Hope you've been meaning to catch up on your Arthur C. Clarke reading because that's the majority of the deals today. Also Vonnegut, which you should always have room on your shelf for.
[$0.99] The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper - One I'd been meaning to get for a while, patience paid off.
[$0.99] His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire #1) by Naomi Novik
[$2.99] The Hammer of God by Arthur C. Clarke
[$2.99] Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke
[$2.99] The Ghost from the Grand Banks by Arthur C. Clarke [$2.99] The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe
[$2.99] Jailbird by Kurt Vonnegut
[$2.99] Palm Sunday by Kurt Vonnegut
[$2.99] Bagombo Snuff Box by Kurt Vonnegut
[$2.99] The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
[$2.99] The Frozen Sky by Jeff Carlson
Upon recommendation and review from my friend and fellow blogger Michael, I stepped into the world of Eddie Lacross in the Sword-Edged Blonde [US][UK] (2008), by Alex Bledsoe. Fast, loose, and fun, Mr. Bledsoe weaves a fast passed tale of mystery, danger, and excitement that will keep you up into the early hours of the morning.
After reading Michael's review of the Sword-Edged Blonde I was looking forward to diving into a "Western European medieval style world complete with castles and monasteries". Well Michael, good sir, while I agree I am also reluctant to place much emphasis on the world-building. The setting of The Sword-Edged Blonde is, for lack of a better word, untextured - which is not to say that it is bad. Quite the contrary, Mr. Bledsoe builds a world whose simple elegance and lack of pretension is a refreshing and welcome change. Regardless, your use of Kleinstaaterei to describe the small, isolated, and independent nature of the world is right on point - the only element which I found somewhat off putting for all of its seeming innocuity was the dangerously stark contrast between adjacent towns; after all, being put to death for overstaying a tourist visa seems a bit harsh. But, putting aside the geo-political inconsistencies, Mr. Bledsoe builds us a world that is a distinct mix between the Italian city-state and medieval Europe town, rife with brigands, goddesses, villains, and kings.
Eddie Lacrosse, protagonist extraordinaire, is a heartening mix of private investigator, mercenary, and idealist... and he is without a doubt at the heart of Mr. Bledsoe's character driven fantasy, drawing the reader into his twisted past. Rough, likable, debonair, and not afraid of a good coin toss, Eddie is beyond a doubt an incredibly fun character to follow. Eddie's detective brilliance while investigating the apparent murder of his best friend's son - at the hands of his own mother - reveals the intellectual depths of the protagonist, while his violent acts of justice reveal his strong moral foundation and penchant towards 'physicality'. Eddie is a well rounded and invariably enjoyable character; indeed, he kept me up to the early hours of the morning getting to the end of his adventures.
I have one serious criticism and question for Mr. Bledsoe: What is up with the sword naming?! "Shadow Hunter 3300" might fit well in a D&D adventure, but I couldn't help feeling that it is out of place in your narrative. Additionally, and this hearkens back to my earlier criticism of your geo-politics: given the disparate cultures and rulers, how is it that every sword model is accompanied by numbers!? The names themselves are corporate enough for my taste, but numbering sword models makes it feel like there is an evil sword manufacturing syndicate somewhere that makes all the swords in your world. Are the Evil Sword Manufacturers the final villains you plan to have Eddie vanquish in your third installment?
Well, now that I am over that little bout of sword name nitpicking, I want to address in a bit more detail the tone of The Sword-Edged Blonde. While the novel does not deserve a Young Adult categorization, it does come across as targeting a younger audience - this is especially true when compared alongside the 'sharper' works of Joe Abercrombie. The contrast is most evident when looking at Mr. Bledsoe bountiful use of humor to define his characters. It would be somewhat exaggerated to say that every paragraph contains one sort of joke or other, but it would not be that far from the truth. Given that, as readers, we see the world through they eyes of Eddie Lacrosse, his wry humor invariably permeates the narrative, going perhaps so far as to saturate it. Duels and narrative climaxes are the few, welcome moments in the novel where Eddie's humor is put on the back burner and the reader is allowed to appreciate the seriousness of moment.
