Following Michael's glowing review of Drood, it seems a giveaway is apropos! From the mouth of the man himself: "This is definitely one of my top reads in 2010".
One catch for this giveaway - your entry MUST contain a snarky comment - doesn't have to be a good one, it just has to be there. I would not have to be so strict, but the last few weeks have seen a steady decline in snark that is just totally unacceptable... Good luck!
Giveaway Rules
Want a copy of Drood, by Dan Simmons? Done. Just follow these simple giveaway instructions for your chance to win (giveaway runs till 2/15/10 @ 11:59 PM EST):
1) E-mail me [bloggeratf@gmail.com] your name and address, with "DROOD" as the subject. Snarky comments increase your chances of winning and win bonus entries for future giveaway. 2) Sign up for site updates either in RSS or with Friend Connect on the side. This will also let you know about future giveaways! 3) Think happy thoughts. 4) (OPTIONAL) Spread the love, share or link to any post on the blog--this earns you brownie points as well as increasing your (if you have made it this far) already significant odds. 5) There is no rule number five. I just like odd numbers.
Hello and welcome to issue #05 of my Weekly Roundup. The end of January is near. How fast the days passed by. Let's have a look what to expect next month. But before you enjoy reading let me tell you in Bona and Fide style that great news are ahead of you:
An awesome g...... A new c...... Three r...... And the w...... is
Friday, February 5th, Review: A Shadow in Summer (2006) [US] [UK], by Daniel Abraham Great start of an underestimated series.
Saturday, February 6th, Bona Fide: Weekly Roundup #06 Content unknown so far
Friday, February 12th, Review: The Bookman (2010) [US July] [UK] by Lavie Tidhar A debut novel with an interesting mix and the start of a series.
Saturday, February 13th, Bona Fide:Weekly Roundup #07 Content unknown so far
Friday, February 19th, Review: Seeds of Earth (2009) [US][UK], Michael Cobley I review science fiction.
Saturday, February 20th, Bona Fide: Weekly Roundup#08 Content unknown so far
Wednesday, February 24th, Review: The Exodus Gate (2009, 566 p.) [US][UK], Stephen Zimmer Second series by Stephen Zimmer
Friday, February 26th, Review: Spellwright (2010) [US March] [UK July], by Blake Charlton. Debut novel with expectations.
Saturday, February 27th, Bona Fide: Weekly Roundup#09 Contains Bona Fide's Forecast for March 2010; Reading Forecast and the Reality; rest unknown
Bona Fide's Butcher's Bill: January Reads
I read and reviewed following three books Drood (2009) [US] [UK] by Dan Simmons. Review A Shadow in Summer (2006) [US] [UK], by Daniel Abraham Review will be posted in February The Bookman (2010) [US July] [UK] by Lavie Tidhar Review will be posted in February
I read 1/5th of the book.Will continue to read in February The Gardens of the Moon (2009, 10th anniversary edtition) [US][UK], by Steven Erikson
Failed to read. The Dragonbone Chair (2009) [US][UK], by Tad Williams. I decided to postpone the reread of the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series.
The Belly of the Bow (1999) [US][UK] , by K. J. Parker. I hope to read it in February
So I didn't reach my target. No real obvious reasons for that except I read a bit slower than usual. But I'm really happy with the books I read. I chose the right ones.
Stats
Average Pages Per Day: 53.55
Average Publication Date: 2008
Average Books Per Day: 0.09 Books settled in London: 2 Completely destroyed cities: 0
Train disasters: 1 Bona Fide's February Reading List You may think I'm crazy because last month I could not finish six books and now there are eight on the list. But there is one difference. In sum the number of pages is less. I look forward to read Spellwright and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms because they belong to the circle of books which compete to be the debut novel of the year. And with Seeds of Earth I read my first science fiction book in 2010 and I promise you it won't be the last one.
The Gardens of the Moon (2009, 10th anniversary edtition) [US][UK], by Steven Erikson Deadhouse Gates (2001) [US][UK]by Steven Erikson Seeds of Earth (2009) [US][UK], Michael Cobley Spellwright (2010) [US March] [UK July], by Blake Charlton The Belly of the Bow (1999) [US][UK] , by K. J. Parker. The Exodus Gate (2009, 566 p.) [US][UK], Stephen Zimmer The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010) [US] [UK], by J.K.Nemesin The Stolen Moon of Londor (2009) [US][UK] , by A.P. Stephen. (not sure when I receive my copy)
Bona Fide's Question of the Week
Answers to questions from Roundup 03 Not many answers to that question. Anyway I will continue to present book trailers.
Do you comment posts? Dear readers, when you follow several blogs like me you will recognize that the number of comments differ a lot. I would like to know whether you write comments or not and of course the reason for it.
Books
Surprise of the week 10 days ago I received a mail from Stephen Zimmer, author of Crown of Vengeance (2009, 612 p.) [US][UK].
