The local library had one of their annual sales this week and I realized I pretty much live for these. :)
Picked up some great stuff, but I'm most proud of a Moorcock omnibus I found that has the first three books of the Eternal Champion, Elric, including Elric of Melniboné, The Sailor on the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. It's usually pretty expensive, but only a buck at the library sale. May not be able to resist reading this ASAP.
Cover Art
This is a really cool cover for Book 2 in The Aeon's Gate, Black Halo [US] [UK]. It's vibrant, it's action-packed, and maybe I'm getting used to realistic personages on covers. It appears they're not going anywhere.
News
Wise Man's Fear [US] [UK] is done right? That's the word on the street at least. Gollancz has a picture of the manuscript and has let the excitement ensue. The March 1st, 2011 release date is holding strong although there are still copy edits, etc., etc. to do, this is happy news indeed.
Pat has a list for authors to follow who don't want their work to be derivative junk. There are actually 75 questions, but here's a little taste:
- Is your main character a young farmhand with mysterious parentage?
- Is your main character the heir to the throne but doesn't know it?
Seventh Star Press has some more good news with their soon-to-be-released novel, Thrall (as seen above). Here's a tidbit (full press release here):
Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the release of THRALL, the new heroic fantasy novel from author Steven L. Shrewsbury.
Now available for pre-order in limited edition hardcover and trade paperback, THRALL is the first published adventure of a brand new hero in fantasy literature, Gorias La Gaul.
Set in an ancient world, Thrall is gritty, dark-edged heroic fantasy in the vein of Robert E. Howard and David Gemmell. It tells the story of Gorias La Gaul, an aging warrior who has lived for centuries battling the monstrosities of legend and lore. It is an age when the Nephilum walk the earth, and dragons still soar through the air … living or undead. On a journey to find one of his own blood, Gorias' path crosses with familiar enemies ... some of whom not even death can hold bound. ...
The Dream of Perpetual Motion, by Dexter Palmer, is a memorable steam-punk inspired debut where imagination is given free reign. Colorful and eccentric, Palmer's first novel takes readers off the beaten path to a wonderfully illustrated world populated with rich and vibrant characters.
A debut so magical… so extraordinary… it has to be read to be believed…. Imprisoned for life aboard a zeppelin that floats high above a fantastic metropolis, the greeting-card writer Harold Winslow pens his memoirs. His only companions are the disembodied voice of Miranda Taligent, the only woman he has ever loved, and the cryogenically frozen body of her father Prospero, the genius and industrial magnate who drove her insane.
The tale of Harold’s life is also one of an alternate reality, a lucid waking dream in which the well-heeled have mechanical men for servants, where the realms of fairy tales can be built from scratch, where replicas of deserted islands exist within skyscrapers.. As Harold’s childhood infatuation with Miranda changes over twenty years to love and then to obsession, the visionary inventions of her father also change Harold’s entire world, transforming it from a place of music and miracles to one of machines and noise. And as Harold heads toward a last desperate confrontation with Prospero to save Miranda’s life, he finds himself an unwitting participant in the creation of the greatest invention of them all: the perpetual motion machine.
Beautifully written, stunningly imagined, and wickedly funny, The Dream of Perpetual Motion is a heartfelt meditation on the place of love in a world dominated by technology.
You enjoyed Pinion or Boneshacker and want more clock/steam punk? Done. Just follow these simple giveaway instructions for your chance to win a copy of The Dream of Perpetual Motion (giveaway runs till 5/10/10 @ 11:59 PM EST):
E-mail me your name and address, with "DREAM" as the subject of the email. Snarky comments increase your chances of winning and win bonus entries for future giveaways. Open worldwide as long as delivery doesn't require the mounting of an expedition into remote wilderness.
Imagine you sit on a revolving chair in a dark room. The chair rotate slowly. Spotlights switch on and off. First you see only light. But then you recognize that each spotlight illuminate a word consisting of characters flying through the air. You try to identify them...........Parasol.........Vampires....... Dirigibles..... Werewolves...... Victoriana...... Steam....... London..... Spinster......... Tea....... Romance ......... Horror.......... Mystery...... Manners...... Souls
After a while the chair stops to rotate. Look, there is a small colored spot and it is growing...... Numbers... Characters .... Brackets.... dancing all in a tumble....... It doesn't make sense but then you detect the order and you read:
This is the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series. Welcome to the world of Alexia Tarabotti. She lives in Victorian London. 26 years old and not married. That makes her a spinster which is maddening for her mother who is most interested in to wed her. Alexia is well educated and bears a secret. It is not her dead Italian father. She is soulless....
