ax Frei is a twenty-something losera big sleeper that is, - during the day; at night he can't sleep a wink), a hardened smoker, and an uncomplicated glutton and loafer. But then he gets lucky. He contacts a parallel world in his dreams, where magic is a daily practice. Once a social outcast, he's now known in his new world as the "unequalled Sir Max." He's a member of the Department of Absolute Order, formed by a species of enchanted secret agents; his job is to solve cases more extravagant and unreal than one could imagine -a journey that will take Max down the winding paths of this strange and With millions of copies already sold in Russia and throughout Europe, The Stranger is a story for fans of Steve Erickson, Susanna Clarke, and Sergei Lukyanenko. Part fantasy, part horror, part philosophy, part dark comedy, the writing is united by sharp humor and a web of clues that will open up the imagination of every reader. PRAISE FOR THE STRANGER "If Harry Potter smoked cigarettes and took a certain matter-of-fact pleasure in administering tough justice, he might like Max Frei." -Kirkus Reviews "Fans of Jasper Fforde and Susanna Clarke will happily jump into Frei's world." -USA Today "The whole effect is like a collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Gilbert and Sullivan-cheerfully noirish and disturbingly satirical." —Library Journal "An utterly original title. [Freil is smart, savy and funny: an everyman hero we can all believe in." —Bookslut "Highly original, very fun, quite humorous and definitely quirky.. a fascinating world." - -GenreReviews