Dragonfyre Chapter Two is Online!

I'm posting a link for anyone landing on this site so you can head directly to my new website and read the latest chapter from my third novel in The Canticles of Andurun series: Dragonfyre. Hope you like what you read, and feel free to drop a comment to tell me what you thought. Click here to find the chapter.

Change of Address Forms

Once more we go to a brave new world, this time as weebly! Check out my new website at Andurun.weebly.com, and feel free to comment on what you think. I like it immensely; it is a facelift, it has more options, and it is every bit as easy to navigate and use as a blog. Just follow the link. Posts will be grinding to a halt here as I direct traffic; though I will leave this site up and running for the unforeseeable future; I have no intentions of closing it out. God bless!

Andurun discounts during the White Months

For those who are Andurun fans, want to jump on board, or know someone who might like a new fantasy adventure to read, this is the time to join the march through Andurun. For the next several consecutive Fridays until Christmas Dragonsong and Dragonmarch for Amazon Kindle will be discounted. That's right: both ebooks on Kindle and only on Fridays. For readers teetering on the edge of whether or not they want to try Andurun out this would be an apt time to do so.

Oh yes, and Dragonfyre is coming, though slowly. Book three in The Canticles of Andurun is progressing; I just haven't had time for it of late. Chapter two, entitled War Drums, will be before the month's end. Keep an eye out for it! God bless, and merry Christmas!

Races: The Ogian

Dwelling in the cool highlands and hills of the land of Parun, the Ogian are a race steeped with history and kinship. The Ogian appear as men and women with strong ram-like features: curled horns and short, full pelts of fur covering the majority of their bodies. They have cloven hooves and muscular legs, partly due to their love of running; either for the hunt, sport or for the simple sake of the activity itself. They are a sure footed race, winding along steep climbs that would make the most knowledgeable mountain climber think twice.

Monsters: The Phoenix

These beautiful, intelligent birds are often seen on the wing flying high through the skies. The Phoenix is about 15' long from beak to tail feather with a wingspan of more than 30'. Its beak is a deep bronze, which matches its eyes, while its feathers range in colors of bright scarlet to brilliant orange or yellow to crowns of gold and platinum along the tips of its feathers. There is a luster about the feathers that make them gleam in sunlight, giving the appearance that the bird is actually ablaze while it flies.

Matters of Life and Death, Dragonfyre Chapter 1

Well, here it is at last, the first chapter of the third installment of the Canticles of Andurun, and the conclusion to the first story arc for the series: Dragonfyre. I will be posting chapters 1 through 3 over the next month or two and continue to work steadily on revising book three so it will be ready on Createspace come the beginning of the year, as well as Kindle.

If you have not read, or finished reading, Dragonsong (book 1) and Dragonmarch (book 2) I would not continue! This chapter is a major spoiler, and it will ruin a great deal from the first two books if you read this before catching up on what's going on in Andurun! So I can't be held accountable, here is a more appropriate warning:

Spoiler warning! Read on at your own risk!

Having said that, please feel free to indulge in Andurun's third installment, and I will be working on getting more chapters revised in a timely fashion. With Christmas approaching and my store in a mall location, however, I'm not sure what "timely" means just yet. Bear with me, dear readers. God bless. Yours in Christ, Ian T Curtis.

Monsters: The Dire Newt

Dire newt- A Dire newt is a hideous, lumbering monster that might stand up to 10' tall if it weren’t always hunched over, dragging its arms along with it. It has long, webbed feet ending in glossy black talons and knotted arms with oversized hands, also webbed between the fingers. A tangle of wiry, seaweed-like hair sprouts from the top of the head and runs down the whole of the monster’s back, reeking of filth.

Fire Dragon

The Phantom of the Opera

I just finished reading The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, and I must say, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The original novel was published back in 1910, and was based in a then functioning opera house in Paris, complete with labyrinthine passages and a fatal chandelier accident in its history. From this grand old place Leroux concocted his famous story.

Princes Story: Party of Three (Part 3)

Chapter One: Nursery Rhyme Mayhem.

            Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there was a five lane freeway running beside a shining castle. It was made of shimmering asphalt and glittering iron rails, that were in fact so radiant that some of the drivers going past temporarily went blind, drove off of the freeway, and crashed into the side of the shining castle, lodging their poor vehicle in windows, or drawbridges, or other such inconvenient places. That was why the Radiant Princess had a hotel built beside her shining castle, complete with a towing service and an auto repair; not to mention there was a convenient Burger King right along the way for stranded motorists to eat at while they were in traction.

Mirror Mirror

Have you seen the movie Mirror Mirror, starring Julia Roberts yet? Perhaps you should ask yourself how much you enjoy the story of Snow White before rushing off to watch it. If you don't enjoy the more classic telling of the tale then I'm sure you will derive some enjoyment from this film. If not, well read on and decide for yourself...

Peaks and Valleys

When I first entered into contract with Strategic Publishing back in early 2010 I had no idea what I was getting into. That is a massive understatement. In nine short months of working with this company I had a copy of The Canticles of Andurun: Dragonsong ready to print and in December of 2010 the literary world saw the release of the first installment of my series. Sufficed to say, it didn't make much of a splash.

Monsters: The Stone Spider

Rather than build a monstrous compendium in one page (which would be very long after a while) I opted to take the alternative route: showcasing a beast from Andurun every now and again for the reader's pleasure. I'll choose one at random perhaps once a month to share. This month's choice is a little thing I named the Stone Spider. Enjoy!

Stormfyre Delays

Hmm...
The final chapter of Stormfyre has gone missing, and I will need to extract it from my old computer to finish posting the story. The epilogue for Stormfyre is present, but what I titled chapter 36 happened to be my epilogue, which means I forgot to transfer the climax of the novel! I apologize, as this may take some time to get a hold of the final chapter and post it here so everyone following can finally read the ending to this tale. I'll keep you posted as to when this will occur.

Location, Location...

One of the things I enjoy while writing fantasy is the dramatic changes of location that can be achieved at the drop of a hat. While a fantasy writer may anchor his or her story in the safe harbor of normalcy (cities, castles, mundane nature scenes, etc) this is generally the backdrop to bring the reader up to speed on what is "normal" in his or her world.

The Hunger Games

Fantasy is my forte, so when The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was translated into film I finally decided to see what the hoopla was about. The movie, which follows book one in a trilogy, tells the tale of Katniss Everdeen, a young woman living in district 12 of a sort of post-apocalyptic America, in a country now referred to as Panem. The Capitol governs this country, and the people living without the Capitol dwell in relatively squalid conditions nearly void of technology or innovation. The Capitol, however, is replete with such fare, and was the force that quelled a rebellion years ago with the resulting peace creating the segregated districts that exist only to service the Capitol with goods and entertainment.

Glynn's Review of Dragonmarch

Glynn Young of Faith, Fiction, Friends just posted his review of The Canticles of Andurun: Dragonmarch. If you would like to hear what Mr. Young had to say simply follow the link here. God bless!

Endings

As I approach concluding my series of posts for Stormfyre and likewise draw near the ending of my fifth book in the Canticles of Andurun series I contemplate the topic of endings. If you are a fantasy or adventure fan like I am, you likely have seen or read your share of stories and either been enchanted or disillusioned by the ending the writer decided to complete their tale with.Permit me to share my own reflections about the topic.

Stormfyre Chapter 35

            Dagoth Castle stood silent that winter's morning. As silent and brooding as the ocean boundaries that swept the jutting rocks along the shore. As silent as the king as he paced in quiet deliberation within the safety of his bed chambers. It had been weeks since he sent his troops in force to deal with the mighty Eagle. Imagine the gall of the man! Even raising voice to one that was ascending the High Throne was deplorable! Darius would have to see to it that Rimerez Eaglesbane was properly punished when he achieved his new office.

FYI Regarding My Estore

Now that the buzz about my Kindle sale is past and Dragonmarch has arrived in both Kindle and traditional form, I want to remind everyone that if you do not own a Kindle and want a copy of Dragonmarch or Dragonsong you may simply follow the links provided to appropriate a copy for yourself. Dragonsong's second edition is lightly revised grammatically with new cover art, while Dragonmarch has never been in novel form, and is the sequel and chapter two to my seven book series. You can find both at my Createspace stores for $16.99; a fair deal better than my old Strategic price point of $26. I hope you enjoy the next leg of the journey into Andurun!

