Melinda Snodgrass Interview

Hey guys,

You might remember that Melinda Snodgrass' The Edge of Reason (Canada, USA, Europe) was one of the books GRRM forced me to read for losing that NFL football wager. Since I enjoyed the novel, I wanted to interview the author last spring, but life got in the way. So I thought I'd give her the opportunity to introduce herself in this Q&A!

Enjoy!:-)

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- Without giving anything away, can you give us a taste of the story that is THE EDGE OF REASON?

It's basically a story about the eons long battle between science and rationality and superstition and religion. A young police officer stumbles into this secret war and is recruited by a mysterious figure who turns out to have been the source of the Prometheus and Lucifer legends.

- Tell us a little more about yourself. What's the 411 on Melinda Snodgrass?

I'm a recovered lawyer who discovered that while I loved the law (particularly Constitutional law) I hated lawyers. My friends Vic Milan suggested I try writing, and here I am, years later, still writing. Thanks to encouragement from my friend George R.R. Martin I ended up working in Hollywood for a number of years. I'm still trying to be a writer with a foot in each camp -- Hollywood and publishing -- I'll let you know how that works out. On the more personal level -- I love to camp and hike, I was a classically trained opera singer and I still enjoy music though I don't sing any longer. Another hobby stole away my money and passion -- horses. I own a six year old Lusitano stallion named Vento da Broga, and he's going to be my new Grand Prix horse. I'm a dressage rider, and it's fun to train a young and very talented horse from the beginning.

- Can you tell us a little more about the road that saw this one go from manuscript form to finished novel?

I began writing this book with no idea or expectation it would sell. The idea came to me when I was sitting at El Pinto restaurant on December 31st, 1999 with Walter Jon Williams, Laura Mixon-Gould and Steve Gould. We were watching the celebrations going on around the world, and I suddenly said "It's the dawn of the 21st century. Where's my air car? Where's my Moon base." I was being a bit facetious, but I realized there was a serious component to the question. Why did people put so much credence in healing crystals and guardian angels and UFO abductions and Tarot Cards and Jesus appearing on a tortilla, rather then believing in chemistry, biology, physics, etc.? I thought, _maybe there's some reason, or some things that want us to believe in gibberish_. And that's where the idea began.

The next big hurdle was finding the right protagonist. I tried writing this first with a psychologist as the main character, but it just didn't work as well. I went back to my Hollywood training and looked at the three areas that always, reliably work for TV series -- cops, doctors and lawyers. I'd tried a doc. I had been a lawyer and really didn't want to use that world. I tried the cop, and it worked perfectly.

I also wanted to make sure that the underpinnings of my universe made sense so I really worked on the nuts and bolts of the "magic", and I found a surprising amount of support in the Bible to my premise.

- In your opinion, what makes THE EDGE OF REASON different from what's out there, and why should jaded readers give it a shot?

If people have felt uncomfortable with the power of the religious right in our political and daily lives, or if a reader is frustrated at how often the society wants to look back to some mythical "golden age", and wants a return to that better time rather than pushing forward into a exciting new future -- complete with air cars and Moon bases -- then I think this book is for them.

- What can readers expect from the upcoming sequel?

THE EDGE OF RUIN takes my protagonist into the halls of power as he, basically, tries to "pass the buck", but what he ultimately realizes is that he has to take command and make some very tough choices. I like to torture characters, and most of my stores grow out of a character in a particular situation rather than the situation.

- What's the progress report on the next volume? Any tentative release date yet?

The second book has been delivered to Tor and is scheduled for June 2009.

- Will you be touring to promote the book this summer? If so, are there any specific dates that have been confirmed as of yet?

I will attending a book seller's conference in Portland Oregon September 16th and 17th, and another book sellers conference Oct 4th in Oakland, CA. I don't have any information on the venues yet, but your friendly local bookstore might have the information. I'll also be at Worldcon in Denver and World Fantasy in Calgary.

- What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

I think I create memorable characters, and I love to write dialogue. In fact I sometimes end up with my characters talking in a white room because I'm not great with description. It's a good thing I have my wonderful writer's group, Critical Mass, to help me with that. My other major strength is plot and structure. I really honed those skills in Hollywood where you've got to tell a story in a really economical way.

- Were there any perceived conventions of the genre which you wanted to twist or break when you set out to write THE EDGE OF REASON and its sequel?

I can't really think of anything. I just wrote the story I wanted to read. I guess I did want to create a hero who was the antithesis of the "Omni Competent Heinlein Hero". But that's the only thing I can come up with.

- There is a fine balance between the more thought-provoking concepts, the humor, and the characterization in THE EDGE OF REASON? Was it difficult to find where you had to draw the line, because I feel that overdoing it in any of the aforementioned categories could have killed the story?

It was tough finding the balance. I had to use my homeless Jesus like a strong spice. Too much and it could get campy. I also had to remove the Prometheus figure because he was the 800 pound gorilla and I had to have my hero have to summon the strength and courage to lead. And he only gets part of the way. He doesn't really learn to lead until The Edge of Ruin.

- The fact that there is a website dedicated to your work is an indication that interaction with your readers is important to you as an author. How special is it to have the chance to interact directly with your fans?

I was actually terrified to launch the website and blog, but my wonderful editor, Patrick Nielsen-Hayden, patted me on the shoulder, told me it would be okay, and sent me out there to meet potential readers. I've been getting a lot of emails from folks who have read THE EDGE OF REASON, and said very kind things. Some of the most gratifying letters have been from people who said they didn't think there was anyone else who felt the way they did, and it was such a relief to find they weren't alone in this questions. I enjoy blogging and I talk about everything from politics, to movies (I give reviews), the craft of writing, training the dressage horse, what I'm reading, etc. It's become a lot of fun, and I'm very grateful to Patrick for encouraging me to jump in.

- How much of an impact does your old friend George R. R. Martin's "patronage" benefit you in terms of exposure for a new release like THE EDGE OF REASON?

I'm not really sure how much cross-over readership there might be. George was very, very kind to take the time from his own work to read my novel and give me a wonderful blurb. I think people have niches they like (I know I do) and they like to read within those parameters. I had a lot of people who admired my work on Star Trek:TNG, but I'm not sure how many of them have rushed out to buy a book I wrote. Certainly when George mentions my novel favorably on his website it sure can't hurt. But it's up to me to capture the interest of those people within the first couple of pages. Just like George gave me my opportunity in Hollywood, I still had to write the script that ultimately landed me my job on Star Trek:TNG.

- Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy Award/Hugo Award? Why, exactly?

Can't I have both? :) Okay, seriously. That's a hard question. I think I'd take the bestseller status over the award. And it's not because of the money. I think every writer really wants to speak to another person, to tell them a story, and give them hours where as a reader they are swept away into a new world. I know I love those books where I lose all track of time, and I don't want to put the book down. When you make the top ten list of the NY Times you are managing to tell your story to a lot of people, and it's that contact mind to mind that I find so intoxicating. It's one of the powers of television. When you realize that even a poorly performing show is going to be seen by 20 million people -- well, it's overwhelming.

- What authors make you shake your head in admiration? Many SFF authors don't read much inside the genre. Is it the case with you?

I still enjoy many science fiction writers. I guess most of my reading for pleasure is in the field and I especially love mysteries. Who do I admire? Okay, setting aside the Big Dog ie George let me run out some authors. I really like Lois McMaster Bujold and Robin Hobb. Daniel Abraham. Walter Jon Williams. John Scalzi. Dan Simmons Vernor Vinge. Terry Pratchett. Sheri Tepper. Okay, I'm going to stop inside the field. Outside the field I love Dorothy Dunnet's Nicolo series. Mysteries I really like Michael Connelly. This is a really hard question because I like so many authors.

- Cover art has become a very hot topic of late. What are your thoughts pertaining to that facet of a novel, and what do you think of the cover that graces THE EDGE OF REASON?

