Quote of the Day  

Posted by Patrick

Envy is the religion of the mediocre. It comforts them, it soothes their worries, and finally it rots their souls, allowing them to justify their meanness and their greed until they believe these to be virtues. Such people are convinced that the doors of heaven will be opened only to poor wretches like themselves who go through life without leaving any trace bu their threadbare attempts to belittle others and to exclude -- and destroy if possible -- those who, by the simple fact of their existence, show up their own poorness of spirit, mind, and guts. Blessed be the one at whom the fools bark, because his soul will never belong to them.


My inexplicable good fortune was attributed to Pedro Vidal, to the ignorance and stupidity of our readers, and to the widely held national belief that achieving any measure of success in any profession was irrefutable proof of one's lack of skill or merit.

- CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN, The Angel's Game (Canada, USA, Europe)

The second quote holds quite true for most people living in Québec as well. . .

R. Scott Bakker video interview  

Posted by Patrick





Very interesting video interview with the author at a con in Zagreb, Croatia.

Check it out! And be sure to read Bakker's The Judging Eye (Canada, USA, Europe), if you haven't done so already!

New Poll: What scifi novel should I read next?  

Posted by Patrick

There are plenty of science fiction yarns lying around various shelves, sadly unread as of yet. And yes, to my shame, from top scifi authors to boot. Too many, if I'm honest. . .

With this latest survey, you guys will help me select which of these popular and critically acclaimed author I should read next. Here are the nominees:



- In Conquest Born by C. S. Friedman (Canada, USA, Europe)



- Prador Moon by Neal Asher (Canada, USA, Europe)



- The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton (Canada, USA, Europe)



- Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds (Canada, USA, Europe)



- Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks (Canada, USA, Europe)

Each novel is part of a vaster, more ambitious saga. I figure I can't go wrong with any of these selections, but feel free to chime in on what I should go for and why. For those who, like me, have yet to give these scifi/space opera series, you know what to do!;-)

This week's New York Times' Bestsellers (June 30th)  

Posted by Patrick

In hardcover:


Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Angel's Game debuts at number 3. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Skin Trade is down five positions, ending its third week at number 11.

Charlaine Harris' Dead and Gone is down one spot, finishing its seventh week on the charts at number 13.

Stephenie Meyer's The Host is down four positions, ending the week at number 17.

Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan's The Strain is down five spots, finishing its third week on the NYT list at number 22. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In paperback:

Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies maintains its position, finishing its 12th week on the prestigious list at number 4.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind makes a return at number 21. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Blood Noir is up two positions, ending its fourth week on the charts at number 31.

Charlaine Harris' eight Sookie Stackhouse novels are on the paperback bestseller list, ranking from number 2 to number 24.

Win a copy of STRANGE BREW edited by P. N. Elrod  

Posted by Patrick


I'm giving away my review copy of this anthology edited by P. N. Elrod. Strange Brew contains short stories by bestselling urban fantasy/paranormal romance authors such as Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Karen Chance, P. N. Elrod, Charlaine Harris, Faith Hunter, Caitlin Kittredge, and Jenna Maclaine. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

Today’s hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic!

In Charlaine Harris’ “Bacon,” a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband. In “Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother—and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected. And in Jim Butcher’s “Last Call,” wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers—the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.

For anyone who’s ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who’s imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection!

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "BREW." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

Quote of the Day  

Posted by Patrick

Generally speaking, people useless at everything else become academics.


- BUGG, in Steven Erikson's Dust of Dreams (Canada, USA, Europe).

Daniel Abraham contest winners!  

Posted by Patrick

Thanks to the author's generosity, these five winners will receive a complimentary copy of The Price of Spring. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.


The winners are:

- Bob Kruple, from Northport, New York, USA (The Evil Hat on asoiaf.westeros.org)

- Alex Wolfe, from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, USA

- David Knott, from Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA

- Shane O'Neil, from Lewisville, Texas, USA (Kazz Wylde on sffworld.com)

- Carolyn McClenahan, from Bellevue, Washington, USA

Thanks to all the participants!

Wanna help out???  

Posted by Patrick

Would you like to be a part of Worldcon: Anticipation, but cannot afford to pay the expensive membership fee? By becoming a volunteer, you could be part of the action without paying a single penny.

The con needs help in organizing divisions, working in various departments, or as local guides or on-site.

Click on this link for more information.

Look what the cat dragged in. . .  

Posted by Patrick


As if some of you needed another reason to hate me, guess what showed up in my mailbox today!?! Yep, a set of page proofs of Steven Erikson's Dust of Dreams (Canada, USA, Europe).

Pat is happy!:-)

Ian Cameron Esslemont contest winner!  

Posted by Patrick

This lucky guy will get his hands on a copy of the US trade paperback edition of Ian Cameron Esslemont's Night of Knives (Canada, USA, Europe) and a UK mass market paperback edition of Return of the Crimson Guard (Canada, USA, Europe), compliments of Yours Truly!


The winner is:

- Carl Lafleur, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Thanks to all the participants!