Win signed galleys of all three volumes of R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing

Hi guys!

The Overlook Press is giving you the chance to get your hands on signed galleys of R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness that Comes Before, The Warrior-Prophet and The Thousandfold Thought.

That winner will be one lucky bastard!;-)

Check out the details here.

Forest Mage

There has been so many mixed reviews about the second volume of The Soldier Son trilogy that I simply couldn't wait to read Forest Mage. Surprisingly, most negative reviews which showed up early on had very little to do with the novel itself. It appears that much of the criticism hinged on the fact that this was nothing like the Fitz books.

Personally, I must admit that I'm getting sick and tired of hearing such claims when someone mentions Shaman's Crossing and/or Forest Mage. Funny how the people clamoring about this not being a Fitz book are probably the same readers complaining about authors like David Eddings, Terry Brooks and R. A. Salvatore for never taking a chance and producing something truly creative outside of their established niche. At least give Robin Hobb credit for coming up with an original series that is totally different from what we can find in today's market.

Frankly, Forest Mage is not Robin Hobb's greatest work of fantasy. And I mean no disrespect when I say this. She has raised the bar rather high in the past, accustoming her readers to spectacular and moving storylines in her previous series. Still, Forest Mage remains an enjoyable novel and is better than a majority of books out there.

The worldbuilding is again very interesting. While Nevare traveled west in Shaman's Crossing, this time Hobb exposes us to the eastern portion of Gernia. Gettys and King's Road, often mentioned in the first volume, become part of the story. The author creates a wonderfully arresting imagery, especially with her wilderness and forest scenes.

The rich prose which has characterized all of her books is still evident in Forest Mage, adding a little something to the reading experience.

As was the case with its predecessor, the main problem with Forest Mage is the book's pace. At times sluggish, it makes one wonder why the author spends so much time describing the minutiae of Nevare's day-to-day life in the narrative. I feel that much could have been truncated to insure a more fluid rhythm. It takes quite a while for the story to truly start move forward, nearly a third of the book.

The characterizations are, as always, top-notch. Three-dimensional characters that remain true to themselves continue to be Robin Hobb's trademark. And that deeply involved humanity, Hobb's subtle touch, can be felt in every chapter. There is a new supporting cast which helps Nevare undergo considerable character growth, chief among those Buel Hitch, Amzil and Olikea. And a few familiar faces make appearances at various times.

However, unlike Shaman's Crossing, in which Nevare had the help of many supporting characters to move the story along, in Forest Mage he must carry the story on his own shoulders. And as a stiff-necked second son of a battle lord, Nevare doesn't possess the appeal of a Fitz or an Althea. Robin Hobb always "mistreats" her main characters, both in emotional and physical ways. Nevare is certainly no exception. Hell, but Forest Mage can be depressing at times. Poor Nevare. As a noble character who always tries to do what he thinks is right, I feel that readers have a hard time relating to forlorn Nevare. Perhaps because it was so easy to relate to Fitz and Althea. . . I believe that this is what puts off a number of readers.

On a more positive note, we learn much about the Specks and the Plainsmen. The emancipation of women appears to be a concept the author wants to continue to explore. In addition, environmental issues will likely play a key role in the final volume. Robin Hobb has set the stage for what should be a very interesting finale, with Nevare fulfilling his destiny.

Approach this novel with an open mind. Some will enjoy it and some won't. And if all you wish for is another Fitz book, go reread The Farseer and The Tawny Man series.

The final verdict: 8/10

For more info on Forest Mage: Canada, USA, Europe

THRONE OF JADE contest winner

Hi guys!

The name of our lucky winner has been drawn. That person will get his hands on a beautiful UK edition hardback of Naomi Novik's Throne of Jade. Special thanks to Voyager Books for accepting yet again to support a contest of mine.

Here is the winner:

Thomas Surquin, from Moustier, Belgium (Nero on elbakin.net)

Thanks to all the participants! And stay tuned for more!;-)

A petition for the original Dune novels

Hi guys!

Jared L. Lynn just brought this to my attention. There is a petition on www.dunenovels.com seeking to get Berkley Books to re-release Frank Herbert's original Dune books in hardcover. That would probably please many fans and collectors alike! Check it out and perhaps you'll make a difference. . .:-)

Paul Kearney has a new website

You can check it out at www.paulkearneyonline.com.

