Control Point Launch Day!
4 hours ago
I really can't let that one pass. I posted two weeks ago the "work-in-progress" covers for Michael J. Sullivan's The Ryria Revelations series (now omnibus trilogy), from the author interview with the Yeti Stomper. The illustrations were the final thing but Orbit decided to emphasize on the name of each novels.
I think it's way more eye catching but I preferred the previous iteration. What's your opinion?
Here they are, thanks to Lauren Panepinto at Orbit and artist Larry Rostant.
Labels:
covers
I have two maps to add to the index. The first one is for The Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. The book is not yet release and it's publication date is August 2, 2011. This is the author fantasy debut and book one of the Broken empire series. So far, the early reviews are quite positive. The map can be found on Mark's page and will probably transform into a gazetteer.
The second (and third) maps are from The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu. This is also a fantasy debut but that seems to have slipped under the radar a bit as it was released in April. The novel also has good reviews so far. I hope to read soon... anyway, here are the maps of Erahm and Khalakovo (also on Brad's page) :
Labels:
Map
Since I skipped the week-end, had to change the title :)
I'm now more than two thirds of the way into The Crippled God by Steven Erikson. This is also my first complete e-book reading and I'll post about my experience soon. So far I really enjoy the book but I'm still anxious to get to that huge convergence. I hope to finish it soon to go back to that enormous to-read pile. Now, here's what I gathered lately :
Covers
In my first best of (for 2009), the runner up for most beautiful cover was the cover art for Brian Ruckely's Winterbirth, Czech edition by Kekai Kotaki (even though it really has no connection with the story...). Brian posted the Czech cover for Fall of Thanes, again by Kekai Kotaki. Again, a great illustration by the artist... although whether or not it represent something this time...
News
Amazon announced last Thursday that they were now selling more Kindle books than printed books (105 Kindle e-books for each 100 printed books, with the free stuff out of the equation). Kindle was already the bestselling product of all time on Amazon Worldwide so that doesn't come as a huge surprise but still it's way faster than I thought (three times more e-books sales for the first quarter in comparison with last year). How long before we all talk about the e-books editions of our novels as a standard?Authors extract
Richard Morgan posted a fourth (a penultimate) extract for the upcoming The Cold Commands (for the previous ones head over here). Here's a glimpse :
Habit took his feet south, put him on the Boulevard of the Ineffable Divine. He didn’t think Archeth would be back from An-Monal yet, but there was always Kefanin to talk to in the meantime. Ishgrim to leer at, if she chose to put in an appearance. And anyway, he reminded himself, a little sourly, it was his job to keep an eye on them all; it was the genteel pretence he and Archeth maintained – that his place as long-term house guest was paid out by informal security duties on her behalf.
That this amounted to not much more than being visible – and visibly Majak – about the place was not discussed. Nor were the small purses of silver coin that showed up regularly in the pockets of his attire, when it came back from cleaning and was laid out in his rooms.
He tried not to feel too much like a kept hound.
Truth was, the Citadel raid on Archeth’s household was the best part of three full seasons in the past now, and the way it had worked out, it seemed unlikely the same powers would try again. Menkarak and his kind had backed off. There was a ticklish equilibrium in place across Yhelteth these days, like some massive set of scales hanging in the sky above the city, one cupped, brass weighing bowl dipped over the imperial palace, the other riding the air above the raised crag and keep of the Citadel.
No-one wanted to disturb that balance if they could help it.
He felt it again – that same coiling restlessness, familiar but just out of reach.
Could always look for a real job, of course. Dragonbane.
***
The first chapter of Stonewielder by Ian C. Esslemont was posted on Tor.com. You can also take a look at my review of the novel here.
Labels:
updates
Red Seas Under Red Skies is the second novel in the Gentlemen Bastard sequence by author Scott Lynch. The book was released in July 2007 after The Lies of Locke Lamora, one of the best fantasy debuts of the last years (2006). The Republic of Thieves could be out before the end of the year but I would wager for a 2012 release date. Lynch shared on his website that he suffered from depression, hence the delay between book two and book three. I don't think the delay is such a bad thing for me since it gave me ample time to catch up with the series!
