This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 25th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep is up one position, ending the week at number 6. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In paperback:

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game maintains its position at number 1.

George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons maintains its position at number 2.

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is up nine positions, ending the week at number 9.

Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead maintains its position at number 12.

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is down three spots, finishing the week at number 15 (trade paperback).

George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows returns at number 25.

Stephen King's Joyland is down one position, ending the week at number 25 (trade paperback).

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Don't know for how long, but you can now download George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire 5-book boxed set for only 9.99$ here!

The bundle includes:

- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance With Dragons

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download the special digital edition of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander for only 2.29$ here!

Here's the blurb:

This eBook includes the full text of the novel plus the following additional content:

• An excerpt from Diana Gabaldon’s Dragonfly in Amber, the second novel in the Outlander series
• An interview with Diana Gabaldon
• An Outlander reader’s guide

Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another...

In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon—when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire's destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life ...and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.


You can also download Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's A Memory of Light for only 4.29$ here.

Here's the blurb:

‘And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died.’ From Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon.

In the Field of Merrilor the rulers of the nations gather to join behind Rand al’Thor, or to stop him from his plan to break the seals on the Dark One’s prison – which may be a sign of his madness, or the last hope of humankind. Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, leans toward the former.

In Andor, the Trollocs seize Caemlyn.

In the wolf dream, Perrin Aybara battles Slayer.

Approaching Ebou Dar, Mat Cauthon plans to visit his wife Tuon, now Fortuona, Empress of the Seanchan.

All humanity is in peril – and the outcome will be decided in Shayol Ghul itself. The Wheel is turning, and the Age is coming to its end. The Last Battle will determine the fate of the world.

For twenty years The Wheel of Time has enthralled more than forty million readers in over thirty-two languages. A MEMORY OF LIGHT brings this majestic fantasy creation to its richly satisfying conclusion.

Working from notes and partials left by Robert Jordan when he died in 2007, and consulting with Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson has recreated the vision Jordan left behind.

Win a copy of Ian Tregillis' SOMETHING MORE THAN NIGHT


I have a copy of Ian Tregillis' Something More Than Night up for grabs, compliments of the folks at Tor Books. It's been described as "a brain-bending combo of angelic cosmogony, high-level physics and meta-noir." For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

Ian Tregillis's Something More Than Night is a Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler inspired murder mystery set in Thomas Aquinas’s vision of Heaven. It’s a noir detective story starring fallen angels, the heavenly choir, nightclub stigmatics, a priest with a dirty secret, a femme fatale, and the Voice of God.

Somebody has murdered the angel Gabriel. Worse, the Jericho Trumpet has gone missing, putting Heaven on the brink of a truly cosmic crisis. But the twisty plot that unfolds from the murder investigation leads to something much bigger: a con job one billion years in the making.

Because this is no mere murder. A small band of angels has decided to break out of heaven, but they need a human patsy to make their plan work.

Much of the story is told from the point of view of Bayliss, a cynical fallen angel who has modeled himself on Philip Marlowe. The yarn he spins follows the progression of a Marlowe novel—the mysterious dame who needs his help, getting grilled by the bulls, finding a stiff, getting slipped a mickey.

Angels and gunsels, dames with eyes like fire, and a grand maguffin, Something More Than Night is a murder mystery for the cosmos.

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

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

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

Good luck to all the participants!

The Last Dark


Although it featured a great ending, Against All Things Ending proved to be a disappointing novel and probably the weakest Thomas Covenant installment to date. Still, it left the door open for an exciting finale and I was really looking forward to discovering how Donaldson would close the show. Sadly, the final chapter in The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant suffers from the same shortcomings which made Against All Things Ending such a disappointment.

In my review of the third volume, I pointed out that it seemed evident that Donaldson had four powerful endings planned. Which, I felt, was likely why he structured this series into a four-book sequence. Trouble is, I feared that he lacked the material to truly come up with four fully satisfying installments, and that this series could have worked better as a trilogy. Having reached the end of The Last Dark, I can now confirm that it's unfortunately the case. The last two volumes feature more filler than killer material. . .

Here's the blurb:

Compelled step by step to actions whose consequences they could neither see nor prevent, Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery have fought for what they love in the magical reality known only as "the Land." Now they face their final crisis. Reunited after their separate struggles, they discover in each other their true power--and yet they cannot imagine how to stop the Worm of the World’s End from unmaking Time. Nevertheless they must resist the ruin of all things, giving their last strength in the service of the world's continuance.

Donaldson's narrative in every Covenant novel always conjures up vivid and magical images, and The Last Dark is no exception. I've said before that few speculative fiction authors can match Donaldson when it comes to creating an imagery that literally leaps off the page, and it's still true. Like the rest of this series, this final volume is vast in scope and vision. In terms of worldbuilding, The Last Dark answers many of the questions raised by all its predecessors. Revelations abound and it's nice to see everything come full circle in the end.