I will be reviewing his latest two novels, The Mark of Ran and This Forsaken Earth, later this summer.

Tie-in fiction vs Non-tie-in fiction

Hi guys!

It was recently made aware that Paul S. Kemp wrote a post pertaining to my reviews of the first two volumes of the Erevis Cale Trilogy. This is in no way meant to be a response to his comments concerning my reviews. But the author did address an issue which could generate a number of interesting discussions:

I do wish, however, that reviewers would never, ever, feel the need to apologize/qualify/squirm about reviewing tie-in fiction (to Pat's credit, he does so only in the TF review). It continues to feed the unfortunate (and wrong) perception that tie-in speculative fiction is, by definition, qualitatively inferior to non-tie-in fiction, and you all know my position on that. It's the same nonsense and need for hierarchy that causes writers of "literary" fiction to dismiss genre fiction in its entirety (it is amusing that many non tie-in speculative fiction writers hate this sentiment when it comes from "literary" writers, yet those same non tie-in specfic writers have no problem turning around and directing the same thing at tie-in writers; it's a strange disconnect that I've never understood).

By the way, for an excellent essay on the subject of writing tie-in fiction v. non-tie-in fiction, see Karen Traviss' comments at Emerald City.

You can read the essay here. While I don't agree with everything this writer says, there is a lot of truths in her essay. Read it, and let's see what everyone thinks about her observations. . .

I don't think I have to elaborate on the literary fiction vs genre fiction rivalry. As I mentioned countless times, there has never been this many talented and incredible authors comprising what we call speculative fiction. Sooner or later, those "literary" types will have to give them the respect they deserve.

However, I don't believe the same can be said about tie-in fiction. And it's the reader in me that makes that claim, not the reviewer. Now, Star Wars is a special case, as it did attract a couple of very good authors. Few writers would turn back on the possibility of getting that much exposure. And yet, fans and non-fans alike will tell you that the quality of Star Wars novels can range from excellent to dubious.

In my review of Twilight Falling, I did mention the apparent low quality of some TSR/Wizards of the Coast offerings, while praising works by other authors. I never meant to imply that readers could not enjoy Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels. Far from it. As a guy who fell in love with the fantasy genre reading those books during the 80s, how could I possibly do that? Still, as you discover what's out there, it becomes increasingly difficult to truly enjoy such novels to the level that one will appreciate works by authors such as Tad Williams, Steven Erikson, George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan, Hal Duncan, Scott Lynch, and a multitude of others. Wizards of the Coast has never elected to produce the sort of ambitious story arc that would bring the aficionados back to the novels they enjoyed at a younger age.

Which, in my opinion, is why that sort of tie-in fiction offerings will always be considered as something akin to the minor leagues or the Canadian Football League. In and of themselves, they are fun and entertaining. No doubt about that! But they don't compare to the Major Leagues or the National Football League.

I'll post a link to that essay on a couple of message boards, just to see what sort of debate we will end up with. . .

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 25th)

In hardcover:

Anne and Todd McCaffrey's Dragon's Fire, their newest Pern novel, debuts at number 16. For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's latest Dragonlance offering, Dragons of the Dwarven Depths, debuts at number 31. For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

Win a free copy of Greg Keyes' THE BLOOD KNIGHT

Hi there!

The good people at Del Rey Books were kind enough to accept to support another contest. This one will permit one lucky person to get his or her hands on the hardcover edition of Greg Keyes' The Blood Knight.

The rules are the same as usual. First off, you need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net the header "BLOOD." 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!

For more info and reviews about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Dawn of Night

I've just finished reading Dawn of Night, sequel to Paul S. Kemp's Twilight Falling. And I must admit I'm a little perplexed. Indeed, the second volume of a trilogy is usually the book in which the story truly gets into gear. Alas, such is not the case with this Forgotten Realms novel.