Having barely escaped alive from Camorr after their encounter with the Grey King, Jean and Locke find themselves on the road without a gang. Their sight will eventually center on Tal Verrar, an archipelago on the Sea of Brass. For the Gentleman Bastard, the famous Sinspire of the reputably crooked Requin will present itself as an almost impossible target for a theft. That alone is reason enough for them to try it. However, they won't be able to stay incognito for long and will grab the attention of the Archon of Tal Verrar. Unwillingly under his control, they will have to postpone their work on the Sinspire to become notorious pirates roaming the seas from Tal Verrar to Port Prodigal.
Red Seas Under Red Skies starts as a somewhat straightforward story of thieves preparing themselves for a heist against a gambling house, the now recognizable signature of the Bastard. As the preparations go along, we get flashbacks of key moments in the grand plan from the past two years. I was glad Lynch could come up with an alternative sort of interludes, which was a nice aspect of the first novel that I was dubious on whether or not he could include again in his future novels. Those reminiscences were the best scenes for the time they were present. With Sabetha backstory coming up in RoT, the author will probably use that writing technique as one of his trademark. But then, Maxilan Stragos the Archon of Tal Verrar makes an apparition that will spice things up and render the storyline more complex.
If you're not a fan of boats or naval surroundings, a substantial part of the novel could irritate you. The moment Jean and Locke training on the water for the Archon begins, I felt a break in the build-up. Things will eventually be spiced up as I said but the cut from the main storyline with the Sinspire made me feel at first that I was reading another book with a slower pace. The whole pirate thing is progressively intermixed with the previous thread and everything hopefully converges together toward a great ending.
When I wrote my review for The Lies of Locke Lamora, I said that Locke was one of the most compelling protagonists I had read about in a while. His star still shines, more so with the presence of Jean at his side. Their discussions and the way they taunt each other and understand themselves reflect a splendid characterization. Their friendship is the heart of the novel, the body of the cake with all their con work as the icing. One criticism I would mention is a slight diminution in cleverness. There are moments when the Bastards really are at the top of their game but I was not always amazed at how they could pull out of tricky situations, can't hope for perfection at every turn. Still, there's a healthy dose of surprises, treachery, false trails and winks of complicity.
As in The Lies of Locke Lamora, Locke's opponents are a match for him. He has to surpass himself again and again. Sadly, the Bastards will pass quite some time away from them, but they are always scheming and they always have something else to chew on. However some of them are quite simply stereotypical, at least in the case of some of the pirates. Anyway, I would not really want the author to reinvent them since they are easy to love (but probably also easy to write badly which is not the case here). Zamira Drakasha is the exception and since the biggest part of the naval portion of the book is in her surrounding, I would say there was no fault in depicting the pirates that way. That whole 'expedition' permitted the author to expand the story from the sole city of Tal Verrar.
I could not discern a significant increase in maturity in Scott's writing in comparison with his previous work but the basic aspects of it are clearly spot on. The narrative is again set in the third person with a high quality of dialogues. The pace is uneven in the middle of the book but some arduous passages had to be written to make the ending worthwhile. Also, I may be a neophyte in term of navigation terminology and lore but I can appreciate the fact that Lynch made his homework. From the training of the boys to the naval battles, I felt everything was described as it should, or at least as an acting Captain would.
If you have a knack for pirates, fell in love with Locke and Jean in Lynch first novel and look forward to a Sword and Sorcery (should say Sword and Deception since there's not much sorcery) tale, you will get a blast again with Red Seas Under Red Skies. I felt various emotions while reading and was glad for several grins, some heartfelt scenes and a good dose of action. For the newcomers, I would strongly recommend to start with The Lies of Locke Lamora. It may not be a stupendous evolution for the author versus his debut but it's engaging enough to keep the appetite up for the Gentlemen Bastard sequence.
