ETRUSCANS

ETRUSCANS

Kings and Queens, soldiers and slaves, prophets and priests, palaces, forests and villages, everyday life objects, clothing, weapons, rituals and spells: that's the VIth Century B.C., and Italian Peninsula is ruled by Rasna, as the Etruscans called themselves. Rome is slightly more than a cluster of herders' hamlets, just behind Tibrin, the border river; shall be Rasna's deed to first shape its countenance through the Kings that we still remember: Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, Tarquinius Superbus (the Arrogant).

These three novels do narrate their lives, recalling the ring of myths and legends without - ever - misinterpreting the historical and archaeological truths. They turn an Italian Peninsula's evolution crucial stage into a fascinating narrative fresco, portraying a great people's ending and the birth of a ruthlessly dominating nation.

I Cieli Dimenticati (Forgotten Heavens)

Longanesi - "Gaia Scienza" n.356, February 1992

Premio Italia - Award for the best Historical Fantasy novel of the year.

The Rasna live in peace and in plenty, proud to be protected by Heaven and rejoicing in the fruitful time granted to them. But someone amongst them knows that all this can't go on forever. Caitli, the priestess, King Tarchon's daughter and Prince Larth's betrothed, read his people's future into water and fire: they are doomed to be overcomed in confrontation with the barbarians from Ruma... Not all Rasna people know this prophecy, few of them want to believe, and Larth doesn't want to agree with the future decreed by Fate, for him to attain a throne. So his life, indissolubly linked with Caitli's and Axal's - the fair-haired stranger - shall be an existence of striking power... and lonely suffering, too.

La Via degli Dei (The Gods' Path)

Longanesi - "Gaia Scienza" n.411, October 1993

(cover by Oscar Chichoni)

The destiny of Rasna becomes more and more interwoven with Ruma's one. After Larth's decease - he who conquered Ruma's throne under the name of Tarquinius Priscus, turning the sheperds' hamlet over the hills into an increasingly strong and feared town - its new king is the Rasna Mastarna, under the name of Servius Tullius. Powerful the way only someone who strives for equity and truth can be, Mastarna finds out that the path drawn by Gods is arduous to follow. On his way, he'll meet Tarxne, Larth's secret son, the prophecy's author and instrument in spite of himself.

La Porta sulla Notte (The Door into Night)

Longanesi - "Gaia Scienza" n. 472, May 1995

Premio Italia - Award for the best Historical Fantasy novel of the year

Compelled to accept the heavy heritage imposed on him by the prophecy, Tarxne - into whose blood flows the bright and, at the same time, obscure power from Thesan, Caitli's daughter - takes over Ruma's throne and leads that not-of-his-own people towards new conquests. Ruma by now has become Roma, and the proud Rasna people, on the history pages written by its winners, shall lose even his own name. The last Etruscans' saga act lifts up legend's veils to look on History, narrating Tarquinius Superbus' (the Rasna Tarxne) vicissitudes, together with the people linked to him (amongst which Porsenna, Lucretia, Mutius Scaevola, Clelia), not impoverishing in any way the mystery and charm of an age when the words of Mith are even stronger than the reality's ones.