The Sword of Knowledge

Barbarian Hordes vs. Sheer, Cold Reason
Technology vs. Sorcery

The Empire of Sabis is falling, besieged and overwhelmed by the army and hostile wizards of a more powerful empire. Still, it is not too late for a small group of philosopher-scientists to reverse the tide if they can convince the rulers of Sabis to build the deadly new weapon that they have invented: the cannon. But when the rulers prove too short-sighted and Sabis falls, the scientists flee, disguising their knowledge under the cover of a religion and its arcane rituals.

Though centuries will pass and the Sabirn race will be oppressed and persecuted, the powerful knowledge will be passed on and preserved by the Secret Order. And the time will come when only one thing stands against destruction by a ruthless and invincible barbarian horde:

A Sweeping Fantasy Epic
Complete in One Hardcover
Volume for the First Time

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

C. J. Cherryh is a four-time Hugo Award-winner, and is author of many best-selling science fiction and fantasy series. Among the latest of her more than fifty novels are Hammerfall, Forge of Heaven (both from Eos) and Destroyer (DAW). She makes her home in Spokane, WA. Visit www.cherryh.com.

Mercedes Lackey, author of the bestselling Heralds of Valdemar and Bardic Voices series, began life as a child and has been attempting to rectify that error ever since. Other than writing she can be found at various times prying the talons of the birds of prey she is attempting to nurse back to health out of her hands, endangering her vision by creating various forms of Art Beadwork, and cross-stitching dragons, gryphons, and other semi-mythological fauna. She lives in Oklahoma. Visit www.mercedeslackey.com.

Nancy Asire has written several fantasy novels, including Twilight’s Kingdoms, Tears of Time and To Fall Like Stars for Baen, and many short stories.

Leslie Fish has published many short stories, and also has written and recorded many fantasy and science fiction songs. The volume Carmen Miranda’s Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three (Baen) is an anthology of stories based on one of her most popular songs.

Illustration by Gary Ruddell
Cover design by Jennie Faries

Hardcover

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First hardcover printing, January 2005

Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 0-7434-9875-5

The Sword of Knowledge has been published in slightly different form as A Dirge for Sabis, copyright © 1989; Wizard Spawn, copyright © 1989; and Reap the Whirlwind, copyright © 1989; all by Tau Ceti, Inc.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
http://www.baen.com

Production by Windhaven Press
Auburn, NH

Electronic version by WebWrights
http://www.webwrights.com

Baen Books by C.J. Cherryh

The Paladin

The Sword of Knowledge
(with Leslie Fish, Nancy Asire & Mercedes Lackey)

Baen Books by Mercedes Lackey

BARDIC VOICES

The Lark & the Wren
The Robin & the Kestrel
The Eagle & the Nightingales

The Free Bards
(omnibus)

Four & Twenty Blackbirds

Bardic Choices: A Cast of Corbies
(with Josepha Sherman)

The Fire Rose
Fiddler Fair
Werehunter

The Ship Who Searched
(with Anne McCaffrey)

Wing Commander:
Freedom Flight
(with Ellen Guon)

Lammas Night
(ed. by Josepha Sherman)

The Shadow of the Lion
(with Eric Flint & Dave Freer)

This Rough Magic
(with Eric Flint & Dave Freer)

This Scepter'd Isle
(with Roberta Gellis)

Ill Met by Moonlight
(with Roberta Gellis)

The Wizard of Karres
(with Eric Flint & Dave Freer)

Brain Ships
(omnibus with Anne -McCaffrey & Margaret Ball)

URBAN FANTASIES

Bedlam's Bard
(omnibus with Ellen Guon)

Beyond World's End
(with Rosemary Edghill)

Spirits White as Lightning
(with Rosemary Edghill)

Mad Maudlin
(with Rosemary Edghill)

The SERRAted Edge:

Chrome Circle
(omnibus with Larry Dixon)

The Chrome Borne
(omnibus with Larry Dixon)

The Otherworld
(omnibus with Mark Shepherd & Holly Lisle)

THE BARD'S TALE NOVELS

Castle of Deception
(with Josepha Sherman)

Fortress of Frost & Fire
(with Ru Emerson)

Prison of Souls
(with Mark Shepherd)