"Sanctaphrax will be destroyed by the energy of the Mother Storm!"Far out in open sky, a ferocious storm is brewing. In its path is Sanctaphrax - a magnificent city built on a floating rock and tethered to the land by a massive chain.Only Twig - a young sky pirate captain who has dared to sail over the Edge - has learned of the approaching danger. But his perilous voyage destroys his sky ship, hurling his crew into and beyond the Deepwoods, and robbing Twig of all memory?The third thrilling title in theThe Edge Chronicles, a spectacular fantasy series that is brilliantly illustrated and teeming with gloriously imaginative characters.Review?In the Tolkien/Pratchett tradition, fabulously illustrated and written with more than usual elegance.?-The Sunday Times"... combines skilfully paced narrative with global issues such as slavery and environmental destruction. Lots ofsurprising plot developments... full of everything"-Independent"As before, Stewart's descriptions of corrupt and disgusting goings-on are brilliantly visualized; also as before, Riddell's line drawings are exquisitely detailed and notably grotesque.. Altogether this series is so exceptional that if I had any chance of collecting, I'd bet good money on it still being in print a century from now.. When's the next book coming?"-InterzoneFrom the Inside FlapA spectacular series, filled with memorable characters from gnokgoblins and banderbears, to the avaricious Mother Horsefeather, the lost knights of the Twilight Woods and the loathsome Screed Toe-taker skulking in the Mire.From the Back Cover?In the TolkienPratchett tradition, fabulously illustrated and written with more than usual elegance.? -The Sunday TimesAbout the AuthorPaul Stewart is the author of a number of books for children includingThe Midnight Hand andThe Wakening (a Federation of Children?s Book Groups Pick of the Year) for Transworld.Chris Riddell has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, includingSomething Else by Kathryn Cave (Viking), shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Smarties Prize, and won the Unesco Award.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.-CHAPTER ONE-OPEN SKYOut in the vast cloudscape, a lone sky ship in full sail cut through the thin air. Ahead, at the end of a rope-tether, a gigantic bird flapped its mighty black-and-white wings as it led the ship ever further into that place of terror for all the creatures from the Edge - open sky.'Weather vortex straight ahead,' the small oakelf shouted from the caternest at the top of the main-mast. His voice was shrill with fear. 'And it's a monster!'Down at the helm of theEdgedancer, a young sky pirate captain in a hammelhornskin waistcoat raised his telescope to his eye with shaking hands. As he focused in on the dark, swirling air, his heart missed a beat. The approaching vortex was indeed monstrous. It was as if the great milky clouds were curdling and falling in on themselves, swirling into a great blood-red throat at the centre of which was an inky blackness that threatened to swallow the tiny sky ship whole.'I see it, Spooler,' the young captain called to the oakelf.'It's coming in at a rate of about a hundred strides per second, Captain Twig, sir,' Spooler shouted, panic plain in his voice. 'We've precious little time till impact.'Twig nodded grimly. Already the currents of air around them were beginning to spin unpredictably. They were passing in and out of great banks of cloud; plummeting as they went in, soaring up again as they emerged on the other side. With the binding tether taut, the caterbird continued its steady, relentless flight.'Surely this is madness!' complained the wiry weasel-faced quartermaster in the gaudy brocaded coat. He pulled the large tricorn hat from his head and wiped his sweaty brow. 'It's heading straight for the vortex.''We must follow where the caterbird leads, Sleet,' Twig shouted b