The armoured ghost - Oisin McGann

THE ARMOURONElite warriors who banded together centuries ago to fight for justice and for freedom.PLANET EARTHUnder the control of a huge corporation, led by the power-mad Chairman.THE CADETSTrainee gladiators at the Nu-Topian Academy - where something is very, very wrong.SALTThe grizzled old master of the armour workshop, with a secret in his past.THE STORYThe book opens with an old knight on a distant planet, fighting to keep five medallions from the

Armouronaut, a robot built from the armour of ancient knights and powered by the mysterious thirteenth medallion. It was created by the chairman to defeat the Amouron and destroy all it came into

contact with.

Ten years later, the four orphan apprentices are taken under Salt's wing at the Academy. As this happens, they realise they have all been harbouring suspicions that the Gladiator Games are fixed. As they set about investigating the games, Salt enlists them into the Amouron.

When they start operating as knights for the first time the Chairman is so alarmed at what seems to be the re-emergence of his old enemies that he awakens the Amouronaut and sends it against them.

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 ofZorro. 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.

The reader can't but think it's all a little like 'Clint Eastwood for kids'
Inis - June Edwards