The Quest for Cush also known as Imaro II: The Quest for Cush is a Dark Fantasy

Dark fantasy

Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...

 novel written by Charles R. Saunders

Charles R. Saunders

Charles R. Saunders also credited as Charles Saunders is an African American author and journalist currently living in Canada. During his long career, he has written everything from novels both fiction and non-fiction, to screenplays and radio plays.- Background :Saunders was born in Elizabeth,...

, and published by Daw Books

DAW Books

DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...

 in 1984. The Quest for Cush was the second book in the original Imaro Trilogy. The novel was a carefully chosen collection of four short stories

Short Stories

Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...

 (In Mwenni, In Bana-Gui, On the Bahari Mashiriki, and In Kush) which were originally published in Dark Fantasy a fanzine

Fanzine

A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...

 published by Canadian comic book

Comic book

A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...

 artist Gene Day

Gene Day

Howard Eugene Day was a Canadian comic book artist best known for Marvel Comics' Star Wars licensed series and Master of Kung Fu...

 during the 1970's.

An updated trade paperback version of the Quest for Cush was published in 2008 by Night Shade Books

Night Shade Books

Night Shade Books is an independent publishing company based in San Francisco, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It was started in 1997 by Jason Williams, with Jeremy Lassen coming on board as a partner shortly after the company's founding...

. It is an update of the Daw version of the novel, Saunders moves Imaro's first meeting with Tanisha and Pomphis from the last chapter in the book Imaro, to the first chapter in the Quest for Cush.

"The Kandiss of Cush charged me to seek he who was the greatest of all warriors, seek him and return with him to Cush. For the Mashataan, the Demon Gods, are once again astir, and all Nyumbani is in danger. I have witnessed your deeds and I am convinced you are the one the Kandiss meant." Daw Books DAW Books DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was... 1984

Synopsis

Defeated and demoralised by treachery within the bandit tribes that he led, Imaro searches for vengeance, and for his kidnapped lover Tanisha. In the City of Madness, he finds both, along with a new ally, Pomphis, who seems to possess information about the dark forces that have houinded Imaro all his life.

Pomphis doesn’t have all the answers, but he suggests they might be found in the legendary city of Cush. As they embark on their quest for Cush, the forces arrayed against Imaro grow bolder, manifesting themselves as assassins, monsters and deadly creatures from the sea, all in a desperate attempt to prevent Imaro from reaching Cush. As the forces grow deadlier, the true nature of the coming continent-wide conflict becomes increasingly more apparent.

List of characters

The characters in this section are listed in their order of appearance.

• Imaro - son of Katisa, son of no father
• Tanisha - Shikaza woman who becomes Imaro's companion
• Pomphis - Bambuti Pygmy scholar and former jester, now friend to Imaro
• Rabir - A Zanjian sea captain who winds up being one if his friends after transporting him to Cush