About the Book
The Twisted Root of Jaarfindor is the tale of black, warrior-princess, Lia-Va, and her obession with the roots she has been charged hunt down and return to the Tree of Life and Death. Forsaking her royal duties she embarks on a blood-thirsty journey aboard the pirate sky-ship, Voyuer. Turning on its head, stereo-types of race, colour and creed, the Twisted Root re-writes the borders of myth, fantasy, and science-fiction. If you're a fan of Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Michael Moorcock, or China Mieville then this one is definitely for you. Using the familiar landscapes and many of the cultural ideas of the Jesse Jameson books, The Twisted Root of Jaarfindor tells the gripping tale of three sets of space-time travellers on the Holy Pilgrimage to Brafindar, whose 'holy' purposes might not be quite as holy as they first appear. Lia-Va is an eighteen year old black sword-wielding princess who has claimed her throne the traditional way of her people - by killing her father in battle.
From the golden steps of Elriad's White Citadel she embarks on a strange and blood-thirsty journey aboard the pirate hovering sky-ship, Voyuer, to hunt down the fabled and fabulous twisted root which is said to be hidden beneath Brafindar in its chilling catacombs. The mysterious Time-Walker, known only as the Third, has been shook from his hibernation of countless years. He follows his own quest to Brafindar, to seek the twisted root for reasons beyond his comprehension, and to save two teenagers from the Death-Seers who have split the fabric of time and space to join in the chase for the legendary root. But, in the mythical sky-worlds of Elriad, Jaarfindor, and Finnigull, change is the only constant. Political power ebbs and flows, military might rises and falls, and not since Chaucer's Canterbury Tales has a book of pilgrimage held up the mirror of satire, scorn, and hilarity to reflect modern day society with alarming accuracy and clarity.
About the Author :
Sean Wright was born in Peterborough, England, in 1959. He attended the St.Peter's Primary School and the Queen's Secondary School in Wisbech. When he left he spent a year at the Isle College, studying print and design. He learned how to take photographs, process film, compose type, design layouts, tinkered in the repro room, messed about with the litho printing machines and generally learned a great deal about 'the old-fashioned' printing trade. This is where his great love of books - both written and illustrated began. Back in 1976, he went to London to audition for a band called The Automatics, and met up with Steve Lillywhite, producer of Ultravox, Status Quo, and U2. Lillywhite was concerned that a 16 year-old, Sean, was 'too young to be alone in London. Life here is full of strange situations,' he said. Inspired, two years later Sean released a power pop single, 'Strange Situation,' on the Ellie Jay Record label, London, and has been recently learned that this limited edition is now sought after by Amsterdam Record Fair collectors. All of Jesse Jameson and the Golden Glow was read cover to cover - non-stop for five hours - on the BBC Radio's Big Read-a-thon and streamed live on the internet back in May 2003. The book was featured on CBBC Xchange programme in October 2003. In July 2004 the Book and Magazine Collector publication named Sean Wright as one of fifteen of the most collectable modern children's author's alive today, along with JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, and GP Taylor. Leading figures in the publishing world are calling the series 'a modern classic.' GP Taylor, author of the huge fantasy best-seller, Shadowmancer, which was Waterstone's Book of 2003 and hit the #1 of the New York Times list in June 2004, has recently read Jesse Jameson. He said that Jesse's adventures were 'Fantastic books ... highly recommended and very good reads.' Sean is a member of the British Fantasy Society.
Review :
The Observer 'The Twisted Root of Jaarfindor by Sean Wright is one to watch out for.' Lucy Masters, Hatchard's Piccadilly children's buyer 'Outstanding fiction of the highest calibre.' The Guardian 'The Twisted Root of Jaarfindor by Sean Wright...is the subject of the biggest 'buzz' for an unknown author and small independent publisher since GP Taylor's Shadowmancer.' Book and Magazine Collector, July 2004 edition 'Part of the new wave of children's authors ... highly collectable.' Hilary Williamson, Bookloons Review 'A compact dark fantasy (with a magnificent cover) that's as imaginative as his Jesse Jameson series, and reminiscent in style of a cross between something by Michael Moorcock and by Mervyn Peake. As usual, I'm impressed by the fast action, and wonder where the author gets his weird and wonderful ideas.'
