{"product_id":"a-song-of-stone-9780684855363","title":"A Song of Stone","description":"A European nation not unlike Bosnia: armed forces roam the lawless land where dark columns of smoke rise up from the surrounding farms and houses. The war is ending, perhaps ended. But for the castle and its occupants, a young lord and lady, the trouble is just beginning. \u003cbr\u003e Fearing an invasion of soldiers, the amorous couple takes to the road with the other refugees, disguised in rags. But the brutal female lieutenant of an outlaw band of guerrillas has other ideas. Just hours into their escape, the fleeing aristocrats are delivered back to the castle, where, now prisoners in their own home, they become pawns in the lieutenant's dangerous game of desire, deceit, and death. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eA Song of Stone\u003c\/i\u003e demonstrates Iain Banks's unique ability to combine gripping narrative with a soaring, voyaging imagination. This noir fable confirms his reputation as the master of things dark and debauched. Singular, haunting, and viciously wry, \u003ci\u003eA Song of Stone\u003c\/i\u003e is a tour de force of contemporary fiction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIain Banks\u003c\/b\u003e came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Wasp Factory, \u003c\/i\u003e recently selected in a British poll as one of the top one hundred novels of the century. Since then he has gained enormous popular and critical acclaim with his other works of fiction and, as Iain M. Banks, science fiction. He lives in Scotland.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50872748179730,"sku":"9780684855363","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_36d97cb6-7e30-4e8b-9057-1b303c835744.jpg?v=1737908285","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-song-of-stone-9780684855363","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}