By the way, I found Lynch's naming pattern to be really inspired, what a great list of names. From the pirates Ravelle and Drakasha to Madam Corvaleur and the city of Salon-Corbeau (even better in audiobook). This may seem like a small detail but it's still a part of a strong world building holding itself thigh and in continuity with Lies.
Technically, the Gollancz cover art is not really impressing with a reddish glow kind of annoying to look at but the burning ship cover posted with the review is quite good looking (Spectra edition). No maps are included with the book but you can find them here (no glossary either). The paperback edition stands at 584 pages. As for the audiobook edition, its length is 25 hours and 38 minutes and the narrator was Michael Page. Great choice/voice and even better for the names Lynch came up with. I didn't think that Jean was pronounced 'à la française'!
Having barely escaped alive from Camorr after their encounter with the Grey King, Jean and Locke find themselves on the road without a gang. Their sight will eventually center on Tal Verrar, an archipelago on the Sea of Brass. For the Gentleman Bastard, the famous Sinspire of the reputably crooked Requin will present itself as an almost impossible target for a theft. That alone is reason enough for them to try it. However, they won't be able to stay incognito for long and will grab the attention of the Archon of Tal Verrar. Unwillingly under his control, they will have to postpone their work on the Sinspire to become notorious pirates roaming the seas from Tal Verrar to Port Prodigal.
Red Seas Under Red Skies starts as a somewhat straightforward story of thieves preparing themselves for a heist against a gambling house, the now recognizable signature of the Bastard. As the preparations go along, we get flashbacks of key moments in the grand plan from the past two years. I was glad Lynch could come up with an alternative sort of interludes, which was a nice aspect of the first novel that I was dubious on whether or not he could include again in his future novels. Those reminiscences were the best scenes for the time they were present. With Sabetha backstory coming up in RoT, the author will probably use that writing technique as one of his trademark. But then, Maxilan Stragos the Archon of Tal Verrar makes an apparition that will spice things up and render the storyline more complex.
If you're not a fan of boats or naval surroundings, a substantial part of the novel could irritate you. The moment Jean and Locke training on the water for the Archon begins, I felt a break in the build-up. Things will eventually be spiced up as I said but the cut from the main storyline with the Sinspire made me feel at first that I was reading another book with a slower pace. The whole pirate thing is progressively intermixed with the previous thread and everything hopefully converges together toward a great ending.
When I wrote my review for The Lies of Locke Lamora, I said that Locke was one of the most compelling protagonists I had read about in a while. His star still shines, more so with the presence of Jean at his side. Their discussions and the way they taunt each other and understand themselves reflect a splendid characterization. Their friendship is the heart of the novel, the body of the cake with all their con work as the icing. One criticism I would mention is a slight diminution in cleverness. There are moments when the Bastards really are at the top of their game but I was not always amazed at how they could pull out of tricky situations, can't hope for perfection at every turn. Still, there's a healthy dose of surprises, treachery, false trails and winks of complicity.
As in The Lies of Locke Lamora, Locke's opponents are a match for him. He has to surpass himself again and again. Sadly, the Bastards will pass quite some time away from them, but they are always scheming and they always have something else to chew on. However some of them are quite simply stereotypical, at least in the case of some of the pirates. Anyway, I would not really want the author to reinvent them since they are easy to love (but probably also easy to write badly which is not the case here). Zamira Drakasha is the exception and since the biggest part of the naval portion of the book is in her surrounding, I would say there was no fault in depicting the pirates that way. That whole 'expedition' permitted the author to expand the story from the sole city of Tal Verrar.
I could not discern a significant increase in maturity in Scott's writing in comparison with his previous work but the basic aspects of it are clearly spot on. The narrative is again set in the third person with a high quality of dialogues. The pace is uneven in the middle of the book but some arduous passages had to be written to make the ending worthwhile. Also, I may be a neophyte in term of navigation terminology and lore but I can appreciate the fact that Lynch made his homework. From the training of the boys to the naval battles, I felt everything was described as it should, or at least as an acting Captain would.