Anyone familiar with Stephen R. Donaldson should be aware that nothing is ever easy with this author. Hence, don't expect everything to be peaches and cream, not when the Land lies on the brink of destruction. Now more than ever, the relationships between Linden Avery and Thomas Covenant and Jeremiah remain difficult, painful, and bittersweet. All three are POV protagonists in this novel, which creates an intriguing balance between the narratives. And since the three of them are emotionally a world away from each other, witnessing events and seeing the story progress through the eyes of such disparate people makes for an interesting reading experience.

Though it's not as bad as in the third installment, the characterization sometimes leaves something to be desired. As always, revelations are made that will break Linden's heart, and she must find the strength within herself to persevere. Linden Avery has always been a flawed protagonist. In the past, it always made her more genuine. But in Against All Things Ending Donaldson clearly went overboard with the guilt, the self-loathing, and the painful emotions. In The Last Dark, Linden is once again a more "balanced" character. Another aspect of the characterization which put off some readers in the third volume was Covenant's passiveness. It was all due to the fact that his mind was broken, yet for the better part of the novel Thomas Covenant was little more than a plot device giving the rest of the cast something to react to. Not so in this one. For the better part of the book, Covenant is in the driver seat, trying his damnedest to prevent the end of the world and the death of all he holds dear. Given his harrowing past, it was nice to have the chance to enter Jeremiah's mind and see how he reacts to the world around him.

The book's greatest shortcoming, and what literally kills it at times, is its snail pace. True, all Thomas Covenant installments have never been known for their crisp and fast-moving rhythm. Every Covenant book has suffered from a more sluggigh pace once in a while, so Donaldson fans have come to expect this. But Against All Things Ending suffered from extremely long and often boring portions that sort of put a damper on the few truly awesome sequences found in the book. The same goes for The Last Dark. Being the final volume in the series, as a matter of course several important story arcs are brought to resolution. For the most part, these are great and bring closure to plotlines introduced in all three Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Problem is, one must endure a never-ending travelogue of over 300 pages during which, à la Sanderson in A Memory of Light, the cast must go through countless battles in order to reach the heart Mount Thunder. Such a high number of random fight sequences was so atypical for Donaldson and bored me in such a way that it very nearly killed the entire book for me.

With about half of the novel wasted on the characters walking from point A to point B, or on recurrant battle scenes that bring little or nothing to the story other than filling more pages with meaningless blood and gore, I felt that it often robbed the important sequences of their rightful emotional impact. The grand finale, when it comes, offers a decidedly anti-climactic resolution to the series. I enjoyed it and liked how it ties everything up, while leaving the door open for future sequels. Having said that, The Last Dark failed to close the show the way The Power That Preserves and White Gold Wielder did in the first two Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Considering the vast amount of filler material found in the two last installments, it is now obvious that this series would have worked a lot better as a trilogy. Although it was meant to be the most ambitious Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Donaldson last series failed to live up to the potential generated by the first two trilogies.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

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

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Jim Butcher's Cold Days for only 2.49$ here!

Here's the blurb:

After being murdered and then brought back to life, Harry Dresden soon realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Chicago’s only professional wizard.

He is now Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. Her word is his command. And her first command is the seemingly impossible: kill an immortal. Worse still, there is a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could mean the deaths of millions.

Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent an apocalypse, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound infinite powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…

His soul.

A Star Wars breakup. . .


Well. . .

Girls can play too: Why Game of Thrones isn’t sexist


There is an interesting article by Emlyn Roberts-Harry on Screenrobot.com. She eleborates on female nudity and sexism in HBO's TV adaptation of George R. R. Martin's international bestselling series. Here's a teaser:

After accusations that HBO’s Game of Thrones is demeaning to women, one writer argues that the claims are unfounded.

[...]

It’s not all about power, though: Game of Thrones’s success in striking a balance between weakness and strength is what makes its female characters so compelling, and I would argue that it has one of the best female ensembles on TV right now. The usual trap for making a good female character is to make her ‘strong’ and define her solely on her strength, but generic ‘Strong Female Characters’ are boring: it’s the fact that Daenerys is allowed to be weak and frightened when it’s appropriate that makes her so interesting and believable.

This is even more the case for Brienne the Beauty, ridiculed by all the other characters on the show for her plainness and status as a warrior woman. The character was never in danger of being a sex object, but she could easily have become a Strong Female Character, disdainful of men and interested only in fighting. But she’s also a hopeless romantic at heart, utterly devoted to Renly Baratheon and determined to be a true, noble knight in a world where nobility gets you killed. And while she does probably merit the status of damsel in distress when being mauled by a bear, she was only rescued because she allowed herself to bond with a man she had every reason to hate. Again, it’s that emotional vulnerability that makes us believe in her as a character.

So yes, Westeros is a world where women are treated pretty terribly. But that only gives Game of Thrones the opportunity to show their struggles against adversity, which is what leads to interesting drama and engaging characters.

Follow this link to read the full article.

French cover art for Scott Lynch's THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES


Courtesy of the fine folks at Elbakin.net!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download the tenth anniversary edition of Elizabeth Moon's The Speed of Dark for 2.99$ here!

