Logorrhea

C•h•i•a•r•o•s•c•u•r•o

chiar·oscu·ro \ k¯e-'är-e-'skyur-(')¯o, z'skur- \ noun

1: pictorial representation in terms of light and shade without regard to color

2 a: the arrangement or treatment of light and dark parts in a pictorial work of art

2 b: the interplay or contrast of dissimilar qualities (as of mood or character)

3: a 16th century woodcut technique involving the use of several blocks to print different tones of the same color; also: a print made by this technique

4: the interplay of light and shadow on or as if on a surface

5: the quality of being veiled or partly in shadow

The Chiaroscurist

Hal Duncan

The First Day Of Creation

In the nook of the tavern, the old man’s face—or part of it—catches the fireglow slanting through the frame of oak door left ajar as he leans forward across the table, elbows on the wood, a glinting silver mechanism in one hand going clunk, chik with the flicking of a thumb, while, with his other hand, he holds a cigarette up to his mouth to draw in a breath—foosh. He holds it for a perfect moment of satiation, head raised now so that his bliss-closed eyes come out from under the shadow of his hat’s wide brim, as if basking in the warmth of sunlight blood red through their lids; and even beneath the bush of drooping grey moustache that his fingers seem half-buried in, there is a hint of smile on the lips pursed round the roll-up. Let there be light, I think, and then he leans back, disappearing into the leather shadow of the nook to blow out billows of blue-grey that curl and unfurl in the air like offerings of incense rising. An invocation in volutions, the breath of smoke immediately conjures up, in my mind’s eye, an image that I seize—that old man’s face half-lit as now in sharp chiaroscuro, shrouded in the swirling nebulae of chaos, of the first day of creation.

I must have him for my God.

—Maester, your stout.

The barkeep blocks my vision for a second as he lays the tumbler of black liquid on the table, and it brings me sharp out of the reverie.

—Grazzis, I say out of habit. Thank you. How much?

He waves a hand as I reach into my longcoat’s inner pocket.

—Full board and beer, he says. It’s all on the Monadery. . . . Fader Pitro’s orders. He hopes—we hope—to make your stay here as pleasant as possible.

With a tilt of my glass to him I take a sip and smile at the busy tavern of sandminers and craftsmen, quarriers and traders, farmers in for a few quick jars before Evenfall; it’s not the sort of place you’d find in the Merchant Quarters of Vrienze or Nephale where I so often have to smooth my way from one commission to the next with smiles as painted as the courtesans . . . but it’s not so different from the harbour inns or carter’s lodges that I spent much of my apprenticeship in with my own Maester. Fewer knife fights, I suspect, though.

—I’m sorry that we didn’t have your room ready, he says.

—No problem, I say. A well-poured stout is all it takes to keep me happy.

—I’ve sent word to the Monadery that you’ve arrived.

R See more like this in our Fantasy ebooks section

Share your thoughts on the Logorrhea ebook with other internet viewers!

Title of ebook: Logorrhea
ISBN: 9780553903713
parent-ISBN: 9780553384338
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 05-2007
Released online for download: 05-01-2007
Editor: Klima, John

Format

Encrypted

Sku

ISBN

File size

Security

Printing

Copying

Read aloud

Devices

Digital Editions

Yes

0553903713

9780553903713

2839 KB

n/a

Not allowed

No

Sys Requirments

Download reader

Mobipocket

Yes

9780553903713

379 KB

n/a

Not allowed

No

Sys Requirements

Download reader

Microsoft

Yes

5551625532

9780553903713

450 KB

n/a

Not allowed

No

Sys Requirments

Download reader

eReader

Yes

5551625524

9780553903713

392 KB

n/a

Not allowed

No

Sys Requirments

Download reader

Logorrhea

Good Words Make Good Stories
C•h•i•a•r•o•s•c•u•r•o

chiar·oscu·ro \ k¯e-'är-e-'skyur-(')¯o, z'skur- \ noun

1: pictorial representation in terms of light and shade without regard to color

2 a: the arrangement or treatment of light and dark parts in a pictorial work of art

2 b: the interplay or contrast of dissimilar qualities (as of mood or character)

3: a 16th century woodcut technique involving the use of several blocks to print different tones of the same color; also: a print made by this technique

4: the interplay of light and shadow on or as if on a surface

5: the quality of being veiled or partly in shadow

The Chiaroscurist

Hal Duncan

The First Day Of Creation

In the nook of the tavern, the old man’s face—or part of it—catches the fireglow slanting through the frame of oak door left ajar as he leans forward across the table, elbows on the wood, a glinting silver mechanism in one hand going clunk, chik with the flicking of a thumb, while, with his other hand, he holds a cigarette up to his mouth to draw in a breath—foosh. He holds it for a perfect moment of satiation, head raised now so that hi ... read full excerpt from: Logorrhea ebook

Top eBooks in "Fantasy Contemporary"

Danse Macabre

by Hamilton, Laurell K.

Review: Although I really loved this book, truth be told, the storyline is not that great. There is a vampire ballet in town and Jean Claude had invited several master ...more

Best price: $6.43

Dead Beat: A Novel of the Dresden Files

by Butcher, Jim

Review: In "Dead Beat", Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, is blackmailed by the vampire Mavra into locating the "Word of Kemmler", a book of dark ...more

Best price: $7.99

American Gods

by Gaiman, Neil

"Special Feature: This PerfectBound e-book contains "On the Road to American Gods: Selected Passages from Neil Gaiman's Online Journal". The storm was coming..Shadow ...more

Best price: $7.00

Demon Ex Machina

by Kenner, Julie

From the USA Today bestselling author of Deja Demon--slaying demons is nothing compared to the terrible twos.
Demon Hunter Kate Connor is having ...more

Best price: $14.00

Blood Bargain

by Lima, Maria

Best price: $7.00

Beyond Reach

by Slaughter, Karin

Review: As a continuation of the Grant County series it shows a growing maturity in her style of writing since she started the series. This is my personal best in the ...more

Best price: $7.00

Angel Fire East

by Brooks, Terry

When Running with the Demon appeared two years ago, it was recognized at once as a masterpiece in the making, a bold departure that promised to revitalize contemporary urban ...more

Best price: $7.00

Bloody Bones

by Hamilton, Laurell K.

For the first time in trade paperback: the fifth novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.When Branson, Missouri, is hit with a death wave- four unsolved murders-it ...more

Best price: $5.20

Dead Man Rising

by Saintcrow, Lilith

Bounty hunting is a helluva job, but it pays the bills. And it lets necromance Dante Valentine forget her issues. Like struggling with her half-demon side and the memory of ...more

Best price: $4.37

Other Fantasy eBooks Categories

Fantasy General (1505)

Fantasy Bundles (83)

Fantasy Contemporary (284)

Fantasy Dark/Horror (138)

Fantasy eBook Short Stories (94)

Fantasy Epic (330)

Fantasy Historical (127)

Fantasy Series (284)