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

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