Thraxas

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Thraxas is a series of fantasy novels written by Martin Millar under the pseudonym of Martin Scott. They take place in a mythical, Middle Earth-type World, that includes Humans, Orcs, Elves, and a variety of magical creatures.

Thraxas is a middle-aged private investigator in the city-state of Turai. He had been a failed sorcery student, an able soldier, and a far-travelled mercenary. He also used to work at the Palace of Turai, but was booted out for his drunken behavior. He's still an excellent swordman and a good fighter, and has retained some minor magical ability. Mainly though, he just gambles, drinks a lot of beer and consumes a lot of food. He's always broke and has to live in the poor, rough part of the city above the tavern of his old friend Gurd, a barbarian. Thraxas is overweight, bad tempered, and a keen gambler at the chariot races. He is usually helped in his cases by his young friend Makri. Makri is an escapee from the Orcish gladiator pits, and the best fighter ever seen in Turai. She is part Human, part Orc, and part Elf, and she often suffers prejudice from all three races. She works as a waitress at Gurd's tavern, wearing a skimpy chainmail bikini in order to make the rough-and-tumble working class customers to leave better tips. Her exotic good looks and lithe physique have earned her quite a few admirers, but she also has intellectual aspirations, studying at a Turanian College.

The books - narrated in first person by Thraxas - happen in real time and are in chronological order. They are also linked by the presense of many of the same characters throughout the series. Typically, Thraxas finds himself entangled in dangerous but realistic situations that involve political intrigue and all kinds of conspiracies. Through luck and pluck, as well as a well-honed sense of humor, he somehow manages to pull through against heavy odds.

The series does not really "conclude". Martin Millar, for a number of reasons, decided to stop writing Thraxas novels. See section below.

[edit] Thraxas novels

Thraxas (winner of the 2000 World Fantasy Award)
Thraxas and the Warrior Monks
Thraxas at the Races
Thraxas and the Elvish Isles
Thraxas and the Sorcerers
Thraxas and the Dance of Death
Thraxas at War
Thraxas Under Siege

The series was being republished by Baen Books in omnibus form, two volumes at a time, but stalled: Scott has referred to stalled negotiations between his agent and the publisher^[1] which put further development of the series in jeopardy.

Thraxas (ISBN 0743471520) contains Thraxas and Thraxas and the Warrior Monks
Death and Thraxas (ISBN 0743488504) contains Thraxas at the Races and Thraxas and the Elvish Isles