Is it Sunday again? It must be. I’m listening to audio book of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle read by the amazing Derek Jacobi. I can’t get enough of him reading Holmes. Truly brilliant. So with a cup of tea in hand here we go.
link: Wordsmithonia: Hell’s Belles by Paul Magrs
Reading over the synopsis I can honestly tell you that it doesn’t do this book justice. I have not been this amused by a book in a long time and I’m now going to have to get my hands on the 3 previous books.
I ove this series as you can see from all the reviews:
Never the Bride (a Brenda & Effie Bk 1), Something Borrowed (A Brenda & Effie Mystery Bk 2), Hell’s Bells (A Brenda & Effie Mystery Bk 3) and Hell’s Belles (A Brenda & Effie Mystery Bk 3)
I’m glad someone else is too.
link: I’m Back! « Dark Fiction Review
I’m back.
Yay!!
link: REVIEW | Sleepless by Charlie Huston (Ballantine) ~ Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf & Book Review
Huston proves with this work he is more than capable taking chances that pay off. Sleepless is a high concept Thriller that mixes just the right amounts of Noir Crime, Horror, and Science Fiction that’ll keep you coming back despite the anxiety caused from the story.
I’ve loved the Joe Pitt series but I’m anxious about reading Huston away from that. Is that a little weird?
link: Fantasy Book Critic: “The New Dead” edited by Christopher Golden (Reviewed by Robert Thompson)
In the Foreword, editor Christopher Golden asks, “Why are we fascinated by zombies?” I’m not sure “The New Dead” anthology ever adequately answers that question, but it does provide readers with a collection of short stories that not only celebrates the zombie genre, but also examines it from different perspectives, and in some cases, introduces new ideas. On top of that, the anthology boasts an impressive mix of big-name authors, rising stars and new faces, while the stories themselves are indeed, “wildly diverse and entertaining”.
Known a Zombie in the UK. I’ve failed to get into the zombie movement so far. Maybe this is the thing for me? Anyone else trying to get into zombies?
link: The Wertzone: Gollancz bringing more Sanderson to the UK
Gollancz have signed a new deal with Brandon Sanderson to bring his stand-alone novels Elantris and Warbreaker to the UK market, as well as the first two novels in the ten-volume Stormlight Archive series (The Way of Kings and the as-yet-untitled and unwritten second volume). Gollancz have previously published Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy, and seem to be happy enough with its success to continue their relationship with the author.
I love the covers in the UK so far. Stunning stuff.
link: Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review: ‘The World House’ – Guy Adams (Angry Robot Books)
You come to the World House for the mystery but end up staying for the scenery. The blurb draws comparisons with Tad Williams’ ‘Otherland’ and I can see the parallels in a world full of beautifully strange rooms where danger can lurk in the most innocuous things. Adams is treading his own path though and I had great fun watching him draw all the threads of the plot together and laying them against such a dark background.
and
link: Unbound!: The World House – Guy Adams
At the same time grim and enchanting Adams manages to make most of his characters memorable and individual in spite of a fairly large cast for such a controlled environment. There is a blend of genres in this novel but the main thread, the thing that will pull you through the fantastic creatures and the slightly twilight zone premise is a psychological thriller.
Alright, I give in, where is the credit card?
link: Open To Persuasion: Review: Meteorite Strike by A.G. Taylor
This is one of those adrenalin-rush, high impact books that teens love so much, but a great read nevertheless. With its dramatic start, high speed pace, and edge of the seat action, readers are hooked from the start and taken on a whirlwind flight to an ending that leaves you wanting more. What a ride!
link: Review: Anathem | the james review
Some readers may struggle with Anathem’s pacing. The prose is dense; exhaustive descriptions and lengthy conversations are the norm. These dialogues may describe lessons between scholars and students, alternate versions of Earth’s philosophical theories, or explorations of a character’s motivations and thinking. In addition, the novel includes three “calcas” after the glossary, example lessons used to demonstrate the analytical thought espoused by the avout.
If only had time enough I would but it would take me a year and I’d probably not read anything else… worth the trade off?
This is rather good Victorian adventure, starring eccentric inventor & Special Constable Horatio Lyle. And his dog Tate, which gives a neat summary of the level of humour involved!