"I just got back from the post office, and placed a package in the mail with your address on it. It should arrive by next week, but I'm going to let it just be a surprise for you. I think you'll like it!"
I received the package yesterday. And that is what I got: Stephen sent me a copy of The Exodus Gate (2009, 566 p.) [US][UK], which is the first book in his The Rising Dawn Saga!!! But that wasn't all. As you can see I also got art cards and bookmarks. And not to forget a poster.
What is the book about?
"Benedict Darwin, host of a popular late night radio show that deals with the paranormal, comes into possession of a virtual reality simulator that turns out to be something far greater and more powerful than he ever expected.
Supernatural powers from the Abyss and their human allies are working tirelessly to bring about a One World Government, bridging the boundaries of time and space to bring back the Nephilim, the offspring of Fallen Avatars and humans, who were destroyed in a Great Flood that occurred long ages ago.
On the verge of enslaving the entire world, the vast forces within the Abyss under their proud and defiant ruler Diabolos are more powerful than ever before, and they hunger to shake the foundations of Heaven itself. A Convergence of unprecedented proportions is underway, as meticulously designed plans from malevolent otherworldly powers, set into motion at the foundation of the world, begin to unfold.
In the face of this rising storm, other powers begin to come together to resist. A most unlikely group begins to form, including high school student Seth Engel and his friends, who witness pony-sized wolves during a hike in a forest where wolves have not been seen in decades, to Benedict, his niece Arianna, and even souls existing within the afterworld. The Exodus Gate sets in motion many new forces and unexpected allies that are not going to allow their world and those beyond to fall without a fight.
An epic tale of courage and adventure, with fantastical realms and exotic creatures, The Exodus Gate is the first adventure in the Rising Dawn Saga." [Source]
Of course I'm keen to read and review it!
Book Trailer Yesterday I posted my review of Drood by Dan Simmons. What I great read! . Now I'm keen to read his next book Black Hills (2010) [US Februaryl][UK April]. Just listen to the author himself:
Blogosphere
Last week I presented you the debut novel of Sam Sykes - Tome of the Undergates (2010) [US = no date] [UK]. When you look around there are some more debut novels which aroused some interest. Last night I ordered one of these books: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010) [US] [UK], by J.K.Nemesin. This is the first volume in The Inheritance Trilogy. I read the first chapter and was intrigued. I think you should read an excerpt because it is story told from first point of view. And in this case it depends a lot on the style and prose of the author. What is the book about beside it is a fantasy novel?
"Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky, seat of the ruling Arameri family. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother’s death and her family’s bloody history. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Yeine will learn how perilous it can be when love and hate — and gods and mortals — are bound inseparably." [Source]
You to get some more information about the author and her book? Then I highly recommend to read her post Sexing up Gods.
If you want to meet interesting people, talk about fantasy books, share your opinions in a friendly fantasy atmosphere, support your favorite book and SIGN IN:
Once again I have to say thank to the great guys over at Steampunkopedia who discovered following video. It represents the genre of alternate history. Let me quote the director and writer Ryan Nagata:
"1945A is a presentation I made with George Edelman about an alternate timeline where the Nazi's unveil all sorts of futuristic sci-fi technology at the end of WWII, turning the tides in their favor. It's essentially what 5 minutes of the feature film could look like. It was made for a budget of less than $2000." [Source]
After watching videos like this I always breathe a sigh of relief being aware that Germany lost WWII.
Quotes The Exodus Gate inspired me to search for quotes related to gates........
" I believe the future is only the past again, entered through another gate. ” Arthur Wing Pinero, English dramatist (1855 - 1934)
"Still round the corner there may wait,A new road or a secret gate.” J. R. R. Tolkien, British scholar & fantasy novelist (1892 - 1973)
"Always be nice to secretaries. They are the real gatekeepers in the world.” Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book
"The longest part of the journey is said to be the passing of the gate.” Marcus Terentius Varro, On Agriculture, Roman scholar (116 BC - 27 BC)
In the Weekly Roundup issue #40 I posted about Drood (2009) [US] [UK] by Dan Simmons who is a very versatile writer. From Drood (about Charles Dickens) to Terror (2007) [US] [UK] (about the Sir John Franklin expedition to discover the Northwest Passage) to Hyperion (1989) [US] [UK] (a masterful work of science fiction, read Alec's review), Mr. Simmons has produced a wide range of titles. I read and liked Terror and Hyperion is on my shelf - unread. So I added Drood to my Final Reads in 2009 but I failed to read. New year, new month, new opportunity. I managed to read Drood in January 2010 and I didn't regret. This is definitely one of my top reads in 2010! Even it is the first book I read this year! Why? Read my review....
The Setup
The last five years in the life of Britain's famous novelist Charles Dickens narrated through the eyes of his friend and collaborator Wilkie Collins.
