Enemies vie for control over the rich silver mines of Mexico, including the brilliant African warrior El Gato, a Manchu sword maiden, and a Spanish rapier-master.
Neal Stephenson is the author of Reamde, Anathem, and the three-volume historical epic the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World), as well as Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Zodiac. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
I don't know what is Foreworld Saga, but it could be an interesting Alternate History universe. In this volume there is another surprise. Unfortunately I missed the quasi-detective scene in Volume 1.