War of the Gyro

Bede has written a novel called The War of the Gyro. It takes place in a fictional world called Talislanta.

The story features swashbuckling heroes, terrifying adversaries, and a whole bunch of other neat things that can only be described with breathless gerundives. Bede will be posting a new chapter every few days, and welcomes your comments on this version that he calls "Beta 1." Here is the first paragraph of the novel:

A swordsman was singing a song. And because he was 1500 miles from home in a strange city where he knew no one, and because he guessed the natives wouldn’t appreciate Zandu love songs here, he was singing to his sword. As he strutted across the plaza, he tapped accompaniment to his song with boots of tanned sky lizard hide trimmed with black lace. A stiff sea breeze ruffled his white shirt, and he pulled his jet velvet cape closer against the chill. Halfway across the market square, he stopped at a metalworker’s stall and scrutinized his face in the bottom of a polished brass pot. It was a pleasant face, with a touch of piquant humor that both invited trust and hinted at mischief. His hair was thick and dark and his beard was black and came to an elegant point. But his good looks were marred by one imperfection, a pale scar that extended from the corner of his left eye across his cheek and under his jaw, giving his face a hint of cruelty. He combed his curls back and plucked a gray hair from his beard. He checked his teeth, his earrings and his collar. He was on his way to deliver an insult, and he wanted to look his best.