My Take in Brief
What a book! 771 pages to narrate five years. Too much? With Drood Dan Simmons presents an opus which eludes any unequivocal categorization. It is an inimitable - which is also used as a description of Dickens, please forgive the pun - mix of a portrait of Victorian culture, manners and morals, mystery, gothic traces, partial biography of two men, history, drama, travelogue, relationship study, friendship and drug experience.
Brilliant researched from Staplehurst Train Desaster via the oeuvre of Dickens and Wilkie to the events, places and persons appearing in Droodand reinterpreted, the reader is offered a deep insight to the psyche of Collins and Dickens as well as an insight to the moral vision of the 19th century.
The title of Simmons' book is based on Dickens' final but unfinished novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood (reissued 2009) [US] [UK] (more details about this novel).
By using Wilkie Collins as the narrator of the novel Dan Simmons unfurls a carpet of emotions in which the reader can lascivious wallow. Like the inimitable Charles Dickens the author is more than able to to enwrap a skeleton of facts with bulging literary flesh. With the recurrent use of the direct approach in form of "dear reader" Simmons forces the reader to reflect manners and morals. If you engage in, you will boost your reading pleasure. Even if you know the inevitably end - the death of Dickens and Collins - Dan Simmons is able to twist and turn the story in new directions.
"That moment was the end of my life as I had known it." [p. 425]
In doing so Wilkie Collins' drug consumption is not insubstantial. I don't talk about the omnipresent alcohol. It is laudanum. Let Wilkie explain what is laudanum:
"Laudanum is simply tincture of opium distilled in alcohol." [p. 44]
But don't get me wrong. This is no drug story. It is a novel where you can bath your mind without getting drug addicted.
Extraordinary, pervaded by the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe, a lascivious bath for the intellect, in a prose which at any time keep up with the content. A story which takes along the reader, keeps him/her in a state of suspense and excercises the mind.
"Wilkie, do you know Edgar Allan Poe?" "No," I said. [p.101]
Do you know Drood? No? Then it is high time to read it! Highly, highly recommended.
Bona Fide's Book Oracle
What is Bona Fide's Book Oracle? To keep it short. It is a palaver about the reviewed book held by ediFanoB and his alter ego Bona Fide. And I am the keeper of the minutes. Now read my minutes.
Bona[singing]: "One pill makes you larger, And one pill makes you small, And the ones that mother gives you, Don't do anything at all..." Fide: "Gosh! Stop singing this narcotic song!" Bona: "Do you really think somebody cares?" Fide: "No, with the first note leaving your mouth everybody will run away instantly!" Bona[giggle]: "Hey my fans in front of the screen when you want to enjoy this song then click here." Fide: "Do you get any money for this stuff?" Bona: "Yes, every time when I stop singing." Fide: "Come on. Let's slobber about Drood." Bona: "I'm in the mood to talk about Drood but shoot me in the food." Fide: "Bastard! You shared something with Wilkie Collins."
Bona: "One for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, And four to GO!"[Source]
Fide: "I will kill him! He did it again. You don't need laudanum. And you know what will happen again!" Bona: "Yyyyyeeess, yyesss. Noooooooo, I don't want it again."
Fide[diabolic]: "One, two, Drood's coming for you Three, four, better lock your door Five, six, grab your crucifix Seven, eight, gonna stay up late Nine, ten, never sleep again!" [Source, slightly modified]
Bona: "Please, please help me! You learned it from Dickens! Mesmerize me!" Fide: "Will do! Sit down, relax and follow my finger. Left.....Right......Left....Right....and now close your eyes and tell me your opinion about Drood." Bona[talking monotonously]: "Awesome, stunning, gorgeous,splendid.." Fide: Stop! Stop! Be more precise. Tell me what you didn't like." Bona: "It was such a short but still amusing story. I don't think that Wilkie Collins is a reliable narrator." Fide: "How can a 771 page novel be short?" Bona: "Extraordinary books should never end..." Fide: "Dream on. I want to read more than one book in my life." Bona: "I love Victorian era. I love London. I like to dive into the psyche of people. I love mysteries. I love history. And I got all in just one book!" Fide: "Hmm, did I something wrong by mesmerizing Bona? No! definitely no! Only a few pages and Wilkie Collins er, er, er, Dan Simmons had got me on the hook. Absolutely splendid book." Bona: "I'm so tired. Let me sleep..." Fide: " Sleep well my friend. Next time we will force our doppelgänger to sobber. And now it's your turn keeper of the minute. I fall silent now. ...." I'm the keeper of the minutes. Drugs and mesmerizing means nothing to me. But I'm a fervent lover of history. Let me form an equation:
Loaded Victorian Weapon = Drood.
Wilkie: "I assume that the general idea is to aim the end with the opening at one's target and pull the trigger." [p. 100] = Put the book in front of your opened eyes. Open it and you will be hit immediately by the content.
Last week, in my anthology review of Warriors by GRRM and Gardner Dozois, I blurbed three of the best short stories I have read in a while: Landsdale, Beagle, and Hobb all put forward masterful performances. Now, after finishing the entire anthology, I am ready to render a more comprehensive verdict.
