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Ardneh's World: Empire of the East, Book III
The Demon Lord Zapranoth will devour you, if the Beast Lord Draffut cannot save you. Her look seemed to him that his behavior was far from being unendurable; that, perhaps, if it went on a little longer it might even begin to give her pleasure … He found her lips. He tenderly kissed her checkbone before he began a line of kisses moving down her throat. Wait! What was this upon her skin? What had happened— What— With a cry Rolf sprang to his feet and backed away, almost falling in his haste. Before him now, and lately enfolded most tenderly in his arms was one of the most hideous human shapes it had ever been his ill-fortune to behold. What had been Catherine’s healthy young face had altered while he kissed it to the visage of a withered, snaggle-toothed, misshapen crone. Moving like some crippled sleepwalker, she tottered toward him. “Rolf?” she cawed out the one word, in something like a reptile’s voice, and then her figure seemed to blur, and down she fell on hands and knees.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2019
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
336 books509 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 13, 2026
The conclusion was really good. We find out Ardneh is a sentient super computer complex with godlike capabilities. Written in the early 70s, this post apocalyptic series basically pits an AI supercomputer against a super “demon” created from the aftermath of the destruction. At the end of the book, a new world awaits as both magic and old world nuclear science can now coexist. The ending was rather abrupt, and left me wanting more explanation.
February 16, 2021
The cataclysmic conclusion of the Changeling Earth!
This last volume of the Chaneling Earth trilogy (aka Empire of the East) pits the wicked Empire and its demonic patron, Orcus, in a final confrontation with the free people of the West and their mysterious patron Ardneh. Rolf, the protagonist of book 1 and pivotal character of book 2, returns to seek Ardneh - and finds him a stranger being than he could have imagined, a computer complex of the Old World given true life and sentience by the very Change he initiated in the apocalyptic war than ended the Old World and ushered in the New - a Change that nullified nuclear energy and unleashed magic in its place. Orcus himself is revealed to have been a creation of the Change - a nuclear detonation converted into a demon Prince by the Charge. Orcus and his Empire try to destroy Ardneh once and for all, but may be courting their own doom in the process . . .
This last volume of the Chaneling Earth trilogy (aka Empire of the East) pits the wicked Empire and its demonic patron, Orcus, in a final confrontation with the free people of the West and their mysterious patron Ardneh. Rolf, the protagonist of book 1 and pivotal character of book 2, returns to seek Ardneh - and finds him a stranger being than he could have imagined, a computer complex of the Old World given true life and sentience by the very Change he initiated in the apocalyptic war than ended the Old World and ushered in the New - a Change that nullified nuclear energy and unleashed magic in its place. Orcus himself is revealed to have been a creation of the Change - a nuclear detonation converted into a demon Prince by the Charge. Orcus and his Empire try to destroy Ardneh once and for all, but may be courting their own doom in the process . . .
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October 23, 2025The Demon Lord Zapranoth will devour you, if the Beast Lord Draffut cannot save you. Her look seemed to him that his behavior was far from being unendurable; that, perhaps, if it went on a little longer it might even begin to give her pleasure … He found her lips. He tenderly kissed her checkbone before he began a line of kisses moving down her throat. Wait! What was this upon her skin? What had happened— What— With a cry Rolf sprang to his feet and backed away, almost falling in his haste. Before him now, and lately enfolded most tenderly in his arms was one of the most hideous human shapes it had ever been his ill-fortune to behold. What had been Catherine’s healthy young face had altered while he kissed it to the visage of a withered, snaggle-toothed, misshapen crone. Moving like some crippled sleepwalker, she tottered toward him. “Rolf?” she cawed out the one word, in something like a reptile’s voice, and then her figure seemed to blur, and down she fell on hands and knees.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews