Long ago, the wizards had vanished from the world, and all knowledge was left hidden in riddles. Morgon, prince of the simple farmers of Hed, proved himself a master of such riddles when he staked his life to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aum.

But now ancient, evil forces were threatening him. Shape changers began replacing friends until no man could be trusted. So Morgon was forced to flee to hostile kingdoms, seeking the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain.

Beside him went Deth, the High One's Harper. Ahead lay strange encounters and terrifying adventures. And with him always was the greatest of unsolved riddles -- the nature of the three stars on his forehead that seemed to drive him toward his ultimate destiny.

帕特裏夏·麥奇利普（Patricia A. McKillip），美國奇幻及科幻作傢，2008年世界奇幻奬終身成就奬得主。1948年生於俄勒岡州塞勒姆市，1973年於聖何塞州立大學獲得文學碩士學位，畢業後即成為專職作傢。

麥奇利普以瑰麗而富有詩意的文字見長，其作品有著豐富的視覺意象，洋溢著深邃神秘的氛圍，有評論將其與美國奇幻及科幻大師厄休拉·勒古恩相提並論。曾以《風中竪琴手》奪得軌跡奬最佳奇幻小說奬，以《女巫與幻獸》《幽城迷影》兩奪世界奇幻奬，以《豐饒與陌異》《至日之林》《幽城迷影》三奪創神奇幻奬，並數度入圍雨果奬、星雲奬、軌跡奬、世界奇幻奬、創神奇幻奬等世界幻想文學至高奬項。

嚴韻，颱灣女詩人，譯者，倫敦大學戲劇研究碩士。著有詩集《日光夜景》《日重光行》，譯有《禦謎士三部麯》《焚舟紀》《新夏娃的激情》《明智的孩子》《魔幻玩具鋪》等。2007年初終於跳齣火坑，堪稱有生以來最明智的決定。現為不文化工作者。