The winner is:
- Maggie Crooks, from Petersburg, West Virginia
Many thanks to all the participants!
Stephen Leigh contest winner!
The winner is:
- Maggie Crooks, from Petersburg, West Virginia
Many thanks to all the participants!
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download In the Tall Grass, an ebook collaboration between Stephen King and Joe Hill, for only 3.79$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Mile 81 meets “N.” in this eBook collaboration between Stephen King and Joe Hill. As USA TODAY said of Stephen King’s Mile 81: “Park and scream. Could there be any better place to set a horror story than an abandoned rest stop?” In the Tall Grass begins with a sister and brother who pull off to the side of the road after hearing a young boy crying for help from beyond the tall grass. Within minutes they are disoriented, in deeper than seems possible, and they’ve lost one another. The boy’s cries are more and more desperate. What follows is a terrifying, entertaining, and masterfully told tale, as only Stephen King and Joe Hill can deliver.
Win a copy of Jasper Kent's THE PEOPLE'S WILL
I have three copies of Jasper Kent's The People's Will for you to win, compliments of the folks at Transworld. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
Part historical adventure, part vampire thriller — the fourth dark and dazzling novel in Jasper Kent's 'Danilov Quintet'.
Turkmenistan 1881: Beneath the citadel of Geok Tepe sits a prisoner. He hasn'’t moved from his chair for two years, hasn'’t felt the sun on his face in more than fifty, but he is thankful for that. The city is besieged by Russian troops and soon falls. But one Russian officer has his own reason to be here. Colonel Otrepyev marches into the underground gaol. But for the prisoner it does not mean freedom, simply a new gaoler; an old friend, now an enemy. They return to Russia to meet an older enemy still.
In Saint Petersburg, the great vampire Zmyeevich waits as he has always waited. He knows he will never wield power over Tsar Aleksandr II, but the tsarevich will be a different matter. When Otrepyev delivers the prisoner into his hands, Zmyeevich will have everything he needs. Then all that need happen is for the tsar to die.
But it is not only the Otrepyev and his captive who have returned from Geok Tepe. Another soldier has followed them, one who cares nothing for the fate of the tsar, nor for Zmyeevich, nor for Otrepyev. He has only one thing on his mind – revenge. And it'’s not just Zmyeevich who seeks the death of the tsar. Aleksandr’'s faltering steps towards liberty have only made the people hungry for more, and for some the final liberty will come only with the death of the dictator. They have tried and failed before, but the tsar’'s luck must desert him one day. Soon he will fall victim to a group that has vowed to bring the Romanov dynasty to a violent end — a group that calls itself The People’'s Will.
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "WILL." 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!
You can now download Joe Hill's Locke and Key: Vol. 1 Welcome to Lovecraft for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Acclaimed suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box) creates an all-new story of dark fantasy and wonder: Locke and Key. Written by Hill and featuring astounding artwork from Gabriel Rodriguez, Locke and Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them... and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all...
Sergei Lukyanenko contest winners!
These lucky winners will receive a complimentary copy of Sergei Lukyanenko's The New Watch, courtesy of the cool folks at William Heinemann! For more info about this title: Europe.
The winners are:
- Jakub Gasior, from Warsaw, Poland
- Lina Kaminskaitė, from Vilnius, Lithuania
- Janne Prusti, from Gothenburg, Sweden
- Murray Lane, from Formby, Merseyside, England
- Carla Ribeiro, from Sao Martinho de Mouros, Portugal
Many thanks to all the participants!
Ex-Patriots
Having enjoyed Peter Clines' Ex-Heroes (Canada, USA, Europe), I was curious to see what was going to happen next. So when I received a personalized copy of the sequel, Ex-Patriots, I wasted no time to find out if it would be another engaging read!
And I'm pleased to report that Ex-Patriots is even better than its predecessor! Clines raised the stakes and came up with another fun and entertaining read!
Here's the blurb:
Originally published by a small, print-on-demand press without any publicity or marketing support and almost no physical distribution, Peter Clines’s fantastic debut, Ex-Heroes, still managed to draw an incredible cult following and had genre fans all over the blogosphere raving when Broadway released the paperback in February. Now, Broadway is thrilled to introduce the second in Clines’s sci-fi, thriller, and horror fiction mashup series, Ex-Patriots (Broadway; on sale April 23, 2013; $14.00). Featuring the same cast of brilliant original superheroes (including Zzzap, able to transform into white-hot energy, power a small city, and transmit messages directly to phones and radio, among his other talents), expert thriller plotting, cinematic action scenes, and tons of fun geek and pop-culture references (and set in L.A., where a number of celebrities make rather humorous cameos as zombies), Ex-Patriots is one of those rare sequels that is even more gripping than the first and is sure to establish Clines as one to watch for by fans of such hits as Watchmen, World War Z, and Ready Player One.
In Ex-Patriots, it’s been two years since the plague of ex-humans decimated mankind. Since then, the superhero called St. George, together with fellow heroes Cerberus, Zzzap, and Stealth, have protected the people of Los Angeles at their film-studio-turned-fortress, the Mount. But the fight is getting harder every day—and the heroes are wondering how much longer they can hold out. Then hope arrives in the form of a surviving U.S. Army battalion, and not just any battalion. The men and women of the Army’s Project Krypton survived the outbreak because they are super-soldiers, created before mankind’s fall to be better, stronger, and faster than normal humans—and their secure base in Arizona beckons as a much-needed refuge for the beleaguered heroes and their charges. But there is a secret at the heart of Project Krypton, and those behind it wield an awesome and terrifying power.
With the same wry wit and light touch that bedazzled readers of Ex-Heroes, Ex-Patriots features great new characters, cool new threats, and jaw-dropping plot twists that will amaze even the most well-versed in the adventure genre.