All in all, The Sword-Edged Blonde is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I highly recommend. While fight sequences do not take center stage, they are artfully executed - watching the mysteries surrounding Eddie Lacross peel away as the story unfolds is where Mr. Bledsoe successfully chooses to make his stand. Humor, adventure, and mystery are artfully combined to weave a surprisingly simple tale that is an equally surprising delight to read.
Some months ago - it was in July - I reviewed the The Sword-Edged Blonde (2007) [US][UK], by Alex Bledsoe and wrote:
"I'm so glad I read this book. It entered my extended 2009 hit list by storm."
It did not take long and I received a mail from Alex Bledsoe. He asked me if I would like to review the sequel - Burn Me Deadly [US, 10th November 2009][UK, 2nd November 2009]. What a question! Of course I wanted. So I received my first advance reading copy (ARC). And now the time has come to share with you my thoughts about the second appearance of Eddie LaCrosse.
The Setup - Eddie and his world
Let me introduce Eddie LaCrosse and his world to all of you who have not read The Sword-Edged Blonde yet. In his Western European medieval style world Eddie is a sword jockey for hire - a complement to private investigators in our world. Only twenty-five gold pieces a day and he is "yours". He offers a lot of different services except murder. How to find him? you need an Ediegator. The Bledsoenian company offers to different models with unusual names: The Sword-Edged Blonde and Burn Me Deadly. They work simple and effective. Just open the cover and flip to the country of Muscodia, town Neceda, Angela's tavern, first floor. Then you are in front of Eddie's office. If he isn't available, just go downstairs and get a mug of beer from Angela. And hey, if you are interested in swords, try to have a look at his sword cabinet....
The Setup -The story
Unbelievable or not the story really begins with the very first sentence: "The blonde dashed out of the darkness into the moonlight, right in front of me." Eddie Lacrosse is on his way home to Neceda when he "meets" Laura Lesperitt: Young,blond, sparsely dressed, scratches on her legs and dirty, bloody feet. Eddie, whose his relationships to women are not easy going, offers gentlemanly his help. The consequence is the begin of a fast paced story which soon leads to the death of Laura Lesperitt and the almost death of Eddie LaCrosse. To reveal the reasons for the death of Laura is the main story. But the more Eddie discovers the more dangerous the situation gets. He has to face criminal bosses, to cope with the mysterious dragon cult, to handle royal scandals discreet and to work on his relationship to Liz.... Fortunately Eddie is not alone. Beside this we take part in the development of Eddie. Especially his relationships to women and horses.
My Take in Brief
I was keen to read Burn Me Deadly. Would the book live up to my expectations?
I Expected: - A new intriguing case - Development of Eddie's character - More details about Eddie's past - More details about Eddie's world.
And again Alex Bledsoe demonstrates his narrative aptitude. With his extremely vivid narrative style Mr. Bledsoe gains his user a great access to the world he created. You forget your environment when you follow Eddie like a shadow. It is like a holodeck in your brain. You are there. You are next to Eddie. You see, hear, smell and taste. You feel with Eddie even he is happy or he is suffering. Your bones hurt. BUT you have one advantage. You can't get hurt physically - except you come off your chair or you are attacked by the ones you love because you don't react to them any longer. Again Alex Bledsoe "serve" his sweeping mix of hard boiled detecive fiction, fantasy and a squeeze of mystery. You can't escape as soon you start reading. Coming back to my expectations. Indeed Mr. Bledsoe opens his Eddie LaCrosse treasure chest. Just a bit more than in The Sword-Edged Blonde. We get more Eddie - well dosed. New details about his past and the impact on his nowadays life. It is more and more obvious that Women, swords and horses are a central part of his life. I still don't know how many swords Eddie owns. Now we know two new swords: Jackblade KG-model and Shadow Slasher III with.... No I don't tell you the secret. We learn a bit more about the world which is still a rag rug with a lot of white patches. The plot has enough depth and windings. Beside this you can read Burn Me Deadly without knowing The Sword-Edged Blonde. But then you would miss an awesome read and the development of Eddie LaCrosse.
