New Releases for January 2012

January 3, 2012
    Berg, Carol • The Daemon Prism              
Dante the necromancer is the most reviled man in Sabria, indicted by for crimes against the living and the dead. He salves bitterness with a magical puzzle - a desperate soldier's dream of an imprisoned sorceress and a faceted glass that can grant one's utmost desires. But the dream is a seductive trap.  Haunted, blind, driven to the verges of the world, Dante must risk everything he values to unravel a mystery of ancient magic, sacred legend, and the truth of the divine..

      Bova, Ben • Power Play                      
Dr. Jake Ross, a university astronomer, wants nothing more than to teach a few classes each semester and continue on his research. However, he is being aggressively recruited to be the science advisor to Frank Tomlinson, an ambitious politician with his eye on the U.S. Senate.
Tomlinson is in need of an edge that will allow him to defeat his opponent at the polls, and Dr. Ross can contribute just that: MHD.
MHD, or magnetohydrodynamics, is a new innovation that will allow electricity to be generated efficiently and cheaply. The senate is essentially guaranteed if Tomlinson can deliver unlimited energy to voters at less than half the price of nuclear power. But MHD is still in its infancy, and although the outlook is extremely promising there are great—and deadly—risks.
The incumbent senator will not give up his seat without a fight, and as Dr. Ross discovers, the world of politics carries its own dangers. Nothing has prepared Dr. Ross for the extreme tactics that desperate and powerful people are willing to use.

    Willis, Connie • All About Emily                          
Theater legend Claire Havilland fears she might be entering the Sunset Boulevard phase of her career. That is, until her manager arranges a media appearance with her biggest fan--a famous artificial intelligence pioneer's teenage niece. After precocious Emily's backstage visit, Claire decides she's in a different classic film altogether. While unnaturally charming Emily swears she harbors no desire for the spotlight, Claire wonders if she hasn't met her very own Eve Harrington from All About Eve. But the story becomes more complex as dreams of fame give way to concerns about choice, free will, and identity.

    Gibson, William • Distrust That Particular Flavor          
Gibson has been sought out by widely varying publications for his insights into contemporary culture. Wired magazine sent him to Singapore to report on one of the world's most buttoned-up states. The New York Times Magazine asked him to describe what was wrong with the Internet. Rolling Stone published his essay on the ways our lives are all "soundtracked" by the music and the culture around us. And in a speech at the 2010 Book Expo, he memorably described the interactive relationship between writer and reader.
These essays and articles have never been collected-until now. Some have never appeared in print at all. In addition, Distrust That Particular Flavor includes journalism from small publishers, online sources, and magazines no longer in existence. This volume will be essential reading for any lover of William Gibson's novels. Distrust That Particular Flavor offers readers a privileged view into the mind of a writer whose thinking has shaped not only a generation of writers but our entire culture.

    Green, Simon R. • The Bride Wore Black                     
In the secret heart of London, under the cover of endless darkness, the Nightside caters to anyone with any unusual itch that needs to be scratched. But enter at your own risk. The party animals who live here may be as inhuman as their appetites...
My name is John Taylor. The Nightside is my home. I didn't plan it that way. In fact, I once tried to get away. But I came back. And now it seems I'm settling down, with a full-time job (in addition to my work as a very private eye) as Walker-the new Voice of the Authorities in the Nightside-and a wedding in the offing.
I'm marrying the love of my life, Suzie Shooter, the Nightside's most fearsome bounty-hunter. But nothing comes easy here. Not life. Not death. And for certain, not happily-ever-after. Before I can say "I do," I have one more case to solve as a private eye-and my first assignment as Walker.
Both jobs would be a lot easier to accomplish if I weren't on the run, from friends and enemies alike. And if my bride-to-be weren't out to collect the bounty on my head...

    Herbert, Brian, & Kevin J. Anderson • Sisterhood of Dune     
It is eighty-three years after the last of the thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin, after Faykan Butler took the name of Corrino and established himself as the first Emperor of a new Imperium. Great changes are brewing that will shape and twist all of humankind.
The war hero Vorian Atreides has turned his back on politics and Salusa Secundus. The descendants of Abulurd Harkonnen Griffen and Valya have sworn vengeance against Vor, blaming him for the downfall of their fortunes. Raquella Berto-Anirul has formed the Bene Gesserit School on the jungle planet Rossak as the first Reverend Mother. The descendants of Aurelius Venport and Norma Cenva have built Venport Holdings, using mutated, spice-saturated Navigators who fly precursors of Heighliners. Gilbertus Albans, the ward of the hated Erasmus, is teaching humans to become Mentats…and hiding an unbelievable secret.
The Butlerian movement, rabidly opposed to all forms of “dangerous technology,” is led by Manford Torondo and his devoted Swordmaster, Anari Idaho. And it is this group, so many decades after the defeat of the thinking machines, which begins to sweep across the known universe in mobs, millions strong, destroying everything in its path.
Every one of these characters, and all of these groups, will become enmeshed in the contest between Reason and Faith. All of them will be forced to choose sides in the inevitable crusade that could destroy humankind forever….

January 17, 2012
    Card, Orson Scott • Shadows in Flight              
At the end of Shadow of the Giant, Bean flees to the stars with three of his children--the three who share the engineered genes that gave him both hyper-intelligence and a short, cruel physical life. The time dilation granted by the speed of their travel gives Earth’s scientists generations to seek a cure, to no avail. In time, they are forgotten--a fading ansible signal speaking of events lost to Earth’s history. But the Delphikis are about to make a discovery that will let them save themselves, and perhaps all of humanity in days to come.
For there in space before them lies a derelict Formic colony ship. Aboard it, they will find both death and wonders--the life support that is failing on their own ship, room to grow, and labs in which to explore their own genetic anomaly and the mysterious disease that killed the ship’s colony.