I think cover art is critical. A interesting cover will make be pick up a book by an unknown author. I'm really very happy with my cover on THE EDGE OF REASON. It could have been so cheesy, and the terrific art department at Tor found a way to avoid any of those pitfalls.

- More and more, authors/editors/publicists/agents are discovering the potential of all the SFF blogs/websites/message boards on the internet. Do you keep an eye on what's being discussed out there, especially if it concerns you? Or is it too much of a distraction?

I enjoy reading discussion on the blogs and websites, but I never read them as they pertain to my book. It makes me feel kind of squiggy. Because of the curious circumstance that led to you reviewing my novel, I read your review, but mostly I avoid such discussions. Writers spend enough time navel gazing without running all over the internet in search of more conversations that are all about _Them_.

- Honestly, do you believe that the speculative fiction genre will ever come to be recognized as veritable literature? Truth be told, in my opinion there has never been this many good books/series as we have right now, and yet there is still very little respect (not to say none) associated with the genre.

I think we won. Look at television and movies -- it's all speculative fiction that's driving the engine. I know we all get frustrated at being dismissed as "that kid stuff", but maybe we're safer that way. If we ever start being discussed in Literature Classes (imagine the pompous tone of voice) I'm afraid that we'll fall into that traps that afflict mainstream writers. They all seem to be writing for each other or for the critics instead of writing cracking good stories for real readers. We do have wonderful writers and wonderful books, but I never want to forget that I'm an entertainer. I want to sweep you out of your living room and into a new world, and have the reader forget about the leaky faucet of their day job.

- So what's the scoop on the forthcoming Wild Card novel, BUSTED FLUSH? Give us something to look forward to!

BUSTED FLUSH has a very complicated plot, and I'm still amazed that we pulled it off. But we did, and in some ways I think it's stronger than INSIDE STRAIGHT. The kids start to understand that the world is a very complicated place, and actions have consequences. (And here's that navel gazing writer thing again). My character, Noel, discovers he has a soul and maybe even a heart.

- Doesn't it make you feel a bit "dirty" that I was forced to read this due to a Dallas Cowboys loss at the hands of George R. R. Martin's New York Giants last January? Surely, it has to weigh on your conscience when you go to sleep at night. . .

Not in the least. Actually it's the only time in my life that I really cared about the outcome of a football game. :) I know the reach of your website, and while it was scary (you might have hated the novel), it was such a great opportunity to get the word out to a broad audience about THE EDGE OF REASON.

Also, I thought it was really funny that you sports guys got hoisted on petards of your own making.

Multireal

One thing's for certain: With his debut, Infoquake (Canada, USA, Europe), David Louis Edelman set the bar pretty high for what would follow in its wake. After referring to Infoquake as "one of the very best science fiction debuts I have ever read," I was wondering if Multireal could possibly live up to the potential established by its predecessor.

Edelman wastes no time in this sequel revisiting the events chronicled in Infoquake. Hence, Multireal begins right where Infoquake left off. And I'm happy to report that this is one sequel that delivers! No middle book syndrome for David Louis Edelman.

Likely in order to avoid info dumps, the author doesn't dwell too much on worldbuilding. Which is not to say that Edelman's universe doesn't resound with depth. Far from that. But to keep the plotlines flowing smoothly, Edelman offers us fascinating glimpses while relying on appendixes at the end of the novel and the website http://www.multireal.net/ as resources where readers can learn more about every facet of his work.

I loved how Infoquake ended up being an engrossing hybrid between a traditional science fiction yarn and the cutthroat world of financial markets. In Multireal, politics take central stage, with Edelman shedding some light on the Defense and Wellness Council, the Prime Committee, and the Congress of L-PRACGs, and their respective roles in the current struggle. Truth be told, I find that it's the financial and political aspects of these two novels that make the Jump 225 trilogy such a different and interesting read.

Another facet which I like about this series is its flawed protagonists. No larger than life characters, they all have shortcomings like regular people, and that makes them more genuine. Moreover, they remain true to themselves, giving each of them more life and credibility as the story unfolds. Natch remains a complete nut job, though he is too brilliant for his own good. Jara, Horvil, Vigal, Benyamin and the others try to keep Multireal out of the Defense and Wellness Council's hands while Lieutenant Executive Magan Kai attempts to destroy Natch's fiefcorp to gain control of the new technology. Although this continues to be Natch's story, Edelman focuses on the secondary characters quite a bit in this sequel, which elevates the characterization to another level.

The author paces this one adroitly. The absence of info dumps keeps the tale moving swiftly. The politicking is particularly well-done, and it adds another dimension to a series that continues to impress me on several levels.

My sole complaint would have to be that Multireal ends with a cliffhanger. Given the nature of the story, I suppose it couldn't be helped. Needless to say, Edelman sets the stage for what should be a terrific finale. I'll be lining up for the third volume!

As was the case with Infoquake, Multireal is a superior read. Moreover, if the final installment lives up to the expectations generated by its predecessors, this series could well be the best thing ever published by Pyr. That's saying something!

The Jump 225 trilogy remains one of the very best ongoing science fiction series on the market. Read it and you'll thank me for the recommendation!

The final verdict: 8/10

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

Ian Cameron Esslemont contest winners!

The long wait is finally over, Malazan fans!

The names of our five winners have been drawn, and they will each get their hands on a copy of Esslemont's Return of the Crimson Guard (Canada, USA, Europe), compliments of Transworld.

The winners are:

- Wouter Deceuninck, from Westerlo, Belgium

- Chris Pole, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

- Greg Moore, from Enfield, London, Middlesex, UK (TT on malazanempire.com)

- Jukka Pimperi, from Kemi, Finland

- Marco Delmoro, from Orciano di Pesaro, Italy (Gormenghast on asoiaf.westeros.org)

Thanks to all the participants!

Construction ahead. . .

Just wanted to let you guys know that I have someone coming over to change my blog template. So if all goes well, the Hotlist will sport a brand new look very soon.

Things might go awry, however, so please bear with me while the switch goes into effect. And even when the new template will be on, I'm convinced that there will be a few kinks to iron out for some time.

Hopefully we won't encounter too many problems. . .

L. E. Modesitt, jr. contest winners!

Our three winners will each get their hands on a copy of the latest Recluce novel, Mage-Guard of Hamor, courtesy of Tor Books. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

The winners are:

- Dan Smith, from Deer River, Minnesota, USA

- Grace Park, from Riverside, California, USA

- Sharon Schwartz, from Randolph, New Jersey, USA

Thanks to all the participants!

More artwork from the Subterranean Press limited edition of Steven Erikson's GARDENS OF THE MOON

Malazan fans rejoice!

If all goes well, Michael Komarck should deliver the rest of the artwork and the book could be headed to the printer in the next couple of weeks! Which means that -- again, if all goes according to plan -- get our hands on this beautiful edition in the near future.

To help you cope with the wait, here are a few sketches from the artist. And before anyone asks, no I haven't seen any of the finished prints yet. But all your comments were sent to both Bill at Subpress and Komarck, so that he can get it "right."

So here is a sketch of Kalam and Quick Ben on the rooftops. Hopefully the final version will include the Tiste Andii. You also have the raising of Tool. And, finally, you have an alternate version of Raest facing the dragons.

Hope you appreciate these, for you won't see anything else until the limited edition of Gardens of the Moon becomes available. If you wish to snatch one of the remaining copies, get your butt in gear and head out to http://www.subterraneanpress.com/!

Win a 10-book Solaris prize pack!

You want to discover new and lesser-known speculative fiction authors? Thanks to the nice folks at Solaris, I have a 10-book prize pack for you to win!

