I've been working on this list for a couple months now and it's just about right to publish to the blog. I may have to update it a few more times, but the following are the books, released in 2013, I plan on reading this upcoming year or at least plan on making an attempt to get to. As you'll see, I still have a few books to read to get to all the new releases this year. I've placed them by the month (and even the exact date when available), but this in no way means I'll be reviewing them in that same month. I figured it was as good a way as any to put things together, plus people may want to refer back to this (myself included) for those release dates (US only). Jan:
Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, A Memory of Light (WoT #14) (Jan. 8) [US] [UK]
Marie Brennan, A Natural History of Dragons (Feb. 5) [US] [UK] Robert V. S. Redick, The Night of the Swarm (Chathrad Voyages #4) (Feb. 5) [US] [UK] Robert Jackson Bennett, American Elsewhere (Feb. 12) [US] [UK] Peter V. Brett, The Daylight War (Demon Cycle #3) (Feb. 12) [US] [UK] March: Orson Scott Card, The Gate Thief (Mithermages #2) (Mar. 19) [US] [UK] April:
John Marco, The Forever Knight (Lukien #4) (Apr. 2) [US] [UK] John Scalzi, The Human Division (Apr. 2) [US] [UK] Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood (Apr. 16) [US] [UK] May:
Westley Chu, The Lives of Tao (May 2) [US] [UK] Brandon Sanderson, The Rithmatist (May 14) [US] [UK] Ian C. Esslemont, Blood and Bone (Malazan Empire #5) (May 21) [US] [UK] - Available now in the UK. Jun: Ofir Touche Gafla, The World of the End (Jun. 25) [Goodreads] Aug:
Mark Lawrence, Emperor of Thorns (Broken Empire #3) (Aug. 1) [US] [UK] Michael J. Sullivan, The Crown Tower (Riyria Chronicles #1) (Aug. 3) [US] [UK] Sep: Michael J. Sullivan, The Rose and Thorn (Riyria Chronicles #2) [US] [UK] TBD: Courtney Schafer, The Labyrinth of Flame (Shattered Sigil #3) Scott Lynch, The Republic of Thieves (Gentlemen Bastards #3) Not Counting On: Patrick Rothfuss, The Doors of Stone (Kingkiller Chronicle #3) George R.R. Martin, The Winds of Winter (ASoIaF #6) Brandon Sanderson, Highprince of War (Stormlight Archive #2) [Title not final] Non-2013 Release Date Books: (i.e., Books I need to read to catch up) The Lukien Trilogy by John Marco (The Eyes of God, The Devil's Armor, The Sword of Angels) The Chathrad Voyages by Robert V.S. Redick (The Red Wolf Conspiracy, The Ruling Sea, The River of Shadows) The Wheel of Time (A Crown of Swords, Path of Daggers, Winter's Heart, Crossroads of Twilight, Knife of Dreams, The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight) Malazan Empire (Stonewielder and Orb, Sceptre, Throne) Riyria Revelations (Heir of Novron) 35 in total. 19 new releases. I read about 50 to 60 a year, so this is going to take up the bulk of my reading and this is only through September. EDIT: There are a few books being released that I probably should have put on this list (Daniel Abraham's Tyrant's Law, Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane, S.A. Corey's Abbadon's Gate), but the ones listed are what I think I actually have a chance of reading this year. EDIT Feb. 8: Updated some dates for The Daylight War and The Lives of Tao.
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."
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:
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 - )
"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before." [Source]
Oops! I am sorry. That belongs definitely to another adventurous journey.
"Alifros: Mysterious world. These are the voyages of the Imperial Merchant Ship Chathrand, her crew and her passengers . Its four books mission: to explore uncharted oceans, to seek out mysteries and secrets; to boldly save the world from a power never faced before." [Source: My brain]
Planet Earth,book shops on both sides of the Atlantic, October 29th 2009. Get your your copy of the next part of the Chathrand voyage log: The Rats and the Ruling Sea (2009) [US][UK]. Written down with lifeblood by the keeper of the log: Robert V S Redick. The log continues exactly at the point where the first part - The Red Wolf Conspiracy (2008) [US][UK], has ended.
