Stormchaser: The Edge Chronicles [Paperback]

This second book of The Edge Chronicles tells a new, self-contained story independent of, although rooted in, the exuberant fantasy bestiary and travelogue of Beyond the Deepwoods.

Young hero Twig is now reunited with his sky-pirate father as the lowliest crew-member of the flying sailship Stormchaser. In the fanciful physics operating at the edge of the world some stones can defy gravity, like the flight-rock that lifts Stormchaser. Thus the academic community of Sanctaphrax is built on a floating mountain chained to the ground of Undertown below.

Thanks to a tortuous history of corruption in high places the demand for chain-manufacture is forever increasing, leading to massive industrial pollution--because Sanctaphrax's precious, magically superheavy "stormphrax" ballast is gradually being stolen for alchemical use, and Stormchaser undertakes the dangerous mission to find new supplies at the deadly core of a Great Storm. But nothing, absolutely nothing, works out as expected in this madly twisting plot.

Twig's companions are beset by spies, traitors, memorable villains and the living dead and there are perhaps more deaths than might be expected in a "children's" novel, but Stewart's compulsive storytelling, perfectly complemented by Riddell's fine-lined illustrations, makes it all goodstuff. --David Langford --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

" Action-packed"
-- "The Guardian"
" Chris Riddell's superb illustrations are part and parcel of Paul Stewart's excellent fantasy series, The Edge Chronicles. The second, Stormchaser, is as action-packed as its predecessor"
-- "Guardian"
" For children who've read the Harry Potter books and want another world to explore.. Just fantasy and adventure, and wonderful line drawings"
-- "Mail on Sunday"
" Stewart's compulsive storytelling, perfectly complemented by Riddells' fine-lined illustrations, makes it all good stuff"
-- amazon.co.uk (website Jan 2000)
" The story and the vast array of characters are captivating. .I became totally engrossed in this tale of young Twig, the quest for stormphrax, the worldscape and the landscape. The structure of the plot is as delicately poised as a sky-floating rock and the exuberant detail gives constant delight. This is more than a read; it kidnaps and transports the reader"
-- "The School Librarian"

Can Paul Stewart Get Any Better? This series of books has captured my imagination and emotions. All I can say to them is, keep writing them please. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Fantastic, the best I have read this month! Twig, now a sky pirate captain, finally finds his father, only to say goodbye. Thumbs up! A must read. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

I really like this trilogy, it's full of suspense, amazing characters and brilliantly thought of places. Buy them all, you'll be absoloutely astounded! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

This book enchanted me beyond belief.Its Gnomes and monsters fascinated me. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Since his childhood in the Deepwoods, young Twig has always longed to soar above the forest canopy and explore the sky. Now a lowly crew-member on his father's sky pirate ship, the Stormchaser, his dream seems fulfilled. But a much higher destiny awaits Twig as plots and treacheries from many years ago bring the lofty city of Sanctaphrax - home of the Edgeworld's most learned academics - to the point of disaster. For the city is built on a giant rock, floating high in the sky, its future balance dependent on stormphrax - a valuable yet extremely volatile substance obtained only from the heart of a Great Storm at the very instant it unleashes its most intense power. And only a ship such as the Stormchaser could risk entering the Storm...

The following are all the readers comments from the hardback edition of this novel. I felt that they would be helpful to people interested in buying the paperback edition too. There are many more so why not have a quick look at the hardback edition so that you can read them all. Don't forget to look at THE CURSE OF THE GLOAMGLOZER as well which, although published 4th, is the prequel to the series. Also, watch out in September 2002 for the brand new book THE LAST OF THE SKY PIRATES. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Take your imagination to THE EDGE!

On board the Stormchaser, Twig, a young crew-member drawn by destiny to join the sky pirates is filled with excitement at the adventure ahead.

Their quest is to collect stormphrax – a valuable substance created inside the heart of a Great Storm, at the very instant it unleashes its most intense power. But only a sky ship such as the Stormchaser could risk entering the storm …

Over 1 MILLION COPIES sold!

'Amazing . . . the illustrations are excellent' Lewis, 13

'I would note change a thing in the Edge Chronicles' Jim, 10

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell are the creators of the hugely successful Edge Chronicles, which have sold over two million copies and have been translated into over thirty languages worldwide. Their other collaborations include the Barnaby Grimes series and the Far Flung Adventures, the first of which, Fergus Crane, won the 2004 Gold Smarties Prize. Paul Stewart is the author of a number of previous titles for children including The Midnight Hand and The Wakening (a Federation of Children's Book Groups Pick of the Year) for the Yearling list. Chris Riddell is an accomplished graphic artist who has illustrated many acclaimed books for children. Winner of many prestigious awards including the UNESCO Prize (for Something Else), the Kate Greenaway Medal (in 2001 and 2004 for Pirate Diary and Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver') and the Gold Nestle Prize for Ottoline and the Yellow Cat, he is also the political cartoonist for the Observer.