The prize pack includes:

- Extraordinary Engines, The Definitive Steampunk Anthology — Edited by Nick Gevers

- Sideways in Crime — Edited by Lou Anders

- The Solaris Book of New Fantasy — Edited by George Mann

- The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction — Edited by George Mann

- The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction Volume 2 — Edited by George Mann

- Black Magic Woman, by Justin Gustainis

- Bitterwood by James Maxey

- Kéthani by Eric Brown

- The Dragon’s Nine Sons, by Chris Roberson

- War Machine by Andy Remic

To learn more about any and all of these titles and more, check out http://www.solarisbooks.com/.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "SOLARIS." 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 Joe Abercrombie's LAST ARGUMENT OF KINGS

Hi guys,

To help promote authors and their work, I've decided to post sample chapters from time to time. As you can guess, this is the new feature I was talking about in my last update. At this juncture, it's impossible to tell whether or not this will become a regular feature on the Hotlist or not, as there are copyright issues to consider. We'll have to wait and see. . .

Thanks to the good people at Pyr, here's a little teaser for the US readers who are about to read the final chapter in Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy, Last Argument of Kings (Canada, USA, Europe)

THE POISON TRADE

Superior Glokta stood in the hall, and waited. He stretched his twisted neck out to one side and then to the other, hearing the familiar clicks, feeling the familiar cords of pain stretching out through the tangled muscles between his shoulder-blades. Why do I do it, when it always hurts me? Why must we test the pain? Tongue the ulcer, rub the blister, pick the scab?

“Well?” he snapped.

The marble bust at the foot of the stairs offered only its silent contempt. And I get more than enough of that already. Glokta shuffled away, his useless foot scraping over the tiles behind him, the tapping of his cane echoing amongst the mouldings on the faraway ceiling.

When it came to the great noblemen on the Open Council, Lord Ingelstad, the owner of this oversized hall, was an undersized man indeed. The head of a family whose fortunes had declined with the passing years, whose wealth and influence had shrivelled to almost nothing. And the more shrivelled the man, the more swollen his pretensions must become. Why do they never realise? Small things only seem smaller in large spaces.

Somewhere in the shadows a clock vomited up a few sluggish chimes. Good and late already. The more shrivelled the man, the longer the wait on his pleasure. But I can be patient, when I must. I have no dazzling banquets, no ecstatic crowds, no beautiful women waiting breathlessly for my arrival, after all. Not any more. The Gurkish saw to that, in the darkness beneath the Emperor’s prisons. He pressed his tongue into his empty gums and grunted as he shifted his leg, needles from it shooting up his back and making his eyelid flicker. I can be patient. The one good thing about every step being an ordeal. You soon learn how to tread carefully.

The door beside him opened sharply and Glokta snapped his head round, doing his best to hide a grimace as his neck bones crunched. Lord Ingelstad stood in the doorway: a big, fatherly man with a ruddy complexion. He offered up a friendly smile as he beckoned Glokta into the room. Quite as though this were a social call, and a welcome one at that.

“I must apologise for keeping you waiting, Superior. I have had so many visitors since I arrived in Adua, my head is in quite a spin!” Let us hope it doesn’t spin right off. “So very many visitors!” Visitors with offers, no doubt. Offers for your vote. Offers for your help in choosing our next king. But my offer, I think, you will find painful to refuse. “Will you take wine, Superior?”

“No, my Lord, thank you.” Glokta hobbled painfully over the threshold. “I will not stay long. I, too, have a great deal of business to attend to.” Elections don’t rig themselves, you know.

“Of course, of course. Please be seated.” Ingelstad dropped happily into one of his chairs and gestured to another. It took Glokta a moment to get settled, lowering himself carefully, then shifting his hips until he discovered a position in which his back did not give him constant pain. “And what did you wish to discuss with me?”

“I have come on behalf of Arch Lector Sult. I hope you will not be offended if I am blunt, but his Eminence wants your vote.”

The nobleman’s heavy features twisted in feigned puzzlement. Very badly feigned, as it goes. “I am not sure that I understand. My vote on what issue?”

Glokta wiped some wet from beneath his leaking eye. Must we engage in such undignified dancing? You have not the build for it, and I have not the legs. “On the issue of who will next occupy the throne, Lord Ingelstad.”

“Ah. That.” Yes, that. Idiot. “Superior Glokta, I hope I will not disappoint you, or his Eminence, a man for whom I have nothing but the highest respect,” and he bowed his head with an exaggerated show of humility, “when I say that I could not, in all good conscience, allow myself
to be influenced in any one direction. I feel that I, and all the members of the Open Council, have been given a sacred trust. I am duty bound to vote for the man who seems to me to be the very finest candidate, from the many excellent men available.” And he assumed a grin of the greatest selfsatisfaction.

A fine speech. A village dunce might have even believed it. How often have I heard it, or its like, the past few weeks? Traditionally, the bargaining would come next. The discussion of how much, exactly, a sacred trust is worth. How much silver outweighs a good conscience. How much gold cuts through the bindings of duty. But I am not in a bargaining mood today.

Glokta raised his eyebrows very high, “I must congratulate you on a noble stand, Lord Ingelstad. If everyone had your character we would be living in a better world. A noble stand indeed . . . especially when you have so much to lose. No less than everything, I suppose.” He winced as he took his cane in one hand and rocked himself painfully forward towards the edge of the chair. “But I see you will not be swayed, and so I take my leave—”

“What can you refer to, Superior?” The nobleman’s unease was written plainly across his plump face.

“Why, Lord Ingelstad, to your corrupt business dealings.”

The ruddy cheeks had lost much of their glow. “There must be some mistake.”

“Oh no, I assure you.” Glokta slid the papers of confession from the inside pocket of his coat. “You are mentioned often in the confessions of senior Mercers, you see? Very often.” And he held the crackling pages out so they both could see them. “Here you are referred to as—and not my choice of words, you understand—an ‘accomplice.’ Here as the ‘prime beneficiary’ of a most unsavoury smuggling operation. And here, you will note—and I almost blush to mention it—your name and the word ‘treason’ appear in close proximity.”

Ingelstad sagged back into his chair and set his glass rattling down on the table beside him, a quantity of wine sloshing out onto the polished wood. Oh, we really should wipe that up. It could leave an awful stain, and some stains are impossible to remove.

“His Eminence,” continued Glokta, “counting you as a friend, was able to keep your name out of the initial enquiries, for everybody’s sake. He understands that you were merely trying to reverse the failing fortunes of your family, and is not without sympathy. If you were to disappoint him in this business of votes, however, his sympathy would be quickly exhausted.
Do you take my meaning?” I feel that I have made it abundantly clear.

“I do,” croaked Ingelstad.

“And the bonds of duty? Do they feel any looser, now?”

The nobleman swallowed, the flush quite vanished from his face. “I am eager to assist his Eminence in any way possible, of course, but . . . the thing is—” What now? A desperate offer? A despairing bribe? An appeal to my conscience, even? “A representative of High Justice Marovia came to me yesterday. A man called Harlen Morrow. Hemade very similar representations . . . and not dissimilar threats.” Glokta frowned. Did he now? Marovia, and his little worm. Always
just one step ahead, or just one step behind. But never far away. A shrill note crept into Ingelstad’s voice. “What am I to do? I cannot support you both! I will leave Adua, Superior, and never return! I will . . . I will abstain from voting—”

“You’ll do no such fucking thing!” hissed Glokta. “You’ll vote the way I tell you and Marovia be damned!” More prodding? Distasteful, but so be it. Are my hands not filthy to the elbow? Rummaging through another sewer or two will scarcely make the difference. He let his voice soften to an oily purr. “I observed your daughters in the park, yesterday.” The nobleman’s face lost its last vestige of colour. “Three young innocents on the very cusp of womanhood, dressed all in the height of fashion, and each one lovelier than the last. The youngest would be . . . fifteen?”

“Thirteen,” croaked Ingelstad.

“Ah.” And Glokta let his lips curl back to display his toothless smile. “She blooms early. They have never before visited Adua, am I correct?”

“They have not,” he nearly whispered.