Here's the blurb:

In the near future, disease will be a condition of the past. Most genetic defects will be removed at birth; the remaining during infancy. Lou Arrendale, a high-functioning autistic adult, is a member of the lost generation, born at the wrong time to reap the rewards of medical science. He lives a low-key, independent life. But then he is offered a chance to try a brand-new experimental “cure” for his condition. With this treatment Lou would think and act and be just like everyone else. But if he was suddenly free of autism, would he still be himself? Would he still love the same classical music—with its complications and resolutions? Would he still see the same colors and patterns in the world—shades and hues that others cannot see? Most important, would he still love Marjory, a woman who may never be able to reciprocate his feelings? Now Lou must decide if he should submit to a surgery that might completely change the way he views the world . . . and the very essence of who he is.

Thoughtful, provocative, poignant, unforgettable, The Speed of Dark is a gripping journey into the mind of an autistic person as he struggles with profound questions of humanity and matters of the heart.


You can also download Octavia E. Butler's Kindred for 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana’s life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.

Musical Interlude



Nice Pet Shop Boys cover!

New Neil Gaiman interview

The Newstatesman.com has a new interview with Neil Gaiman. Here's a teaser:

It was much, much more fun being absolutely unknown, and have people go, ‘Oh my God, this guy’s good’.

It's a good read and you can check it out by following this link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Until December 5th, the folks at Gollancz are offering Frank Herbert's bestselling classic Dune for only £1.49 here!

Here's the blurb:

The Duke of Atreides has been manoeuvred by his arch-enemy, Baron Harkonnen, into administering the desert planet of Dune. Although it is almost completely without water, Dune is a planet of fabulous wealth, for it is the only source of a drug prized throughout the Galactic Empire. The Duke and his son, Paul, are expecting treachery, and it duly comes – but from a shockingly unexpected place.

Then Paul succeeds his father, and he becomes a catalyst for the native people of Dune, whose knowledge of the ecology of the planet gives them vast power. They have been waiting for a leader like Paul Atreides, a leader who can harness that force…

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Orson Scott Card's The Memory of Earth for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

High above the planet Harmony, the Oversoul watches. Its task, programmed so many millennia ago, is to guard the human settlement on this planet--to protect this fragile remnant of Earth from all threats. To protect them, most of all, from themselves.

The Oversoul has done its job well. There is no war on Harmony. There are no weapons of mass destruction. There is no technology that could lead to weapons of war. By control of the data banks, and subtle interference in the very thoughts of the people, the artificial intelligence has fulfilled its mission.

But now there is a problem. In orbit, the Oversoul realizes that it has lost access to some of its memory banks, and some of its power systems are failing. And on the planet, men are beginning to think about power, wealth, and conquest.

At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 18th)

In hardcover:

Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep is down two positions, ending the week at number 7. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Charlaine Harris’ After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse is down seventeen spots, finishing the week at number 19.

In paperback:

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is up one position, ending the week at number 1.

George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons is down one position, ending the week at number 2.

George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons is down five positions, ending the week at number 7 (trade paperback).

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is down two spots, finishing the week at number 12 (trade paperback).

Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead debuts at number 12.

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is down two positions, ending the week at number 18.

Stephen King's Joyland is up one position, ending the week at number 24 (trade paperback).

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


For today only, you can download Stephen King's 11/22/63 for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination—a thousand page tour de force.

Following his massively successful novel Under the Dome, King sweeps readers back in time to another moment—a real life moment—when everything went wrong: the JFK assassination. And he introduces readers to a character who has the power to change the course of history.

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life – a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

A tribute to a simpler era and a devastating exercise in escalating suspense, 11/22/63 is Stephen King at his epic best.

Some seriously weird paperback covers


This from weirdtalesmagazine.com:

Weird: of strange or extraordinary character.

Now that’s a broad definition if there’s ever been one.

And it’s one that makes choosing some of the weirdest paperback covers out there no mean task.

In searching for the weirdest covers I had to broaden my definition of what can be considered weird and for which reasons.

There are those covers which have that spark if inspired insanity. Then there are those which are totally inappropriate considering the contents. And there are those which evoke a strong sense of “What?” and lastly there are those covers which simply make one pause and say “now that’s weird”

Here’s a small sampling of vintage paperback covers that fall into at least one of those categories. Enjoy!

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

Follow this link to see some REALLY special covers!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can download Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter: Barsoom Series (7 Novels) A Princess of Mars; Gods of Mars; Warlord of Mars; Thuvia, Maid of Mars; Chessmen of Mars; Master Mind of Mars; Fighting Man of Mars for only 0.99$ here! That's over 1200 pages for less than a buck!

Here's the blurb:

When John Carter goes to sleep in a mysterious cave in the Arizona dessert, he wakes up on the planet Mars. There he meets the fifteen foot tall, four armed, green men of mars, with horse-like dragons, and watch dogs like oversized frogs with ten legs. His adventures continue as he battles great white apes, fights plant men, defies the Goddess of Death, and braves the frozen wastes of Polar Mars. In other adventures, the Prince of Helium encounters a race of telepathic warriors, the Princess of Helium confronts the headless men of Mars, Captain Ulysses Paxton learns the secret of human immortality, and Tan Hadron's idealized notion of love is tested as he fights off gigantic spiders and cannibals.