During one of the boring balls she has to attend Alexia retires to the library in order to refresh. And there the unforeseen happens. A vampire attacks Alexia. She rescues herself by killing the vampire.
Vampire? Vampires in London? Yes, side by side with the human inhabitants live vampires and werewolves. They are part of the society. It is Lord Maccon - head of the Bureau of Unnatural Registry (BRU) and werewolf - who wants to know why a vampire attacks a soulless......
Vampires, Romance, Werwolves.... What the hell is going on with me? Am I infected with this mysterious urban fantasy virus? I think no because on the other scale pan you find London, Steam, Victoriana. Put all these classifications into a pot and hand a wooden spoon to the cook named Gail Carriger. Her debut dish taste delicious.
Soulless breathes Victoriana. It is a comedy of manners and at the same time a time travel and so much more. If you don't fall in love with these so alive and charming characters with strengths and weaknesses well settled in their world. Gail Carriger's London and society is well depicted. The "steamy" elements could have been more for my taste. But I think this would have destroyed the balance of the story itself. Gail did an awesome job with the integration of werewolves and vampires. If I didn't know better I would say this is also a history book. I liked even the romance part which is unusual for me. Alexia Tarabotti is a sassy heroine. And she is far beyond to be a vampire slayer like Buffy.
For me Gail Carriger is the Ada Lovelace of the urban steampunk romance!
I highly recommend Soulless to all people who start to drool when they hear or read a combination of following buzzwords: Victoriana, Romance, Vampires, Werewolves, Steam, London, Manners, Alternate History, Dirigibles
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: "Fide, would you be so kind as to pass me a cup of tea." Fide: "Of course my dear. Your treacle tart is phenomenal." Bona: "Fide, you let me turn pink. I'm flattered." Fide: "I'm so sorry. I know rubescence is indecorous." Bona: "Did you hear what happened to Miss Alexia Tarabotti?" Fide: "You won't believe it but I have been there (mentally)." Bona: "Did you travel again with Mr Wells' time machine?" Fide: "He is such a gentlemen. He accompanied me." Bona: "Lovely. Hopefully you invite me next time." Fide: "Of course my dear, of course." Bona: "I feel uneasy. The keeper of the minutes is observing us. Today he looks so animlistic." Fide: "Oh my good. You're right. Look at the fur on his hands. Do you think he is a....." Bona: "Werewolve?" Fide: "Where is my parasol?" Bona: "You should ring for the manservant." Fide: "ediFanoB, my parasol please." ediFanoB: "Excusez-moi, mistress Fide. You don't own a parasol." Bona: "Quelle suprise! Fide, you are a misstress?" Fide: "That is absolutely uncondonable!! I'm neither female nor male. I'm just a virtual apparition. I'm the guest in a mind and I live on reading books!" Bona: "I'm relieved my dear. But what do we do without a parasol?" ediFanoB: "May I intercept? Yes? Thank you my lovely apparitions. Why don't you tell the keeper of the minutes something about the adventure of this spinster?" Fide: "Lovely! What a wonderful idea." Bona:" The spinster is called Alexia Tarabotti and she has a secret." Fide: "And as we both are reliable friends of Miss Alexia Tarabotti, she gave away her secret to us." Bona[whispers]: "She is soulless!" Fide: "Don't tell more about her. Let's talk about the book. Bona: "Gail Carriger is witty writer. She knows a lot about the Victorian Era." Fide: "And she revives the ad nauseam vampire and werewolf theme." Bona: "For me Soulless is a three S story." Fide: "I fully agreemy dear." Bona: "Shall we explain the three S to our furry friend?" Fide: "He doesn't look very intelligent today." Bona: "We have been unbelievably polite today. We should show magnanimity until the end." Fide: "Of course my dear. My docile furry friend, let me explain the three S for you: Sassy, Steamy, Smart." Bona[bowing]: "Au revoir mon cher rugueux ami! Fide: "Au revoir!"
I'm the keeper of the minutes and full moon is approaching soon. I need flesh..... human flesh!!! Er,er,er, please excuse me. All these French words confuse me. And this is the summary:
Soulless is a three S story: Sassy, Steamy, Smart.
Gail Carriger's website delivers more information about the series, steampunk and other topics.
You don't know much about Victorian clothing, especially for women? Then visit Soulless Victorian Dress-up Doll. There you will learn more in an amusing way.
Anyway don't miss Changeless (2010, March) [US][UK] and Blameless (2010, September) [US][UK]. In Soulless parasols played an important part. The cover of Changeless point to dirigibles. And in Blameless we can expect templars.
I don't want to tell more.....
