The Lost Art of World Domination
Page 2
“His name’s Scaramouch Van Dreg,” Pleasant told her.
“She knows who I am!” Scaramouch shrieked. “I am your deadliest enemy!”
Cain raised an eyebrow but ignored him. “Has he got anything to do with Fines and Nocturnal?”
“Nope.”
“Then why are we wasting our time? Come on, we’ve got real bad guys to stop.”
Cain walked out. Skulduggery Pleasant looked down at Scaramouch and shrugged.
“I’ll just chain you up for the moment, but the Cleavers will be around soon to take you into custody. Is that alright with you?”
Scaramouch started crying.
“Good man. Don’t let this get you down though. We all need goals, and I fully expect to do battle with you again, OK?”
Scaramouch wailed.
“We need more villains like you, you know that? We need more bad guys who want to take over the world. There aren’t enough of them. The others think it’s just, you know… silly.”
Scaramouch felt the shackles on his wrists. He had to look up to watch Skulduggery Pleasant leave the dungeon.
About the Author
Before writing his children’s story about a sharply-dressed skeleton detective, DEREK LANDY wrote the screenplays for a zombie movie and a murderous thriller in which everybody dies.
As a black belt in Kenpo Karate he has taught countless children how to defend themselves, in the hopes of building his own private munchkin army. He firmly believes that they await his call to strike against his enemies (he doesn’t actually have any enemies, but he’s assuming they’ll show up, sooner or later).
Derek lives on the outskirts of Dublin, and the reason he writes his own biography blurb is so that he can finally refer to himself in the third person without looking pompous or insane.
Praise
What people are saying about Skulduggery Pleasant:
“The adventure is brilliant because it makes you soooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited and you always think something incredible will happen next. 10 out of 10!”
Minna (Age 11)
“This is thoroughly gripping. A book you could never just put down.”
Aurelius (Age 11)
“I would give this book 10/10 and would advise everybody young and old to read it. It is such a compulsive page turner it will be finished in about 2 days.”
Joel (Age 12)
“I enjoyed every word and was glued to the book. It has an interesting and original story line that sometimes had me rolling around laughing and at other times had my heart racing. I really hope that there are more Skulduggery books to come and if there are I'll be first in line!”
Chloe (Age 11)
“This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout the story. I think that is because of the fast paced action, the funny jokes that Skulduggery made and a curiosity about him and his world.”
Max (Age 12)
“It’s exciting, pacy, nicely handled and fun. I sincerely hope Landy revisits these characters.”
Philip Ardagh, Guardian
“A gripping debut.”
Phil Hogan, Observer
“Landy’s witty style will win him fans of all ages… With writing of this standard, a rattling plot and definite potential for cross-over appeal, it’s a good job Harry’s resigning before he’s forcibly retired.”
Irish Mail on Sunday
“A remarkably accomplished debut with wonderful dialogue.”
Robert Dunbar, Irish Times
“[Landy’s] fight scenes are perfectly pitched. His characters are exceptionally well drawn and delightfully colourful… Reading [this book] is like riding a rollercoaster”
Irish Independent
“A debut that brings a much-needed twist to the mystery/fantasy genre with its wisecracking detective hero.”
New York Times
“Readers will be skipping meals and sleep to get to the end.”
Kirkus Reviews
“An utterly charming debut, perfect for the Potter crowd.”
Publishers Weekly
Books by Derek Landy:
Copyright
First published in hardback in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books 2007
First published in paperback in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books 2011
HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of
HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB
The HarperCollins Children’s Books website address is www.harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk
www.skulduggerypleasant.com
Derek Landy blogs under duress at
www.dereklandy.blogspot.com
THE LOST ART OF WORLD DOMINATION. Copyright © Derek Landy 2011. Illuminated letters © Tom Percival 2006. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Derek Landy asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
ISBN-13: 978-0-00-724162-0
EPub Edition © APRIL 2011 ISBN: 978-0-00-744301-7
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