Edgar Rice Burroughs vision of Mars was loosely inspired by astronomical speculation of the time, especially that of Percival Lowell, who saw the red planet as a formerly Earth-like world now becoming less hospitable to life due to its advanced age. Burroughs predicted the invention of homing devices, radar, sonar, autopilot, collision detection, television, teletype, genetic cloning, living organ transplants, antigravity propulsion, and many other concepts that were well ahead of his time. The books in the Barsoom series were an early inspiration to many, including science fiction authors Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury, they influenced renowned scientist Carl Sagan in his quest for extraterrestrial life, and were instrumental in the making of James Cameron's Avatar, and George Lucas' Star Wars.

This edition includes 35 illustrations by Frank Schoonover, J. Allan St. John, V. Cutta, P. J. Monahan, George Wildschut & Frank R. Paul.

New Ian Tregillis interview


Kirkus Reviews just posted a new interview with Ian Tregillis, author of the awesome The Milkweed Triptych (Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War, and Necessary Evil), as part of their Best Books of 2013 coverage.

Most of the piece focuses on the forthcoming Something More Than Night (Canada, USA, Europe), which is described as "a brain-bending combo of angelic cosmogony, high-level physics and meta-noir."

Here's the blurb:

Ian Tregillis's Something More Than Night is a Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler inspired murder mystery set in Thomas Aquinas’s vision of Heaven. It’s a noir detective story starring fallen angels, the heavenly choir, nightclub stigmatics, a priest with a dirty secret, a femme fatale, and the Voice of God.

Somebody has murdered the angel Gabriel. Worse, the Jericho Trumpet has gone missing, putting Heaven on the brink of a truly cosmic crisis. But the twisty plot that unfolds from the murder investigation leads to something much bigger: a con job one billion years in the making.

Because this is no mere murder. A small band of angels has decided to break out of heaven, but they need a human patsy to make their plan work.

Much of the story is told from the point of view of Bayliss, a cynical fallen angel who has modeled himself on Philip Marlowe. The yarn he spins follows the progression of a Marlowe novel—the mysterious dame who needs his help, getting grilled by the bulls, finding a stiff, getting slipped a mickey.

Angels and gunsels, dames with eyes like fire, and a grand maguffin, Something More Than Night is a murder mystery for the cosmos.

Follow this link to read the full interview.

Limited edition of Vincent Chong prints for sale!


Vincent Chong started selling limited edition Giclee prints of a small selection of his illustrations. To sample what's available, you can follow this link.

For more info about this World Fantasy Award-winning artist and his work, check out his official website!

New US cover art for Scott Lynch's THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA


Pretty neat new cover for Lynch's debut!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can download Brandon Sanderson's Infinity Blade: Awakening for only 2.99$ here!

Here's the blurb:

Trained from birth in swordplay and combat, a young knight named Siris has journeyed to the Dark Citadel with a single purpose: fight through the army of Titans to face the tyrannical God King in one-on-one combat. This was his father’s sacred mission, and his father’s before him, going back countless generations in an effort to free their people from enslavement. But when Siris somehow succeeds where all those from his bloodline previously have failed, he finds himself cast into a much larger world, filled with warriors and thieves, ancient feuds and shifting alliances, Deathless immortals and would-be kings. His quest for freedom will take him on an epic journey in search of the mythical figure known as the Worker of Secrets – the one being in the world who can unravel the secrets of the Infinity Blade.

Based on the bestselling video game from ChAIR Entertainment and Epic Games, this all-new adventure from acclaimed fantasy author Brandon Sanderson digs deeper into the fantastical world of Infinity Blade, a world of mystery and intrigue where magic and technology are indistinguishable, and even life and death are not what they seem.

And you can download Infinity Blade: Redemption for the same price here.

Here's the blurb:

Long months have passed since Siris and the God King, enemies betrayed
together, were left to rot in the prison at the Vault of Tears. Their 
true enemy -- the Worker of Secrets, creator of the Infinity Blade
itself -- now reigns.


 Upon finally obtaining freedom, Siris must unravel plots that seem to
 make no sense, lead a rebellion with no direction, and fight against the 
division within his very heart. The secrets unraveled will dig backward 
in time toward the origins of the deathless and the true nature of the 
world itself...


From #1 bestselling author Brandon Sanderson and ChAIR entertainment, creators of the blockbuster Infinity Blade video game series, comes the second novel in the epic Infinity Blade saga. This latest tale delves deeper into the fantastical world of Infinity Blade, a world of mystery and intrigue where magic and technology are indistinguishable and even life and death are not as they seem.

Mark Lawrence interviews Bradley P. Beaulieu


Mark Lawrence just posted an interview with Bradley P. Beaulieu on his blog! Here's a teaser:

So the three books of the Lays of Anuskaya are out and two reviewers I pay attention to (Justin Landon of Staffer’s Book Reviews and Pat of the eponymous Fantasy Hotlist) love the hell out of your work ... but it hasn’t been an easy road I’m guessing? Two books into the trilogy and your publisher, Nightshade Books rolled over and died, and the chances are they weren’t much help prior to the death scene as they were probably busy falling apart?

