Thursday, August 23, 2012
Spotlight on Some Independent and Small Press Titles of Interest, R.S. Hunter, Travis Heermann, Daniel Rabuzzi, David M. Brown and Mark Kalina (with comments by Liviu Suciu)
A great cover, an interesting blurb and an irresistible title. The first few pages read well and as the book is a September release, I should have a review at some point next month. The Exile's Violin is steampunk with a twist as per the author's website. The novel will be published by Hydra Publications.
"Why hire mercenaries to
kill an innocent family just to obtain one little key? That question
haunts Jacquie Renairre for six years as she hunts down the people
responsible for murdering her parents.
Not even accepting an assignment to investigate a conspiracy that aims to start a war can keep her from searching for the key. Armed with her father’s guns and socialite Clay Baneport, she continues her quest for answers abroad.
With the world edging closer to disaster, Jacquie is running out of time to figure out how the war, the key, and ancient legend are intertwined. The fate of the world hinges on her ability to unravel both mysteries before it’s too late."
Not even accepting an assignment to investigate a conspiracy that aims to start a war can keep her from searching for the key. Armed with her father’s guns and socialite Clay Baneport, she continues her quest for answers abroad.
With the world edging closer to disaster, Jacquie is running out of time to figure out how the war, the key, and ancient legend are intertwined. The fate of the world hinges on her ability to unravel both mysteries before it’s too late."
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From Travis Heermann, author of the quite good Heart of the Ronin (FBC Rv),E-Reads has published Rogues of the Black Fury in May of this year. Another novel that starts very well, this time adventure in a secondary world with an early industrial flavor from what I have read so far.
"When a band of shadowy
fanatics abducts Javin Wollstone's little sister, Bella, from his care,
his only hope to bring her home is turning to a hard-bitten band of
special warriors, the Black Furies, led by Commander Rusk. Javin follows
Rusk and his men through a maze of political intrigues, religious
fanaticism, and centuries of distrust.
Little do they know that little
Bella Wollstone could be the spark that sets off a war of Armageddon.
The investigation unfolds into a frantic chase that leads Javin, Rusk,
and the Black Furies across trackless, pirate-infested seas into the
ancient heart of Fartha, the religion-steeped land of prophets and
priest-kings. Using stealth, guile, and sheer audacity, the Furies fling
themselves into the teeth of the serpent, trying to snatch Bella back
before she is swallowed forever.
Javin finds himself torn between his
genteel, noble upbringing and the raw, brutal necessity of what he must
do to save her life. And after all of their trials, neither Javin nor
Bella will ever be the same."
The second volume of the Longing for Yount series by Daniel Rabuzzi comes in September from Chi-Zine Publications. I have reviewed Choir Boats which I greatly enjoyed a few years ago and The Indigo Pheasant seems to be a treat too from the few pages I have read so far.
I will have a review in early September and we also plan a guest post from the author together with Deborah Mills, his wife who has illustrated so wonderfully both books. The series is a tale of wonder and adventure for all ages.
"London 1817. Maggie
Collins, born into slavery in Maryland, whose mathematical genius and
strength of mind can match those of a goddess, must build the world's
most powerful and sophisticated machine— to free the lost land of Yount
from the fallen angel Strix Tender Wurm. Sally, of the merchant house
McDoon, who displayed her own powers in challenging the Wurm and finding
Yount in The Choir Boats, must choose either to help Maggie or to hinder her.
Together— or not— Maggie and Sally drive to conclusion the story started in The Choir Boats— a story of blood— soaked song, family secrets, sins new and old in search of expiation, forbidden love, high policy and acts of state, financial ruin, betrayals intimate and grand, sorcery from the origins of time, and battle in the streets of London and on the arcane seas of Yount."
Together— or not— Maggie and Sally drive to conclusion the story started in The Choir Boats— a story of blood— soaked song, family secrets, sins new and old in search of expiation, forbidden love, high policy and acts of state, financial ruin, betrayals intimate and grand, sorcery from the origins of time, and battle in the streets of London and on the arcane seas of Yount."
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A traditional fantasy tale, A World Apart is the kind of book that typifies epic storytelling. So the usual ingredients - once
upon a time there was a boy etc and with lots of detail so not for the
impatient - but the author is a very good storyteller at least so far and I plan to review David M. Brown's novel here next month or in October at the latest.