One of the facets I particularly enjoyed about Ex-Heroes was how chapters were split into "Then" and "Now" installments. Peter Clines used the same structure in this sequel and once more it works extremely well. Not only does it allow readers to follow events occurring in "real time," but the "Then" chapters focus on the members of the military personel and the civilians who became a part of Project Krypton. I felt that the balance between the "Now" and "Then" chapters was even better in this one. Indeed, the transitions between the past and the present are more fluid and make it easier to streamline the storylines.
The setting consisting of a devastated city of Los Angeles continues to create an arresting imagery. And yet, to a certain extent, I felt that Clines has done pretty much all that can be done in that particular environment. Hence, I was happy to see most of the action move to the Project Krypton military base. And since only four heroes from the Mount make the trip to Arizona, a more limited number of protagonists allowed Peter Clines to write this book with a tighter focus.
As a POV character, once again St. George gets a bit more "air time" than the others. But it was fun to get inside the head of the friendly Zzzap. It was also interesting to see events unfold through the eyes of both Stealth and Danielle. On the military side, protagonists such as Captain Freedom, John Smith, and Doctor Sorensen added several layers to this tale.
As was the case with its predecessor, Ex-Patriots is a relatively short work that is paced to perfection. It's an action-packed page-turner from start to finish. There is a lot more here than meets the eye, and this sequel demonstrates that there is much more depth to this series than I first believed. Ex-Patriots may not be the kind of book that will be nominated for various genre awards. Yet it's definitely an entertaining work filled with engaging characters that should satisfy even jaded SFF readers ready to root for an unlikely bunch of superheroes trying to save their little corner of the world from being overrun by zombies.
In terms of feel, probably due to the strong military influence, this work was pretty similar to Myke Cole's Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier. If you are looking for perfect summer/vacation reads, Peter Clines' Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots will scratch that itch! Looking forward to reading the third volume, Ex-Communication.
The final verdict: 8/10
For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe
Win a copy of Deborah Harkness' SHADOW OF NIGHT
Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Penguin Books, I have a copy of Deborah Harkness' Shadow of Night for you to win! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.
Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.
Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "SHADOW." 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!
Stella Gemmell contest winners!
Our two winners will get their hands on a copy of Stella Gemmell's The City, compliments of the folks at Bantam Press. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
The winners are:
- Linda Akerman, from Korsholm, Finland
- Stig Edvartsen, from Lillehammer, Norway
Many thanks to all the participants!
Get your geek on in Paris!
Whether you're a geek in the closet or a genuine geek, if ever you find yourself in Paris you need to visit Le Dernier Bar Avant la Fin du Monde (The Last Bar Before the End of the World)! I was supposed to meet some SFF fans from the French website elbakin.net there, but I never heard back from them.
So with the rain pouring down this morning and with little to do with my time (having been in Paris 4 times now), I decided to take my book and have a café crème at Le Dernier Bar Avant la Fin du Monde. And this place is really awesome! In a nutshell, it's pretty much the ultimate place for geeks to hang out at!
The funky décor is straight out of comic books, SFF books/movies/tv series, mangas, etc. It's an eclectic mix of colors, artifacts and geekdom memorabilia. There, you can have a drink or munch on some food while reading a lot of material (books, graphic novels, mangas, etc), watch the SFF movies they air, or play one of the numerous games they have on site. They also have SFF-themed cocktails such as the Death Star, the Sith, and the Lannister.
I'll probably go back there at least once before flying to Barcelona! Do check it out if ever you come to the City of Light! You won't be disappointed! ;-)
Win a copy of Ian Cameron Esslemont's BLOOD AND BONE
I have three copies of Ian Cameron Esslemont's Blood and Bone up for grabs, courtesy of the folks at Tor Books. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
In the western sky the bright emerald banner of the Visitor descends like a portent of annihilation. On the continent of Jacuruku, the Thaumaturgs have mounted another expedition in a bid to tame the neighbouring wild jungle. Yet this is no normal wilderness. It is called Himatan, and it is said to be half of the spirit-realm and half of the earth. And it is said to be ruled by a powerful entity who some name the Queen of Witches and some a goddess: the ancient Ardata.
Saeng grew up knowing only the rule of the magus Thaumaturgs – but it was the voices from that land's forgotten past that she listened to. And when her rulers launch their invasion of this jungle, those voices send her and her brother on a desperate mission.
To the south, the desert tribes are united by the arrival of a foreign warleader, a veteran commander in battered ashen mail men call the Grey Ghost. This warrior leads these tribes on a raid unlike any other, deep into the heart of Thaumaturg lands.
While word comes to K'azz, and mercenary company the Crimson Guard, of a contract in Jacuruku. And their employer? Could it be the goddess herself...
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "BONE." 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!
Here's the blurb:
Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.
Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her...
So begins one of the greatest fantasy epics of our age—Glen Cook's Chronicles of the Black Company.
The Pat's Fantasy Hotlist World Tour hits the road again!
Hey guys!
I'm catching a Paris-bound flight in a few hours! I'll be chilling out in the City of Light for 5 days before going to Barcelona for another 5 days. After which, I'll be spending a little over 2 weeks traveling around the Ukraine, where I'll hit the major spots such as Kiev, Lviv, and Odessa. Might even go down to Moldova for a couple of days!
Next time you'll hear from me, I'll be in Paris! Don't be jealous, though, as the weather forecast is for dreary and rainy weather and cold temperatures for the duration of my stay. . . =(
Up to 55% Off Studio Ghibli Films on DVD and Blu-ray!!
Today only, May 17, 2013, save up to 55% on select Studio Ghibli favorites, including Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Spirited Away, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and more on DVD and Blu-ray in the Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day!
Follow this link to save a bundle on wonderful Studio Ghibli productions! =)
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Brandon Sanderson's The Emperor's Soul for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
A novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul showcases a fascinating magic system as the clock ticks down for a condemned criminal.