The Warriors anthology enjoys a range, breadth, and depth that will appeal to any reader while showcasing the biggest names in speculative fiction. The different approaches to the warrior archetype all produce worthy stories; from midnight black through grey and all the way to scintillating white, warriors of every type abound. That said, the same could be said of virtually any anthology in which contributors are given such a broad and subjective topic.
The most interesting stories for me were the fresh ones - those not set in a previous world already intimately familiar to the author. In those, the story line is tighter, more focused, and ultimately much more personal. All in all, a fine showing by all the contributors to the anthology, though a couple of the stories lost some of their appeal after I discovered they were prequels to stories I was already familiar with - GRRM's little ditty not included. That was a fun one... (and thanks for the link love Mr. Martin).
Overall an excellent vintage. Like a fine wine that takes time to open up (think '83 Margaux) giving you a range of surprising flavors you didn't expect and delighting the pallet. Deep, intense, with shining moments of humor and pathos, the Warriors anthology is well worth the read.
Forever Bound, by Joe Haldeman
I am a huge fan of Mr. Haldeman's having read the vast majority of his work going into his short story, which is a prequel to Forever Peace. That said, it just didn't click for me just as Forever Peace didn't either. No harm no foul, it was still a nifty piece drawing heavily on Mr. Haldeman's strengths as an author. A tight focus which blossoms into a sense of wonder and amazement generally directed at humanity's inherent potential. Nough said.
And Ministers of Grace, by Tad Williams
Mr. Williams' piece is hard space opera science fiction a la Hamilton. Full on bio-engineered weaponized soldiers pound it out, and then some more, and heck, lets throw in some cannibalism for the fun of it. The protagonist starts out a bit shallow and one dimensional but then opens up quite nicely (I'll go with the '83 Margaux for comparison). All in all, a fun piece that reads nicely as a prequel to a much larger story. Want to buy more please.
Seven Yearsfrom Home, Naomi Novik
Similar to Tad Williams' piece, Novik skims ecopunk (are we using that term yet?) and presents us a world divided between two waring continents; one is fairly belligerent/capitalist and the other populated by bio-engineering tree huggers. Told from the point of view of a young adventurer, the story is well worth your time and again will leave you wanting to read more.... which seems to be a recurring problem with me and reading anthologies.
The Scroll, by David Ball
Only one word to describe this one: BRUTAL. Yes, the caps are deliberate, hopefully conveying undertones of sadism, torture, and anguish. Before diving into this one, queue up some calming music and pictures of puppies, because you are going to need them. Mr. Ball gives us the darkest side of human nature, and does it well. Served up for your reading pleasure, some of the darkest and most depraved historical fiction you are likely to encounter. You have been warned.
Hello and welcome to issue #04 of my Weekly Roundup. It is Friday night in Germany and I returned from my business trip to UK an hour ago. I must admit that I prepared most parts of this Roundup the weekend before. But I hope I found some interesting topics for you. Enjoy reading....
Answers to questions from Roundup 03 Not so many answers. So I think there are more people like me who are a bit crazy concerning buying of books. Other people like Simcha start their own book shop. That's cool.
What do you think about book trailers? There are more and more book trailers available. I must admit I like to watch them. For me it is an additional tool to spread information about a book. And it is possible that they are viewed by people who are normally not that interested in books. This Roundup contains the Crown of Vengeance trailer which is a bit longer than most of the trailers I know.
Dear readers, do you like and watch book trailers? Are they useful?
Books
Do you know this feeling: You read a post and suddenly you recognize a book which you must order immediately. It happened to me last Sunday. I was reading Cindy's Anticipated 2010 List over at Fantasy Book Critic. Cindy put together some interesting books. Several of them I ordered in advance. But then I discovered following book: The Gaslight Dogs (2010) [US][UK], by Karin Lowachee.
"At the edge of the known world, an ancient nomadic tribe faces a new enemy-an Empire fueled by technology and war. A young spiritwalker of the Aniw and a captain in the Ciracusan army find themselves unexpectedly thrown together. The Aniw girl, taken prisoner from her people, must teach the reluctant soldier a forbidden talent – one that may turn the tide of the war and will surely brand him an outcast. From the rippling curtains of light in an Arctic sky, to the gaslit cobbled streets of the city, war is coming to the frozen north. Two people have a choice that will decide the fates of nations – and may cast them into a darkness that threatens to bring destruction to both their peoples." [Source]
After I have read the blurb I couldn't withstand and ordered the book immediately. Now I have to wait for delivery until beginning of April because The Gaslight Dogs will be published on March 30th. And you can be sure that you will get a review. Cindy and I have some expectations.
Book Trailer I posted my review of Crown of Vengeance (2009, 612 p.) [US][UK], by Stephen Zimmer on January 8th. To my pleasure Stephen Zimmer managed to get a trailer for his book. Hope you like it too.