Yes, that was quite the interesting ride. The reception to the books, critically, was great. But having your publisher fall apart at the seams just as the final book was coming out was not an ideal situation. As things started heading south, I ended up getting rights back to the trilogy. I decided to run a Kickstarter to get the books out (the third, plus rebranding the first two). It was a ton of work to do so, but it was gratifying in its own way. I learned a lot about the publishing business, because, essentially, I had become my own publisher. And thank goodness for things like Kickstarter. They give the writer a viable option for bringing things out on his own, where even ten years ago one would really have no choice but to put up with whatever the industry threw at you.

In the end, I'll be honest. I'd much rather be writing books than stealing time from writing to produce and publish books. Self-publishing is still something I'll consider for things like story collections or even a book I really believe in but publishers can't find a way to market, but I'm also very pleased to now be part of the DAW Books and Gollancz families. I'm excited to see where the future takes us. Onward and upward, yes?

You can still download Beaulieu's The Winds of Khalakovo for only 2.99$ here.

Follow this link to read the full interview.

A Neil Gaiman-penned short film about a girl who tries not to fly



This from io9.com:

In a world where some children are able to fly, one girl is placed in an institution until she learns to keep her feet on the ground. She spends her life trying to be normal, even when a romance prompts her unleash her special talent.

Fashion designer Georgina Chapman directed the short film A Dream of Flying, written by Neil Gaiman, for Canon's Project Imagination.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 11th)

In hardcover:

Charlaine Harris’ After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse debuts at number 2.

Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep is down two positions, ending the week at number 5. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Dave Eggers' The Circle is down four spots, finishing the week at number 15.

Anne Rice's The Wolves of Midwinter maintains its position at number 22.

In paperback:

George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons debuts at number 1.

George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons debuts at number 2 (trade paperback).

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is down one position, ending the week at number 2.

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is up three spots, finishing the week at number 10 (trade paperback).

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones is down five positions, ending the week at number 16.

Kim Harrison's Ever After debuts at number 20.

Stephen King's Joyland maintains its position at number 25 (trade paperback).

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can download J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: One Volume for only 10$ here!

Here's the blurb:

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

From Sauron's fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.

When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.

The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.

This new edition includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting and, for the first time, an extensive new index.

The Devil Delivered and Other Tales


As a fan of epic fantasy, it's always interesting for me to read short fiction pieces from authors renowned for their doorstopper novels. As you are well aware, I'm a huge fan of Steven Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen, and I found all the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas but one to be quite appealing. So when this collection of three Erikson novellas came my way, I was curious to see what the author had to offer, especially given how disparate each tale appeared to be.

And although I did enjoy The Devil Delivered and Other Tales, the book failed to captivate me the way the Malazan installments have done in the past. Each piece features a different style and tone which at times make it hard to truly get into the stories. Of course, Erikson was exploring a number of themes using various types of narratives. But in the end, it doesn't always work as well as it should. . .

Here's the blurb:

Steven Erikson has carved a name for himself among the pantheon of great fantasy writers. But his masterful storytelling and prose style go beyond the awe-inspiring Malazan world. In The Devil Delivered and Other Tales, Erikson tells three different, but captivating stories:

“The Devil Delivered" tells a story set within the near future, where the land owned by the great Lakota Nation blisters beneath an ozone hole the size of the Great Plains. As the natural world falls victim to its wrath, and scientists scramble to understand it, a lone anthropologist wanders the deadlands, recording observations that threaten to bring the entire world to its knees.

“Revolvo” takes place in an alternate Earth where evolution took an interesting turn and the arts scene is ruled by technocrats who thrive in a secret, nepotistic society of granting agencies, bursaries, and peer-review boards, all designed to permit self-proclaimed artists to survive without an audience.

"Fishin’ with Grandma Matchie" is told in the voice a nine-year-old boy, writing the story of his summer vacation. What starts as a typical recount of a trip to see Grandma quickly becomes a stunning fantastical journey into imagination and perception in the wild world that Grandma Matchie inhabits.

"The Devil Delivered" was by far my favorite tale in this collection. It's an apocalyptic science fiction piece in which Mother Nature evolves from the brink of destruction and strange mutations seem to be the only thing that could help save mankind. It's a dark and brooding piece which is hard to understand due to the fact that for the most part the motivations of the principal protagonist are not explained until we reach the end of the novella. The flashback scenes help us understand the present, yet for the better part of the story one keeps wondering where this is going. Using Saskatchewan as a setting was kind of neat. So was incorporating Native Americans and the vision quest concept. It was interesting to go back in time and discover how everything went downhill and why there appears to be little hope for humanity. "The Devil Delivered" may not be perfect, but it's the closest thing to a Malazan tale that you'll find within the pages of this collection.

"Revolvo" is an absurb satire of what is likely the Canadian arts scene. Erikson seemed to have a bone to pick with the government's public founding of the arts and the tale that follows is a veritable tapestry of extremely bizarre plotlines. This novella is so "out there" that it's impossible to summarize it adequately in a few sentences. The narrative and dialogue are often quite witty and, though it's so strange you can never really tell what's going to happen next, the narrative is a lot of fun to read. "Revolvo" is brought to a decidedly weird and brutal ending that doesn't quite make any sense. But since nothing made much sense from the very beginning, it was the sort of unexpected ending this tale deserved.