Twilight Falling opened up a number of possibilities that showed some potential. And yet, there is very little development in this sequel. I can't even claim that this is a case of missed opportunities. It appears that, for this book at least, the author elected to go with an action-packed scenario. Everything seems to be just another excuse to showcase yet another battle scene. Hence, for fans of both R. A. Salvatore and David Gemmell, this should be right up your alley. If you are looking for something more, well this book falls short. . .

For a guy like me, who prefers substance to fight scenes, I found the pace sluggish at times. The story doesn't really move forward, and the plotlines more or less stagnate for the better part of the novel.

However, the prose is superior to what is currently the norm in the market today. Paul S. Kemp can write!

Although we learn a little more about a number of main characters, namely Riven and Magadon, there is very little actual character growth. And the introduction of a new protagonist is not enough to remedy that.

The surprising ending seems to set the stage for an interesting final volume. Hopefully there will be less action and more storytelling. Kemp has enough in terms of plotlines to end this trilogy with a flourish. I'm curious to see if he'll capitalize from that or not.

The final verdict: 6,5/10

For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

New Paul Kearney interview

Hi guys!

Once more, I was the middle man in this endeavor, helping the good people at www.rivages-maudits.com to get an interview with Paul Kearney. The interesting Q&A can be found here. The post begins with the French version, so just scroll down to find the English version of the interview.

Enjoy!

The Bonehunters

Another Steven Erikson "slim" novel, and yet another terrific addition to his magnum opus, The Malazan Book of the Fallen.

While the previous five volumes of the series were more or less self-contained, The Bonehunters is a transition book. Finally, some would say. Yet the scope of Erikson's undertaking is so vast that it took the author nearly 5000 pages to reach the point where the countless plotlines could begin to crossover. As a result, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Some people complained about the cliffhanger endings of many chapters, as well as the fact that there is no veritable resolution as the reader reaches the last page. Personally, I didn't have a problem with either. Looking back, so much occurs in The Bonehunters that I was well satisfied with my reading experience. The story is moving along at a much quicker pace in this volume -- notwithstanding the siege of Y'Ghatan -- and Erikson provides many tantalizing hints of things to come.

I was curious to discover how it would all unfold. Transition books habitually set up a lot of things which will have an impact later on. And The Bonehunters certainly delivered in that department. Honestly, I was not expecting this much in terms of converging storylines. Hence, on numerous occasions I found myself putting the book down and shaking my head, grinning like a simpleton. The author's broadness of vision never fails to astound me. Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont are twisted freaks, no doubt about it!;-) God love them for that! For my money, the Malazan novels are about as good as it gets.

What makes The Bonehunters so enjoyable, at least in my opinion, is the fact that there is a little bit of everything within its pages. Some events were expected and lived up to their promise, such as the siege of Y'Ghatan. And yet, the surprises are what really did it for me. Paran's active role as Master of the Deck, Bottle's mysterious powers and knowledge of the Holds, the Nameless Ones' desperation and plans for Icarium, the appearance and involvement of Spite, the ascension of one of the main characters, the revelations concerning the Aren massacre, the T'lan Imass war on the continent of Assail, the Tiste Edur presence and their endeavors to claim both the First Throne and the Throne of Shadow, Shadowthrone's direct involvement in a major convergence, Tayschrenn's secret plans, Adjunct Tavore's capital decision, Karsa's future ahead, the return of Korbolo Dom and Mallick Rel, and the list goes on and on and on.

However, if you believe that this novel answers many of our questions, think again! For every answer the author provides, it raises yet more questions. I think Erikson just enjoys making us suffer! It's been a long time since I was this addicted to a fantasy series.

Many events occur at once at the end, with no resolution to really speak of. Erikson leaves a multitude of plotlines up in the air, and I simply cannot wait for the sequel.

We've known that Reaper's Gale will take place on the continent of Lether for a while now. At first, I believed that the book would center on Fear Sengar's quest to find Scabandari Bloodeye's imprisoned spirit. Well, with The Bonehunters coming to a close, it's evident that Erikson plans to throw quite a party on Lether. Hell, I'm salivating at the very thought!:-)

To anyone who has yet to give the Malazan series a shot, I encourage you to pick up the first two volumes, Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates. If, at the end of the second book, you are not hooked on this incredible saga, it means that this series is not for you. In my opinion, this will probably be the best 20$ you have ever invested!

