Scott Lynch

High-fantasy heist fiction gained a notable entry with the publication of the caper novel The Lies of Locke Lamora in June 2006. American fantasy author Scott Lynch made his debut with this novel after selling the manuscript to Orion Books in August 2004. The novel launched the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, a projected seven-volume series following clever thieves and con artists operating in intricate fantasy worlds.

Career & Background

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 2, 1978, Lynch grew up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area as the eldest of three brothers. Before establishing his writing career, he worked a wide variety of jobs, including dishwasher, busboy, waiter, cook, web designer, office manager, and freelance writer. In 2004, Lynch moved to eastern Wisconsin, where he also served as a paid-on-call volunteer firefighter from 2005 to 2016. He relocated to western Massachusetts in 2016, where he lives with his wife, science fiction and fantasy author Elizabeth Bear.

Writing Style & Themes

Lynch's fantasy fiction combines detailed worldbuilding with the mechanics of heist stories, confidence tricks, and criminal capers. His narratives frequently explore themes of loyalty, friendship, survival, and death, balancing dark situations with quick-witted dialogue and humor. Beyond his main series, his work includes short stories such as "Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent" and serialized science fantasy such as Queen of the Iron Sands.

Major Works

• The Lies of Locke Lamora — Published in 2006, this World Fantasy Award finalist novel established the Gentleman Bastard Sequence and introduced readers to Locke Lamora and the Gentlemen Bastards in the city-state of Camorr.
• Red Seas Under Red Skies — Released in 2007 as the second book in the series, this novel sends the surviving Gentlemen Bastards into high-stakes gambling houses and high-seas piracy.
• The Republic of Thieves — Published in 2013, the third book in the sequence deepens the political intrigue and introduces major backstory regarding Locke Lamora's past.
• The Thorn of Emberlain — The planned fourth volume in the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, expanding the ongoing narrative arc of the series.