Part of Lord Valentine
First published 1995
Valentine wakes with no memory beyond his own name, stranded on the outskirts of a sprawling city. He joins a traveling company of jugglers and acrobats, learning their craft while fragments of his past slowly surface. As his memories return, Valentine realizes a shocking truth: he is the Coronal, the executive ruler of Majipoor and all its diverse inhabitants, both human and alien. His identity was stolen, his mind wiped, his body cast aside. Now Valentine must reclaim his throne and restore order to his world. His quest takes him across Majipoor's extraordinary landscapes: fields where carnivorous plants hunt their prey, rivers so broad they seem like inland seas, islands ringed by white cliffs, and deserts that show no mercy to travelers. On this world, dreams shape reality and influence the minds of rulers and commoners alike. Valentine's journey becomes both a physical odyssey across alien terrain and a psychological voyage of self-discovery.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, alternate-universe
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, lost-royalty, self-discovery
Setting: Majipoor
506 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Eos