A Drink Before We Die

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This is a Tor.com short story, which means that it offers a taste of a much larger novel or universe published by Tor. Often time Tor.com short stories are far too cryptic to tell a story and rely totally on the reader already knowing the universe, the characters and the backstory.

This short story, however, works as a short story. It tells the story of “the Warden,” who is the chief gang leader, although he doesn't really seem to have a gang, in an impoverished part of a fantasy city called “Lowtown.” The setting is patterned on a film noir “naked city” setting, like many of the “fantasy noir” stories since Glen Cook pioneered the concept with his “Garrett, PI” stories. At least, I think it is a fantasy setting. I didn't see magic, but there were plenty of knives, maces and swords, but not a revolver in sight.

In this story, the Warden has to deal with an attempted hostile take-over of his territory by a gang operating in an adjacent low rent district.

Is he successful? Well, he has a Machiavellian approach to life and is nasty quick with a shiv, but to find out, you will have to read the story.