Catherine Webb is the real name of Kate Griffin, whose new novel The Midnight Mayor is one of my anticipated books of the year.
link: Between Two Books: Review: Farlander by Col Buchanan
I was glad to have a map but I must admit that I was a little apprehensive about the Farlander’s setting. When I saw the zeppelin-like flying ship on the background of the book cover, I was somehow hesitant, asking myself how far the modern world would seep into the fantasy. I was pleasantly surprised with the result. Buchanan introduces some of the more modern sides of Farlander’s setting in a very well planned and controlled manner without pushing the reader to a jump of faith.
This, it seems, is a hot debut for 2010. Looking good so far.
link: PUNKADIDDLE: John Wyndham, Plan for Chaos (2009)
Still, I’m not sorry I read Plan for Chaos. I’m presently writing introductions for Folio editions of three Wyndham novels (Triffids, Chrysalids, Midwich) and it was, if nothing else, interesting to see recurrent Wyndham themes in nascent form. For instance there’s the horror the narrator-protagonist Johnny Farthing, feels at the prospect of clones replacing natural births (‘visions of a regimented world, of corps fitted, as among ants, to work, or guard, and with no other interest or purpose in life’, 155); or to be precise, the way this possible fate is discussed in explicitly racial terms.
Interesting to see that writers keep going back to the same themes throughout there career.
link: The Wertzone: The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman
The Left Hand of God (**) is a work of impressive drabness and unoriginality. There are flashes and glimmers of inspiration here and there which suggest that Hoffman may have a far stronger work in him, but this is certainly not it. T
This was a hot debut that has cooled very very rapidly.
link: Walker of Worlds: Cover Art | The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi (Gollancz)
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi is one of the books that I’m really looking forward to this year and by the look of the cover and synopsis I doubt I’ll be disappointed. The cover is a strange one, with what looks to be the Spidership in orbit around Mars along with a blue butterfly – what’s that doing there?!
It’s a bit early to be getting that excited as it’s not out until September but it’s looking like a very different sort of SF novel. Nice highlight Mark!
link: Temple Library Reviews: Reviewer Time: Season Two
As promised I have returned with the semi-beloved feature that has rippled through the fragile and ever changing ecosystem that we know as the Bloggerverse [is it just me or does it sound like a Marvel project waiting to happen]. Reviewer Time has returned. A new season with a new design, marvelous cast and revisited format. Your host has not been replaced by a semi-sentient robot with world domination written on his underwear and remains Geeky-Me, one of my multiple personalities. The spirit of this feature remains: see behind the curtains of the blogs that welcome with open arms [or drag in the dirt] genre fiction titles. However, there are certain changes.
I’m first!! Yay!
link: Speculative Horizons: ‘State of the genre’ interviews over at Sam Sykes’ blog
Gollancz debut author Sam "Not Bill Sykes from Oliver Twist" Sykes recently announced a series of interviews with a number of bloggers on the state of the fantasy genre. The first interview with
The Book Smugglers can be found here.
The second interview with myself – how dare you not feature me first, Sykes! I demand satisfaction! – can be found here. I talk a bit about cover art and VIOLENCE (hence the rather bloody depiction of two frogs engaged in mortal combat).
Go read!
link: Walker of Worlds: Review | Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz)
What Alastair Reynolds has done with Terminal World is created a rich and multi-layered story, often giving vivid descriptions of the surroundings, both in Spearpoint and beyond. The whole idea of Spearpoint gives so much to use, while the zones on Earth set each section apart very well. The use of drugs to treat sickness when crossing between higher and lower states of reality is a good plot device that allows for both excitement and danger, but more than anything it shows that humanity has to adapt to its surroundings and is limited because of them. Apart from Spearpoint, the Swarm was a particular favourite of mine. The Swarm is a gathering of hundreds of airships that move from place to place, surviving and scavenging whatever resources they can. The first glimpse of it is particularly amazing and shows that just because this isn’t space-based SF it can still portray that sensawunda that I love so much in the genre.
This is back near the top of the pile and will be battling it out with The Orphaned Worlds by Michael Cobley. Haven’t read Reynolds since his first novel. I wonder how far he’s changed?
link: Dark Wolf’s Fantasy Reviews: "The City & The City" by China Miéville
Because of the cities situation the murder investigation that is the main plot of “The City & The City” will have its unique and complex features. This investigation, with its potential witnesses and gathering of data must respect the same boundary between Beszél and Ul Qoma. China Miéville does an excellent job on the plot too, working on the murder case and moving it carefully and in a logical succession. Also, the author will not reveal anything until the proper time, keeping the mystery and the pleasure of my reading
That does sound good, doesn’t it!
And I think that’s more than enough for one week!
Anything you fancy? Any bloggers you want to read more of that you didn’t know about before?
