A MEMORY OF LIGHT discussion
Brandon Sanderson, Harriet McDougal, Tom Doherty, Jason Denzel, and Patrick Rothfuss discuss Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series.
Win a copy of SEASON OF WONDER, edited by Paula Guran
I have a copy of Season of Wonder up for grabs, compliments of the folks at Prime Books. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
Wonders abound with the winter holidays. Yuletide brings marvels and miracles both fantastic and futuristic. Christmas spirits can bring haunting holidays, seasonal songs might be sung by unearthly choirs, and magical celebrations are the norm during this very special time of the year. The best stories from many realms of fantasy and a multitude of future universes, gift-wrapped in one spectacular treasury of wintertime wonder.
Here's the table of contents:
Dana Cameron, “The Night Things Changed”
Orson Scott Card, “Wise Men”
Harlan Ellison, “Go Toward the Light”
Nina Kiriki Hoffman, “Home for Christmas”
Janet Kagan, “The Nutcracker Coup”
James Patrick Kelly, “The Best Christmas Ever”
Ellen Kushner, “Dulce Domum”
Charles de Lint, “Pal o’ Mine”
Robert Reed, “A Woman’s Best Friend”
M. Rickert, “The Christmas Witch”
Kristine Kathryn Rusch, “Loop”
Sarban, “A Christmas Story”
Ken Scholes, “If Dragon’s Mass Eve Be Cold and Clear”
James Stoddard, “Christmas at Hostage Canyon”
Evelyn Vaughn, “The Winter Solstice”
Connie Willis, “Newsletter”
Robert Charles Wilson, “Julian: A Christmas Story”
Gene Wolfe, “How the Bishop Sailed to Inniskeen”
According to Publishers Weekly: “This satisfying reprint anthology of winter-holiday-themed SF and fantasy avoids syrupy sweetness, instead evoking an older, bittersweet tradition of the cycle of death and rebirth.”
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "SEASON." 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!
Dreamsongs, Volume 2
When I read and reviewed Dreamsongs, Volume 1 (Canada, USA, Europe) way back in 2007, George R. R. Martin told me that the second volume was even better. Hard to believe, I thought. After all, as a compendium of GRRM's early work, the first installment was a veritable journey through the author's long and celebrated career. What I enjoyed the most, and it's the case in this second volume as well, was that each section begins with an extensive and insightful commentary that allows readers to learn so much about the stories behind the stories. As good as the material is, I often found Martin's commentary to be as fascinating as the tales themselves.
For all you GRRM fans out there, the collection of short fiction found within the pages of both Dreamsongs volumes is the perfect opportunity for you to get better acquainted with the material which allowed George R. R. Martin to win every possible speculative fiction award out there. And believe me when I tell you that at times it gets as good as A song of Ice and Fire. Indeed, in my opinion Dreamsongs, Volume 2 is second only to A Storm of Swords in terms of quality. So for all those clamoring for The Winds of Winter, if you need a GRRM fix, then look no further. Taken as a whole, the Dreamsongs books offer nearly 1500 pages' worth of GRRM awesomeness.
Martin never much liked labels. For him, it's about writing good stories. Maybe this approach is the reason why he somehow managed to work his magic regardless of the genre he's writing in. In Dreamsongs, Volume 2, GRRM comes across as a veritable master storyteller, be it in fantasy, science fiction, horror, urban fantasy, or whatever other label you'd like to attach to any of the tales found between the covers. Yes, it's that damn good!
Here's the blurb:
Dubbed “the American Tolkien” by Time magazine, #1 New York Times bestselling author George R.R. Martin is a giant in the field of fantasy literature and one of the most exciting storytellers of our time. Now he delivers a rare treat for readers: a compendium of his shorter works, all collected into two stunning volumes, that offer fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master.
Whether writing about werewolves, wizards, or outer space, George R.R. Martin is renowned for his versatility and expansive talent, highlighted in this dazzling collection. Included here, in Volume II, are acclaimed stories such as the World Fantasy Award-winner “The Skin Trade,” as well as the first novella in the Ice and Fire universe, “The Hedge Knight,” plus two never-before-published screenplays. Featuring extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume II; is an invaluable chronicle of a writer at the height of his creativity—and an unforgettable reading experience for fans old and new.
In the first section of this collection, "A Taste of Tuf," we are introduced to Haviland Tuf, an eccentric ecological engineer. Not the most endearing of fellows, but nevertheless a very interesting protagonist. Both "A Beast for Norn" and "Guardians" may not be as great as some of the other material that comprises this collection, yet they set the tone and demonstrate how multilayered GRRM's talent truly is. It will become much more evident later in the book, but you immediately realize that Martin is as comfortable writing science fiction stories as he is with fantasy. Having said that, "Guardians" offers a few unexpected surprises that were quite satisfying.