“I thought not. Their excitement and delight as they toured the gardens of the Agriont were perfectly charming. I swear, they must have caught the eye of every eligible suitor in the capital.” He allowed his smile slowly to fade. “It would break my heart, Lord Ingelstad, to see three such delicate creatures snatched suddenly away to one of Angland’s harshest penal institutions. Places where beauty, and breeding, and a gentle disposition, attract an entirely different and far less enjoyable kind of attention.” Glokta gave a carefully orchestrated shudder of dismay as he leaned slowly forward to whisper. “I would not wish that life on a dog. And all on account of the indiscretions of a father who had the means of reparation well within his grasp.”

“But my daughters, they were not involved—”

“We are electing a new king! Everyone is involved!” Harsh, perhaps. But harsh times demand harsh actions. Glokta struggled to his feet, hand wobbling on his cane with the effort. “I will tell his Eminence that he can count on your vote.”

Ingelstad collapsed, suddenly and completely. Like a stabbed wine-skin. His shoulders sagged, his face hung loose with horror and hopelessness. “But the High Justice . . .” he whispered. “Have you no pity?”

Glokta could only shrug. “I did have. As a boy I was soft-hearted beyond the point of foolishness. I swear, I would cry at a fly caught in a spider’s web.” He grimaced at a brutal spasm through his leg as he turned for the door. “Constant pain has cured me of that.”

***

It was an intimate little gathering. But the company hardly inspires warmth. Superior Goyle glared at Glokta from across the huge, round table in the huge, round office, his beady eyes staring from his bony face. And not with tender feelings, I rather think.

The attention of his Eminence the Arch Lector, the head of his Majesty’s Inquisition, was fixed elsewhere. Pinned to the curving wall, taking up perhaps half of the entire chamber, were three hundred and twenty sheets of paper. One for every great heart on our noble Open Council. They crackled gently in the breeze from the great windows. Fluttering little papers for fluttering little votes. Each one was marked with a name. Lord this, Lord that, Lord someone of wherever. Big men and little men. Men whose opinions, on the whole, no one cared a damn for until Prince Raynault fell out of his bed and into his grave.

Many of the pages had a blob of coloured wax on their corner. Some had two, or even three. Allegiances. Which way will they vote? Blue for Lord Brock, red for Lord Isher, black for Marovia, white for Sult, and so on. All subject to change, of course, depending which way the wind blows them. Below were written lines of small, dense script. Too small for Glokta to read from where he was sitting, but he knew what they said. Wife was once a whore. Partial to young men. Drinks too much for his good. Murdered a servant in a rage. Gambling debts he cannot cover. Secrets. Rumours. Lies. The tools of this noble trade. Three hundred and twenty names, and just as many sordid little stories, each one to be picked at, and dug out, and jabbed our way. Politics. Truly, the work of the righteous.

So why do I do this? Why?

The Arch Lector had more pressing concerns. “Brock still leads,” he murmured in a dour drone, staring at the shifting papers with his white gloved hands clasped behind his back. “He has some fifty votes, more or less certain.” As certain as we can be in these uncertain times. “Isher is not far behind, with forty or more to his name. Skald has made some recent gains, as far as we can tell. An unexpectedly ruthless man. He has the Starikland delegation more or less in his hand, which gives him thirty votes, perhaps, and Barezin about the same. They are the four main contenders, as things stand.”

But who knows? Perhaps the King will live another year, and by the time it comes to a vote we’ll all have killed each other. Glokta had to stifle a grin at the thought. The Lords’ Round heaped with richly-dressed corpses, every great nobleman in the Union and all twelve members of the Closed Council. Each stabbed in the back by the man beside. The ugly truth of government . . .

“Did you speak to Heugen?” snapped Sult.

Goyle tossed his balding head and sneered at Glokta with seething annoyance. “Lord Heugen is still struggling under the delusion that he could be our next king, though he cannot certainly control more than a dozen chairs. He barely had time to hear our offer he was so busy scrabbling to coax out more votes. Perhaps in a week, or two, he will see reason. Then he might be encouraged to lean our way, but I wouldn’t bet on it. More likely he’ll throw in his lot with Isher. The two of them have always been close, I understand.”

“Good for them,” hissed Sult. “What about Ingelstad?”

Glokta stirred in his seat. “I presented him with your ultimatum in very blunt terms, your Eminence.”

“Then we can count on his vote?”

How to put this? “I could not say so with absolute certainty. High Justice Marovia was able to make threats almost identical to our own, through his man Harlen Morrow.”

“Morrow? Isn’t he some lickspittle of Hoff’s?”

“It would seem he has moved up in the world.” Or down, depending on how you look at it.

“He could be taken care of.” Goyle wore a most unsavoury expression. “Quite easily—”

“No!” snapped Sult. “Why is it, Goyle, that no sooner does a problem appear than you want to kill it! We must tread carefully for now, and show ourselves to be reasonable men, open to negotiation.” He strode to the window, the bright sunlight glittering purple through the great stone on his ring of office. “Meanwhile the business of actually running the country is ignored. Taxes go uncollected. Crimes go unpunished. This bastard they call the Tanner, this demagogue, this traitor, speaks in public at village fairs, urging open rebellion! Daily now, peasants leave their farms and turn to banditry, perpetrating untold theft and damage. Chaos spreads, and we have not the resources to stamp it out. There are only two regiments of the King’s Own left in Adua, scarcely enough to maintain order in the city. Who knows if one of our noble Lords will tire of waiting and decide to try and seize the crown prematurely? I would not put it past them!”

“Will the army return from the North soon?” asked Goyle.

“Unlikely. That oaf Marshal Burr has spent three months squatting outside Dunbrec, and given Bethod ample time to regroup beyond the Whiteflow. Who knows when he’ll finally get the job done, if ever!” Months spent destroying our own fortress. It almost makes one wish we’d put less effort into building the place.

“Twenty-five votes.” The Arch Lector scowled at the crackling papers. “Twenty-five, and Marovia has eighteen? We’re scarcely making progress! For every vote we gain we lose one somewhere else!”

Goyle leaned forwards in his chair. “Perhaps, your Eminence, the time has come to call again on our friend at the University—”

The Arch Lector hissed furiously, and Goyle snapped his mouth shut. Glokta looked out the great window, pretending that he had heard nothing out of the ordinary. The six crumbling spires of the University dominated the view. But what help could anyone possibly find there? Amongst the decay, and the dust, from those old idiots of Adepti?

Sult did not give him long to consider it. “I will speak to Heugen myself.” And he jabbed one of the papers with a finger. “Goyle, write to Lord Governor Meed and try to elicit his support. Glokta, arrange an interview with Lord Wetterlant. He has yet to declare himself one way or the other. Get out there, the pair of you.” Sult turned from his sheets full of secrets and fixed on Glokta with his hard blue eyes. “Get out there and get . . . me . . . votes!”

Tobias S. Buckell contest winner!

The name of our winner has been drawn, and she will get her hands on a complimentary copy of Tobias S. Buckell's Sly Mongoose (Canada, USA, Europe), thanks to the cool folks at Tor Books.

The winner is:

Michele Marques, from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Thanks to all the participants!

Win a copy of Jacqueline Carey's KUSHIEL'S JUSTICE

I have three copies of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Justice for you to win, compliments of the folks at Orbit. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

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

Musical Interlude

Because I can't possibly make the pointless drivel that characterizes my blogging more enjoyable or more interesting, I can at the very least make reading it a little easier with a cool tune to help take your mind off how crappy I really am. . .:p

Enjoy!

Chris Evans Interview

Hey guys,

It's now Chris Evans' turn to take a few minutes to introduce himself. His fantasy debut, A Darkness Forged in Fire (Canada, USA, Europe), has been discussed on various message boards of late, so here's your chance to learn more about the author and his work.

Enjoy!

-------------------

- Without giving anything away, can you give us a taste of the story that is A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE?

