Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Review v.3
It almost seems like I’m always buying stuff for myself, rather than receiving things for review. Well, that’s not true! You know how I know? Because the following book arrived in my mailbox from the far away and extremely exotic land of Australia. It came in an envelope made of kangaroo fur, and when I opened it, the sweet sound of didgeridoo’s playing “Down Under” by Men At Work wafted into my living room, followed by a floating can of Vegemite. Okay, so none of that is actually true, except the part about it coming from Australia. But it’s still cool to get stuff from far away lands, no? Here’s the image (after the fold): Oh, and don’t forget the cool stuff on the inside (plus a bookmark): And now for the description (from Amazon): The King’s Bastard (King Rolen’s King series) by Rowena Corey Daniels The Kingdom of Rolencia sleeps as rumours of new Affinity Seeps, places where the untamed power wells up. By royal decree all those afflicted with Affinity must serve the Abbey or face death. Sent to the Ab bey, the King’s youngest son, Fyn, trains to become a warrior monk. Elsewhere others are tainted with Affinity and must fight to survive. Political intrigue and magic combine in this explosive first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy. It’s on my reading list for sure! What about you? Did you get anything interesting recently?
Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Me v.19
You might recall that I was in England at the start of July for a conference and some “me” time. Being overly obsessed with the printed medium, I made time to peruse the bookstores while I was in Lincoln. And boy did I find some nice stuff! I have a gift for finding awesome stuff when I go book shopping, apparently (or so I think). Here’s what I found (after the fold, hopefully): And now for the descriptions, from left to right, top to bottom (taken from Amazon): 1. Vermilion Sands by J. G. Ballard A novel set in the fictional landscape of the future, Vermillion Sands. (Note: Yes, that description is dreadfully short. I tried finding a more appropriate description, but none was forthcoming, I’m afraid.) 2. The Crystal World by J. G. Ballard J. G. Ballard’s fourth novel, which established his reputation as a writer of extraordinary talent and imaginative powers, tells the story of a physician specializing in the treatment of leprosy who is invited to a small outpost in the interior of Africa. Finding the roadways blocked, he takes to the river, and embarks on a frightening journey through a strange petrified forest whose area expands daily, affecting not only the physical environment but also its inhabitants. 3. The Unlimited Dream Company by J. G. Ballard From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller ‘Cocaine Nights’ comes an acclaimed backlist title — in which suburban London is transformed into an exotic dreamworld — now reissued in new cover style. When a light aircraft crashes into the Thames at Shepperton, the young pilot who struggles to the surface minutes later seems to have come back from the dead. Within hours everything in the dormitory suburb is strangely transformed. Vultures invade the rooftops, luxuriant tropical vegetation overruns the quiet avenues, and the local inhabitants are propelled by the young man’s urgent visions through ecstatic sexual celebrations towards an apocalyptic climax. 4. Blue Light by Walter Mosley San Francisco in the 1960s is already crazy enough when mysterious shafts of blue light touch the lives of random strangers. 5. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell From David Mitchell, the Booker Prize nominee, award-winning writer and one of the featured authors in Granta’s “Best of Young British Novelists 2003” issue, comes his highly anticipated third novel, a work of mind-bending imagination and scope. A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; a high-minded journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilisation — the narrators of Cloud Atlas hear each other’s echoes down the corridor of history, and their destinies are changed in ways great and small. In his captivating third novel, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of language, genre and time to offer a meditation on humanity’s dangerous will to power, and where it may lead us. I’m actually looking forward to reading all of these. Hopefully I’ll have some time over Christmas to do so, because the Ballard and the Mitchell are definitely at the top of my “fun reading” list. What are you looking forward to reading?
Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Me v.18
Once again I have things that have arrived in my mailbox that I think you all might be interested in, not simply because some of the items listed below will become part of a giveaway I will be running soon. But you’ll just have to wait to find out about that. Now for the image (after the fold, hopefully): And now for the descriptions, from left to right, top to bottom: 1. Spectra Pulse Magazine, Fall 2008/Winter 2009, Issue No. 2 (2 copies; given to me by one of the makers) The second and last issue of one of the best fan-oriented SF/F literature-based magazines contains an excerpt from Scott Lynch’s The Republic of Thieves, an original piece of short fiction by Kelley Armstrong, and a number of articles on the changing face of fantasy, Arthur C. Clarke, some must-read books, and much more. I loved the first issue, so I have no doubt that I’ll love this one too. 2. Spectra Pulse Magazine, Spring/Summer 2008, Premiere Issue (given to me by one of the makers) The first issue of this magazine contains an exclusive excerpt from George R. R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons and articles on some forgotten science fiction novels, the progression of science fiction, and a lot of other fascinating stuff. As I mentioned above, I’ve already read this issue and it is quite good. 3. The Journal of Popular Culture, June 2010, Vol. 43, No. 3 (subscribed) This issue contains articles on Eminem, fat culture, Hellboy, Right-wing blogging after 9/11, and intertextuality, ambiguity, and fear and loathing in the work of Hunter S. Thompson, among other subjects. I don’t think this issue has as many interesting things for me as the previous issue, but there might still be some good reading here regardless. 4. Interzone Magazine, #229, July-August 2010 (subscribed) The latest issue of Interzone contains fiction by Paul Evanby, Antony Mann, Toby Litt, Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, and Richard Wagner, plus book and media reviews. As usual, I suspect that this issue will be quite good. I’ve yet to dislike an issue of Interzone. You should subscribe. Seriously. Do it. 5. The Journal of American Culture, June 2010, Vol. 33:2 (subscribed) This issue contains articles on the Gettysburg ghost tours, the negotiations of love and work in Jayne Ann Krentz’s work, tuberculosis memoirs, Teddy Roosevelt and the golden age of children’s literature, coon songs and the performance of race, and more. There are also some book reviews buried in there somewhere. I don’t think this particular issue has much for me, except perhaps that article on coon songs (I study the “other” in science fiction, so it might provide some background). We’ll see. 6. Science Fiction Studies #111, Vol. 37, Part 2, July 2010 (subscribed) The latest issue of Science Fiction Studies contains articles on defining science fiction, the death ray in history and science fiction, Gibson’s Neuromancer, and the imperial theme in early anglophone science fiction. There are also loads of book reviews and announcements. As usual, the issue looks interesting. And that’s that. Hopefully some of these look interesting to you. If not, then that’s unfortunate. Have you acquired anything of interest lately? Let me know in the comments.
Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Me v.17
I’ve got an interesting story to tell about the books below. Both were won by me for separate reasons: one for something amusing I did and one for something nice I did for someone else. And perhaps more importantly, both books have received considerable buzz within the fantasy community for, I presume, being quite good. I haven’t read either, so I can only hope that the fans are right. So, without further delay, here are the books (after the fold, hopefully): (Because each book has a story, I’m going to change things up for the description section. I’m also saving the best for last, because it has a fun little story and some free “fiction.”) First up is a signed copy of Naomi Novik’s Tongues of Serpents, the next novel in her Temeraire series. This particular book arrived unannounced in my mailbox. It turns out that a number of months ago I had participated in a promotion by the fine folks at Del Rey, which resulted in the first book in Novik’s series ending up in the hands of my mother, who promptly rebuked me for getting her hooked on the series. As a result, some many months later, the folks at Del Rey saw fit to send a signed copy of her newest book. A very unexpected and wonderful thing indeed. What is the book about? Here’s the synopsis (from Amazon): A dazzling blend of military history, high-flying fantasy, and edge-of-your-seat adventure, Naomi Novik’s Temeraire novels, set in an alternate Napoleonic era in which intelligent dragons have been harnessed as weapons of war, are more than just perennial bestsellers—they are a worldwide phenomenon. Now, in Tongues of Serpents, Naomi Novik is back, along with the dragon Temeraire and his rider and friend, Capt. Will Laurence. Convicted of treason despite their heroic defense against Napoleon’s invasion of