    Cook, Glen • A Path to the Coldness of Heart       
At long last, the conclusion to Glen Cook''s Dread Empire saga has arrived! King Bragi Ragnarson is a prisoner, shamed, nameless, and held captive by Lord Shih-kaa and the Empress Mist at the heart of the Dread Empire. Far away in Kavelin, Bragia''s queen and what remains of his army seek to find and free their king, hampered by the loss or desertion of their best and brightest warriors. Kavelina''s spymaster, Michael Trebilcock, is missing in action, as is loyal soldier Aral Dantice. Meanwhile, Dane, Duke of Greyfells, seeks to seize the rule of Kavelin and place the kingdom in his pocket, beginning a new line of succession through Bragia''s queen, Dane''s cousin Inger. And in the highest peaks of the Dragona''s Teeth, in the ancient castle Fangdred, the sorcerer called Varthlokkur uses his arts to spy on the world at large, observing the puppet strings that control kings and empires alike, waiting... For the time of the wrath of kings is almost at hand, and vengeance lies along a path to coldness of heart.

    Flynn, Michael • In the Lion's Mouth                 
It’s a big Spiral Arm, and the scarred man, Donavan buigh, has gone missing in it, upsetting the harper Mearana's plans for a reconciliation between her parents. Bridget ban, a Hound of the League, doubts that reconciliation is possible or desirable; but nonetheless has dispatched agents to investigate the disappearance.
The powerful Ravn Olafsdottr, a Shadow of the Names, slips into Clanthompson Hall to tell mother and daughter of the fate of Donovan buigh. In the Long Game between the Confederation of Central Worlds and the United League of the Periphery, Hound and Shadow are mortal enemies; yet a truce descends between them so that the Shadow may tell her tale. There is a struggle in the Lion’s Mouth, the bureau that oversees the Shadows—a clandestine civil war of sabotage and assassination between those who would overthrow Those of Name and the loyalists who support them. And Donovan, one-time Confederal agent, has been recalled to take a key part, willingly or no

    Erikson, Steven • This River Awakens                   
In the spring of 1971, Owen Brand and his family move to the riverside town of Middlecross in a renewed attempt to escape poverty. For twelve-year-old Owen, it's the opportunity for a new life and an end to his family's isolation and he quickly falls in with a gang of three local boys and forms a strong bond with Jennifer, the rebellious daughter of a violent, alcoholic father. As summer brings release from school, two figures preside over the boys' activities: Walter Gribbs, a benign old watchman at the yacht club, and Hogdson Fisk, a vindictive farmer tormented by his past. Then the boys stumble on a body washed up on the riverbank - a discovery whose reverberations will result, as the year comes full circle, in a cataclysm that envelops them all...Steven Erikson first novel, This River Awakens, is a lyrical, tender and disturbing portrayal of a rite of passage that is both harsh and revelatory.

    Goss, Theodora • The Thorn and the Blossom                 
One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.
When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .
The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

    McAuley, Paul • In the Mouth of the Whale                 
Fomalhaut was first colonised by the posthuman Quick, who established an archipelago of thistledown cities and edenic worldlets within the star's vast dust belt. Their peaceful, decadent civilisation was swiftly conquered by a band of ruthless, aggressive, unreconstructed humans who call themselves the True, then, a century before, the True beat back an advance party of Ghosts, a posthuman cult which colonised the nearby system of Beta Hydri after being driven from the Solar System a thousand years ago. Now the Ghosts have returned to Fomalhaut, to begin their end game: the conquest of its single gas giant planet, a captured interstellar wanderer far older than the rest of Fomalhaut's system. At its core is a sphere of hot metallic hydrogen with strange and powerful properties based on exotic quantum physics. The Quick believe it is inhabited by an ancient alien Mind; the True believe it can be developed into a weapon, and the Ghosts believe it can be transformed into a computational system so powerful it can reach into their past, collapse timelines, and fulfil the ancient prophecies of their founder.

    Shirley, John • Everything Is Broken                      
Twenty-year-old Russ arrives in the northern California town of Freedom to visit his dad. Freedom has peculiarities other than its odd name: the local mayor''s ideas of "decentralization" have left it without normal connections to state or federal government and minimal public services. Russ meets an interesting young woman, Pendra, but before he can get to know much about Freedom or its people, a savage tsunami strikes the West Coast. The wave of human brutality that soon hits the isolated town proves more dangerous to the survivors than the natural disaster. Russ, his father, Pendra, and the other townsfolk must tap all their courage and ingenuity - and find strength they never knew they had - if they have any hope of living to find real freedom!

    Wells, Martha • The Serpent Sea                           
Moon, once a solitary wanderer, has become consort to Jade, sister queen of the Indigo Cloud court. Together, they travel with their people on a pair of flying ships in hopes of finding a new home for their colony. Moon finally feels like he's found a tribe where he belongs. But when the travelers reach the ancestral home of Indigo Cloud, shrouded within the trunk of a mountain-sized tree, they discover a blight infecting its core. Nearby they find the remains of the invaders who may be responsible, as well as evidence of a devastating theft. This discovery sends Moon and the hunters of Indigo Cloud on a quest for the heartstone of the tree - a quest that will lead them far away, across the Serpent Sea. In this followup to The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells returns with a world-spanning odyssey, a mystery that only provokes more questions - and the adventure of a lifetime.

