"Veteran fantasy readers will recognize Swanwick's duo as descendants of, and a tribute to, Fritz Leiber's beloved old sword and sorcery stories of an equally larcenous duo named Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, but Swanwick's snappy dialogue and satirical barbs are entirely his own." -- Chicago Tribune "The intellectual puzzles keep interest right to the end." -- Publishers Weekly "I am so hopeful that we have not seen the last of Surplus and Darger." -- The Nameless Zine "Swanwick seems to delight in pinning his heroes into exquisite conundrums that they, in turn, deeply appreciate having to find their ways out of." -- Locus "It's entirely possible that SF needs more rapscallions (they're a bit more baroque and sophisticated than mere rascals), and fortunately Michael Swanwick has taken up the challenge. With only a handful of stories, his raffish duo of Darger and Surplus have become perhaps the most infamous con men in the field since their spiritual ancestors, Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser." -- Locus "Swanwick deftly weaves myth and historical fact together to create an intriguing dystopic mystery whose resolution will elude readers until its final pages." -- Shelf Awareness "This book is like a breath of fresh air, witty and imaginative and just plain goofy fun.

" -- Booklist "Michael Swanwick, multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner, is a masterful guide to the bizarre and hilarious adventures of Darger and Surplus. He keeps all the elements moving, suspending disbelief like a talented juggler. Not simply funny, this book sparkles with genuine wit. SF has seen many con artists; Darger and Surplus are a supreme example. Here's to more adventures for the pair." -- Analog Science Fiction and Fact "A grand, high-flying style no working sci-fi author captures better than Swanwick." -- Open Letters Monthly "Darger and Surplus, stars of Dancing with Bears and a handful of short stories, are sure to appeal to fans of classic Fritz Leiber and movies such as The Man Who Would Be King . The exotic locale adds interest, and readers will laugh as they watch the protagonists dig themselves into and out of endless sticky situations.

" -- Library Journal "Witty, supple, artfully humorous, and vastly engaging." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review).