Lonely Planet Bluelist

My friends offered me this book as a present for my birthday earlier this spring. Traveling is a real passion for me, so a book containing 618 things to do and places to go in 2006-2007 was a "can't miss." A very thoughful gift indeed.

There is an ongoing love story between the Lonely Planet guidebooks and myself. They have become trusted companions on various journeys and I wouldn't leave home without one. Every time I lay eyes on that shelf on which stand over a dozen of them, fond memories of past travels swirl inside my mind. Simply put, for my money nothing beats a Lonely Planet guide. According to The Independent (UK), passport, dollars and Lonely Planet guide -- the essential survival kit anywhere on Earth. Amen!;-)

Lonely Planet Bluelist is the perfect book for anyone who has an interest in traveling. It elaborates on the world's coolest trends, destinations and traveling experiences for the year ahead. As always, it's written in the candid style that makes the Lonely Planet guidebooks dependable sources of information.

The book is split into two distinct parts. The first one concerns things to do, and is separated into categories (Top 10) such as Most remote places on Earth, Best places to get naked, Best value destinations, Cities on the rise, Most awesome treks, Best road trips, and the list goes on and on.

One of my favorite quotes showed up in the Most stupid thing you heard a tourist say! From an American in Canada: "It's almost like another country here."

The second portion has to do with places to go. That section is subdivided into different areas of the globe, and a number of countries are shortlisted as the destinations of choice. Following a brief overview of these particular countries, categories such as What's hot, What's not, Hot tips for travellers, Do mention, Don't mention, Random facts, Things to take, Defining experience, etc, provide myriad fascinating details about those countries and their people.

One of my favorite bits can be found in the section pertaining to Colombia: Taking out hostage insurance isn't a terrible idea. It's not as though foreigners are particularly targeted, but it's nice to know that a big corporation will pay your ransom if you get spirited away. Now, don't try to tell me that you're not tempted to go there!;-)

A calendar of events and festivals informs readers of the best times to visit each destination, and colorful pictures add a little something to each page.

Lonely Planet Bluelist makes the perfect gift idea for anyone who's always planning his or her next escapade. I just found out that the 2007 edition will be released later this fall.

If you enjoy traveling around the world, then this book's definitely for you!

For more information about it: USA, Europe

Win a free copy of Joel Shepherd's CROSSOVER

Hi there,

Earlier this week, I contacted Pyr Books concerning a number of review copies, namely Ian McDonald's River of Gods, Sean Williams' The Crooked Letter, and David Louis Edelman's Infoquake. When I told the director of publicity about the contests I run, I was offered two copies of Joel Shepherd's Crossover. As a hot debut, Pyr Books wish to spread the word around about this book and its author, especially since it's the first volume of a trilogy. You can read the synopsis here.

I'll try to work my magic to get you readers a chance to win the other three novels, as they all come with very positive reviews. But we'll have to wait and see. . .

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

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 29th)

In hardcover:

Terry Goodkind's Phantom is down three positions, finishing its fifth week on the bestseller list at number 10.

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

Night of Knives

As a recent Malazan convert, I was eager to sink my teeth into Ian Cameron Esslemont's first novel set in the universe he created with Steven Erikson. Having savored and enjoyed all six volumes of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, I was now ready to discover what Night of Knives had to offer.

Let it be said that Esslemont certainly selected the perfect setting for his first book. By choosing to recount the tale of the night when Surly, the Imperial Regent, plans to assassinate the Emperor, Kellanved, and Dancer to seize the throne, well the author couldn't possibly go wrong. Of all the characters which Steven Erikson has introduced in his series thus far, Shadowthrone and Cotillion remain mysterious favorites to many people. Hence, an opportunity to witness what occurred on the night they ascended was extremely interesting.

As the entire tale takes place during a single night -- during the Shadow Moon -- the rhythm of the novel is quite sharp. It's also chaotic in a way that is reminiscent of Gardens of the Moon. Don't let the length of the book fool you. Night of Knives is as long as it needs to be.

