Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb Series, 1) - Softcover

Muir, Tamsyn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 125031318X ISBN 13: 9781250313188

Publisher: Tor Books, 2020

Synopsis

“Unlike anything I’ve ever read. ” ―V.E. Schwab

“Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” ―Charles Stross

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

About this title

About the Author

TAMSYN MUIR is a horror, fantasy and sci-fi author whose short fiction has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. A Kiwi, she has spent most of her life in Howick, New Zealand, with time living in Waiuku and central Wellington. She currently lives and works in Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Gideon the Ninth is her first novel.

Review

“Unlike anything I’ve ever read. Muir’s writing is as sharp as a broken tooth, and just as unsettling. This book is visceral, vivid, and downright violent. In short, absolutely marvelous.” ―V.E. Schwab, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"Warm and cold; goofy and gleaming; campy and epic; a profane Daria in space." ―Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

“This crackling, inventive and riotous book from an original voice is a genuine pleasure. Also the author is clearly insane.” ―Warren Ellis, author of Transmetropolitan and Gun Machine

“Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space! Decadent nobles vie to serve the deathless emperor! Skeletons!” ―Charles Stross, author of The Laundry Files and Empire Games

“Punchy, crunchy, gooey and gore-smeared, Gideon the Ninth is a pulpy science-fantasy romp that will delight and horrify you to the bitter end.” ―Kameron Hurley, author of The Stars Are Legion and the Worldbreaker Saga

“By turns a slasher movie and a sorcerous slugfest, with a snarky protagonist and a deep, complicated relationship at its heart.” ―Django Wexler, author of The Shadow Campaigns

“Necromancers! Dueling! Mayhem! Gideon the Ninth is disturbing and delightful in equal measure―I loved it to pieces.” ―Yoon Ha Lee, author of the Hexarchate series and Dragon Pearl

“Muir effortlessly compiles macabre humor, body horror, secrets, and tenderness into the stitched-together corpse of a dark universe, then brings it to life with a delightfully chaotic, crackling cast of characters and the connective tissue of their relationships.” ―Publishers Weekly Starred Review

“[Gideon the Ninth] blends science fiction, fantasy, gothic chiller, and classic house-party mystery. This intriguing genre stew works surprisingly well. Suspenseful and snarky, with surprising emotional depths.” ―Kirkus Starred Review

“At once sarcastic, sincere, heart-wrenching, and honest pulpy enjoyment, filled with dark magic, swordplay, and lesbian necromancers, Muir's debut is a fantastic sf/fantasy blend. Readers will discuss this journey for a long time and be clamoring for the next installment.” ―Library Journal Starred Review

“Muir’s debut fuses science fiction, mystery, horror, fantasy, action, adventure, political intrigue, deadly dark humor, and a dash of romance with a healthy serving of skeletons nad secrets and the spirit of queer joy. This extraordinary opening salvo will leave readers dying to know what happens next.” ―Booklist Starred Review

“Gideon the Ninth is simply one of the best and most original books in recent memory.” ―Shelf Awareness

“Gideon the Ninth is a whirlwind of dark fantasy and dark humor, all wrapped up in sarcastic, delightfully sapphic Gideon Nav. The narrative oozes with voice and every sentence rattles with Gideon’s disaffected attitude and the creepiness of skeleton bones.” ―New York Journal of Books

“Gonzo fantasy. If Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, and Ray Harryhausen collaborated on a novel on Reddit, the results might be half as mad and a quarter as entertaining as Tamsyn Muir’s necro-maniacal debut.” ―Joel Cunningham, The B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog

“A brilliant and original mash-up of genres, the story is brimming with memorable characters, acerbic dark humor, a unique magic system, space travel, decaying technology and layers upon layers of mystery. It is the Gothic space adventure I didn't know I needed.” ―Rebecca Roanhorse, author of Trail of Lightning

“Gideon the Ninth knocked me out. If you like snotty swordswomen, reanimated skeletons, porn zines, crumbling interplanetary empires, and angry lady necromancers, then shut up and get reading.” ―Richard Kadrey, author of the Sandman Slim series

“Tasmyn Muir's prose is delicious enough to eat. Add in a sarcastic heroine with a knack for trouble, necromancy, cut-throat politics, and a hell of a lot of murders, and this is a novel every fantasy lover will savor.” ―Rin Chupeco, author of The Bone Witch

“Festooned with skeletons, aglitter with technonecromantic delights, both middle fingers raised to the galaxy, Gideon the Ninth is a gothy Tank Girl-Meets-Utena-Meets-Gormenghast dueling wildcard mashup that has me positively giddy for the future of the genre.” ―Max Gladstone, author of The Empress of Forever

“Muir has always, always had a sorcerously powerful way with voice, and I am positively giddy to announce that Gideon the Ninth is the ultimate culmination of her preternatural talents, a necromantic, calcium-rich delight that says "get in, nerd" on page 1, hits the gas with a disconcerting cackle, and doesn't let you out no matter how hard you howl. Gideon the Ninth is a bone-afied classic of the genre.” ―Brooke Bolander, author of The Only Harmless Great Thing

About this edition

• Publisher: Tor Books
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 125031318X
• ISBN 13: 9781250313188
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496