Tempus
Subtitle: with his right-side companion Niko
By: Janet Morris.
Contributors: Copyright Paperback Collection (Library of Congress)
Publisher: Baen Books; Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Published: 1987
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 277
Subjects: Sacred Band of Stepsons
Genres: mythic fantasy
First sentence: Niko was haunted, the adepts of Bandara decided, and shook their bald heads in shame and consternation.
Description: NIkodemos, the secular adept, retreats to the misty isles of Bandara and reviws his adventures as right-side partner of the legendary immortal, Tempus.  New material from Niko's perspective illuminates classic stories, woven together in an artful and compelling fashion.  A marvelous introduction to the Bandaran mystery of Maat kicks off this book, followed by an early, rare story outside the Thieves' World universe.  The bisexual Sacred Band's beginnings are here for anyone who wants to read the Sacred Band and Stepson books without having to buy all the Thieves' World collections.  A must for  fans of Morris's Sacred Band of Stepsons.
Notes: The cover, unlike the spine which says only "Tempus,"  says "Men of War in a World of Thieves...Tempus with his right-side companion, Niko."   Charles N. Brown of Locus Magazine began his review of this book with:  "Fascinating..."  And it is.  Weaving some early, little known stories with interstitial vignettes from the perspective of the Bandaran secular adept, Nikodemos, this book takes you deep into the mythic world of Tempus and his Sacred Band of Stepsons.  Ancient history buffs and ancient military fiction fans, as well as fans of epic fantasy full of high adventure and romance, will love this book, which spans the development of the most important Sacred Band partners, their relationships and perils.