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos.
Shai is given an impossible task: to create—to Forge—a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal councillor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent.
Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape…
And you can still download Brandon Sanderson's excellent Legion for only 2.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Brandon Sanderson is one of the most significant fantasists to enter the field in a good many years. His ambitious, multi-volume epics (Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive) and his stellar continuation of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series have earned both critical acclaim and a substantial popular following. In Legion, a distinctly contemporary novella filled with suspense, humor, and an endless flow of invention, Sanderson reveals a startling new facet of his singular narrative talent.
Stephen Leeds, AKA “Legion,” is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his “aspects” are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society. The action ranges from the familiar environs of America to the ancient, divided city of Jerusalem. Along the way, Sanderson touches on a formidable assortment of complex questions: the nature of time, the mysteries of the human mind, the potential uses of technology, and the volatile connection between politics and faith. Resonant, intelligent, and thoroughly absorbing, Legion is a provocative entertainment from a writer of great originality and seemingly limitless gifts.
Up in the Aether contest winners!
From the organizers of Up in the Aether: The Steampunk Convention:
Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Heroes and Villains, Soldiers and Pirates! Welcome to Up In The Aether: The Steampunk Convention, Detroit's Newest Steampunk Convention!
Our inaugural flight launches over Memorial Day weekend (May 24th through 27th) at the DoubleTree Hotel in Dearborn, MI Featuring artists and musicians from across the land and sea, all for your entertainment pleasure! That's not all, we will also be showing you a collection of different vendors, panels and events to help you tone up your steampunk wardrobe, cooking, literature, and knowledge, for both families and adults. And we'll give you a party like it is 1875 with the biggest steampunk dance EVER!
This entire event is run by the community, for the community, and if you haven't guessed it yet, you ARE our community. So please come and join us in our newest voyage. Don't forget to pack your wings, Aether-Nauts! We'll see you sooner than you think!
The winners are:
- Leah Foley, from Clarkston, Michigan, USA
- Galena Ostipow, from Lansing, Michigan, USA
For more information about the convention and its activities, check out the Up in the Aether official website.
Extract from Brandon Sanderson's STEELHEART
The folks at avclub.com have an exclusive extract from Brandon Sanderson's upcoming Steelheart. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
There are no heroes.
Every single person who manifested powers—we call them Epics—turned out to be evil. Here, in the city once known as Chicago, an extraordinarily powerful Epic declared himself Emperor. Steelheart has the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, no explosion can burn him. He is invincible.
It has been ten years. We live our lives as best we can. Nobody fights back . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans who spend their lives studying powerful Epics, finding their weaknesses, then assassinating them.
My name is David Charleston. I’m not one of the Reckoners, but I intend to join them. I have something they need. Something precious, something incredible. Not an object, but an experience. I know his secret.
I’ve seen Steelheart bleed.
Follow this link to read the prologue.
Peter Clines contest winner!
Finished this one a few days ago and it was a very good read! =)
The winner is:
Wes Bird, from Richland, Washington, USA
Many thanks to all the participants!
Extract from Sergei Lukyanenko's THE LAST WATCH
An excerpt from Sergei Lukyanenko's The New Watch is now available online! For more info about this title: Europe.
Here's the blurb:
Walking the streets of our cities are the Others. These men and women are guardians of the Twilight, a shadowy parallel world that exists alongside our own. Each has sworn allegiance to one side, fighting for good, or for evil. But outside the battles that rage between Day and Night now comes a greater peril, one which threatens their very world...
At Moscow airport Senior Light Other Anton Gorodetsky overhears a child screaming about a plane crash. He discovers that the child is a prophet – a supernatural being whose predictions come true if they are heard by humans. When the catastrophe is averted, Gorodetsky senses a disruption in the natural order, one that is confirmed by the arrival of a dark and terrifying predator.
From the Night Watch headquarters Gorodetsky travels to London, to China and across Russia in search of clues, unearthing as he goes a series of increasingly cataclysmic prophecies. He soon realises that what is at stake is the Twilight itself – and that he alone has the power to save it.
Follow this link to read the extract!
The Flames of Shadam Khoreh
Bradley P. Beaulieu's The Flames of Shadam Khoreh is the final installement in The Lays of Anuskaya series. And since its predecessor, The Winds of Khalakovo and The Straits of Galahesh, both ended up in my Top 10 books of the year in both 2011 and 2012, I was really looking forward to see how the author would cap it all off at the end.
Understandably, my expections were quite high. And after showing so much potential in the first two volumes and how ambitious The Lays of Anuskaya has been from the beginning, I was wondering if Beaulieu could close the show with style and aplomb. And for the most part, the author does! Though The Flames of Shadam Khoreh is far from perfect, it brings the series to a thoroughly satisfying end! Indeed, The Lays of Anuskaya is one of the most interesting fantasy series I've read in the last decade.
Here's the blurb:
Nearly two years after the harrowing events of The Straits of Galahesh, Atiana and Nikandr continue their long search for Nasim. The clues they find lead them to the desert wastes of the Gaji, where the fabled valley of Shadam Khoreh lies.
But all is not well. War has moved from the islands to the mainland, and the Grand Duchy knows its time may be limited if Yrstanla rallies its forces. Worse, the wasting disease and the rifts grow ever wider, threatening places that once thought themselves safe. The Dukes believe that their only hope may be to treat with the Haelish warriors to the west of Yrstanla, but Nikandr knows that the key is to find Nasim and a lost artifact known as the Atalayina.
Will Nikandr succeed and close the rifts once and for all? The answer lies deep within the Flames of Shadam Khoreh.
From Bradley P. Beaulieu, author of the critically acclaimed debut novel, The Winds of Khalakovo, comes the concluding volume in the Lays of Anuskaya trilogy, The Flames of Shadam Khoreh.