"Fishin’ with Grandma Matchie" made me think of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Granted, Erikson's novella cannot hold a candle to Gaiman's latest work, but it does explore some similar themes and motifs. The tale is told from a young boy's point of view and that narrative is a joy to read. The Nordic mythology underlying some of the adventures the boy embarks upon with his grandmother adds a bit of depth to what is for the most part a humorous and fun-filled novella. Again, the retelling of those mythological tales occurs in rural Canada. Which is kind of cool for Canuck readers.

Given Steven Erikson's fertile imagination, it is no wonder that the author could come up with such disparate novellas. And for fans looking for something different to read while waiting for the release of the forthcoming Fall of Light, The Devil Delivered and Other Tales will allow you to discover different facets of Erikson's imagination and originality.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

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

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can still download K. J. Parker's Colours in the Steel for only 2.99$ here!

Here's the blurb:

An epic novel of blood, betrayal, and intrigue. . .

Perimadeia is the famed Triple City and the mercantile capital of the known world. Behind its allegedly impregnable walls, everything is available-including information that will allow its enemies to plan one of the most devastating sieges of all time.

The man called upon to defend Perimadeia is Bardas Loredan, a fencer-at-law, weary of his work and the world. For Loredan is one of the surviving members of Maxen's Pitchfork, the legendary band of soldiers who waged war on the Plains tribes, rendering an attack on Perimadeia impossible. Until now, that is.

But Loredan has problems of his own. In a city where court cases are settled by lawyers arguing with swords not words, enemies are all too easily made. And by winning one particular case, Loredan has unwittingly become the target of a young woman bent on revenge. The last thing he needs is the responsibility of saving a city.

New Stephen R. Donaldson interview

The folks at Barnesandnoble.com have a new interview with Stephen R. Donaldson, NYT bestselling author of The Last Dark (Canada, USA, Europe). Here's a teaser:

It seems to me that the Covenant books have been a subtle inspiration to a small number of subsequent fantasies. I'm thinking of darker, more complex work with a deep sense of morality, such as various series by Daniel Abraham, Patrick Ness, Patrick Rothfuss, and John Wright. Do you see your books reflected in a new generation of fantasy writers? Ultimately, what would you like your legacy to be?

I'm not qualified to comment on whatever has or has not influenced writers who are younger than I am. In any case, if a writer has nothing more to offer than a sum of influences, then he or she is probably not worth reading. However, on this subject I can speak for Steven Erikson -- but only because I've heard him speak for himself. I've often said that Tolkien made my work possible: he opened a door that I could walk through. Well, Erikson says the same about my books: they made his possible. For that I am both proud and grateful.

Asking me about the legacy I desire for myself is rather like asking me to remove all my clothes in front of a crowd of strangers. How much intimate exposure can I stand? Well, as it happens, I can stand quite a lot. So I'll say this: the legacy I crave for myself is to break down the absolutely artificial and arbitrary barricade which has been erected to separate "fantasy" from "literature." After all, all of the oldest and most enduring literature in every language on the planet is fantasy. That can't be an accident. And it can't be because our ancestors (however distant) were stupid: they were not. Why, then, is it considered somehow less than admirable or worthwhile -- or necessary -- for an ambitious modern man or woman to write fantasy?

Follow this link to read the full interview.

Ian Cameron Esslemont contest winner!


This lucky bastard will get his hands on my review copy of the mass market paperback edition of Ian Cameron Esslemont's Blood and Bone! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

The winner is:

- Scott Baldwin, from from Reno, Nevada, USA

Many thanks to all the participants!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can download Jason M. Hough’s The Darwin Elevator for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Jason M. Hough’s pulse-pounding debut combines the drama, swagger, and vivid characters of Joss Whedon’s Firefly with the talent of sci-fi author John Scalzi.

In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet’s refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator—created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders—emits a plague-suppressing aura.

Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by an international crew of fellow “immunes,” he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura’s edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is tapped—along with the brilliant scientist, Dr. Tania Sharma—to solve the mystery of the failing alien technology and save the ragged remnants of humanity.

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Don't know for how long it will last, but at the moment you can download the digital edition of Stephen R. Donaldson's The Last Dark for £0.49 here!

Here's the blurb:

Compelled step by step to actions whose consequences they could neither see nor prevent, Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery have fought for what they love in the magical reality known only as "the Land." Now they face their final crisis. Reunited after their separate struggles, they discover in each other their true power--and yet they cannot imagine how to stop the Worm of the World’s End from unmaking Time. Nevertheless they must resist the ruin of all things, giving their last strength in the service of the world's continuance.


In addition, Robin Hobb's Blood of Dragons can also be downloaded for the same price here!

Here's the blurb:

Dragon blood and scales, dragon liver and eyes and teeth. All required ingredients for medicines with near-miraculous healing powers. The legendary blue dragon Tintaglia is dying of wounds inflicted by hunters sent by the Duke of Chalced, who meanwhile preserves his dwindling life by consuming the blood of the dragon’s poet Selden Vestrit.

