Horde of the Counterwind: An Epic Voyage to the Upper Reaches

Summary

France's defining fantasy/science fiction odyssey of the 21st century, basis of the award-winning video game Expedition 33 and now published in English for the first time, celebrates twenty-three brave warriors of the wind

Twenty-three adventurers––some trained since birth, some joining over the course of a long journey––climb endlessly against the wind that plagues their desolate homeland. Their only purpose: to make it to the Upper Reaches and identify the wind's mysterious source. Thirty-three hordes before them have tried and failed over the course of 800 years.

The brave warriors of this wildly imaginative universe must learn to coexist and fight to survive. Each Horde member has a unique personality and a precise duty, and collaborating as a unit is their only hope.

In this masterwork whose epic scope and visionary worldbuilding are commonly compared to the universe of Dune, author Alain Damasio moves between narrators, giving voice to each member and alternating between breathtaking descriptions of the unique and bewildering world he has invented––ruled by seven types of wind, classified by their forces––and gripping, rhythmic dialogue.

As the tale progresses, the suspense intensifies around Golgoth the trailbreaker, Erg the defender, Oroshi the aeromaster, and the rest of the group, who must face not only the unpredictability of nature, but also enemies from other clans determined to see their defeat.

Horde of the Counterwind has ignited the imaginations of more than a million French fans and was voted the best book of the 21st century by readers of Sens critique and the twelfth-greatest book of all time by Le Monde's subscribers. English-speaking audiences have been clamoring for the opportunity to read Damasio's œuvre for years, and now they'll have their chance to shoulder their packs and join the adventure.