The "The Siren Song of Hollywood" section contains two scripts from two projects GRRM worked on; Twilight Zone and Doorways. When it was aired, The Roads Less Traveled was cut and edited in such a way that it never reflected what the original script was all about. Here we have the full script, so those who saw the show years ago can now discover how it was always meant to be. A pilot was filmed for Doorways, but ABC pulled the plug and production ceased afterward. Again, the full script is found here. Martin refers to Doorways as the great "what if" of his career and it's easy to understand why.
The "Doing the Wild Card Shuffle" section has to do with the Wild Cards project and how it came to be. Since nowadays GRRM edits but doesn't write in the Wild Cards universe, it's interesting to read some older material from him. "Shell Games" features the Great and Powerful Turtle and Dr. Tachyon, and is a good introduction to the Wild Cards universe. But "The Journal of Xavier Desmond" is a powerful tale of a man dealing with cancer and approaching death. To a certain extent, it's also a study of America's foreign policy around the world through the 70s and the 80s and the impact it had on this alternate history. This one contains a number of poignant and touching moments, and was one of my favorite reads.
"The Heart in Conflict" is the section that literally blew my mind, however. Basically every single story found within was incredible! "Under Siege" is about time travel and an attempt to prevent the creation of the USSR. In a nutshell, "The Skin Trade" is a werewolf tale. But it's so much more than that. Essentially, it might be the best thing GRRM has written as far as short fiction goes. It's scary and awesome, and I for one would love to read more about PI Randi Wade and Willie the werewolf collector agent. Hands down the best piece in this collection. "Unsound Variations is an interesting chess and time travel tale that was also surprising.
"The Glass Flower" explores GRRM's science fiction future history. It's got a weird vibe at times, but is also an engrossing read. Most people reading this review are already familiar with "The Hedge Knight," the first tale featuring the unlikely duo Dunk and Egg. If you're not, then know that there are a few more ASOIAF stories out there! The novelette "Portaits of His Children" caps off the collection with a bang. It's a disturbing story about the price paid by writers when they put their ideas on paper.
Fascinating and unforgettable, Dreamsongs, Volume 2 is an amazing collection of short fiction from a man who has become a master of essentially every single sub-genre of speculative fiction. This book deserves the highest possible recommendation. Looking for the best possible Christmas present for GRRM fans everywhere? These two volumes have to be it!
The final verdict: 9.5/10
For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe
Daniel Abraham's The Long Price Quartet is finally available in paperback
This from Abraham's website:
Well, today’s the day.
To those of you who’ve followed my long and storied career may remember that a few years back, I suffered something of a setback. My first series of books was a four book story called the Long Price Quartet. The sales were decent. I earned out my contract. And the reviews were great.
[. . .]
But one thing led to another led to nothing very good, and not only did Tor decide not to pick up The Dagger and the Coin series or the Expanse books, they also chose not to put the last book, The Price of Spring, out in paperback. And so, Price of Spring — the concluding book in a project that I spent a good solid half decade working on and of which I am really quite proud — has only been available in print as a difficult to track and expensive hardback. Until now.
Tor has re-released the series in two omnibus editions. The first, Shadow and Betrayal, came out earlier this year. The second, The Price of War, is out today. It is the first time that Price of Spring has been in paperback, and that the full quartet can be had in matching editions.
Here's the blurb for Shadow and Betrayal (Canada, USA, Europe):
A value-priced omnibus of the first two novels of Daniel Abraham’s classic Long Price Quartet—groundbreaking, unique fantasy of rare power and originality.
In this omnibus edition of A Shadow in Summer and A Betrayal in Winter, the aggressively expansionist Galt empire has already conquered lands across a huge continent. But the cities of the Khaiem resist Galt’s power with the andat—creatures of magic with godlike powers.
Each andat is brought into being by a “poet” who must say the right words and exert the iron will needed to control gods. The industrialized Galt war machine is helpless against the powers of the andat…but political intrigue and deep treachery combine to shift the balance of power in a world of ancient empires and immortal magics.
One man, Otah Machi, stands at the crossroads of history in these imaginary world fantasies, the fulcrum around which the wheels of epic history rotate through achingly poignant cycles of life and death, love and betrayal.
Shadow and Betrayal marks Daniel Abraham as one of today’s most brilliantly original young fantasy writers.
And here's the blurb for The Price of War (Canada, USA, Europe):
Otah Machi, caught between ancient wonders and a modern empire, has survived more than most men endure in two lifetimes. In Price of War, an omnibus collection of An Autumn War and The Price of Spring, magic and treacherous politics bring a bitter harvest of violence and tragedy to the world he must defend.
But when all is darkest and the world seems utterly lost, there is yet hope for the salvation of a future yet undiscovered. All depends on Otah, and those with the power to shape it, if they can find the courage to forgive their own trespasses and redeem their lost hopes.