Note that the book is set into a world that the author has mapped some 47,000 years of history from and it is the second Elencheran Chronicles novel after Fezariu's Ephiphany. Chance led me to this novel and the available 20% Smashwords extract made me buy it on the spot, but I expect I will read the previous novel too if the storytelling keeps entrancing me.
"Demetrius makes his
first mistake when he lets his best friend Halcyon marry Eleyna, the
love of his life, without saying a word. On the day of the wedding, he
walks away from the Elencheran town of Dove's Meadow and joins the army.
He makes his second mistake when the pirate Black Iris tricks him into letting dozens of men, women and children die in a fire. Demetrius is imprisoned in grief and disgrace.
But he can atone. The Black Iris is dead. The Ivory Rose has risen to the top of the pirates and is leading brutal raids on the coast. If Demetrius can capture and kill her, he'll win his pardon.
And then Demetrius discovers the Ivory Rose is Eleyna. He must decide which will be his third mistake: Losing his last chance at a pardon, or destroying the one woman he's ever loved."
Update September 2 (short raw thoughts): I finished A World Apart and I am of two minds of it - great storytelling to the end that kept me turning the pages, but the world building comes up unconvincing (those 20000 years of same are really hard to take as human history tends to move much faster), and the story itself is a a bit meh and pointless.
Overall the author has narrative pull but needs more interesting stories and a more convincing world building to get to the top level of today's fantasy, a place where his strong narrative skills deserve to be if he can come up with memorable characters and more interesting and less predictable stories. Definitely an author to keep an eye on as the potential is there.
He makes his second mistake when the pirate Black Iris tricks him into letting dozens of men, women and children die in a fire. Demetrius is imprisoned in grief and disgrace.
But he can atone. The Black Iris is dead. The Ivory Rose has risen to the top of the pirates and is leading brutal raids on the coast. If Demetrius can capture and kill her, he'll win his pardon.
And then Demetrius discovers the Ivory Rose is Eleyna. He must decide which will be his third mistake: Losing his last chance at a pardon, or destroying the one woman he's ever loved."
Update September 2 (short raw thoughts): I finished A World Apart and I am of two minds of it - great storytelling to the end that kept me turning the pages, but the world building comes up unconvincing (those 20000 years of same are really hard to take as human history tends to move much faster), and the story itself is a a bit meh and pointless.
Overall the author has narrative pull but needs more interesting stories and a more convincing world building to get to the top level of today's fantasy, a place where his strong narrative skills deserve to be if he can come up with memorable characters and more interesting and less predictable stories. Definitely an author to keep an eye on as the potential is there.
Finally there is Hegemony by Mark Kalina, a military space opera novel with fast ships, daring pilots and adult relationships so the adult filter at Smashwords is operative, but once disabled you will have the chance to sample some 20% of the book too.
Hegemony was another chance discovery and while at the time a month or so ago, I was "I have way too many books and I have just bought another 3 or 4 that I should read", somehow the sample and the main character, interceptor pilot Alekzandra (Zandy) Neel remained with me, so I had to buy this one too; now of course I have to find time to read it, but as it seems to be a fast and engaging novel, I should get to it quite soon too with a review to follow.
"The Hegemony of Suns is the greatest of the empires of mankind that have
spread out through space from an abandoned and dying Earth. The
Hegemony's vast warships dominate the skies over a hundred worlds,
protecting its subjects and enforcing its will.
The interceptor pilots of the Hegemonic Fleet are the cutting edge of the Hegemony's military might, the tip of the spear. In a split second, they can decide the outcome of a battle that can affect the fates of whole star systems. The life expectancy of an interceptor pilot is measured in minutes. It's debatable if they're still human. It's debatable if they're even alive to begin with.
Alekzandra Neel has attained what she sought; a place among the stars, a chance to be an interceptor pilot of the Hegemonic Fleet. She doesn't expect it to be safe or easy. But as war clouds gather and billions look to the skies with nervous fear, she has no idea what the real cost could be."
The interceptor pilots of the Hegemonic Fleet are the cutting edge of the Hegemony's military might, the tip of the spear. In a split second, they can decide the outcome of a battle that can affect the fates of whole star systems. The life expectancy of an interceptor pilot is measured in minutes. It's debatable if they're still human. It's debatable if they're even alive to begin with.
