Stargate

In the earliest years of the history of the universe, the Worldmaker, omnipotent creator of all life, has turned against his creations with unaccountable malice. One by one the ruling sun lords of each solar system have fallen, succumbing to the lure of forbidden knowledge. The terrible punishment for their crime is isolation-the Gates connecting their worlds to the rest of the cosmos are sealed off. Their innocence lost, their civilizations hopelessly corrupted, the immortal sun people are condemned to languish with their subjects in an eternity of solitude.
            As Stargate opens, four systems remain untouched by disaster: the aquatic world of Ixel; Ghaka, a mountainous planet inhabited by a cliff-dwelling winged race; the exquisite Shol, world of culture and learning; and Danar, serene center of the universe. With courageous and often desperate measures the sun lords prepare themselves and their subjects for a battle unlike any they have ever imagined. The final struggle has begun . . .
            Unfolding with epic power, Stargate is conceived with a richness, subtlety, and depth that set it apart from most fantasy fiction. And like Pauline Gedge's critically acclaimed historical novels, it is written with a vividness that is unforgettable. First published in 1982 but long out of print, Stargate is destined to be rediscovered and treasured as a major classic of fantasy literature.