The Setup
To my surprise I could use nearly the whole section I wrote for my review of The Red Wolf Conspiracy. I will do it partially because it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel. The cover shows you the most important location of the story: Chathrand, an enormous, 600 hundred years old sailing vessel. Home for more than 800 souls. It is the dream of every tarboy - we would say shipboy - to sign up for the Chathrand. One of these tarboys is Pazel Pathkendle,who, due to his fortuitous relationship to several persons, as well as his hidden skill, gets enmeshed in a dark conspiracy. As far as we know the conspiracy is driven by Arunis Wytterscorm, a 3000-year-old sorcerer. But there are lot more beings involved on each side. And some play their one game.... At the end of The Red Wolf Conspiracy we left Pazel and Thasha Isiq, the young woman he loves on the island of Simja. Thasha is a few hours away from a wedding she does't want but has to fulfil the promise of a mad god's return. Without a break the story continues in The Rats and the Ruling Sea. Follow the events of the wedding and the incredible journey to and through the uncharted Ruling Sea on board the Chathrand, the swimming melting pot of magic, curses, corruption, politics, betrayal, fidelity, faith, trust, hate, friendship, intrigue, epiphany and love. My Take in BriefI loved The Red Wolf Conspiracy and was anxious to read The Rats and the Ruling Sea. And I'm relieved. Mr. Redick's writing is still highly original and he still has a knack for drawing you into the story. By using Captain Rose's letters to his father, Editor's footnotes and journal entries by quartermaster Fiffengurt the book breaks the third person narration from several character's point of view. This is highly welcomed and provides even more the variety of this epic (reviewer copy stands at 634 pages) adventure. I have been more than impressed by chapter 38 Holy War. With a length of 40 pages it is like a short story. It is full of action and emotion. And it is the chapter of awakened animals.... Mr. Redick continues the development of his characters. We learn more about their past and their inner conflicts. The main story has its twists and turns. He continues to add non-human species - in this case the so called dlömu - to the existing murths, augrongs, flikkermen, nunekkam and ixchel. He dives into the habits of the Ixchel. the non-human species from the first book. Not to forget the introduction of new characters. And again there are some sub plots where several characters do their own thing. I know that some people found the plot not very complex. But I tell you the devil is in the detail. For me the plot is like the skin layers of an onion. So far I didn't talk much about my secret star of the series: The Chathrand. Mr. Redick's depiction of the sailing vessel and the life on board is most imposing. I got nearly seasick on the sofa when I read the novel. With this book Mr. Redick continues on a high level with his a mouth-watering universe full of mystery and wonder . This is one of my fantasy reads of 2009. Bona Fide's Book Oracle
I'm just the keeper of the minutes. Where are Edi and Bona? My fingers are getting cold.... Edi: "Ahoi! Are you still seasick Bona? Don't clog my brain with your vomited thoughts!" Bona (croaking): "I'm a doctor,not a sailor!" Edi: "The Chathrand is nor starship. And you are Bona and not Bones. Turn the corner!" Bona: "Now I understand why nobody knows Dr. McCoy." Edi: "We survived more than 600 pages full of magic, curses, corruption, politics, betrayal, fidelity, faith, trust, hate, friendship, intrigue, epiphany and love." Bona: "You survived but I enjoyed." Edi: "Don't tell me you liked to be on topgallant, more than 100 feet above the deck." Bona: "I was beyond description. Except when we have been chased by the White Reaper:" Edi: "I can't wait to continue the travel." Bona: "I know you can't withstand to walk Thasha's dogs. It is too funny when you try afterwards to gather the dog dirts by rough sea." Edi: "Bastard! Dou you want me to to tell about how you made avances to Lady Oggosk?" Bona: "Nooooooooo! You know it ain't true. I just tried to spy out her secrets." Edi: "Shall we tell the readers something about the book?" Bona: "No! No! No! Definitely NO! I don't want to share this exuberant adventure with other people. Robert should write for us only." Edi: "I fully agree! We shall tell them instead that this is a poor peace of workmanship. Lousy prose, boring characters, humdrum story, insubstantial world building. Your fingers will rot off because the paper is poisoned by this abysmal stringing together of words". Bona: "Hey keeper of the notes. Write down every single syllable of our extraordinary well done judgment. And then send a mail to Robert V.S. Redick that we need immediately the next book of the series." Edi: "He is too stupid to do it. Let's make it simple for him: Book is bad don't read it!" Bona: "And add the wise words of the eguar:"
Dear readers I present you the minutes of Edi and Bona: "Book is bad; don't read it!" ******
The wise words of the eguar: "Acceptance is agony denial is death." [p. 381]
******Attention! Attention! Attention! Attention! Clarification by the keeper of the minutes:That is an ugly Edi and Bona joke!!!