Blogosphere
Maybe you have noticed that there is some hype around the debut novel of Sam Sykes - Tome of the Undergates (2010) [US = no date] [UK]. It has been announced as one of Gollancz's big fantasy debuts for 2010! And it starts with a bang: Did you ever read a 200 page battle scene as the beginning of a story?
" Lenk can barely keep control of his mismatched adventurer band at the best of times (Gariath the dragon man sees humans as little more than prey, Kataria the Shict despises most humans, and the humans in the band are little better). When they’re not insulting each other’s religions they’re arguing about pay and conditions. So when the ship they are travelling on is attacked by pirates things don’t go very well. They go a whole lot worse when an invincible demon joins the fray. The demon steals the Tome of the Undergates – a manuscript that contains all you need to open the undergates. And whichever god you believe in you don’t want the undergates open. On the other side are countless more invincible demons, the manifestation of all the evil of the gods, and they want out. Full of razor-sharp wit, characters who leap off the page (and into trouble) and plunging the reader into a vivid world of adventure this is a fantasy that kicks off a series that could dominate the second decade of the century." [Source]
Dou you would like to get more information about Sam Sykes and Tome of the Undergates? Then I highly, highly recommend to read Aidan's Interview with Sam Sykes!! It is a great piece of work!
If you want to meet interesting people, talk about fantasy books, share your opinions in a friendly fantasy atmosphere, support your favorite book and SIGN IN:
"Please if you know Kage or read her books please send cards, thoughts, prayers and all the healing energy and love you can!
Again emails of support will be printed and read to her immediately emails can be sent to: materkb[at]gmail[dot]com
Letters, notes, cards and anything else you can think of can be sent to her home: Kage Baker 331 Stimson, Apt. B, Pismo Beach CA 93449 "
Movies
This week I present you something special. Maybe some of you know the following video. I saw for the first time of at Items of Interest. On November 9th in 2009 the Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Álvarez uploaded his sci-fi short film Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!) 2009 to YouTube. I didn't take long and Fede Álvarez was offered a $30 million Hollywood deal [Source]. And now watch, try to keep your mouth closed and keep in mind the official production budget: $300....
Quotes
Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!) 2009 inspired me to search for quotes related to attack........
" need not fear my enemies because the most they can do is attack me. I need not fear my friends because the most they can do is betray me. But I have much to fear from people who are indifferent.” Russian proverb
"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.” by Dennis Wholey, American television host and producer (1939 - )
"In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.” by Ulysses S. Grant quotes (American 18th US President (1869-77), famous commander of the Union armies during the late years of the American Civil War. 1822-1885)
"I caused my husband's heart attack. In the middle of lovemaking I took the paper bag off my head. He dropped the Polaroid and keeled over and so did the hooker. It would have taken me half an hour to untie myself and call the paramedics, but fortunately the Great Dane could dial..” by Joan Rivers, US comedienne (1935 - )
As part of my November 2009 Reading Challenge I read the first volume in the Twilight Reign series. So far three books are available and books four and five will both be published in 2010. I speak about The Stormcaller (2006, 493 p.) [US][UK], by Tom Loyd. Not to forget that this is Tom Lloyd's debut novel. As you see the novel has been published first in 2006. A time where I still read books in German. That means I still have a backlog. When you remember that year there was a hype around other books like The Lies of Locke Lamorra by Scott Lynch (which is on my TBR pile)and The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (I read the German edition). Maybe that is one of the reasons why I and also other people did not really recognize The Stormcaller. But that would be not fair because you would miss an enthralling read....
The Setup
"Our future always lies ahead of us, but sometimes it stops and turns around to look us in the face.All things have their time" [p. 472
]Young Isaak is different. He is stronger, faster and larger than any normal inhabitant of The Land (Don't get confused. The name the land is The Land). In combination with his blind rage he is feared and shunned at once. Isaak is a white-eye like Lord Bahlan, the leader of the Farlan tribe. Nartis, god of storms, is the patron deity of the Farlan. And he choose Isaak to be the heir of Bahl. Isaak's life changes completely. Dark nightmares badger him and dark forces resurrect.....
My Take in Brief
I must admit I was not quite sure what to expect from The Stormcaller after reading the official blurb. In some parts The Stormcaller is challenging. There are a lot of characters and threads which may confuse you in the beginning. It is like a jigsaw. But by the end of the book you have put together some larger parts of it which are loosely connected... Don't worry there are four more books to come....
The story shows you things which seems familiar on first sight but you discover soon that they are different. Gods, immortals, vampires, elves, trolls and human beings are an unusual mix. But it works fine and none of these beings appear as you are used to know from other books. Tom Lloyd did a great job with the characterization of people. The characters are well pegged into the intricate story.
Isak is far beyond either to be the average teen or the invincible super hero. He a character who is believeable and understandable. I don't want to give much away of the story. But can you imagine how you would feel to be guilty of your mothers death, to grow up as someone who is clearly different compared to the people surrounding him. I found it quite easily to connect to him and to some other characters.
