Steve Bein: Year of the Demon

Thanks also to everyone who helped in researching this book. Alex Embry is my point man on cop questions, and I worked him a whole lot harder on this book than on Daughter . I’m very fortunate to know Diana Rowland, who in addition to being a former cop is also kicking ass on the writing scene; someone who knows the details and the craft is an invaluable asset. D. P. Lyle is invaluable for similar reasons, and is most generous with his medical and forensic expertise. My thanks go out to all the other cops I interviewed and worked with but who asked not to be named. Props again to the Codex hivemind, and to Luc Reid, aka He Who Shall Not Be Named, aka The Man.

Special gratitude is due to Cameron McClure, my agent extraordinaire, and Anne Sowards, my wonderful new editor. (Kat, I still miss you!) Structurally, Demon was much harder to put together than Daughter , and Cameron and Anne were pivotally important in that effort. To Cameron especially, thanks so much for bearing with me through all the outlines and story lines and worry lines.

Of course my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude goes to all of my readers. Special thanks to Jess Sund and Kati Strande for being early readers and for their general effervescence; to Dave and Kris for being early readers too, though neither of them is known to effervesce; to our mom, my proofreader, and dad, for his enduring belief in my future as a writer; to Chris McGrath for two kick-ass covers in a row; to Stephen Baxter, Jay Lake, Diana Rowland, and Kylie Chan for their kind and very humbling blurbs; to Kirsten Lincoln and her hubby, Naoto, for help with lesser-known Japanese idioms; to my publicist Lindsay Boggs, and to the host sites she hooked me up with for my blog tours; and to anyone else I may be omitting due to general absentmindedness.

Begrudging thanks to Michele for getting me a Facebook presence, and sincerest thanks for everything else. Our dog Kane also deserves an honorable mention. He and his brother Buster were both present in the earliest draft of the manuscript, but Kane’s scene got cut. Sorry, buddy.

Steve Beinteaches Asian philosophy and Asian history at the State University of New York at Geneseo. He has a PhD in philosophy, and his graduate work took him to Nanzan University and Obirin University in Japan, where he translated a seminal work in the study of Zen Buddhism. He holds a third-degree black belt and a first-degree black belt in two American forms of combative martial arts, and has trained in about two dozen other martial arts over the past twenty years. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction , Interzone , Writers of the Future , and in exclusive e-Special format from Penguin. He has been anthologized alongside authors such as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, William Gibson, George R. R. Martin, and Ursula K. LeGuin. Please visit Steve on the Web at www.philosofiction.com and like him at facebook/philosofiction.

DAUGHTER OF THE SWORD

“A noir modern Tokyo overwhelmed by the shadows of Japanese history . . . a compelling multifaceted vision of a remarkable culture, and a great page-turner.”

—Stephen Baxter, author of Bronze Summer

“ Daughter of the Sword really captured my imagination. The interweaving of historical Japanese adventure and modern police procedural, Tokyo-style, caught me from two unexpected directions.”

—Jay Lake, author of Endurance

“Effortlessly combines history and legend with a modern procedural . . . will have you staying up late to finish it.”

—Diana Rowland, author of Touch of the Demon

“An authentic and riveting thrill ride through both ancient and modern Japan. Definitely a winner.”

—Kylie Chan, author of Hell to Heaven

“Bein’s gripping debut is a meticulously researched, highly detailed blend of urban and historical fantasy set in modern Tokyo. . . . Bein’s scrupulous attention to verisimilitude helps bring all the settings to life, respectfully showcasing Japan’s distinctive cultures and attitudes.”

— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“One of the best debuts I have ever read . . . an epic tale that heralds the emergence of a major talent.”

—Fantasy Book Critic

“A great police procedural urban fantasy that deftly rotates between Mariko in present-day Japan and other warriors in past eras.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

“ Daughter of the Sword reads like James Clavell’s Shogun would have if it had been crossed with high fantasy by way of a police procedural.”

—Otherwhere Gazette

“Magic swords and samurai set alongside drugs and modern Tokyo and all blending in together to produce an engrossing and original story.”

—Under the Covers

“I loved the plot of this book. . . . I would recommend it to those who like fantasy and those who take an interest in Japanese culture.”

—Book Chick City

“ Daughter of the Sword is a gritty and compelling police procedural . . . written in beautiful and exotic detail.”

—All Things Urban Fantasy

“If you love reading about faraway places, historical fiction, and fantasy, this book should definitely be on your list.”

—Literal Addiction