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Honored in the Rainbow Awards, Dusk Peterson writes fantasy, historical fantasy, and science fiction. Suspense plays an important role in many of the tales; the conflict in those tales is both external and internal. Peterson's stories are often placed in dark settings, such as prisons or wartime locations. The mood of the stories, however, is not one of unrelieved gloominess: friendship, heterosexual romance, gay love, and faithful service are recurring themes.
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"'The Eternal Dungeon is my home now,' the High Seeker said. But as he spoke, he lifted his face and looked at the Vovimian carving, as a man might look at a beloved he must leave forever."
The Seekers (torturers) in the Eternal Dungeon have always expressed contempt toward the Hidden Dungeon in the neighboring kingdom of Vovim, whose torturers abuse prisoners without restraint. But the balance between mercy and hell is not so clear as might be thought in either dungeon, and now that balance is about to tip. Only the strength of love and integrity will determine the paths of two Seekers whose fortunes are bound together.
This novel can be read on its own or as the third volume in The Eternal
Dungeon, an award-winning historical fantasy series set in a land where
the psychologists wield whips.
VOLUME CONTENTS
"Truth and Lies." When you're a prisoner, having a torturer who's mad can be an advantage. Or maybe not.
"Barbarians." Vovim was renowned for its strong monarchy, for its love of the theater, and for its skill in the art of torture. In other words, it had all the qualities needed to become a civilized nation. But would anyone be willing to defy Vovim's tyrannical king? And if they did, would they survive?
"Hidden." He had been given the kindest, gentlest torturer in the dungeon. The prisoner was left with only one hope: that he could teach his torturer how to be cruel.
"Death Watch." Death lurks everywhere in the Eternal Dungeon . . . even in a torturer's bedroom.
"Balladeer." Sometimes it takes an outsider to point out the obvious.
"The Balance: Historical Note."
ExcerptThe corridor he stood in was very dark. With the furnace doors closed, the only light came from half a dozen oil lamps bracketed to the walls. The lamps were fitfully sputtering.
He tossed a coin in his mind and began walking slowly south, in the direction of the bats. There were doors all along the eastern side of the corridor, opposite to the furnaces, but none of the doors were marked in any way. He tried the knob of one of the doors, but it was locked.
He reached the last of the furnaces and paused, uncertain. A further stretch of corridor lay ahead of him, but the doors on the eastern side had ended. Was it worth travelling on and risking meeting one of the Eternal Dungeon's notoriously skilled guards?
It was at that moment that the Seeker entered the corridor from the west.
Yeslin received only a glimpse of him, for the Seeker immediately turned right, in the direction of the southern end of the corridor, and then disappeared through another western doorway. All that Yeslin caught was an impression of black. Black boots, black trousers, black shirt, and, of course, the mark of a Seeker: the black hood that hid a Seeker's entire head.
Yeslin stood irresolute for a moment more. The Seeker he had seen could not be the High Seeker; he knew that much. But tangling with torturers of any rank seemed the ultimate in danger. Moreover, what likelihood was there that the Seeker would give Yeslin the information he needed? These men were trained to extract information, through horrific means; Yeslin doubted that their training extended to giving out information to a passing stranger.
He thought this and felt his feet carry him forward. He realized afterwards that what carried him forward was not any conscious thought, but a sound: the very faint sound of machinery.
The sound of machinery grew louder as he approached the doorway that the Seeker had entered. Yeslin paused at the threshold, and not only because of the danger which the Seeker represented. He was pausing in awe of what lay beyond that doorway.
It was a steam engine his ears had already told him that but it was the biggest steam engine he had ever seen in his life. It was rigged up with what Yeslin could only describe as a giant's accordion. Two accordions, one squeezing down at the same moment that the other accordion released itself with a whoosh. Squish and release, squish and release the two accordions worked in harmony with each other as the great steam engine that ran them pushed its rod-arms backwards and forwards.