Did I mention that there is magic in the book? Tom Lloyd has a talent to depict the use of magic in detail without fully explain them. Awesome!
All in all Tom Lloyd has created a very promising debut with stunning characterizations and an intricate story settled in a harsh world. Give it a try. Maybe you have to read the beginning twice but you won't regret it.
Bona Fide's Book Oracle
What is Bona Fide's Book Oracle? To keep it short. It is a palaver about the reviewed book held by ediFanoB and his alter ego Bona Fide. And I am the keeper of the minutes. Now read my minutes.
Bona: “Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz ? My friends all drive Porsches,...“ Fide: “Hey, that's a song from last century! Are you sure that there are people who know Janis Joplin?“ Bona: “I thought that is the appropriate start for our battle of words about The Stormcaller“ Fide: “You're nuts! What is the relation between "Mercedes-Benz" by Janis Joplin and The Stormcaller?“ Bona: “You simpleton! Lord is just another word for god. And who plays an obscure role in The Stormcaller?“ Fide[abashed]: “Gods.“ Bona: “Unbelievable! You really read The Stormcaller!“ Fide: “When you repeat the title of the book one more time, I will call some Elves.“ Bona: “But I must repeat it often because people will forget so fast that we talk about The Stormcaller. But I promise this was the last time. And if you call the elves I will call the trolls.“ Fide: “In the end we both know that neither elves nor trolls like human beings.“ Bona: “And we should be aware of vampires and immortals!“ Fide: “That's true. What an unusual mix: Human beings, trolls, elves, vampires, immortals and gods who all follow their own plans and prophecies.“ Bona: “And we only know as much as young Isak. I can't wait to read The Twilight Herald.“ Fide: “I like Isak. He is a well developed character like a lot of other characters. That makes them so alive.“ Bona: “Don't forget the powerful depiction of fights, magic and country.“ Fide: “That is a must read for people who can cope with a story which enfolds slowly but surely.“ Bona: “For me it was like I have been thrown into a foreign town where I have to start a new job by not have full knowledge about my abilities.“ Fide: “Yeah, a very promising anacrusis to a new series. Highly recommended if you like intense stories, convincing characters and a well depicted world.“ Bona: “That's it for today.“ Fide: “You're right. If people want to get more information then they should buy and read The Stormcaller.“ Bona: “You did it again. But this time I agree because I'm sure the keeper of the minute forgot to note the title of the book.“ Fide: “Wake up keeper of the minutes. And keep in mind that we won't come back if you fail to write down properly what we told about the book.“
I'm the keeper of the minutes. Read The Stormcaller. Share your life with Isak. Why?Intense and dark story, well developed characters, beings as familiar as different – forget your Lord of the Rings image of elves.
Warriors, the highly anticipated anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois will hit shelves in March. Mr. Martin best describes the anthology: "You will find warriors of every shape, size, and color in this pages, warriors from every epoch of human history, from yesterday and today and tomorrow and worlds that never were. Some of the stories will make you sad, some will make you laugh, many will keep you on the edge of your sear." Indeed, Mr. Martin is right on point with his overall description - I found warriors to be a true wonder in both its diversity and talent. The masterful explorations of the warrior archetype will delight fans of any genre, and are sure to titillate even the most hardened veterans of speculative fiction.
The three pieces which follow are my favorites so far in the anthology - all are gritty and bloody, showcasing a fair measure of violence, wit, and emotion.
Soldierin', by Joe Landsdale:
In this daringly nifty piece of historical fiction, Mr. Landsdale brings us back to the old days of slavery and American expansion into the West. Meet an escaped slave headed to sign up as a Buffalo Soldier after narrowly escaping an old fashioned lynching. The tone of the story is reminiscent of Abercrombie in his First Law trilogy - dark and ironic with a healthy abundance of sarcasm masked as humor. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the tale, at least for me, is the protagonist's world view and the casual familiarity with which racist epithets - and racism -abound. A true cowboys and indians frontier story, Soldierin' will delight, amaze, and leave one hoping for an expanded novella on the part of Mr. Landsdale.
Dirae, by Peter S. Beagle:
Unique in its structure, Dirae is a dreamscape like staccato narrative of a hero in the truest sense; a being who exists only in the moments of greatest need to protect the innocent and punish evil. Part superhero quest and journey of self-discovery, Dirae holds more twists than is proper for such a short story, showcasing a profound sense of loss and sorrow that seems all to personal. Peter S. Beagle is undoubtedly a modern master of the short story who has once again amazed me with his raw skill and daring narrative style. I would give this one three thumbs up, but physically that would be a bit awkward.
The Triumph, by Robin Hobb:
Brutal and bloody, The Triumph is a story of friendship, honor, and courage in an age in which warriors dreamed and lived for glory - to be remembered - and where mythical beasts roamed the land. The story, more than anything, highlights the timeless bond between warriors that is forged in the heat of battle, that endures unto, and even beyond, death. In a historical sense, Mr. Hobb highlights a worldview that is long extinct, and was perhaps even doomed to extinction from the start. Gruesome and bloody, Triumph is a story of a bond broken and friendship lost, but a memory sustained. Highly recommended and second only to Mr. Beagle's Dirae at this point.
