Matthew Beard – författare

In the shadows between the living world and the land of the dead, the night’s terrors lurk… For as long as anyone can remember, the mountain village of Haven has been under the protection of an ancient warlock known as the Old Stargazer. But after countless years spent deciphering the language of the cosmos, the old man is losing himself to the many voices of the night sky. Now, a dark figure controls the forest with minions of kenku marauders—crowlike humanoids that menace Haven with violence and mayhem. If the Old Stargazer cannot or will not protect the villagers, they will have to find someone who can. Nergei, an orphan raised by the warlock, knows they must venture beyond the safety of Haven to find the help they need. With little to offer mercenaries, and a ragged band at his side, he sets forth in search of heroes, never believing in what he might find.

From the Paperback edition.

This volume contains a selection of papers from the 21st annual 'Australian Association for Professional and Applied Ethics' Conference. It addresses the key theme of Political Leadership, Professional Ethics, and the Problem of Dirty Hands. 'Dirty hands' is a somewhat nebulous concept. It may refer to professions whose objectives are so consequential that some ethical violations are considered justifiable. In another sense it might suggest situations where professional obligations might require the performance of deeds that contradict one's own moral beliefs. The term is perhaps most synonymous with political leadership and raises the question: Should leaders ever get their hands dirty? For applied ethicists, recognizing that sometimes there are compelling arguments in favor of certain moral violations is a professional necessity. This volume contains papers on a broad range of issues including discussions of medical ethics, military ethics, domestic political matters, and the very nature of 'professions' themselves. It will be of interest to those interested in politics, as well as those involved in research or training in ethics and professional practice.