Some will probably disagree with me,but I believe that one must read the previous Malazan volumes to fully appreciate Night of Knives. As for me, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much, had I not read all the way to The Bonehunters. I've seen threads on message boards with people asking if Night of Knives is a good starting point for the Malazan series. No, it's not! One requires an understanding of the depth of the universe, its characters, and the myriad plotlines which form this unbelievable tapestry, before one can really appreciate all that Night of Knives has to offer.

The story is seen through the eyes of two main POV characters. The first, Kiska, is a young girl dying to find a way to leave Malaz Island. Needless to say, she'll get a lot more than she bargained for on the night of the Shadow Moon. Hopefully we'll learn more about her character in future novels. If you've read The Bonehunters, you are aware that she is now one of Tayschrenn's two most trusted bodyguards.

The second POV character is Temper, a grizzled and battle-hardened veteran of many campaigns. Running away from a past he cannot forget, he settled in the backwater that is Malaz Island, hoping to fade from everyone's memory. Yet the upcoming convergence will force him to take an active role once more. As a former member of the celebrated Sword of the Empire, he fought alongside Dassem Ultor. And through him, we discover what truly happened at the siege of Y'Ghatan. Not surprisingly, there is more to Temper than meets the eye. That much was made clear by Night of Knives and The Bonehunters.

We also learn more about the enigmatic Tayschrenn, which was a pleasant surprise and which helps us understand his neutral stance in The Bonehunters. It allows us to shine some light on some of his actions/inactions in both Gardens of the Moon and Memories of Ice. Add to that a few secrets about Edgewalker and the Shadow Realm, and you have a wonderful mix indeed!

However, even though Night of Knives provides a couple of answers, it raises yet more questions. But I wouldn't have it any other way. This novel is the perfect Malazan companion book. Roll on Return of the Crimson Guard, which will likely demonstrate just how good an author Esslemont truly is.

A very satisfying read for any fan of The Malazan Book of the Fallen.

The final verdict: 8/10

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

How much is this blog worth?

You can see for yourself how much your blog is worth here.

It turns out that the Hotlist is worth $25 968.84!!! How cool is that!?!;-)

Top 5 of 2006

Hi guys!

Feel free to disagree with me, but here are what I consider the best fantasy books of 2006 thus far. For my money, they're the best literary investments this year!:-)

1- (tie) R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought
2- (tie) Steven Erikson's The Bonehunters
3- (not far behind) Hal Duncan's Vellum
4- Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora
5- Naomi Novik's Temeraire/His Majesty's Dragon

To make this interesting, I invite you to leave a comment with your own top 5 of 2006. With Gaiman, Kay, Feist, and Pratchett all releasing new works, this list could change before the year is through. . . Still, it's been a good year so far!;-)

REAPER'S GALE news

Hey!

The much-awaited prologue of the newest Malazan novel, Reaper's Gale, has been released on malazanempire.com. Read it here. Just scroll down the page and you'll find it.

Man, I can't wait to read this book!:-)

Enjoy!

News Update

Hi guys!

Since many of you appear eager to learn what's coming up, here is a few things I have on tap for your pleasure!:-)

Interviews

- The Melanie Rawn interview will likely come first. I should be sending her the questions by the end of the week.

- When I set up the Raymond E. Feist contest last month, I was granted a mini-interview with the author. Just five questions, but it's better than nothing, right!?! This one should see the light fairly soon. . .

- I have secured an interview with Greg Keyes, and will be teaming up with Rob Bedford for that Q&A. Rob should send me his questions in a couple of days. After perusing his, I'll add my own and send that to Del Rey's publicity department.

- I have secured an interview with China Miéville. It will be conducted next February, to coincide with the release of his new novel. Should be a good one!;-)

- I have also secured an interview with Peter F. Hamilton. It will coincide with the paperback release of Judas Unchained, hence in March.

- Although nothing is for certain yet, I'm gunning for interviews with Terry Brooks, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Hopefully they will see the light!

Contests

- I still have three copies of Melanie Rawn's Spellbinder up for grabs! Just scroll down for the details. . .

- I'm testing the waters with Transworld for a copy or two of Pratchett's Wintersmith. I have a very good relationship with the publicists at Transworld, so there's a good chance that you'll see this one soon!