At its core it’s about one elf’s conflicted identity and the extremes he’s prepared to go to in order to find a resolution. As this elf also commands a regiment of soldiers and bears both gift and curse from a magical power the repercussions of his choices have increasingly dire consequences for those around him and the world at large. It’s also an epic fantasy with a quest, trees you won’t want to hug, a tinge of Kipling’s Tommy, Fraser’s Flashman and Cornwell’s Sharpe and an elf who sees the forest as just so much lumber. If your ears are up to it you can hear me describe it at http://www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/1416570519/PC145_1416570519.mp3

- Tell us a little more about yourself. What's the 411 on Chris Evans?

Like most male fantasy writers I got into this profession to meet women. I mean, who wouldn’t be impressed with a line like “Sooo, I write about elves…” ? I don’t have the final answer yet, but so far, a lot.

My full-time job is that of editor of history, military history, current affairs and conflicts for Stackpole Books. I edit over forty titles a year including the Stackpole Military History Series which takes up a significant amount of my time and energy. I have degrees in English/History, Political Science, a Masters in History and somewhere in my armoire a re-stitched t-shirt that is my good luck charm because I didn’t die while wearing it though the police report suggests I came close (winter, highway outside Montreal, fast car, stupid kid at the wheel – me - and a whole lot of concrete overpass pillar).

I’m originally from Canada and have lived in the US for eight years so at this point I feel more North American than anything else. I’ve been the historian on battlefield tours of Europe and absolutely love the Normandy region of France. I broke my jaw and tailbone playing hockey and a tooth playing cricket (turns out I’m not nearly as fast or agile as I think I am).

- Can you tell us a little more about the road that saw this one go from manuscript form to finished novel?

Slow, winding, bumpy and delightfully surprising. Being an editor in New York I know the secret handshakes, but that just doesn’t amount to much without a story to back it up, perseverance and some luck. I did what any new writer does – banged my head against a few walls, emailed, called, revised, pestered friends to read and comment, drafted query letters, and spent a lot of time waiting and hoping. The offer was made last summer so it took a year from there to being in stores. The actual book took around a year and a half to write, although its genesis goes all the way back to the day I defended my MA thesis in the summer of 1998.

- Simon & Schuster are really pushing A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE as if it might be the fantasy debut of the year. Are you happy to have such a positive buzz surrounding the book, or are you afraid that this might raise readers' expectations too high?

Having just returned from Comic Con I’d say the push I’m getting is more like the gentle nudge of a summer breeze when compared to the way a lot projects are being sold! Actually, Pocket Books have been terrific. I can’t imagine any author not wanting this kind of support, especially in such a competitive market, so I am very appreciative of everything they’re doing for me. Case in point, I just found out while at Comic Con that the S&S subrights team sold translation rights to the novel in Russia and Japan. I’ve never been to either country, but now my story will. What writer wouldn’t that?

As for expectations, well, I happily put my trust in readers being able to decide for themselves. A publisher can’t force anyone to buy a book nor can a critic force them not to. Readers, especially those of SFF, are a proud and intelligent lot. Many of them are writers themselves and they can make up their own mind in these matters so whatever is said, positive or negative, is a bit like that summer breeze – you might notice, but I’d be surprised if that’s all it took to blow you off a course of your own choosing.

- What can readers expect from the upcoming sequels?

Definitely a little darker, though the humor will remain. Kipling’s influence will continue as I go deeper into his famous if troubling expression of an Empire’s duty - the white man’s burden – but expressed within a fantasy setting. The world will expand as the Iron Elves travel to ever distant lands which will allow me to add more details, cultures and sense of place and time. - What's the progress report on the next volume? Any tentative release date yet?

Book 2 of the Iron Elves, The Light of Burning Shadows, is due out in North America July 2009. I’ll be turning in the manuscript this fall. Book 3 will follow in the summer of 2010.

- Will you be touring to promote the book this summer? If so, are there any specific dates that have been confirmed as of yet?

Not touring exactly, but I did just get back from Comic Con and will be heading up to Canada next month for a few days. Being a first time author means I am virtually anonymous. Despite the best efforts of publicity and marketing it typically takes several books over several years to build any kind of significant name recognition in the public at large, especially if you want to do signings.

- What was the spark that generated the idea which drove you to write A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE and the rest of the series in the first place?

There were several sparks. The works of Rudyard Kipling, George MacDonald Fraser, and Bernard Cornwell were major ones. I was also intrigued with the notion of having a protagonist at odds with himself and his environment and how he’d cope with ever mounting stresses. I also became fascinated with a villain that acted not out of pure evil, but from a twisted sense of love and devotion. And at a very base level I just wanted to write a big epic fantasy and create my own world.

- What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

I strive to craft a story that will be a fun and enjoyable read. From feedback I’ve received so far it appears my sense of humor and knowledge of the military are appreciated as well. I’m the first to admit I have room to improve and that’s actually one of the most exciting aspects about all of this. The challenge to do better, try more, take risks and push yourself.

- Were there any perceived conventions of the fantasy genre which you wanted to twist or break when you set out to write A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE and its sequels?

Yes and no. I enjoy traditional fantasy for what it is, am not embarrassed by it, tired of it, or see a need to denigrate it. At the same time I did want to try something a bit different when writing mine so I chose a setting inspired by the works of Kipling and his views of imperialism, colonialism and the life of the regular British soldier.

I edit over 40 nonfiction titles a year in military history, current affairs and conflicts so writing a fantasy was a wonderful change of pace. At the same time my background provides a rich source of historical and personal references from which to borrow and weave into my narrative. Creating an elf character like Konowa Swift Dragon, the antithesis of the Legolas/Galadriel brand of elf, was definitely high on my list. And I wanted to get down in the weeds a bit more to explore the perspective of the average soldier who typically makes up the backdrop in all the battles that rage throughout epic fantasy.

- In light of the current market, are you tempted to write one of those enormous fantasy epics which continue to be the most successful series at the moment?

I have ideas for several different books and series, including nonfiction. What tempts me is what interests me. If it transpires that the Iron Elves continues to grow in popularity from book to book I will certainly take that into consideration, but there’s a lot more I want to write above and beyond that. At the moment, the series is planned as a trilogy with some thought to an additional two or three books and the outside possibility of a spin off with one of the characters.

- The fact that there is a website dedicated to your work is an indication that interaction with your readers is important to you as an author. How special is it to have the chance to interact directly with your fans?

Being an editor for eight years I’ve come to wear the cynical armor you acquire to survive in this business. Being a published author for all of a few weeks has shattered that armor in interesting ways. Meeting fans in person at Comic Con genuinely touched me. It was a surprise, which in itself was a surprise because I figured I’d seen it all. Normally when I get approached at a show it’s by someone wanting me to buy their book. This time, people just wanted to say hello and talk about what I’d written. So yes, the interaction is important, more so than I envisioned.

- Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy Award/Hugo Award? Why, exactly?

Bestseller, because by its very nature you’re engaging with a large audience of readers, and as a story teller, that’s my purpose/desire. Having the respect and admiration of your peers is fine, but it’s not why I write and I’d hazard a guess to say it’s not why most writers write. I’m not seeking affirmation from the doyens of the genre. Quite simply, I want to write a story that entertains. Don’t get me wrong though, I have a crushed blue velvet tux in the closet just waiting to get aired out at an awards banquet should I ever be asked, but in the meantime I’m content to toil away writing my stories with the knowledge that there are readers out there eagerly awaiting the next book. That’s the kind of accolade that puts a bounce in my step.

- What authors make you shake your head in admiration? Many fantasy authors don't read much inside the genre. Is it the case with you?

Terry Pratchett, although in his case it’s more shake my ribs in laughter. The man is genius. The Night Watch, Mort, Moist Von Lipwig, and now Tiffany Aching and the Nac Mac Feegles keep me up late into the night. J.K. Rowling is another. Her style is so deceptively simple, but hides an incredible layered complexity that has made her the juggernaut she is, and deservedly so. From time to time I dip into the worlds of Jordan, Salvatore, Tad Williams, Novik, Riordan, Colfer, and more, but as a full-time nonfiction editor the vast majority of my reading by necessity is in the fields of history and current affairs. It’s also necessary from a research perspective, so should you bump into me at the library you’re likely to find me reading something by Barbara Tuchman, John Keegan, Christopher Browning, Terry Copp, Richard Holmes, Rick Atkinson, a personal memoir from a soldier in Napoleon’s army or a news magazine. I’m unabashedly proud to call myself a fantasy writer, but I suspect I’d flunk the Fantasy Comparative Lit 101 test. I do great in gym, though…well, except for the broken jaw, tailbone and tooth incidents.