If you have a knack for pirates, fell in love with Locke and Jean in Lynch first novel and look forward to a Sword and Sorcery (should say Sword and Deception since there's not much sorcery) tale, you will get a blast again with Red Seas Under Red Skies. I felt various emotions while reading and was glad for several grins, some heartfelt scenes and a good dose of action. For the newcomers, I would strongly recommend to start with The Lies of Locke Lamora. It may not be a stupendous evolution for the author versus his debut but it's engaging enough to keep the appetite up for the Gentlemen Bastard sequence.
By the way, I found Lynch's naming pattern to be really inspired, what a great list of names. From the pirates Ravelle and Drakasha to Madam Corvaleur and the city of Salon-Corbeau (even better in audiobook). This may seem like a small detail but it's still a part of a strong world building holding itself thigh and in continuity with Lies.
Technically, the Gollancz cover art is not really impressing with a reddish glow kind of annoying to look at but the burning ship cover posted with the review is quite good looking (Spectra edition). No maps are included with the book but you can find them here (no glossary either). The paperback edition stands at 584 pages. As for the audiobook edition, its length is 25 hours and 38 minutes and the narrator was Michael Page. Great choice/voice and even better for the names Lynch came up with. I didn't think that Jean was pronounced 'à la française'!
Red Seas Under Red Skies review score :
Characterization............. 8.5/10
World building............... 8.5 / 10
Magic system................. 7 / 10
Story.............................. 8 / 10
Writing........................... 8.5 / 10
Overall (not an average) 8.5 / 10
Enjoy!
The Lies of Locke Lamora review
Scott Lynch page
Labels:
review
The manga covers (or simply manga art) for the Japanese editions (not sure which one is really a cover) of the novels of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin have been circulating the web today.
The artists behind the work are Ken Sugawara, Noriko Meguro and Yasushi Suzuki.
The first pick which is not really the cover of a book but a drawing for the series is kind of reminiscent of the Final Fantasy illustrations.
Thanks to MTV Geek. Here you go :
Game of Thrones
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A Clash of Kings
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A Storm of Swords
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A Feast for Crows
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Labels:
covers
Good old Lieutenant Master-Sergeant Field Quartermaster Pores! The Malazan marines cream of the crop!
‘Being d’sturbeted right now, sir. You’d think they’d make faces, but they don’t.’
‘Because they’re not fools, Himble. The fools are dead. Just the wise ones left.’
‘Wise, sir, like you ’n’ me.’
‘Precisely. Now, sit yourself down here and get ready to scribe. Tell me when you’re set.’ Pores resumed pacing.
Himble drew out his field box of stylus, wax tablets and wick lamp. From a sparker he lit the lamp and warmed the tip of the stylus. When this was done he said, ‘Ready, sir.’
‘Write the following: “Private missive, from Lieutenant Master-Sergeant Field Quartermaster Pores, to Fist Kindly. Warmest salutations and congratulations on your promotion, sir. As one might observe from your advancement and, indeed, mine, cream doth rise, etc. In as much as I am ever delighted in corresponding with you, discussing all manner of subjects in all possible idioms, alas, this subject is rather more official in nature. In short, we are faced with a crisis of the highest order. Accordingly, I humbly seek your advice and would suggest we arrange a most private meeting at the earliest convenience. Yours affectionately, Pores.” Got that, Himble?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Please read it back to me.’
Himble cleared his throat, squinted at the tablet. ‘“Pores to Kindly meet in secret when?”’
‘Excellent. Dispatch that at once, Himble.
Steven Erikson - The Crippled God
Kick ass moment #10
Index
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kick ass moment
Let's say that one of your favorite author is announcing a new novel. It's been a while and you're really eager to read about his next work. Would you be more interested in a sequel to a beloved finished series /stand-alone novel or would you crave for a completely new idea?
