Pat's Fantasy Hotlist

My Malazan fix!

2008-05-10T12:43:00.008-04:00

Though it's a wonderful read, Naomi Novik's Victory of Eagles (Canada, USA, Europe) has been relegated to my "work" book.

Indeed, now that the mailman has finally brought my ARC of Ian Cameron Esslemont's Return of the Crimson Guard (Canada, USA, Europe, and PS Publishing), my reading time at home is taken up by this latest Malazan offering. And with my set of page proofs of Steven Erikson's Toll the Hounds (Canada, USA, Europe) on its way, I'm salivating at the thought of reading these two novels back to back! What can I say!?! I need my Malazan fix!!!:p

As for Return of the Crimson Guard, I'm about 150 pages into the book and this one is as complex and convoluted as any of Erikson's Malazan installment.

We likes it. We likes it a lot!

Win an autographed copy of Ekaterina Sedia's THE SECRET HISTORY OF MOSCOW

2008-05-09T22:03:00.004-04:00

A few weeks back, I read Ekaterina Sedia's enthralling The Secret History of Moscow (Canada, USA, Europe), and the book will certainly make my Top 10 of 2008. And now, you can find out for yourself how good this novel truly is! Thanks to the author's generosity, I have five signed copies up for grabs! She also offered to personalize each winner's copy, if they are so inclined! My advice: Read this book!

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "MOSCOW." 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 (May 6th)

2008-05-09T18:47:00.005-04:00

In hardcover:

Jim Butcher's Small Favor is down eight positions, ending its fourth week on the charts at number 17. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In paperback:

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind is up one spot, finishing its fourth week on the NYT list at number 10. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box is up five positions, ending its third week on the bestseller list at number 29. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Devil May Cry is down nine spots, finishing its third week on the prestigious list at number 33. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Quote of the Day

2008-05-08T22:36:00.003-04:00

You should have seen the look on her face. It was the exact same look my father gave me when I told him I wanted to become a ventriloquist.

- GEORGE COSTANZA, Seinfeld

The lowdown on the US release of Richard Morgan's THE STEEL REMAINS

2008-05-07T15:50:00.005-04:00

In light of all the grumbling generated by the fact that there was no US pub date regarding Morgan's fantasy debut, The Steel Remains (Canada, USA, Europe), I decided to inquire to lay the matter to rest.

I heard back from Betsy Mitchell, editor in chief at Del Rey Books, this morning. With the fall season already crowded, they felt that the book would benefit from a spring release date. Hence, the US edition of The Steel Remains will be published on February 24th 2009.

You see, sometimes I am the bringer of good news!;-)

Infoquake

2008-05-07T10:44:00.006-04:00

Right off the bat, let me just say that David Louis Edelman's Infoquake just might be one of the very best science fiction debuts I have ever read. The book deserves all the praise it has garnered, and then some! Only rarely will a debut author produce the sort of work which habitually comes from celebrated veterans.

As the blurb implies, Infoquake takes speculative fiction into uncharted waters: the corporate boardroom of the future. And as such, Edelman's debut is truly unique in its approach. Technological advancements such as virtual reality and cybernetic enhancements have become staples in the genre. And yet, with David Louis Edelman's professional background in programming, software development, and marketing, the author's take on the technology and its cutthroat marketplace feels extremely genuine. Edelman brings a fresh vision to "old" ideas and clichés, which makes Infoquake something special.

Natch, the main protagonist, is a master of bio/logics -- the science of using programming code to extend the capabilities of the human body and mind. Unscrupulous and competitive to a fault, Natch managed to fight his way to the top of the bio/logics market. His sometimes questionable tactics have made him many enemies along the way. Nevertheless, the stellar rise of the Natch Personal Programming fiefcorp brought Natch to the attention of Margaret Surina, the creator of the mysterious new technology known as MultiReal. Ostensibly, Surina appears to have enlisted Natch's devious mind to keep MultiReal out of the hands of High Executive Len Borda and the Defense and Wellness Council. But events hint at a hidden agenda of her own. With enemies closing in on all sides, Natch and his team must accomplish an impossible feat; understand this strange new technology, run it through the product development stages, and have MultiReal ready for public release -- all in a matter of a few days. Hanging ominously over their colossal endeavor is the menace of the infoquake, the lethal burst of energy disrupting the bio/logics networks and threatening the integrity of the entire world.