- I've inquired about the possibility for a Hunters of Dune contest. No word as of yet. . .

- Tor Books have a good fall schedule, and I'll be working hard to try to get you guys the opportunity to win a few free novels! Titles of interest include Kate Elliot's Spirit Gate, George R. R. Martin's The Ice Dragon, David Farland's Sons of the Oak, and L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Soarer's Choice.

- There are always other possibilities, but that's about it for now.

Book Reviews

- I'm currently reading Ian Cameron Esslemont's Night of Knives. Pretty good so far. . .:-)

- After that, I'll likely read Feist's Flight of the Nighthawks and Into a Dark Realm.

- Once I'm done with those, I may give this little known author a chance. He goes by the name of George R. R. Martin. I've heard good things about him. They say he's in the same league as Goodkind!;-) Can't possibly go wrong!

Your Comments

- As always, I welcome your feedback. So feel free to leave a comment or two!

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 22nd)

In hardcover:

Terry Goodkind's Phantom is down two positions, finishing its fourth week on the bestseller list at number 7.

Steven Brust's Dzur debuts at number 30.

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

INTO A DARK REALM contest winners!

Hey!

The names of our two winners have been drawn. Both of them will receive a paperback edition of Flight of the Nighthawks and a hardback copy of Feist's newest, Into a Dark Realm. Many thanks to Voyager Books for supporting yet another contest. Without their kind support, I could not get you the chance to win free stuff!;-)

The winners are:

Harry Giovanopoulos, from Athens, Greece (Belechael on malazanempire.com)

Tuan-Anh Dongvan, from Paris, France

Thanks to all the participants and stay tuned for more!

New Steven Erikson Q&A

Hi guys!

There is a new Erikson interview on malazanempire.com. It was conducted by the folks from the Science Fiction Book Club. It's a relatively short piece, but still very interesting!

Read it here.

This Forsaken Earth

This sequel picks up right where The Mark of Ran ended. Sailing aboard his black man-of-war, Revenant, Rol Cortishane and his crew are sinking Bionese vessels to maintain the city of Ganesh Ka's secret location. Unfortunately, although Rol enjoys the simplicity that now govern his life, things have a tendency to complicate themselves.

Tidings pertaining to the lost heir of Bionar begin to surface and Rol realizes that the past he left behind is about to creep up on him. When Canker, former King of Thieves, shows up unexpectedly, Rol discovers that he has few options. He will soon find himself in the middle of a bloody war, as Rowen makes her move to claim the richest kingdom in the world.

I liked the fact that Paul Kearney expanded on his worldbuilding, demonstrating a definite depth that was only hinted at in the first volume. I find myself eager to learn more about the different countries and societies that comprise the world of Umer.

The characterizations are again superior to what is the norm in today's market. Building on his previous work in The Mark of Ran, character growth is evident with Rol, Gallico and Elias Creed. And even though Rowen, Canker and a cast of secondary characters are an interesting bunch, those three main characters carry the story along.

Some of the emerging storylines show a lot of promise. And yet, the war which constitutes the bulk of This Forsaken Earth felt like some sort of interlude.

As was the case with The Mark of Ran, Kearney sets a rather crisp, page-turning pace in this sequel. Alas, with the war taking center stage for a good portion of the book, I felt that the ending comes too rapidly.

I really liked This Forsaken Earth, but I thought that Rol was too easily influenced to become part of Rowen's schemes. Other than that, it was a satisfying read. I'll be waiting eagerly for the third volume. . .

The final verdict: 7.5/10

For more info on this novel: Canada, USA, Europe

Chapter 3 is online

Hi there!

I just wanted to let those interested know that the third chapter of Time of your Life is now online at www.writings-and-ramblings.blogspot.com. The adventure now begins and three of the four travelers see everything with "virgin" eyes. My test readers -- backpackers and travelers all -- praised this one, claiming that I had done a wonderful job of capturing the mood of "beginners" set loose on a new continent!

This might be the last excerpt which will be posted online. I'm keeping my options open, so we'll have to wait and see. Chances are that chapter 4 will make it online, with chapter 5 being as far as I'm willing to go at the moment.