January 24, 2012
    Duncan, Dave • Against the Light                   
The Hierarchy, high priests of the religious order the Light, has installed King Ethan as the monarchical figurehead, ruling both the magical kingdom of Albi and its predominant religion. Scattered throughout the land, worshippers in the old ways of the Earth Mother are persecuted as heretics. And when young missionary student Rollo Woodbridge returns home to Albi, he is immediately arrested for heresy and treason, setting off a chain of events that plunges the land into utter chaos.
The Hierarchy has more treacherous motives, however, and when Rollo is rescued from jail, his family’s home is destroyed—but Rollo and his siblings are left alive. While Rollo tries diplomacy to end the religious and political conflict, his brother and sister swear vengeance. With the hours to deliverance counting down and their lives hanging in the balance, they must decide whether to stay and fight or leave Albi forever in the suspenseful, action-packed Against the Light



January 31, 2012
    Jones, Diana Wynne • Earwig and the Witch
Everyone knows that orphanages are horrible places. But Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone else at St Morwald’s Home for Children, and loves it there. So the last thing she wants is to be sent to live with the very strange Bella Yaga…Earwig was left at St Morwald's as a baby. Unlike the other children, she loves it there, mostly because she has the run of the place and seems to be able to persuade people to do as she wants. Then one day Earwig is chosen to live with a very strange couple: Bella Yaga, her new 'mother', is actually a horrible witch. Earwig will need all her ingenuity (and some help from a talking cat) to survive…With terrific line drawings that perfectly complement Diana's witty, magical story, this is sure to appeal to a new generation of fans.

    Martin, Gail Z. • The Dread
War has come to the Winter Kingdoms. The Dread will rise. Kings will fall.
Summoner-King Tris Drayke takes what remains of his army north to fight a war he is ill-prepared to fight, as reports from spies confirm Tris's worst fear. A new threat rises across the sea: a dark summoner who intends to make the most of the Winter Kingdoms's weakness.
And in Isencroft, Kiara's father is assassinated and she will now have no choice except to return and claim the crown. But she must leave behind her husband Tris and their infant son and face the dark power that threatens her rule.
THE DREAD is the epic conclusion to the Fallen Kings Cycle.

    Maxey, James • Greatshadow
Greatshadow is the primal dragon of fire, an elemental evil whose malign intelligence spies upon mankind through every candle flame, waiting to devour any careless victim he can claim.
The Church of the Book has assembled a team of twelve battle-hardened adventurers to slay the dragon once and for all. But tensions run high between the leaders of the team who view the mission as a holy duty and the super-powered mercenaries who add power to their ranks, who view the mission primarily as a chance to claim Greatshadow's vast treasure trove. If the warriors fail to slay the beast, will they doom mankind to death by fire?

    Tidhar, Lavie • The Great Game
When Mycroft Holmes is murdered in London, it is up to retired shadow executive Smith to track down his killer - and stumble on the greatest conspiracy of his life. Strange forces are stirring into life around the globe, and in the shadow game of spies nothing is certain. Fresh from liberating a strange alien object in Abyssinia - which might just be the mythical Ark of the Covenant - young Lucy Westerna, Holmes' protégé, must follow her own path to the truth while, on the other side of the world, a young Harry Houdini must face his greatest feat of escape - death itself.
As their paths converge the body count mounts up, the entire world is under threat, and in a foreboding castle in the mountains of Transylvania a mysterious old man weaves a spider's web of secrets and lies.
Airship battles, Frankenstein monsters, alien tripods and death-defying acts: The Great Game is a cranked-up steampunk thriller in which nothing is certain - not even death.

Pat Rothfuss, NaNoWrMo secrets revealed!

Pat has posted on his blog a recap of his NaNoWrMo. Aside from being as fun to read as his blog usually is, he discusses how his months writing went, and slipped in some details to make the fanboys(and fangirls) squee in delight.

Detail 1:  He spent much of the month working on an unnamed novella set in the world of the Kingkiller books.  Is that enough to squee about?  No?  Well, how about:

Detail 2:  He also managed to write a complete short story, contents and setting unknown, in one day.

I am sure, it being Pat, that we will be tormented by the novella for awhile, until he is ready to reveal more details. But a completed short story?  That could be a little present in time for Christmas as a fan appreciation gift(Are you reading this Pat?  Are you?)

More details:
http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2011/12/nanowrimo-epilogue/

Kate Elliot Guest Blog, Contest, and new Short Story!

Kate Elliot has posted a guest blog up on The Book Smugglers, in which she discusses the bumber crop of new books this year, plus is gving away 5 books, 3 domestic US and 2 Internationally.  If that isn't enough, there is also a link to a rare short story by Kate set in the world of Cold Fire and Cold Magic about the always amazing Rory, and the way trouble just finds him.
If you haven't read Cold Fire and Cold Magic, I highly recommend them!

More info here:
http://thebooksmugglers.com/2011/12/smugglivus-2011-guest-author-giveaway-kate-elliott.html

Brandon Sanderson Stormlight Naming Contest!

Brandon Sanderson is including a character naming in a future book for Gollanz/Orion's charity auction!  It may be in the new Stormlight book(now likely a 2013 delivery according to Sanderson's blog), or in an unnamed novella.

More details at Brandon's blog:
http://brandonsanderson.com/blog/1040/Stormlight-%28or-other%29-Naming-Rights-Charity-Auction

And other charity goodies:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/orionbooksforcharity/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Jacqueline Carey contest winner!

