Around the book-o-sphere
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!