Thanks to everyone who have shared their thoughts with me so far!:-) I'll take everything into account when the time comes for the inevitable rewrites!

Cheers!

A book giveaway at Gryphonwood

Hi guys!

Gryphonwood is giving away a copy of Gene Curtis' The Seventh Mountain.

Follow this link for more details. . .

Win a free copy of Melanie Rawn's SPELLBINDER

Hey!

The good people at Tor Books have been kind enough to accept to do yet another contest with us. This time, they will hook up 3 lucky winners with a copy of Melanie Rawn's newest fantasy work, Spellbinder.

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

Terry Brooks contest winner

Hi!

The name of our winner has finally been drawn, and she will now receive a hardcover copy of Terry Brooks' Armageddon's Children. Many thanks to Del Rey Books for their support.

The winner is:

Cheryl D. Rock, from Decatur, Illinois, USA (Rhapsody on wotmania.com)

Thanks to all the participants and stay tuned for more!

The Mark of Ran

I've been meaning to read some of Paul Kearney's works for some time now. This author is not widely known in North America, but he's been on the European scene for quite a while. Even better, I've only heard good things about him. Last but not least, Kearney comes with the Steven Erikson seal of approval! All in all, the odds appeared to be in favor of my liking Kearney's novels.

This author is known for the brevity of his books. And in this day and age, fans are screaming for epic fantasy works of titanic proportions, or so it seems. Hence, Kearney's novels are a far cry from the "doorstopper" works which have made Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, Steven Erikson, Peter F. Hamilton and George R. R. Martin famous. As as such, can the man compete with authors like these? Well, the answer is yes! Believe me when I tell you that great things come in small packages!

The Mark of Ran immediately grabs hold of you and won't let go. The pace is fast and crisp, with a narrative that flows effortlessly. Much like a thriller, the novel is a page-turning reading experience. With relatively short chapters, you always tell yourself that you'll only read one more. And then you reach the end of the book!

One would tend to believe that a 400-page novel would be rather linear and simplistic. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a work that echoes with depth and an assured knowledge of the sea.

Unlike writers like Jordan, Erikson and company, Kearney doesn't go overboard (no pun intended!) with secondary characters and sub-plots. As a result, his main characters are more fleshed out more rapidly, and the novel moves along without a glitch.

Umer appears to be a far-reaching world, even if Kearney only offers us a glimpse in this opening chapter. Something tells me that the worldbuilding will continue to impress me as subsequent volumes are released.

The storylines don't necessarily offer anything new, but Kearney's style is definitely his own. The high seas and other naval elements make The Mark of Ran something special.

Hopefully this review will pique people's curiosity enough for them to give Paul Kearney a chance. Especially in the USA and Canada, where he remains little known. This is an author worth discovering! It's with great pleasure that I'll now read the second volume in The Sea Beggars sequence, This Forsaken Earth.

In my opinion, The Mark of Ran makes a fine addition to any fantasy collection.

The final verdict: 8/10

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

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 15th)

In hardcover:

Terry Goodkind's Phantom is still going strong, down three spots, endings its third week on the NYT bestseller list at number 5. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory's When Darkness Falls is down five positions, finishing its second week on the prestigious list at number 25. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Anne and Todd McCaffrey's Dragon's Fire is down 2 spots, ending its fourth week on the charts at number 30. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

New Guy Gavriel Kay Interview

The folks at www.wotmania.com have just released a recent interview they did with Guy Gavriel Kay.

You can read it here.

Enjoy!

David and Leigh Eddings contest winners

Hey!

So again, the names of the lucky winners have been drawn. They will each receive a full set of The Dreamers -- the first three volumes in paperback and the final volume in hardcover. Many thanks to the good people at Time Warner Books for supporting yet another contest.

The winners are:

Susan Jang, from Vancouver, Canada

Melissa Lawson, from Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Jocelyn Pearce, from Asheville, North Carolina, USA

Thanks for participating and stay tuned for more contests!;-)

New Scott Lynch Message Board

Hi guys!

If The Lies of Locke Lamora blew you away and you wish to discuss everything that has to do with Scott Lynch, a new message board devoted to the author and his novels has seen the light.

