Kings of the Sand

Before selling millions of copies and gaining worldwide fame for the Song of Ice and Fire saga, George R. R. Martin published fantasy, horror, and science fiction short stories and novels. Thanks to his extraordinary narrative skills and his masterful ability to create worlds, he has earned the respect of readers and the acclaim of the juries of the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy Awards, and several others. The protagonist of "Sand Kings," the short novel that gives its title to this anthology, coexists with creatures that look like insects but are not; in his arrogance, he believes he can impose his will on species from other planets, without considering that there are creatures as deadly and intelligent as humans. Martin is also a master at combining genres: "Skin Trade" is a noir story with werewolves, and the mix of horror with science fiction in "In the House of the Worm" makes us feel nostalgic for a dying sun we will never know. Critics have said... "Martin's horror stories are an absolute pleasure: they confirm that his true narrative strength lies not in his epic fantasy, but in his short fiction."

Before selling millions of copies and gaining worldwide fame for the Song of Ice and Fire saga, George R. R. Martin published fantasy, horror, and science fiction short stories and novels. Thanks to his extraordinary narrative skills and his masterful ability to create worlds, he has earned the respect of readers and the acclaim of the juries of the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy Awards, and several others. The protagonist of "Sand Kings," the short novel that gives its title to this anthology, coexists with creatures that look like insects but are not; in his arrogance, he believes he can impose his will on species from other planets, without considering that there are creatures as deadly and intelligent as humans. Martin is also a master at combining genres: "Skin Trade" is a noir story with werewolves, and the mix of horror with science fiction in "In the House of the Worm" makes us feel nostalgic for a dying sun we will never know. Critics have said... "Martin's horror stories are an absolute pleasure: they confirm that his true narrative strength lies not in his epic fantasy, but in his short fiction."