This from Ruckley's website:

The name of our winner has been drawn, and the lucky bastard will get his hands on my review copy of Karen Traviss' Jacinto's Remnant. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Today is the official release date for the US edition of Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold (Canada, USA, Europe). And the folks at Orbit just posted this video interview with the author to help promote the novel.

Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Tor Books, I have three sets of David Weber's bestselling Safehold sequence up for grabs! The prize pack includes:

- Off Armageddon Reef (Canada, USA, Europe)

- By Schism Rent Asunder (Canada, USA, Europe)

- By Heresies Distressed (Canada, USA, Europe)

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "SAFEHOLD." 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 way most New Yorkers dress -- with all that's available, so many still look so dull.

Just received this email alert from Amazon Associates:

In hardcover:

Thanks to the cool folks at Orbit, our five lucky winners will receive a complimentary copy of Joe Abercrombie's excellent Best Served Cold. For more info about this title: (Canada, USA, Europe).

The winners are:

- Daniel Weed, from Bedford, Massachusetts, USA

- Troy J. Knutson, from Collierville, Tennessee, USA

Initially, the plan was for me to cover everything that had to do with the upcoming Worldcon, from the pre-production stages to the convention itself. But when they refused to grant me a press pass, well this initiative went down the crapper and stayed there.

Hence, I've been promoting Montréal, for I want everyone to make the most of their experience while in town, but not the con in particular. And yet, these taster memberships are such a good idea that I've decided to make an exception and post the content of this press release:

Heard about World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons) and thinkthey sound cool but not sure they’re worth the money? Then Tastermemberships are for you.

Here’s how it works. Whenever you show up, you go to the convention’sRegistration Desk. There you’ll pay for a Day Membership (75–95 CAD),depending on the day of the convention and whether you are buying anadult or a child membership). Your membership badge will betime-stamped. Then you may wander about the convention freely. See theExhibits, the Art Show, and the Dealers Room. Hear a speaker. Getautographs. Watch a film. Join a filk sing. Go see a program item ortwo (there will be hundreds over the course of the convention).

If Worldcon really isn’t for you, then just go back to Registrationduring posted open hours within three hours of your time-stamp andyou’ll receive all but $20 of your money back for an adult membershipand all but $10 of your money back for a child membership. But if youlike what you find and want to hang around the rest of the day andevening, then just stay for the rest of the day. Your badge will letyou stay and attend all open events until the next morning. If youwant to attend more days, just come back and buy another DayMembership or convert your Day to a Full Membership. It’s easy andsafe. And you’ll find out for yourself what all the fuss is about.(We’ve been going for years and there’s so much great stuff to do wecan’t imagine anyone wouldn’t want to stay but some people need to tryit for themselves to be sure.)

Taster Memberships paid by cash, traveler’s check, or credit card willbe refunded immediately. Memberships paid by check will be refunded bymail. We will not issue refunds after registration closes for the day.On days where registration is open until 20:00, no refunds are givenafter the close of that day’s Registration. We encourage you topurchase by 17:00 on those days, otherwise you will not have the full3 hours benefit of the taster membership. One Taster Membership perperson. We will accept US dollars as well as Canadian dollars atRegistration at the convention. Due to the volatility of the currencyexchange market, at the door rates in US dollars will only be set afew days before the convention.

The 67th World Science Fiction Convention, known as Anticipation, willtake place in Montréal, Québec, Canada from Thursday, August 6ththrough Monday, August 10th, 2009.

Nothing new, really. Every year, we hear more and more about the decline in the pertinence and the importance of the genre's most prestigious awards.

And yet, author Adam Roberts went at it with quite a lot of vigor this time around. . .

Roberts' post generated a rather vast number of comments and discussions. You can read his piece here.

And I saw on Westeros that John Scalzi responded here, and artist John Picacio did so here.

Make of all this what you will. . .

Our winner will get his hands on a full set of Mark Chadbourn's The Age of Misrule trilogy, compliments of me! The prize includes:

I recently contacted Betsy Wollheim to inquire about the progress of Patrick Rothfuss' The Wise Man's Fear (Canada, USA, Europe).

Joe Abercrombie's BEST SERVED COLD is a bloody and relentless epic of vengeance and obsession in the grand tradition, a kind of splatterpunk sword 'n sorcery COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, Dumas by way of Moorcock. His cast features tyrants and torturers, a pair of poisoners, a serial killer, a treacherous drunk, a red-handed warrior and a blood-soaked mercenary captain. And those are the good guys. Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, could teach even Gully Foyle and Kirth Gerson a few things about revenge. The battles are vivid and visceral, the action brutal, the pace headlong, and Abercrombie piles the betrayals, reversals, and plot twists one atop another to keep us guessing how it will all come out. This is his best book yet. All that's missing is a map.

The results from our last survey are in:

- In Conquest Born by C. S. Friedman (Canada, USA, Europe): 21%

- Prador Moon by Neal Asher (Canada, USA, Europe): 4%

- The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton (Canada, USA, Europe): 26%

- Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds (Canada, USA, Europe): 17%

- Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks (Canada, USA, Europe): 29%

Banks ended up victorious, but it was a very close race. So I guess I'll be reading Consider Phlebas in the near future. . .

Receiving hundreds of review copies every year means that there is no chance in hell I can read even a quarter of the books I get in my mailbox. I have a multitude of "books to read" piles, and some titles have been lying there for months, even years, awaiting my attention. Hence, this new poll will feature SFF books that have been lying around for quite some time, even though I've been meaning to read them at some point. Let's see which novel will take the cake!

