Dragon
Vlad Taltos is not your average sword-and-sorcery hero. He runs a  territory for the criminal House Jhereg. He's a witch with a flying reptilian familiar as smart and sarcastic as any sidekick in literature. He's also a master assassin in Adrilankha, the capital of the Dragaeran Empire. (Dragaerans are tall, very long-lived elves; Vlad is an Easterner, or human.)Steven Brust is not your average fantasy writer.  Like his mentor,Roger Zelazny, he enjoys playing with time.  AlthoughDragonis the eighth book about Vlad to be published, most of it takes place betweenTaltos, the first book chronologically, andYendi;  interludes and an epilogue occur afterYendi, but beforeJhereg.Dragontells the story of the oft-mentioned Battle of Barritt's Tomb, and how Vlad enlisted in a Dragon army (Dragons are the warrior Dragaerans) and learned that war is nothing like assassination.Vlad is quick to let readers know the score.  "I'll let you stay confused a little longer, and if you don't trust me to clear everything up, then you can go hang.  I've been paid." Trust him.Dragonstands alone, but don't miss the others (afterJheregcomeTeckla,Phoenix,Athyra, andOrca).  It's a fast-moving, satisfying series.--Nona Vero