The world is in peril again as Mordac, Sarac's assistant gathers the forces of evil to free Sarac from his imprisonment. Mordac calls for a gathering of Black Devils and instructs them to obtain every book ever written. Plans to cause havoc and destruction are also undertaken to soften the world's armies in preparation of Sarac's return. Two especially devout followers of Sarac, Aurora and Dalgar, rise to prominence as nations topple and mayhem runs rampant. Armies stand poised to obliterate each other and thrones are stolen by magic and cunning. Follow the tales of our young trio as Alex is accused of assassinating the king and an arrest warrant is issued for Jenneva.
What starts out as a short trip to a temple turns into a race to stay alive as Marcus and Antioch are pursued by a mage enforcer and bounty hunters. Prodded by a priest and a caravan warrior, Marcus finally accepts his fate as the Avenging Shadow and dives into a deep conspiracy that is enslaving the population of Grim and cornering the market for iron.
Star of Sakova, the second volume of the Forgotten Legacy, features Lyra, the only daughter of Master Malafar, owner and master of the Omunga Academy of Magic. A devastating and seemingly senseless attack on the Omunga Academy of Magic leaves Lyra running for her life. Her father, Master Malafar, was kidnapped and her mother was killed during the attack. Her mother's cryptic dying words propel Lyra on a journey across the country in search of her Uncle Temiker. The raiders of the Academy however have other plans for Lyra as they doggedly pursue her. With the raiders in pursuit and Imperial troops blocking the roads, Lyra has no chance of survival unless she enters the dreaded Sakova, a land of nightmares. The Sakova, long known as a place of no return, is home to cannibals, ferocious beasts, and strange magic. Discover a world of swords and magic, political intrigue and deceit, and cunning, ruthless people who seek to finish the annihilation of a society that began ages ago.
Placing the Sapphire of the Fairies in the Sword of Heavens cleared the skies over Cordonia. The end of the Darkness in that part of the world has alerted Sarac to the location of the Children and his evil minions are converging on the Rangers. The Sword of Heavens has pointed the way to the Unicorns' Opal, but the Children must stay one step ahead of the forces of evil to complete their task. Follow the adventure of the Children of the Ancient Prophecy as confusion, doubt, and betrayal infiltrate their ranks and threaten to bring an end to the hopes of the world.
Compelled to journey to an unknown land and spy on mysterious enemies, Alexander Tork assembles a small but deadly force for a voyage that may well be his last. Five Knights of Alcea, three Rangers, and three elves from Glendor set sail on a stolen enemy ship through uncharted waters to the homeland of the followers of Balmak. Guided only by a crude coastline chart found on the stolen ship, the Alceans find a vast continent that is preparing for global war. Journey to Zara with the Knights of Alcea as they discover strange new magics and encounter an empire that seeks to plunge the world into misery and despair.
Ages ago the continent was invaded by massive armies intent on creating a new home for themselves. The peaceful indigenous peoples fled before the marauding hordes and hid defiantly in the mountain peaks awaiting a signal from god. They learned the arts of magic and warfare as they hid from the intruders, who divided the land amongst themselves and set up a civilization where the many toil and slave for the elite few. The Forgotten Legacy series begins with Young Lord of Khadora as Marak, a young soldier in the service of one of the clans of Khadora, is chosen as a sacrifice for the benefit of his lord. Marak is sent on a fool's mission to defeat one of the small bands of indigenous people known as the Chula, a race of dreaded cat-people. Volume 1 of Forgotten Legacy.
Follow the adventures of the Children of the Ancient Prophecy as the mysterious Master Khatama, the charismatic prophet Azmet, and the unseen Stafa Rakech take part in molding the Ancient Prophecy towards their desired goals.
Hailed as a "must-have textbook" (CHOICE, January 2010), the first edition of Game Engine Architecture provided readers with a complete guide to the theory and practice of game engine software development. Updating the content to match today’s landscape of game engine architecture, this second edition continues to thoroughly cover the major components that make up a typical commercial game engine. New to the Second Edition Information on new topics, including the latest variant of the C++ programming language, C++11, and the architecture of the eighth generation of gaming consoles, the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 New chapter on audio technology covering the fundamentals of the physics, mathematics, and technology that go into creating an AAA game audio engine Updated sections on multicore programming, pipelined CPU architecture and optimization, localization, pseudovectors and Grassman algebra, dual quaternions, SIMD vector math, memory alignment, and anti-aliasing Insight into the making of Naughty Dog’s latest hit, The Last of Us The book presents the theory underlying various subsystems that comprise a commercial game engine as well as the data structures, algorithms, and software interfaces that are typically used to implement them. It primarily focuses on the engine itself, including a host of low-level foundation systems, the rendering engine, the collision system, the physics simulation, character animation, and audio. An in-depth discussion on the "gameplay foundation layer" delves into the game’s object model, world editor, event system, and scripting system. The text also touches on some aspects of gameplay programming, including player mechanics, cameras, and AI. An awareness-building tool and a jumping-off point for further learning, Game Engine Architecture, Second Edition gives readers a solid understanding of both the theory and common practices employed within each of the engineering disciplines covered. The book will help readers on their journey through this fascinating and multifaceted field.
Discover book two of Patrick Rothfuss’ #1 New York Times-bestselling epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle. “I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda DAY TWO: THE WISE MAN’S FEAR “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me. So begins a tale told from his own point of view—a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in The Wise Man’s Fear, Day Two of The Kingkiller Chronicle, an escalating rivalry with a powerful member of the nobility forces Kvothe to leave the University and seek his fortune abroad. Adrift, penniless, and alone, he travels to Vintas, where he quickly becomes entangled in the politics of courtly society. While attempting to curry favor with a powerful noble, Kvothe uncovers an assassination attempt, comes into conflict with a rival arcanist, and leads a group of mercenaries into the wild, in an attempt to solve the mystery of who (or what) is waylaying travelers on the King's Road. All the while, Kvothe searches for answers, attempting to uncover the truth about the mysterious Amyr, the Chandrian, and the death of his parents. In The Wise Man's Fear, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.