I am pleased to announce that Jessica W. of Virginia was the winner of the Jacueline Carey contest!  Her copy should go out in tomorrow's mail, and she should be getting it soon.
I was really engaged by some of the reader responses to how they discovered Jacqueline's books, and waned to share a few of them. I have corrected a few typo's but otherwise, they are how they submitted.

"I first came upon Kushiel's Dart in the fantasy section in the
   library around 2002. It was one of those few books I have read in
   life that I was deeply saddened for it to be over for I would never
   have that first read again. I was a Jacqueline Carey fan thereafter."

"Several years ago, when my friend was leaving for the military, he gave me a chance to go through his library before taking his things to Goodwill. The first three books were in it, and once I'd read them, I started looking for more of her work. Now I have the first seven books, Santa Olivia, and Banewreaker."

"Jacqueline Carey's books were first recommended to me by a guy I met online.  We had both enjoyed several other books and authors that we had talked about at length.  He insisted that I pick up this book about angel people, gods, and politics.  I was pretty wary at first, but since he seemed to have such excellent taste in other books I took him at his word and picked it up Kushiel's Dart.  I was so completely hooked I went and picked up Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar, and Kushiel's Scion all at once.  And then I became one of the many that anxiously awaited Kushiel's Justice and the rest.  A couple years later, I married that guy and we've been living the happily ever after life"

"I first encountered Jacqueline Carey's books while working for Borders. A coworker absolutely loved Kushiel's Dart and told me I had to read it. I was skeptical because, while I now know the book is amazing, the book description on the back does not do it justice. After a couple years (yes it took me that long) I ran out of books to read and finally decided to pick up Dart. I fell in love with the series. Since then, I have read everything by Carey that I could get my hands on. She is a phenomenal writer."

These were just some of the responses, there were many more.
 Personally, I first encountered her books after Dart had come out.  I kept seeing the cover, but while it caught my eye, the blurb didn't really make me think it was going to interest me.  Then, when that year's edition of 'The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror' by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow came out, and Terri gave it a lovely write up, I decided to give it a try(Terri Windling has always had excellent taste in fantasy, I have rarely found myself in disagreement with her opinions).I loved the careful comingling of the familiar with the exotic, the fully realized characters, and the millieu they inhabit.  I thought it was brilliant, and have loved everything she has ever published(I am still saddened that 'Elegy for Darkness' was changed into 'The Sundering').

Thanks everyone for playing, and a special shout-out to my friend Cory who selected the winning entry number. Keep your eyes peeled here for the next giveaway coming very soon!

Book Review: Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

Overview:
Alloy of Law is a stand-alone novel set in the same universe as Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy  300 years after the events of that trilogy, when the events it covers have passed into religion and history.  The book is a quick easy read for new readers, and a great place to discover Sanderson's work.
The book follows Waxillium Ladrian(Wax) as he returns to the city of his birth to take up his position as head of his family.  He quickly discovers that the complex workings of the capital are more dangerous and twisted than the rural outback where he has spent his life.

Plot:
The plot is pretty basic, and the story is told in a straightforward and easy to read manner.  It is easily the most straightforward plot of all of Sanderson's adult novels, which is to be expected from a book that started as a novella.
I liked the book, and zipped through it very quickly.  If I didn't find myself too surprised by any of the plot twists, I wasn't disapointed by the way he wrapped it up.  If he decides to write the sequel that the book is almost begging for, I will be very glad to read it.

Characters:
Wax is a rather likable, if not particualrly unique character.  He's a good guy, in all senses of the word, and Sanderson never really gives him the sense of being as tormented as he should be by his ghosts.
Wayne(and yes, I caught the pun) is at first confusing, and eventually the best part of the book.  I have no desire to ever see him as a main character, but I love him as he develops in the book.  He is the character who reveals the most of himself, in many ways.
The young lady who slowly emerges as another important character(her identity could be considered a spoiler), is also interesting, and I would like to have seen Sanderson really develop her, though with the relatively short time he gave her on screen, that wasn't really possible.  What we did see is delightful.

Worldbuilding:
Describing the world-building of this book is in some ways a tougher call, as it is on one level world developement.  Sanderson has allowed his world to grow in the 300 years since the events of 'Hero of Ages' and the world-building contains hidden gems for readers of the older books. My personal favorite bit of world-building is his sly insertion of an actual use of tinfoil hats.

Summary:
On the whole, 'Alloy of Law' is a minor work by a significant talent in the field, and is a great light read for the holiday season when you might get called away frequently while trying to read it.  It requires very little investment on the readers part, as far as immersion into the world goes(a far cry from his monstrously huge, and convoluted, 'Way of Kings').

Cherie Priest's 'Boneshaker' to be made into a movie!

Cherie Priest's breakout novel 'Boneshaker' will be made into a feature film!  The brilliant novel is a fantastic romp through a steampunk alternate America full of wonder and fascinating characters.
The press release and further information is available here:
http://www.exclusivemedia.com/news/view/newsid/329/exclusives-hammer-films-to-co-produce-boneshaker

We're very excited to see what Hollywood does with her book!

Darrell K Sweet has passed away at 77

Darrell K Sweet, most famous as the cover artist for perhaps hundreds of fantasy novels, including many of the Xanth novels of Piers Anthony, the original Thomas Covenant trilogy, LE Modesitt's Recluse novels, and most famously, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels; has passed on.
The prolific artist of well over 3000 images was nominated for a Hugo in 1983 for best professional artist, and the 2010 World Fantasy Convention Guest of Honor. He will be missed by his fans, friends, and family

.