Thinking about my answer, I found out I wasn't certain. I think it may depends on the author and his past work. Thinking of Joe Abercrombie, I would probably say that I would prefer a sequel to one of his First Law novels rather that a completely new setting/idea. The same could be said about Steven Erikson's Malazan novels or after reading the synopsis for Alloy of Law, the new Mistborn novel by Brandon Sanderson...
But then, I remember that I was almost ecstatic when I read about Richard Morgan making a series of fantasy novels. If I take into consideration the majority of authors I have read in the past, I think that even though I really like new ideas, original settings/worlds/magic systems and characters, I would still be more eager to find out that one of my favorite authors is making a sequel than a original novel. Close call.
What do you think?
Thinking about my answer, I found out I wasn't certain. I think it may depends on the author and his past work. Thinking of Joe Abercrombie, I would probably say that I would prefer a sequel to one of his First Law novels rather that a completely new setting/idea. The same could be said about Steven Erikson's Malazan novels or after reading the synopsis for Alloy of Law, the new Mistborn novel by Brandon Sanderson...
But then, I remember that I was almost ecstatic when I read about Richard Morgan making a series of fantasy novels. If I take into consideration the majority of authors I have read in the past, I think that even though I really like new ideas, original settings/worlds/magic systems and characters, I would still be more eager to find out that one of my favorite authors is making a sequel than a original novel. Close call.
What do you think?
Should your favorite author next book be a sequel or a new idea?
- Sequel
- New idea
- Don't care as long as he writes one
Labels:
poll
June 1st is the release date for the novella Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks. The story is set in the Night Angel trilogy world with Durzo Blint making a comeback to shed light on his origins. The cover is way too simple for my taste but it's still a bit reminiscent of the art used on the covers of the three previous novels.
***
***
In a nice interview by Stomping on Yeti with Micheal J. Sullivan, author of the Riyria Revelations series, SoY posted the covers (probably from the Orbit catalog from what Michael posted on his blog) for the upcoming trilogy release from Orbit (the covers are not final). They look good enough but I think I preferred the paintings by Michael himself for the five (out of six) books already auto-released. Here you go :
***
Finally, Aidan at A Dribble of Ink came up with the beautiful cover art for the Pyr release of Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell by artist Jason Chan. The book is the first YA novel by the author, in a completely new setting.
Labels:
covers
Just a bit late from the beginning of the month but here it is. May 2011 is not as prolific as April in the epic or high/sword and sorcery fantasy spiced up with a touch of dark fantasy and or contemporary/steampunk genre that I love but still, at least one big title will see the light of day.
One title from the list of 2011 spotlight was pushed back. Col Buchanan's Stands a Shadow, the follow-up to the very interesting debut of last year Farlander, is now set for July 15 in the UK and November for the US.
Also, Stonewielder by Ian C. Esslemont is released this month in the US (my review here).
One title from the list of 2011 spotlight was pushed back. Col Buchanan's Stands a Shadow, the follow-up to the very interesting debut of last year Farlander, is now set for July 15 in the UK and November for the US.
Also, Stonewielder by Ian C. Esslemont is released this month in the US (my review here).
***
The Order of the Scales
Stephen Deas
May 19
Stephen Deas
May 19
As the various factions fight for control of the Adamatine Palace mankinds nemesis approaches. The realms dragons are awakening from their alchemical sedation and returning to their native fury. They can remember why they were created and they now know what mankind has done to them. And their revenge will be brutal. As hundreds of dragons threaten a fiery apocalypse only the Adamantine Guard stand between humanity and extinction. Can Prince Jehal fight off the people who want him dead and unite their armies in one final battle for survival? Noted for its blistering pace, awesome dragons and devious polticking Stephen Deas's landmark fantasy trilogy moves to a terrifying epic conclusion in The Order of the Scales.
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I'm a fantasy and sometimes Sci-fi books lover and I want to share my reviews! As simple as that. I'm from Levis, Qc, Canada and I work in software development. Aside from reading? Gaming and movies!!!
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