The Stranger (The Labyrinths of Echo, 1) - Hardcover

"'Splash a bit of enchantment into my glass' ... there is no better phrase to describe the state that a reader may find themselves in when exposed to a strong, absolutely legal, literary narcotic by the name of Max Frei." -"Stolichniye Novosti"
"To the reader: plan wisely. This book will permanently transform you." -"Knizhniye Retzenziyi"

"The Stranger" has to be one of the most imaginative and quirky stories released in a long time... "The Stranger" is consistent throughout and stands head and shoulders above most books that have even come out in the last decade. Fandomonia.com, #1 Book of 2009
If Harry Potter smoked cigarettes and took a certain matter-of-fact pleasure in administering tough justice, he might like Max Frei, the protagonist of this fantasy novel...Well-written, well-paced grown-up fantasy with a strong dose of reality. "Kirkus"
The whole effect is like a collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Gilbert and Sullivan cheerfully noirish and disturbingly satirical...the story is quite charming and unusual. - "Library Journal"
"The Stranger" will strike a chord with readers of all stripes... incredibly imaginative bolstered by an undeniable charm think Harry Potter meets Dr. Seuss. In fact, I believe the book s most striking attribute is its creativeness a creativeness that extends througho

?"The Stranger" has to be one of the most imaginative and quirky stories released in a long time... "The Stranger" is consistent throughout and stands head and shoulders above most books that have even come out in the last decade. Fandomonia.com, #1 Book of 2009
?If Harry Potter smoked cigarettes and took a certain matter-of-fact pleasure in administering tough justice, he might like Max Frei, the protagonist of this fantasy novel...Well-written, well-paced grown-up fantasy with a strong dose of reality.? "Kirkus"
?The whole effect is like a collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Gilbert and Sullivan?cheerfully noirish and disturbingly satirical...the story is quite charming and unusual.? - "Library Journal"
?"The Stranger" will strike a chord with readers of all stripes... incredibly imaginative bolstered by an undeniable charm?think Harry Potter meets Dr. Seuss. In fact, I believe the book's most striking attribute is its creativeness?a creativeness that e

?If Harry Potter smoked cigarettes and took a certain matter-of-fact pleasure in administering tough justice, he might like Max Frei, the protagonist of this fantasy novel?Well-written, well-paced grown-up fantasy with a strong dose of reality.? ?"Kirkus"
?The whole effect is like a collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Gilbert and Sullivan?cheerfully noirish and disturbingly satirical?the story is quite charming and unusual.? ?"Library Journal"
?"The Stranger" will strike a chord with readers of all stripes? incredibly imaginative bolstered by an undeniable charm?think Harry Potter meets Dr. Seuss. In fact, I believe the book's most striking attribute is its creativeness?a creativeness that extends throughout the entire city of Eho and the world beyond? Plus so many other wonderful ideas that it would require me writing a book just to cover them all? Once I got used to the book's particular sense of humor, I had quite a few laughs and was reminded a bit of Mike Re

"The whole effect is like a collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Gilbert and Sullivan-cheerfully noirish and disturbingly satirical." - "Library Journal"
"I've never looked forward to the publication of a book more than I did Max Frei's The Stranger...a fantastic book."-"January Magazine"
""The Stranger" is a hugely enjoyable mix of madcap mirth and fantastical adventure." -"California Literary Review"

A first installment of a best-selling series in Russia follows the adventures of a vice-driven loafer who becomes a celebrity in a magical parallel universe because of his membership in an enchanted secret agent organization and his talent for solving extravagant and imaginative cases.