If Tintaglia perishes, her ancestral memories will die with her. And the dragons in the ancient city of Kelsingra will lose the secret knowledge they need to survive. Their keepers immerse themselves in the dangerously addictive memory-stone records of the city in the hope of recovering the Elderling magic that once allowed humans and dragons to co-exist. In doing so they risk losing their own identities, even their lives.

And danger threatens from beyond the city, too. For war is coming: war between dragonkind and those who would destroy them.

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Dark of Deep Below


It's been over three years since Subterranean Press released Patrick Rothfuss' The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed. This "not a book for children" turned out to be an interesting read, albeit a short one. It was obvious that we had not seen the last of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle, so I was pleasantly surprised when an ARC of this second installment showed up in my mailbox.

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Dark of Deep Below is once again illustrated by the talented by Nate Taylor. And weighing in at 159 pages, this time around I feel that you really get your money's worth. With Patrick Rothfuss' twisted sense of humor, I was curious to see where the author would take his tale next.

Here's the blurb:

We're pleased to announce the second volume in The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whifffle. This time around, Patrick Rothfuss and Nate Taylor have dreamed up an adventure that's nearly twice as long as the original.

In in first volume of The Adventures of The Princess and Mr. Whiffle, we learned what lurks beneath our beds. What's more, we learned that little girls are not helpless, and that princess are not always what they seem.

In this second installment of the Princess's adventures, we learn a little more about the Princess's family. We learn how dark it is in the Deep Below...

And we learn what happens when the Princess gets a little brother.

The Adventures of The Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Dark of Deep Below is a dark twist on the classic children's picture book.

Perfect for geek children and adults who love dark faerie tales, international bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss has described the Princess's adventures as, “Calvin and Hobbes meets Coraline, with a healthy dose of Edward Gorey mixed in.”

Visually, once again I must admit that Nate Taylor did a wonderful job. The art features all the trappings of a normal children's work. Humorous and cute in the foreground, yet a closer inspection reveals certain details that have nothing to do with children's books. And I'm sure that a reread would reveal a number of details I've missed the first time around. Once more, Taylor managed to give shape to Rothfuss' narrative perfectly, creating a beautiful imagery in the process. And the artist did elevate his game, for the illustrations in this second volume are even better than those featured in its predecessor.

There is more blood, gore, and violence in this one, and the narrative accompanying such sequences is for the most part witty and hilarious. It was interesting how Rothfuss incorporated the themes of love/hate/rivalry between siblings and made them the heart of the tale. Don't get me wrong. The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Dark of Deep Below remains a light read. And yet, there is more depth to the story than could be found in the first installment.

The better part of the book is told from the Princess' POV. But her little brother Gubby gets his own point of view near the end, which was nice. And of course, the ever silent and stalwart Mr. Whiffle is always there.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe, and Subpress.

Win a copy of DANGEROUS WOMEN, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois


Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Tor Books, I have three copies of Dangerous Women, a soon-to-be-released anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, up for grabs! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

All new and original to this volume, the 21 stories in Dangerous Women include work by twelve New York Times bestsellers, and seven stories set in the authors’ bestselling continuities—including a new “Outlander” story by Diana Gabaldon, a tale of Harry Dresden’s world by Jim Butcher, a story from Lev Grossman set in the world of The Magicians, and a 35,000-word novella by George R. R. Martin about the Dance of the Dragons, the vast civil war that tore Westeros apart nearly two centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones.

Also included are original stories of dangerous women--heroines and villains alike--by Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Sherilynn Kenyon, Lawrence Block, Carrie Vaughn, S. M. Stirling, Sharon Kay Penman, and many others.

Writes Gardner Dozois in his Introduction, “Here you’ll find no hapless victims who stand by whimpering in dread while the male hero fights the monster or clashes swords with the villain, and if you want to tie these women to the railroad tracks, you’ll find you have a real fight on your hands. Instead, you will find sword-wielding women warriors, intrepid women fighter pilots and far-ranging spacewomen, deadly female serial killers, formidable female superheroes, sly and seductive femmes fatale, female wizards, hard-living Bad Girls, female bandits and rebels, embattled survivors in Post-Apocalyptic futures, female Private Investigators, stern female hanging judges, haughty queens who rule nations and whose jealousies and ambitions send thousands to grisly deaths, daring dragonriders, and many more.”

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

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

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

Good luck to all the participants!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Don't know for how long, but right now you can download the entire Soldier Son trilogy by Robin Hobb (Shaman's Crossing, Forest Mage, Renegade's Magic) for only £0.49 here!

Here's the blurb for Shaman's Crossing:

Young Nevare Burvelle is the second son of a second son. Traditionally in Gernia, the firstborn son is heir to the family fortunes, the second son bears a sword and the third son is consecrated to the priesthood. Nevare will follow his father -- newly made a lord by the King -- into the cavalry; to the frontier and thence to an advantageous marriage, to carry on the Burvelle name. It is a golden future, and Nevare looks forward to it with relish.