Check it out here.

Enjoy!

Steven Erikson contest winner!

Hi there!

The name of our winner has been drawn! That lucky guy will now receive the first four Malazan novels in hardcover, thanks to Tor Books who were gracious enough to support this contest. Hopefully winning this contest will make him a new Malazan convert!;-)

The winner is:

Jason Harrison, from Pounding Mill, Virginia, USA (The White Bull on asoiaf.westeros.org)

Thanks for participating and stay tuned for more!:-)

Accepting Questions for a Melanie Rawn Interview

Hi guys!

I'm happy to report that I have just secured an interview with Melanie Rawn. As always, feel free to submit your own questions. I'll post this on a couple of message boards as well. Then, as a matter of course, the best questions will be selected to be part of the interview.

Cheers!

Chapter 2 is online

Hi guys!

I just wanted to let you know that I've posted the second chapter of Time of your Life on www.writings-and-ramblings.blogspot.com. Thanks to everyone who have given me their two cents so far!:-) Heck, even Mystar dropped by to read my atrocious prose!

This one is the final "set up" chapter of the manuscript. Following this chapter, the real adventure begins! I don't know how many chapters I'll be posting online, but it will likely be less than what I initially planned. After discussing this with several people, it's been decided that my original plan called for too many chapters, which could hurt me in the long run.

Yet fear not, there will be a couple more to come. Many thanks to everyone who have taken the time to read the excerpts. I really appreciate it!:-)

PHANTOM contest winner

Hi there!

Well, the name of our lucky winner has been drawn. That person will receive a UK hardback edition of Terry Goodkind's Phantom, thanks to Voyager Books.

The winner is:

Susi Quinn, from Brighton, England (MinDonner on westeros.org)

I wish to thank all the participants. Stay tuned for more!;-)

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 8th)

In hardcover:

Terry Goodkind's Phantom drops one position, ending its second week on the bestseller list at number 2. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory's When Darkness Falls debuts at number 20. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragons of the Dwarven Depths is up nine spots, finishing its third week on the NYT list at number 25. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Anne and Todd McCaffrey's Dragon's Fire maintains its position, finishing its third week on the prestigious bestseller list at number 28. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

Mistborn: The Final Empire

First of all, many thanks to Brandon Sanderson for sending me a bound manuscript on his own peso. And signed by the author to boot! He had been trying to get his editor to send me an ARC since February, so that I could review the novel before its release date. For some reason, I never did receive my copy. In the end, Brandon decided to take action, and a package made its way to my mailbox. So Brandon, it means a lot that you'd that for me. I hereby request that authors such as Steven Erikson, R. Scott Bakker, Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Guy Gavriel Kay, Tad Williams, Stephen R. Donaldson, Scott Lynch, Hal Duncan, and every other fantasy writer I admire to follow suit and forward their manuscripts to me!;-)

Elantris made a lot of noise in the fantasy circles last year, and I was curious to see how Sanderson would build on that success. And with the release of Mistborn: The Final Empire, the author now has two good yarns under his belt. He is gradually making a name for himself in the genre.

As was the case with Sanderson's debut, this novel is a character-driven book. I may be wrong, but I believe that characterizations will always be Brandon Sanderson's bread and butter. When I reviewed Elantris, I opined that the author's writing style reminded me of David Eddings and J. V. Jones. Indeed, with lots of humor, lots of bantering and witty dialogues, I feel that Sanderson embodies the qualities that made David Eddings such a well-liked author during the 80s and early 90s.

Having said that, although good the characterizations are occasionally lacking. I found them to be uneven in certain portions of the novel. For the most part, this is not a factor. But I found that certain characters -- Vin, especially -- are too quick to catch on, etc. Things are a little too easy for my taste at times.

The worldbuilding is pretty interesting, even though Sanderson only offers us a glimpse of this new universe. I'm looking forward to the sequels, for it's evident that the author has more than a few surprises up his sleeve. The most fascinating aspect of Mistborn: The Final Empire is it's magical system. Allomancy is truly original and a nice change from traditional sorcery. I won't elaborate on Allomancy, for doing so would spoil the story too much. One thing's for certain, the action scenes are quite a thrill, mostly because Allomancy is so different from what we are accustomed to.