This unforgettable fantasy epic series, the Long Price Quartet, marks Daniel Abraham as a unique voice and one of the most enthralling fantasy writers to emerge in recent years.
Cover art for the PS Publishing limited edition of Steven Erikson's FORGE OF DARKNESS
Hmmm, not sure about these two. . .
Follow this link for more information about this limited edition set.
Win a copy of Felix Gilman's THE RISE OF RANSOM CITY
I have a copy of Felix Gilman's The Rise of Ransom City up for grabs, courtesy of the folks at Tor Books. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
This is the story Harry Ransom. If you know his name it’s most likely as the inventor of the Ransom Process, a stroke of genius that changed the world.
Or you may have read about how he lost the battle of Jasper City, or won it, depending on where you stand in matters of politics.
Friends called him Hal or Harry, or by one of a half-dozen aliases, of which he had more than any honest man should. He often went by Professor Harry Ransom, and though he never had anything you might call a formal education, he definitely earned it.
If you’re reading this in the future, Ransom City must be a great and glittering metropolis by now, with a big bronze statue of Harry Ransom in a park somewhere. You might be standing on its sidewalk and not wonder in the least of how it grew to its current glory. Well, here is its story, full of adventure and intrigue. And it all starts with the day that old Harry Ransom crossed paths with Liv Alverhyusen and John Creedmoor, two fugitives running from the Line, amidst a war with no end.
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "RANSOM." 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!
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
Courtney Schafer's The Whitefire Crossing is available for 3.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Dev is a smuggler with the perfect cover. He's in high demand as a guide for the caravans that carry legitimate goods from the city of Ninavel into the country of Alathia. The route through the Whitefire Mountains is treacherous, and Dev is one of the few climbers who knows how to cross them safely. With his skill and connections, it's easy enough to slip contraband charms from Ninavel--where any magic is fair game, no matter how dark--into Alathia, where most magic is outlawed.
But smuggling a few charms is one thing; smuggling a person through the warded Alathian border is near suicidal. Having made a promise to a dying friend, Dev is forced to take on a singularly dangerous cargo: Kiran. A young apprentice on the run from one of the most powerful mages in Ninavel, Kiran is desperate enough to pay a fortune to sneak into a country where discovery means certain execution--and he'll do whatever it takes to prevent Dev from finding out the terrible truth behind his getaway.
Yet the young mage is not the only one harboring a deadly secret. Caught up in a web of subterfuge and dark magic, Dev and Kiran must find a way to trust each other--or face not only their own destruction, but that of the entire city of Ninavel.
Quote of the Day
- George R. R. Martin, The Glass Flower, taken from Dreamsongs, Volume 2 (Canada, USA, Europe)
Almost done with this collection and it is awesome! Some of GRRM's very best work, no question! =)
Cover art for Peter V. Brett's THE DAYLIGHT WAR
Peter V. Brett just unveiled the cover art for the forthcoming The Daylight War and it looks pretty good! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
With The Warded Man and The Desert Spear, Peter V. Brett surged to the front rank of contemporary fantasy, standing alongside giants in the field like George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and Terry Brooks. The Daylight War, the eagerly anticipated third volume in Brett’s internationally bestselling Demon Cycle, continues the epic tale of humanity’s last stand against an army of demons that rise each night to prey on mankind.
On the night of the new moon, the demons rise in force, seeking the deaths of two men both of whom have the potential to become the fabled Deliverer, the man prophesied to reunite the scattered remnants of humanity in a final push to destroy the demon corelings once and for all.
Arlen Bales was once an ordinary man, but now he has become something more—the Warded Man, tattooed with eldritch wards so powerful they make him a match for any demon. Arlen denies he is the Deliverer at every turn, but the more he tries to be one with the common folk, the more fervently they believe. Many would follow him, but Arlen’s path threatens to lead him to a dark place he alone can travel to, and from which there may be no returning.
The only one with hope of keeping Arlen in the world of men, or joining him in his descent into the world of demons, is Renna Tanner, a fierce young woman in danger of losing herself to the power of demon magic.
Ahmann Jardir has forged the warlike desert tribes of Krasia into a demon-killing army and proclaimed himself Shar’Dama Ka, the Deliverer. He carries ancient weapons—a spear and a crown—that give credence to his claim, and already vast swaths of the green lands bow to his control.
But Jardir did not come to power on his own. His rise was engineered by his First Wife, Inevera, a cunning and powerful priestess whose formidable demon bone magic gives her the ability to glimpse the future. Inevera’s motives and past are shrouded in mystery, and even Jardir does not entirely trust her.
Once Arlen and Jardir were as close as brothers. Now they are the bitterest of rivals. As humanity’s enemies rise, the only two men capable of defeating them are divided against each other by the most deadly demons of all—those lurking in the human heart.