Standing in front of them, with his back to the doorway, was the Seeker. The sound of the steam engine had evidently hidden the sound of Yeslin's footsteps, for the Seeker did not turn around as Yeslin entered the room. The torturer had his head tilted back, in evident contemplation of the machinery. Yeslin could imagine a Seeker being fascinated by the workings of a rack or another instrument of torture, but a Seeker who seemed wholly absorbed at the sight of less destructive machinery . . .
Yeslin closed the door. The Seeker's back stiffened. Then the Seeker turned. Yeslin could see nothing except his eyes, which were a deep blue.
"Mr. Taylor?" Yeslin heard that his own voice was shaking.
For a moment, the Seeker remained still, leaving Yeslin in an agony of certainty that he had misidentified the man. Then the Seeker raised his hands, pulling up the portion of his hood that hid his face.
It was indeed Elsdon Taylor. He looked tired, but no more so than the last time Yeslin had seen him. His face remained youthful.
"Yeslin Bainbridge." Elsdon Taylor's voice was incredulous. "How in the name of all that is sacred did you get in here?"
The dipping of his eyes was automatic. He did manage to keep from going down on one knee. But it had been three years since he had last met Elsdon Taylor, so very briefly, and though they had exchanged letters since then, he had not been able to communicate with the Seeker for the past fourteen months. Men can change a great deal in the space of fourteen months, particularly when they spend their nights torturing prisoners. . . .
"Yeslin." There was an indefinable shift in Elsdon Taylor's voice which caused Yeslin to look up. The Seeker was smiling now. He opened his arms. "Sweet one."
Yeslin came forward to accept the embrace of his brother.
¶ Available as an e-book (HTML, PDF, Kindle, ePub): The Balance.
ooo
A cycle of historical fantasy series by Dusk Peterson about disreputable men on the margins of society, and the men and women who love them. The novels are set in an imaginary version of Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic states between the 1880s and 1910s. One of the series in the cycle, Waterman, combines elements of the 1910s with retrofuturistic imagery from the 1960s.
The cycle: The Eternal Dungeon
| Life Prison | Commando
| Michael's House | Waterman.
The
Eternal DungeonThe Eternal Dungeon is an award-winning historical fantasy series set in a land where the psychologists wield whips.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ The
Eternal Dungeon genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ The Eternal Dungeon e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
Honored in the Rainbow
Awards 2011 in three categories, for the novel omnibus The
Eternal Dungeon:
* Winner, Best Gay Fantasy.
* 2nd Place, Best Setting Development.
* Honorable Mention, Best Gay Novel/Book.
"A deeply moving philosophical work . . . The characterization is
very good and even bold, and the world building, while narrow, is solid
and hints at a vast and real world that exist beyond the confines of the
story. The overarching plot development is excellent, and is an extensive
metaphor for the major themes of the book. The writing is eminently readable,
and the author's decision to intersperse in-story historical analysis alongside
the events taking place works beautifully." One of the Rainbow Awards
judges.
REVIEWS
"It takes really hard subject matter, and a character that in most books would be the major villain, and makes you love every single word. . . . If you want oh my god world building, read this." LGBT Fantasy Fans and Writers.
"This is the most engaging and absorbing [series] that I have read in a very long time. . . . Think detail and in-depth fantasy world creations of J. R. R. Tolkien novels, combine with the morality questions posed in the T.V. series Lost, sprinkle some good ole' fashioned medieval politics . . . and then add whips . . . and a rack." Amazon UK (Ancient Galaxy).
"I can easily think of a dozen authors who would have taken this kind of premise and made it tasteless, tacky, over the top, offensive, and much worse. . . . These books are none of that. . . . I cannot fangirl enough all the little details and nuances that really make [this series], how it's not all sparkles and light and yet just when it seems like it can only go south, you find yourself smiling instead. " Megan Derr.
