Blood Gate Sample and Project Man-Book Update

     The Blood Gate is divided, roughly, into two main storylines: the first is that of the Prathian mercenary Xanthippus as he attempts to assassinate Prince Hurrus and then seek vengeance on his former mentor and rescue his lady love from his evil clutches; the second follows Prince Hurrus as he raises and leads his army through many dangers on his quest to return to his homeland to reclaim his crown.
     Being a military history buff, I have an especial affection for the Hurrus storyline. I love his complex relationship with his lieutenant Xandros (explored in a previous blog post) as well as the realistic depiction of ancient-era warfare.
     In the novel, the Tygetian army is divided into 3 parts, led by the Crocodile Man (Prince Garon), the Snake Man (Prince Kerraunus) and the Eagle Man (Prince Hurrus). One day, knowing that the enemy Sarian army is on the march, Hurrus and his companion body (a small bodyguard unit of 20 men, which includes his right-hand men, the thoughtful  Xandros and the more impulsive Deon) are scouting the countryside for a sign of the enemy.
     In a hilly desert country, they find a group of  chariot-borne enemy. They think they might have stumbled upon a mass of Sarian troops, but find something quite different when they crest the hill: so-called "Snake Men," the troops of Hurrus' brother, Kerraunus.
     Here's a short sample of the scene intended to give you some idea as to the way in which the novel is written and an idea of the sort of action to be found therein.
     So, without further ado, from The Blood Gate. Enjoy!

     Deon flew over the top of the hill now and the chariots' wheels spun off the ground as they crested the summit. Deon reared as if to deliver another blow, when he suddenly reined to a halt, his charger huffing and shuffling as he peered down the far slope.
     Hurrus and Xandros reached him an instant later.
     There on the downward slope they saw the village of Cunama. In the blowing dust, they had failed to notice the rising black smoke from its fiercely burning buildings. Flames licked the sky, the wind bending them as the fire spread quickly from rooftop to rooftop. Evidence of a violent clash clogged the road. The ruin of one of the Sarian chariots lay amid a scattering of several dead horses and smaller black heaps in the dirt that must have been men. Between gusts of smoke, Hurrus saw the forms of living men with bundles in their arms scampering from the burning structures. Others on horseback rode through the streets to cries of anguish. Hurrus saw a woman being dragged from a house by her hair.
     He felt the blood rush to his face. These Sarians were not soldiers, but plunderers and pirates!
     "Hi-yah!" Hurrus shouted without hesitation, digging his heels into his horse. He whipped the reins to the left, pointing his mount toward the village and away from the chariots rumbling to freedom behind veils of dust across the plain.
     Hurrus rode alone for an instant while his companion body stood frozen in confusion. When they saw where he was going, they quickly spurred forward, joining him in his charge on the village.
     Hurrus could feel them galloping at his side. His eyes locked onto the man dragging the woman. He raised his sword. When the man saw him, he looked up in shock. Releasing the woman, he turned to flee. That was when Hurrus saw the man's gold-edged white cloak, the same as worn by all the plunderers.
     "They are Snake Men!" Xandros' voice boomed in his ear. "Kerraunus' men! Not Sarians! What do we do?"

PROJECT MAN-BOOK CONTINUES

     Okay, so finding novels that are not intended for teenage girls is not as easy as I thought. Some of you reading this were nice enough to offer me some good man-book suggestions last time. I could always use some more. In particular, does anyone know of any good atmospheric horror novels? I'd love to reconnect with this genre, which for me has pretty much lain dormant since The Shining.
     I have made some progress, though. Look for my review of Tim Powers' On Stranger Tides, coming soon.

Here's what I've been doing since my last post.

Read
Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi (I just returned from a visit to this place, in St. Louis. If you go, read this book first. Lots of info you won't find in the museum.)
On Stranger Tides
Affinity Bridge

Reading
Empire of the Summer Moon (I keep going back to my non-fiction roots.)
Cabinet of Curiosities (For $.99, why not?)

To Be Read
Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal (Hornfischer's Tin Can Sailors was so damn good, I have no choice but to read everything the guy writes.)
Drawing of the Dark (Powers again)
Stress of Her Regard (Powers again)
I need help expanding this list. Man-books, anyone?

MY WORK-IN-PROGRESS

     Just so you know, I'm now over 30,000 words into my next novel. Basically, it's an historical mystery, set in 19th century New York, a mixture of history, mad science and supernatural horror, with a unique main character. I can't say more, or everyone would want to write it. I'm a pretty slow writer, so give me about 3 more months to finish 'er up.