I enjoyed most of the storylines, though a number of clichés take a little something away from the tale. Still, the novel is a fully entertaining read, one that will satisfy plenty of fantasy fans. It's obvious that Brandon Sanderson is maturing as an author, promising more quality reads in the future. Although the first volume of a trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire is a more or less self-contained book, which should please readers.

I felt that the ending was kind of rushed, however. Don't get me wrong. The story builds up quite nicely toward a climax that you are eager to reach. But in my opinion, following such a build-up, the plotlines merged too rapidly, making the ending less satisfactory than it should have been.

It surely looks like Brandon Sanderson is on the verge of becoming one of the bright new voices in the fantasy genre. And if this trilogy lives up to expectations, the author will likely attract a growing number of fans. His novels are accessible enough to interest both newcomers and veteran readers.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

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

Here goes nothing!

Hi guys!

Well, it's done. I've decided to go for it. For the very first time, I'm going "public" with one of my writing projects!:-)

A new blog was created, since I didn't want to bog down the Hotlist with sample chapters. Those interested will find the preface and chapter 1 of Time of your Life at www.writings-and-ramblings.blogspot.com.

As I mentioned over there, I'm doing this mainly for the feedback you guys can provide. So I welcome your comments, both positive and negative. Feel free to share your thoughts with me, because that's why I'm posting excerpts. So whether you wish to leave a comment here, there, via email, or on the numerous message boards I frequent, I'll be happy to hear from you! But remember to go easy on me! After all, I'm just a rookie!;-)

Have fun and good reading!

New Scott Lynch interview at elbakin.net

Hi guys!

As I did for other fantasy authors, I acted as a go-between between the good folks at www.elbakin.net and Scott Lynch. The interview has gone live this morning, both in French and in English. You can see it here.

Enjoy!

A new speculative fiction magazine has seen the light!

Hi guys!

I wanted to post about this a couple of days ago, but at some point I got sidetracked. Jay Tomio and his collaborators have just released the first issue of Heliotrope, a new periodical dedicated to speculative fiction. It contains articles by both R. Scott Bakker and Jeff Vandermeer, and it's worth checking out!

Congrats to Jay and his team!:-) Long live!

Yea or Nay

Hi there!

Some of you are aware of this, but most people here likely don't know about the fact that I'm an aspiring author. Yes, not only am I a book reviewer, I'm also a writer.:-) Perhaps you now understand why I break down every book review in a manner which is not always similar to that of other critics.

The truth is, I've been writing "seriously" since the end of 1996. Hard to believe that it's been close to a decade already. My first manuscript, The Eye of the Serpent, is a 250, 000-word epic fantasy tale. What else, right!?!;-) Running this blog has allowed me to get contacts with every major publisher. Hence, I was fortunate enough to bypass the "agented material only" golden rule, and a portion of the manuscript is in the capable hands of HarperCollins USA's fantasy Senior Editor and her assistant. I'm still waiting, keeping my fingers crossed. Apparently, authors such as Robin Hobb, Raymond E. Feist and David Forbes come first. Quite unfair, I know!

Understandably, I've been trying to find a competent agent to represent me for a long time. But the current market has made most of them reticent to take on an unpublished writer, especially a fantasy novelist. Plus, the fact that I'm a French Canadian hailing from Montreal doesn't help matters much. Still, authors like R. Scott Bakker, Steven Erikson, Brandon Sanderson, L. E. Modesitt, jr. David Forbes and many others have offered encouragements. So there is hope for me yet.

Nonetheless, in order to help me get a foot in the publishing world's door, last summer I elected to begin work on a more accessible novel, something that anyone could read and enjoy. I figured that if I could sell the rights of such a novel, then it would perhaps be easier for me to find someone to champion The Eye of the Serpent. Instead of working on its sequel, The Celestial Dragon, last August, after more than 6 weeks of pre-production (the plotlines had been swirling inside my brain for nearly a year at that point, ever since my return from my "exile" in Europe), I sat down and started working on Time of your Life.