More Chathrand Voyage and More Robert V.S. Redick
For more information about the world and their ships sail to the official home of the Chathrand Voyage series - The Red Wolf Conspiracy. For all readers of the books Robert V.S. Redick keeps a journal - Letters from Alifros. Information about the author himself you find at Robert V.S. Redick and on facebook. There is also a map of Northwest Alifros available - either online or for download.
And not to forget : There will be finally four books! Concerning title of book three I have two different information. When I follow the hint in the reviewer copy it will be The Night of the Swarm. But Robert V.S. Redick wrote me that it will be The River of Shadows. I need to clarify this. Update: Robert Redick told me that The River of Shadows is the title of book three and The Night of the Swarm is the title of book four.
Origin of the copy
Through the kindness of Mr. Robert V.S. Redick I received a reviewer copy of The Rats and the Ruling Sea which I read and used for this review.
UPDATE! Do you live in UK? Would you like to get a copy of The Rats and the Ruling Sea? Then enter Competition: The Rats and the Ruling Sea. Closing Date: Friday 6th November 2009
After my review of The Red Wolf Conspiracy (2008) [US][UK] I came in contact with the author Robert V.S. Redick (V. S. stands for Von Stein) who lives in rural western Massachusetts. He characterizes himself as "writer of fantasy, mainstream fiction, creative nonfiction and criticism." And this is true. I won't bore you with details of his writings beyond fantasy, so let's take a closer look at his fantasy scribbles. In my review I characterized the above mentioned The Red Wolf Conspiracy as followed:
"The Red Wolf Conspiracy is like a gorgeous gown. Colorful, beads, frills, buttons, ribbons, feathers, hidden pockets, scented sachets, several layers of cloth. Every detail is like a person with her own history, thoughts and plans. All bent together by a golden thread whose stich is anything but random. So far, we have discovered the surface and the first layer of cloth. But fortunately "dressmaker" Redick is working on the next layers. We expect the next delivery soon..."
As a "dressmaker" Redick has used pen and paper to tailor the next book in the Chatrand Voyage series: The Rats and the Ruling Sea (2009) [US][UK], which will hit stores on both sides of the Atlantic on 29th of October.
"THE RATS AND THE RULING SEA begins where THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY ended; Thasha's wedding is hours away. It is a wedding that will both fulfil the promise of a mad god's return and see her murdered. Pazel has thwarted the sorcerer who would bring back the god but both sides now face deadlock. Can Thasha be saved? Can the war between two Empires be stopped? THE RATS AND THE RULING SEA is, once again, focused on the giant ancient ship The Chathrand, but now she must brave the terrors of the uncharted seas; the massive storms and the ship swallowing whirlpools and explore lands forgotten by the Northern world, all the time invloved in a vicious running battle with a ship nearly her match. Robert Redick's new novel takes the reader further into the labyrinthine plots and betrayals that have underscored the trilogy from the beginning. We learn more about the Ixchel as they fight for survival against the Chathrand's rats, discover more about the true motives of conspirators, live with Thasha and Pazel as they face death and deceit and discover a a fabled magical city which holds the key to the Nilstone - a stone that could end the world." [Source]
Intrigued? Then view or download the prologue via Google Docs by using this link.