Engraved on the Eye
Saladin Ahmed made quite a name for himself with his short fiction. After all, his stories have been nominated for prestigious genre awards. I was familiar with some of his work, but this collection allowed me to read all of his published short fiction to date and finally discover what the buzz was all about. Ahmed is a gifted author and one of speculative fiction's brightest new voices. Having read his fantasy debut, Throne of the Crescent Moon, I'm now convinced that, at least at this early stage of his career, Saladin Ahmed is much more talented when writing short fiction than novel-length projects.
Here's the blurb:
Stories to Captivate the Imagination: Welcome to the worlds of Saladin Ahmed.
A medieval physician asked to do the impossible. A gun slinging Muslim wizard in the old West. A disgruntled super villain pining for prison reform. A cybernetic soldier who might or might not be receiving messages from God. Prepare yourself to be transported to new and fantastical worlds.
The short stories in this collection have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards. They’ve been reprinted in The Year’s Best Fantasy and other anthologies, recorded for numerous podcasts, and translated into several foreign languages. Now they are collected in one place for the first time. Experience for yourself the original voice of one of fantasy’s rising stars!
"Where Virtue Lives" is a prequel to Ahmed's debut. It's a sword and sorcery adventure featuring Adoulla Makhslood and Raseed bas Raseed, two of the main protagonists from the book. It's basically a tale of how the two characters met.
"Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela" is a powerful short story about love and lengths some people are willing to go to find it and hold on to it. "Judgement of Swords and Souls" is another sword and sorcery offering featuring a clichéd bad-ass female character in the same vein as the first short story and Ahmed's Throne of the Crescent Moon. "Doctor Diablo Goes Through the Motions" is a quirky tale about the Society of Supercriminals' new master plan!
"General Akmed's Revenge" is an interesting take on a Muslim immigrant's difficulty to integrate American society. "Mister Hadj's Sunset Ride" is a dystopian Western story and one of the best stories in the collection. "The Faithful Soldier, Prompted" is a science fiction piece that stays with you once you're done reading it. Could well be my favorite of the bunch! "Iron Eyes and the Watered-Down World" is another sword and sorcery tale about a trio of adventurers who find a lot more than they ever envisioned when they finally catch a thief.
It's obvious that Saladin Ahmed loves the sword and sorcery subgenre. And yet, his most memorable short fiction, in my opinion at least, turns out to be tales in which he challenges himself and forces himself to go off the beaten path. The best pieces from this collection are often told in a much difference voice than that the author uses to write sword and sorcery. I'm really looking forward to more such tales from Ahmed in the future. And if his forthcoming short fiction lives up to the potential found in the digital pages of Engraved on the Eye, I foresee more nominations for genre awards for him.
The final verdict: 7.75/10
To download this collection for only 3.99$, follow this link.
Win an Advance Reading Copy of Myke Cole's SHADOW OPS: FORTRESS FRONTIER
Since I received an extra ARC of Myke Cole's Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier, I'm giving it away to one lucky winner! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe. It's the sequel to Shadow Ops: Control Point (Canada, USA, Europe).
Here's the blurb:
The Great Reawakening did not come quietly. Across the country and in every nation, people began to develop terrifying powers—summoning storms, raising the dead, and setting everything they touch ablaze. Overnight the rules changed... but not for everyone.
Colonel Alan Bookbinder is an army bureaucrat whose worst war wound is a paper-cut. But after he develops magical powers, he is torn from everything he knows and thrown onto the front-lines.
Drafted into the Supernatural Operations Corps in a new and dangerous world, Bookbinder finds himself in command of Forward Operating Base Frontier—cut off, surrounded by monsters, and on the brink of being overrun.
Now, he must find the will to lead the people of FOB Frontier out of hell, even if the one hope of salvation lies in teaming up with the man whose own magical powers put the base in such grave danger in the first place—Oscar Britton, public enemy number one...
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "FORTRESS." 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 (November 12th)
Karen Marie Moning’s Iced debuts at number 9.
Justin Cronin's The Twelve is down one spot, finishing the week at number 12. For more information about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons is up three spots, finishing the week at number 18. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
In paperback:
David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas is up one position, ending the week at number 4 (trade paperback).
Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus is up four spots, finishing the week at number 12 (trade paperback).
George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is up sixteen positions, ending the week at number 14.
Stephen King's 11/22/63 is up three positions, ending the week at number 25 (trade paperback).
George R. R. Martin's A Storm of Swords returns at number 27.
George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows returns at number 28.
James Luceno's Star Wars: Darth Plagueis debuts at number 29.
David Mack's Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations: The Persistence of Memory debuts at number 30.
Max Brooks' World War Z is up three spots, finishing the week at number 30 (trade paper back).
Mike Shepherd's Kris Longknife: Furious debuts at number 32.
George R. R. Martin's A Clash of Kings returns at number 34.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
Somehow, I missed this one when Orbit announced that a number of their titles would be available on the cheap. So you can now download Karen Miller's The Innocent Mage for 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
"The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything."
Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars?and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations.
Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic.
Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny.
Red Country
I must admit that I was immediately intrigued when, over a year ago, Joe Abercrombie revealed that his next work would be a fantasy Western. I mean, how could my curiosity not be piqued? So I have been looking forward to Red Country for quite a while. And interestingly enough, though there are a lot of mixed reviews regarding the novel, it made me want to read the book even more.
Like Best Served Cold a few years back, Red Country is an extremely gloomy tale filled with graphic and gratuitous violence. There are no good guys, no heroes to root for. Indeed, Red Country is Joe Abercrombie at his darkest, bloodiest, most snarky, and most cynical ever. It might also well be Joe Abercrombie at his best. Although it suffers from a few shortcomings, Red Country remains one of the top fantasy offerings of 2012.
Here's the blurb:
They burned her home.
They stole her brother and sister.
But vengeance is following.
Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she’ll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she’s not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb’s buried a bloody past of his own, and out in the lawless Far Country, the past never stays buried.
Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust. . .
As was the case with its predecessor, The Heroes, the worldbuilding doesn't intrude much on the storytelling in this one. And yet, even though we don't discover much about the Far Country and its past as part of the Old Empire, Abercrombie did a magnificent job describing the harsh realities of what appears to be a god-forsaken land beyond the boundaries of civilization. Not since Best Served Cold, in which the author's Mediterranean setting truly came alive and lept off the page, has Abercrombie created such an arresting imagery.
In addition, I loved how Abercrombie mixed fantasy elements with Western themes, thus creating something special yet familiar. I was concerned at first, for I doubted that this could be done without something being lost in the translation. But the author managed to incorporate Western motifs into his tale without it losing its fantasy "flavor." The Western influence is not just in terms of setting, far from it. Western themes such as the conquest of the great unknown, the clash between what is supposed to be civilized and uncivilized, greed, justice, etc, were interwoven into the various storylines, creating an even more layered work of fiction. I also liked how the budding first steps toward industrialization were introduced, which is something to look forward to in Abercrombie's upcoming trilogy.
Red Country features all the grit, the blood, the violence, and the wit that have become Joe Abercrombie's hallmarks. The novel's main problem is that it features a decidedly weaker cast of protagonists than what we have come to expect from the author. Even the return of a fan-favorite character cannot change the fact that the cast is subpar compared to Abercrombie's previous works. It might be due to the fact that Shy South and Temple are not always the most interesting or engaging of narrators. Perhaps the narrative would have benefited from additional POV characters? Hard to say. As I mentioned, the humor and the snark are always present. But for some reason, it doesn't always work the way it did in other novels. That being said, I chuckled every couple of pages or so, from start to finish.
The pace is also an issue. Shy and Lamb embark on what sometimes feels as though an interminable journey in search of her siblings. At times, the rhythm is crisp and the book is a page-turning affair. Yet ofttimes, Red Country slows down to a veritable crawl and you have to wonder if such and such chapters were just another excuse for another case of gratuitous bloodshed.
Red Country is another morally ambiguous work with many shades of gray. By daring to mix fantasy elements with Western themes, Abercrombie took a big chance. SFF readers are well-known for not always enjoying going out of their comfort zone and the author takes us to the Wild, Wild West of the fantasy genre. Whether or not fans like it as much as its predecessors, you have to respect Joe Abercrombie for writing exactly the sort of book he wanted to write and for succeeding in mixing two such disparate genres to create something original.
And though Red Country may not be as great as past Abercrombie novels, it is still a top fantasy read for 2012.
The final verdict: 8/10
For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey soundtrack
Hey guys!
The folks at empireonline.com have just unveiled Howard Shore's soundtrack for the movie. You can listen to the full score by following this link.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey soundtrack will be available in stores on December 10th. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Excerpt from Jim Butcher's COLD DAYS
Jim Butcher's posted a third excerpt from the forthcoming Cold Days on his website! For more information about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!!
After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard.
He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill.
Guess which Mab wants first?
Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.
Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…His soul.
Follow this link to read the extract.
George R. R. Martin contest winner!
- Dreamsongs, Volume 1 (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Dreamsongs, Volume II (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Windhaven (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Dying of the Light (Canada, USA, Europe)
- The Armageddon Rag (Canada, USA, Europe)
The winner is:
- Felipe Montoya, from Bogota, Colombia
Many thanks to all the participants! =)
Extract from James S. A. Corey's ABADDON'S GATE
Here's the blurb:
For generations, the solar system -- Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt -- was humanity's great frontier. Until now. The alien artifact working through its program under the clouds of Venus has appeared in Uranus's orbit, where it has built a massive gate that leads to a starless dark.
Jim Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are part of a vast flotilla of scientific and military ships going out to examine the artifact. But behind the scenes, a complex plot is unfolding, with the destruction of Holden at its core. As the emissaries of the human race try to find whether the gate is an opportunity or a threat, the greatest danger is the one they brought with them.