England, Temeraire and Laurence—stripped of rank and standing—have been transported to the prison colony at New South Wales in distant Australia, where, it is hoped, they cannot further corrupt the British Aerial Corps with their dangerous notions of liberty for dragons. Temeraire and Laurence carry with them three dragon eggs intended to help establish a covert in the colony and destined to be handed over to such second-rate, undesirable officers as have been willing to accept so remote an assignment—including one former acquaintance, Captain Rankin, whose cruelty once cost a dragon its life. Nor is this the greatest difficulty that confronts the exiled dragon and rider: Instead of leaving behind all the political entanglements and corruptions of the war, Laurence and Temeraire have instead sailed into a hornet’s nest of fresh complications. For the colony at New South Wales has been thrown into turmoil after the overthrow of the military governor, one William Bligh—better known as Captain Bligh, late of HMS Bounty. Bligh wastes no time in attempting to enlist Temeraire and Laurence to restore him to office, while the upstart masters of the colony are equally determined that the new arrivals should not upset a balance of power precariously tipped in their favor. Eager to escape this political quagmire, Laurence and Temeraire take on a mission to find a way through the forbidding Blue Mountains and into the interior of Australia. But when one of the dragon eggs is stolen from Temeraire, the surveying expedition becomes a desperate race to recover it in time—a race that leads to a shocking discovery and a dangerous new obstacle in the global war between Britain and Napoleon. Sounds pretty interesting, no? The second book is Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton. Before getting into the story about how I acquired it, I’m going to give you the synopsis: Following in the footsteps of writers like China Miéville and Richard K. Morgan, Mark Charan Newton balances style and storytelling in this bold and brilliant debut. Nights of the Villjamur marks the beginning of a sweeping new fantasy epic. Beneath a dying red sun sits the proud and ancient city of Villjamur, capital of a mighty empire that now sits powerless against an encroaching ice age. As throngs of refugees gather outside the city gates, a fierce debate rages within the walls about the fate of these desperate souls. Then tragedy strikes—and the Emperor’s elder daughter, Jamur Rika, is summoned to serve as queen. Joined by her younger sister, Jamur Eir, the queen comes to sympathize with the hardships of the common people, thanks in part to her dashing teacher Randur Estevu, a man who is not what he seems. Meanwhile, the grisly murder of a councillor draws the attention of Inspector Rumex Jeryd. Jeryd is a rumel, a species of nonhuman that can live for hundreds of years and shares the city with humans, birdlike garuda, and the eerie banshees whose forlorn cries herald death. Jeryd’s investigation will lead him into a web of corruption—and to an obscene conspiracy that threatens the lives of Rika and Eir, and the future of Villjamur itself. But in the far north, where the drawn-out winter has already begun, an even greater threat appears, against which all the empire’s military and magical power may well prove useless—a threat from another world. Another interesting book, if you ask me. Fantasy seems to be hitting all the right buttons these days, that’s for sure. But how did I acquire this particular book? Well, Mr. Newton hosted a contest on his blog for signed copies of the U.S. edition of Nights of Villjamur; in that contest, he asked folks to write an entertaining, guilt-tripping, or weird explanation for why we deserved or wanted a copy of the book. I wrote the following unusual peace of nonsense, which one might call New Weird if one is so inclined: Dear Mr. Newton, I’m going to be totally honest about my response. I feel you deserve it. I’ve hidden this from the public, but that doesn’t make it any less true. In fact, it’s very true indeed. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with
Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Me v.16
At some point in the last month or so, I won a whole bunch of books and a very unusual object. Imagine my surprise when I showed up at the front office of my apartment complex to find out that someone had sent me an enormous box of stuff that I didn’t order and didn’t know was coming. No, I didn’t acquire a zombie head in a cooler or a magic wand from a strange world dominated by giant blue monkeys. I acquired this (after the fold, I hope): It’s a set of Circleware bejeweled martini glasses. What am I going to use them for? No idea. I don’t drink martinis, but maybe I should start. And what about the books that came with it? Here they are: Here are the descriptions, from left to right, top to bottom (taken from Amazon): 1. Killer Blonde by Laura Levine A gal with a serious Ben & Jerry’s habit and credits including a tome entitled “I Was Henry Kissinger’s Sex Slave” can’t afford to be too picky about employment opportunities. So when Beverly