"If you fear reading [these stories] because the physical manifestation of torture doesn't appeal, you'll miss a truly great read. The Eternal Dungeon is in essence the story of psychology. It's a story about the mind, not the body. It's a story about madness and sanity. It's the story about love given unreservedly to one who feels undeserving of that love. It's a story about sacrifice on every level." Goodreads (A. B. Gayle).
"I've read The Eternal Dungeon twice, and both times, I finished with the feeling of having left a real world behind. It draws the reader from story to story, leading you on with deeper insights into its characters, and plot twists that take you completely by surprise." Amazon (Catana).
"The reader is immersed seamlessly into another world filled with lush
characters. The world building is intricately woven into the narrative,
creating the framework of politics, religion, and culture that gives the
story substance and the characters background." Amazon
(Caethes Faron).
Life
PrisonLife Prison is a historical fantasy series about male desire and determination in Victorian prisons.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Life Prison
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Life Prison e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"[Outside the prison, Merrick] would be a criminal, a reject of the society; inside he is a man." My Reviews and Ramblings (Elisa Rolle; review includes major spoilers).
"Written in the first person, Life Prison is a dark, eloquent, and absorbing psychological tale that delves into the mind of a killer who, perhaps incongruously, manages to evolve into a sympathetic character in spite of the horror of his crime." Goodreads (Lisa).
"Combining a historical background similar to that of Victorian England
with a skilled perspective into the nature of human relations and a wide
range of characterization, 'Life Prison' is a real page-turner . . . This
is a story and an author not to be missed." Rainbow
Reviews (PermaFrost).
Commando is a historical fantasy series that imagines what the South African Boer War could have been like if it had been fought on American soil.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Commando
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Commando e-book and series resources.
REVIEW
"The descriptive storytelling was so great, there were times I think
I could hear the bullets, and feel the heat from the fire." Top
2 Bottom Reviews (Jerry; website includes not-worksafe images).
Michael's
HouseMichael's House is a historical fantasy series set in a Progressive Era slum.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Michael's
House genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Michael's House e-books and series resources.
"Does a wonderful job in creating a unique world set during Edwardian times. From the buildings to the wardrobe and the attitude of the people, every detail is described in a way that drew me into the story and made the story come to life. . . . Brimming with character interactions, emotion and introspective character narrations, the concept behind the story was brought to the page in an engaging and understanding way." LeAnn's Book Reviews (Shirley Frances; review includes major spoilers).
"The relationship between . . . Michael and Janus is one of those unforgettable pairings that will live with the reader long after they finish the story." Goodreads (A. B. Gayle).
"'Delicate' may seem like an odd word to use for such a story, but it's written with a delicacy that reveals the humanity of its characters rather than exploiting them. [Michael's House] is a deeply moving story about survival in the underbelly of a culture that despises the people it uses and casts them off like so much garbage." Goodreads (Catana).
"Tease away the outer layers [of the story], and a whole fascinating
world of triumph over tragedy emerges." Rainbow
Reviews (British Bull Dog).
WatermanWaterman is a historical fantasy series and retrofuture series inspired by the Chesapeake Bay oyster wars, boarding school rivalries in the 1910s, and 1960s visions of things to come.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Waterman
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Waterman e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"What I love of Dusk Peterson's stories is that they are all fantasy . . . with deep roots in real history. While reading one of his books, whatever the historical period he picked and reinvented, you have the feeling [of being] plunged in a true historical novel, sometime even more an historical essay than a romance, but in the end, Dusk Peterson manages also to give you the romance, and odd as it sounds, most of the time his romances are among the most romantic I have ever read. Why odd? Since I think I have never heard Dusk Peterson associated with the romance world; so here is my suggestion to all the romance readers: go and pick one of Dusk Peterson's [e-books], this one in particular is a good pick, and give him a try, I'm sure you will not be disappointed." My Reviews and Ramblings (Elisa Rolle).
"The underlying theme of the stories is inherited power relationships, the effect on individuals of being unable to fit into the established hierarchies, and the wisdom of learning from those below you." Goodreads (Catana).