Follow this link to read the extract.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can download Martha Wells' The Element of Fire for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
The kingdom of Ile-Rein lies in peril, menaced by sorcerous threats and devious court intrigues. As the weak King Roland, flattered and misled by treacherous companions, rules the country, only his ruthless mother, the Dowager Queen Ravenna, guards the safety of the realm. But now rumors arise that Urbain Grandier, the dark master of scientific sorcery, has arrived to plot against the throne. And Kade, bastard sister of King Roland, appears unexpectedly at court. The illegitimate daughter of the old king and the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, Kade's true desires are cloaked in mystery. Is she in league with the wizard Grandier? Or is she laying claim to the throne?
It falls to Thomas Boniface, Captain of the Queen's Guard and Ravenna's former lover, to sort out who is friend, who is foe in a deadly game to keep the Dowager Queen and the kingdom she loves from harm. But is one man's steel enough to counter all the magic of fayre?
Originally published by Tor Books in hardcover in 1993.
You can also download Martha Wells' City of Bones for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Khat, a member of a humanoid race created by the Ancients to survive in the Waste, and Sagai, his human partner, are relic dealers working on the edge of society, trying to stay one step ahead of the Trade Inspectors and to support Sagai's family. When Khat is hired to find relics believed to be part of one of the Ancients' arcane engines, they are both reluctant to become involved. But the request comes from the Warders, powerful mages who serve Charisat's Elector. Khat soon discovers that the deadly politics of Charisat's upper tiers aren't the only danger. The relics the Warders want are the key to an Ancient magic of unknown power, and, as all the inhabitants of Charisat know, no one understands the Ancients' magic.
Originally published by Tor Books in hardcover in 1995.
Finally, you can download Martha Wells' stand-alone Wheel of the Infinite for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
With chaos in the wind, a woman with a shadowy past has returned to Duvalpore. A murderer and traitor--an exile disgraced, hated, and feared, and haunted by her own guilty conscience--Maskelle has been summoned back to help put the world right. Once she was the most enigmatic of the Voices, until cursed by her own actions. Now, in the company of Rian--a skilled and dangerously alluring swordsman--she must confront dread enemies old and new, and a cold, stalking malevolence unlike any she has ever encountered.
For if Maskelle cannot unearth the cause of the Wheel of the Infinite's accelerating disintegration--if she cannot free herself from the ghosts of the past and focus on the catastrophe to come--the world will plunge headlong into the terrifying abyss toward which it is recklessly hurtling. And all that is, ever was, and will be will end.
Originally published in hardcover by Avon Eos in 2000.
This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 5th)
Justin Cronin's The Twelve is down nine spots, finishing the week at number 11. For more information about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons is down four spots, finishing the week at number 21. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
In paperback:
David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas is down one position, ending the week at number 5 (trade paperback).
Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus is down two spots, finishing the week at number 16 (trade paperback).
Stephen King's 11/22/63 returns at number 28 (trade paperback).
George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is down twenty positions, ending the week at number 30.
Max Brooks' World War Z is down twenty-one spots, finishing the week at number 33 (trade paper back).
Cover art and blurb for Mark Lawrence's EMPEROR OF THORNS
Not surprisingly, they went for visual continuity for the cover of Mark Lawrence's Emperor of Thorns. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Looking forward to the conclusion of this series!
Here's the blurb:
To reach the throne requires that a man journey. Even a path paved with good intentions can lead to hell, and my intentions were never good.
The Hundred converge for Congression to politic upon the corpse of Empire, and while they talk the Dead King makes his move, and I make mine. The world is cracked, time has run through, leaving us clutching at the end days, the future so bright that those who see it are the first to burn. These are the days that have waited for us all our lives. These are my days. I will stand before the Hundred and they will listen. I will take the throne whoever seeks to thwart me, living or dead, and if I must be the last emperor then I will make of it such an ending.
This is where the wise man turns away. This is where the holy kneel and call on God. These are the last miles, my brothers. Don't look to me to save you. Don't think I will not spend you. Run if you have the wit. Pray if you have the soul. Stand your ground if courage is yours. But don't follow me.
Follow me, and I will break your heart.
UK cover art for Myke Cole SHADOW OPS: FORTRESS FRONTIER
Myke Cole just unveiled the UK cover art for the upcoming Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier (Canada, USA, Europe), sequel to what remains, in my opinion at least, the speculative fiction debut of 2012, Shadow Ops: Control Point (Canada, USA, Europe).
Here's the blurb:
The Great Reawakening did not come quietly. Across the country and in every nation, people began to develop terrifying powers—summoning storms, raising the dead, and setting everything they touch ablaze. Overnight the rules changed... but not for everyone.