Finally I like you to show an interesting video: The making of the Blameless book cover:
I "hijacked" the copy of Soulless from my wife. Of course I handed it back after reading and reviewing. As I liked it a lot I ordered copies of Changeless and Blameless in advance.
Hello and welcome to issue #02 of my Weekly Roundup. It is winter in our region (near Frankfurt in Germany) with snow an ice! That is unusual. Our cats don't like to walk in the snow on the balcony. And I also prefer to stay inside with a pot of tea and a good book. But those days are over because I had to return to work. I'm behind my reading schedule but on a good way with my reviews. And again you find something new in my post: Bona Fide's Question of the Week. There are always questions where I would like to get to know other opinions. That means I wait for you. We will see. Enjoy reading......
German proverbs, sayings and idioms Opportunities...
Bona Fide's Question of the Week
On Monday I read post by author John Marco with the header Facebook.It started with "So I did something today I never thought I'd do. I joined Facebook." I must admit I don't have a Facebook account. I asked myself from time to time do I need one. And the answer was always no. But times are changing. Authors like Cherie Priest have one. There are interesting groups like The Pax Britannia Appreciation Society. Am I old fashioned without? Do I fall behind without? Or is it too time consuming? Shall I spend the time instead for the blog or for reading more books?
So I would like to ask you two questions: Does Bona Fide (ediFanoB) need a Facebook account? Do you have a Facebook account?
Do you read (and review) POD books and books from small publisher? I think it is nearly impossible to have an overview of all these SFF books which have been released since end of World War II. And not to forget all the new books published every year. But how do we get information about new books? Advertising, book clubs, libraries, book blogs, book shops websites and more. When you are honest you will fess up that you read seldom POD (= print on demand) books and/or books from small publishers. So do I. This week I posted two reviews. Demon's Bane by David Douglas which is a POD and Crown of Vengeance by Stephen Zimmer which has been released by a small publisher. I stay in contact with both authors. They told me that it is very difficult for them to find reviewers for their books. From my point of view there are several reasons for this: The well known blogger get a lot of reviewer copies and if they would try to review they would have to stop their work and read and write 24 hours per day, seven days a week. And then they still would have a backlog. There are other blogger who have strict review rules which often say that they don't review PODs. That's OK. Like me most of the people in the blogosphere review books because we love books. Therefore we want to decide on our own which books we readand review. Why did I review th mentioned books? Because the authors promised my a reviewer copy? Because we exchange mails? Of course it is nice to get a reviewer copy. But I still buy 99% of my books. Of course it is great to stay in contact with authors. I reviewed these books because I wanted to read them! But in these cases it was me who tried to get in contactwith the authors. I started to post reviews in summer 2009. So I'm still a newcomer. In the meantime I receive also review requests. My time for reading and reviewing is limited. Therefore I have to decline requests either of limited time or I'm not interested in the book. I read mainly fantasy and therefore I will never review a paranormal romance.
So what's about you - reader and/or blogger? Do you read (and review) PODs and books from small publishers? If yes, where to you find these books?
Books
Sometime ago I posted about Sasha (2009) [US][UK], by Joel Shepherd which is the first book of the A Trial of Blood & Steel trilogy. Did you know that Joel Shepherd is also the author of the science fiction trilogy Cassandra Kressnov. And this is the first book of the series: Crossover (2009) [US][UK].
"This is the first novel in a series which follows the adventures of Cassandra Kresnov, an artificial person, or android, created by the League, one side of an interstellar war against the more powerful, conservative Federation. Cassandra is an experimental design - more intelligent, more creative, and far more dangerous than any that have preceded her. But with her intellect come questions, and a moral awakening. She deserts the League and heads incognito into the space of her former enemy, the Federation, in search of a new life. Her chosen world is Callay, and its enormous, decadent capital metropolis of Tanusha, where the concerns of the war are literally and figuratively so many light years away. But the war between the League and the Federation was ideological as much as political, with much of that ideological dispute regarding the very existence of artificial sentience and the rules that govern its creation. Cassandra discovers that even in Tanusha, the powerful entities of this bloody conflict have wound their tentacles. Many in the League and the Federation have cause to want her dead, and Cassandra's history, inevitably, catches up with her. Cassandra finds herself at the mercy of a society whose values preclude her own right even to exist. But her presence in Tanusha reveals other fault lines, and when Federal agents attempt to assassinate the Callayan president, she finds herself thrust into the service of her former enemies, using her lethal skills to attempt to protect her former enemies from forces beyond their ability to control. As she struggles for her place and survival in a new world, Cassandra must forge new friendships with old enemies, while attempting to confront the most disturbing and deadly realities of her own existence." [Source]
I will buy the book next month. I plan to read it in March because of a specific reason. But that I won't tell you before end of March....
