The Deaths of Tao Page 39

  For that, I have to first thank all the readers and fans that made Lives such a smashing success. You guys rock! The first book in the Tao series was received so well the overlords at Angry Robot Books decided to bump the release date for Deaths up from Summer 2014 to Fall 2013. You guys get all the credit for that.

  To the folks at Angry Robot, Thank you for your continuing support and keeping my crazy at bay. You guys—Marc, Lee, Amanda, Caroline, and Mike—are awesome. Special thanks to Stew and the rest of the crew at Argh! Oxford for the jump-off-the-shelves covers.

  To my kick-ass agent, Russell Galen, this is only the beginning. Special thanks to Sasha, who moved a mountain when I needed one moved.

  To my crack beta reading posse, you will always have an open bar when you’re with me.

  To my family, Mike, Yukie, Stephen, and Amy, your support means the world to me. Special thanks to my nephews Roen and Cameron, I hope you’re enjoying the ride.

  To Paula, my source of inspiration against self-doubt, hopelessness, and pessimism, you are my cure-all and phoenix down all wrapped up into one.

  Special thanks to my Airedale terrier, Eva, for being the only reason I work out these days.

  Lastly, to Tao and Roen. Hey, I know I put you two through some rough shit in this book. I’m sorry. Actually, no I’m not. Suck it up. It’s going to get worse.

  Wesley Chu, Chicago, October 2013

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Wesley Chu was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Chicago, Illinois when he was just a pup. It was there he became a Kung Fu master and gymnast.

  Wesley is an avid gamer and a contributing writer for the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. A former stunt man and a member of the SAG, he can also be seen in film and television playing roles such as “Banzai Chef” in Fred Claus and putting out Oscar worthy performances as a bank teller in Chicago Blackhawks commercials.

  Besides working as an Associate Vice President at a bank, he spends his time writing and hanging out with his wife Paula Kim and their Airedale Terrier, Eva.

  wesleychu.com

  twitter.com/wes_chu

  ANGRY ROBOT

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  www.angryrobotbooks.com

  Through the ages

  An Angry Robot paperback original 2013

  Copyright © Wesley Chu 2013

  Cover art by Argh! Oxford

  Distributed in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York.

  All rights reserved.

  Angry Robot is a registered trademark, and the Angry Robot icon a trademark of Angry Robot Ltd.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978 0 85766 333 7