Pillar of Darkness

Dave Duncan

Jul 2023 · Open Road Media

About this ebook

A mysterious adventure awaits nine strangers who venture inside a dangerous region that defies science, in this novel by an award-winning author.

Thirty years ago, a terrifying anomaly known as Sungoback appeared over North Africa. Two hundred miles wide, the mysterious zone manifests as a pillar of darkness during the day and as a pillar of light at night. There is no telling what secrets it holds inside, as it defies science and destroys technology. Entering Sungoback is considered tantamount to suicide since most who do so are never seen again. 

Now, nine strangers are headed to Sungoback. Each has their own motive for risking everything to enter. They should hope they don’t all share the same fate inside . . .

Praise for Dave Duncan 

“For panache, style, and sheer storytelling audacity, Duncan has few peers.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Dave Duncan knows how to spin a ripping good yarn.” —SFReviews.net

About the author

Dave Duncan (1933–2018) was born in Scotland, and received his diploma from Dundee High School and got his college education at the University of Saint Andrews. He moved to Canada in 1955, where he lived with his wife. Duncan spent thirty years as a petroleum geologist. He has had dozens of fantasy and science fiction novels published, among them A Rose-Red City, Magic Casement, and The Reaver Road, as well as a highly praised historical novel, Daughter of Troy, published, for commercial reasons, under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin. He also published the Longdirk series of novels, Demon Sword, Demon Knight, and Demon Rider, under the name Ken Hood.
 
In the fall of 2007, Duncan’s 2006 novel, Children of Chaos, published by Tor Books, was nominated for both the Prix Aurora Award and the Endeavour Award. In May 2013, Duncan, a 1989 founding member of SFCanada, was honored by election as a lifetime member by his fellow writers, editors, and academics. He passed away in 2018. Visit https://www.daveduncanauthor.com/ for more information on the author.