Truth Until Paradox

Classic World of Darkness Fiction

by Stewart Wieck (Editor), Staley Krause (Editor), Jane Lindskold (Contributor)

Dire Portents loom for San Francisco. The recent earthquake may not have been an entirely natural phenomenon. Mages, modern practicioners of magick have gathered to investigate (and possibly exploit) the situation.

This fourth World of Darkness anthology continues the Bay Area chronicle. The authors have created a collection of short stories detailing the magickal, intriguing beings known as mages. This paperback anthology contains short fiction written by some of the hottest up and coming writers in the industry today.

Contents:

The crystal Messiah by Philip Nutman
The great escape by Edo von Belkom
Introit by Jackie Cassada
When the moon by James S. Dorr
That which is given by Don Bassingthwaite
Waiting for yesterday by Brett Brooks
Candledark by Thomas S. Roche
Make em laugh by James Lowder
A block of time by Jane M. Lindskold
The judas tree by Richard Lee Byers
End run by Nigel D. Findley
Pushing the right buttons by Doug Murray
Dream speaker by Bill Crider
Devils bargain by Thomas Kane
Silver nutmeg, golden pear by Jim Moore & Kevin Murphy
Grim reminders by Jim Moore & Kevin Murphy
The seven sages of the bamboo grove by John H. Steele
Lexicon

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Gaming, World Of Darkness, Urban Fantasy, Anthologies, Role Playing Games

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The revised edition of "Truth Until Paradox" is actually a bit of a disappointment. Fewer stories than the original, and some of the best stories from the original collection are missing from the revision. A good collection of stories, but not great. Still, if you're a fan of Mage: The Ascension, you should read it . . .

[Periklis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story collection, tie-in fiction to the Mage: The Ascension role playing game.
Brief thoughts on each story:

• Introit • (1995) • novelette by Jackie Cassada
A young mage of the Celestial Chorus tradition, faces the Technocracy. Good introductory story aimed towards gamers, mostly... (3/5)

• The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove • (1995) • novelette by Gherbod Fleming [as by John H. Steele ]
The Akashic Brotherhood awaken a young sleeper mage to dire consequences. A mysterious entity named Zorn (appears also in Tower of Babel by the same author) is mentioned. Great writing but the plot demands inside knowledge of the game material and universe. (3.5/5)

• Silver Nutmeg, Golden Pear • (1995) • novelette by James A. Moore and Kevin Murphy [as by Jim Moore and Kevin Murphy ]
A relic hunter of the Hollow Ones tradition, discovers a Nephandi witch in her city. Very good writing, can be enjoyed by readers with no inside knowledge. (4/5)

• Grim Reminders • (1995) • novelette by James A. Moore and Kevin Murphy [as by Jim Moore and Kevin Murphy ]
A companion piece of the above story, with a hefty battle at its center. Hollow Ones confront the Nephandi witch with the colorful Order of Hermes mage from before, taking center stage. Great action, very good writing (4.5/5)

• The Great Escape • (1995) • shortstory by Edo van Belkom
Decent story about a houdini-like mage, confronting the major antagonists, the Technocracy. Good writing, using gaming terminology at times. (3/5)

• A Block of Time • [The Mage Tieh] • (1995) • novelette by Jane Lindskold
Good "yarn" for MtA insiders and casual readers to enjoy equally. Akashic Brotherhood and Dreamweavers against Technocracy. (3/5)

• Make 'Em Laugh • (1995) • novelette by James Lowder
GREAT story. A Sons of Ether acolyte turns a local grindhouse cinema into an awakening chamber. With the Nephandi involved it all goes spiralling into madness and mayhem. Classic and cult movie-scenes come to life in vivid descriptions. (5/5)

• Escobar Falls • (1994) • shortstory by Stewart Wieck [as by Stewart von Allmen ]
Great story, both in style and substance. Some game terminology was lost on me, but the story delivered the perspective of both, Mage and sleeper, to a... chilling effect. (5/5)

[Kapmando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nephandi Technocrat with evil hand... Do I have to say more? Okay, it's based on World of Darkness's Mage RPG, and it gives a good feel for the world and the crushing push of banality and hostile forces on modern magi.

[Peter De Kinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot better than the antology for the new Mage system, this book actually introduces the different views of the Traditions in the World of Darkness. Entertaining stories with a hint of nostalgia as the real world feel of the nineties comes wafting of the pages.