The Dark Knight Mourns

This was in the Sunday edition of the Duluth News Tribune in memory of the victims of the Aurora Colorado shootings at the premiere of the Dark Knight Rises.

Andurun's Logo, Take Two

Here we have Andurun's logo, now colored for your viewing pleasure. You might call this Andurun version 2.0. It will be drawn on clear paper to remove the graph lines and the color will be tweaked, but I think this is a pretty good likeness of what I'm looking for. What do you think?

Andurun's New Banner

Here is a look at the prototype I am considering using for the Canticles of Andurun log, which will grace this blog, my facebook account, and my Novel covers if this pans out. Let me know what you think!

Also, Dragonsong on Kindle is available presently for a mere 99 cents this weeked; Dragonmarch will follow with a 1 day promotion for free. That's right, you can download book two of the Canticles of Andurun for free on Kindle come this Sunday. Hope to see you there!

Book 2 "Marches" onto Bookshelves

Thanks be to God, Dragonmarch, the Canticles of Andurun book two, launched on Createspace today! That is correct; Dragonmarch is available in traditional novel form on Amazon.com for $16.99. For those who have followed Dragonsong but don't want to invest in a Kindle to read Dragonmarch, this is your opportunity to pick up book two in the series. I am a traditional book fan myself, so this is very exciting for me.

Dragonsong's Second Edition has Arrived

Dragonsong, book one in the Canticles of Andurun, is again available in a revised second edition courtesy of Createspace! The book retails for $16.99 rather than $26 as originally priced on Strategic, which is a price difference of almost 50%. There are minor grammatical revisions and the addition of scene breaks, but nothing to alter the story itself. If you want to begin your journey into Andurun here is a good jumping on point. Click here for details.

If you are already an Andurun fan and want the next chapter in the saga Dragonmarch will be joining book one very shortly, within the week I hope. In the meantime Kindle lovers can find Dragnmarch on Amazon.com. God bless, and enjoy!

New Look, Same Fantasy

Andurun is getting a face lift! With the arrival of new cover art for the Kindle editions of The Canticles of Andurun we can finally move ahead planning their conversion back into paperback form! Dragonsong will arrive first with a (likely) $14 price tag courtesy of Amazon.com and will hopefully arrive before August expires. It is a revised second edition complete with scene breaks and grammatical revisions to enhance the readability of Andurun's debut title.

Dragonmarch will see the light of day in paperback form for the first time shortly thereafter with a price tag identical to Dragonsong. Gillian and I are looking into options to get these novels into bookstores and libraries around the country, but this is an involved process, and for the time being we will happily settle with simply having a book version of the novels online for our readers, and ourselves. In the meantime, here are the new covers for Dragonsong and Dragonmarch, already uploaded for their Kindle versions and ready to purchase if you follow the "purchase Andurun" link above. I hope you enjoy!

The New Look of Andurun has Arrived

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen: the new cover for the Canticles of Andurun book 2: Dragonmarch! Simple yet elegant, I enjoy the straight forward quality of the book cover Gillian came up with for me. For those who may disappointed that there is no drawn cover, Gillian may create a sketch inside the book for fans of the series; but she confided in me that she felt the drawn covers detracted from the sobriety and gravity of the story. She felt the covers too whimsical for the nature of the tales I am telling; that the story is too traditional or old-fashioned fantasy for the covers she was making. Do you agree? If you have an opinion drop me a line here or on facebook and let me know.

Dragonmarch is on Kindle!

At long last the wait is over, and book 2 of the Canticles of Andurun arrives of Kindle! Gillian and I discussed the cover, and she wanted me to go ahead and publish the second volume of Andurun while she continues working. So worry not, my wife's beautiful cover art will grace of the Kindle version and the forthcoming paperback edition of both Dragonsong and Dragonmarch, but it will still be a spell while she perfects her projects.

In the meantime, Dragnmarch is set for a $5.99 selling point just like Dragonsong, and will be available no later than 12 hours from the time of this post. I have enlisted it on KDP select, which enables me to do a promotional book give away to celebrate the release of book 2. I will let people know both here and on Facebook when this finally arrives, but I am thinking of having an Andurun weekend, opening on Friday with a 1 day Dragonsong giveaway for fantasy readers who want to jump on board at the beginning, and doing a two day promotion for Dragonmarch. If you enjoy this series, let other Kindle owners know about this offer; if you have just chanced onto Andurun and have a Kindle, please give it a try. If you are a fantasy fan I think that you'll find something to like in the pages of Andurun.