This novel chronicles the adventures and misadventures of four people backpacking throughout Europe. This was a "can't miss" for me, since writing and traveling are my two biggest passions. And since most of the action is based on my own traveling experiences (25 countries so far!) and that of my friends, this manuscript is truly authentic. Writing this novel has been a riot thus far. I can't believe just how much fun I'm having working on it. Surprisingly, nearly one year and over 100, 000 words later, I'm almost done. If all goes according to plan, I will complete this baby in the next couple of weeks.

Feedback has been coming in from my test readers, and the vibe is unbelievably positive. I knew it was good, but I never thought that people would enjoy it to such an extent. So much so that I've been considering posting some excerpts online. What better way to get even more feedback before going through the inevitable rewrites?

Since The Eye of the Serpent is being perused by editors at HarperCollins and a submission is also in the hands of Sarah Ash's UK agent, I don't want to hurt my chances by posting sample chapters online. But the response to Time of your Life has been so incredibly good that I thought it could interest a number of readers here. And who knows? Perhaps attract potential agents and editors!;-)

So what do you think? Have I piqued your curiosity!?! Are you in the mood for a fun-filled European escapade!?! Let me know what you think, and I'll see if I'll go forward and do this. . .

Win a free copy of Terry Brooks' ARMAGEDDON'S CHILDREN

Hey!

Well, this is turning into a free books galore!;-)

The good people at Del Rey have accepted to support yet another contest, this time for a copy of Terry Brooks' Armageddon's Children. For more info about it: Canada, USA, Europe.

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

Terry Brooks will be promoting his latest work in the following cities:

OLYMPIA, WA (Wednesday, September 6 )
Barnes & Noble, 1530 Black Lake Blvd SW 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

SEATTLE, WA (Thursday, September 7)
University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

WEST SEATTLE, WA (Sunday, September 10)
Barnes & Noble, 2600 Southwest Barton, Suite E-1 1:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

DETROIT, MI (Tuesday, September 12)
Borders Books & Music, 43075 Crescent Blvd. 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Wednesday, September 13)
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2100 North Snelling Ave., Roseville 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

DENVER, CO (Thursday, September 14)
Tattered Cover, 2526 East Colfax Avenue 7:30pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (Saturday, September 16)
Utah Writers Conference, 280 S 400 E, Orem 10:00am
Reading, Discussion, Signing

Branch Library, 725 S Main, Bountiful 2:30pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

GREAT LAKES, IL (Sunday, September 17)
NEXCOM, Navy Exchange / Burkey Mall 12:00pm
Building # 3452, 2601 E. Paul Jones Street
Signing; *Military ID required

CHICAGO, IL (Monday, September 18)
Borders Books & Music, 830 N. Michigan Ave. 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

FORT WAYNE, IN (Tuesday, September 19)
Mitchell Books, 6360 W. Jefferson Blvd. 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Wednesday, September 20)
Barnes & Noble, 14709 US Hwy 31 North, Carmel 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

DAYTON, OH (Thursday, September 21)
Books & Company, 4453 Walnut Street, Beavercreek 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

LEXINGTON, KY (Friday, September 22)
Joseph Beth Booksellers, 161 Lexington Green Circle¾6:30pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

PHOENIX, AZ (Saturday, September 23)
The Poisoned Pen, 4014 N. Goldwater, Ste. 101, Scottsdale 1:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (Sunday, September 24)
Page One, 11018 Montgomery Blvd., NE 3:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

SANTA FE, NM (Monday, September 25)
Borders Books & Music, 500 Montezuma 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

LOS ANGELES, CA (Thursday, October 12)
Borders Books & Music, 3700 Torrance Blvd., Torrance 7:00pm
Reading, Discussion, Signing

Win a copy of the UK edition of Terry Goodkind's PHANTOM

Here we go again!

With Goodkind hitting number 1 on the NYT list in the USA and number 7 in the UK with the release of Phantom, Voyager Books have accepted to support another contest. One winner will receive a UK hardback copy of the newest volume of The Sword of Truth series.