Natch is an anti-hero and a bit of a nut job, all of which makes him an unpredictable character. Contrary to a majority of scifi yarns, its the characterization which carries Infoquake forward. Though Natch is a captivating character, the supporting cast is equally interesting, with characters such as Jara, Horvil and Quell. I'm really looking forward to learning more about each of them in the two sequels. . .

The worldbuilding is another enthralling facet of this novel. Similar to Frank Herbert's Dune, a massive machine vs mankind conflict known as the Autonomous Revolt brought civilization on the brink of destruction in the past. Edelman's story occurs a few centuries following the human race's Reawakening, in a disturbingly realistic future. The author has created a richly detailed universe. But instead of relying on info dumps throughout, Edelmen elected to include a number of appendixes at the end of the book. In addition, there seems to be a wealth of information available on http://www.infoquake.net/.

Ambitious, vast in scope, with a deftly executed plot and impeccable prose from start to finish, David Louis Edelman's Infoquake is a fascinating read. 2006 was one of the best years in memory in terms of impressive speculative fiction debuts. Had I read it when it was originally released, Infoquake would have trumped Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora, Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon, Brian Ruckley's Winterbirth, and Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself.

Highly recommended. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the sequel, MultiReal (Canada, USA, Europe).

The final verdict: 8/10

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

Melinda Snodgrass contest winners!

2008-05-06T20:09:00.004-04:00

Our three winners will each receive a copy of Melinda Snodgrass' The Edge of Reason (Canada, USA, Europe), courtesy of Tor Books.

The winners are:

- Mikey Reppy, from Wilmington, Delaware, USA

- Lisa Green, from Delta, British Columbia, Canada (Nienna on asoiaf.westeros.org)

- Scott Willis, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Quick Tidal on malazanempire.com)

Thanks to all the participants!

Jeff Somers contest winners!

2008-05-06T20:07:00.004-04:00

Our two winners will get their hands on a complimentary copy of Jeff Somers' The Digital Plague (Canada, USA, Europe), thanks to the folks at Orbit.

The winners are:

- Mark Abbott, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

- Andrew Lavigne, from Thurmont, Maryland, USA (AndrewJ on sffworld.com)

Thanks to all the participants!

Pre-order Richard Morgan's THE STEEL REMAINS at 50% off!

2008-05-05T12:36:00.004-04:00

I don't know if this is a marketing ploy between Gollancz and Amazon. . .

But after Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie, it's now Richard Morgan's turn to enjoy a heavy discount regarding his fantasy debut. Indeed, you can now pre-order The Steel Remains at 50% off. Which means that you get a hardback edition for a little over six pounds on Amazon.co.uk!

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

Win a copy of Troy Denning's STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: INVINCIBLE

2008-05-05T12:27:00.005-04:00

My review copy of Troy Denning's Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Invincible showed up in my mailbox last Friday. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe. And since it's the final chapter in a series I haven't read, I've decided to host a giveaway for my copy!:-) If you hang out on any Star Wars message boards, feel free to spread the word!

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

The Farseer Graphic Adaptation

2008-05-04T22:19:00.004-04:00

Yet another piece of Robin Hobb's forthcoming graphic adaptation of The Farseer, all in color, thanks to the folks at http://www.rivages-maudits.com/.:-)

OH JOHN RINGO NO!

2008-05-04T07:00:00.002-04:00

Many thanks to Ran for bringing our attention to this veritable gem!;-)

You MUST read this review.

I find it shocking that stuff like this gets published, but what the heck!?! You will laugh -- or cry!:p

Though the books seem incredibly bad, I'm tempted, in a sick sort of way, to read at least the first one. . .

Win a copy of David Louis Edelman's INFOQUAKE

2008-05-03T15:09:00.005-04:00

Thanks to the nice folks at Solaris, I have five copies of the mass market paperback edition of David Louis Edelman's Infoquake up for grabs! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

I'm more than halfway through the novel, and it's a terrific read thus far! Edelman has been nominated for the second time for the John W. Campbell Award, and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins it this year. To learn more about Infoquake and to read sample chapters, check out http://www.infoquake.net/.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "INFOQUAKE." 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!

