Screaming Dreams

Flames of Herakleitos by Bob Lock

It’s 1969 and a four year old girl witnesses the terrifying death of her father, which is attributed to Spontaneous Human Combustion. Thirty years pass and Lucy Fenton is taken to a parallel world where everything she has ever known is turned on its head.

Extract

Luther Krell was a mage, and like all of his kind hated being rushed. Yet as he sat in his workshop, he dwelt on the fact that a commission was a commission, and as his reputation was at stake, he had put caution aside and accepted the work. Normally he would have fasted three days for the task required but necessity had made him cut it down to two. The meat was easy to find and he ground the rotting flesh up in the bowl with his mortar. Krell, the golem-creator was nothing if not methodical. The meat he used gradually transformed into a thick, reddish brown paste. The stench permeated his small room, stuck to his clothes, and even seemed to cling to his very skin. It was a good batch, and a good omen. His next golem would be powerful.

Many potential mages, or thaumaturgists as they preferred being called, made animated beings. Thaumaturgy invoked images of miracle-workers or life-givers. However, none had yet discovered his method of life-giving. Many thaumaturgists succeeded in creating passable golems, but only Krell’s were robust and refined. Not one had been lost in all the time he had been creating them. They had become the pinnacle of animated clay perfection. All-conquering, yet submissive and subservient to their owner. The perfect bodyguards, assassins, or if wanted, common work-horse.

Read Sample Chapter
Chapter One

PDF Format : FlamesOfHerakleitos.pdf : 331kb

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Cover art by Steve Upham

ISBN : 978-0-9555185-1-5
Paperback : 203x127mm : 360pp

Published March 2007

£9.99 (+ postage)

About the Author

Bob Lock is a Gower born Welshman, married with two grown-up children and two grand-children. After taking early retirement he now spends his time writing.

Author's Homepage : www.scifi-tales.com
Book Homepage : www.flamesofherakleitos.com

"There is humour here, which is a rarity in much that is written nowadays. You should treasure that. Incidentally, I read Flames all the way to the finish, there are plenty of published writers I've abandoned even when I've bought the book." — Neal Asher

"Flames is an astounding ride into the unknown world of fantasy from an author who is destined to be remembered." — Garry Charles

About the Artist

Steve Upham enjoys all things creative, including drawing, painting, digital art, photography and much more. He has been running his own craft workshop for over ten years, but continues to create artwork on a freelance basis. He is also the editor/publisher at Screaming Dreams of course!