“In the impressive opening installment of his first new high fantasy trilogy in a decade, Williams injects hope and humor into an end-of-the-world conflict. The author’s richly detailed world will enchant established fans and win new converts.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(Starred Review)

“Exciting, ambitious, intricate, and insightful,
Shadowmarch
demonstrates that Williams is still America’s best high fantasist.”

—
The Editors of
Amazon.com

“Williams opens another of the intricate, intriguing sagas that are his stock-in-trade. A page-turner.”

—
Booklist

“Fantasy lovers waiting to immerse themselves into the next great epic will be thrilled with
Shadowmarch
.”

—
KLIATT

“Tad Williams’ epic fantasy series is rich with detail and interesting characters. The wealth of well developed characters makes for pleasant anticipation of future volumes.”

—
The Denver Post

“For readers who discovered Tad Williams through his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn fantasy cycle, the opening chapters of
Shadowmarch
will be an unreserved treat. Tad Williams is already regarded as one of fantasy’s most skilled practitioners, and this latest work more than confirms that status.”

—
Amazing Stories

“The fate of the kingdom hangs on these brave but over-matched siblings, and Williams has made me root for them.”

—
Realms of Fantasy

“As he has done in the past, Williams takes up the various threads of high fantasy and weaves them in to an exciting and convincing tale, one in which magical events seem almost mundane as he tests his characters against situations designed to break their spirits. The first volume will leave you impatient for the rest of the story.”

—
Chronicle

DAW Books Presents
The Finest in Imaginative Fiction by
TAD WILLIAMS

TAILCHASER’S SONG

THE WAR OF THE FLOWERS

SHADOWMARCH
SHADOWPLAY
¹

MEMORY, SORROW, AND THORN
THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR
STONE OF FAREWELL
TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER

OTHERLAND
CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOW
RIVER OF BLUE FIRE
MOUNTAIN OF BLACK GLASS
SEA OF SILVER LIGHT

DAW Book Collectors No. 1309.

DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

First printing, September 2006

DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED
U.S. PAT. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES
—MARCA REGISTRADA
HECHO EN U.S.A.

eISBN : 978-1-101-46227-0

S.A.

http://us.penguingroup.com

This book is dedicated to my children, Connor Williams and Devon Beale, who as I write this are still small but extremely powerful. They amaze me every day.

Someday, when they are grown and their mother and I have ambled on to the Fields Beyond, I hope the two of them will be warmed by the knowledge of how fiercely we loved them, and a tiny bit embarrassed by how wickedly they took advantage of it, charming, funny little buggers that they are.