Scott Bakker contest winners!

2008-05-02T21:28:00.007-04:00

Thanks to the cool folks at both Penguin Books and Orion, our winners will get their hands on either an advance reading copy, or a "finished" copy of Scott Bakker's excellent psychological thriller Neuropath (Canada, Europe).

The winners are:

- Ian Schildt, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

- Pedro Marroquin, from Madrid, Spain

- Dominic Audy, from Montréal, Québec, Canada (DomA on wotmania.com)

- John Gallant, from Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada (cheeseburger on wotmania.com)

- Emma Victory, from Billericay, Essex, England (Isis on asoiaf.westeros.org and sffworld.com)

- Per Bäckman, from Stockholm, Sweden (Voland on asoiaf.westeros.org and malazanempire.com)

Needless to say, those who haven't won should pre-order or reserve their copy of Neuropath ASAP! And two P. E. I. winners in a row!?! This must be a sign that the end of the world is nigh. . .

Brian Ruckley contest winners!

2008-05-02T21:08:00.005-04:00

Our two winners will each get their hands on a complimentary copy of Brian Ruckley's Bloodheir (Canada, USA, Europe), as well as signed Winterbirth book plates, courtesy Orbit.

The winners are:

- Victor DiGiovanni, from Humble, Texas, USA

- Jarrod Piccioni, from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Thanks to all the participants!

Orson Scott Card's take on J. K. Rowling's lawsuit

2008-05-01T23:17:00.003-04:00

This article dates from last week, but I only just became aware of it by browsing around the Other Fantasy board on wotmania.com.

Card doesn't pull any punches in this piece, and I don't think that many people will disagree with him. And he ends the article with a bang:

Rowling has now shown herself to lack a brain, a heart and courage.
Clearly, she needs to visit Oz.

Read the entire article here.

This week's New Work Times Bestsellers (April 29th)

2008-05-01T21:08:00.006-04:00

In hardcover:

Jim Butcher's Small Favor is down four positions, ending its third week on the charts at number 9. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Raymond E. Feist's Wrath of a Mad God is up one spot, finishing its fourth week on the NYT list at number 28. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In paperback:

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind maintains its position at number 11. This marks the novel's third week on the prestigious list. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Karen Chance's Embrace the Night is down one spot, finishing its third week on the bestseller list at number 16. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Devil May Cry is down six positions, ending its second week on the charts at number 24. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box is down eight spots, finishing its second week on the list at number 34. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Free Books Galore!

2008-04-30T15:22:00.012-04:00

A few weeks back, I posted a list of novels/series which I believe should be more widely read, especially by the new generation of SFF fans. It was my response to all those emails I keep receiving from readers eager to discover new authors. Understandably, some agreed with my selections, while others did not. Some saw fit to add their own selections, and that's as it should be.

The objective behind that list was to give some well-deserved exposure to some works that were no longer talked about as much I would like. And since I haven't received a single email asking my for suggestions since then, I figure the list was comprised of enough series to keep most of you occupied for a little while.

Still, in the back of my mind, I wanted to do something more. So I got on the horn and contacted a few editors to see if they would be interested in giving away these "older" titles. I was pleasantly surprised that most were indeed interested and ran along with the idea!

I've hosted a recent giveaway for Raymond E. Feist's entire Riftwar backlist, and did the same with Guy Gavriel Kay's backlist last year. I've offered R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing on more than one occasion, and Stephen R. Donaldson's The Gap series was also the prize of a contest not too long ago. I've hosted a giveaway for C. S. Friedman's The Coldfire Trilogy last year as well. Sadly, Katherine Kurtz's Deryni Saga is no longer fully in print, and Margaret Weis' The Star of the Guardians was unavailable.

While I couldn't have the aforementioned series up for grabs, what I do have for you guys to win makes this the biggest giveaway I've ever hosted. Though it's my birthday on Friday, I'm the one handing out presents! Thirty books, to be exact! Who's your daddy now, eh!?!:p

Sorry, but I couldn't waste all the time it would have required me to get you all the amazon links. . .