The nominees are:

- King's Dragon by Kate Elliott, a Nebula Award nominee (Canada, USA, Europe)

Set in an alternate Europe, a world where bloody conflicts rage and sorcery holds sway, both human and other-than-human forces vie for supremacy. In this land, Alain, a young man seeking the destiny promised him by the Lady of Battles, and Liath, a young woman gifted with a power that can alter the course of history, are about the be swept up in a world-shaking conflict for the survival of humanity.

- Rules of Ascension by David B. Coe (Canada, USA, Europe)

For centuries the Forelands were disputed by several tribes. Then came the magically gifted Qirsi--physically no match for their foes, but capable of mindsight, creating and controlling mists and fire, and bending solid matter to their purpose. After a Qirsi traitor betrayed his race to save himself, the Qirsi were defeated and dispersed among the seven realms of the Forelands. Those specially endowed Qirsi capable of multiple powers, the Weavers, were all put to death.

For centuries the Forelands enjoyed relative peace. But when Tavis, the heir to the Kingdom of Curgh, is wrongfully blamed for the murder of a noble, the accusation sets in motion a series of events culminating in civil war. The ensuing chaos topples the throne in Eibithar and threatens to rain chaos on all the realms of the Forelands. Tavis, thrust into the center of deadly controversy and stripped of the protection of his family's nobility, turns to the Qirsi, his last remaining hope for redemption. But another Qirsi traitor, secretly fomenting fear and mistrust among the Dukedoms, seeks to destroy Tavis. Tavis must survive long enough to clear his name and save an entire kingdom. A powerful, compelling tale set in an unforgettable land, rules of Ascension will capture your heart and fire your imagination.

- The Briar King by Greg Keyes (Canada, USA, Europe)

In the kingdom of Crotheny, two young girls play in the tangled gardens of the sacred city of the dead. Fleeing an imaginary attacker, the girls-one of whom is the reckless young daughter of the king-discover the unknown crypt of the legendary, ancestral queen, Virgenya Dare.

In the wilds of the forest, while investigating the slaughter of an innocent family, king's holter Aspar White weaves his way through a maze of ancient willows-and comes face-to-face with a monstrous beast found only in folk tales and nightmares. Meanwhile, traveling the same road, a scholarly young priest begins an education in the nature of evil, found festering just beneath the surface of the seemingly peaceful land.

The royal family itself comes under siege, facing betrayal that only sorcery could accomplish. Now-for three beautiful sisters, for a young man made suddenly into a knight, and for a woman in love with a roguish adventurer-a rising darkness appears, shattering what was once certain, familiar, and good. These destinies and more will be linked when malevolent forces walk the land. For Crotheny, the most powerful nation in the world, is shaken at its core. And the Briar King, harbinger of death, has awakened from his slumber.

Imbuing his tale with richness, pathos, action, and passion, Greg Keyes begins an amazing new epic that takes fantasy fiction to a new level. At the heart of the story, Keyes has placed a remarkable young woman, Anne Dare, the youngest daughter of a royal family . . . and the one person upon whom the fate of this world may depend.

- Elric: The Stealer of Souls by Michael Moorcock (Canada, USA, Europe)

When Michael Moorcock began chronicling the adventures of the albino sorcerer Elric, last king of decadent Melniboné, and his sentient vampiric sword, Stormbringer, he set out to create a new kind of fantasy adventure, one that broke with tradition and reflected a more up-to-date sophistication of theme and style. The result was a bold and unique hero'"weak in body, subtle in mind, dependent on drugs for the vitality to sustain himself'"with great crimes behind him and a greater destiny ahead: a rock-and-roll antihero who would channel all the violent excesses of the sixties into one enduring archetype.

Now, with a major film in development, here is the first volume of a dazzling collection of stories containing the seminal appearances of Elric and lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist John Picacio'"plus essays, letters, maps, and other material. Adventures include 'The Dreaming City,' 'While the Gods Laugh,' 'Kings in Darkness,' 'Dead God's Homecoming,' 'Black Sword's Brothers,' and 'Sad Giant's Shield.'

- Rite: Short Work by Tad Williams (Canada, USA, Europe)

Though best known for his epic series, Tad Williams is also an accomplished practitioner of the short form. Rite: Short Work gives ample evidence of this, as it contains a knockout novella later expanded to novel length (”Child of an Ancient City”); riffs on the great fantasist Michael Moorcock (”The Author at the End of Time,” “Go Ask Elric”), along with excursions into some of his most popular creations and beyond. At over 140,000 words, Rite is essential for every Tad Williams fan and fantasy aficianado. Each tale features a full-page black-and-while illustration by Mark A. Nelson.

This lucky gal will get her hands on a copy of the anthology Strange Brew, edited by P. N. Elrod, courtesy of Yours Truly! The book 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.

In hardcover:

Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Angel's Game is down three spots, finishing its third week on the bestseller list at number 8. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Charlaine Harris' Dead and Gone is up one position, ending its ninth week on the charts at number 13.

Stephenie Meyer's The Host is down one spot, finishing the week at number 16.

Christie Golden's Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Omen debuts at number 18. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Skin Trade is down six positions, ending its fifth week on the prestigious list at number 24.

Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan's The Strain is down eight spots, finishing its fifth week on the NYT list at number 32. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In paperback:

Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is down one spot, finishing its 14th week on the bestseller list at number 7.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind is up two positions, ending the week at number 16. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Seven of Charlaine Harris' eight Sookie Stackhouse novels are on the paperback bestseller list, ranking from number 6 to number 21.