Michael and I have both picked out favorite reads from '09 to share with our readers. The winners you might ask? Boneshacker (review), by Cherie Priest and Best Served Cold, by Joe Abercrombie. Can you guess who picked what?
Regardless, in the spirit of sharing and thanking our readers for their dedication, we are offering a chance to win both books - both the best of '09 in our estimation.
So, as usual, follow the rules!
Giveaway Rules
Want a copy of both Boneshaker and Best Served Cold? Done. Just follow these simple giveaway instructions for your chance to win (giveaway runs till 2/1/10 @ 11:59 PM EST):
1) E-mail me [bloggeratf@gmail.com] your name and address, with "BEST OF 09" as the subject. Snarky comments increase your chances of winning and win bonus entries for future giveaway. 2) Sign up for site updates either in RSS or with Friend Connect on the side. This will also let you know about future giveaways! 3) Think happy thoughts. 4) (OPTIONAL)Spread the love, share or link to any post on the blog--this earns you brownie points as well as increasing your (if you have made it this far) already significant odds. 5) There is no rule number five. I just like odd numbers.
Hello and welcome to issue #03 of my Weekly Roundup. The upcoming week I will be on a business trip to UK. That means the next Roundup will be a bit shorter. Hopefully I will find some time to read because I'm behind my reading schedule. I was not sure whether someone would leave comment related to my questions in the last Roundup. But some of you, my dear readers, left helpful comments. Thank you for that. Enjoy reading...... Bona Fide's Menu
In the last Roundup I tried something new. I asked you (my dear readers) two questions and I received comments. Thank you. It seems it should be worth to have a Facebook account in order to improve my network related to books. I will join after my return from my business trip. There are more people like my who like to discover PODs (Print on demand). But blogger like to decide on their own which book they want to read and maybe review. I decided for myself that if I'm interested in a POD I will contact the author. So I hopefully avoid to put my nose in books I don't like.
How do you decide whether to buy a book or not? I know people who go to a bookshop, buy a book and are happy. And I know people like me with several strategies to decide which book to buy. I never buy books on impulse. I'm a fan of list, book lists. I have a neverending book wish list on Goodreads. I have detailed to buy lists for ervery month and nearly a year in advance. Am I insane? I spend hours to reate these lists. Before I add a book to my list I normally read the blurb, up to 10 reviews if available and excerpts. The cover is not that important for me. But I'm also constantly changing my to buy list because of discovering new books or deleayed publishing. And I have a budget limit of 50 EURO per month. I order books up to more than year in advance. Am I insane? Am I the only one who makes a big fuss about his process of to buy a book decision?
Dear readers let me know how do you decide which book to buy. Are there more people like me or do I need to be admitted to a book bedlam?
Books
This week I received the paperback copy of a book which has been published first in 2009. Let me start with the book trailer:
Based on this trailer I searched for more information about Beat The Reaper (2009) [US][UK], by Josh Blazell and it didn't take long until I found the awesome Beat The Reaper site. I know it is completely different compared to what I read normally but sometimes I need to read something different. This is the new paperback cover and synopsis from the site:
"Dr. Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan’s worst hospital. He has a talent for medicine, a shift from hell, and a past he’d prefer to keep hidden. Whether it’s a blocked circumflex artery or a plan to land a massive malpractice suit, he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. Pietro “Bearclaw” Brnwna is a hit man for the mob, with a genius for violence, a well-earned fear of sharks, and an overly close relationship with the Federal Witness Protection Program. More likely to leave a trail of dead gangsters than a molecule of evidence, he’s the last person you want to see in your hospital room. Nicholas LoBrutto, aka Eddy Squillante, is Dr. Brown’s new patient, with three months to live and a very strange idea: that Peter Brown and Pietro Brnwa might — just might — be the same person . . . Now with the mob, the government, and death itself descending on the hospital, Peter has to buy time and do whatever it takes to keep his patients, himself, and his last shot at redemption alive. To get through the next eight hours — and somehow beat the Reaper. Spattered in adrenaline-fueled action and bone-saw-sharp dialogue, Beat the Reaper is a debut thriller so utterly original you won’t be able to guess what happens next, and so shockingly entertaining you won’t be able to put it down."
Mark your calendars! February 16, 2010 is the date you can again board the gargantuan ship Chathrand when Robert V.S. Redick's The Ruling Sea comes to bookstores everywhere. But if you haven't yet met the Chathrand's motley crew whose saga began in last year's The Red Wolf Conspiracy, don't worry! We are giving away copies of the paperback edition of The Red Wolf Conspiracy to 10 lucky readers. For your chance to win, send your e-mail to delrey@randomhouse.com with RED WOLF in the subject line, including your full name and address in the body of the e-mail. (NOTE: your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this content.) Ten (10) lucky winners will be selected at random and will receive a copy of the book. All submissions must be received by Wednesday, January 27th.
