The Blind Archer

by John Gregory Betancourt

Ker Orrum longed for a life of magic. When an Oracle tells of a journey and a gem, his fate is sealed. Vowing to challenge the mighty god known as the Blind Archer, he sets out to win his fortune . . . and finds a destiny few would envy. Pawn to wizards and gods, blinded and helpless, he accidentally sets an ancient evil loose on the world . . . an evil which only he can defeat!

Genres: Fantasy

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

John Gregory Betancourt is a writer of science fiction, fantasy and mystery novels as well as short stories. He has worked as an assistant editor at Amazing Stories and editor of Horror: The Newsmagazine of the Horror Field, the revived Weird Tales magazine, the first issue of H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror (which he subsequently hired Marvin Kaye to edit), Cat Tales magazine (which he subsequently hired George H. Scithers to edit), and Adventure Tales magazine. He worked as a Senior Editor for Byron Preiss Visual Publications (1989-1996) and iBooks. He is the writer of four Star Trek novels and the new Chronicles of Amber prequel series, as well as a dozen original novels. His essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in such diverse publications as Writer's Digest and The Washington Post.

Reviews

[James]

In a distant time, when Earth was flat and ruled by magic, wizards knew well the perils of sorcery. It was a lesson young Ker Orrum had yet to learn, for he had just discovered the flame of power within him, and he yearned to wield it. When the Oracle spoke of a journey and of a gem, Ker Orrum's fate was sealed: he would wrest the Great Ruby from the mighty god called the Blind Archer. Many others had tried; none had succeeded. Yet Ker Orrum was determined to fulfill his destiny, ignorant of the awesome forces he was about to unleash. Before it was over, his odyssey would sweep him into a horrifying world of vision without sight, where he would need more than magic to conquer the searing wrath of the Faceless Demons!

[JameS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome world of Magic created by the author

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun story, some different twists but the writing style doesn't sit well with me. The dialogue reminds me of reading Hemmingway's A Farewell to Arms, simple and flat. I hate to admit, I never finished reading it.