Colonel Alan Bookbinder is an army bureaucrat whose worst war wound is a paper-cut. But after he develops magical powers, he is torn from everything he knows and thrown onto the front-lines.
Drafted into the Supernatural Operations Corps in a new and dangerous world, Bookbinder finds himself in command of Forward Operating Base Frontier—cut off, surrounded by monsters, and on the brink of being overrun.
Now, he must find the will to lead the people of FOB Frontier out of hell, even if the one hope of salvation lies in teaming up with the man whose own magical powers put the base in such grave danger in the first place—Oscar Britton, public enemy number one...
Quote of the Day
- MIKA S., a Suicide Girls model
When I saw this on Facebook, especially since it was coming from a girl, I knew I had to share it!! :P
Excerpt from Jim Butcher's COLD DAYS
Jim Butcher's posted a second excerpt from the forthcoming Cold Days on his website! For more information about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!!
After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard.
He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill.
Guess which Mab wants first?
Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.
Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…His soul.
Follow this link to read the extract.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Martha Wells' The Cloud Roads for only 1.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Moon has spent his life hiding what he is — a shape-shifter able to transform himself into a winged creature of flight. An orphan with only vague memories of his own kind, Moon tries to fit in among the tribes of his river valley, with mixed success. Just as Moon is once again cast out by his adopted tribe, he discovers a shape-shifter like himself... someone who seems to know exactly what he is, who promises that Moon will be welcomed into his community. What this stranger doesn't tell Moon is that his presence will tip the balance of power... that his extraordinary lineage is crucial to the colony's survival... and that his people face extinction at the hands of the dreaded Fell! Now Moon must overcome a lifetime of conditioning in order to save and himself... and his newfound kin.
And you can also download Tim Powers' Hide Me Among the Graves for only 0.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
London, winter of 1862, Adelaide McKee, a former prostitute, arrives on the doorstep of veterinarian John Crawford, a man she met once seven years earlier. Their brief meeting produced a child who, until now, had been presumed dead. McKee has learned that the girl lives—but that her life and soul are in mortal peril from a vampiric ghost. But this is no ordinary spirit; the bloodthirsty wraith is none other than John Polidori, the onetime physician to the mad, bad, and dangerous Romantic poet Lord Byron. Both McKee and Crawford have mysterious histories with creatures like Polidori, and their child is a prize the malevolent spirit covets dearly.
Polidori is also the late uncle and supernatural muse to the poet Christina Rossetti and her brother, the painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. When she was just fourteen years old, Christina unwittingly brought Polidori's curse upon her family. But the curse bestowed unexpected blessings as well, inspiring Christina's poetry and Gabriel's paintings. But when Polidori resurrects Dante's dead wife—turning her into a horrifying vampire—and threatens other family members, Christina and Dante agree that they must destroy their monstrous uncle and break the spell, even if it means the end of their creative powers.
Determined to save their daughter, McKee and Crawford join forces with the Rossettis, and soon these wildly mismatched allies are plunged into a supernatural London underworld whose existence goes beyond their wildest imaginings. Ultimately, each of these disparate individuals—the sensitive poet, the tortured painter, the straitlaced animal doctor, the reformed prostitute, and even their Artful Dodger–like young daughter—must choose between the banality and constraints of human life and the unholy immortality that Polidori offers.
Sweeping from the mansions of London's high society to its grimy slums, the elegant salons of the West End to the pre-Roman catacombs beneath St. Paul's Cathedral, Hide Me Among the Graves blends the historical and the supernatural in a dazzling, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride—a modern horror story with a Victorian twist.
The Cold Commands
You may recall that my less-than-stellar review of Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains had created quite a stir in the Blogosphere back in 2008. Especially my back-and-forth with editor Simon Spanton, which came to be known as the Hype Files.
Although I felt the book was good, given the expectations I had it turned out to be a disappointment. Even if it was an entertaining and action-packed read, sadly it was nowhere near as groundbreaking as advertised. Which probably explains why it took me such a long time to give the sequel, The Cold Commands, a shot.
I feel that Morgan relied too much on shock value in The Steel Remains. Instead of focusing on multilayered plotlines and his habitually superior storytelling skills, the author's main problem with his fantasy debut was that he went only for the grit, the nastiness, the explicit language, the "in your face" violence, the gore, the drugs, the sex, homosexuality, etc. Morgan now refers to The Steel Remains as "Previously on gay elf fucking," which shows that he has a wicked sense of humor. But the sad truth is that, when one took away all those "shock value" factors, The Steel Remains didn't have a whole lot to offer in terms of plot.
I'm glad to report that The Cold Commands is an improvement in terms of storylines. Indeed, there is a story moving forward and a number of aspects hinting at a bigger, more ambitious overall plot. Problem is, there is once again a lot of filler material in this book, and it creates a lot of pacing issues along the way.