The first prize pack is a full set of L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Recluce Saga, courtesy of Tor Books:

- The Magic of Recluce (Canada, USA, Europe)

- The Towers of the Sunset

- The Magic Engineer

- The Order War

- The Death of Chaos

- Fall of Angels

- The Chaos Balance

- The White Order

- Colors of Chaos

- Magi'i of Cyador

- Scion of Cyador

- Wellspring of Chaos

- Ordermaster

- Natural Ordermage

The second prize pack is a full set of Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, courtesy of Daw Books:

- The Dragonbone Chair (Canada, USA, Europe)

- Stone of Farewell

- To Green Angel Tower

The third prize pack is a full set of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's The Deathgate Cycle, courtesy of Bantam Dell:

- Dragonwing (Canada, USA, Europe)

- Elven Star

- Fire Sea

- Serpent Mage

- The Hand of Chaos

- Into the Labyrinth

- The Seventh Gate

The fourth prize pack is a full set of Stephen R. Donaldson's first two Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, courtesy of Del Rey Books:

- Lord Foul's Bane (Canada, USA, Europe)

- The Illearth War

- The Power that Preserves

- The Wounded Land

- The One Tree

- White Gold Wielder

There might be more, but I reckon this is already quite something! I normally encourage everyone to participate, but this time around I would like that only those who have yet to discover these SFF series register for these giveaways. All the books listed here provided me with countless hours of reading pleasure, and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I did. . .:-)

The rules are the same as usual. First off, for the Recluce contest, you need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "RECLUCE." For the Tad Williams giveaway, the header should be "MEMORY." For the Weis and Hickman contest, the header should be "DEATHGATE." And for the Donaldson giveaway, the header should be "COVENANT." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!:-)

The Digital Plague

2008-04-30T14:18:00.008-04:00

Having enjoyed Jeff Somers' The Electric Church last summer, I was really curious to see if the author could do it again with the sequel. As was the case with its predecessor, I was immediately sucked into this cyberpunk/noir techno-thriller. And I'm pleased to report that The Digital Plague delivers the goods, and then some!

Let's be honest here: Jeff Somers may never win a Hugo Award. Nevertheless, as long as he cranks up these explosive and entertaining balls to the wall and action-packed near-future thrillers, Somers will continue to rank pretty high on my reading list! Two volumes into the Avery Cates series, and these books are definitely becoming addictive!

Crime has paid off extremely well for the Gunner Avery Cates. Following the events of The Electric Church, he has now become the richest criminal in New York City. However, his fortune and success mean that he has made plenty of enemies. So much so that he can't puzzle out who captured him but couldn't eliminate him before Cates' associates came to his timely rescue. As a matter of course, the notorious Gunner wants revenge for this insult and someone will have to pay. But as he's plotting this violent payback, everyone who has been in contact with him starts to die in a particularly gruesome manner. As a mysterious plague begins to decimate the entire Eastern Seaboard, Cates remains unaffected. Soon, he'll discover that he's the carrier of the virulent virus, and he finds himself in the uncomfortable role of both the executioner and the savior of the entire human race.

The post-apocalyptic worldbuilding doesn't intrude on the tale that is The Digital Plague. Still, Somers' depiction of NYC and Paris gives this novel its unique "flavor."

As was the case with The Electric Church, the characterization is the facet which truly propels this story forward. Once again, the first person narrative filled with witty and dark humor is a joy to follow. Avery Cates might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, and he is a dirty and disreputable scoundrel -- and a killer. And yet, for all his faults and shortcomings, it's well nigh impossible not to root for him. These books wouldn't be nearly as good if told in the third person narrative. Dealing solely with Cates' POV certainly keeps things fun and interesting. Quotes such as this one will keep you smirking and reading on:

I was half blind, covered in my own blood and puke, pumping out death from my
pores, and things were starting to look up.

The Digital Plague is a veritable page-turner. If you're looking for a high-octane, kick-ass science fiction novel with a high body count, look no further. This book is for you! Indeed, The Digital Plague packs a powerful punch, with a few low blows thrown in just for good measure.

The final verdict: 7.75/10

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

Jim Butcher contest winners!

2008-04-30T14:15:00.005-04:00

Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Orbit, our two winners will get their hands on the popular Small Favour by Jim Butcher (Canada, USA, Europe).

