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  • Published: 27 October 2014
  • ISBN: 9780552573009
  • Imprint: Corgi Childrens
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 480
  • RRP: $32.99

Wisdom of Dead Men




Another epic story from the talented mind of Oisín McGann, author of the critically acclaimed Ancient Appetites.

If you're head of the Wildenstern clan, you can expect someone'll try to kill you at some point or another. And usually when someone does, it's a member of your own family.

But, right now Berto Wildenstern, and his brother Nate, have more pressing matters on their minds . . . local women seem to be spontaneously combusting and no one's quite sure why!

Wild mechanical creatures, explosions, deceptions, twists and turns with a host of fantastic otherworldly characters - imagine The Godfather meets Philip Reeve and you have Wisdom of Dead Men.

  • Published: 27 October 2014
  • ISBN: 9780552573009
  • Imprint: Corgi Childrens
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 480
  • RRP: $32.99

About the author

Oisin McGann

Born in Dublin in 1973, Oisín McGann spent his childhood there and in Drogheda, County Louth. Art college ruined any chance he had of getting a real job, so when he left in 1992, he set himself up as a freelance illustrator. In 1998 he moved to London, and through no fault of his own he ended up working in advertising as an art director and copy writer. After three and a half years he began to fear for his immortal soul. He returned to Ireland in the summer of 2002 much as he had left it - with no job, no home and some meagre savings.

Ever the optimist, he now works once more as an illustrator and mercenary artist by day and escapist writer by night.

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Praise for Wisdom of Dead Men

McGann mixes science, politics and history and raises many moral issues. He manages it all with a wonderful lightness of touch and superb control of an ever-evolving story that grows in complexity with every chapter but somehow never becomes confusing to the reader

Inis Magazine

A rollicking, steampunk adventure . . . I couldn't put it down

Irish Times

The Wisdom of Dead Men is an explosive fantasy read, set in the Victorian era. It opens with a gripping spontaneous combustion and the action never lets up

Irish Independent

Very tense, with red herrings aplenty and a goodly dollop of humour

The Bookbag

He reveals lush detail as he builds a fascinating world for his characters to inhabit but never gets bogged down in self-indulgent minutiae and his characters, even the bit-part players, are always fully rounded and believable

Sci-fi London