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Tales of the Timuras #1
Wizard of the Winds
KING OF KINGS, LORD OVER MEN AND DEMONS ALIKE
Only one ruler had ever held that title, and now Iraj Protarus, an orphaned prince exiled to a small village high in the Valley of the Clouds, dreamed of being the next great conqueror. The key to his destiny would be Safar Timura, a youth with an awesome gift for sorcery, whose visions foretold Iraj's rise to power. And in those visions, Safar stood at Iraj's side, his soul-blasting spells enabling his friend to attain his dreams.
But Safar had other visions with darker portents, and his spellbound knowledge raised secrets better left buried. The road the two men followed would be rich in titles and fortunes, but it would also be rich in death and disaster, in intrigue--and in unforgivable betrayal . . .
Let the Wizard of the Winds sweep you away with a tale of such power and passion that you will forget every other fantasy you've ever read. Enter a world where humans and demons are deadly enemies, where the destiny of entire dynasties is buffeted mercilessly by the stormy winds of sorcery powerful beyond imagination. Like the masters who have come before him, Allan Cole has created a haunting and unique world peopled with characters you will hate to love and love to hate . . . a unique world whose siren song will be irresistible to fantasy lovers everywhere . . .
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Only one ruler had ever held that title, and now Iraj Protarus, an orphaned prince exiled to a small village high in the Valley of the Clouds, dreamed of being the next great conqueror. The key to his destiny would be Safar Timura, a youth with an awesome gift for sorcery, whose visions foretold Iraj's rise to power. And in those visions, Safar stood at Iraj's side, his soul-blasting spells enabling his friend to attain his dreams.
But Safar had other visions with darker portents, and his spellbound knowledge raised secrets better left buried. The road the two men followed would be rich in titles and fortunes, but it would also be rich in death and disaster, in intrigue--and in unforgivable betrayal . . .
Let the Wizard of the Winds sweep you away with a tale of such power and passion that you will forget every other fantasy you've ever read. Enter a world where humans and demons are deadly enemies, where the destiny of entire dynasties is buffeted mercilessly by the stormy winds of sorcery powerful beyond imagination. Like the masters who have come before him, Allan Cole has created a haunting and unique world peopled with characters you will hate to love and love to hate . . . a unique world whose siren song will be irresistible to fantasy lovers everywhere . . .
From the Trade Paperback edition.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 6, 1997
9 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Allan Cole
80 books65 followersAllan Cole was an American author and television writer, who wrote or co-wrote nearly thirty books.The son of a CIA operative, Cole was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. He collaborated with Chris Bunch on the Sten science fiction series, as well the Far Kingdoms Series, and the historical novels, A Reckoning For Kings and Daughter Of Liberty.
He co-authored a non-fiction book A Cop's Life with his uncle, Thomas Grubb; and a fantasy novel Lords Of Terror with Russian author Nick Perumov.His solo books include the fantasy novels that make up the Timura Trilogy and the thrillers, Dying Good and Drowned Hopes.
He sold more than a hundred television episodes, including ones for Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Incredible Hulk, Dinosaucers, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum, P.I., Werewolf, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
He was also a Los Angeles newspaper editor and investigative reporter for 14 years.
Cole was married to Chris Bunch's sister, Kathryn. He died of cancer in Boca Raton, Florida, aged 75, on March 29, 2019.
He co-authored a non-fiction book A Cop's Life with his uncle, Thomas Grubb; and a fantasy novel Lords Of Terror with Russian author Nick Perumov.His solo books include the fantasy novels that make up the Timura Trilogy and the thrillers, Dying Good and Drowned Hopes.
He sold more than a hundred television episodes, including ones for Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Incredible Hulk, Dinosaucers, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum, P.I., Werewolf, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
He was also a Los Angeles newspaper editor and investigative reporter for 14 years.
Cole was married to Chris Bunch's sister, Kathryn. He died of cancer in Boca Raton, Florida, aged 75, on March 29, 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 20 reviews
May 31, 2013
Maybe it's because I'm older, but I am finding myself less able to tolerate mediocre fiction, particularly mediocre fantasy. I probably wouldn't have noticed the flaws of this book if I was younger, but they are many.
All the characters, even the main character are flimsy and two dimensional, generic and cartoonish. All the women fall in love with the main character, and are loyal to him. The main character is never in any real danger, there's no sense of that throughout the book. It was just overall disappointing.
The audio narration was OK but not very well done. I won't be continuing this series.