Once again, I found the worldbuilding to be awesome. The Russian and/or Eastern European style and tone gives this series its distinctive vibe and flavor. In the second volume, Beaulieu elaborated on revelations regarding the Al-Aqim, the rifts, the peace-loving Aramahn, the violent sect of the Maharraht, the mysterious Matri, and the entire magic system. In this final installment, we learn more about the sundering and the Al-Aqim, the Motherland and the Haelish tribes to the West, the Kohori, and so much more. I loved how the author was able to shine some light on events from the first two installments and bring everything together for an exciting grand finale. This series truly resounds with depth.
I've always said that in terms of style, Bradley P. Beaulieu's was some sort of hybrid between Steven Erikson and L. E. Modesitt, Jr. But he also has a deft human touch that often reminded me of Robin Hobb. In addition, in The Flames of Shadam Khoreh, with its darker and brooding narrative, there was a definite Stephen R. Donaldson influence that made the Covenant books come to mind quite often. À la Erikson, Beaulieu seems to enjoy throwing his readers into the heart of the tale without offering much in the way of information. In the past, this often resulted in an occasional lack of clarity that left many readers wondering what the heck was going on. The good thing about this being the final volume in the trilogy is that we finally get all the answers we've been looking for.
As mentioned in my past reviews, in terms of characterization and magical system, Beaulieu's approach is very similar to that of L. E. Modesitt, jr. His cast of characters may not be the most flamboyant group of men and women. Still, they are solid, genuine, and three-dimensional protagonists that remain true to themselves. The same thing goes for the magic, which is consistent and must follow strict rules that make sense. The Flames of Shadam Khoreh features four disparate POV characters which allow us to witness what events are unfolding in various parts of the world until Beaulieu brings all the storylines together at the end. Those POV characters are Nikandr Khalakovo, Atiana Vostroma, Nasim, and Styophan Andrashayev, a soldier from the Grand Duchy sent West to set up an alliance with the Haelish tribes. I felt that there was a good balance between the different POVs. Personally, I did prefer Nasim and Atiana's points of view, for they were more mysterious and mystical than the others. And yet, Styophan's chapters bring a new dimension to the tale, one that I found quite refreshing.
In terms of rhythm, this third volume is extremely slow-moving. No one ever called The Winds of Khalakovo and The Straits of Galahesh fast-paced affairs. However, they are indeed fast-paced compared to the snail's pace that characterize The Flames of Shadam Khoreh. It's never dull, mind you, and a lot must take place before the plotlines can be brought back together for the finale. But it does take a long time for the story to truly pick up, and I have a feeling that some readers will find that off-putting. In the first two volumes, one could see that the author was laying a lot of groundwork for what would follow, and the pace was rarely an issue, even if it wasn't as fluid as it could have been. Not so with this final installment, though. Having said that, everything does get moving in the last hundred pages or so, as Beaulieu ties up all the loose ends and brings all the plotlines together for the sort of great finale that no one ever saw coming!
All in all, The Lays of Anuskaya series is dark, ambitious, complex, and populated with a great cast of characters that leap off the pages. If you are looking for a quality read that's different from everything else on the market today, this series is definitely for you. The Flames of Shadam Khoreh will be released on June 5th and you can stay abreast of all the information regarding the novel here.
The final verdict: 8/10
And don't forget that you can still download the first volume, the excellent The Winds of Khalakovo, for only 2.99$ here. And the second installment, The Straits of Galahesh, is also available for 4.99$ here.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
You can now download Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen for only 3.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
This Hugo Award-winning graphic novel chronicles the fall from grace of a group of super-heroes plagued by all-too-human failings. Along the way, the concept of the super-hero is dissected as the heroes are stalked by an unknown assassin.
One of the most influential graphic novels of all time and a perennial bestseller, WATCHMEN has been studied on college campuses across the nation and is considered a gateway title, leading readers to other graphic novels such as V FOR VENDETTA, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and THE SANDMAN series.
Win a copy of Daniel Abraham's THE TYRANT'S LAW
Here's the blurb:
The great war cannot be stopped.
The tyrant Geder Palliako begins a conquest aimed at bringing peace to the world, though his resources are stretched too thin. When things go poorly, he finds a convenient target among the thirteen races and sparks a genocide.
Clara Kalliam, freed by having fallen from grace, remakes herself as a ''loyal traitor'' and starts building an underground resistance movement that seeks to undermine Geder through those closest to him.
Cithrin bel Sarcour is apprenticing in a city that's taken over by Antea, and uses her status as Geder's one-time lover to cover up an underground railroad smuggling refugees to safety.
And Marcus Wester and Master Kit race against time and Geder Palliako's men in an attempt to awaken a force that could change the fate of the world.
Follow this link to read an extract from the book.
And dont's forget that you can download a combo of The Dragon's Path and Leviathan Wakes for only 2.99$ here!
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "TYRANT." 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!
Excerpt from L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s THE ONE-EYED MAN
Tor.com features an extract from L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s forthcoming The One-Eyed Man today.
Here's the blurb:
The colony world of Stittara is no ordinary planet. For the interstellar Unity of the Ceylesian Arm, Stittara is the primary source of anagathics: drugs that have more than doubled the human life span. But the ecological balance that makes anagathics possible on Stittara is fragile, and the Unity government has a vital interest in making sure the flow of longevity drugs remains uninterrupted, even if it means uprooting the human settlements.
Offered the job of assessing the ecological impact of the human presence on Stittara, freelance consultant Dr. Paulo Verano jumps at the chance to escape the ruin of his personal life. He gets far more than he bargained for: Stittara’s atmosphere is populated with skytubes—gigantic, mysterious airborne organisms that drift like clouds above the surface of the planet. Their exact nature has eluded humanity for centuries, but Verano believes his conclusions about Stittara may hinge on understanding the skytubes’ role in the planet’s ecology—if he survives the hurricane winds, distrustful settlers, and secret agendas that impede his investigation at every turn.
