Ash

For the beautiful young woman Ash, life has always been arquebuses and artillery, swords and armour and the true horrors of hand-to-hand combat. War is her job. She has fought her way to the command of a mercenary company, and on her unlikely shoulders lies the destiny of a Europe threatened by the depredations of an Infidel army more terrible than any nightmare. Winner of the BSFA Award for best novel, 2000

Mary Gentle (1956 - )
Mary Gentle is one of the world's most acclaimed writers of fantasy and science fiction. Winner of the BSFA Award for Ash: A Secret History - the largest single fantasy work in the English language - and twice nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, she has a number of academic degrees, including an MA in War Studies, and has hands-on experience of sword-fighting and armour, amongst many other useful talents. Mary Gentle lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
For more information see www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/gentle_mary