"Finally someone who is good at writing stories which appeal to my quirky
intellectual mind and deliver the goods (so to speak). Extremely satisfying."
Anne Blue, publisher of Kanallje Press.
The
Three LandsThe Three Lands is a fantasy series on friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace.
¶ The Three Lands genre/theme
tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ The Three Lands e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
Honorable Mention, One Perfect Score category, in the Rainbow Awards 2012, for the Three Lands novel Law of Vengeance.
"I will definitely be reading the other stories in the [Three Lands]
world, I enjoyed [Law of Vengeance] very much!" One of the Rainbow
Awards judges.
REVIEWS
"I find the characterisations so sharply delicious, dark and shocking and yet engaging. . . . I like to savour each part." Clare London, author of The Gold Warrior.
"Even in Dusk Peterson's darkest stories there is hope and, when it's needed, redemption. . . . These are powerful stories, beautifully written, with characters who will linger in your memory." Smashwords (C. S. McClellan).
"There's something very special about Dusk's dark fic. Dark, very, but
there's this smidgen of light in every cavern Dusk throws a reader, and
the brightness of that light is practically overwhelming by the time you
get to the end of the novel, and it is like crawling to the opening of
a cavern. It's like getting a miracle." Goodreads
(K. M. Frontain).
A soldier courts a young woman on the eve of battle. An aircar chauffeur tests the boundaries of his enslavement. A despairing captive in a Renaissance prison must choose whether to obey the deadly command of a lord. . . .
Sweet Suffering is a cycle of fantasy, historical fantasy, and science fiction series on friendship, heterosexual romance, gay love, and faithful service amidst hardship and transformation.
The cycle: Princeling | Darkling
Plain | Master/Other.
Princeling is a fantasy series set in a world where war has lasted for generations.
The series is part of the Sweet Suffering cycle. ¶ Princeling
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Princeling e-book.
Darkling Plain is a collection of fantasy tales about young people in times of conflict.
The series is part of the Sweet Suffering cycle. ¶ Darkling
Plain genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Darkling Plain upcoming fiction.
Romantic and poignant, Master/Other offers speculative fiction stories exploring the dangers and sweet bonds of power.
The series is part of the Sweet Suffering cycle. ¶ Master/Other
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Master/Other e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"Dusk Peterson writes beautiful original fiction about the psychological, not the physical. Peterson's work is quiet, intimate, and focuses on internal conflict." Remy Hart, author of the Northern Corporate Dominion series, at The Control Panel.
"Outstanding original stories. Fascinating look into the human psyche." Wwink (Aesthetic Kismet).
"Dusk writes some amazing stories, filled with angst and pain, but also
with love and compassion and understanding." Nikolaos
Thiwerspoon, webmaster of Wilde Oats.
You may also wish to read Dusk Peterson's contemporary
stories, fan fiction, and nonfiction.
To
receive notice of e-book publications and free fiction, subscribe to Dusk
Peterson's e-mail list or
blog.
Forced to be a tool in a battle waged by her land's unstable King and his dangerously devious heir, Serva cannot even find refuge among her fellow slaves. Instead, she secretly explores the hidden portions of the palace. In this way, she meets an imprisoned spy who is scheduled for execution.
But when a simmering war bubbles to the surface, Serva must choose where
her loyalties lie. She must also solve the mystery of the spy's past, and
of her own future.
As Linnet is drawn into memories of a dark young man she once knew,
she must deal in the present with a boy who is headed toward danger, as
well as a child-like baron who may force her to betray her past.
Cover designs: Dusk Peterson. Permission is granted for the reposting and reprinting of the banners, covers, and story summaries (blurbs) for the purposes of providing information on Dusk Peterson's writings. Please link to duskpeterson.com if possible.
Constructive criticism, enquiries, and idle chit-chat may be sent to
Dusk Peterson at
duskpeterson(at)fastmail.fm. Please note that I am generally online only
once every week or two. Time-sensitive e-mail should be sent to both me
and my personal assistant,
Jo/e Noakes.