Scott Lynch
Scott Lynch
Author Overview By the Side Quest Book Club Podcast
“There’s no freedom quite like the freedom of being constantly underestimated.” ~ Scott Lynch
Why we love Scott Lynch
We're off to Telvarar to hang with Locke and Jean. In this episode of the SideQuest Book Club, we delve into Scott Lynch's Red Seas Under Red Skies, the second book in the Gentlemen Bastard series. The discussion highlights the tension in the prologue, the introduction of the Bonds Magi as a new threat (again!).
Author Highlights
Here is what you can expect from a Scott Lynch story…
Rich, evocative prose
Intricate plotting and foreshadowing
Gritty yet humorous tone
Author Bio
Scott Lynch was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1978, the first of three brothers. Early in life he worked as a dishwasher, a waiter, a graphic designer, an office manager, a cook, and a game supplement self-publisher before accidentally selling his first novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora, in 2004. From 2005 to 2016 Scott also served as a paid-on-call firefighter in Wisconsin. Scott currently lives in Massachusetts with his wife, award-winning SF/F novelist Elizabeth Bear, plus four cats (Duncan, Gurney, Molly, and Fafhrd) and a pair of Icelandic horses (a gelding named Ormr and a mare named Spola).
This bio is taken from Scott Lynch’s website.
Slava’s Thoughts
Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series landed on my radar thanks to Jonathan pushing The Lies of Locke Lamora for the podcast. Smart move; he knew I’d get hooked fast.
What stands out immediately is the banter and dialogue: sharp, fast, and loaded with personality. Locke, Jean, the Sanza twins, Father Chains—every exchange crackles and is often hilarious, even when the stakes are brutal. Lynch writes conversations like few others.
Strip away the elaborate heists and Bondsmagi threats, and you’re still left with a damn good story—clever, propulsive, and morally gray in all the right ways. Lynch delivers fantasy that’s smart, funny, and unflinching. The series earned its spot on my shelf.
Jonathan’s Thoughts
My name is Jeff.
If you like Scott Lynch, you might like …
Ursula K. Le Guin
Genre: Fantasy, Gothic Sci-Fi, Speculative
Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy, Progression Fantasy
Patrick Rothfuss
Genre: Fantasy