Magick4Terri: A Fundraiser to Benefit Terri Windling

Terri Windling should need little if any introduction.  The editor or co-editor of dozens of anthologies, a novelist in her own right, and discoverer and champion of some of the best writers in the business. 
Terri has been having a very tough time lately with some health and financial issues, and many of the artists and writers she has championed and befriended for so many years have baded together in an amazing fundraiser to benefit Terri: http://magick4terri.livejournal.com/
From signed books and manuscripts from the likes of Neil Gaiman, Catherynne Valente, Cherie Priest, and rumor says even George RR Martin, to original art from Charles Vess and Brian Froud.  Take a moment and check out some of the amazing offerings, buy someone a gift, or just to donate to a worthy cause.

Mark Z. Danielewski's "The Familiar" gets a home.

      Mark Z. Danielewski will be releasing "The Familiar", an ambitious 27 volume masterwork beginning in 2014 on a breath-taking schedule of one volume every three months.  He told the LA Times in an interview that these would not be hefty volumes, but instead that " 'Volume' speaks to it being a little different from a standard trade paperback book".
     Pantheon Books, an imprint of Knopf Doubleday, paid more than $1 million for the first 10 volumes of "The Familiar," which will be broken into 2 5-volume seasons.  Danielewski's reputation as a writer who works on multiple levels at the same time indicates that the title "The Familiar" will also likely have multiple meanings within the context of the work.  The firstvolume will open with a young girl adopting a cat, though will almost certainly quickly get more complicated and involved.
      Mr. Danielewski, has said he has been influenced by "Moby-Dick," "The Lord of the Rings" and the manga series "Lone Wolf and Cub".      Danielewski's last book, 2006's "Only Revolutions" was a finalist for the National Book Award, and in 2012, he will be releasing the "The Fifty Year Sword" next October, a ghost story with shadow puppets and intermingled voices he has performed at REDCAT for the last two Halloweens, and he hopes to find the equivalent theaters in cities for a performance-studded book tour.

Anne McCaffrey has passed away at 85.

We are sad to report that Anne McCaffrey has passed away at 85. She was born in the United States and emigrated to Ireland in 1970 with her two youngest children. 
The author of almost 100 novels, the co-author of 30 more, and many short stories as well, she has been a legend in the genre.  She was the first woman to win the coveted Hugo award, served a term as Secretary-Treasurer of the SFWA from 1968-1970.
Her career started in 1952, with the short story 'Freedom of the Race' about women impregnated by aliens.  And followed it up with 'Lady in the Tower' (Which was later expanded into the bestselling novel 'The Rowan' many years later).
The inspiration for her first novel, 'Restoree' was, as quoted by her son Todd: "I was so tired of all the weak women screaming in the corner while their boyfriends were beating off the aliens. I wouldn't have been—I'd've been in there swinging with something or kicking them as hard as I could." It was published in 1967.
She started her most famous work, Pern in the short story 'Weyr Search in that same year, and it eventually grew into a sprawling collection of stories that detail the fall and reclamation of a future human colony fighting a generations long battle with the ultimate invasive species with the assistance of genetically modified telepathic dragons.
She was a beloved figure in the field, and an inspiration to many. She will be missed.

Coming soon from some of your favorite writers....

Some highlights for the upcoming year of new releases:

China Mieville's 'Railsea': 288 pages
Release date: May 15, 2012 in the US and the UK.
Not much is known about the book yet, but any release by Mieville is noteworthy.




Stephen King's 'Wind Through the Keyhole':
Release date: April 24th, 2012 in the US
"...with The Wind Through the Keyhole, King has returned to the rich landscape of Mid-World. This story within a story within a story finds Roland Deschain, Mid-World’s last gunslinger, in his early days during the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death. Sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a “skin-man,” Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, a brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast’s most recent slaughter. Roland, himself only a teenager, calms the boy by reciting a story from the Book of Eld that his mother used to read to him at bedtime. “A person’s never too old for stories,” he says to Bill. “Man and boy, girl and woman, we live for them.”






NK Jemisin 'The Killing Moon': 448 pages
Release date: May 1, 2012 in the US.
First in a new series!
"In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and amongst the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers - the keepers of this peace. Priests of the dream-goddess, their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe . . . and kill those judged corrupt.

But when a conspiracy blooms within Gujaareh's great temple, Ehiru - the most famous of the city's Gatherers - must question everything he knows. Someone, or something, is murdering dreamers in the goddess' name, stalking its prey both in Gujaareh's alleys and the realm of dreams. Ehiru must now protect the woman he was sent to kill - or watch the city be devoured by war and forbidden magic."




Christopher Moore 'Sacre Bleu': 416 pages
Release date: April 3, 2012 in the US.







More sneak peaks coming soon!

Neil Gaiman on Craig Ferguson on 10/31/2011

"We stay indoors, we have keyboards, we have darkness...."

I love Neil, cause I have a pulse.

http://youtu.be/SIeENhc5hv4

Gift Idea: Signed books from your favorite writers!

Some of your favorite writers have signed copies available, either through their websites, or through bookstores that they partner with, or have visited recently. Here's just a few!

George RR Martin:
http://georgerrmartin.com/books.html

John Scalzi:
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2011/11/16/signed-books-for-the-holidays-how-to-get-them-from-me/

Powells Books has signed copies of the following currently available:
Reamde by Neal Stephenson
Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire
The Measure of the Magic by Terry Brooks
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
Hit List by Laurell K Hamilton
Stories of Your Life by Ted Chiang
Mozarts Blood by Louise Marley
Bite Me by Christopher Moore
Jealousy by Lili St Crow
Command Decision by Elizabeth Moon
Traitors Gate by Kate Elliot

http://www.powells.com/section/featured-titles/signed-editions/

Steven Erikson: Podcast interview

Steven Erikson sat down with Moses from adventuresinscifipublishing.com at the World Fantasy Convention, listen to the podcast here:
http://www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com/2011/11/aisfp-151-steven-erikson/

Pat Rothfuss: Worldbuilders is Coming(Next week in fact)

Pat Rothfuss, when he's not writing brilliant novels, or teaching creative writing, or helping his Dad fight cancer, also runs the popular fundraiser Worldbuilders which benefits Heifer International.

Well, this week on his blog, he announced that Worldbuilders is set to begin next week, in time for the holidays.  In Pat's words for this part:
"If you’re an author, publisher, comic artist, etc and you’d like to donate some books to the fundraiser, we would absolutely love to have them.
You can mail them to:

Worldbuilders

PO BOX 186

Stevens Point, WI 54481

Three things:
1. If you’re the author, we’d love if you signed the books before sending them to us.
2. If you’re thinking of sending a collectible of some kind, please contact us first.
3. Please package the books carefully. It breaks my heart when books arrive damaged.
If you’re a journalist, blogger, webcomic-er, a celeb with a huge twitter following, or just someone who has a cool idea about how to spread the word, drop us a line at the aforementioned e-mail: worldbuilders.2011 [squiggly at-sign thinger] gmail.com.
Pretty much if you have any questions about the fundraiser, that’s the e-mail to use. You’ll get a response much more quickly than if you use the contact form on my website."
http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/contact.asp




More info:

http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2011/11/fanmail-qa-worldbuilders/

Kris Rusch: How Traditiona lPublishers are Making Money

Another week, and another great post by Kris Rusch.  This time she examines why traditional publishers just reported a banner quarter, and what this means for writers with traditional contracts.  As always, please take a moment at the end to donate something so she can continue to write these insightful articles.


More info:
http://kriswrites.com/2011/11/16/the-business-rusch-how-traditional-publishers-are-making-money/
She also references this article from the NYT, but it's also worth posting here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/business/media/time-warner-trying-to-trim-its-excesses-goes-back-to-basics.html?_r=2&scp=4&sq=time%20warner&st=cse

Neal Stephenson and Greg Bear Present: "The Mongoliad

Neal Stephenson....
Greg Bear....
Neither needs any introduction.  Together, they have created "The Mongoliad".

"The Mongoliad is a community-driven, enhanced, serial novel that you read with your Web browser, smart phone, or tablet.
The story, which unfolds week by week, is set in the year 1241 CE when Europe thought that the Mongol Horde was about to completely destroy their world and only a small band of warriors and mystics stood in the way of utter defeat and subjugation by the great Khan."

How awesome is that?
Check it out!

http://mongoliad.com/

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, condensed.

Molly Ringle, who has written several adorable ebooks(I recommend checking her out if you like a little romance that's also smartly written), has posted a series of Harry Potter parodies on her blog and website, that she writes for fun.  She has finally posted volume three on her blog at:

http://lemonlye.livejournal.com/243717.html

It's wonderfully hilarious!

---

New Star Trek sequel finally set to start filming?

Is the new Star Trek sequel finally ready to lift-off?







http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/the-hitlist-blogpost.aspx?post=6c143770-dff5-4f66-9f88-6dc145614da0

Gift Idea: Steampunk Long Jacket

Oh how I love Gentleman's Emporium(Though in fact, they also sell women's clothes).

New for the Holidays:


http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/003321.php

Chesterfield Overcoat - Black Herringbone

David Brin: Cover art for Existence revealed!

Wertzone has the cover art for David Brin's next novel "Existence", his first novel in 10 years. 


More info:
http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2011/11/cover-art-for-david-brins-new-novel.html

Contest: Jacqueline Carey's Saints Astray!

I have a copy of "Saint's Astray" the sequel to Jacqueline Carey's wonderful "Santa Olivia" to giveaway!  to enter, send an email to:
 fantastiquebooksbeaverton (at) gmail.com

Please be 18, and a resident of the United States. Entry must be recieved by midnight December 1st, 2011 to be eligible.

In your email, please enclose your name and address and let us know how you first discovered Jacqueline's books.

Rare footage of the 1944 Lord of the Rings movie starring Humphrey Bogart....

The original Warner Brothers version of "The Lord Of The Rings", recently unearthed by the intrepid film restoration scholars at flyingmoose.org.  Thanks to Neil Gaiman for this link:

http://youtu.be/yUf8reRSImk

Amazon's Best Fantasy and SciFi of 2011:

Including books you expect (Martin, Rothfuss, and Mieville) and books you don't (Corey, Wilson and Okorafor) as well as makes you wonder about some that are missing(Jemisin, Stephenson, and too many others)

What book do you think it's a crime is missing from the list?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_358085602_34?ie=UTF8&plgroup=2&docId=1000745161&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-1&pf_rd_r=11JZBW6G6BSNSAFKXG4B&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1328523022&pf_rd_i=3321372011

Salon article "If Tolkein were Black"

What I love about this article is that it addresses the color bias in fantasy, but the title is misleading, it has nothing to do with Tolkein.  Instead, it is a more interesting, if too short, discussion of race in fantasy with two of the more promising young writers in the genre currently; NK Jemisin, and David Anthony Durham.  Take a moment and read it here:

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/09/if_tolkien_were_black/

Saladin Ahmed "Throne of the Cresent Moon" extract:

Pat from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist has posted a short excerpt from Saladin Ahmed's "Thorne of the Cresent Moon", one of, if not THE most anticipated releases of 2012.

http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2011/11/extract-from-saladin-ahmeds-throne-of.html

Terry Brooks short story, "Imaginary Friends" available again:

The Terry Brooks short story "Imaginary Friends", a sort of prequel to the 'Word and Void' novels, is avaialable again for a short time, and for a great cause.  Shawn Speakman who runs Suvudu and Terry's official site has been fighting cancer, and incurred some hefty bills.  Terry has given permission for the sales of the ebook of "Imaginary Friends" to go to pay Shawn's bills for a limited time. 

