The Cold Commands (Gollancz S.F.) [Hardcover]

"This is dense, gripping fantasy. textually, it's rather like Joe Abercrombie without the arched eyebrow." (Guy Haley SFX )

"Overall The Cold Commands is a superior effort to The Steel Remains and an excellent novel, though one that's definitely not for everyone; a little more imagination on the fantasy plot and full coherence would make it one for the ages, but even so, the author's powerful writing style, the memorable characters, superb one liners and many other goodies made it one of my top 25 novels of the year." (FANTASY BOOK CRITIC )

"Sharp, fast, furious, and well written, The Cold Commands is a must read for anyone who likes gritty, edgy fantasy that is unafraid to explore complex or difficult issues." (RANTINGDRAGON.COM )

"The Cold Commands sees Morgan back on top form and delivering a book as passionate, fast-paced, smart and furious as any of his SF." (WERTZONE )

Fantasy: harder, faster, bloodier. The king of noir Science Fiction takes on Fantasy.

Ringil Eskiath, scarred wielder of the kiriath-forged broadsword Ravensfriend, is a man on the run - from his past and the family who have disowned him, from the slave trade magnates of Trelayne who want him dead, and apparently from the dark gods themselves, who are taking an interest but making no more sense than they ever have. Outlawed and exiled from his ancestral home in the north, Ringil has only one place left to turn - Yhelteth, city heart of the southern Empire, where perhaps he can seek asylum with the kiriath half-breed Archeth Indamaninarmal, former war comrade and now high-up advisor to the Emperor Jhiral Khimran II. But Archeth Indamaninarmal has problems of her own to contend with, as does her house guest, bodyguard and one time steppe nomad Egar the Dragonbane. And far from gaining the respite he is seeks, Ringil will instead find himself implicated in fresh schemes and doubtful allegiances no safer than those he has left behind. Old enemies are stirring, the old order is rotted through and crumbling, and though no-one yet knows it, the city of Yhelteth is about to explode . . .

Richard Morgan was born in 1965 and was, until his writing career took off, a tutor at Strathclyde University in the English Language Teaching division. He has travelled widely and lived in Spain and Istanbul. He is a fluent Spanish speaker. He has had two of his books optioned in Hollywood and has won both the PHILIP K. DICK and ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARDS. He lives in Glasgow with his wife.