An alien art expert is caught in a dangerous hunt for an enigmatic beauty in this science fiction classic by a five-time Hugo Award–winning author.
For thousands of years the Dark Lady has appeared in portraits across the galaxy, but very little is known about her. She wears only black. She has been seen by many but known by few. And if you do see her, it will be after you’ve taken your last breath . . .
Alien art historian Leonardo has seen paintings of the Dark Lady before and sees her image again when he comes to work at a human art gallery. There he meets a wealthy old collector who hires him to track down portraits of the mysterious woman. However, Leonardo is not alone in his search. There’s an art thief out to make some money, and a man desperate to see the model herself in the flesh.
Legend says that the Dark Lady summons men to great deeds or to their demise. As Leonardo’s search begins, his obsession with the woman grows. She will either be the key to his salvation or his destruction . . .Mike Resnick (1942–2020) was an American science fiction author and editor. A winner of five Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award, Resnick was hugely popular in the world of fandom and was the guest of honor at many science fiction conventions, including Chicon 7, the World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago.He was the executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe, as well as the editor and co-creator of Galaxy’s Edge magazine. In addition to publishing hundreds of books, Resnick was known for helping new writers start their careers. The Mike Resnick Memorial Award was created in 2021 to honor his memory and carry on his legacy by spotlighting new writers of short fiction in the genre.