The winners are:

- Dave Graham, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

- Michael Woods, from Kensington, West Australia, Australia (dreamscape on malazanempire.com and wotmania.com)

Thanks to all the participants!;-)

SpectraPulse contest winner!

2008-04-30T14:08:00.005-04:00

Our winner will get his hands on the limited edition issue of SpectraPulse which contains a never-before-seen chapter from George R. R. Martin's A Dance with Dragons (Canada, USA, Europe), courtesy of the folks at Bantam Dell.

The winner is:

- John Billburg, from Berkeley, California, USA (Bronn Stone on asoiaf.westeros.org)

Thanks to all the participants!

Win a copy of Jacqueline Carey's KUSHIEL'S MERCY and a full set of her last trilogy!

2008-04-29T20:26:00.006-04:00

I have two copies of Jacqueline Carey's newest, Kushiel's Mercy, for you guys to win, compliments of the kind folks at Warner Books. At least one of them will be autographed by the author. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In addition, if you have yet to read this latest Kushiel trilogy, I also have a full set up for grabs! Which means that the winner will receive paperback editions of Kushiel's Scion and Kushiel's Justice, as well as a hardcover version of Kushiel's Mercy.

The rules are the same as usual. First off, if you are gunning for a copy of Kushiel's Mercy, you need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "MERCY." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy. However, if you are hoping to get your hands on the whole trilogy, the header must be "KUSHIEL." You CANNOT send entries for both giveaways.

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!

Free Download of Star Wars book from Del Rey

2008-04-28T20:02:00.005-04:00

Just received this press release from Del Rey Books:

«As a special gift to STAR WARS fans, Del Rey will be offering Book One in the series, STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: BETRAYAL, as a free downloadable PDF, audio book, and eBook. This promotional offer will run for two weeks, from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, until midnight on Tuesday, May 13. The free download, which can be shared, e-mailed or printed, will be available on http://www.legacyoftheforce.com/.

A New York Times bestselling series, LEGACY OF THE FORCE introduces readers to a new era in the STAR WARS universe and features the beloved characters from the original trilogy, answering the questions of what happened to Han, Luke and Leia after the conclusion of STAR WARS: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

Book Nine, the final book in the series, STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: INVINCIBLE, will go on sale as a Del Rey hardcover on May 13. Book Eight, REVELATION, reached the #1 spot on The New York Times paperback bestseller list.

Del Rey has partnered with booksellers to provide the free download. A1Books.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Booksense.com, Borders.com, Deepdiscount.com, the eBook Store from Sony, Overstock.com, and Powells.com are making the file available to their customers.

“This giveaway is a great way to introduce the legions of Star Wars fans to our books,” commented Christine Cabello, Deputy Director of Marketing at the Random House Publishing Group, who oversaw the execution of this initiative. “We also expect that it will build awareness and excitement for the on-sale date of the final book in the series, INVINCIBLE.”

Del Rey will be supporting the free download with a major online marketing campaign including an announcement in the STAR WARS e-newsletter, promotion on StarWars.com, and banner advertising.»

Nice way to promote the entire series and the upcoming release of Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Invincible (Canada, USA, Europe).

Additional NEUROPATH goodies!

2008-04-28T08:10:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Simon Spanton and the folks at Orion, I have three finished copies of Scott Bakker's Neuropath up for grabs. For more info about this title: Canada, Europe.

Anyone who has registered for the Neuropath's ARC giveaway is automatically entered into this contest. The Advance Reading Copies will be the grand prizes, and the finished copies will be the runner-up prizes. Which means that six lucky winners will get their hands on this terrific psychological thriller!;-)

How good is that!?!

Ian Cameron Esslemont contest winner!

2008-04-27T21:57:00.005-04:00

Well, Malazan fans have been waiting for this announcement for a long, long time. And thanks to Pete and the rest of the PS Publishing crew, our winner will get his hands on Advance Reading Copies of the two-volume limited edition of Ian Cameron Esslemont's Return of the Crimson Guard. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe, or PS Publishing.

The winner is:

- Scott Williams, from Bath, England (Dancer on malazanempire.com)

Thanks to all the participants!:-)