The final verdict: 9.5/10

For more information on The Bonehunters: Canada, Europe

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 11th)

In hardcover:

Aaron Allston's Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal is down eight positions, finishing its fifth week on the bestseller list at number 30.

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

A Milestone

I'm still shocked by the fact that this little blog of mine has now reached its 100, 000th page view!

For something that was started just for the heck of it 18 months ago, and which was not supposed to last more than a few weeks until I got bored, I'd say things found a way to skyrocket in ways I could never have envisioned! Many thanks to you, the readers, for being there to read my rambling thoughts and other fantasy-related stuff! A big thank you must also go out to the authors, editors, publicists and fellow reviewers who have accepted to work with me since this adventure began. Without you all, it would never have been the same, nor would it be as much fun!;-)

In addition, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge all those deprived souls who stumble upon my blog while googling for sex fantasies, fantasy women, and other fantasy-oriented sexual aspects. How disappointing must it be to realize that there is no porn here!;-) I really feel for you guys. . .

By the way, I just got an email from Tor Books. Just waiting for the confirmation, but it certainly looks like there is another Steven Erikson contest in the air!:-)

Twilight Falling

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. I am indeed reviewing a Forgotten Realms novel. Heck, I can't quite believe it myself! Jay Tomio made a lot of noise about Paul S. Kemp's The Erevis Cale trilogy. Last winter, he contacted me, offering up a possibility to set up a contest for that trilogy. Yet, since I never endorse authors/series/books I've never read or heard about, I politely declined. But Jay persisted, clamoring about the quality of Kemp's series on his blog. In addition, Alrin did the same on hallofworlds.net. And in the end, I had to see what this was all about. The author got Wizards of the Coast to send me review copies, so here we are.

It sure felt odd to be reading another tale set in Ed Greenwood's brainchild. The old Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels are what made me fall in love with the fantasy genre back in the 80s. Hence, I have a lot of fond memories about those old TSR books. Sadly, I also harbor a multitude of bad memories pertaining to crappy books written by such authors as Jean Rabe, Douglas Niles, Ed Greenwood and myriad others. Those lines of novels are perfect for teenagers and young adults. But inevitably, one grows up and discovers all the talent that's out there.

Sitting down to read Paul S. Kemp's Twilight Falling was like traveling upon a familiar path that one has not followed for a very long time. And that felt good.

As anyone who has ever read some of these books knows, the Forgotten Realms universe is extremely vast in scope. Unfortunately, most FR series take place in a particular area or locale, which precludes readers from being exposed to more of this fascinating world. Plus, the 300-page format makes it well nigh impossible for any writer to produce a work with much depth. Too bad. . .

Twilight Falling is without a doubt a character-driven novel. Clichéd characterizations abound, yet they are still enjoyable. Which I found more or less surprising, to say the least.

Too much action for my taste, however. I normally prefer more substance. Still, this is the sort of story that will appeal to fans of R. A. Salvatore and David Gemmell. Actually, Twilight Falling is reminiscent of Salvatore's early Drizzt books (a. k. a. the good years).

Kemp's prose is superior to what I've come to expect from FR books, which was a pleasant surprise. The storylines appear to hint at some bigger and better plotlines in subsequent volumes. So we'll have to see about that. The ending suffers from a lackluster finish, and that was a bit disappointing. Indeed, major cliffhangers can be a lot of fun midway through a novel, but much less so to cap off an ending. There is no resolution, forcing readers to pick up volume 2 to see what happens.

Kemp is a competent author who seems to have a clear idea of what he is trying to accomplish. And as such, Twilight Falling is a good effort. As for me, I'm curious enough to read the rest of the trilogy. I'm eager to discover what has gotten Jay so excited about this series.

The final verdict: 7/10

For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Carrie Vaughn interview

Hi there!

Here is a little Q&A meant to introduce you to Carrie Vaughn and her books. As you know, I really enjoyed both Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Canada, USA, Europe) and Kitty goes to Washington (Canada, USA, Europe). Hence, I hope that reading this interview will pique your curiosity and encourage you to give this author a shot.

Enjoy!

--------------------------

- For the benefit of those of us new to your work, without giving too much away, give us a taste of the story that is KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR andits sequel.

