Ariadne was trapped, trapped by her own father, the cruel King Minos of Crete; trapped by the mysterious strangers from another world, Daedalus and Icarus; and trapped by her would-be rescuer, Prince Theseus of Athens. Appalled by the blood-letting in the Labyrinth and the evil worship of the Bull-God that Minos encourages, she helps Theseus escape after his bid to slay the monster. But then she begins to fight for her own freedom when she is forced to marry the Prince, a man she does not even like. Suddenly nothing is more important to her. In the end, Ariadne has her own way; Theseus is a hero of the old type, but she proves that perhaps, after all, there is no need for heroes. In this compelling and fast-moving story, Brian Keaney has retold the myth of the Minotaur from Ariadne's point of view (also introducing science fiction elements to the story). In so doing, he has written a surprisingly contemporary novel about relationships and social forces that at the same time has magic and enchantment in it.

No Need for Heroes

Keaney, Brian

Children's Books

Oxford University Press

The Hodder Reading Project Level 3-4 identifies blocks to progression and takes pupils from National Curriculum Level 3 to Level 4. It comprises the Teacher's Resource, Pupil's Book and 6 Readers. Reader 4, Level 4, Jacob's Ladder by Brian Keaney. Jacob wakes in the middle of a field with no recollection of how he came to be there. The only thing he can clearly remember is his name. Is he alive or dead? Jacob is then taken by Virgil, a mysterious guide, to a featureless place named Locus. He is given a grey uniform and becomes part of a mass of young people, all resigned to their fate and struggling to piece together memories of their previous existence. With two companions Jacob sets out on a journey back towards the life he has left. The journey is uncertain; there is no guide, nor any advice as to decisions that have to be made. Challenges, temptations, fearful encounters with strange characters and creatures lead him to the Palace of Remembrance, the gateway back to the real world, where a final (or is it a first?) choice awaits him. >

Jacob's Ladder (Hodder Reading Project)

Education & Reference

Hodder Murray

The Hollow People (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus, Book 1)

ON THE SINISTER ISLAND where strict obedience to the laws of the mysterious Dr. Sigmundus holds sway, dreaming will get you locked up and branded a lunatic, a danger to society and to all who know you. In this doomed and repressive place, two teens that were never meant to meet or share their dreams, cross paths and set in motion that which rips them from the lives they were meant to lead. Together they join forces with a ragtag group of rebel forces bent on breaking the grip of lies and illusions their countrymen have accepted without question. For fans of thoughtful science fiction and fantasy, The Hollow People opens a window on the unseen worlds that surround us. It is the first installment in The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus. Book II will continue the tale in fall 2008.

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Dr. Sigmundus: The Cracked Mirror (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

A BULLETIN REVIEW of the first book of the Promises of Dr. Sigmundus: The Hollow People proclaimed: “Brian Keaney’s concoction of science fiction, horror, and fantasy is remarkably effective” and “Sigmundus is a worthy and memorable villain that will haunt readers. As the first in a series, this is a promising start, and the cliffhanger ending all but guarantees return readers.” The Cracked Mirror continues its chronicle of a moody, fantastical world in which its teenage hero and heroine must endure more risk, make riskier choices, and sacrifice their very lives in the cause of freedom and self determination. This haunting installment keeps the pages turning, setting the stage for the ultimate showdown, a battle between good and evil coming in fall 2009.

“Keaney's concoction of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy is remarkably effective. Sigmundus is a villain who will haunt readers.”—The Bulletin Beginning where Book 2, The Cracked Mirror, left off, this finale to the Promises of Dr. Sigmundus trilogy takes readers into bizarre realms with fanciful creatures, continuing its signature exploration of the price of freedom and self-determination. Focusing on the ongoing struggles of its teenaged protagonists, Dante and Bea, it is a journey at once thrilling and thoughtful, with plenty to offer for pure reading enjoyment and book discussion. This trilogy is satisfying for fantasy fans but also accessible to the less-than-hardcore genre enthusiast.

The Resurrection Fields (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus Book Three)

ON THE SINISTER ISLAND where strict obedience to the laws of the mysterious Dr. Sigmundus holds sway, dreaming will get you locked up and branded a lunatic, a danger to society and to all who know you. In this doomed and repressive place, two teens that were never meant to meet or share their dreams, cross paths and set in motion that which rips them from the lives they were meant to lead. Together they join forces with a ragtag group of rebel forces bent on breaking the grip of lies and illusions their countrymen have accepted without question. For fans of thoughtful science fiction and fantasy, The Hollow People opens a window on the unseen worlds that surround us. It is the first installment in The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus. Book II will continue the tale in fall 2008. From the Hardcover edition.

A BULLETIN REVIEW of the first book of the Promises of Dr. Sigmundus: The Hollow People proclaimed: “Brian Keaney’s concoction of science fiction, horror, and fantasy is remarkably effective” and “Sigmundus is a worthy and memorable villain that will haunt readers. As the first in a series, this is a promising start, and the cliffhanger ending all but guarantees return readers.” The Cracked Mirror continues its chronicle of a moody, fantastical world in which its teenage hero and heroine must endure more risk, make riskier choices, and sacrifice their very lives in the cause of freedom and self determination. This haunting installment keeps the pages turning, setting the stage for the ultimate showdown, a battle between good and evil coming in fall 2009. From the Hardcover edition.

“Keaney's concoction of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy is remarkably effective. Sigmundus is a villain who will haunt readers.”—The Bulletin Beginning where Book 2, The Cracked Mirror, left off, this finale to the Promises of Dr. Sigmundus trilogy takes readers into bizarre realms with fanciful creatures, continuing its signature exploration of the price of freedom and self-determination. Focusing on the ongoing struggles of its teenaged protagonists, Dante and Bea, it is a journey at once thrilling and thoughtful, with plenty to offer for pure reading enjoyment and book discussion. This trilogy is satisfying for fantasy fans but also accessible to the less-than-hardcore genre enthusiast. From the Hardcover edition.

Dr. Sigmundus: The Resurrection Fields (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

How do you come of age under a mind-controlling dictatorship? “Keaney is sure to gain a big readership with this first title. . . . It will captivate readers with a taste for suspense and psychological thrills.”—School Library Journal In Tanegar, a sinister island where the laws of the mysterious Dr. Sigmundus hold sway, dreaming will get you locked up and branded a lunatic. Dante is a lowly kitchen boy. Bea is the privileged daughter of physicians. They aren’t meant to meet or share ideas, or, most dangerous of all, their dreams. But with the arrival of a notorious prisoner to the island's asylum, their worlds collide. Together they begin to question whether the promises they’ve based their lives on have been spun from lies and illusion—and if now is the time to break them.

Dr. Sigmundus: The Hollow People (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Keaney, Brian. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Keaney, Brian

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Keaney, Brian. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

No Need for Heroes

Jacob's Ladder (Hodder Reading Project)

The Hollow People (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus, Book 1)

Dr. Sigmundus: The Cracked Mirror (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

The Resurrection Fields (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus Book Three)

The Hollow People (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus, Book 1)

Dr. Sigmundus: The Cracked Mirror (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

Dr. Sigmundus: The Resurrection Fields (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

Dr. Sigmundus: The Hollow People (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)

Dr. Sigmundus: The Cracked Mirror (The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus)