NextRead

Well that’s more like. I’m 1/3 of the way through The Hounds of Avalon by Mark Chadbourn and I only started it today.

Picking up from the events that have gone before. Chadbourn has upped the stakes. The Brothers and Sister of Dragons are fragmented and incomplete and the Army thinks that conventional weapons have a chance of defeating creatures from The Otherworld and beyond.

But in usual Chadbourn style everything isn’t as it seems and he’s been laying tracks for last five books to reach this point. He is clever enough to incorporate recaps for those of us with poor memories.

I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Tags: Gollancz, Mark Chadbourn, Reading Update

Well I’m 2/3s through Vellum by Hal Duncan and I’ve come to a couple of conclusions. It’s not a book I can read solidly. You’d have thought that I’d have come to this decision earlier  but the last two days of trying to finish it have proved it. The other is that I’m going to go straight on to reading Ink when I’ve finished but I’m going to read other stuff at the same time and it might take much longer that I had planned.

The hard part of reading Vellum is that as the narrative isn’t linear and it doesn’t have a groove to settle into and enjoy. You have to work from section to section. It’s not unenjoyable but it is a little grating when you have to switch thinking every few pages.

I am, however, convinced that there is going to be a real sense of satisfaction when I’ve got to the end of both books.

Is it just me that’s struggling with this book?

I am enjoying Jeremy Clarkson’s unique take on the world in The World According to Clakson Volume 2. I’m also reading that in small but satisfying chunks.

I’m moving on to The Hounds of Avalon as from prior experience I know Mark Chadbourn is both a linear and imaginative story teller. I’m just hoping all this myth retelling isn’t going to get me too muddled. It doesn’t help that I’m also playing God of War II on PS.

Tags: Hal Duncan

Title: Debatable Space
Author: Philip Palmer
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 24 Jan 08
Price: £10.00

A band of pirates kidnaps the daughter of the ruler of the universe and holds her for ransom. The trouble is ruler of the universe Cheo isn’t that receptive to their demands and their prisoner, Lena, isn’t what she first appears.

But this isn’t just a pirate story. It’s an exploration of 1000 years of human history. And what has happened? Human have travelled, colonised, enslaved, and turned into dolphins (well some of them have).

For a first novel it’s a big challenge and a bit of a balancing act. Palmer presents his story from multiple viewpoints. We delve into the minds of Lena, the pirate crew, occasionally others, but we get most of our information from Lena.

And this is where the balancing act comes in. How time do you spend with each character and how they appear will depend on their part of the story. As Lena is a big part of the story we spend a lot of time with her. As a main character she is a fascinating and a worthy companion. The problem is she goes on a bit.

Palmer through her retells how the current state of humanity came about. He does occasionally retell too much. This is slightly frustrating especially as events speed to a conclusion when we’re presented with a large chunk of history. It is relevant but maybe isn’t as vital or as enjoyable as Lena, or perhaps Palmer, thinks.

This is strange as I enjoyed most of the other tales and the asides and presentation of history. It’s probably because it takes too much time out of the current action at a point where it should be sprinting towards the finish.

This isn’t though a fatal flaw. The characters are varied and well formed; the story is well planned and interesting. And most of the time it works. When it doesn’t I’d put down to over enthusiasm on Palmers part to share the universe and history he’s created.

For a first novel and a story on such a wide scale Palmer keeps a good grip on the reins and where it does get away he pulls it back in. I look forward to seeing what tale Palmer tells next.

Tags: 7/10, debut, debut review, Orbit, Philip Palmer, review copy

I’m trying to make things a little bit more user friendly and with that in mind I’ve made few alterations.

I’ve moved the archive and links from the sidebar and given them their own pages. This I think make more sense as the sidebar was getting a little cramped. I’ve also added a few words to the about page and said a few things about the reviews. I’ve added feedburner in addition to the regular feeds.

I hope these changes help. If there is anything else you’d like to see or have any suggestions for improvements please do let me know.

Tags: about page, archive, feedburner, links, Reviews

To - the author - don’t give up your real job
This book is one of the classic examples of - (I can write Science Fiction) - well he can’t . I know I can’t and don’t try.

The book is awful and tries to be clever in the use of narrative by the characters - but they are so one dimensional it is bad. No plot, well nothing to speak of and basically a waste of money and trees.

Now that is a review and a half! I don’t agree with them but do you want to guess who they are giving advise to?

Tags: Amazon.co.uk, don't give up the day job, Reviews, writing

Well I’m 2/5s of the way through Vellum by Hal Duncan and almost 1/2 way through Debatable Space by Philip Palmer. And taking a leaf out of Tia’s book I thought while you wait for a review I’ll give a progress report.

Both are very different books but I’m enjoying both so far. Out of the two Vellum is a more challenging read as it builds up through a retelling, recounting and reinterpreting of myth and fable mixed with reality. Though it’s not as confusing as you think when you first start reading it. I think I’ve just hit the bit where the story really takes off now that all the pieces are in place, though I do expect a few surprises yet.

Debatable Space is turning into a quite a deep and delightful space opera. A motly crew of space pirates have kidnapped Lena in the hope of ransoming her to the Cheo, the leader of the known universe. But Lena isn’t all she seems. Palmer is doing a great job of using back story and changing views to make all the characters rounded.

Of the two Debatable Space is a faster read as there is slightly less thinking involved but it’s unfair to compare them too much as they are completely different in both style and substance.

New books have arrived by various means this week, namely from the shelves of my local supermarket and from the amazingly wonderful ReadItSwapIt. So at some point in the future I hope to be reading:

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I love Gaiman’s imagination and enjoyed American Gods when I read that. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does on home turf.

Speaking of great imaginations I picked up Garth Nix’s Across the Wall which collections together a novella set in the Old Kingdom along with other short stories. It’ll have to do as I hope for a full novel.

Iain M. Banks is back next month with a new novel called Matter set in Culture. But I’m a little wary of trying get into Banks through a late series novel. I didn’t really get into the first Culture novel. But I’m sure he’s improved since then. So I’m going to try the highly praised The Algebraist.

Speaking of authors I read ages ago I’ve been wanting to read another by Peter James and seeing as I’m also craving a little crime Dead Simple seems like a good place.

Finally, and along the lines of craving. I’m missing Top Gear (a show about cars) though it might be more I’m missing the political incorrectness that is Jeremy Clarkson. So I grabbed a copy of The World According to Clarkson, his second collection of columns from The Times.

That’s more than enough to be getting on with I think.

Tags: Garth Nix, Hal Duncan, Iain M. Banks, Jeremy Clarkson, Neil Gaiman, Orbit, Pan Books, Peter James, Philip Palmer

It’s always good to have something to look forward to and I now have the first book on “Must Read in 2009″ list. The Lord of Silence. This is a bonus feature in addition to his regular scheduled novels.  

SOLARIS is proud to announce a new acquisition from popular British fantasy novelist MARK CHADBOURN.

THE LORD OF SILENCE is a thrilling new epic fantasy. When the great hero of the city of Idriss is murdered, Vidar, the Lord of Silence, must take his place as chief defender against the mysterious terrors lurking in the dense forest beyond the city’s walls.  But Vidar is a man tormented—by a lost memory and a vampiric jewel that demands the life energy of others. Now, with a killer loose within Idriss, and the threat from without mounting, Vidar must solve a three thousand year old religious mystery to unlock the terrifying secrets of his own past.

A two-time winner of the British Fantasy Award, Mark Chadbourn is the author of eleven novels and one non-fiction book.  A former journalist, he is now a screenwriter for BBC television drama.  His other jobs have included running an independent record company, managing rock bands, working on a production line, and as an engineer’s “mate”.  He lives in a forest in the English Midlands.

Mark Chadbourn said, “After several years writing my own particular and peculiar brand of urban fantasy, I wanted to try something completely different.  The Lord of Silence is me cutting loose and experimenting way out of my comfort zone—a completely new world, new characters, a twisted take on magic, and a mystery that spans several thousand years. It’s a sword and sorcery, noir, puzzle-cracking, romance, serial killer, adventure-mystery.  With mad, dancing magicians.”

Publisher Marc Gascoigne added: “It’s always been puzzling to me why a writer of Mark’s immense talent, and with such a huge British fanbase, has rarely been offered the opportunity to release his books in the US. It’s time to remedy that, with the best book of his career so far.”

THE LORD OF SILENCE will be released in 2009 in the US and UK.

Tags: Mark Chadbourn, New Releases, Solaris

Another posting in this semi-regular feature.

There are some books that you stand out when you see them and The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia is one of those books. It also shows the power of blog reviews (on which Susan Hill has some thoughts) to come up with books you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. Anyway back the book the blurb starts with:

Every city contains secret places, and Moscow is no different, its citizens seeking safety under the city during tumultuous times — a cavernous dark world of magic, weeping trees and albino jackdaws, where exiled pagan deities and fairytale creatures still whisper strange tales to everyone who would listen. Through their interlocking stories, a very different history emerges, full of betrayals and unseen hostilities, between the real world and the world below . . . and now, in the early 1990’s, the conflict is escalating.