Hills socialite Sue Ellen Kingsley offers Jaine megabucks to ghostwrite a book of hostess tips, it’s time to sharpen the #2s. So what if Jaine has to take dictation from a rail-thin lady of leisure in a bubble bath? Pride doesn’t feed the cat and the dubious side benefit of this particular job is an up-close, personal view of the amorous exploits of Hollywood’s ladies-who-lunch. The only bright spot is sixteen-year-old Heidi, a girl after Jaine’s own heart. Shy, overweight, and oppressed by her step-mother, Sue Ellen, Heidi could use a friend as much as Jaine could use an ally. But everything short circuits when Jaine finds Sue Ellen floating face down in her tub, fried by her own blow dryer. Peroxided suspects abound, including a very private masseuse, a jealous nurse, a former game show hostess…even a closet blonde with a surprising secret. One of them is hiding a murderous heart behind pricey highlights, and Jaine’s out to expose the killer’s dark roots. Because blondes have enough fun without getting away with murder… 2. This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine Jaine Austen is a hip, jack-of-all-trades writer who spends her days penning steamy personal ads. No one needs her help more than geeky Howard Murdoch, whom Jaine successfully sets up on a date. All goes well until Valentine’s Day, when Howard finds his new love has been bludgeoned to death. 3. The PMS Murder by Laura Levine On the frontlines of the battle of the bulge, otherwise known as trying on bathing suits in the communal dressing room at Loehmann’s, freelance writer Jaine Austen makes a new friend–a wannabe actress named Pam–and gets a new job: sprucing up Pam’s bare-bones resume. Their feeling of connection is mutual, so Pam invites Jaine to join The PMS Club-a women’s support group that meets once a week over guacamole and margaritas. But joining the club proves to be more a curse than a blessing for Jaine. Though she is warned that Rochelle, the hostess, makes a guacamole to die for, Jaine never takes the warning literally. Until another PMS member, Marybeth, drops dead over a mouthful of the green stuff after confessing she is having an affair with Rochelle’s husband. While Rochelle and her husband are the obvious suspects, everyone at that night’s meeting is under suspicion, including Jaine. So, instead of dishing dirt with The PMS Club, Jaine has to dig up dirt on the surviving members. And soon it becomes clear: someone in this club thinks getting away with murder should be a privilege of membership… 4. Shoes to Die For by Laura Levine Freelance writer Jaine Austen is not your typical Los Angelino. She’s not rich, she’s not thin, and she’s definitely not starstruck. She is a sarcastic, sometime-sleuth who’s never met a carb she didn’t like…or a mystery she couldn’t solve…If clothes make the man, then what do Jaine’s elastic-waist pants and T-shirts make her? A fashion nightmare, according to her neighbour, Lance. She doesn’t expect Lance – who works in the designer shoe department at Nieman Marcus – to understand…which is how she ends up visiting his favourite boutique, Passions. While the couture is definitely not for Jaine, the staff’s gossip is. Tiny orange-haired clerk Becky starts complaining about her co-worker Giselle – a.k.a. “Frenchie” – a brittle blonde who, when she’s not making fun of customers behind their backs, adds extra-marital notches to her Chanel belt. Though Jaine doesn’t land a new look, she does land a new job when Passions’ owner gives her a chance to write their new magazine ads. But when Jaine arrives the next morning to pitch her ideas, she finds Frenchie pitched over, stabbed in the neck by one of her own stilettos. Now all Jaine has to do is figure out who hated Frenchie the most, in a case of death by designer knock-off… 5. Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine When writer-for-hire Jaine Austen signs on to script vows for the ultimate Bridezilla, “I do’s” soon become “I wish I hadn’t’s”–and curtains for the bride spell a veil of woes for Jaine… Jaine’s accepted her share of lame gigs to pay the bills, but rewriting Shakespeare’s got to be an all-time low. The fiasco begins with a call from Jaine’s high-school nemesis, uber rich uber witch Patti Devane. It seems Patti will soon be sashaying down the aisle with another former classmate from Hermosa High, and she’d like the exchange of vows to evoke Romeo and Juliet…except without the “downer” of an ending. Even worse than the assignment itself is dealing with Patti as a client. At least Jaine’s not alone, as nobody can stand the demanding, spoiled, and incredibly rude Bridezilla from Hell. Patti’s managed to rack up an amazingly long list of enemies in a short time, not the least of whom include her prospective mother-in-law, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Patti’s stolen soon-to-be groom, and
Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Me v.15
