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
Don't forget to come back!
Bona Fide's Menu
Bona Fide's Post and Read Forecast
- Bona Fide's Forecast
- Bona Fide's Butcher's Bill: January Reads
- Bona Fide's February Reading List
- Answers to questions from last Roundup
- Do you comment posts?
- Surprise of the week: A package from author Stephen Zimmer
- Book Trailer: Dan Brown talks about his upcoming novel Black Hills
- Great interview with Tom Sykes over at A Dribble of Ink
- I'm your pain in the neck: The David Gemmell Legend Award
- 1945A
German proverbs, sayings and idiomsGates....
Bona Fide's Post and Read Forecast
Bona Fide's posts in February 2010
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: 1Books settled in London: 2
Completely destroyed cities: 0
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.Of course I'm keen to read and review it!
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]
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.You to get some more information about the author and her book? Then I highly recommend to read her post Sexing up Gods.
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]
I'm your pain in the neck
I posted about The David Gemmell Legend Award regularly in the past Roundups. So I keep it short this week
This is the Legend Arward nomination list. You can vote here.
This is the Morningstar Award nomination list. You can vote here.
I voted for Lamentation by Ken Scholes,ISBN: 0765360918, which I reviewed recently.
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:
Visit The David Gemmell Legend Awards
Hope to meet you soon over at The David Gemmell Legend Award ...............
Movies
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)
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)
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
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)
Marcus Terentius Varro, On Agriculture, Roman scholar (116 BC - 27 BC)
7 comments:
To be honest, I love commenting. This is the age of the internet and anyone can have an opinion about everything. And the great part is that many times it can actually be heard.
Seak,
I know that you love commenting :) I like it too but often I run out of time.
Beside commenting on other blogs I think it is important to take care on the comments at your own posts. I think it is mandatory to reply comments in order to show the reader that I'm interested in his/her opinion.
That's very true. Especially because I am a commenter, I know what's it's like to be unappreciated and it definitely doesn't encourage you to comment some more.
Sometimes it takes some time until I reply because I'm not permanently online :)
Without comments you have to check the blog stats in order to notice whether someone has recognized your post.
I feel guilty about not commenting enough.
I like to show appreciation for blogs I enjoy reading but 'Hey that's cool!' seems a little idiotic and not all posts are on topics that provoke an opinionated response.
Esther,
first of all thank you for your comment.
I agree with you that 'Hey that's cool!' seems a little idiotic but when you just something like 'Hey that trailer is cool' it gives me and also other blogger a kind of feedback. And every feedback is welcomed. I don't want any adulation. I just want to know whether I chose interesting topics or not.
Fortunately I get one feedback per Roundup - from my wife :-)
Esther, please don't feel guilty. I only can tell you that every comment from your side is highly welcomed. And of course any other comment from other readers.
I look forward to your next comment.
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