Conclusion
Expected ======================> Complied A new intriguing case ==============> Complied Development of Eddie's character =====> Complied More details about Eddie's past =======> Complied More details about Eddie's world ======> Complied
Bona Fide's Book Oracle
What shall we say? Without any discussion we declare solemnly: Eddie Lacrosse is our sword jockey of the year 2009. He is on his way to be as unique as our favorite "modern" wizard Harry Dresden. All our expectations have been complied. If you want to "feed" your brain holodeck with a sweeping mix of hard boiled detecive fiction, fantasy and a squeeze of mystery presented in a extreme vivid narrative style then put Burn Me Deadly on your to buy list. It is not mandatory to read The Sword-Edged Blonde before. But be warned: You will definitely diminish your reading pleasure. Or do you start a relationship with the second rendevous?? There are no excuses - except money. And you are lucky. The second Eddie LaCrosse novel is just ahead of you. Only few weeks to wait. Look at me. How long do I have to wait for the next book?
On one thing I agree with Eddie LaCrosse. We both are not sure that
"if you wait long enough, everything eventually comes to you"
works as an universal maxime. That means if you want to read the books you have to buy or lend them.
Hello and welcome to a new issue of my weekly roundup. Next week I return to work which means less time for internet and reading. But I don't want to complain. I was able to read more books than I expected in the past couple weeks - enjoyed them all except for one - and wrote some reviews which, is astounding for me because I thought I couldn't do it properly. And now enjoy the Roundup.
This is the third time that I am 'punishing' you with The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe(US)(UK). But I do it out of love, and because there is a good story behind it. Just read BonaFide: Weekly Roundup from 25th of July and Review: The Sword-Edged Blonde. What about you? Does reading blogs have any influence on your reading choice? Do you trust reviews? Do you follow recommendations? I look forward to your comments. Oh, before I forget, Alex Bledsoe wrote a Eddie LaCrosse short story - Things That Flit - which you can read for free!
Do you read sci-fi, fantasy, horror, gothic, or steampunk classics? I mean authors like Jule Verne, H.G. Wells, Edgar Allen Poe, Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde? Did you ever read The Picture of Dorian Gray (first published in 1890!) by Oscar Wilde [US] [UK] [free online]? This classic gothic horror story is about a young man who seems to be forever young and the secret of his painted portait is still worth reading. Especially nowadays where we are surrounded by people who are addicted to youth and beauty.
Movies
I didn't talk about The Picture of Dorian Gray for no reason. A new film adaption titled Dorian Gray will hit UK theaters in September 2009. So far I can't deliver release dates for US, Germany, and other countries. But I can entertain you with a trailer. Enjoy....
Every time I see the names of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, I know I can expect another gorgeous epic of cinematography. I know, I know, we have to wait until 5th of March 2010, but I couldn't wait to show you the trailer of Alice in Wonderland:
Blogosphere
I'm a bit late with the following message: Peter V. Brett signed a contract with a major Hollywood director for The Painted Man (aka The Warded Man). One reason for the delay is, due to prodigious amounts of reading this week, I'm behind my in google reader entries! Which, incidentally, leads me to another topic...