Blogosphere
Left Hand of God graphic design competition A few days ago we received a mail from Don't Panic. Never heard of them before. To keep it short it is a free publication of art and culture. So what comes up in your mind when you read Left Hand of God? A title of a book was my first thought. And that's it: The Left Hand of God [US June 2010][UK January 2010], by Paul Hoffman. Read the blurb and watch the book trailer.
"'Listen. The Sanctuary of the Redeemers on Shotover Scarp is named after a damned lie for there is no redemption that goes on there and less sanctuary'. The Sanctuary of the Redeemers is a vast and desolate place - a place without joy or hope. Most of its occupants were taken there as boys and for years have endured the brutal regime of the Lord Redeemers whose cruelty and violence have one singular purpose - to serve in the name of the One True Faith. In one of the Sanctuary's vast and twisting maze of corridors stands a boy. He is perhaps fourteen or fifteen years old - he is not sure and neither is anyone else. He has long-forgotten his real name, but now they call him Thomas Cale. He is strange and secretive, witty and charming, violent and profoundly bloody-minded. He is so used to the cruelty that he seems immune, but soon he will open the wrong door at the wrong time and witness an act so terrible that he will have to leave this place, or die. His only hope of survival is to escape across the arid Scablands to Memphis, a city the opposite of the Sanctuary in every way: breathtakingly beautiful, infinitely Godless, and deeply corrupt. But the Redeemers want Cale back at any price...not because of the secret he now knows but because of a much more terrifying secret he does not."
And where is the connection between Don't Panic and The Left Hand of God? "Don’t Panic has teamed up with Penguin books for the chance to design artwork for their biggest fiction launch of the decade, The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman." [Source]
James Read from Don't Panic sent me following information:
"To celebrate the publication of this must-read book we have launched a visual design competition, the winner of which will have their artwork printed on the infamous Don’t Panic poster (that's 80,000 x A2) and also the chance to have their artwork included in The Left Hand Of God paperback release. What we are looking for is an artistic representation of the lead character Thomas Cale, who you can get to know through a selection of excerpts on our site. We want entrants to use any printable media they choose to create an interpretation of the young Cale using the text provided. The top ten entries submitted will be put into the winner’s shortlist to be judged by Penguin with the top three entries given the chance to win some fantastic prizes, including £350 worth of Penguin books and signed copies of The Left Hand of God, as well as of course the opportunity to have their design printed. Also, every shortlisted entrant will receive a copy of the book."
There is a competition site with all the details which you can visit here.
Anyway if you have talent for art - and I'm sure there many people out there with a lot more talent - enter the competition which is an international one. Two things which you should know before: All entries must be in 7th April 2010 and in order to take part you must sign up to Don't Panic. Sign up here. Good luck to all participants!
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:
I really appreciate the guys over at Steampunkopedia. They are incredible. I don't know how they manage to find all these awesome trailers and short movies.
The Marrionette Unit Before you watch the teaser trailer of this upcoming steampunk movie, read the synopsis:
"This film is set in an alternate Victorian England, a world where steam-punk technology has developed rapidly and in a world where all creativity, art and individual expression is state-controlled. The Marionette Unit is a theatre show where machine and human have been fused together. A musical machine that resembles a twisted tortured church organ, run with valves, steam and electricity, is connected by a mass of electrical cables to three ballet dancers, who have the wires fused into their bodies. The dancers are controlled by the machine much to the amazement of the Victorian audience. We follow the story of Smith, an enigmatic character connected to an underground society of artists, hunted by the police. He has come to watch the prize ballet dancer, Georgette try and escape the wired clutches of The Marionette Unit. Will she be able to wrestle free and escape with Smith, or will she succumb to the powerful forces that hold her captive? What follows is a stunning and imaginative display of the human spirit fighting to be set free."
When I wrote about POD and small publishers it came upto my mind to deliver you quotes about opportunities. Now you have the opportunity either to read them or not...........