- Cover art has become a very hot topic of late. What are your thoughts pertaining to that facet of a novel, and what do you think of the cover that graces A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE?

I’m thrilled to bits with the cover they created for the novel. It’s strong and straightforward and looks sharp. Cover art’s purpose is to grab eyeballs. If it’s able to do more than that then bravo, but the minimum threshold is to make the book stand out enough that the browsing reader takes a second look and is then compelled to pick it up. I guess you could say I fall in the utilitarian camp. Cover art needs to earn its keep.

Aesthetically, if everyone is doing literal interpretations then it might make sense to go abstract. If everyone is going edgy and dark, try light and fluffy. A cover is designed for a commercial purpose. Artists know this and plan accordingly, crafting a design that will allow the title to appear without cropping an important detail. From years in publishing I can tell you that at every cover conference I’ve attended the central point has been “will this cover work?” And by that they mean will it help sell the book.

- More and more, authors/editors/publicists/agents are discovering the potential of all the SFF blogs/websites/message boards on the internet. Do you keep an eye on what's being discussed out there, especially if it concerns you? Or is it too much of a distraction?

Being human, well, as human as an editor can be, I have succumbed to temptation on a few occasions and Googled myself and my book. Apparently, in addition to being a damn handsome movie actor in the Fantastic Four franchise (in retrospect, I should have asked them to not put my author photo in the book and thereby fuel the speculation) it turns out I’ve written a novel that some people like, and others don’t. Alas, be they encouraging or disparaging, there just isn’t much blood to be wrung from those stones. Of course it’s wonderful to be praised and frustrating to be panned, but the danger is that you get hung up on what’s being said instead of doing what you should be doing and writing the next book. That said, the internet is an exceptionally valuable tool and I do peruse SFF sites looking for the latest information on conventions, movies, and a general sense of what’s going on in the world of SFF. I found Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog that way. There is an incredibly vibrant and engaged community of SFFers out there and that’s a very positive sign for the future.

- Honestly, do you believe that the speculative fiction genre will ever come to be recognized as veritable literature? Truth be told, in my opinion there has never been this many good books/series as we have right now, and yet there is still very little respect (not to say none) associated with the genre.

I believe speculative fiction has achieved more respect and standing in modern history than any other genre. I just read that something like 42 films are being made about super heroes. The biggest movies ever from Star Wars to LOTR to Dark Knight to everything from Pixar all hail from speculative fiction. Fantasy series appear to be thriving – Jordan, even after his death, George R.R. Martin and the saga eagerly watched by legions wondering when the next book will drop, the never ending popularity of Harry Potter etc. - so it seems the public at large have voted with their wallets and deemed speculative fiction more than worthy.

I think the more prickly question is, whose respect is one seeking? How does one get this respect? Does everything that came before have to be torn down in order to stand up something new, and dare I say it, respectable? And again, respectable to whom? There seems to be a predilection toward internecine rivalry in SFF that pits epic versus new weird, graphic versus sensitive etc. Richard Morgan commented on this and though I’m brand new on the scene I find much of what he says to be true.

I’ve written what is categorized as a traditional epic fantasy with a few twists and tweaks, but nothing so much that it’s unrecognizable from the long line of fantasies that have come before. My inspiration has more to do with Kipling’s view of the British Empire than it does with Tolkien’s, but I’ve used fantasy conventions like elves and magic to explore that view and so that’s what people focus on. Fair enough. It certainly helps the bookstores figure out where to shelve it. My view of genres in general, however, is that it’s so much tribalism. A lot of time and energy goes into trying to define where a book belongs along the speculative-mainstream continuum. It’s a bit like trying to compare a horse to a car to a plane. Each are modes of transportation, but each serves a different need and want with its own particular utility, attraction and limitation. I view books the same way.

- Anything you wish to add?

Only that I appreciate the opportunity to speak with your readers and the chance to introduce myself and my work. Becoming an author has given me new insights into everything my authors go through when their books are published including speaking in public such as on a blog like this. As an editor I used to guard my privacy, but as an author I’m learning to open up a bit more, though I suspect my reticence still shows through. Turns out the learning process never stops, and that’s a gratifying realization.

Cheers,

Chris

Win an autographed copy of Paul Kearney's THE TEN THOUSAND

Thanks to the cool folks at Solaris, I have a signed copy of Paul Kearney's upcoming The Ten Thousand up for grabs! Since I'm partly responsible for this one seeing the light, I needed to do a giveaway, that goes without saying! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

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

Cryptonomicon

For some unfathomable reason, Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon has been sitting on the shelves of my apartment for years, patiently awaiting my attention. And as inexplicable as it may sound, I read the author's epic The Baroque Cycle beforehand, for I believed that going through the prequels would make reading Cryptonomicon an even better experience. Though it does give you some background information on certain events and characters, let me emphasize the fact that one should not feel obligated to read Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World to fully enjoy Cryptonomicon. It reads very well on its own.

If you relish big (900+ pages) and complex novels, then Stephenson's Cryptonomicon might be your cup of tea. And my sources indicate that it's child's play compared to the author's forthcoming Anathem (Canada, USA, Europe), so consider yourselves warned! Convoluted doesn't begin to describe the plot and subplots. As was the case with Quicksilver, some portions of the book get technical to a degree I'm not sure I understood in its entirety, but it doesn't prevent you from following the storylines. Still, I'll admit that I did skim some parts pertaining to mathematics and the equations involved for the decryption of German and Japanese secret codes when my head began to spin.

I particularly loved how Neal Stephenson linked the events occurring prior and during World War II with the explosion of the World Wide Web and all its ramifications. Cryptonomicon is an absurdly ambitious endeavor, and Stephenson finds a way to deliver the goods!

This doorstopper novel is comprised of three principal storylines. The first one focuses on Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse, a mathematical genius in the U. S. Navy. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Waterhouse will be assigned to the secretive outfit known as Detachment 2702. Their mission is to keep the Nazis ignorant of the fact that the Allies have cracked the Germans' Enigma code.

The second storyline features another member of Detachment 2702, one crazy Marine named Bobby Shaftoe. If you've read The Baroque Cycle, then I'm persuaded that the name rings a bell. Needless to say, Shaftoe's gung-ho style makes for a lot of action-packed and hilarious scenes.

The third storyline centers on Waterhouse's grandson, crypto-hacker and would-be businessman Randy. He and his partners are attempting to create a data haven in Southeast Asia, but they are besieged on all sides by foreign governments, multinationals, and shady individuals, all of whom are trying to prevent them from accomplishing their objective. To Randy's dismay, he will unearth the makings of a conspiracy which dates back to WWII and Detachment 2702, and which is also linked to yet-to-be-broken Nazi code named Arethusa.

Cryptonomicon is extremely vast in scope, and I got the feeling that the author at times sort of "got lost" along the way in this sprawling novel. Indeed, some chapters are little more than ramblings that don't move the plot forward. And yet, Stephenson's witty writing style is such that most of these, though they contribute very little in the overall story arc, will have you cracking up. The Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse ejaculation management program immediately comes to mind!

Ambitious, complex, funny, wild, fascinating, insightful -- Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon is all that and more.

Highly recommended.

The final verdict: 8/10

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

News update

A little over a week ago, as I was trying to make sense of what I had on tap, I told you guys that I had a lot of marbles up in the air. Now that the smoke has cleared somewhat, I have a better idea of what you can expect to see on the Hotlist in the coming weeks.