You know how every day you stumble across a new blog? Some of them are worth following, and others not. But the more blogs you follow, the more time you have to spend doing it. Have you ever stopped for a second to think about the people behind these blogs? Just posting posts and answering comments can be a huge time commitment. I contribute to this blog with a Weekly Roundup and with reviews from time to time. That means I know how much time I invest. But I can hardly imagine what it means to run a blog alone. What about you, dear reader? Do you have a secret, burning desire? No, get your mind out of the gutter... I am talking about the secret wish to write a post. You like sci-fi and fantasy and you think: "Hey, I can write posts like this one. Why the hell don't they ask me to contribute to this blog with my brilliant word play?"GOTCHA! Send an email with your name and your interests through the profile link in Only The Best SciFi/Fantasy. Games
Do you like point-and-click graphic adventures? You never had the opportunity to visit Venice except in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade [US][UK]? What do you know about the grim reaper and necromancy? Peaked your interest? Then you should have a look at the upcoming - German - action/RPG: Venetica. What we expect: "In the upcoming Action RPGVenetica players take over the role of Scarlett, Grim Reaper’s daughter who is young and beautiful. Set in a fantastic Venice, it is her mission to fight pure evil. Venetica takes players to the here and now of its fantastic game world, making Scarlett explore Venice’s streets, canals, houses and even the roof tops. As the daughter of Death, she also has the ability to enter the Twilight World: the world of the dead." [source]. The developers described the game as a "cinematic RPG". Please watch the trailer for a first impression of the game:
Quotes
Foreign peoples, other countries, different cultures. You want it? No problem. You don't even need to leave your home. Just read a book and let your mind travel. These are my favorite quotes related to travel:
""Little by little, one travels far." J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)
"Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or a secret gate."
J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)
"A traveler must have the back of an ass to bear all, a tongue like the tail of a dog to flatter all, the mouth of a hog to eat what is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing."
The Sword-Edged Blonde (2007) is the first novel by Alex Bledsoe and at the same time the first book in his new Eddie LaCrosse Mystery series. The hardback and the paperback show two completely different covers; the first picture shows the hardback cover and the second one the paperback cover.
The Setup
Imagine a fantasy set in a Western European medieval style world complete with castles and monasteries. Let us not forget the hamlets and towns surrounded by large walls. You travel by foot, horse, cart and boat. Weapon of choice: Sword, dagger, bow, crossbow, spear and lance. Different religions, beliefs and myths are sprinkled across the land like so much dust and the political situation is best described as Kleinstaaterei.
"Kleinstaaterei is a German word, mainly used to describe the political situation in Germany and neighboring regions during the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation. It refers to the large number of small states and city-states, some of which were little larger than a single town; see "List of participants in the Reichstag of 1792 for a list as of that year." Now, add a man who is a mix of private investigator, mercenary, and messenger; let us call him a "private sword jockey" and provide him with a sharp intellect and a great sense of humor. Let him be kind and extremely good at sword play, and let us not forget to add a past filled with regrets. We will name this protagonist Eddie Lacrosse and also use contemporary names like Phil, Bernie, Stan, Big Joe, and Allison for the rest of the characters. Let's also settle his office above a dockside tavern in a small town. After all this is put in place, let him come to life and tell the story of one of his adventures, from his point of view, and in plain spoken language that is colorfully modern.
My Take in Brief
I explained in the Bona Fide: Weekly Roundup - posted on 25th - of July why I read this book, but I will explain it again for all of you who don't want to read "old" stuff and of course, the pleasure is mine. No, no, I won't copy my own post, but I rearranged it telegram style for you.
- 13th of July 2009 Bona Fide forced ediFanoB to read Recommendation: Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe - Result: ediFanoB added book to August 'to buy' list - 20th of July: Bona Fide forced ediFanoB to read Interview: Alex Bledsoe - Result: ediFanoB sent order to amazon.de - 23rd of July: book arrived - 24th & 25th of July: ediFanoB reads book - 26th of July: Bona Fide and ediFanoB work on review.....
Alex Bledsoe is a word magician who ensorcels us in the first chapter. It doesn't take long to get into the story and connect with Eddie. Eddie, who lets us take part in his daily life, also lets us parts of his own past. From my point of view, he is a very well developed character, even though there are still a few "black holes" in his biography. But hey, it is just the first book. The story has its twists and turns, but stays believable throughout. The mystery parts are always well balanced and the relation explored between modern language and fantasy is marvelous. Read the following quotes which - I hope - will explain more then my rough descriptions: Randomly picked tavern talk:
"Come on in, you're letting all the flies out." "Give me something strong enough to pass the time but not so strong I fall in love"
Eddie needs to go to another town. He asks a friend who owns a cargo boat to give him passage. And the guy answers (page 12):
"Your ass is big, but it ain't so big it needs a cargo boat."