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.” by Milton Berle, US television actor & comedian (1908 - 2002)
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” by Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)
"The opportunity for brotherhood presents itself every time you meet a human being.” by Jane Wyman, US actress (1914 - )
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” by Thomas A.Edison, US inventor (1847 - 1931)
Hello and welcome to issue #45 of my Weekly Roundup. Last Roundup contained a lot of videos. But as I know from our log stats people liked it. I did something similar in summer and failed. That means it will work as long as I find the right blend. And now enjoy reading..... Bona Fide's Menu
Crime time This week I present you the latest member of my bookshelf. It is crime time. And it will be crime time in the next two Roundups. I like to read crime stories from different eras from time to time. I won Breaking Point (2009) [US][UK], by John Macken at a giveaway and received it today (Friday). As a fan of CSI I'm really interested in this book which is the third volume in the Reuben Maitland series. Each book contains a self-contained story. So it is possible to read the books separatetly. In this cas you miss the story of the main character -
"Reuben Maitland runs the UK's elite forensic crime squad — GeneCrime. At the cutting edge of modern crime detection, GeneCrime use the very latest scientific knowledge to identify, arrest, prosecute and convict Britain's worst criminals." [Source]
And this is the blurb of book three:
"Reuben Maitland is a forensic scientist forced to work outside of the law. Fired from his job with the CID, he takes work where he finds it. But when he discovers that his long-abandoned work on Behavioural Profiling, to predict latent homicidal behaviour from people's DNA, is being put back on track at his old unit GeneCrime, he knows he has to act. Rogue elements within GeneCrime believe that prevention is better than cure, and are using Reuben's research to hunt down and incite innocent people beyond their breaking point. Reuben turns to the one person in GeneCrime he can trust, DCI Sarah Hirst. But the GeneCrime unit is frantically trying to stop a seemingly invisible killer who strikes in the middle of the day on busy Tube lines. As the bodycount escalates, London life threatens to grind to a halt and panic begins to rise.Drawn back into GeneCrime by his feeling for Sarah Hirst, Reuben starts the hunt for the people misusing his technology. Only Reuben knows that the Behavioural Profiling technology is dangerously flawed, and innocent lives are threatened. But what he cannot know is that this hunt will lead him directly into the path of the Underground Killer." [Source]
Book Hype? Sasha (2009) [US][UK], by Joel Shepherd is the first book of the A Trial of Blood & Steel trilogy. "Sasha turns her back on her regal heritage, forsakes the life she could have as the princess in a rich kingdom, and trains instead to be a powerful warrior, fighting for the good of the people her father commands. Sasha is a princess, the like of which the highland country of Lenayin has never seen before. Spurning her royal heritage to be raised by the great warrior, Kessligh, her exquisite swordplay astonishes all who witness it. But Sasha is still young, untested in battle and often led by her rash temper. In the complex world of Lenayin loyalties, her defiant wilfulness is attracting the wrong kind of attention. Lenayin is a land almost divided by its two faiths: the Verenthane of the ruling classes and the pagan Goeren-yai, amongst whom Sasha now lives. The Goeren-yai worship swordplay and honour and begin to see Sasha as the great spirit--the Synnich--who will unite them. But Sasha is still searching for what she believes and must choose her side carefully. When the Udalyn people--the symbol of Goeren-yai pride and courage--are attacked, Sasha will face her moment of testing. How will she act? Is she ready to lead? Can she be the saviour they need her to be?" [Source] You find a lot of promising reviews about this book [1][2][3][4][5]. That is not unusual. But it is conspicuously how often Sasha is compared with A Song of Ice and Fire as Lou Anders found out. Read his Sasha: Are We Seeing a Common Thing Here?
Blogosphere
In Roundup 43 I posted about following exihibition. The Museum of the History of Science, Oxford University, UK, presents from 13 October 2009 to 21 February 2010 Steampunk Art. Unfortunately I can't visit because I don't live in UK. This week I can present you a video about the exhibition. Hope you enjoy!
PAX BRITANNIA news You may have noticed that I like this series. This week I show you the PAX BRITANNIA movie which gives you an awesome overview.
John Ottinger's Inside the Blogosphere "Occasionally, I ask some of the best book bloggers in sf/f/h a question about their reading choices, favorites, desires, or any old thing about the genre. I then collect the answers and post them here. This time I asked our participant bloggers: What are the best endings in science fiction/fantasy novels? And we got some great and varied answers. And by all means, feel free to include your suggestions in the comments." I highly recommend to read it. So many interesting answers. By the way I also put in my two cents.
I'm member of The David Gemmell Legend Award and therefore I proudly present following exiting news: "When we established The David Gemmell Legend Award For Fantasy it was with the intention of subsequently introducing further award categories to cover other aspects of the fantasy genre. We are now pleased to announce two new, additional awards, to be presented at next year’s ceremony. They are - The Morningstar Award will give recognition to emerging talent in the field of fantasy fiction. As David Gemmell always took a keen interest in new writers, and helped many onto the path to publication, we regard this as an appropriate category to add, and one we feel sure David would have approved.
The Ravenheart Award will honour the best fantasy book cover art. The importance of fantasy cover art deserves admiration, as do the artists who produce it, yet there is no major UK award acknowledging this. The Ravenheart Award will fulfil that role.
