1993: Last Call

As a young man, Scott played in a very mysterious game of poker involving some dark and mysterious players and a very unusual deck of tarot cards. Now, 20 years later, he is a 46-year-old ex-professional poker player whose past has caught up and tangled him in a net of murder, mayhem and magic. Scott finds himself literally playing for his life against his true biological father who, those many years ago won the rights to his body. Scott is no longer just playing for a mere prize - at stake is not just his life but also the souls of his friends and family. Why it's on the list This book has dozens of surreal characters, and each one of them is more than fascinating enough to get their own stand-alone novel. Tim Powers achieves a rare feat in that he manages to pull these profound and disparate individuals into an elaborate and gorgeous narrative. Read if you like Urban Fantasy, Mythology