Wisdom of Dead Men

Born in Dublin in 1973, Oisin spent his childhood there and in Drogheda, County Louth. Unable to conceive of a way to make a living from writing fiction, he decided to fund his dreams of being an author by working as an illustrator (yes, he was that naive). He signed up for a design and print foundation course and then studied animation at Dun Laoghaire School of Art and Design. Setting up as a freelance illustrator/artist, he then took up a position at Fred Wolf Films, working on the animated series of Zorro. After completing his contract, he decided to expand his horizons and left for London to seek his fortune. He found gainful employment as a security guard, watching over trains and then hospitals. Following three and a half years of working in advertising he became increasingly concerned for his immortal soul. He returned to Ireland much as he had left - with no job, no home and some meagre savings. Ever the optimist, he now works once more as a freelance illustrator and mercenary artist by day and escapist writer by night. He hopes one day to have a decent job, with a pension, a health plan and paid annual holidays.

"Very tense, with red herrings aplenty and a goodly dollop of humour" The Bookbag "McGann mixes science, politics and history and raises many moral issues. He manages it all with a wonderful lightness of touch and superb control of an ever-evolving story that grows in complexity with every chapter but somehow never becomes confusing to the reader" Inis Magazine "The Wisdom of Dead Men is an explosive fantasy read, set in the Victorian era. It opens with a gripping spontaneous combustion and the action never lets up" Irish Independent "A rollicking, steampunk adventure ... I couldn't put it down" Irish Times "He reveals lush detail as he builds a fascinating world for his characters to inhabit but never gets bogged down in self-indulgent minutiae and his characters, even the bit-part players, are always fully rounded and believable" Sci-fi London