For the diehards that do not like ebooks worry not, I am still working hard to push Dragonsong and Dragonmarch onto paperback format for a more reasonable price than Strategic offered my first venture. They will likely sell for a $14 price point, and feature revamped art from my lovely wife, at least for Dragonsong. Thanks for the patience, and let the journey into Andurun continue! God bless!

Stormfyre Chapter 34

            Ferrin sat perched on the sill of a window, high above the village's boundary. He listened intently as people, his people, told him their history; how it was they came to live in such seclusion among the ageless. An old drudic sat on a heavy legged chair facing Ferrin, smoking a long stemmed pipe. The smoke from the pipe carried the scent of cherry in the air. The old man was named Zael. He was one of the eldest among the Casaama tribe, having lived for nearly two hundred years.

Shades of Grey

Greetings friends.
I have been musing over characters lately and have begun to wonder about the downfall of the virtuous hero. I have watched the trend progress through the 80's when I was a boy and gain momentum as time went on. Little by little, the hero of virtue is becoming extinct.

Stormfyre Chapter 33

As frigid as the land at the base of the Canvese Mountains was, it failed to compare to the arctic cold that swept in freezing blasts across the open plains of the land of the ageless. It was only a half day's travel from the village of the Casaama tribe to the legendary tomb of Bryan Stormfyre, but that half day seemed to last an eternity. Verion warned them to find warmer clothes still, heavy fur lined leggings and vests to wear over their clothes, along with hooded coats to retain heat. Even with all of it they could still be cold, still shiver violently when a frigid wind befell them.

Stormfyre Chapter 32

            Writing in the chronicles had always brought Liance peace before. As the historian and chronicler of the Chosen, he took his task very seriously. But it was a task that he could lose himself in. The history of Umbriel fascinated him, even as a child, before he knew what becoming one of the Chosen meant. But there was no pleasure in the ancient tomes that morning. Closing the old text on the table where he laid it out in the hall of the old library, he clutched at the bridge of his nose. There was a sharp pain there that had been bothering him for days now.

Stormfyre, Chapter 31

           The path branching through the Canvese Mountains was steep and narrow, with driving winds blowing back and forth periodically. A snow storm was brewing further to the north, black clouds gathering in masse. The farther they climbed the pass the colder the air became, growing more frigid as the hours of travel passed. In the depths of the mountain pass they pitched camp, finding a small grove of trees that grew beside the road. There was only sharp wind and blowing snow beyond the road, with it twisting like an enormous snake between hulking pieces of stone protruding out of the ground.

The Races of Andurun: Humans

Humans, while not as storied as some of the Elder races of Andurun, have a long history that many of their own kind don’t even recall. A short lived race, one of the most short lived of all the races of the realm, they are equally short minded and sometimes very rash, tending to disregard history and past learning for the unattainable “future”. Being the most plentiful race of the realm means that Humans run the gamut of good to evil. They can be the best or the worst that the mortal mind and spirit can fabricate, and are as many times champions as they are villainous; while a good many refrain from such engagements and prefer a quieter life of solitude or peace. Humans favor no proclivity and are as often found worshipping the One God as they are waxing philosophic in the Temples of Unitar, or reaching for no higher goals whatever.

Coronation of the Northern King, Dragonmarch Chapter 3

Welcome to the third and final sample chapter for Dragonmarch: The Canticles of Andurun Book 2. Next month is going to see the release of my second novel on Kindle towadr the end of May. Also, my wife has begun considering how she is going to design the cover art for Dragonmarch to have it ready for its release! I can't wait to see what she arrives at. At any rate, I hope you enjoy the chapter, and feel free to catch up with the earlier chapters already available for both Dragonmarch and Dragonsong, Book 1 of the series. God bless!

