The Book of the Mad (The Secret Books of Paradys)

A surreal gothic fantasy of three nefarious cities: Paradise, Paradis, and Paradys Welcome to Paradise, where the sun hasn’t shone for years and a callous, ritual-obsessed populace roams the decayed metropolis enshrouded in fog. The citizens are unhinged, murder and incest are praised, and madness reigns. Only a pair of twins, Felion and Smara, remains sane. But their sole hope of escaping the city is a mysterious ice labyrinth connecting parallel worlds.   Thus begins the sinister finale to the Secret Books of Paradys, in which three alternate versions of one city—Paradise, Paradis, and Paradys—are the layered canvas upon which twisted narratives unfold. In Paradis, Leocadia, a striking and eccentric painter, lives a hedonistic and unremorseful life. She is the sole heir to her uncle’s fortune, but the ease of life this affords her becomes a dizzying burden when her lover is murdered and doctors lock her up in an asylum called the Residence. Do the medics want to cure her madness—or do they wish to drive her insane?   Meanwhile, in Paradys, fifteen-year-old Hilde is a pale and perfect child with milk-white skin, ginger hair, and an obedient and loving countenance. But Hilde has a secret nocturnal life, budding sexuality, and lustful heart that becomes irrevocably engorged at the sight of a handsome actor with the face of a priest.   Written in author Tanith Lee’s signature style, The Book of the Mad breaks taboos, relishes horror, and conjures the perverse.

Publishers Weekly

“Lee’s languid, brooding prose has a sensuality reminiscent of Anais Nin’s. . . . This highly original story, notable for its unpredictable plot twists, will appeal to readers desiring a dreamlike excursion into the bizarre. Lee’s fans will not be disappointed.”

Chicago Sun-Times

“Fatalistic explorations of a city so sinister it makes H. P. Lovecraft look suburban . . . a high-quality mixing of eroticism, horror and aestheticism . . . Splendid.”

Locus

“A dose of glamorous perversity and elegant wit.”

About the Author

Tanith Lee (1947–2015) was born in the United Kingdom. Although she couldn’t read until she was eight, she began writing at nine and never stopped, producing more than ninety novels and three hundred short stories. She also wrote for the BBC television series Blake’s 7 and various BBC radio plays. After winning the 1980 British Fantasy Award for her novel Death’s Master, endless awards followed. She was named a World Horror Grand Master in 2009 and honored with the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2013. Lee was married to artist and writer John Kaiine.

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