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Rob Mackellar |
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Rob Mackellar
Click to go directly to Robs web site
Bio
Rob was born in 1976 in the small town of Corby, Northamptonshire. Now, skip right through a childhood full of the usual things (like exploring in the previously unchartered fields near his house) to his teenage years. Fantasy has always been a love of his life, he wanted to live in a world of elves and dragons, mighty fortresses and magic and men using swords and arrows instead of guns. The fantasy novels he'd read as a youngster became his way of leaving what he thought of as a boring world behind.
And so he was around 14 when he started writing his first attempt at a novel. Usually written during English class. And maths, and geography...
...and while working in the warehouse of a large supermarket chain. He left school at 16 with a very clear idea of what he wanted to do. We won't bore you with his academic achievements here, mainly because he doesn't really have any; unless you count a bronze swimming certificate. He's worked in more shops than you can shake a stick at (but don't shake a stick at any of them unless you want to get arrested). All throughout this time he'd been writing whenever the chance arose; both with the ambition to one day become a full time writer, but more just to get his stories told. He was 17 when he bought a copy of Legend by David Gemmell, that one book changed his outlook on his own writing completely. He had learned things. Many more things were to follow.
His first real novel titled The Forged One (the original title for The Black Flame) began life shortly after, 9 years before it found its way to a publisher. It was first met with some trepidation from friends who understood how strange his imagination could be. The reactions weren't as good as he'd hoped so he went back again and again until he couldn't be bothered going back anymore. Between the books of both David Gemmell and James Barclay he learned more about creating characters and worlds than he felt he ever would have at school. Which was fortunate, as the very last revision of the book was considered Good. Satisfied with that he began work on the next part of the Ascension saga.
To this day he works as a salesman for a popular electrical store whilst plotting world domination, or writing more novels. he's not too bad at it either. When he isn't writing he tends to spend far too much time on the internet with demands of "Entertain me, dagnammit!", painting miniatures (or 'little men') or staring at his tropical fish tank. Sometimes he even ventures outside!
He also says it feels strange writing about himself in the third person perspective!
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Synopsis
A fallen God known as The Black Flame had awoken. His invasion had begun. The leader of his knights, General Cornak led a massacre like nothing heard of before. They slaughtered seemingly at will, attacking outlying villages and smaller towns. This was why the wizard Hedrial first set out on his search for a piece of legend known as The Forged One. Leaving his apprentice with an old friend, Hedrial was never seen alive again.
The apprentice, Uthan, grew more and more adept in the ways of magic, finally learning his master was dead, yet his soul hadn't moved on. He decided to travel the same roads as his former master to find his soul and set The Forged One free. Those friends he travelled with began to grow concerned over how much magical ability he had shown in someone so young. Their fears grew as Uthan was called to see the mysterious Oracle of Barache. He was given gifts by the Oracle. Four elemental warriors, who would dwell inside him until needed; and a vision. A vision of the true invasion.
General Cornak and his human knights were only a small portion of the devastation that was planned for the Imperial realm. The Black Flame had another General, General Meligonn, poised and ready to launch a full scale war on not only the Imperial realm but also the entire world. Uthan's vision spurred him on, driving him harder to find the lost tortured soul of his master, free the Forged One and kill a fallen God.
With his friends, Uthan escaped a siege, fled from the unseen clutches of the Black Flame's soldiers in the Empire's capital city and out into the sweltering jungles of a place called The Demon realm, where The Black Flame waited.
Uthan will pay a price for his victory. The world can only hope it won't prove too high in the future.
Extract
In the sky above Qwan, Baymothesis circled, fixing the elf with a baleful stare. It roared again, sounding its hatred. Jaws opened and the head aimed down at Qwan. With a loud whoosh, Baymothesis coughed a fireball down at the elf. White hot fire splashed down onto the ground in front of Qwan. His horse reared suddenly, causing him to fight for control in the saddle. Sparks reeled into the air past the elf's face. Calming his horse again, Qwan muttered to himself, "Well I think that pissed him off."
Throwing its huge horned head back in a loud bellow, Baymothesis dived. Qwan spurred his horse into a run, attempting to reach a point behind where the dragon would hit. Flecks of foam were thrown into the air from his horse. Beneath the flesh, he could see the muscles moving in a fluid union. The dragon hurtled through the sky over Qwan's head. His reactions took over at that very same moment. The lance, almost as if it had chosen to do so by its own design, moved into a vertical position. Qwan threw it hard into the air, yelling loud with the effort.
Baymothesis screamed. The lance pierced its side in a deep wound. A small fountain of blood was spurted into the air, forced further by the air released from one of the air sacs. Clutching at the lance with its smaller front legs, Baymothesis pulled it free, snapping it in two sections. Casting another baleful glance at the elf, Baymothesis threw the broken lance to the ground. Beating the two wings against the air, the dragon hung in the sky, glaring down at the elf on horseback.
Sitting back calmly in his saddle, Qwan called, "Why bother with the dramatics? We both know what you're gonna do!"
Opening his jaws again, Baymothesis sent a jet of flame towards the elf. Qwan pulled hard on the reins, turning the horse away quickly. Moving at a gallop, the elf spurred his horse away, chased along by fire. Baymothesis swooped down, racing along behind him, chasing Qwan with the fire spray. All around Qwan was a searing heat that felt as if it could burn his flesh from the bones from a distance. In truth, it could.
Hedged in on all sides by walls of fire, Qwan brought his horse to a stop. The animal reared, panicked by the heat of the fire and the smell of the smoke. Over the sound of the crackling fire, Qwan could hear the steady thump of Baymothesis flapping his wings. The heat and smoke served to distort the sound, making it impossible for Qwan to determine which direction it came from.
A sudden roar from his left made Qwan roll sideways out of the saddle. As he fell, he kicked the horse on the flanks, sending it into a run. A heartbeat later, the huge shadowy form of Baymothesis parted the smoke clouds. Seeing the horse running, it gave chase immediately, sliding back away through the flames again.
Qwan drew his sabre quickly and pushed himself upright. He blinked hard, rubbing his stinging eyes to free them from smoke and tears. Putting his forearms up in front of his face, he ran and jumped through one of the walls of fire. His breath came in sharp painful wheezes. Fighting back a coughing fit, Qwan ran on, trying to get to somewhere with less fire. Rolling onto his knees, he scanned the flames. Over the top of the crackling, he heard his horse whinny loud only to be interrupted by a loud wet snapping sound. Somewhere to his right he heard the other horses cry out in terror. He gripped the sabre tightly in his hands, waiting to see the dark shadow fall over him again. Beads of sweat rolled from his face, dropping to the ground unchecked.
"Come on you bastard," Qwan muttered, searching the flames, "Where are you?"
To his left, the dragon walked calmly through the wall of fire. For a few moments Baymothesis paused, taking in the area in front of it, looking for the elf. Flames licked up around the dragon's scales, unnoticed by Baymothesis itself. Finding him only a short distance away, the dragon roared.
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