Alekzandra Neel has attained what she sought; a place among the stars, a chance to be an interceptor pilot of the Hegemonic Fleet. She doesn't expect it to be safe or easy. But as war clouds gather and billions look to the skies with nervous fear, she has no idea what the real cost could be."
2:31 AM | 
Posted by
Liviu |
Order “PINES” HERE
Read an Excerpt HERE
Read FBC’s Review of “Eerie” by Blake and Jordan Crouch
Read FBC’s Review of “Run” by Blake Crouch
Read FBC’s Review of “Serial Killers Uncut” by Jack Kilborn and Blake Crouch
Read FBC’s Interview with Blake Crouch
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Blake Crouch was born in Statesville, North Carolina and graduated in 2000 with degrees in English and Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina. He has written four previous novels and a host of short stories. Two of his stories have been optioned for film adaptation. Blake currently lives in Durango, Colorado with his wife.
OFFICIAL BLURB: Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but something feels... off.
As the days pass, Ethan's investigation into the disappearance of his colleagues turns up more questions than answers. Why can't he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn't anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out?
Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the world he thought he knew, from the man he thought he was, until he must face a horrifying fact — he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive.
FORMAT/INFO: Pines is 315 pages long divided over eighteen numbered chapters with an epilogue. Narration is in the third-person via Ethan Burke and Theresa Burke. Pines is self-contained and ends on a clear note, however is the first book in the Wayward Pines Trilogy. The book also features an afterword and includes a listing of Blake Crouch’s bibliography.
August 21, 2012 marked the overall Paperback and e-book publication of Pines via Thomas and Mercer. Cover art and design provided by Jeroen Ten Berge.
ANALYSIS: Pines is Blake Crouch’s first solo effort after last year’s horror-thriller epic Run. I was very intrigued to see what Blake would write next and when Pines was announced since last year, I was excited inspite of not much info being available about it. Earlier this year saw the release of Eerie, which was a collaboration between the Crouch brothers and was a great amalgamation of ideas and genres. That book I believe can be thought of as an experiment for this book and this thought might become crystal clear to readers who finish both books.
The story begins in a very confusing fashion with Ethan waking up dazed, hurt and severely confused , he only vaguely remembers what happened to him but what he clearly remembers is why he has come to Wayward Pines. He is searching for two secret service agents Kate Hewson and Bill Evans. Things get predictably weird as he can’t get a cell phone connection, nobody quite recalls seeing him before and the town police are as helpful as the Romans were to the druids. The town residents are neither overtly helpful nor openly hostile however Ethan constantly keeps on getting a strange vibe about the residents and the town. On the outside we are also introduced to Theresa Burke, Ethan’s wife who is informed of his possible death however she refuses to believe it and her assumption is backed by Ethan’s boss as he presents his thoughts to her. Thus the reader is ushered into this crazy but familiar premise not knowing entirely what is happening and why is it so.
The plot of this book was inspired by Twin Peaks as indicated in the authorial afterword and the story pays homage to the TV show by creating a similar creepy and
menacing premise. This premise however, is one that will be familiar to many readers but Blake Crouch does his job well by then turning the story on its head in the last chapter. The author also creates a confusing atmosphere for both the main protagonist as well as the readers. This sense of acute vertigo is prevalent through out the book and the main character is haunted by the sporadic memories that he has. He remembers his name and why he was sent to Wayward Pines but the last few hours of his life are a complete blur. Not helping his situation is the fact that his health isn’t the most stable, beginning with a concussion and the side effects associated with it. Ethan lumbers on with his search however the readers can constantly feel his pain and disorientation.
Blake Crouch’s prose again does the trick over here beginning with Ethan and his attempts at completing his job then to the dark atmosphere of the town making it seem mysterious and simple both at the same time. His words were what made Run such a ghastly as well as an emotional story and a similar situation is to be found over here as well. Secondly another factor that works in the book’s favor is its pace and plot twists, while the book is quite fast paced, though not the same level as some of Crouch's earlier work but is still good enough than most other thrillers. The plot twists however are sheer genius; they aren’t that many quantity-wise however in regards to quality and shock value they reach Bradmanesque proportions. The twists explain a lot about the story and make sense to the reader as well. The plot and its overall direction can be said to be a cross between Twin Peaks, X-files and one more factor that shall go unnamed at the risk of being a huge spoiler.