Like the Legend Award, the winners of these new awards, for best debut author and best cover/artist, will be decided by popular vote. The first Legend Award, for best fantasy novel of the year, presented at a ceremony in London in June of this year, garnered an incredible 11,000 votes from around the world. We are confident that the Morningstar and Ravenheart awards, will be greeted with no less enthusiasm." [Source] Like last year there will be a so called "longlist". The Poll will for the longlist will open on December 26th 2009 and the voting will take place via the website until 31st March 2010. You don't need to be a member for voting. The top five novels will form the shortlists for each category. Voting for shortlist will be opened in April 2010. The WINNERS will be announced at the Award Ceremony in June 2010 at the gala Ceremony to be held at the Magic Circle Headquarters, London. I will keep you informed because the longlist is a reading inspiration .
Movies
I'm sorry to say but I didn't find a trailer. Therefore I started to search and think what else I could show you. And I found a full movie! Don't be afraid. In this case full movie means 12 minutes. It is the first motion picture adaption of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein from 1910!
Xgifts
Graphic novels Since I read Watchmen (2008, new edition) [US][UK], by Alan Moore and The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes (2009) [US][UK], by Neil Gaiman I look for other interesting graphic novels. And there are several which I would like to read. But when I have to decide whether to buy three paperbacks or one graphic novel I mostly go for the paperbacks. Book addicts will understand. So birthday and Christmas are ideal opportunities to go for graphic novels. Following graphic novels made it to my wish list. The first one is Voice of the Fire (2009, new edition) [US][UK], by Alan Moore.
"The dark aspect of human history is seen from the vantage point of a single place. Linked geographically within a radius of only ten miles, yet separated in time by a span of some 5000 years, each chapter in this novel brings a different voice from the ashes of the past." [Source]
The second one is The Sandman: The Doll's House (1991) [US][UK], by Neil Gaiman, which is the second book of he Sandman series.
"A being that has existed since the beginning of the universe, Morpheus rules over the realm of dreams. But after a decades-long imprisonment, the Sandman has returned to find that a few dreams and nightmares have escaped to reality. Looking to recapture his lost possessions, Morpheus ventures to the human plane only to learn that a woman named Rose Walker has inadvertently become a dream vortex and threatens to rip apart his world. Now as Morpheus takes on the last escaped nightmare at a serial killers convention, the Lord of Dreams must mercilessly murder Rose or risk the destruction of his entire kingdom." [Source]
Sooner or later I would like to get the whole Sandman series..... Quotes
This week you get "snow" quotes and German proverbs. And again I used wikiqoute as my main source.
"*Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache. Literally, German language, difficult language. Meaning: German language is hard to learn Used when someone (usually German himself) has just made an embarrassing German grammar mistake.General saying about the language.”"
" * Das letzte Hemd hat keine Taschen. Translation: The last shirt has no pockets. Meaning: Piling up money won't serve you anything once you're dead. Equivalent: Money isn't everything. Equivalent: You can't take it with you.”"
"By mid-November I always like to have an extra 15 pounds on me." Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider; Northern Exposure, First Snow, 1993
"Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into,the mind." Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English critic & poet (1772 - 1834)
The Osiris Ritual (2009) [US] [UK], by George Mann is second book in the Newbury & Hobbes Investigations series. There will be six books in the series.
All started in 2008 with the publishing of The Affinity Bridge [US] [UK] which had a lot to offer. Imagine an alternate version of London. The year is 1901. Airships cruise the sky. Hansoms face upcoming steam-powered cabs. Servants and laborers have to cope with automatons. Queen Victoria is still alive but avoids public. Who won't be afraid to see a Queen who is no more longer 100% human. Mechanization does not exclude the human body. Several organizations are responsible for the safety of the Queen, country and inhabitants. Of course not all work in public. Come with me, dive into this vibrant city and discover their secrets and take a look at the abyss of the human soul. Be aware of people with eyes, the color of London fog....
The Setup
London, February 1902 We - the reader of The Affinity Bridge - are back. And you who visit this version of London for the first time - get ready to meet Sir Maurice Ashbury, Gentleman Investigator for the Crown. A man with a brilliant brain but a weakness for drugs like laudanum and opium. Or as what he says himself about opium:
"It (opium) was fuel for his mind, but poison for his body." [page 79]
Fortunately he don't investigate alone. Le me introduce the encouraged and straightforward Miss Veronica Hobbes, who is a bit more than just a plain assistant. She has to take care on her sister Amelia, who is a bit mysterious. Sir Maurice can rely on the resolute Chief Inspector Sir Charles Bainbridge.