I finished Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon last night, so a book review will follow in a day or two. I'm now about 100 pages into David Louis Edelman's MultiReal, and the sequel is as good as Infoquake thus far.

As far as interviews are concerned, you can expect to see Q&As with Chris Evans, author of A Darkness Forged In Fire (Canada, USA, Europe), with Melinda Snodgrass, author of The Edge of Reason (Canada, USA, Europe), with David Louis Edelman as soon as I'm done with MultiReal, and with Joe Abercrombie, to promote the US release of Last Argument of Kings. I might also try to put something together with Ekaterina Sedia, but it's all a question of timing.

In addition to the giveaways that were announced in the "This and that" post, I do have a lot of goodies for you! First and foremost, I will have prize packs consisting of about 10 different books each up for grabs, both from Solaris and Orbit. Stay tuned for that!

I will have a signed first edition hardback copy of Peter F. Hamilton's The Temporal Void (Canada, USA, Europe) for you to win. I will have three copies of the UK edition of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Justice (Canada, USA, Europe), as well as three copies of the US edition of Joe Abercrombie's Last Argument of Kings (Canada, USA, Europe). As always, there is more to come in the contest department!:-)

I will likely be unveiling a new feature in the next couple of days. I don't want to expose the whole thing at the moment because there are a few kinks to iron out, but this new feature is based on many readers' suggestions. So I went around and asked authors and editors if they were interested, and things are progressing nicely at the moment. See, even if I don't have time to respond to all your messages, I do read everything that comes my way. If all goes well, the first two authors to be "showcased" will be Patrick Rothfuss and Richard Morgan. . .

Oh, before I forget, Robin Hobb got back to me regarding that new feature, and she told me that Dragon Keepers (her upcoming Rain Wilds novel) should be turned in before the end of the year. Which means that, if all goes according to plan, the book should hit the shelves in late 2009!

Speaking of new features, there is another project I have in mind, and which I'll try to sell to various authors. It's a shot in the dark as we speak, but if it works it could be quite fascinating. I'll keep you posted if there is any forward momentum, otherwise I will let it die a slow death. . .

That's about it for now.:-)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer

Don't know about you guys, but I hadn't seen this one yet. . .

It sucks being back home. . .:-(

Though I know many people hanging around in these parts are glad to have me back in SFF blogging mode, I have to admit that I terribly miss backpacking around Eastern Europe. I realize that a rainy day in Helsinki or Riga beats a rainy day in Montreal, hands down!

The toughest part of coming to terms with the fact that the adventure is over is when you go through your digital photos to select those that you will get done. In my case, that meant reviewing over 1200 pictures. But now that the final cut has been decided upon, it's pretty much the end of the road for me.

I couldn't help but smile when I came across my very own SI swimsuit issue, which was a covert operation while I was exploring the various beaches of Jurmala, Latvia. I have one of those compact digital cameras that fit in your pocket, so I didn't have any of those great zoom lens permitting me to capture the natural beauty of the Latvian women in all of their splendor. No, this was an undercover gig from the get-go, with me risking my health by taking snapshots of sexy girls and trying to make sure that jealous boyfriends would not knock my lights out in the process. Surprisingly, I came up with quite a few pics that my friends (the guys, it goes without saying) will find artistically appealing!;-) Those on Facebook should see a couple of them!

In addition, I was pleased to discover that Club Essential (the biggest club in Riga) posted pics of the night we were there. Thankfully, Yours Truly didn't make the cut, but many fine ladies did. I poked around their website for a few minutes, and here's a couple of reasons to consider visiting Riga.

The gorgeous blonde with the shot glass at the top of the post just downed a Pirag -- vodka, apple juice, and cinnamon -- after which you bite into a piece of orange. Quite good, yet I wouldn't want a hangover from that alone.

Ah, Riga. . . If only I could be there right now!;-)

For the record, Club Essential wasn't particularly the shit. Especially not with those expensive drinks! But the scenery, as everywhere else in beautiful Riga, was arresting!:p

Should SFF bloggers get paid???

Gabe Chuinard wrote an interesting piece on the subject yesterday. Although I agree with him to a certain extent, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea of getting paid per se. At least not in the sense of having an employer, as this could shatter what credibility I've built over the years. In addition, I wonder how much liberty one would have if someone else who pays the bills would be calling the shots. Still, a lot of what Gabe says has merit, and it deserves to be explored and discussed a bit further. To all you kids out there, see how Gabe and I can agree on occasions!:p

It goes without saying that maintaining an oft-updated SFF book-reviewing blog is a time-consuming affair. Alas, the vagaries of life dictate that we all need to have jobs and/or go to school. Society demands that we spend time with friends and family, that we take care of our significant other, or spend a ridiculous amount of time and energy looking for one (only to realize how good we had it when we were single, though being single gets old after a while, and the whole viscious circle begins anew). Someone has to take the kids to the babysitter, do the groceries, go to the gym, have a social life, yada yada yada -- all in all, the components of a "normal" person's existence. Hence, as an ever-growing number of hours are consumed by what is essentially a hobby, this means that blogging either gets in the way of other, more important stuff, or that some of your nights are getting shorter. It doesn't matter from what angle you decide to look at it, it soon becomes obvious that blogging takes a lot of your time.

So are publishers using some -- perhaps all -- SFF blogs as cheap labor? The answer is yes. The Blogosphere is a resource for them, and like all resources publishers will exploit it to its fullest, even though they still don't fully understand the phenomenon. Let's face it: Were our roles reversed, we'd do the exact same thing. It's a business, after all. The main problem, as I see it, is that way too many bloggers make it too easy for publishers to exploit the Blogosphere in such a way. As Gabe pointed out, too many people feel beholden to the publishers sending them review copies. Read what you feel like it, period! I received well over 200 books a year nowadays. And if memory serves me right, my most "prolific" year in terms of reviewing saw me read 45 or 46 novels. How do I select what I'll read? By simply choosing what strikes my fancy at any given time. I must wholeheartedly agree with Gabe that the credibility of such reviewers can be put in question at some point.

Naturally, I can't speak for everyone involved, but I never had any intention of using the Hotlist as a springboard to become a professional literary critic. Heck, this whole blogging experience was not supposed to last more than a few weeks for me, and now look at me! Going in, I was pretty much convinced that this was going to be a vulgar hobby, that it would never get me anywhere. When, absurdly, it did, I realized that to maintain the content of the Hotlist would turn out to be a labor of love, so to speak. I was acutely aware that I would never get paid what I "deserved" for everything I did, and that was all right. For a time, at least.

The last year saw the Hotlist's traffic increase even more, meaning that I was now spending more and more time making sure that the blog was up to the standard I had established over the years. As you know, I elected to put a number of ads on the blog to get a little something back for the time I spent bringing you Pat's Fantasy Hotlist. Blogging was now getting in the way of a lot of things in my life, and I needed to get something in return. It's still too early to assess whether or not those ads will be worthwhile, for me and for those who post them.

As I mentioned, though I wanted to find ways to monetize the blog to a degree, I remain uncomfortable with the idea of getting paid "directly" for the blogging I do. Mainly because I've been doing this for the fun of it, and as soon as it becomes akin to a job and becomes tedious, then I'm out. I've always said that, if I had been in this for the money, I would have gone into porn. And I'm serious! This has been an extremely cool gig for nearly 4 years, but I never for a second believed that it would earn me good money at any point in time. Moreover, if we got paid by anyone for our reviews, rumors of bribes would come out of the woodwork, casting the entire Blogosphere into a negative light.

