Excerpt from The Son of the Swordmaker: A Romance The patricians smiled at one another when my father appeared, yet he would persist in seeking to be among them. Sometimes he essayed to speak, and he spoke well, telling of the exploits of his legion; but it was rare that he was favored with a kindly ear, for the patricians sneered at his presumption and the plebeians resented his rise from among them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

In the high mountains of Tibet, rumors are spreading. People whisper of an outbreak, of thousands of dead, of bodies pushed into mass graves. It is some strange new disease ... a disease, they say, that can kill in minutes. The Chinese government says the rumors aren't true, but no one is allowed in or out of Tibet. At the Pentagon, Admiral James Curtiss is called to an emergency meeting. Satellite images prove that a massive genocide is underway, and an American spy has made a startling discovery. This is no disease. It's a weapons test. Chinese scientists have developed a way to kill based on a person's genetic traits. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The success of their new weapon proves that the Chinese are nearing "Replication"-a revolutionary breakthrough that will tip the global balance of power and change the way wars are waged. Now the US must scramble to catch up before it is too late. Admiral Curtiss gathers the nation's top scientists, including a promising young graduate student named Eric Hill who just might hold the missing piece to the replication puzzle. Soon Hill and his colleague Jane Hunter are caught up in a deadly game of sabotage as the two nations strive to be the first to reach the coveted goal. But in their headlong race, they create something unexpected ... something the world has never seen and something more powerful than they had ever imagined. The Last Sword Maker is an exciting globe-trotting thriller with unforgettable characters that depicts a haunting vision of the future of warfare. "A gripping, frighteningly plausible techno-thriller...Nelson's intriguing scientific predictions and distinctive near-future setting make this sure to please speculative fiction readers as well as thriller fans."-Publishers Weekly "An all-too-plausible examination of how emerging technologies could be weaponized to horrible ends. I don't recommend reading this one right before bedtime-unless you are prepared to stay up very, very late to finish it."-Lisa Brackmann, New York Times bestselling author "A head-spinning sci-fi-infused military thriller, with China and the United States putting everything they have into developing the perfect weapon, no matter the cost. "-Francisco Toro, columnist, Washington Post "The danger is unique, and the treachery vast, in this rapid-paced adventure that delivers in equal doses of amazing, yet possible. An intriguing tale that will leave you thinking. "-Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author "A compelling thriller...Nelson's riveting narrative captures the drama of great power competition...This is a terrific debut."-Patrick Duddy, Duke University, former US Ambassador to Venezuela "An amazing read. The Last Sword Maker has everything"-Moises Naim, New York Times bestselling author "A terrifying vision of future warfare in the vein of Tom Clancy's and Michael Crichton's novels...A powerhouse near-future thriller with explosive action and exciting science."-Foreword Reviews

The third book in the Sword-Dancer saga continues the legendary adventures of Tiger and Del, magic wielders and skilled warriors Sword-sworn to track down the hounds of hoolies, yet inescapably haunted by his memories of Del, Tiger, now master of Northern and Southron sword skills, is relentlessly following the trail that will lead him to Ysaa-den. Yet before him wait perils far deadlier than any hounds. For in Ysaa-den, he is hailed as a champion come to stop the force that has been wreaking destruction upon the villagers, a force which many claim is a dragon of unimaginable strength. As the trail of hounds and “dragon” now seem intertwined, Tiger has no choice but to climb the mountain to the place known as Dragon’s Lair. And it is here that he comes face to face with a challenge that may prove beyond even the mastery of Northern and Southron sword magic—the challenge of Chosa Dei, a wizard out of legend with the power to unmake all that opposes him....