Believe it or not, in this world, children go to school (of course not all them). And what do they learn? High prose such as(p. 111):
"Because he had no manners, She pounded him with hammers. Because he was so rude, She fixed his attitude. Because he was so mean, She made him scream and scream. And now xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is broken to pieces."
Sorry, but in order to avoid spoilers, I needed to censor the name. I can't tell you more because it would give away too much of the story.
Bona Fide's Book Oracle
I'm so glad I read this book. It my extended 2009 hit list by storm. And in case you would like to read a refreshing mix of fantasy, mystery and a pinch of crime noir (in a non doorstopper size book) then I highly recommend that you read The Sword-Edged Blonde. Bona Fide is giggling in the background, whispering: "mission completed without any pressure". Two personalities enjoyed one book... And what about you, dear reader? Have you been infected with the LaCrosse virus? Leave a comment with your diagnosis...
Then hurry up and buy your own copy - hardback [US][UK] or paperback [US][UK]. The next installment of Eddie LaCrosse - Burn Me Deadly - will hit the stores in hardback on both sides of the Atlantic (US)(UK) in November 2009. Sorry, no information about the availability of a paperback version yet.
I told you last week about my summer reading list and I'm quite happy with my progress. I'm halfway through the seventh book on my list - The Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass (US)(UK). Next on my list was A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin (US)(UK). Yes, you didn't misread. I wrote "was", since I changed it last night. My next read is now The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe (US)(UK) which I expect to be delivered tomorrow. I have been heavily influenced by Jeff C. from Fantasy Book News & Reviews. On 13th of July I read his Recommendation: The Sword Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe. I was so intrigued that I put the book on my to buy list for August, but then he posted the Interview: Alex Bledsoe. I read it and I knew immediately that I had to buy and read the book NOW. This may show you the influence of blogs. I promise you to write a review about The Sword-Edged Blonde. You will soon know whether it is worth reading, or not, from my point of view. I'm sorry Ms Griffin. I promise to read your book... later.
Movies
I'm a big fan of Watchmen - the graphic novel (US)(UK) and the movie. I can't wait to get the DVD. The German edition will be released in August. Until then, I'm happy to present you with one of the deleted scenes...
Blogosphere
Every day new book related blogs appear, and even using Google Reader it is difficult to keep up with all of these blogs. A lot of people invest the time simply to enjoy themselves, and others simply to learn information about books. But where can you tell the world which book blogs you appreciate most, either as a reader or as a blogger? I found the solution during the past days:
"Last year over 400 blogs came together to celebrate the art of book blogging during the first ever Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I am so pleased to announce that the second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week will be taking place September 14-18." Amy (Organization & Concept) from My Friend Amy. Don't miss Amy's post with the story behind ...
Please visit the site. As a blogger register your blog, and as a reader you vote for your favorite blogs in different categories. There will be special guest posts, daily blogging themes, giveaways, ect... Don't miss this opportunity. Only The Best Sci-Fi/ Fantasy has been registered which means you can vote for us!
On the 20th of July 1969 we could watch the first steps of Neil Armstrong on the moon - watch the video below. On The 20th of July 2009 we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the first moon landing. It was also a great day for me: My first review has been posted - Review: The Red Wolf Conspiracy.
Games
As a fan of steampunk novels I also look for games with a steampunk setting. Thanks to The Heliograph where I found the trailer for The Edge of Twilight, which you can watch below. Be warned there is some graphic violence in the second part of the trailer.
"Edge of Twilight is a 3rd person action-adventure game presenting a unique post-apocalyptic, steampunk fantasy world that has been split into separate realms of Day and Night. During his journey, your hero will become part of an increasingly complex storyline that will blur the line between good and evil." Please read the whole text at IGN.com. That sounds promising to me. Released date hasn't been announced yet. And don't forget to visit the official site The Edge of Twilight.
Quotes
No, I won't disappoint you. Of course you get a quotes related to age. I'm not afraid of getting older. I'm still surprised about the books I read and the music I listen to...
"Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough."
Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977), US comedian with Marx Brothers
"To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am." Bernhard M. Baruch (1870 - 1965), US businessman and politician
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.