Follow this link to read the extract.
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
There are six Science Fiction Megapacks available for only 0.99$ each!
- The First Science Fiction Megapack
Here's the blurb:
Hours of great reading await, with tales from some of the 20th century's most renowned science fiction authors, Here are 25 science fiction stories (plus a bonus short-short):
UNKNOWN THINGS, by Reginald Bretnor
CAPTIVES OF THE FLAME, by Samuel R. Delany
EXPEDITER, by Mack Reynolds
ONE-SHOT, by James Blish
SHIPWRECK IN THE SKY, by Eando Binder
ZEN, by Jerome Bixby
LANCELOT BIGGS COOKS A PIRATE, by Nelson Bond
SENTIMENT, INC., by Poul Anderson
THE ISSAHAR ARTIFACTS, by J. F. Bone
THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP, by Ben Bova
YEAR OF THE BIG THAW, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
EARTHMEN BEARING GIFTS, by Fredric Brown
HAPPY ENDING, by Fredric Brown and Mack Reynolds
LIGHTER THAN YOU THINK, by Nelson Bond
RIYA'S FOUNDLING, by Algis Budrys
ACCIDENTAL DEATH, by Peter Baily
AND ALL THE EARTH A GRAVE, by C. C. MacApp
DEAD RINGER, by Lester del Rey
THE CRYSTAL CRYPT, by Philip K. Dick
THE JUPITER WEAPON, by Charles L. Fontenay
THE MAN WHO HATED MARS, by Randall Garrett
NAVY DAY, by Harry Harrison
THE JUDAS VALLEY, by Robert Silverberg & Randall Garrett
NATIVE SON, by T. D. Hamm
JUBILEE, by Richard A. Lupoff
FINAL CALL, by John Gregory Betancourt
- The Second Science Fiction Megapack
Here's the blurb:
Hours of great reading await, with tales from some of the 20th century's most renowned science fiction authors, Here are 25 science fiction stories:
WHAT’S HE DOING IN THERE? by Fritz Leiber
THE MARCHING MORONS, by C.M. Kornbluth
GHOST, by Darrell Schweitzer
DEATH WISH, by Robert Sheckley
THE WAVERIES, by Fredric Brown
ADAM AND NO EVE, by Alfred Bester
FOXY LADY, by Lawrence Watt-Evans
THIN EDGE, by Randall Garrett
COMPANDROID, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
POSTMARK GANYMEDE, by Robert Silverberg
KEEP OUT, by Fredric Brown
THE HATE DISEASE, by Murray Leinster
UNIVERSAL DONOR, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
THE GREEN BERET, by Tom Purdom
MR. SPACESHIP, by Philip K. Dick
BRKNK'S BOUNTY, by Jerry Sohl
THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG SCIENCE, by Pamela Rentz
THE EGO MACHINE, by Henry Kuttner
THE MAN FROM TIME, by Frank Belknap Long
THE SENSITIVE MAN, by Poul Anderson
REVOLUTION, by Mack Reynolds
THE THING IN THE ATTIC, by James Blish
KNOTWORK, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
THE DUELING MACHINE, by Ben Bova and Myron R. Lewis
THE PLANET SAVERS, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
- The Third Science Fiction Megapack
Here's the blurb:
The third volume in the Science Fiction Megapack series collection 26 tales of high adventure through other worlds and times, including a complete novel by H. Beam Piper! Included in this volume are:
“The Man Who Made Friends with Electricity,” by Fritz Leiber
“Time Bum,” by C.M. Kornbluth
“The Human Equations,” by Dave Creek
“The Gun,” by Philip K. Dick
“Not Stupid Enough,” by George H. Scithers
“Jackpot,” by E.C. Tubb
“The Killing Streets,” by Colin Harvey
“Moon Dive,” by Sydney J. Bounds
“Charon’s Curse,” by John Glasby
“The Hunted Heroes,” by Robert Silverberg
“Night of the Squealers,” by Michael McCarty and Mark McLaughlin
“Chaos,” by John Russell Fearn
“And Happiness Everlasting,” by Gerald Warfield
“The 7th Order,” by Jerry Sohl
“Monkey on his Back,” by Charles V. De Vet
“The Calm Man,” by Frank Belknap Long
“Alien Still Life,” by John Gregory Betancourt
“A Question of Courage,” by J. F. Bone
“Angels and Moths” by Costi Gurgu
“Second Landing,” by Murray Leinster
“The Einstein-Rosen Hunter-Gatherer Society,” by George S. Walker
“Wind,” by Charles L. Fontenay
“Star Mother,” by Robert F. Young
“The Sky Is Falling,” by Lester Del Rey
- The Fourth Science Fiction Megapack
Here's the blurb:
The Fourth Science Fiction Megapack selects 25 more modern and classic science fiction stories, by talented authors new and old. Authors in this volume include: Mary A. Turzillo, E.C. Tubb, Murray Leinster, Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Jason Andrew, Henry Kuttner, Cynthia Ward, George H. Scithers and John Gregory Betancourt, Milton Lesser, John Russell Fearn, Harry Harrison, Isaac Asimov, Ayn Rand, and many more.