Having said that, I'm all for getting paid "indirectly." I said it before and I'll say it again, it's not the readers who should be pick up the tab. Publishers have money, they have marketing budgets, etc, so they should be the ones spending the money. After all, readers fork out their hard-earned dough to buy novels based on my recommendations, so it would be hypocritical to demand that they possibly do more. Also, the online community has been, historically, a non-paying market. Personally, I created Pat's Fantasy Hotlist because I wasn't getting what I wanted out of reviews, in newspaper and SFF magazines that I needed to pay for. I think that most of the appeal in the Hotlist lies in the fact that fans can just get news and reviews free of charge in a single click of their mouse. Hence, I get the feeling that the online community -- or at least the bulk of it -- has no interest in paying for any services bloggers provide. Which is why I decided to go for the ads on the blog. And ads that generated funds through renting space for a period of time, not per click. Still, the fact that Gabe clicks on the ads on websites of interest speaks very well of him, and more people should be doing it (since many of our favorite sites and message boards depend on the revenues generated by such clicks).

One of the main problems, I feel, is that most publishers don't really know what to make of the Blogosphere taken as a whole. As Gabe mentions, there has been a proliferation of SFF blogs in recent years. So much so that even I, one of the players, can't make sense of all that's going on. There are simply too many blogs out there, and editors and publicists don't have the time or mental energy to wade through the crap to discover the jewels. The fact that I'm still telling editors to send ARCs to this and that blogger in 2008 goes to prove that the Blogosphere has grown to such an extent that it's simply beyond them to evaluate the quality and content of all the SFF book-reviewing blogs out there.

Before anyone calls me out on this, yes I'm aware that I'm partially to blame for this sad state of affairs. As an editor reminded me not so long ago when we were bitching about this very problem, Pat's Fantasy Hotlist was -- shall we say the inspiration -- behind the creation of quite a few blogs which saw the light in the last few months. I fought for so long to get publishers to recognize that content was more important than the medium used (back then, a blog was perceived as a virtual turd. They only sent out ARCs and review copies if you had a website). I wanted publisher to recognize that some bloggers deserved the kudos and some respect. To my consternation, they went for the medium instead of the content. And now, anyone who took 5 minutes to create a blog can get his or her hands on review copies. Makes you kind of wonder what it was all for, in the end, eh???

Anyway, being too busy to monitor blogs on a regular basis, publicists find it easier to send out review copies to just about everyone who has made it to their mailing list. As Gabe pointed out, it's a business expense for them and they have a budget for that. So it's nothing for publishers to do that, what with it being part of the deal. And I don't see this changing any time soon. To make matters worse, the "we're all a happy-go-lucky family" attitude among certain bloggers undermines the credibility of the entire SFF Blogosphere. Truth to tell, all this political correctness sometimes makes me want to puke. I mean, to be all it can be to fans and SFF readers, the Blogosphere needs to be a dysfunctional family, the way it was a few years back. With so many bloggers so afraid to make a faux pas, scared to say anything that will halt the flow of free books, is it any wonder that many blogs bring absolutely nothing to the dance. Say what you will of guys like Gabe Chouinard, Jay Tomio and William Lexner, they stand up for what they believe in, come hell or high water. This is what makes them such interesting bloggers. I want the Blogosphere to be the kind of family that's going to end up on Jerry Springer!

From what I gather, it appears that publishers feel that only a small number of SFF bloggers have "something worthwhile" to say, and hence deserves to get more than just review copies. The thing is, in my opinion there are several blogs worthy of recognition out there. And somehow, due to all the crap that dilutes the quality products, they are overlooked. I've always made it a point to attempt to raise awareness in them, but it doesn't always work. . .

But everything comes to those who can wait. If there's one thing I've learned in the last three and a half year, it's that the wheels of the publishing world machine move extremely slowly. The internet, and blogs in particular, are perceived as a resource, but most publishers constantly appear at a loss as to how to utilize these tools to their fullest potential.

You must also consider the hierarchy of these big companies. Take me for example. When I finally decided to go with the ads for the Hotlist, something that took months of reflection, I contacted every single person I know in the business -- agents, authors, editors, publicists, directors of marketing, even one president! Everyone who got back to me felt that it was a terrific idea. Editors-in-chief and senior editors wasted no time forwarding this information to their online marketing people, so that things can follow their course. If you've been paying attention, you likely know that publishers have not been duking it out to bid on the ad space found on the Hotlist. Keep in mind that the people occupying the highest echelons of that hierarchy are really interested in those ads. But I figure that the online marketing departments have their own hierarchy, and the committees are studying the merits of the idea, etc. As is the case with everything, it's going to take time. In all likelihood, it's going to take a couple of months.

At some point, publishers will determine which blogs are worth their while, and SFF ads will probably become as common place as book giveaways. Don't forget that I had to fight with publicists for about a year before anyone deigned to give me the opportunity to host a giveaway. Gabe's idea for a genre ad network is wonderful, but I doubt that we'll see it happen any time soon. Unless, as Ran pointed out on Westeros, someone creates it, for I doubt that publishers would be willing to work together to put such a network together. Still, it would speed things up and help monetize a lot of blogs and websites without putting the reviewers' credibility in jeopardy.

Unfortunately, as far as truly getting paid is concerned, unless you write for a paying market, I don't see that happening anywhere in the future. Just the possibility that bribes could be exchanged would probably undermine the whole thing. . .
Don't know if I'm making a whole lot of sense here. . . Which is why I shouldn't be writing such long posts before going to bed. . .

So the idea of getting paid in legit fashion doesn't sit well with me. Oh, I'm no fool (though many would dispute that claim); I'm well aware that the Hotlist's popularity helps move some books. Indeed, the amount of traffic the site generates never ceases to astonish me. I know that, in terms of monetary value, I give a lot more than I receive. But in the end, the SFF genres have given me a lot. Authors have provided me with countless hours of reading pleasure for over two decades now. Call me stupid (I've always been a bit of a romantic), but it does feel good to be giving something back to both fantasy and science fiction.

Running the Hotlist allowed me to get in contact with some of my favorite authors. It permitted me to discover a slew of new and promising genre writers. It has put me in touch with pros and fans alike, made me a part of the SFF community, which has made everything quite rewarding.

Hence, as much as I encourage publishers to buy more ad space on the blog, and as much as I urge everyone to click on those Amazon links, I'm nevertheless getting a lot more out of Pat's Fantasy Hotlist than I ever bargained for. And money can't buy that. . .

Perhaps it's easy for me to say this since I never had any aspirations to be more than a vulgar fan reviewer. I don't know. Hang in there, Gabe. Opportunities will arise in the future, and as one of the preeminent bloggers out there you'll have the chance to take advantage of them, whatever they turn out to be. As I sais, things need to follow their course, and in the publishing universe that can take a while. . .

Now, can someone tell MJH to say something I won't like! Gabe and I can't be seen agreeing on stuff like this. After all, we both have reputations to uphold. . .;-)

Jacqueline Carey contest winners!

Our three winners will each get their hands on a complimentary copy of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Scion (Canada, USA, Europe), courtesy of the kind folks at Orbit.

The winners are:

- Cheryl Lim, from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (cat catching on asoiaf.westeros.org)

- Rita Silva, from Palmela, Portugal

- Georgi Tsochev, from Sofia, Bulgaria

Thanks to all the participants!

Quote of the day

It would be an idyllic tropical paradise if not for the malaria, the insects, the constant diarrhea and resulting hemorrhoids, and the fact that the people are dirty and smell bad and eat each other and use human heads for decoration.

- NEAL STEPHENSON, Cryptonomicon

DVD sale on Amazon

Since many of you took advantage of the last promotion, I have just been notified that several DVD boxsets of popular TV shows can be had for up to 53% off on Amazon.com: Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Dexter, Lost, Entourage, etc.

In addition, SFF titles such as the Matrix installments, Heroes, Batman Begins, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum, The X-Files, Alien, Planet of Apes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Millennium, Dark Angel, Roswell, etc, can be purchased at up to 58% off.

There is also a Blu-Ray deal: Buy 2 titles and get one free. So you might want to browse around and see if there's anything that strikes your fancy. . .:-)

Though, as a matter of course, they don't offer the same deals, I found stuff discounted at up to 63% off on Amazon.ca and 67% off on Amazon.co.uk.

Check it out here: Canada, USA, Europe