I could not detect any restriction. Therefore the giveaway should be open for all. This could be your opportunity to enter the Chathrand Voyage series by Robert V.S. Redick. Good Luck to all participants.Both books are really worth to read and I recommend them.
Blogosphere
There is a story behind following post. On Thursday Marc from Walker of Worlds posted about a competition. Nothing unusual. Except for me because the price of the competition is a book which is on my to buy list for February. And it is a sci-fi novel! Yes, I really want to read some sci-fi within 2010. Before I continue with the story you should know about which book I talk: Seeds of Earth (2010, mass market paperback) [US][UK], by Michael Cobley. It is the first book of the Humanity's Fire series. As has been published first in 2009 several reviews are available. Just follow the links: Walker of Worlds, Dave Brendon's Fantasy & Scifi Weblog, SFF World, Fantasy Book Critic, King of the Nerds !!! And this time I show you the whole cover. For all of you who have no magnifying glass at hand I repeat the blurb from the cover above:
"The first intelligent species to encounter Mankind attacked without warning. With little hope of halting the savage invasion, Earth's last, desperate roll of the dice was to dispatch three colony ships, seeds of Earth, to different parts of the galaxy. The human race would live on ...somewhere. Over a century later, the planet Darien hosts a thriving human settlement. But mankind's new home harbours secret dating back to the dawn of history. Secrets that could yet see a devastating war erupt across the entire galaxy..."
Now let's continue with the story. Of course I visited the competition site and found following question:
"There is a range of mountains on Darien which are named after a Scottish saint – what is that saint’s more popular name?"
What a disappointment! It is not possible to answer the question without knowing the book. The means it is a competition for people who read the book. Of course I left a comment. Only a few hours later following post appeared:
"(Slaps forehead) – my god, you`re absolutely right. Flipping norah – gonna have to come up with an alternative pronto."
Now a new question is available and I say thank you to Michael Cobley. By the way the new question is still a challenge...
Two authors, two artists and TOR.COM You know TOR.COM? It is a site for news and discussion of science fiction, fantasy, and all the things that interest SF and fantasy readers. Over there you can find two stories from two authors and two paintings from two artists. Anything else? NO. Let me go more in detail and you may understand why I wrote this post. Earth, USA, San Francisco, Mission District, 866 Valencia Street, Borderland Books, 2009, March 28th. Jay Lake and Ken Scholes wrote stories in front of a crowd. Each of them started a story and after finishing the first part they exchanged papers and each continued the story of the other. And as a result we have two stories. For details of the event please read On a Certain Day by Shannon Page. TOR.COM was eager to present the two stories. But that was not enough. The brought together Greg Manchess, the artist on Ken’s Psalms of Isaak series and Stephan Martiniere, the artist on Jay’s Clockwork books. Each started a painting for one of the stories and the other finished it. For details please read Martiniere/Manchess mashup for "The Starship Mechanic" and "Looking for Truth in a Wild Blue Yonder" by Irene Gallo. And this is the result. I hope you enjoy the stories and the paintings as much as I did.
The Starship Mechanic by Jay Lake and Ken Scholes Illustration by Stephan Martiniere & Greg Manchess
"If you were a technologically advanced alien race named Todd, what kind of mechanic would your ship have? And what if that mechanic liked to spend its time petting the naked cats at Borderlands Books?"
"Don't do drugs, kiddies, unless you really need to and/or they are recommended by a licensed therabot. And either way, don't have sex under the influence. Unless, of course, you're dealing with complicated grief."
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This week I didn't find a movie or a trailer worth to present you. But I found another interesting topic: Houses on bridges. One famous example is the old London Bridge. For more information visit the London Bridge Museum. And when you would like to see examples from around the world then I recommend to visit Modern Trolls: Bridges as Homes & Mini-Cities. As always the people from WebUrbanist put together a lot of information and pictures. And what is my contribution to this topic? A video! Yes, I found a video which explains how to design a bridge house. I must admit that could not live in this house due to my vertigo.....
Quotes
Seeds of Earth inspired me to search for quotes related to contact........
"You can judge your age by the amount of pain you feel when you come in contact with a new idea” Pearl S. Buck, American author, 1938 Nobel Prize for Literature (1892-1973)
"A happy childhood is poor preparation for human contacts.” by Colette, French novelist (1873 - 1954
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” by Bill Watterson, cartoonist, "Calvin and Hobbes" US cartoonist (1958 - )
Disclosure: Assume all links are affiliate links (i.e., we get paid a small percentage). That helps run the blog and do what we do, which is mostly reading more books.
Following Michael's glowing review of Drood, it seems a giveaway is apropos! From the mouth of the man himself: "This is definitely one of my top reads in 2010". 
In the 