Stormfyre Chapter 30

            Kirstin followed Kamil through an almost visible foot path in the woods, bobbing between trees, stopping to climb over a rather large pine that had been felled years ago and was still decaying. She thought his travel was random at first, but then she heard him call to someone far off. She froze when her foot found a brittle twig under the snow and Kamil spun to look behind him. Hidden in the shadow of the felled tree there was nothing for him to see. He continued to walk and again he called out ahead of him. He slid down a small gulley and vanished from sight. Kirstin broke from her cover and ran after him, pulling her sword free of her scabbard for no reason she could think of. It simply seemed like he was heading into danger. The soldiers at the border wall told them that demorn were rampant to the north. Could Kamil be mistaking one of the demorn for a lost traveler?

Stormfyre Chapter 29

Welcome to chapter 29 of Stormfyre, where plot points begin to wind up and the finale of the story grows ever closer. I hope you have been enjoying following along! Stay tuned, as Dragonmarch chapter 3 will be coming within the next two weeks or less, and all of book 2 of the Canticles of Andurun will be appearing via Kindle by the end of May. In the meantime you can read about the exploits in Andurun with my postings of Dragonmarch chapters 1 and 2, as well as Dragonsong chapters 1-3. God bless and good reading!

Stormfyre Chapter 28

Well, here we have arrived at the final quarter of Stormfyre, chapter 28. The book was broken into four parts, the last of which being entitled "The War of the Ageless." I hope you enjoy the chapter, and the remainder of Stormfyre. God bless!

Misery & Hope, Dragonmarch Chapter 2

Cantlin City was a mammoth metropolis. It had been crafted during the First Age of the realm by the Dwarves, and even among their own people it had been a marvel of craftsmanship that was unsurpassed among their own by anything else their hands had wrought. Not even the distant Mount of Swords, where the kingdom of Gaia was found upon the highest peak of the mountain, could compare to the beauty and stature of Cantlin.

Stormfyre Chapter 27

Good day and welcome back to Stormfyre! We're finally nearing the end of this novel (about nine chapters left) as I make ready to post Dragonmarch chapter 2: Misery & Hope. I do hope that everyone following along is enjoying Stormfyre. I can't believe how long its been since I wrote this! Anyhow, I digress. Please, continue reading, and I look forward to posting the remaining chapters of Stormfyre for your reading pleasure.

The Dark Room, Part 4 of 4

Welcome to the final installment of the Dark Room. I hope hat you've enjoyed the story; it has been odd to reread this work. If you have any commentary regarding it, please feel free to drop me a lone either on this site or Facebook; I'd like to hear what anyone following along thought.

The Dark Room, Part 3 of 4

We've reached the third part of the Dark Room. The Dark Room was the final story in a series of works that were gathered under the "Bloodlines" label. They were stories that involved all kinds of supernatural things and spanned throughout several centuries of time. This one was far and away a much different flavor than its predecessors, however. It is interesting to see where the Lord brought my writing from the days of the Dark Room, and I am glad to God I can reflect on such times and see what I have learned, instead of looking back only to see what I squandered. At any rate, let's continue our journey through the Dark Room. 

The Dark Room, Part 2 of 4

Hello and welcome to the second chapter of the Dark Room. Bear in mind, dear reader that this is an older story for me, with elements of supernatural horror, and as such it may prove too much for some to read. The content in this regard is somewhat PG-13. The premise of the story reflects my own feelings at the time, and how I felt toward life in general, "in the dark" more or less. I hope you enjoy the story, just read it with a pinch of salt. Dragonmarch chapter 2 will be coming shortly, and no worries: Stormfyre is not forgotten! God bless!

The Dark Room, Part 1 of 4

This is a story I never intended to share when it was first written. This is prior to Dragonsong and my Andurun writings, and prior to my return to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Dark Room is a claustrophobic and dreary tale, but one that I think greatly mirrored me during the time as I felt dismal and blind. I didn't even know at the time I was spiritually searching, but the story tells a tale of its own. I divided the Dark Room into 4 installments that are about nine pages apiece. So I bid you to come and explore a lightless place bereft of hope, prior to Andurun and prior to God's renewed presence in my life. You will meet a prototype for the Mirror of the Songstress within its pages, and I think you will also meet me at a younger age, when I was wandering through my own Dark Room. God bless. 

Time's March, Dragonmarch Chapter 1

Greetings and welcome to chapter 1 of Dragonmarch, the Canticles of Andurun book 2! I am pleased to finally bring the second chapter of my fantasy saga to my readers. If you have not read Dragonsong yet be warned that there are spoilers within chapter 1 that will ruin a portion of the story for you. If you have read Dragonsong, then I cordially invite you to join me as we return to Andurun for the next leg of the journey. Without further ado I present to you Dragonmarch chapter 1: Time's March!