More info:
http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2011/11/imaginary-friends-by-terry-brooks.html

Kat Richardson interview:

Grasping for the Wind has a new interview up with Kat Richardson.  If you haven't given her Greywalker novels a try, and you like urban fantasy at all, you should give them a try!

http://www.graspingforthewind.com/2011/11/03/sffwrtcht-a-chat-with-author-kat-richardson/

Charles Yu's "How to Live Safely in a Science Fiction Universe" comes to stage:

Suvudu has posted an article about a Columbus, OH theatre that is bringing the aclaimed novel to life.

More info:
http://suvudu.com/2011/11/charles-yus-how-to-live-safely-in-a-science-fictional-universe-comes-to-stage.html

Brent Weeks Giveaway:

Brent Weeks has two contests going, one of his blog, and one through Goodreads.

More info:

http://www.brentweeks.com/2011/11/two-contests-for-the-price-of-one/

Brent Weeks response to "GRRM is not your bitch"

Easily my favorite part was "Tolkien knew Elvish, but not html."  I've met Brent a few times, and it always strikes me that he is both down to Earth and a fan himself.  Which is part of what makes him so delightful.  His outlook, whether or not you agree with him, is well thought out and courteously presented.

http://www.scifinow.co.uk/blog/brent-weeks-opinion-column-george-rr-martin-is-not-your-bitch/

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer on Tour:

Pictures from the Seattle Show:

http://photosbyelisa.com/2011/11/love-horror-an-evening-with-neil-gaiman-amanda-palmer.html

The Hobbit, is a trailer coming soon?

Geektyrant thinks that the first trailer for The Hobbit will be attached to a December release, what do you think?

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/14/first-trailer-for-the-hobbit-coming-in-december.html

Gift idea(astronomically expensive rings from out of this world):

http://gizmodo.com/5859516/astronomically-expensive-wedding-rings-are-made-from-space-gold

Cherie Priest wins the Endeavor Award:

Congratulations to Cherie Priest on winning the Endeavor Award! 
Her competition was filled with some amazing talent, Brent Weeks, Devon Monk, Patricia Briggs and Patricia McKillip. 


http://www.locusmag.com/News/2011/11/priest-wins-endeavour/

Christopher Paolini interview with Suvudu:

Suvudu interviews Christopher Paolini about "Inheritance".

More info:
http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2011/11/video-interview-inheritance-by-christopher-paolini.html

Christopher Paolini Tour details:

His 18 city book tour for the release of 'Inheritance' begins today in New York.
He will be in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukie, Miami, Birmingham, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Kansas City, Billings, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, VancouverBC, Indianapolis, and onto Bozeman.

More info:
http://www.alagaesia.com/tour-info.php

Gift idea: Cthulhu for President Tshirts

Far Out Shirts has an option for the HP Lovecraft fan in your life:

Cthulhu For President!!

More info:
http://faroutshirts.com/detail.php?id=291

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer Tour:

A review of Neil and Amanda Palmers appearance in Vancouver.

More info:
http://straight.com/article-525251/vancouver/amanda-palmer-and-neil-gaiman-give-fans-their-moneys-worth-vancouver

David Farland on Self-Publishing:

A thoughtful post on the future of publishing, and the current problems with the New York publishing community.

More info:
http://www.fictorians.com/2011/11/07/by-david-farland/

Brandon Sanderson on Alloy of Law:

Brandon Sanderson:
An interview about Alloy of Law and a hint or two about Stormlight and WoT.

More info:
http://nethspace.blogspot.com/2011/11/interview-brandon-sanderson.html

Stephen King on Occupy Bangor:

Stephen King, who has never shied away from making his voice heard, has  released a statement supporting Occupy Bangor.

More info:
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/07/362523/novelist-stephen-king-releases-statement-blasting-corporate-greed-and-supporting-occupy-bangor/

Kat Richardson, Cover Art for Seawitch revealed:

Cover art for Seawitch: Greywalker #7
It's stunning!

https://plus.google.com/111032806480382192972/posts/6pH5e5HA3m5

Publishers Weekly, The Best of 2011:

Publishers Weekly has released their list of the best of 2011, while we don't agree with some that they overlooked(where's China Mieville's Embassytown for example?), there are some great books on there. And don't ignore the Children's Fiction tab either, Cathrynne Valente's "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making" is especially noteworthy.

More info:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2011

Kristine Kathryn Rusch: New Blog

Kris Rusch has posted a new blog on the business of writing. I recommend her blog to anyone who writes, wants to write, or likes writers. If you enjoy her column, please take a moment to donate at the end so she can continue writing it.

More info:
http://kriswrites.com/2011/10/26/the-business-rusch-believe-in-yourself/

Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" in the Original Klingon:

Stephen Hunt has posted a link to an exciting(or excitingly strange) opportunity for Chicagoans who are fans of both Star Trek and Charles Dickens: a Chicago theatre company presenting "A Christmas Carol" in the original Klingon.

