The Scarlet Fig: Or, Slowly Through a Land of Stone — Avram Davidson

The Last Manuscript of a Master

It began with an accident, as if Fate had a plan for Vergil Magus . . .

After his trials in the Very Rich City of Averno but before his crowning achievement of a certain magic mirror, the great sorcerer and alchemist finds himself on a journey nothing short of epic. Sure he is slated for death in Rome, Vergil seeks safety in the far reaches of the Empire� -- and finds a world teeming with wonders and magical oddities.

The “unhistoric” sea adventure is a deft mix of fantastic fact and fable, showcasing the author's keen attention to the often forgotten connections between them.