The Gargoyle's Handbook

The Adventures of Gorlen Vizenfirthe Series, Book 1

By: Marc Laidlaw

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

From the writer of the blockbuster videogame Half-Life, ten stories of the bard with a gargoyle’s hand

For over a quarter of a century, Gorlen Vizenfirthe has entertained fans of wandering bards. Famous for playing his silver-strung eduldamer with one hand of flesh and one of stone, he has traveled from the dankest dens of Dankden to the desiccated domiciles of Wumnal Wells, first in search of a gargoyle with a hand of flesh, and then, partnered with said goyle, on the trail of the elusive wizard who swapped their hands in the first place.

The Gargoyle’s Handbook collects for the first time all the Gorlen tales that take place before the events of the novel Underneath the Oversea. Herein are short stories about sinister cats and singing ships, novelettes of musical curses and trap-setting birds, novellas of transmogrified pilgrims and metaphysical moths—well over a hundred thousand weird and wonderful words, which is barely enough to describe Gorlen’s world.

For fans of Jack Vance, Fritz Leiber, or sword and sorcery with more stringed instruments. For listeners of Underneath the Oversea curious to learn how Gorlen found his family. Or for those who simply want a pocket guide to strange new lands. The Gargoyle’s Handbook might be just the handy manual you’ve been looking for.

©2021 Marc Laidlaw (P)2022 Skyboat Media

Marc Laidlaw Never Disappoints

Through the years I’ve read these stories in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction but it was very enjoyable to hear them collected together.