About the Author

Melissa Scott is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and studied history at Harvard College and Brandeis University, where she earned her PhD in the Comparative History program. She is the author of more than thirty original science fiction and fantasy novels, most with queer themes and characters, as well as authorized tie-ins for Star Trek: DS9, Star Trek: Voyager, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Star Wars Rebels, and the anime series gen: LOCK. She won Lambda Literary Awards for Trouble and Her Friends, Shadow Man, Point of Dreams (written with her late partner, Lisa A. Barnett), and Death By Silver with Amy Griswold. She also won Spectrum Awards for Shadow Man, Fairs' Point and Death By Silver, as well as the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Her latest short story, "Sirens," appeared in Retellings of the Inland Seas, and her text-based game for Choice of Games, A Player's Heart, came out in 2020. Her most recent solo novel, Water Horse, was published in 2021, and Fallen, sequel to 2018's Finders, will be out in late 2023.

Reviews

Lambda Literary award winner Scott (Shadow Man) sets a solid mystery plot within an aristocratic, Victorian-esque commonwealth held together by magical curses. // Scott hits all the expected beats, and her dark magic system keeps the stakes high. Fans of Victorian fantasy will want to check this out. -Publishers Weekly Intricate and elaborate scheming both civil and magical, in a wonderfully-realized city. I am in awe! -Ellen Kushner, author of the fabled Riverside mannerpunk novels, host of the influential WGBH/PRI series Sound & Spirit, winner of the World Fantasy and Locus awards Intrigue and bricolage. Complicated characters. Action and unpredictable mystery. This is exactly what I want in a fantasy, and The Master of Samar delivers. -Sherwood Smith, creator of the immersive Sartorias-deles and Wren universes, Nebula award finalist In 1985, I picked up a new novel with the intriguing title Five-Twelfths of Heaven, a second novel by a writer new to me. I haven't stopped reading her since, because Melissa Scott is that good. The Master of Samar is one of her best. -Cynthia Ward, co-creator (with Nisi Shawl) of the acclaimed fiction writers workshop, Writing the Other: Bridging Cultural Differences for Successful Fiction //...a rousing and exciting story, and Melissa Scott is a master of the genre at her best. My heart was in my throat more than once. The magical system is intricate and fascinating, and the last several chapters are unstoppable-you are compelled to keep reading straight through to the satisfying conclusion. The Master of Samar is a gorgeous fantasy novel. Longtime readers of Melissa Scott will be reminded of her popular Points series. I hope there's a sequel-I would love to visit this world again! -Jo Graham, author of the acclaimed Numinous World historical fantasies and Calpurnian Wars space operas Melissa Scott's The Master of Samar is a character-driven fantasy whose strong use of contract magic, old secrets and the lies we tell each other and ourselves shapes the past, present and future of the characters and the city-state that they are bound to. It is an immersive and enthralling read. -Paul Weimer, SFF book reviewer and Hugo finalist