Complete contents
"Zora and the Land Ethic Nomads," by Mary A. Turzillo
"Food for Friendship," by E.C. Tubb
"The Life Work of Professor Muntz," by Murray Leinster
"Beyond Lies the Wub," by Philip K. Dick
"Pictures Don’t Lie," by Katherine MacLean
"The Big Trip Up Yonder," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
"Storm Warning," by Donald A. Wollheim
"The Application of Discipline," by Jason Andrew
"Tom the Universe," by Larry Hodges
"Wild Seed," by Carmelo Rafala
"Tabula Rasa," by Ray Cluley
"The Eyes of Thar," by Henry Kuttner
"Regenesis," by Cynthia Ward
"Not Omnipotent Enough," by George H. Scithers and John Gregory Betancourt
"Plato’s Bastards," by James C. Stewart
"Pen Pal," by Milton Lesser
"Living Under the Conditions," by James K. Moran
"The Arbiter," by John Russell Fearn
"The Grandmother-Granddaughter Conspiracy," by Marissa Lingen
"Top Secret," by David Grinnell
"Living Under the Conditions," by James K. Moran
"Sense of Obligation," by Harry Harrison
"Angel's Egg," by Edgar Pangborn
"Youth," by Isaac Asimov
"Anthem," by Ayn Rand
- The Fifth Science Fiction Megapack
Here's the blurb:
The fifth volume in the Science Fiction Megapack series collects 25 tales of high adventure through other worlds and times, including 5 Hugo and Nebula Award-winners and nominees. Featured this time are:
AGAPE AMONG THE ROBOTS, by Allen Steele
THE STARSHIP MECHANIC, by Jay Lake and Ken Scholes
PEACEMAKER, by Gardner Dozois
OR ALL THE SEAS WITH OYSTERS, by Avram Davidson
GRANDMA, by Carol Emshwiller
THE GIFT BEARER, by Charles L. Fontenay
I, ROBOT, by Cory Doctorow
ALL RIGHTS, by Pamela Sargent
THE EICHMANN VARIATIONS, by George Zebrowski
MAY BE SOME TIME, by Brenda W. Clough
CYBERPUNK, by Bruce Bethke
MILLENNIUM, by Everett B. Cole
JOIN OUR GANG? by Sterling E. Lanier
GREYLORN, by Keith Laumer
JUMPING THE LINE, by Grania Davis
HE’S ONLY HUMAN, by Lawrence Watt-Evans
THE WASONICA CORRECTION, by James C. Stewart
CIRCUS, by Alan E. Nourse
THE HATED, by Frederik Pohl
CODE THREE, by Rick Raphael
COST OF LIVING, by Robert Sheckley
THIS IS KLON CALLING, by Walter J. Sheldon
THE BIG BOUNCE, by Walter S. Tevis
THE RISK PROFESSION, by Donald E. Westlake
THE FIRE EGGS, by Darrell Schweitzer
- The Sixth Science Fiction Megapack
Here's the blurb:
"The Sixth Science Fiction Megapack" presents 25 more mind-bending excursions through time and space, with great stories by such authors as Arthur C. Clarke, Nancy Kress, Lawrence Watt-Evans, George Zebrowski, Philip K. Dick, and many more! Included are:
OUT OF ALL THEM BRIGHT STARS, by Nancy Kress
THE HANGING STRANGER, by Philip K. Dick
WALKING JOHN AND BIRD, by Neal Asher
THE SYMPHONIC ABDUCTION, by Hannes Bok
THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD, by Arthur C. Clarke
HILLARY ORBITS VENUS, by Pamela Sargent
MAYBE JUST A LITTLE ONE, by Reginald Bretnor
THE ULTROOM ERROR, by Jerry Sohl
REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS TO COME, by Lawrence Watt-Evans
THE ASTRONAUT FROM WYOMING, by Adam-Troy Castro & Jerry Oltion
PRIDE, by Mary A. Turzillo
CAT AND MOUSE, by Ralph Williams
THE RECORD, by Forrest J Ackerman and Ray Bradbury
THE NEW REALITY, by Reginald Bretnor
WHAT HATH ME? by Henry Kuttner
BRIDGE OF SILENCE, by George Zebrowski
SUN’S UP, by A.A. Jackson IV and Howard Waldrop
CONSIGNMENT, by Alan E. Nourse
THE SYNDIC, by C.M. Kornbluth
AFTER BONESTELL, by Jay Lake
THE JEWELS OF APTOR, by Samuel R. Delany
THE MISSISSIPPI SAUCER, by Frank Belknap Long
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, by Murray F. Yaco
CANCER WORLD, by Harry Warner, Jr.
EGOCENTRIC ORBIT, by John Cory
Win a copy of L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s ANTIAGON FIRE
Thanks to the folks at Tor Books, I have three copies of L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s Antiagon Fire for you to win! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Here's the blurb:
The hard-won battles fought in Imager's Battalion have earned Quaeryt a promotion to commander, as well as an assignment to convince the Pharsi High Council in the nation of Khel to submit to Lord Bhayar's rule, which is key to Bhayar's ambition to unite all of Solidar. Joined by his pregnant wife Vaelora, who is also Bhayar's sister, Quaeryt leads an army and a handful of imagers deeper into the hostile lands once held by the tyrannical Rex Kharst, facing stiff-necked High Holders, attacks by land and sea—including airborne fire launched by hostile imagers from the land of Antiago—and a mysterious order of powerful women who seem to recognize the great destiny that awaits Quareyt and Vaelora, as well as the cost of achieving it.
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "FIRE." 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!
Jack Campbell contest winners!
Our winners will get their hands on copies of Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Guardian, compliments of the folks at Ace! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
The winners are:
- Will Bryan, from Leary, Georgia, USA
- Bonny Graham, from Champaign, Illinois, USA
- Leland Hulbert, from Gloversville, New York, USA
- Brett Jamen, from Lewisville, Texas, USA
- Paul Levers, from Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA
Many thanks to all the participants!
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
For this weekend only, all three Clarkesworld anthologies are available on the cheap! Indeed, you can download them in digital format for only 2.99$ each!
- Clarkesworld: Year Three
Here's the blurb:
Selected from the Hugo award-winning Clarkesworld Magazine, this anthology collects the work of twenty-seven visionary writers of short fiction, including such World Fantasy, Philip K. Dick, Tiptree, Hugo, and Campbell Award winners and finalists as Jay Lake, Nnedi Okorafor, Robert Reed, Sarah Monette, Mike Resnick, Lavie Tidhar, N.K. Jemisin and Catherynne M. Valente.
