The appeal of commercial fantasy combined with literary style and panache A beautifully realised and original fantasy world A superbly characterised hero - cocky, naive, clever, deceitful and endlessly funny. A rogue and a con artist, and a hero to carry the whole series Excellent dialogue, beautiful descriptions: this is a debut author in full command of his talents.

Shortlisted for World Fantasy Award 2007.

Scott Lynch was born in 1978 in St Paul, Minnesota, where he still lives. In addition to being a freelance writer for various role-playing game companies, he has done all the usual jobs writers put in their bios: dishwasher, waiter, web designer, marketing writer, office manager and short-order cook.