A recent review of Jack of Ravens shows what a fine line fantasy writers ask of their readers and what happens when you just don’t click. It might also explain that when we do click we seek out more of the same. Though to be far it’s really book seven and probably not the best place to start. As previously mentioned I’m very much a fan.

Over at Reading Matters kimbofo’s review of Ghost Town: Tales of Manhattan Then and Now by Patrick McGrath has made me want to visit New York quite soon and read Patrick McGrath.

And no-one reads anymore:

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore,” he said. “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”

According to Steve Jobs in NYTimes (thanks to Nathan Bransford). Just because he’s spending all his hours watch HD movies on his iPod doesn’t mean we all are.

Orbit reports that Karen Miller had the UK’s bestselling SFF debut of 2007. A two-part series that I’ve been meaning to read for ages. I will read it this year, honest.The SciFiChick has just given part two a thumbs up. Here next novel for a UK release is Empress is out in April.

Chris (The Book Swede) has an interview with Robert V.S. Redick, who could be the debut writer of the year. Sandstorm Reviews and The Wertzone already have reviews up of The Red Wolf Conspiracy. I don’t think I’ve read any fantasy about sailing so this might be the one?

Aiden has a news on the sequel of one of last years debut highlights. Patrick Rufus next novel, The Wise Man’s Fear, isn’t coming out until 2009 as life sadly didn’t allow him to finish it. He explains the situation on his blog. I’m looking forward to reading the paperback release of The Name of the Wind (out, according to Amazon.co.uk. 12th June).

And concludes this snapshot!

I’m currently trying to catch-up with my reading as I’m behind. In some senses you’ll always be behind where reading is concerned but I’m feeling it more than usual. This is because I’ve been a little lax in prioritising my reading time and I’m trying to make up for it.

I’m trying my best to get Debatable Space by Philip Palmer reviewed before its UK release of the 24th. I don’t think that its going to be hard to do as its moving along at a cracking pace.

I’ve also been lucky enough to have review copies of Jack of Ravens by Mark Chadbourn and Ink by Hal Duncan. The trouble is I’m one book behind on both! Talk about instant gratification or maybe over indulgence…. and I need to get through them first.

Apart from that I’ve been looking under the hood of the blog and reinstated the category list (I didn’t release it was missing). I’m trying to clean up the categories and make them tags. I’ve added Feedburner and Share This options. I don’t know if they help but can’t hurt.

I’m also waiting for Amazon.com to see if they are going to discount Absolute Sandman Vol.1 again. I was supposed to get it for Christmas but it seems hard to find online from a UK source.

Look for more reviews and ramblings soon.

Title: In The Woods
Author: Tana French
Publisher: Hodder
Published: 14 November 07
Price: £6.99
Bought It

You can never escape your past or so they say. And Tana French plays with this idea in her debut novel, In The Woods. Rob Ryan retells the investigation into death of a small girl found in the same woods where he, but not his two friends, had a lucky escape twenty years ago.

French hasn’t created a conventional detective novel. Ryan’s past comes back to haunt him during this investigation. She pitches it right. Ryan unravels as the case gets tougher. And as you read you wonder if he can solve it before he unravels too far.

It’s a very emotional read. French keeps you reading by playing with you. She builds the connections between the main characters and sparks them off each other. It’s a small world after all.

The strengths of this novel is how well French sets everything up. As I was reading I thought I had a good idea of who did it, if not why, and I was wrong. French, through Ryan’s eyes, gives a lot of leads and clues but these are muddied by Ryan own biases and obsessions. Another strength is how she explores the effect the investigation has on the relationship with his partner DI Cassie.

French foreshadows a lot of the major events, sometimes a little too heavily, and this gives a drive to find out the truth. And it is truthful and a bit brutal in its honesty. It’s an interesting balancing act between keeping plot moving in terms of finding the killer and showing us the emotional tensions surrounding it.

In The Woods keeps you reading as Ryan recounts and explores this investigation from beginning to end. French has created a well-crafted story with a believable, if highly fictional set events, told with strong compelling voice. A strong performing and haunting debut. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next.

Tags: 8/10, Bought it, crime, debut, debut review, Hodder, New Writers, review