RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD. A Novel of the Malazan Empire.

First trade edition, first printing. Publisher's original black cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the Steven Stone illustrated dustwrapper. With a black and white line-drawn map illustration preceding the text. A very good or better copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth bright and fresh, with just a small bump and a touch of scuffing to the spine tips. The contents, with light spotting to the top edge of the closed text block and a short closed tear and associated creasing to the fore-edge of page 104, are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and creased dustwrapper, which has a short closed tear to the bottom of the spine, a touch of glue residue and associated surface loss to the top-right corner of the front panel (presumably from the removal of a sticker), and is otherwise without fading or loss. Not price-clipped (£20.00 to the lower front flap). Scarce.

Esslemont's second book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen, a world co-created with his friend and colleague Steven Erikson. First published in 2008 in a limited edition of 300 copies by PS Publishing, this is the first trade edition.