A bestselling modern French fantasy novel about twenty-three brave warriors of the wind, published in English for the first time Twenty-three adventurers--some trained since birth, some gathered up over the course of an interminable journey--climb endlessly against the wind that plagues their desert homeland. Their only purpose: to make it to the Upper Reaches and identify the wind''s mysterious source. Thirty-three hordes before them have tried and failed over the course of 800 years. The brave warriors of this wildly imaginative universe must learn to coexist and fight to survive. Each Horde member has a unique personality and a precise duty, and collaborating as a unit is their only hope. Author Alain Damasio skillfully moves between narrators, giving voice to each member of the Horde. The writing alternates between breathtaking descriptions of the unique and bewildering world he has invented--ruled by seven types of wind, classified by their forces--and intense, rhythmic dialogues that make the reader as much a participant in the story as any of the characters. As the tale progresses, the suspense intensifies around Golgoth the trailbreaker, Erg the defender, Oroshi the aeromaster, and the rest of the group, who must face not only the unpredictability of nature, but also enemies from other clans determined to see their defeat. With more than half a million copies sold in France and a dedicated cult following, Horde of the Counterwind is sure to enchant English-language readers.

Autorentext

**Alain Damasio **is the author of three bestselling French novels: La Zone du Dehors (1999 and 2007), winner of the European Utopiales Prize 2007, the Imaginales high-schoolers Prize 2006 and adapted for the stage in 2016; Horde of the Counterwind (2004), winner of three literary prizes including the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire 2006 in the category "Francophone novel" and adapted into a graphic novel in 2017; and Les Furtifs (April 2019). Damasio is a triple recipient of the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire, France's most prestigious science fiction award, and his most recent novel was voted best overall book of 2019.

Alexander Dickow is a poet, novelist, translator and literary scholar who works in French and English. He grew up in Moscow, Idaho, in the Pacific Northwest, and after living in France at irregular intervals for seven years, is now professor of French at Virginia Tech. He has a long-standing interest in science fiction, weird fiction and fantasy, and is the author of a science fiction novel in French, Le Premier Souper, along with several works of poetry in both languages. His full-length translations include: The Central Laboratory by Max Jacob, The Neverending Quest for the Other Shore by Sylvie Kandé, *Showers and Bright Spells: Selected Poems 2009-2019 *by Henri Droguet, and Air of Solitude, followed by Requiem by Gustave Roud (co-translated with Sean T. Reynolds).

Klappentext

France's defining fantasy/science fiction odyssey of the 21st century, basis of the award-winning video game Expedition 33 and now published in English for the first time, celebrates twenty-three brave warriors of the wind

Twenty-three adventurers-each with a unique personality and a precise duty, some trained since birth, some joining over the course of a long journey-climb endlessly against the wind that plagues their desolate homeland. Their only purpose: to make it to the Upper Reaches and identify the wind's mysterious source. Over the course of eight hundred years, thirty-three hordes before them have tried and failed.

In this masterwork whose epic scope and visionary world-building are commonly compared to the universe of Dune, author Alain Damasio moves among narrators, alternating between breathtaking descriptions of the unique and bewildering world he has invented-ruled by seven types of wind, classified by their forces-and gripping, rhythmic dialogue.

Horde of the Counterwind has ignited the imaginations of more than a million French fans since its publication in 2004. Voted the best book of the twenty-first century by readers of Sens critique and the twelfth-greatest book of all time by Le Monde's subscribers, the novel served as a major inspiration for the celebrated video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. At last, English-speaking audiences will get the chance to shoulder their packs and join the adventure.