Giveaway! Giveaway! Read All About It!

If my review of Tome of the Undergates has whetted your appetite for what I called "one of the best fantasy debuts of 2010 from the most morbidly entertaining new voice in the genre since Joe Abercrombie," then readers, you're in luck.

If it hasn't, what's wrong with you?

Well, I don't suppose you have to be drooling with anticipation to want a free book. Yup, that's what I said: free!

I have a real treat for you today, readers. Thanks to the lovely folks at Gollancz, I have three early copies of Sam Sykes' deservedly hyped fantasy debut to give away. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning one of these rare beauties is send an email to thespeculativescotsman [at] googlemail [dot] com (replacing the words in square brackets with the corresponding symbols) with the answer to the following question:

In Tome of the Undergates, Lenk and his miserable band of miscreants often encounter "bulbous bird-like beasts who parrot the voices of the dead". What are they called?

In case that's too much for you, well, tough.

No, no, I kid. Here's a hint: you'll be able to find the answer - and with very little effort, I might add - in the text of The Speculative Scotsman's review of Tome of the Undergates.

So, to re-iterate in three easy steps.

1. Read the review of Tome of the Undergates here

2. Discover (with your cunning) what the "bulbous, bird-like beasts" are called

3. Send an email with your answer to thespeculativescotsman [at] googlemail [dot] com

You can enter any time between now and 6PM next Thursday, when I'll be announcing the lucky winners. Winners will be drawn at random using a dainty little bit of freeware I've acquired for this very special equation. Thanks to the boundless generosity of the wonderful lot at Gollancz, I'm going to be able to accept entries from anywhere in the world, so don't by shy of entering if you're in the United States or elsewhere - although if you're lucky enough to win, let it be said your book might take a bit longer to get to you than it would if you lived somewhere sensible.

Please do include your name and postal address in the body text of your entry email. Also, no gaming the system. Only one entry per person, or I'll be forced to void all your entries.

And Sam, if you're reading this - I'm afraid you're not allowed to enter. Sorry! Rules are rules.

That's all the small print.

Now go!