More info:
http://stephenhunt.net/?p=1075

Jeff Vandermeer, "The Journal of Dr Mormeck:

Fantastique Books

Have you checked out Jeff Vandermeer's crowdsourced novel, The Journal of Doctor Mormeck? If not, check it out! What is it about?

"Living on a far-distant planet, Doctor Mormeck works for strange beings that might or might not be angels by conducting surveillance across a hundred thousand alt-Earths. Complicating things are a transdimensional race of intelligent komodos wreaking chaos throughou...t the worlds. When an avatar of Mormeck is sent to a war-torn winter city to investigate a mysterious Presence, the doctor will become embroiled an ever-widening conflict."

More info:
http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2011/11/04/the-journals-of-doctor-mormeck-the-story-thus-far-and-an-interview-with-the-characters/

Goodreads Voters Choice:

The Goodreads Voters Choice survey is going on now!  Go to:
http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice/2011
and vot for your favorite books of the year!

George RR Martin: Subterranean edition of Dance With Dragons is sold out

The Subterranean Press limited edition of "A Dance With Dragons" preorder has sold out.


http://www.subterraneanpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=martin09&Category_Code=PRE&Product_Count=18

Pat Rothfuss: A new blog is up, wherein he accepts a readers challenge

Pat Rothfuss has posted a new blog, where he talks about his evolving views on NaNoWrMo and accepts a fan's challenge:

http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2011/11/fanmail-faq-nanowrimo/

Neil Gaiman: What Are Your Favorite Books?

Neil Gaiman gave a list of some of his favorite books on BN's site to promote the new 2-in-1 volume of American Gods and Ananzi Boys.  The List:

"The Biography of Manuel by James Branch Cabell -- Eighteen volumes of beautiful, worldly, wise writing by a forgotten American master.

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe -- The best science fiction novel of the last century.

Lud in the... Mist by Hope Mirrlees -- My favourite fairy tale/detective novel/history/fantasy.

The Manuscript Found in Saragossa by Jan Potock -- A labyrinth inside a maze; also a wonderful film.

Viriconium by M John Harrison -- I could pick any Harrison book, though. It could as easily be Light, his recent sci-fi novel, or Climbers, his astounding mainstream novel. He's a master of prose and ideas.

Codex Seraphinianus by Luigo Serafini -- A guide to an alien world, in an alien language. The strangest book I own.

A Humument by Tom Phillips -- In which an artist works into a Victorian novel to create something perfectly new.

Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones -- The best writer of magical children's fiction of our generation. I don't know if this is the best of her novels, but it's my favourite.

Nine Hundred Grandmothers by R.A. Lafferty -- The funniest, oddest short stories in this or any other world.

The Complete Newgate Calenda -- One of those books, like Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, that's almost a window into the past. In this case, an immersive and astonishing look at criminals and their often short and tragic lives. My set is four volumes, bound in red leather, and it smells like a bygone age. "

More at:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-american-gods-anansi-boys-neil-gaiman/1106658782

Cherie Priest November appearances:

Cherie Priest:
November Appearances.

November 10 – Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. 7:30 p.m.

... November 12 – Memphis, TN. The Booksellers at Laurelwood (Davis-Kidd), 1:00 p.m.

November 15 – St. Louis, MO. Left Bank Books, 7:00 p.m.

November 16 – Denver, CO. Broadway Book Mall, 7:00 p.m.

November 17 – Boise, ID. Rediscovered Books, 7:00 p.m.

More info:

http://www.cheriepriest.com/appearances/

Tattered Cover Events Calendar for November:

Gregory Maguire November 8th (16th St)

More info:
http://www.tatteredcover.com/event/2011/12/07/month/all/all/1

University Bookstore Events Calendar for November:

Gregory Maguire November 9th (U District)
Brandon Sanderson November 11th (University Temple United Methodist Church)

More info:
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/events/events.taf?page=201111

Powell's Books Events for November:

Gregory Maguire November 10th(Bagdad Theatre)
Jay Lake November 17th (Cedar Hills)
Ransom Riggs November 14th (Cedar Hills)

... and the annual Scifi Authorfest at Cedar Hills on November 13th:
guests include:
Camille Alexa, Brent Weeks, David Levine, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Dean Wesley Smith, Peter Orullian, Mark Ferrari, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Kevin James Breaux, Meljean Brooks, Devon Monk, Lilith Saintcrow, J. A. Pitts, Timothy Zahn, Irene Radford, Ru Emerson, Adrian Phoenix, Andrew Mayer, Mary Robinette Kowal, Shannon Page, Claude Lalumiere, M. K. Hobson, Brenda Cooper, Vonda McIntyre, Louise Marley, and Ursula K. Le Guin

More info at:
http://www.powells.com/calendar.html?header=Sub%3A+Events+Calendar

November New Releases!

November releases we're very excited about:

Jacqueline Carey • Saints Astray
Tanya Huff • The Wild Ways
Jay Lake • Endurance
... Gregory Maguire • Out of Oz
Jack McDevitt • Firebird
Brandon Sanderson • The Alloy of Law
Janny Wurts • Initiate's Trial

More info at:

http://locusmag.com/Resources/ForthcomingBooks.html

First Post.....

“Fairy Tales Are More than True: Not Because They Tell Us That Dragons Exist, but Because They Tell Us That Dragons Can Be Beaten.” - G.K. Chesterton