The characterization is also neatly done as in this story we mostly get to be around Ethan and get to view his crumbling world. There are other characters however we don’t get to see much of their point of view as Ethan takes center stage until the climax of the story. The main thing that powers Ethan is his need to reconnect with his family and it’s this theme that I have found to be constant through out many of Blake’s books. The need to connect with or create a bond akin to those found within a familial unit. His characters both heroic and villainous do tremendous feats in regards to other characters that they feel/share familial bonds with. This was very well executed in last year’s Run. This book also plays with that theme and here as well we come across a character (Ethan) that wants to break out of his situation to meet with his family. This characterization will either work or not work for the reader and in Blake’s case works wonders in his insane plots. Since this is the first book of a possible trilogy, the sequel volumes to Pines will be truly awesome as the way the story ends, readers will want to know more about Wayward Pines and especially what happens next.
I don’t think this book has any faults or shortcomings however as a reviewer I have to point out certain things objectively. Namely the plot twists while I loved them and the direction that this story took, I can’t say with certainty that every reader will be as amazed as I was. Most readers will of course be delighted but a few might dislike it for reasons of their own. The only other point that I would like to highlight is that the ending felt a bit incomplete in regards to a certain situation that isn't quite properly explained. I'm hoping that when the sequel does get written then this will be one of the major subplots to be clarified. I didn’t find any other points to nitpick objectively and I can say for fans of Blake Crouch that this book is another winner from this young thriller writer and should not be missed.
CONCLUSION: Blake Crouch does it again. After last year's book, expectations were sky high however with Pines, he takes all that anticipation and gives us a story that is familiar to most thriller-mystery readers and then blows the cover of our minds. Readers itching for clues can look to Eerie for a clue in regards to the nature of the plot twist however be warned you will still be surprised as I was. Pines is another excellent effort from a writer whom I can safely say delivers on his word to knock your mental socks off and then some…
INTRODUCTION: Ernst J. Dabel, President and co-owner of Dabel Brothers
Productions,
a publishing company specializing in comics and graphic novels—including adapting
novels by major authors such as Dean
Koontz, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher, George R.R. Martin, Robert
Jordan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Orson Scott Card, Raymond E. Feist, R.A.
Salvatore, Patricia Briggs, Robert Silverberg, Tad Williams, etc.—has recently turned his talents towards writing.
As of now, E.J. Dabel has released
three YA/MG novels through Sea Lion Books
in e-book format: Pantheons,
Albino
and Pantheons:
The Game of the Gods, which the author discusses below. Additionally, E.J. Dabel is also working on seven more books which are detailed in
the following update:
ERNST J. DABEL’S AUTHOR UPDATE:
As a
little boy, those who sought to protect Isaiah
from the Darkener of the Sky left him alone and unaided to grow up on the tough
streets. Now as a teenager, Isaiah
has no idea that he is a god or that he is prophesied to overthrow his father,
just as Zeus had done to old Cronos. Suddenly thrust into a world
where the gods of the ancient world have been cursed into teenage bodies by the
Powers-That-Be, Isaiah—along with
his friends Jeremy, Monty, and Pipsqueak—must now not only deal with his sadistic father and the gods
of the Greek pantheon, but also gods from many other cultures (Norse, Celts,
Finnish, Egyptian, Hindu, Asian, etc.) if he has any hopes of winning the highly
coveted Dominion…
I’m
currently writing seven books simultaneously for the winter (minor spoilers ahead!):
1) The first book, The Sympathies of Men, is about a wizard called Arestole. In the beginning of the story,
Arestole is in prison for a crime he
committed thirty years in the past. A soldier serving one of the King’s four
generals comes to see his cellmate, a very unsavory fellow on urgent business. It
is then that Arestole discovers he’s
been in the company of none other than Absa
the Viper, a famous and powerful wizard who was once a member of the Seven
Legends until he was eventually captured and imprisoned for his many atrocious
crimes. The soldier tells Absa that
his general would like to see him. Unfortunately for Absa, he falls dead right there and then. A healer is brought in
but is unable to revive him or discover the cause of death. The soldier is
scared that the general will kill him for having failed his mission. Seeing a
golden opportunity, Arestole tells
the soldier that he could help him by pretending to be Absa. Being left with no
other option, the soldier agrees and brings Arestole to the general. The wizard discovers his task is very
simple: teach the general’s son, who is a useless coward and has no hope of
ever learning how to wield a weapon, to become a wizard or die a most gruesome
death. Arestole has five years to
accomplish his mission. Now those who the real Absa had hurt in the past are coming after Arestole to make him pay in blood. This is a world where wizards
invoke their magic with the power of their imagination. There are no spells to
memorize, ancient arcane books to study from, or magic staffs to contain one’s
magic, only the power of the mind. A wizard whose mental creative juices can
only think of a fireball will not last long.
