Giant Thief

Best known for an eclectic variety of short stories, Tallerman debuts with a breezy novel of a man with his eye on the prize. Easie Damasco is a thief. His priorities are simple: find something to steal, steal it, run like hell, and try not to get caught. Unfortunately, it’s a bit hard to steal a giant and not be noticed. Saltlick the giant is so popular, in fact, that two opposing factions in a civil war take it personally when Easie Damasco pilfers him out from under their eyes. When the going gets tough, Easie finds that his self-centered take-the-money-and-run attitude is more hindrance than help. Tallerman’s charming, devil-may-care hero has plenty of swashbuckling roguishness to carry him through the planned sequels. Agent: Zeno Agency. (Feb.)