I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. You can be sure that I will review the book as soon as it comes out. You want some good news? The Chatrand Voyage series will be continued! "Dressmaker" Redick is tailoring book three, The River of Shadows, which we will hopefully get in 2010. And this is not the end. There will be a fourth and final book, whose title is not known yet.
Do you live near London? Or do you have the opportunity to be in London on October 16th? Then read following quote which I copied from Robert Redick's blog (don't forget to visit regularly, in order not to miss the latest news of the Chathrand Voyage series):
"London's wild and wonder-packed SFF store Forbidden Planet will have a large number of copies available for sale on Friday, October 16. The reason? I'll be appearing at the bookstore to sign, chat and hang out with readers (I'm seriously psyched) from 6:00 to 7:00 PM that evening.
Hoping to meet a lot of you there. But if you can't drop by the megastore (179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR) you can order a copy from Forbidden Planet, and it should reach you well before the general release."
This is not the only opportunity to get in contact with Robert Redick. He will attend Utopiales, which is an annual international science fiction festival held in Nantes, France, from October 28th to November 1rst 2009.
I really like the Utopiales poster, which has been painted by James Gurney, who explains his work in great detail on his blog. You would like to see the poster? Then have a look at following video:
The Red Wolf Conspiracy (2008) is the first published novel by Robert V. S. Redick. It is the first book in the new fantasy trilogy The Chathrand Voyages. Even I know that there are a lot of reviews available - Fantasy Book News & Reviews, Review Index lists nine reviews - I would like to add my two cents. I read the UK paperback edition which has a different cover compared to US edition.
The Setup
The cover shows you the most important location of the story: Chathrand, an enormous, 600 hundred years old sailing vessel. Home for more than 800 souls. It is the dream of every tarboy - we would say shipboy - to sign up for the Chathrand. One of these tarboys is Pazel Pathkendle,who, due to his fortuitous relationship to several persons, as well as his hidden skill, gets enmeshed in a dark conspiracy. But he is not the only one. There is Thasha, daughter of the Emperor's ambassador - a girl on her way to independence. Nilus Rose, is an excellent but brutal captain and Dr. Ignus Chadfallow is an imperial surgeon and in mysteriously connected to Pazel. The begining hints that Imperial spymaster Sandor Ott and his assassins are following their own plans. And, of course, there are other interesting people - let us not forget the secret folk of Ixchel and the "awakened" animals, mermaids, and... They are all part of The Red Wolf Conspiracy.... Sooner or later they all meet on board the Chathrand, a melting pot of magic, curses, corruption, politics, betrayal, fidelity, faith, trust, hate, friendship, intrigue, epiphany and love. Each chapter is told from point of view of another character.
My Take in Brief
Sometimes I ask myself whether I should read more than four reviews of a book. As I mentioned before, there is a bagful of reviews already available for The Red Wolf Conspiracy. So why should I add one more, and maybe just repeat things you have read before? My main reason is: I really enjoyed this book. Beside that, I read the book and wrote this review in a language which isn't my own - I live in Germany and I'm a bit older than most of the other reviewers :>) This gives me a uniquely different point of view.
Because this is the first book of a new trilogy, I fully expected that the author would take some time to introduce his world and his protagonists; fortunately Mr. Redick does just that. I know other reviewers have criticized the slow beginning. but to me it makes sense. Normally it takes about 30 to 50 pages to get used to the writing style of an author and the vocabulary used. I must admit Mr. Redick makes a good job for a non-native English speakers. The not too long chapters help a lot in that respect.
Mr. Redick's writing is highly original and he has a knack for drawing you into the story. For me it was great to see that our young heroes act like young heroes even though they possess secret skills. They make mistakes and that makes them very realistic and human. Most characters appear to be three-dimensional and are well developed. You can easily connect to them all by the golden thread that makes up the revelation that is The Red Wolf Conspiracy. But there are a lot more plots and sub plots; the novel is a complex web that is masterfully spun to encompass a unique breadth of characters.