All the characters, even the main character are flimsy and two dimensional, generic and cartoonish. All the women fall in love with the main character, and are loyal to him. The main character is never in any real danger, there's no sense of that throughout the book. It was just overall disappointing.
The audio narration was OK but not very well done. I won't be continuing this series.
August 15, 2018
the first half of this fantasy wasn't earthshakingly inventive, but it was a good story, well told ... and then it was just as if whatever editor had been working on the piece with the author suddenly pulled up stakes and moved her (or his, or their) tent elsewhere, leaving rather a mess. still, i saw it through to the end, and i'm willing to read book two, just to see if it has anywhere interesting to go hereafter. i'll let you know.
October 18, 2017
Action was quite slow. Juvenile conversations. Many mistakes with editing. No build up, training or difficulties to reach a Master Wizard level. Actually I never finished. I was 50 pages from the end and I didn’t care what happened to the characters. I’ve only not finished a book 3 other times.
May 8, 2018
Decent idea in a very interesting setting, but with rather heavy-handed writing and too much extra information, especially at both the beginning and end. A few more rounds of editing could have gotten this one another star.
January 21, 2019
DNF without making it to chapter 1 😁. It is a flashback book. Bugger that!
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
January 9, 2021
מתחיל חלש משתפר בהמשך
November 1, 2023
DNF about 1/5th in. Two horny teens make a heroic act and get whatever they want including the choicest ladies. I was somewhat interested in the setting but I'd rather read something else.
June 23, 2011
“When the Gods Slept” the first of the “The Timura Trilogy” is a wonderful fantasy. The story follows the hero, Safar Timura and his best friend Iraj Protaras from their youth to their mid-twenties.
Iraj is an orphaned prince exiled to a small village high in the Valley of the Clouds, dreamed of being the next great conqueror. The key to his destiny is Safar Timura, a youth with an awesome gift for sorcery, whose visions foretell Iraj's rise to power. In those visions, Safar stands at Iraj's side, his soul-blasting spells enabling his friend to attain his dreams.
But Safar had other visions with darker portents, and his spellbound knowledge raised secrets better left buried. Safar escapes death many times. The first time is an attack by demons who have learned how cross the forbidden desert. The last is surviving the deepest of betrayals.
The heart of the problem between these two blood brothers is vision. Iraj will become King of Kings. He’s fearful Safar wants his position and refuses to believe otherwise. Of course, his paranoia is fed by three well-drawn, power hungry villains. Safar in many ways maintains his innocence. His sole goal has always been to learn sufficient magic to defeat the Demon Moon and save the world from extinction. Not that Iraj believes this.
This book is rich in death and disaster, in intrigue and treachery, love and loss. This book makes you smile, cry, and hurt and the end is a surprise.
By the time I had read half the book, I went to Amazon and bought the second and third books in the trilogy. It reminded me of what makes fantasy so special. Can you tell I loved the book?
Iraj is an orphaned prince exiled to a small village high in the Valley of the Clouds, dreamed of being the next great conqueror. The key to his destiny is Safar Timura, a youth with an awesome gift for sorcery, whose visions foretell Iraj's rise to power. In those visions, Safar stands at Iraj's side, his soul-blasting spells enabling his friend to attain his dreams.
But Safar had other visions with darker portents, and his spellbound knowledge raised secrets better left buried. Safar escapes death many times. The first time is an attack by demons who have learned how cross the forbidden desert. The last is surviving the deepest of betrayals.
The heart of the problem between these two blood brothers is vision. Iraj will become King of Kings. He’s fearful Safar wants his position and refuses to believe otherwise. Of course, his paranoia is fed by three well-drawn, power hungry villains. Safar in many ways maintains his innocence. His sole goal has always been to learn sufficient magic to defeat the Demon Moon and save the world from extinction. Not that Iraj believes this.
This book is rich in death and disaster, in intrigue and treachery, love and loss. This book makes you smile, cry, and hurt and the end is a surprise.
By the time I had read half the book, I went to Amazon and bought the second and third books in the trilogy. It reminded me of what makes fantasy so special. Can you tell I loved the book?
November 15, 2015
I liked the story (or perhaps "the story trilogy" would be more accurate) for its unusual backdrop probably because Cole drew upon his experience with middle east culture to create the fantasy. It is an odd way to be introduced to life in an arid world, but it worked. Both the main characters and those on the periphery seemed well-developed with respect to their drives, intents and ethics.