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

P. S. Another contest will be announced later tonight. . .:-) You guys can't say I'm not spoiling you!!!

Win a complete set of David and Leigh Eddings' THE DREAMERS

Holy crap!

This is definitely becoming contest month here at the Hotlist!;-) In addition to this latest one, I should be announcing two more later tonight or tomorrow!

The good folks at Warner Books have kindly accepted to supply 3 winners with a complete set of The Dreamers series. The first three volumes, The Elder Gods, The Treasured One and Crystal Gorge will come their way in paperback format, while The Younger Gods will be in hardcover. For more info about this final volume: Canada, USA, Europe. Many thanks to Warner Books for their support.

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

Midnight's Mask

This book marks the end of Paul S. Kemp's The Erevis Cale trilogy. After a second volume that was somewhat lackluster because I felt it relied too much on action rather than storytelling, Midnight's Mask finishes things off with a certain flair.

Those of you who followed the Tie-in fiction vs Non-tie-in fiction discussion are aware of my thoughts pertaining to the Forgotten Realms line and its authors. Still, I would rank Kemp among WotC's most talented authors, past and present, such as R. A. Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham and Troy Denning.

The worldbuilding, understandably, is not a major factor. It never really is in a FR book. One of these days, I'd love to see someone given free reign to roam across Ed Greenwood's universe.

The prose continues to be superior to what is currently the norm in today's market. Paul S. Kemp is a good author, a fact that many people probably don't even appreciate.

Like the previous two books, Twilight Falling and Dawn of Night, this third volume is another character-driven novel. And as such, the characters make or break the story. At first, it appeared that Kemp had seemingly elected to stick with the traditional clichéd FR characters, but he turns things around a bit in this one. And just when I thought he would ruin everything with the ever-popular "all is well that ends well" kind of ending, Kemp shows that he has a few surprises up his sleeves.

And although the storylines are rather linear and simplistic, the author still manages to add a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. Also, he leaves the door open for a number of sequels.

As I mentioned before, this series should please fans of R. A. Salvatore. Indeed, it's very Salvatoresque in tone and rhythm. Fans of the action-packed novels by David Gemmell (may he rest in peace) might also find this trilogy to their liking, though Gemmell's books possessed more depth.

In retrospect, this novel/series is a good effort by an author who will likely make a good name for himself in the genre. However, I feel that The Erevis Cale trilogy will appeal to a younger audience, or one that is more action-oriented.

The final verdict: 7/10

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

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 1st)

In hardcover:

Terry Goodkind's Phantom debuts at number 1. Goodkind thus joins David Eddings, Robert Jordan, Neil Gaiman and George R. R. Martin as the only fantasy novelists to debut at number 1 on the prestigious list. For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Anne and Todd McCaffrey's Dragon's Fire is down twelve positions, finishing its second week on the NYT list at number 28. For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragons of the Dwarven Depths drops three spots, ending its second week on the charts at number 34. For more info about this book: Canada, USA, Europe

Nothing to report in paperback. . .

New Steven Erikson contest!

Hi guys!

This one is for fans, collectors and newbies!;-)

The good people at Tor Books have accepted to hook up one very lucky winner with US hardcover editions of the Erikson's first four Malazan volumes! Yep, that's right! If you win, you'll be receiving Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice and House of Chains, and some might even be signed! Not sure about this at the moment, however. But that would make winning this prize even sweeter!:-)

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

Raymond E. Feist contest

Hey!

Well, Voyager Books (HarperCollins UK) have just given me the "go ahead" for another cool contest! Two lucky winners will thus get their hands on the UK hardback edition of Feist's newest Midkemia novel, Into a Dark Realm, as well as a paperback of the first volume of the trilogy, Flight of the Nighthawks. For more info about Into a Dark Realm: Canada, USA, Europe

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

THE BLOOD KNIGHT contest winner

Hi there,

The name of our winner has been drawn. That lucky person will now receive a hardcover copy of Greg Keyes' The Blood Knight. Many thanks to Del Rey Books for accepting to support yet another contest. Without them, contests like these would not be possible.

The winner is:

Sara General, from Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada

Stay tuned for more!:-)