As a brilliant graphics arts student, Ethan Ring stumbled on a secret so awesome that its existence could not remain hidden. The computer-generated images he had helped create contained infinite powers: the power to heal, erase memories, bring ecstasy, kill savagely. Locked into a devil's bargain with the monolithic European government, Ethan now sees his one chance to escape the dark forces of destruction that have enslaved his soul. He will brave the treacherous terrain, the lawless bands of akiras, and the power-armored security forces to undertake a thousand-mile pilgrimage. But the danger Ethen fears most comes from within. It is the seductive lure of his own gift, a power whose cost may be his own damnation.
Cover blurb of Bantam Spectra edition
This is really a novella published separately. Ethan Ring, the protagonist of it has, together with a friend, developed a number of very special type faces that they call "fracters." These have the special ability that each of them elicits a certain reaction from the person who reads the text written with them. What has been read must be obeyed, time might stop, certain things forgotten, miraculous healings done, etc.
Editions
- Bantam Spectra (paperback)
- 1994
- 133 pages. $3.99. Cover by Stephen Youll.
ISBN 0-553-56116-2.
Translations
- Finnish Kivi-paperi-sakset, translated by Tero
Norkola.
- 1997
- Nemo.
ISBN 952-5180-00-X.
- German Schere schneidet Stein schneidet Papier,
translated by Ralph Tegtmeier.
- 1994
- Heyne SF & F, 5127. 206 pages, ISBN 3-453-07745-8. DM 12:90. Cover art and illustrations by Jobst Teltschik.
- Italian Forbici vince carta vince peitra, translated
by Antonio Caroni.
- 1997
- Einaudi Tascabili. Vertigo 469, Einaudi.
- Serbian Makaze, Papir, Kamen, translated by
Goran Skrobonja
.
- 1998
- Published as a chapbook in only 15 copies by the translator.
Reviews
- John Clute in Interzone #81, March 1994, page 61
- Faren Miller in Locus #396, January 1994
- Mark R. Kelly in Locus #402, July 1994
I'm very interested in a cover scan of the German translation.
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