Now, perhaps there are different versions of the book available, but I wouldn't know. I purchased and read the high volume release and it was, at times, almost unreadable and quite annoying. I began to edit the text but after 50 pages or so of bleeding red, there were so many grammatical errors, typos and mispellings that I just gave up (I had hoped that, should I or someone else ever decide to read it, it might read easier the second time around). Makes me wonder if this writing just skipped the proof-read stage and went straight to publication. But as I intimated, if other "scrubbed" versions exist, perhaps those might read better.
Therefore, my hydrid rating would be 4 stars for storytelling and 1 star for the writing itself. Half of 5 is 2.5 so 3 stars is being slightly generous. The bottom line: if you are clairvoyant enough to skip over all the errors in type, the volume will be much more enjoyable. Otherwise, if you are used to reading technical journals and prone to exactitudes, it is hard labor to read this book cover-to-cover.
Mr. Cole: If you really can't afford a qualified proof-reader, I would be glad to volunteer my services for no more than access to a copy of a yet-to-be-published version.
Now, perhaps there are different versions of the book available, but I wouldn't know. I purchased and read the high volume release and it was, at times, almost unreadable and quite annoying. I began to edit the text but after 50 pages or so of bleeding red, there were so many grammatical errors, typos and mispellings that I just gave up (I had hoped that, should I or someone else ever decide to read it, it might read easier the second time around). Makes me wonder if this writing just skipped the proof-read stage and went straight to publication. But as I intimated, if other "scrubbed" versions exist, perhaps those might read better.
Therefore, my hydrid rating would be 4 stars for storytelling and 1 star for the writing itself. Half of 5 is 2.5 so 3 stars is being slightly generous. The bottom line: if you are clairvoyant enough to skip over all the errors in type, the volume will be much more enjoyable. Otherwise, if you are used to reading technical journals and prone to exactitudes, it is hard labor to read this book cover-to-cover.
Mr. Cole: If you really can't afford a qualified proof-reader, I would be glad to volunteer my services for no more than access to a copy of a yet-to-be-published version.
July 2, 2011
The friend who loaned this to me quit reading it, no reason given other than "didn't like it". Meanwhile, I liked it very much. Two people who would normally have nothing to do with each other, thrown together when one has a family quarrel and moves to town. Neither of them fits in, so they become best friends. Cliche, of course. They both had a dream vision, the same one, that the one from some other town would become a king, and the other would be at his side, and a wizard. Throughout the book, they become the best of friends, then start testing the limits of that friendship. You can see where this is going, can't you? At the end of the book, the two have separated again, to follow different visions, leading to the next two books in the trilogy.
Most of the conflict in the book comes from the wizard, Safar Timura, not really wanting to be a wizard, and ashamed of his powers, while his friend, Iraj Protarus, wishes to become the most powerful king over all the lands. Safar is constantly shocked by things his friend says and does, mostly culture shock. In the end, things happen because of a woman. Again, another cliche. I still enjoyed it though. Moving on to Book 2 soon.
Most of the conflict in the book comes from the wizard, Safar Timura, not really wanting to be a wizard, and ashamed of his powers, while his friend, Iraj Protarus, wishes to become the most powerful king over all the lands. Safar is constantly shocked by things his friend says and does, mostly culture shock. In the end, things happen because of a woman. Again, another cliche. I still enjoyed it though. Moving on to Book 2 soon.
July 15, 2017
I liked how it was laid out, with a little taste of where the character is now and then going back and finding out how he got there. I also liked that it wasn't told solely from the humans' point of view, that we got to see the demons' thoughts, too.
It was an adventurous story with lots of action.
It was an adventurous story with lots of action.
July 10, 2013
the recipe for this book are put 2 big fat meat of friendship, hammer it with some promise and oath, sprinkle it with a little bit adventure spice, add some jealousy and love from another characters. Put it in some big pot full of misunderstanding. Fried it until you can smell the betrayal flavor. Finally you served it cold with revenge. Put some prophecy on top of it and you got this book.
August 28, 2015
A sweet, traditional fantasy book, with an Arabian Nights atmosphere. The story of 2 childhood friends, one of them a great wizard and the other a great warlord, who join together in order to forge an empire. A charming tale that didn't seem to catch on with the majority of fantasy readers, and more's the pity.
August 28, 2008
I cannot remember much about this book.
January 19, 2009
Wizard of the Winds (Tales of the Timuras) by Allan Cole (1997)
January 9, 2011
Great book one but haven't been able to find the two other books in the triology of this set.
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September 26, 201210
May 19, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Can't wait to find the next one!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 20 reviews