Elizabeth Haydon

Not to be confused with Elizabeth A. Hayden.

Elizabeth Haydon
Born	1965 (age 60–61)
Occupation	Author
Genre	Fantasy
Website
Official website (2004 archive)

Elizabeth Haydon (born 1965) is an American fantasy author. Her Symphony of Ages series contains two trilogies, a duology, and a final book, and begins with Rhapsody: Child of Blood (1999). Her other series, The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, is set in the same universe but serves as a historical prequel. Her most recent publication is The Weaver's Lament (2016).

Biography

Haydon is the daughter of an Air Force officer and moved around frequently as a child. She attended Binghamton University. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Haydon worked in publishing for more than thirty years. Past roles include developmental editing and writing textbooks. Her experience in education support services inspired her to release a free supplemental curriculum for The Floating Island for teachers.

The royalties from both Rhapsody and Prophecy were donated to children's charities such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Rhapsody was optioned in the late 1990s, and it was renewed in 2000, at which point at least one script draft had been finished. As of 2018, no further developments had been made.

The Symphony of Ages

The Symphony of Ages books series consists of the Rhapsody Trilogy, the two Middle Books, and, as of June 2015, The War of the Known World Trilogy. The third book in this trilogy, and thus the eighth in the Symphony of Ages series, was published in June 2015.

The Rhapsody Trilogy

The Rhapsody Trilogy follows Rhapsody, a woman who uses true names and music as magic. An altercation with some henchmen puts her in the company of the giant Grunthor and the assassin Achmed the Snake, previously known simply as The Brother. The trio escape from the destruction of their society by using an ancient tree to move through space and time, and emerge 1,400 years later.

The Bridge/Middle Duology

Three years after Destiny, a war breaks out over a southern empire whose monarch has recently died. Meanwhile, an old enemy of Rhapsody's returns.

The War of the Known World Trilogy

As a mysterious man arrives by sea, a convocation of dragons takes place elsewhere and a new council of war meets in Haguefort.

Final chapter

Rhapsody is forced to choose between family and friends as a civil war approaches.

The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme

Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme comes from a large family of unadventurous shipbuilders. When he is offered the opportunity to oversee a test-run of a new ship, Ven is excited to have a chance to explore, but is soon attacked by pirates. Another ship rescues him and he joins their crew. He is chosen to accompany the captain to a near-utopia on a floating island and quickly finds himself entrenched in mystery, exploration, and murder. This trilogy takes place in the same universe as Symphony of Ages but follows Ven Polypheme, a historical figure in Rhapsody's time.

5. The Star of the Sea (unreleased)

External links

• Elizabeth Haydon at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database