The Standing Dead [Hardcover]

Scottish fantasy writer Ricardo Pinto returns with his eagerly awaited second book The Standing Dead, the follow up to his wonderful and critically acclaimed debut The Chosen.

The story picks up neatly where its predecessor ended and now finds Carnelian and Osidian, having escaped from Empress Ykoriana, held captive by one of the Earthsky tribes of the south plain--a captivity Carnelian grows to embrace along with the tribesmen and their ordered life. Meanwhile the fires of revenge are growing in Osidian and But the vampire-like Masters--whom the tribe refer to as "The Standing Dead" of the title--still inflict their terrible oppression on Carnelian's new-found home. But even more dangerous is the terrifying presence Carnelian himself has brought right to the Tribe's door.

Pinto's complex and beautifully written second fantasy is a book to be savoured and devoured slowly. He is immaculate in the detail of people, clothing, buildings and landscapes and purposely spends a lot of time introducing you to his intricately-imagined world. He continues to build the relationship between Carnelian and Osidian, a partnership that resonates with love and tenderness, but one that is also fraught with difficulties and the Masters are as loathesome and as frightening as ever. There are a lot timely lessons here on the persecution of those considered different or unwilling to conform to so-called majority law, but Pinto's story is not so black and white. Everyone is flawed to a point and their own convictions and motivations, no matter how worthy or distasteful, are as utterly convincing to us as they are to them.

Pinto writes beautifully and his prose is a refreshing antidote to much of the action-led fantasy that dominates the genre. This is a thoughtful, engrossing and dynamic piece of work that should establish Pinto as one of fantasy's most ambitious and creative exponents. If you aren't reading Pinto, you shouldn't be reading fantasy at all. --Jonathan Weir

Escaping the clutches of the Empress Ykoriana, Carnelian and Osidian find themselves captives of a barbarian tribe from the southern plain. While Carnelian succumbs to the seasonal rhythm of tribal life, Osidian's lust for revenge deepens.

In desperation, the Ruling Lord Suth searches within the sacred walls of Osrakum for Carnelian, his son, and Osidian, the God Emperor elect. He suspects the Empress Ykoriana is behind their disappearance and knows that if they are not found soon it is her other son, Osidian’s brother Molochite, who will rule – with fearful consequences for the Three Lands. Captive of the tribes of the Earthsky, Carnelian is – for the moment – safe. Succumbing readily to the seasonal rhythms of tribal life, he is convinced by unexpected discoveries that it is fate that has brought him there. He grows to love these simple people and hopes for sanctuary among them. But the dark forces Carnelian helped unleash in Osrakum begin to cast their shadow over his adopted home. He is witness to the awful oppression that the Masters – whom the tribesmen call the Standing Dead – have been inflicting on them for millennia. But even more terrible is the presence Carnelian has unwittingly brought with him. Potent and terrifying, it threatens everything he now holds dear in this new-found world. With The Standing Dead, Ricardo Pinto gives us a tumultuous new chapter in the acclaimed Stone Dance of the Chameleon trilogy and confirms his place as one of fantasy’s most singular and literate voices. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Ricardo Pinto
Ricardo Pinto is Portuguese, but has lived and studied in Scotland since he was a child. Previously he designed and programmed computer games. This is his second novel. He lives in Edinburgh and is currently working on the final volume in this trilogy.