About Stross:Charles David George "Charlie" Stross (born Leeds, October18, 1964) is a writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His worksrange from science fiction and Lovecraftian horror to fantasy.Stross is sometimes regarded as being part of a newgeneration of British science fiction writers who specialise inhard science fiction and space opera. His contemporariesinclude Alastair Reynolds, Ken MacLeod and Liz Williams.Obvious inspirations include Vernor Vinge, Neal Stephenson,William Gibson, and Bruce Sterling, among other cyberpunkand postcyberpunk writers.His first published short story, "The Boys", appeared inInterzone in 1987: his first novel, Singularity Sky was publishedby Ace in 2003 and was nominated for the Hugo Award. Acollection of his short stories, Toast: And Other Rusted Futuresappeared in 2002. Subsequent short stories have beennominated for the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, and otherawards. His novella "The Concrete Jungle" won the Hugoaward for its category in 2005. Most recently, Accelerando wonthe 2006 Locus Award for best science fiction novel, was afinalist for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for theyear's best science fiction novel, and was on the final ballot forthe Hugo Award in the best novel category. Glasshouse is onthe final ballot for the Hugo Award in the best novel category.In the 1970s and 1980s, Stross published some role-playinggame articles for Advanced Dungeons Dragons in the WhiteDwarf magazine. Some of his creatures, such as the deathknight, githyanki (borrowed from George R. R. Martin's book,Dying of the Light), githzerai, and slaad were later published inthe Fiend Folio monster compendium.In addition to working as a writer of fiction he has workedas a technical author, freelance journalist, programmer, andpharmacist at different times. He holds degrees in Pharmacyand Computer Science.Rogue Farm, a machinima film based on his 2003 shortstory of the same title, debuted in August 2004.He is one…