Here's my one-sentence tagline for the book: Kitty is a werewolf who starts a talk radio advice show about the supernatural. I get a lot of raised eyebrows with that description. The stories themselves are about Kitty coming to terms with being a werewolf, learning to stand up for herself, and dealing with social and political dynamics surrounding thevarious supernatural and non-supernatural elements in her life. In the second book, the stage gets bigger--she's the country's first werewolf celebrity and has to deal with that as well.

- Have you always had an interest in the paranormal?

Not really. With the exception of a few stand-outs (Steven Brust's Agyar, the films The Hunger, The Company of Wolves, and Ginger Snaps to name a few), I find a lot of vampire/werewolf/urban magic tales to be cliché, redundant, and therefore a bit dull. My real interest is in seeing how ordinary people handle extraordinary circumstances. The thing about Kitty is a lot of her concerns are normal ones: career, family, friendships. She just happens to be in this paranormal situation. Kitty also lets me shine a light on the usual paranormal elements, to comment on them and to try to make them new and interesting.

- A few years back, I'm not certain your novels would have been as well-received as they have been. With readers of all genres now more comfortable with fantasy elements, do you think that the timing was just about perfect for you and your novels?

I do think the timing was perfect. Kitty arrived just at the peak of this wave of hugely popular supernatural novels. Paranormal thriller, paranormal romance, paranormal mystery, etc. are all their own categories now, and the crossover potential is huge. The audience seems to be starving for more of these stories, to tide them over until the next one by the next author comes out. I think the popularity of Laurell K. Hamilton and Buffy the Vampire Slayer opened the genre to a wide audience, and new authors have been able to expand the genre, play around with it, and try new things, right when the audience was ready for it. I could never have predicted that Kitty would be able to take part in the phenomenon.

- What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

Characters. I get so many comments about the characters, and how real they feel. Not to give too much away, but I've gotten many emails expressing anger over what happens to one of the characters at the end of Kitty and the Midnight Hour. I'm actually pleased at that, because it means I did a good job making sure people really liked and cared for that character.

- What was the spark that generated the idea which drove you to write the book/series in the first place?

Paranormal stories always seem to get quickly wrapped up into personal angst of soap operatic proportions. I decided Dr. Laura would never be able to handle a call from a character in one of these stories, so this world needed its own call-in radio advice show. A werewolf named Kitty seemed the natural host for such a show. The story kind of exploded from there.

- Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy Award? Why, exactly?

You've hit on the exact right pair of symbols to represent the age-old dilemma about choosing commercial success or artistic respect. I have to be really crass and simplistic and say as a thirty-something with a mortgage, I'd take a New York Times bestseller for the financial security. But those H.P. Lovecraft busts they give out for the World Fantasy Award are really cool. I indulge in high hopes of seeing both someday.

- Honestly, do you believe that speculative fiction will ever come to be recognized as veritable literature? Truth be told, in my opinion there has never been this many good books/series as we have right now, and yet there is still very little respect (not to say none) associated with the genre.

There's been a saying going around the SF community for the last couple ofyears. Science fiction won. It's taken over the world. Most of the blockbuster movies and many of the bestselling books have science fiction an fantasy elements in them. But the long-time science fiction community is still really pissed off, because nobody in the mainstream is calling those things science fiction and fantasy. Recently, someone who I know loves Harry Potter, Narnia, Philip Pullman, Robin McKinley, etc. told me that she doesn't normally read fantasy and I had to point out to her that she does, in fact, read a lot of fantasy. People are reading and watching SF&F without realizing it. So the genre won, but it still isn't getting the respect that we all crave so much. We still have to put up with Margaret Atwood and Philip Roth insisting that they don't write science fiction. The real trick is going to be overcoming those labels. Because really, it's the cover and the marketing, not the content, that determines where the book ends up in the store. The key is word of mouth promotion: the more we talk up our favorite speculative works, the more we can convince people who don't think of themselves as speculative readers to read our favorite works, the more we can break down those labels.

- With a narrative written in the first person and which is at times very emotional, how much of yourself can we find in Kitty's character?