2) The second book, The World of Shadow, is about Angela
Green, a college student in modern times who dreams of one day becoming a
world famous photographer and making an impact in the world. When Angela meets a strange young man who
invites her to another world, she has no idea that things are about to change
for her in a way she had never expected. At first, she refuses, but then he
tells her about things she can photograph there, which doesn’t exist in her
world. Angela eventually accepts and
travels with the young man to the world of shadow out of curiosity. Once there
she discovers the light of the sun has been stolen by the Lord Elect, and as a result, all life has suffered. The people of
the world of shadow, once in the billions, are now no more than a few hundred
thousand strong. The twenty princes, all brothers, with their armies have
completely surrounded the Lord Elect’s
Tower of Light, the only source of light, for their world’s final battle. It is
to this world that Angela is brought
and the young man offers her a very special camera which, once turned on, will
transport her to anywhere in the world of shadow where the most important
events are happening. In this way, the young man explains, she’ll be able to
take pictures of the end of the Lord
Elect’s era. Things become complicated when some of the princes start to
notice Angela, while the jealous women
of the royal court who wish to become First Wives or concubines after the
defeat of the Lord Elect begin to
see her as a threat. The end has come for the Lord Elect as the twenty princes prepare for the final blow to
retrieve the light of the sun and once more bring life back to the world of
Shadow…
4) The fourth book, The Man Who Lost His Soul, is about a mild-mannered man named Robert Brooks. The story is about the
terrible hardships Robert will have
to go through in order to get back to his wife and child. To get his life back
again, Robert will first have to go to hell and back again…
5) The fifth book, Steelborn, is about a man called Nathan Tanner. At birth, Nathan
was stillborn, then discarded and left for dead in a deserted back alley. A man
finds Nathan and injects him with a strange
fluid that brings him back to life. Years later, Nathan Tanner now works at the Research of Spinal Regeneration of
Bone Marrow at an airbase in West Virginia. When a terrorist group attacks the
base, Nathan finds himself the only
one left to stop them. As they converge on the research facility, Nathan becomes desperate and plays a dangerous
game of cat and mouse in hopes of preventing them from destroying the building
before help can arrive. In the building are thirteen innocent kids whose
parents had signed them up to be the first to try a new spinal cure, which was recently
discovered…
6) The sixth book, A Day of Reckoning, is about John
Timmons, a seventy-year-old man who questions God about the purpose of his
life. John suffers a severe heart
attack and finds himself in an unearthly place where he is told it is his purpose
to save a college student who he’s never met before. When Mr. Timmons wakes up, he discovers that he’s been in a coma for the
past five years! John does find the
person he’s destined to save and he teaches her the only thing he ever
knew…boxing. But just like in life, things never turn out the way we expect,
and Mr. Timmons finds himself going
through an experience, which is beyond his comprehension. This story has heart
and is for everyone who’s ever been told they couldn’t accomplish a goal or a
dream in their life.
7) The seventh and final book is Nick Yu, about an orphan who’s been
adopted by Chinese-Americans. At prom, Nick
meets this girl, Sarah, and whispers
a poem in her ear. From that moment on, Sarah
can never forget him, even years later after college. Nick however, has easily forgotten about her. In fact, he and his
friends play a game where they set up women at lounges and bars with these
elaborate play-acting just to get them to their apartments for the night. One
night though, whether by fate or bad luck, the guys snare Sarah into their little game. Nick
has no idea it’s Sarah, but when the
truth comes out, it sends Nick on a
roller-coaster ride, which will change his life forever and helps him to see
one woman in a way he had never expected…
Order the book HERE
Read the prologue HERE
Read FBC’s review of Land Of Hope And Glory
Read 1857: Through the Looking Glass (an article about the real events that inspired this book) by Geoff Wilson
When I first heard about Land of Hope and Glory by Geoffrey Wilson, I was a bit disappointed with myself that I had missed its release a year ago. After reading the debut I was thoroughly excited and surprised by the book, I wanted to know more about the mind behind this wondrous debut. I asked Geoff whether he would indulge my curiosity about his books & the world and he agreed unreservedly. So read on to know more about Geoff himself, the world he created and the future of his books...
