At the Gates and Other Stories

A ghost searches for revenge in ancient Egypt. A boy unearths the bones of a dragon. A girl risks awakening a dark god to save her dog… He reached out a hand and touched Grace's cheek. The touch made her shiver. You can't save everyone, Grace. I don't want to, Grace whispered. Just her. At the Gates and Other Stories is a collection of sixteen fantasy short stories. Reviews of stories in this collection This is the first story I've heard this year that I'd consider a masterpiece. It's rare for a story to move me to tears, but this one did. The writing is perfect, capturing the period and expressing the torments of war brilliantly. - John Dodds, The Fix on The Western Front. Marvelous. - Colin Harvey, Suite101, on At the Gates. This one kept me turning the page without pause, with its natural pace and flow of words, good characterization, and skillful plot build-up. Samphire's writing skill is matched only by his knowledge of Ancient Egyptian culture and mythology. - Scott M. Sandridge, Tangent Online, on The Land of Reeds. A great coming-of-age story. - David Roy, epinions, on When the Dragon Falls. Patrick Samphire offers an updated Arthurian fantasy, an elegantly crafted modern-day take on the Matter of Britain. - Gardner Dozois, Locus, Issue 598 on Camelot. The Stories- At the Gates- Five Things of Beauty- Uncle Vernon's Lie- Finisterre- A Veil, a Meal, and Dust- A Field Guide to Ugly Places- Slipper of Glass- The Equation- When the Dragon Falls- Dawn, by the Light of a Barrow Fire- Camelot- Crab Apple- The Sea Beyond Thule- The Land of Reeds- The Western Front- Dragonfly Summer