For twenty years King Troven's cavalry have pushed the frontiers of Gernia out across the grasslands, subduing the fierce tribes of the plain on its way. Now they have driven the frontier as far as the Barrier Mountains, home to the enigmatic Speck people. The Specks -- a dapple-skinned, forest-dwelling folk -- retain the last vestiges of magic in a world which is becoming progressive and technologised. The 'civilised' peoples base their beliefs on a rational philosophy founded on scientific principle and a belief in the good god, who displaced the older deities of their world. To them, the Specks are primeval savages, little better than beasts. Superstitions abound; it is said that they harbour strange diseases and worship trees. Sexual congress with them is regarded as both filthy and foolhardy: the Speck plague which has ravaged the frontier has decimated entire regiments.

All these beliefs will touch Nevare's training at the Academy; but his progress there is not as simple as he would wish. He will experience prejudice from the old aristocracy: as the son of a 'new noble' he is segregated into a patrol comprising other new nobles' sons, all of whom will encounter injustice, discrimination and foul play in that hostile and deeply competitive environment. In addition, his world view will be challenged by his unconventional girl-cousin Epiny; and by the bizarre dreams which visit him at night. And then, on Dark Evening, the circus comes to Old Thares, bringing with it the first Specks Nevare has ever seen...

30 minutes of official footage from the long-lost Return of the Jedi LaserDisc!



Nice!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Three Subterranean Press limited editions by Alastair Reynolds can still be downloaded on the cheap!

You can get The Six Directions of Space for 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

What if Genghis Khan got his wish, and brought the entire planet under the control of the Mongols? Where would he have gone next?

A thousand years after Khan's death, Yellow Dog is the codename of a female spy working for a vast Mongol-dominated galactic empire. When she learns of anomalous events happening on the edge of civilised space -- phantom ships appearing in the faster-than-light transit system which binds the empire together -- Yellow Dog puts herself forward for the most hazardous assignment of her career. In deep cover, she must penetrate the autonomous zone where the anomalies are most frequent, and determine whether the empire is really under attack, and if so by who or what. Yellow Dog's problems, however, are only just beginning. For the autonomous zone is under the heel of Qilian, a thuggish local tyrant with no love for central government and a reputation for extreme brutality. Qilian already knows more about the anomalies than Yellow Dog does. If she is going to learn more, she will have to earn his confidence -- even if that means working for him, rather than against him.

So begins a deadly game of subterfuge and double-cross -- while the anomalies increase...


You can also get Troika for 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

In novels such as Chasm City and Revelation Space, Alastair Reynolds established himself as an indisputable master of the far-flung intergalactic epic. Reynolds brings that same deceptively effortless mastery to the shorter fictional forms, a fact that Troika, his elegant, compulsively readable new novella, amply demonstrates. Troika tells the story of men and women confronting an enigma known as the Matryoshka, a vast alien construct whose periodic appearances have generated terror, wonder, and endless debate. During its third "apparition" in a remote corner of the galaxy, a trio of Russian cosmonauts approach this enigma and attempt to penetrate its mysteries. What they discover--and what they endure in the process--forms the centerpiece of an enthralling, constantly surprising narrative. Troika is at once a wholly original account of First Contact and a meditation on time, history, and the essentially fluid nature of identity itself. Suspenseful, erudite, and gracefully written, it is a significant accomplishment in its own right and a welcome addition to a remarkable body of work.


And you can also download Thousandth Night for 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

Thousandth Night, the genesis for the epic novel House of Suns, is quintessential Reynolds. A visionary account of intrigue, ambition, and technological marvels set within a beautifully realized far-future milieu, it combines world-class storytelling with a provocative meditation on the mystery, grandeur, and inconceivable immensity of the universe.

New James S. A. Corey interview

The folks at Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing have a new podcast with James S. A. Corey (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), author of the bestselling Abaddon's Gate. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here are a few topics discussed in the podcast:

- The strengths of Daniel’s and Ty’s input into making the James S.A. Corey duo, writing and worldbuilding.
- How Ty created The Expanse universe.
- What challenges they faced turning a pre-developed universe into a story.
- Thoughts on how technical they are in their prose regarding worldbuilding and science.
- Character development between Holden and Miller and how their philosophies on the good of humanity differs.
- How to develop characters over multiple books.
- The process of selling original trilogy and how the story builds.
- Their upcoming Star Wars book.

Follow this link to listen to the interview.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Brandon Sanderson just reported that you can still download Steelheart for only 4.79$ here. The author has no idea how long this offer will last.

Here's the blurb:

There are no heroes.

Every single person who manifested powers—we call them Epics—turned out to be evil. Here, in the city once known as Chicago, an extraordinarily powerful Epic declared himself Emperor. Steelheart has the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, no explosion can burn him. He is invincible.

It has been ten years. We live our lives as best we can. Nobody fights back . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans who spend their lives studying powerful Epics, finding their weaknesses, then assassinating them.

My name is David Charleston. I’m not one of the Reckoners, but I intend to join them. I have something they need. Something precious, something incredible. Not an object, but an experience. I know his secret.

I’ve seen Steelheart bleed.