When you enter the Chathrand for the first time, it is like visiting a cathedral (e.g. Cologne Cathedral). I was simply awestruck. The ship is its own legend, full of life and mystery. The depiction of the sailing vessel and the life on board is amazing. For me, the Chatrand is the secret star of the book. I compare it with the description of the town Villjamur in Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton. And there are not only human beings on board the Chathrand. There are the Ixchel, small but full of energy and dynamism - they vaguely remind you of fairies. You won't need dragons and dwarves once you discover Ixchel, the "awakened" animals and mermaids.... Mr. Redick created a mouth-watering universe full of mystery and wonder.
The book starts with a special notice in
The Etherhorde Mariner
6th Umbria 941
Special Notice
IMS CHATHRAND VANISHES AT SEA
Many Fear a Tragic End for the Great Ship and 800 souls
And the whole book serves to explain this notice. I can't wait to read the next book....
Bona Fide's Book Oracle
I must admit I'm not a friend of ratings. I prefer to explain why I liked/disliked a book or not. Because a 4.7/5 or 87 out of 100 doesn't mean much to me. Therefore I consult Bona Fide's Book Oracle which is a kind of inner dialogue. Bona Fide pesters ediFanoB with questions about the book like: "Please compare the book with an other object." Mostly the result tend to make sense.
The Red Wolf Conspiracy is like a gorgeous gown. Colorful, beads, frills, buttons, ribbons, feathers, hidden pockets, scented sachets, several layers of cloth. Every detail is like a person with her own history, thoughts and plans. All bent together by a golden thread whose stich is anything but random. So far, we have discovered the surface and the first layer of cloth. But fortunately "dressmaker" Redick is working on the next layers. We expect the next delivery soon...
Don't read this book if you get sea-sick, have an aversion for talking animals and mermaids, or if more than two main characters is just too much for you, you get a rash when you hear words like politics, betrayal and corruption, or don't like teens who make mistakes, are bored by fantasy, or need dragons, elves and dwarves.
Links
For more information about the world and their ships sail to the home of The Red Wolf Conspiracy.
Piqued Your Interest?
Sorry, but you can't get my copy. Even if I can't use it as a door stopper, for which 480 pages are invariably too small. So, buy your own copy - hardback or paperback or both. And don't forget to buy the sequel The Rats and The Ruling Sea which will be released in October 2009 in the UK. Poor folks in US have to wait until February 2010 or set sail to an oversea bookshop... which I don't doubt some will do given gripping The Red Wolf Conspiracy(US)(UK) has been.
Hello and welcome to a new issue of my weekly roundup. This is the last one week before my holiday, and every year, the same thing happens. Since I work as a programmer, as soon as people get wind of my holiday, I receive a lot of urgent requests that all need to be done before I leave on Friday afternoon. So I spent more time at work this week than I would have liked--that is the reason for this shorter roundup. Enough talking. Enjoy reading.....
Weird
If you read fantasy and/or science fiction you meet a lot of weird life forms. Most of the time we forget that our planet is also home to some of those weird life forms...
Would you like to have a visual overview about new and forthcoming fantasy books combined with additional information? Then I recommend to visit Fantasy Literature - New and forthcoming fantasy novels. Click the link and you will understand why I spoke about a visual overview...
In case you want a brief monthly overview of what's new on the scene, then have a look at Fantasy Book Critic - Spotlight on July 2009 Books. Older spotlights are still available and worth digging through.
Movies
In the past roundups I presented you a lot of dark and/or action orientated movies. I think now the time has come to show you something more on the funny side--even if we have to wait until November for the release of Planet 51. Hmm, that title reminds me of Area 51... I don't want to keep you waiting any longer. Here's the trailer...
Quote
This week I chose a quote in memory of all people who need way too much time to explain something...
"The shortest distance between two points is always under construction."
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