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From one of genre fiction’s most original and revolutionary voices comes a space opera adventure like no other. Sometimes the fate of entire worlds can be decided by a woman with nothing to lose, and the smartest gun in the multiverse in her hand . . .
This is the story of Bess – or Dog-Bitch Bess as she came to be known. It’s the story of the gun she carried, whose name was Wakeful Slim. It’s the story of the dead man who carried that gun before her and left a piece of himself inside it. And it’s the tale of how she turned from teacher, to renegade, and ultimately to hero.
This is also the tale of the last violent engagements in an inter-dimensional war – one of the most brutal the multiverse had ever seen.
This is how Bess learned the truth about her world. Came to it the hard way, through pain and loss and the reckless spilling of blood, and carried it with her like a brand on her soul. And once she knew it – knew for sure how badly she’d been used – she had no option but to do something about it.
Discover this thrilling standalone science fiction adventure from the million-copy bestselling M. R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts and the Philip K. Dick Award-shortlisted Infinity Gate (a New York Times Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of the Year).
This is the story of Bess – or Dog-Bitch Bess as she came to be known. It’s the story of the gun she carried, whose name was Wakeful Slim. It’s the story of the dead man who carried that gun before her and left a piece of himself inside it. And it’s the tale of how she turned from teacher, to renegade, and ultimately to hero.
This is also the tale of the last violent engagements in an inter-dimensional war – one of the most brutal the multiverse had ever seen.
This is how Bess learned the truth about her world. Came to it the hard way, through pain and loss and the reckless spilling of blood, and carried it with her like a brand on her soul. And once she knew it – knew for sure how badly she’d been used – she had no option but to do something about it.
Discover this thrilling standalone science fiction adventure from the million-copy bestselling M. R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts and the Philip K. Dick Award-shortlisted Infinity Gate (a New York Times Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of the Year).
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Praise
“In Once Was Willem, M. R. Carey’s gorgeous prose weaves a fable full of dread and wonder, a deeply intelligent and emotionally gripping story boasting one of the nastiest sorcerers you’ll ever meet, and a narrator as inwardly gentle as he is outwardly monstrous. A masterpiece of medieval dark fiction. I love this book. Highest recommendation.”
—Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief on Once Was Willem
—Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief on Once Was Willem
"Carey crafts an empathetic portrait of a medieval monster as a young man in this
revelatory dark fantasy... Wit and compassion, building to a wonderfully satisfying climax.
Powerful, captivating, and occasionally stomach-churning, this quintessential tale of good
and evil is sure to win fans."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Once Was Willem
revelatory dark fantasy... Wit and compassion, building to a wonderfully satisfying climax.
Powerful, captivating, and occasionally stomach-churning, this quintessential tale of good
and evil is sure to win fans."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Once Was Willem
“An immense achievement, an impeccably crafted book without a single word out of place.”
—The New York Times on Infinity Gate
"A wild fever dream of a novel – complicated, monstrous, and beautiful."
—Seanan McGuire, Hugo Award-winning author on Once Was Willem
"It's been a long time since a book has reached out and just entirely enveloped me in its world the way Once Was Willem did. Astounding, and I loved every moment of it – it had me absolutely rapt."
—RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships on Once Was Willem
"It's so absurdly fun and readable, you nearly miss the incredible use of language and lore. Lovable grotesques and ghastly villains populate a compelling folk-tale. Absolutely wonderful."
—Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Sword Unbound on Once Was Willem
"A delicious blend of horror, fantasy and historical fiction, Once Was Willem gave me exactly what I crave most as a reader - the unexpected. That, and a main character I would fight to the undeath for. A unique and brilliant book"
—Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award-winning author of The Ninth Rain on Once Was Willem
"An incredible masterwork of medieval fantasy-horror, dark and twisted and burning bright with humanity. Once Was Willem is packed with magic, folklore, superstitious fear, and horrors that bring hope.”
—Cameron Johnston, author of the Maleficent Seven on Once Was Willem
"A master storyteller."
—io9 on Infinity Gate
"M.R. Carey hefts astonishing storytelling power with plainspoken language, heartbreaking choices, and sincerity like an arrow to the heart."
—Locus on The Book of Koli
"A thought-provoking and deeply engaging story ... profoundly and doggedly humane."
—C. A. Fletcher on The Book of Koli
"Heartfelt, remorseless and painfully human...as fresh as it is terrifying. A jewel."
—Joss Whedon on The Girl With All the Gifts
"This is a beautiful book. Gripping, engaging, and absolutely worth the time it takes to burrow yourself into its reality. I can't recommend it highly enough."
—Seanan McGuire on The Book of Koli
"M.R. Carey hefts astonishing storytelling power with plainspoken language, heartbreaking choices, and sincerity like an arrow to the heart."
—Locus on The Book of Koli
"The cadence and pacing of [Koli's] voice adds a depth and richness to the strange and malevolent world."
—Booklist on The Book of Koli
"Carey writes with compassion and fire - strange and surprising and humane."
—Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls on The Boy on the Bridge
—Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls on The Boy on the Bridge
"A highly imaginative fable."
—Nerd Daily on the Book of Koli