- Realms 2: The Second Year of Clarkesworld Magazine
Here's the blurb:
Selected from the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-nominated Clarkesworld Magazine, Realms 2 collects the work of twenty-four visionary writers of short fiction, including such World Fantasy, Philip K. Dick, Tiptree, Hugo and Campbell Award winners and finalists as Jeffrey Ford, Mary Robinette Kowal, Jay Lake, Cat Rambo, Tim Pratt, and Catherynne M. Valente — and amazing stories from up-and-comers like, Paul Jessup, Yoon Ha Lee, Margaret Ronald and many more!
- Realms: The First Year of Clarkesworld Magazine
Here's the blurb:
Step into a world of wonder, epiphany and danger. From the return of old gods to the adventures of the last dragon on Earth, from quantum physics to manticores trained for the circus, this unique anthology takes readers on journeys to realms both distant and oddly familiar. Selected from the critically-acclaimed online magazine Clarkesworld, Realms collects the work of twenty-four visionary writers of short fiction.
Excerpt from Bradley P. Beaulieu's THE FLAMES OF SHADAM KHOREH
Bradley P. Beaulieu will soon release The Flames of Shadam Khoreh, final installement in The Lays of Anuskaya series. To whet his fans' appetite, the author just made the first five chapters available on his website!
And don't forget that you can still download the first volume, the excellent The Winds of Khalakovo, for only 2.99$ here. And the second installment, The Straits of Galahesh, is also available for 4.99$ here.
Here's the blurb:
Nearly two years after the harrowing events of The Straits of Galahesh, Atiana and Nikandr continue their long search for Nasim. The clues they find lead them to the desert wastes of the Gaji, where the fabled valley of Shadam Khoreh lies.
But all is not well. War has moved from the islands to the mainland, and the Grand Duchy knows its time may be limited if Yrstanla rallies its forces. Worse, the wasting disease and the rifts grow ever wider, threatening places that once thought themselves safe. The Dukes believe that their only hope may be to treat with the Haelish warriors to the west of Yrstanla, but Nikandr knows that the key is to find Nasim and a lost artifact known as the Atalayina.
Will Nikandr succeed and close the rifts once and for all? The answer lies deep within the Flames of Shadam Khoreh.
From Bradley P. Beaulieu, author of the critically acclaimed debut novel, The Winds of Khalakovo, comes the concluding volume in the Lays of Anuskaya trilogy, The Flames of Shadam Khoreh.
Follow this link to read the sample chapters.
This week's New York Times Bestsellers (May 6th)
George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons is down two spots, finishing the week at number 14. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's A Memory of Light is down four positions, ending the week at number 24. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
In paperback:
Max Brooks' World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War maintains its position at number 2 (trade paperback).
George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is up two positions, ending the week at number 2.
George R. R. Martin's A Clash of Kings is up three spots, finishing the week at number 11.
George R. R. Martin's A Storm of Swords is up one position, ending the week at number 12.
Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is down two positions, ending the week at number 13.
George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows is up six positions, ending the week at number 14.
Charlaine Harris' Deadlocked is up six spots, finishing the week at number 15.
Stephenie Meyer's The Host maintains its position at number 22.
George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is up two positions, ending the week at number 29 (trade paperback).
Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole returns at number 32.
Hugh Howey's Wool is down four positions, ending the week at number 34 (trade paperback).
More inexpensive ebook goodies!
Here's the blurb:
Adapted for a magnificent George Roy Hill film three years later (perhaps the only film adaptation of a masterpiece which exceeds its source), Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) is the now famous parable of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran and POW, who has in the later stage of his life become ""unstuck in time"" and who experiences at will (or unwillingly) all known events of his chronology out of order and sometimes simultaneously.
Traumatized by the bombing of Dresden at the time he had been imprisoned, Pilgrim drifts through all events and history, sometimes deeply implicated, sometimes a witness. He is surrounded by Vonnegut's usual large cast of continuing characters (notably here the hack science fiction writer Kilgore Trout and the alien Tralmafadorians who oversee his life and remind him constantly that there is no causation, no order, no motive to existence).
The ""unstuck"" nature of Pilgrim's experience may constitute an early novelistic use of what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; then again, Pilgrim's aliens may be as ""real"" as Dresden is real to him. Struggling to find some purpose, order or meaning to his existence and humanity's, Pilgrim meets the beauteous and mysterious Montana Wildhack (certainly the author's best character name), has a child with her and drifts on some supernal plane, finally, in which Kilgore Trout, the Tralmafadorians, Montana Wildhack and the ruins of Dresden do not merge but rather disperse through all planes of existence.
Slaughterhouse-Five was hugely successful, brought Vonnegut an enormous audience, was a finalist for the National Book Award and a bestseller and remains four decades later as timeless and shattering a war fiction as Catch-22, with which it stands as the two signal novels of their riotous and furious decade.
Guest Blog: Shawn Speakman
When I heard that Shawn Speakman was compiling and editing an anthology to help raise funds to pay for the medical debt he incurred while undergoing cancer treatments, I immediately let him know that I would be happy to help him in any way I could when the time came to promote the book. As most of you know, my mom is a breast cancer survivor, and I did work on my own SFF anthology to raise funds for cancer research a few years back.
Now that Unfettered will soon be released, I'm pleased to welcome Shawn to the Hotlist and post this guest blog he came up with.
Enjoy!
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UNFETTERED
Patrick Rothfuss is a bearded god among mortals.
Thankfully, he has a gooey heart that prevents any world domination he could possibly execute and easily get away with.