And now the story takes place....
The famous but egocentric explorer Lord Henry Winthrop has returned form his successful expedition to Egypt. The unwrap of the bindings of the mummified remains of an ancient Theban King has been announced as the society event of the year. And yes, Sir Maurice has been invited like the young correspondent of The Times - George Purefoy. These are the ingredients of one of the main threads. Remember the title of the book.........
Caspian, an undercover agent in St. Petersburg is on his unauthorized return to London. Sir Maurice got the order from Queen Victoria to meet the agent and escort him to the palace. As you can imagine this simple task turns into something dark and strange.....
In the past months several girls disappeared. This disappearing is connected with the stage magician Alfonso. Veronica is deeply involved to solve this case.....
I don't want to tell you more. But I promise you will be surprised how these threads are mingled. And there will be a solution in the end...
My Take in Brief
First of all it is possible to read this book as a stand-alone. But in case you do this you will miss the good previous story and you will miss the development of the main characters. And that is important because the characters are one of the highlights of the books. Each of them if far from perfect. The opium addiction of Maurice is just one example for this. And to be honest each of the main characters has a weakness. Mr. Mann's depiction of a steampunk London is awesome. Beside this I like the way how Mr. Mann mingles steampunk, London, mystery and his characters to an unforgettable mix. And all this is done in a style which I appreciate. You start to read and then you are sucked in. The not to long chapters support this. It never gets boring and there is enough room for your own speculations. You know more about the characters than the characters about themselves. But you don't know more about the threads than the characters know. That is another thing I really like. The Osiris Ritual is a book which keeps your interest page by page. The action is well dosed. Which means you get time to catch a breath. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Bona Fide's Book Oracle
This time my inner book critic and I have had a kind of jigsaw conversation, which showed that we both appreciate this superb book. "Lon" "don" our favorite town. We love "Steam" "punk". "Se" "crets" are always welcome. "Re" "venge" is a powerful emotion "Hot" "pursuits" afoot on roofs, by steam tricycles, during day or night speed up the story. "Cha" "racters" well developed make it easy to connect with. What does this mean? The Osiris Ritual offers all ingredients we like to see mixed together. We highly recommend this book - and of course the whole series - to all of you who have a foible for mystery, characters with secrets and avidities, a story with more than one thread, airships, submersives, automatons, steam-driven cabs all placed in a great city. Buy it, read it , love it.
More George Mann
You should know that it makes a difference whether you buy hardcover or paperback editions of the books. The hardcover editions contain one or two additional short stories. As I read only the paperback versions I don't know the short stories. But I can support you with the reading order of all published Newbury & Hobbes stories
The Affinity Bridge (2008) [US] [UK] - first book of the series The Humbleton Affair (2008) - short story, available in The Affinity Bridge hardcover The Shattered Teacup - short story, available as free download pdf and mp3 The Osiris Ritual (2009) [US] [UK] - second book of the series What Lies Beneath (2009) - short story, available in The Osiris Ritual The Immorality Engine (2010) [US][UK] - third book of the series
Anyway 2010 will be a George Mann year. Beside the publishing of The Immorality Engine, the first book of a second series, Ghost of Manhattan [US] [UK], will hit the book stores. Settled in an alternate version of New York around 1926 including steampunk and mobster. Read the mouth-watering blurb:
"1926. New York. The Roaring Twenties. Jazz. Flappers. Prohibition. Coal-powered cars. A cold war with a British Empire that still covers half of the globe. Yet things have developed differently to established history. America is in the midst of a cold war with a British Empire that has only just buried Queen Victoria, her life artificially preserved to the age of 107. Coal-powered cars roar along roads thick with pedestrians, biplanes take off from standing with primitive rocket boosters and monsters lurk behind closed doors and around every corner. This is a time in need of heroes. It is a time for The Ghost. A series of targeted murders are occurring all over the city, the victims found with ancient Roman coins placed on their eyelids after death. The trail appears to lead to a group of Italian-American gangsters and their boss, who the mobsters have dubbed 'The Roman'. However, as The Ghost soon discovers, there is more to The Roman than at first appears, and more bizarre happenings that he soon links to the man, including moss-golems posing as mobsters and a plot to bring an ancient pagan god into the physical world in a cavern beneath the city. As The Ghost draws nearer to The Roman and the centre of his dangerous web, he must battle with foes both physical and supernatural and call on help from the most unexpected of quarters if he is to stop The Roman and halt the imminent destruction of the city." [Source]
Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup. I escaped work and have some days off and I'm glad that I found the time to read beside sleeping and family. I started in on the sixth book of my summer 2009 reading list...The weather forecast for the weekend is rain, rain, rain, .... and to be honest I don't care. It is just one more opportunity to read! Blogosphere
I always in search of extraordinary stuff, which you know from my past Weekly Roundups. This week I want to present you with a doll - a leather doll (I know what you are thinking, but it is not that kind of doll, and I am not that kind of person!). Please click and watch the pictures of this awesome Steampunk Leather Doll.
