in both hands, moved to the ground- floor elevators. He didn’t care for being caught off balance like that. Maybe it was the lawyer in him. 

“Cold day out there,” George offered, glancing out into the gray. “Going to be a tough winter. Lot of snow, they say. Like it was a couple of years ago.” “Looks that way.” Ben barely heard him as he glanced down again at the catalogue. Annie always enjoyed the Christmas Wishbook. She used to read him promos from some of its more bizarre items. She used to make up stories about the kind of people who might purchase such things. 

He pushed the elevator call button and the doors opened immediately. “Have a nice evening, sir,” George called after him. 

He rode the elevator to his penthouse suite, shucked off his topcoat, and walked into the front room, still clutching t

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Excerpted from Sale--Sold! - The Black Unicorn - Wizard at Large by Terry Brooks
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