Release Date
2013-06-25Formats
Ebook, PaperbackEBook ISBN
25th June 2013 | 9780857662545 | Epub & Mobi | RRP £5.49 / US$6.99Paperback ISBN
25th June 2013 | 9780857662538 | Small (Mass Market) Paperback | RRP US$7.99 CAN$9.99, 4th July 2013 | 9780857662521 | Paperback | RRP £8.9925th June 2013 | 9780857662538 | Small (Mass Market) Paperback | RRP US$7.99 CAN$9.99
Paul S. Kemp is a lawyer. That is bad.
He is also the million-selling author of the Erevis Cale sword and sorcery stories and several Star Wars novels. That is good. Very good.
He has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list three times (twice on the hardcover list, and once in the mass market list).
His first book for Angry Robot, The Hammer and the Blade will introduce you to Egil and Nix, a pair of down-at-heel treasure hunters and incorrigible rogues. Egil is a priest, happy to deliver moral correction with his pair of massive hammers. Nix is a sneak-thief; there’s no lock he cannot open, no serving girl he cannot charm. Between them, they always have one eye for a chance to make money – the other eye, of course, is on the nearest exit. Only this time the treasure they’ve thieved is an important relic of a most sinister and ancient family, who will stop at nothing to get their bloody revenge.
It’s a little known fact that Paul has maimed eight men and three llamas using only an unsharpened pencil and a stick of Wrigley’s gum. Now you know too. He does not hum show tunes. Ever.
Paul lives in Michigan with his wife and twin sons.
“Filled with a good amount of action, adventure, and humor in a good blend that left me entertained throughout the entire book. 8/10”
– The Founding Fields
“The whole thing is wonderfully impressive on one hand, and delightfully rewarding on the other. Yes, I will confess you cannot escape the knee jerk reaction of asking yourself: ‘What have they gotten themselves into this time?’ But even as you find yourself following along to find out and be filled in on matters you also soon become distracted by the growing plot that no doubt will ensnare our beloved and boisterous heroes.”
– Silver Pen Scribe
“It is in the characters, particularly Egil and Nix, that Kemp shines and draws the reader in. The comparisons to Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are obvious, and are a nice homage to the classics of the genre. However, I also was reminded of the Hawk and Fisher series by Simon R Green… And that is good company to be in.”
– Being a Big Sandwich
“The characters are deep and fun to get to know, the story is interesting, and the action is top shelf.”
– Kobold Press
“An entirely new adventure that builds off of the first book and will prove to be a gratifying experience.”
– Odd Engine
“This is the fantasy you’ve been craving. If you’ve been dying for some real originality in the fantasy realm – with a scene of revenge that would make even Kick-Ass‘ Hit Girl do a double-take – then A Discourse in Steel is your next stop.”
– A Cinephile’s Book Review
“Without spoiling the story, readers can expect combat, magical items, chases, and some tantalizes glimpses of ancient powers. Throughout the story, there’s fun dialog and great chemistry between the characters. Fans of fantasy fiction and sword and sorcery would be well advised to give A Discourse in Steel a try. I give it a five out of five.”
– Roqoo Depot
“This book is a brilliant adventure, with sword and sorcery, adventure and supernatural horrors that only exist in Paul S Kemp’s personal world. A great book and a brilliant read.”
– Tome of Geek