A few more things have been trickling in over the last few weeks. This is an attempt on my part to play catchup. I think I’m going to spend the next week or so getting fully caught up on all the stuff that has arrived at my door. So, without further delay, here is the image for v.15 (after the fold, hopefully): And the descriptions (from left to right, top to bottom): 1. Interzone Magazine, Issue #228, May-June 2010 (subscribed) New science fiction and fantasy stories by Mario Milosevic, Jon Ingold, Melissa Yuan-Innes, Jason Sanford David D. Levine. Book reviews. Ansible Link by David Langford. Mutant Popcorn by Nick Lowe (film reviews). Laser Fodder by Tony Lee (DVD/Blu-ray reviews). Readers’ Poll results. Cover art is the third of six 2010 connected images by Warwick Fraser-Coombe. Illustrations by Dave Senecal, Jim Burns, Mark Pexton, Darren Winter, Richard Wagner. In colour! (A note from me: one of the things that I think has drastically improved this magazine, which I already love greatly, is the new interior design. It’s sleek, visually appealing, and uncluttered. If you don’t have a subscription, get one now!) 2. SFRA Review, Issue 292, Spring 2010 (subscribed) The issue contains calls for papers for journals and conferences, nonfiction reviews on a number of fascinating books (some on the Wizard of Oz world, Lovecraft, and H. G. Wells), fiction reviews (various authors, from Iain M. Banks to Ian McDonald), media reviews on Avatar, Pumzi, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and others, and an article on scholarly research and writing, which I actually found quite useful. I personally would like to see more articles in future issues. 3. Animythical Tales by Sarah Totton (won) In this elegant volume, award-winning author Sarah Totton takes her readers on speculative journeys of the heart and mind that will both challenge and engage you. Within these tales, readers will learn the meaning of darkness and pain and fear. Yet they will also learn about love and happiness and laughter. Sarah Totton explores the full kaleidoscope of the human heart and peels it back, one layer at a time. She offers her readers a full palette of emotions and stories to sift through, never settling, never holding back, and never flinching. Whether she is writing about the loss of innocence through dark revelations, the point to which a human mind can be stretched before succumbing to the magic of faerie, or something as preposterous as cloud-fishing in a world with pink yaks, the stories in Animythical Tales are always told with an eye toward revealing something important about the human condition. If you have ever yearned to fall into fabulous adventures in unforgettable worlds, Animythical Tales is the collection for you. 4. Elizabeth Street: A Novel Based on True Events by Laurie Fabiano (won) In Elizabeth Street, Laurie Fabiano tells a remarkable, and previously unheard, story of the Italian immigrant experience at the start of the twentieth century. Culled from her own family history, Fabiano paints an entrancing portrait of Giovanna Costa, who, reeling from personal tragedies, tries to make a new life in a new world. Shot through with the smells and sights of Scilla, Italy, and New York’s burgeoning Little Italy, this intoxicating story follows Giovanna as she finds companionship, celebrates the birth of a baby girl, takes pride in a growing business, and feels a sense of belonging on a family outing to Coney Island. However, these modest successes are rewarded with the attention of the notorious Black Hand, a gang of brutal extortionists led by Lupo the Wolf. As the stakes grow higher and higher, readers share with Giovanna her desperate struggle to remain outside the fray, and then to fight for—and finally to save—that which is important above all other: family. 5. Starcraft II: Heaven’s Devils by William C. Dietz (won) For the poor, hardworking citizens of the Confederacy’s fringe worlds, the Guild Wars have exacted a huge toll. Swayed by the promise of financial rewards, a new batch of recruits joins the fight alongside a slew of mysteriously docile criminals — and a few dubious military leaders. Eighteen-year-old Jim Raynor, full of testosterone and eager to make things right at home, ships off to boot camp and finds his footing on the battlefield, but he soon discovers that the official mission is not what he’s really fighting for. For the first time ever, StarCraft enthusiasts will learn the origins of the enduring friendship between the young upstart Jim Raynor and the streetwise soldier Tychus Findlay. Watch as they battle on the front lines of a fierce interplanetary war and bear witness to the Confederacy’s rank corruption — corruption so reprehensible that it rains immeasurable death and destruction upon the government’s own people. 6. Extrapolation, Spring 2010, Volume 51, No. 1 Volume 51 is pretty world SF and history heavy. There are articles on Brazilian and Bengali science fiction, one article on African American SF before black power SF, some really interesting looks at theories of history, genre, and video games (specifically EVE Online), and an article by Ken MacLeod on how science fiction does and does not contribute to the public understanding of science. All in all, a well-rounded issue! There you have it. So, what have you purchased or received recently?