Here's the blurb:
With The Steel Remains, award-winning science fiction writer Richard K. Morgan turned his talents to sword and sorcery. The result: a genre-busting masterwork hailed as a milestone in contemporary epic fantasy. Now Morgan continues the riveting saga of Ringil Eskiath—Gil, for short—a peerless warrior whose love for other men has made him an outcast and pariah.
Only a select few have earned the right to call Gil friend. One is Egar, the Dragonbane, a fierce Majak fighter who comes to respect a heart as savage and loyal as his own. Another is Archeth, the last remaining daughter of an otherworldly race called the Kiriath, who once used their advanced technology to save the world from the dark magic of the Aldrain—only to depart for reasons as mysterious as their arrival. Yet even Egar and Archeth have learned to fear the doom that clings to their friend like a grim shadow . . . or the curse of a bitter god.
Now one of the Kiriath’s uncanny machine intelligences has fallen from orbit—with a message that humanity faces a grave new danger (or, rather, an ancient one): a creature called the Illwrack Changeling, a boy raised to manhood in the ghostly between-world realm of the Grey Places, home to the Aldrain. A human raised as one of them—and, some say, the lover of one of their greatest warriors—until, in a time lost to legend, he was vanquished. Wrapped in sorcerous slumber, hidden away on an island that drifts between this world and the Grey Places, the Illwrack Changeling is stirring. And when he wakes, the Aldrain will rally to him and return in force—this time without the Kiriath to stop them.
An expedition is outfitted for the long and arduous sea journey to find the lost island of the Illwrack Changeling. Aboard are Gil, Egar, and Archeth: each fleeing from ghosts of the past, each seeking redemption in whatever lies ahead. But redemption doesn’t come cheap these days. Nor, for that matter, does survival. Not even for Ringil Eskiath. Or anyone—god or mortal—who would seek to use him as a pawn.
The worldbuilding within the pages of The Steel Remains were, to a large extent, quite barebone. Morgan doesn't play his cards as close to his chest in this second volume and we learn a lot more about his universe. These revelations provide more depth to a series that really needed some. I liked how the author used some science fiction elements such as aliens and artificial intelligences to give A Land Fit For Heroes its own distinct "flavor." We learn more about the mysterious Kiriath and their technology. Morgan also opens up a bit about the Gray Places, but most of their secrets remain undisclosed. The cover blurb can be deceiving, though, as the entire Illwrack Changeling plotline, which appears to be at the very heart of the tale, doesn't play much of a role until the very end and will only be explored at length in the forthcoming The Dark Defiles.
Like its predecessor, The Cold Command is another character-driven book and the various story arcs focus on the three main characters: Ringil Eskiath, homosexual hero of the infamous battle of Gallows Gap; Archeth, a kiriath half-breed abandoned by her brethren and now advisor to the Emperor of the Yhelteth Empire; Egar the Dragonbane, who fought for the Yhelteth Empire during the War against the Scaled Folk and was driven away by his own people. Although all three were more or less well-defined in The Steel Remains, by trying to make them too edgy and over-the-top Morgan sort of shot himself in the foot and the whole thing backfired. I felt that the author had created a cast of morally and sexually ambiguous characters, but had failed to inject enough life into their personalities and back stories to make them memorable. Character development is much more present in this sequel and we learn a lot more about all three protagonists. So much so, however, that all this sort of gets in the way of moving the plot forward and it breaks the rhythm of the novel, especially in the middle part of the book. There are constant inner monologues occurring inside every character's mind, which at times can get a little annoying. I may be wrong, but I don't remember there being as much of this in the first volume.
The pace is likely my biggest problem with The Cold Commands. The novel starts strong and is a page-turner for about a third of its length. Indeed, with a Kiriath A.I. falling from orbit with dire tidings that humanity faces a new menace, it sets the tone and keeps the plot moving forward. Trouble is, the middle part of the book sort of becomes a meandering, drifting ensemble of chapters whose only purpose seems to be to somehow bring the gang back together. As a result, the pace slows down to a crawl and the reader is often left wondering what the heck is going on. Especially the Ringil chapters, as he travels through the Gray Places. Fortunately, the book regains its lustre at the end, and it sets the stage for what should be a very interesting third installment.
It's no secret that epic fantasy became nastier and more violent in recent years. Dark and brooding epics have irrevocably altered the sub-genre, or so it seems. And yet, though it features its fair share of blood, violence, and sex, in The Cold Commands Morgan avoided the pitfall that made The Steel Remains offputting at times by creating a better balance between all that grit and the actual storytelling. Too bad the author seemed to lose his way for about a third of this work, for the beginning and the end were very good.
Although the first two installments suffered from a number of shortcomings, it appears that all the pieces are now in position to make The Dark Defiles the sort of fantasy offering Morgan fans have been awaiting since it was announced that the author would jump genre. I'm intrigued and I definitely want to discover what happens next!
The final verdict: 7.5/10
For more information about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
