they must acquire all the artifacts. One is in the possession of a Mani settlement, where it is revered as a religious artifact, another in the hands of a group of subterranean trolls, while yet another is owned by a group of centaurs, who agree to trade their star, or instrumentality, the name given to them by their creator, for the tear of Jennesta's equally evil sister, Adpar. This is due to the healing powers it would bestow, as the leader of the centaurs was crippled by Adpar's magic. The group's quest to steal all the "stars" and evade capture by all sides, takes them across the land of Maras Dantia, with Jennesta's forces in hot pursuit. Eventually, after much hardship, and with many of the group killed, the orcs acquire all the artefacts, and learn that they will open a portal to many alternate versions of Maras Dantia, in each of which, the dominant species is different (dwarfs, humans, orcs), and that the fact that all species occupying a single plane of existence is due to a magical accident, as a result of which, the land itself is "dying" and magic is draining away. "The Taking" "The Taking" is a short story which follows an adventure of the orcs. It starts with the choosing of a new corporal. The orcs choose Coilla. Braetagg's Day take place, and the mummified corpse of the great orc leader Braetagg was stolen by creatures Pyro, a sect of the people. The orcs start to search for the leader because the disparition would have caused agitation. Haskeer and Jup Braetagg find it, but they are captured by Pyro. The other 28 orcs immediately come to the rescue and save them. The Wolverines return to Cairnbarrow with the corpse. "The Taking" originally appeared in the anthology Swords Against the Millennium, edited by Mike Chinn (Alchemy Press/Saladoth Productions; September 2000). "The Taking" was shortlisted for the 2001 British Fantasy Award, and has since been reprinted in a number of magazines and anthologies worldwide. Reception The trilogy, first printed in the United Kingdom by Victor Gollancz Ltd, has become international bestseller, with over one million copies sold. The first two volumes were nominated for the 2000 British Fantasy Award (Best Novel category). The success of the novel has begun as crazy in Germany. In the UK, sales have been respectable but not spectacular. Possible adaptations Asked in