Cursed Gift. Voices. Revelation

The Highlanders of the Upper Lands, appearing as ordinary peasants, possess magical abilities, both benevolent and dangerous. Yet they cannot escape their poverty and live in constant fear: what if one of the families turns their deadly gift against another?..... The peaceful city of Ansul prided itself on its libraries, schools, and temples until it was captured by the Alds, fanatical barbarian demon hunters. Considering culture to be a demonic delusion, they even banned reading and writing under the threat of death. But a man who had been imprisoned for a whole year and tortured managed to keep several precious books… Young Gavir can foresee the future but cannot prevent the catastrophe looming over his world—a world in which he grew up as a slave. Having gained freedom, which he never desired, he sets out into the unknown… The novella "Voices" included in the collection was awarded the American PEN Center prize in 2005, and the novella "Revelation" won the Nebula Award in 2008.