That's a tough one for me to answer because I don't always have a good handle on the kind of person I am in the first place! An interesting phenomenon I've noticed: people who are acquaintances, who don't know me well, say they see a lot of me in Kitty; while people who know me very well, close friends and family, say they don't see very much of me in her at all. What that tells me is on the surface we may be similar, but past that we're not much alike. If the emotion is there, it's because I want to be inside the character's head while I'm writing. I want to see everything through her eyes and capture that perspective. A couple of details: I gave Kitty an English major so I could drop in literary references, which I seem to do naturally (I have a Masters in English literature.) But I've also found myself reining in a lot of references that I would make, that I know she wouldn't. I decided she isn't a big science fiction fan and probably wouldn't think "Jedi mindtrick" when witnessing vampiric hypnotism like I would.

- Why do you think that Kitty appeals to so many fans/critics from disparate genres?

The comment I get the most is how real she is to people. People tell me that they relate to her, that they can see her as a friend. I think because she isn't totally wrapped up in being a werewolf, that isn't the be-all and end-all of her existence, she appeals to a much wider audience. It seems like most werewolf stories are all about the angst of being a werewolf, of trying to cure it, of losing control to it. That stereotypical Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy doesn't interest me at all. I made a conscious decision to say, "Okay, she's a werewolf, she's dealing with it, let's move onto to other things now."

- I know that the rights to two new Kitty novels have been sold. How many books are planned at this time, and what can you tell us about them?

It's really hard to say. I'm writing the fourth one now, so I have a really good idea of where that's going. A couple of questions I get asked a lot are whether Cormac returns and if Kitty ever goes back to Denver to face Carl and Meg. The answers: Cormac plays a big part of the third book, Kitty Takes a Holiday, and Kitty returns to Denver in the fourth one, Kitty and the Silver Bullet. I have a rough idea of how many books I'd like to write, and I do have a direction I'd like the series to go. I know what happens in the last book. It'll depend on if the publisher wants more books.

- With a playlist at the beginning of each novel, how important is the music when you write?

It's very important for a couple of reason. Mostly, it distracts the anxiety-ridden, obsessive compulsive part of my brain that's always worrying if I locked the door or left the stove on. I have to shut that part down or I can't write. I also find it very helpful to listen to music that suits the mood of what I'm writing. It was a happy accident that, as I was writing the first book, I found a number of songs that really reflected the mood and ideas of the story. Since Kitty starts out as a DJ,the playlist was a fun way to specifically tie the music to the book. I'm glad I was able to include it.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 4th)

In hardcover:

Aaron Allston's Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal maintains its position at number 22. This week marks the novel's fourth week on the bestseller list.

Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child is up one spot, finishing its fifth week on the NYT list at number 31.

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

MISTBORN contest winners

Hi guys!

The names of our five lucky winners have been drawn! Many thanks to Tor Books for supporting yet another contest! And congrats to Brandon Sanderson, who's getting married this week!

The winners are:

Michael Markins, from Indianapolis, Indiana (Michar on wotmania.com)

Rob H. Bedford, from Branchburg, New Jersey (RobB on sffworld.com)

Lynn Phillips, from Santa Monica, California

Dan Stewart from Idaho Falls, Idaho

Miriam Bernardo, from Farmington, Utah

Thanks to all the participants!

And stay tuned for more!;-)

Win a free copy of Naomi Novik's THRONE OF JADE

Hi there!

The good people at Voyager Books (HarperCollins UK) were kind enough to pledge a copy of the UK hardback edition of Naomi Novik's Throne of Jade. The novel, although available in North America, will be released overseas next month.

The rules are the same as usual. First off, you need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net the header "THRONE." 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!

New release dates confirmed

Hi guys!

I know that a lot of people are wondering exactly when Ian Cameron Esslemont's Night of Knives and Return of the Crimson Guard will be published. Well, I just received this from Transworld:

"At the moment we’re due to publish NIGHT OF KNIVES and RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD in May 2007 following the publication of Steven Erikson’s REAPER’S GALE (Malazan Book of the Fallen 7) in March. I’ll send you more info as I have it."

Here you go, folks! Looks like we'll all be getting a very nice dose of Malazan during the spring on 2007!;-) I'll certainly be looking forward to that!!!