I have known Rothfuss for years now, our first meeting right after The Name of the Wind was published. He was a newbie author with a beard cut short for publicity purposes and a wit that insured our friendship. He’s one of three authors writing right now that makes me want to quit. That’s right. He is so damn talented with words that to read his work hurts the wordsmithery in my own heart. For that alone, from one writer to another, I look up to him.
Believe it or not though, I admire the man even more than his work. I know. Blasphemy. But he gives. A lot. He gives of his time; he gives of his money. He has created one of the most wonderful charities in Worldbuilders, raising money for Heifer International to rid the world of poverty and hunger through sustainability measures. He actively works at making the world a better place, melding his hundreds of thousands of worldwide fans into a charity machine of great influence and power.
I admire him for making the world better and pushing others to do the same—so much I will never be able to express it in words.
And of course, he rallied to me when I needed him most.
When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, I knew I was in trouble. And not for the reasons you might think. I’m a tough bastard and the diagnosis did not scare me. Ten years earlier, I had a different cancer and kicked the proverbial shyte out of it. I would do it again in 2011. No, I was troubled by my lack of health insurance. As a freelance writer and webmaster, I couldn’t afford health insurance with my pre-existing condition. I knew I was going to rack up a massive medical debt during three surgeries and chemotherapy. And likely have to claim medical bankruptcy for it.
I needed a plan. After talking to my friend Terry Brooks about it, he offered to donate a short story. He also suggested I contact my other writer friends in hopes of building an anthology, the donated stories used to pay down that medical debt. Terry was a huge beginning, obviously. He’s been a bestselling writer for 36 years and has garnered the respect of fans, writers, and industry professionals. I needed to pick a second writer though—one who had a similar level of respect, someone who would help draw other writers into the anthology beyond my own need.
I chose Rothfuss. The first time we met, we talked at length about how cancer had touched our lives. I knew that he would understand my plight when others might not—and that’s why the very next email I sent out would be to him.
Rothfuss readily agreed. He would write a story. It would be set in his Four Corners world. It would be something very different than what had come before. It might take him a while to finish the story—he might even be the last person to turn his contribution in—but he would do it and help in any way he could.
With him on board, I began contacting other writers. And it worked. Unfettered has twenty-two writers contributing, some of the best writers in the business. It is a large anthology and features some fantastic writing. I can’t wait for you to read it!
Here is the current Table of Contents:
- Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks (a precursor to the Word/Void trilogy)
- How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss (a Four Corners tale)
- River of Souls by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (a Wheel of Time tale)
- The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams
- Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn
- Martyr of the Roses by Jacqueline Carey (a precursor to the Kushiel series)
- Dogs by Daniel Abraham
- Mudboy by Peter V. Brett (a Demon Cycle tale)
- The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian (a Vault of Heaven tale)
- The Coach With Big Teeth by R.A. Salvatore
- Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood (a Summer Dragon tale)
- Heaven in a Wild Flower by Blake Charlton
- The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne (an Iron Druid tale)
- Select Mode by Mark Lawrence (a Broken Empire tale)
- All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham
- Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth (a Struck epilogue tale)
- Nocturne by Robert V. S. Redick
- Unbowed by Eldon Thompson (a Legend of Asahiel tale)
- In Favour With Their Stars by Naomi Novik (a Temeraire tale)
- The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan (a Riyria Chronicles tale)
- The Duel by Lev Grossman (a Magicians tale)
- Walker and the Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks (a Shannara tale)
- The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman (an Annwn Cycle tale)
In case you were wondering, Rothfuss was a man of his word. Better than that, actually. He was the first writer to submit his completed story. He surprised me. He shocked himself too, I think. In a single day’s writing session, he wrote How Old Holly Came To Be.
And I’m happy to report that Unfettered is doing its job. The generosity of the writing community and readers has made that possible and I am forever indebted. It is time to help others, to pay forward the generously shown me. I have several projects planned and the first one is happening right now. Click HERE to read how I am trying to help author Dave Farland/Wolverton, whose son Ben was hurt in a terrible accident.
In short, I am producing only 250 hardcover Advanced Reader Copies of Unfettered, the proceeds from the first 50 copies sold going to Dave and his family. They are rare, signed by Seattle contributors Terry Brooks, Peter Orullian, Todd Lockwood, and myself. And while they aren’t cheap, the proceeds are going to a great cause.
Ultimately though, this blog post is a thank you. To all of you. To those of you who have purchased my urban fantasy novel The Dark Thorn and Unfettered. Who gave what you could to help one of your own.
I will forever be indebted to you.
Thank you!
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Shawn Speakman is the author of The Dark Thorn, an urban/epic fantasy hybrid novel featuring Richard McAllister, a homeless knight who finds himself embroiled in a long-running war between the Church and the fey Tuatha de Dannan. When Shawn isn’t writing, he maintains the websites for authors Terry Brooks, Naomi Novik, and David Anthony Durham, as well as runs The Signed Page and Grim Oak Press. To learn more about Unfettered, click HERE!
Extract from Daniel Abraham's THE TYRANT'S LAW
Here's the blurb:
The great war cannot be stopped.
The tyrant Geder Palliako begins a conquest aimed at bringing peace to the world, though his resources are stretched too thin. When things go poorly, he finds a convenient target among the thirteen races and sparks a genocide.
Clara Kalliam, freed by having fallen from grace, remakes herself as a ''loyal traitor'' and starts building an underground resistance movement that seeks to undermine Geder through those closest to him.
Cithrin bel Sarcour is apprenticing in a city that's taken over by Antea, and uses her status as Geder's one-time lover to cover up an underground railroad smuggling refugees to safety.
And Marcus Wester and Master Kit race against time and Geder Palliako's men in an attempt to awaken a force that could change the fate of the world.
Follow this link to read the extract.
And dont's forget that you can download a combo of The Dragon's Path and Leviathan Wakes for only 2.99$ here!