I follow two new blogs that are both related to Steampunk: The first one is Steampunk Art @ Oxford. The Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, UK presents the first museum exhibition of Steampunk, which will run from October 13, 2009 through February 21, 2010.
The first book settled in The Clockwork Century titled Boneshaker will be released in October 2009. Cherie Priest signed a contract for two more books. Amazon link doesn't show the cover. Therefore I added it for you.
Several years ago, I read The Last Rune, a series by Mark Anthony. It is the story of two people - Travis Wilder (saloon-keeper) and Grace Beckett (ER doctor) - who are drawn into another world called Eldh. I must admit it is still one of my favorite series to date. I'm still in search of other series where people travel between worlds. Is there a series which you would recommend me? And yes I know about Narnia...
Movies
I like steampunk (duh). Maybe you don't know that there are a lot of varieties - I would like to show you two of these. The first one is a little on the comic side. It is called Steam Punk Duel. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did:
The next one is a darker one. It is a short animated film. That means you should have some time to watch it because it lasts around 25 minutes. But I think it is most definitely worth watching The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello:
"Weather forecast for tonight: dark: Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning." George Carlin, US comedian and actor (1937 - 2008)
"Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content." Paul Valery, French critic and poet (1871 -1945)
This is my third weekly roundup. Since I started it seems like the weeks fly by, faster and faster. I had to divide up my my spare time this week -- the time that I selfishly reserve for life's little pleasures -- between reading Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton (currently halfway through), playing ANNO for Wii (which I praised in my last roundup) and following all the blogs I like (only 581 open items left in my google reader....). Anyway I found some interesting topics which I would like to present to you now, and I am sure you will enjoy!
In 2008 I read a provocative, fast paced story that is set in a Victorian-type world. Any clue which book I'm talking about? To be fair, I guess it is not enough information. Let me solve the riddle for you: The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt. I enjoyed it and this review by The Book Swede lets you know why. And for all fans of book trailers: Just watch the The Court of The Air mini movie below:
Fortunately Stephen Hunt is still working on books featuring the same world: The Kingdom Beyond the Waves was released in 2008. Sadly, the book is still on my shelf - unread - but I can offer you a review and Q&A. The Rise of the Iron Moon paperback will be released in September 2009. This week we know learned title of the fourth book, which will be released in 2010: Secrets of the Fire Sea I spoke about Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton in the opening of this roundup. There was/is significant hype around this book. What I have read so it so far is superb, but I don't want to jump the gun before I have finished reading it. Instead you get links to 13 reviews. Some call it overkill, I call it... weeeeee: Strange Horizons, King of the Nerds!!!, The Wertzone, Dave Brendon's Fantasy & SCI-FI Weblog, Nextread, SFFWORLD, Graeme's Fantasy Book Review, A Dribble of Ink, Neth Space, Speculative Horizons, The Truth About Books, Geek Planet Online, SCI-FI-LONDON. Wait, you say you want more information about the author!? Then read the interview at Falcata Times. I have a profound interest in Steampunk. Therefore, I follow several steampunk blogs pretty regularly. There are a lot of people who wear steampunk fashion, decorate their homes with steampunk furniture and so on. The choices are endless. What I missed so far is a good Steampunk cookbook. But here is the solution and it's for free. Follow steampunk cookbook link and you can download the book in PDF format for free. The recipes are not guaranteed not to explode (wrap you mind around that double negative).
BLOGOSPHERE
Once in a while I stumble on blogs or websites which have absolutely nothing to do with books. Today I would like to recommend WebUrbanist and WebEcoist. Visit them and I promise you, it will be time well spent.
I like Sci-Fi movies combined with action. If you like them too, you should mark the 25th of September 2009 in your calendar. This is the official release date of SURROGATES. Watch the mouth watering trailer below:
I love quotes. That means from now on I will "torture" you with quotes which I like or which I find impressive or which just put a smile on my face. And this is my quote of the week:
"Never argue with idiots They will you bring down to their level and beat you with experience" - unknown -
Hope you enjoyed this roundup. Let me know what you think!
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.
Seventh Star Press has some more good news with their soon-to-be-released novel, Thrall (as seen above). Here's a tidbit (full press release here):