Stormfyre Chapter Twenty Six



Find Dragonsong on Kindle
at Amazon.com

            Creed Soames ship slid noisily into the docks, battered sides still weak from the fire that ate at them just weeks ago. The day was nearly clear sky with a strong wind blowing in from the ocean side. The docks were bustling with activity as a plank was laid and lines tied to secure the ship. Lord Soames garrison of men formed a ring around him as he stepped off of his ship, causing many of the peasants to fall away, fear overriding any curiosity they might have had. Just behind Creed Soames were Kirstin and Damien who were quietly conferring as they made their way off the docks and onto the peer, just beyond a great building of stone that served as a store house for merchant vessels. Kamil and Klem followed them, towing Cameron along between their linked arms. The warrior was still groggy, sick from all the drink that he had the last night of the voyage. He continued to mutter things of castles and Anifall, as well as other men's names that no one recognized. When they reached the main street the Lord's men commandeered a coach for Creed to ride in back to his manor, which was on the farthest reaches of the city’s eastern fringes.

Stormfyre Chapter Twenty Five

The waves crashed in frothing white against the hull of Creed Soames sailing vessel, breaking to allow the sleek ship closer to the docks of Bastual. It had taken weeks to journey from Twin Port, weeks of little progress due to the damage from the battle at the docks. Creed Soames was a competent man, finding work for every man or woman to do that would bring them closer to their goal of returning to his home village. He regretted having to leave before he had the chance to speak with his brother over matters that Cray considered of dire importance, but if it proved to be just that Cray would send him word again. Perhaps his younger brother could pay him a visit in the less hostile streets of Bastual.

Stormfyre Chapter Twenty Four

            "Where is Cameron?" Benmont growled at a sailor as he stood on deck, watching them cast off, raising the anchor, "What was the garrison doing over there?" he pointed a finger to the eastern docks where another vessel had just left the port, burning and trailing smoke in its wake.

Stormfyre Chapter Twenty Three

Dragonsong is now on Kindle

            Kamil Dravan wrinkled his nose at the smell of the alley that he and Kirstin wandered through. To both sides of him were carts and open doors with fish of all kinds hanging from strings and hooks. Kamil had never in his life imagined that there were so many different kinds to catch. It seemed that every shopped had another variety of fish, be it large or small, or speckled, or feelers of some sort growing from the top of its head. As wondrous as he found it all, the smell was enough to make him want to gag. Then there was the sight of men with short bladed knives cutting and flaying the fish, some right out on the streets, some as customers even watched them! At least he didn't feel so bad when he noticed that Kirstin was turning a touch green and putting a hand over her mouth, green eyes flicking this way and that, not content on watching anything that they found.

Stormfyre Chapter Twenty Two

            A heavy rain fell from clouds that were deep grey and black, covering all the sky. That rain pelted all of Umbriel throughout the night, sheets that were thick and cold, filming into rolls of fog as the land soaked it in. That cold rain also fell over the small western island of Dynasty, where the grand cathedral stood as the epicenter of the country's religion for the last two thousand years. It had changed little over the course of time, with its bell tower and stone balconies that wrapped the length of both the front and the sides of it. The entire building was a shade of grey, with off white tiles for the ceiling, multilayered as the ceiling rose from the back to allow room for another floor, the ceremonial church and the chamber of the High Throne. It was in that same chamber that the wisdom of the One God would be given to a man worthy enough to accept the gift.

Stormfyre Chapter Twenty One

            "Your spies give favorable reports, your majesty," Urien Baska stated as he knelt before the throne of Dagoth. Darius Steelbreeze watched the man with bright green eyes and a face that garnered no emotion. The rest of Darius's council was spread out behind the throne, four more of them in all, hands folded at his or her waist, eyes staring straight ahead, hearing all that passed by their ears but having presence of mind enough not to speak unless spoken to. The fate of Raza, the king's former chief advisor, still hung like a pall in their minds. He had schemed where he should not have. Even if it had been for the king's benefit, he had been sent to the dungeons to rot as if her were no more than a common criminal.