This Forsaken Earth

By Paul Kearney

He’s spoken of only in whispers. His origins are a mystery. Some say that he’s descended from the last of the angels. Others say much worse.

By all appearances, Rol Cortishane is just another ruthless pirate roaming the lawless seas, raiding warships and slavers. But the truth is something far more complicated and dangerous than anyone can imagine, including Rol. Even as he seeks to escape his birthright, Rol is slowly discovering who—and what—he really is. But the revelation won’t come without exacting a terrible price from Rol and all he loves.

Now a treacherous figure from his past has made him a proposition it would be fatal to turn down. Racing against time, Rol must chart a harrowing course across the sea, back to the beautiful Rowen and the people she would rule as Queen. With his steadfast crew—the battle-scarred Creed, the mirthful halftroll Gallico, and a young escaped slave named Giffon—Rol will plunge headlong into a destiny as dark as they come. And toward a terrifying battle against an enemy as determined to destroy the world as Rol is to save it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 28, 2006
• ISBN: 9780553903157

Paul Kearney

Paul Kearney is chief security researcher in the Security Futures Practice, BT Innovate & Design. He is based at BT’s Adastral Park technology centre near Ipswich, and has worked in information security research since 2001. Paul Kearney is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and a full Member of the Institute Of Information Security Professionals (MInstISP). He holds a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Liverpool, and is the co-author of the White Paper, “Human Vulnerabilities in Security Systems”, published in 2007 by the Cyber Security Knowledge Transfer Network.

Reviews for This Forsaken Earth

[mbg0312 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Paul Kearney seems a bit over-rated to me, but this one moved quickly enough to be interesting. I think its hard for me to get into because his characters are unrelentingly dark, with few redeeming traits. That may be my failing as a reader, but I just don't much care about his main characters because of it.

[jouni_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The first part was good [Mark of Ran], but this was even better! The incredible pace of the first book in series slowed down a bit, making it possible to tell a story about a moment in time and place. How else would you tell about a war and people in there, unless you stop and look around? Nevertheless year(s) passed by, so this is not a never ending story.Still no dragons (!!!), but there was a long visit on dry land. The third book promises a bit more sea adventure, looking forward to it!

[kforeman_10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While the first book of the Sea Beggars series ("The Mark of Ran") was fast-paced and a fun read, only the first third of "This Forsaken Earth" keeps the pace and interest. Paul Kearney quickly delves into land warfare and politics with all the wordiness of Tolkein, and none of the interest.Paul Kearney writes nautical fiction well. He obviously understands seafaring well. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Sea Beggars series, and hoping that Kearney keeps to know what he knows best.