Q] Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic. To start with, could you tell us what inspired you to be a writer in the first place, what experience you went through in finding a publisher, how you ended up with Hodder & Stoughton, and anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
GW: I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember. Even before I could write, I would draw cartoons and get my mother to write in the speech bubbles. So, I’ve sort of always wanted to be a writer.
I found a publisher in the time-honoured way of first sending the manuscript out to agents. Once an agent decided to represent me, she sent the script out to publishers. It was a slow process, with many ups and downs, but in the end Hodder & Stoughton said they were interested.
Q] In your biography, its mention that you were born and brought up in South Africa and traveled a lot to places such as New Zealand, United Kingdom and India. It’s safe to say you were probably exposed to a lot of different cultures and mythology. How much of this helped shape the world of your books?
GW: All the things you mention have certainly influenced my writing. For me, writing is a bit like dreaming. Things bubble away in your subconscious and then, hopefully, emerge as something interesting. So, I think all my experiences of growing up and travelling to different countries have sort of stewed in my head and then come out as Land of Hope and Glory.
In the case of India, I backpacked around parts of the country when I was 22. It was my first trip on my own and the whole experience made a huge impression on me. The place just seemed to capture my imagination.
Q] So for someone who hasn't read any of your novels, how would you describe the type of stories that you write, what would be your pitch for the Land of Hope and Glory Series?
GW: I’ve been calling these books a mix of alternate history and historical fantasy. Perhaps the term should be “alternate historical fantasy”. As for a pitch, I wrote one before I even started writing the first book. I’m not sure I can do better than quoting it here:
"It is 1852. The Indian empire of Rajthana has ruled Europe for more than a hundred years. With their vast armies, steam-and-sorcery technology and mastery of the mysterious power of sattva, the Rajthanans appear invincible. But a bloody rebellion has broken out in a remote corner of the empire, in a poor and backward region known as England . . ."
Q] Speaking of the series, how many volumes do you think will be required for this saga? How far along are you in the next book, and is there anything you can tell us about books two, three and the series beyond?
GW: This particular saga will consist of three books. There is an overall story arc that will conclude at the end of the third book, and many of the things that are mysterious in the first book will be explained by the end of the trilogy. That is as far as the plan goes at the moment.
However, there is scope for there to be further stories set in the same world, potentially with the same characters.
I’ve finished the second book, which will come out in hardback later this year, and I’m busy working on the third book at the moment.
Q] In your series, the reigning superpower in the world is the Rajthanan Empire, What were your reasons for focusing on this region of India and making it a global superpower?
GW: Surprising as it may seem, I’ve never considered this question before. Firstly, to be clear, the heartland of the nation of Rajthana is the region now known as Rajasthan in our timeline. The reason for focusing on India at all is obviously that the story is a reversal of Britain’s colonization of India. But why did I choose this particular part of India to be the superpower?
I wish I could give you a clear answer, but the truth is that the decision was as much instinctive as rational. It just felt right. When I was first developing the ideas for the series I was reading quite a lot about Indian history. When I considered the history of Rajasthan, everything seemed to fit perfectly.
But I do want to add, I could have chosen another region. I don’t want to seem as though I’m suggesting no other part of India could have turned into a superpower!
Q] Both your books have striking covers with a specific theme and style. What do you think of the covers for “Land of Hope and Glory” and “The Place of Dead Kings”? Did you get to provide any input? And what are your thoughts on cover art in general?
GW: I think both covers look great – very cinematic. With the first book, Hodder & Stoughton already knew what they wanted for the cover. But when it came to the second book, they asked for my suggestions. In both cases, they wanted to know details about the uniforms, weapons and so on. I wrote a brief guidebook for the artist to use. What amazed me was that my guidelines were followed so carefully. I was stunned when I saw both covers because they looked so much like the way I’d imagined things.
Q] In regards to cover art, on the cover of your second book "The Place Of Dead Kings", which follows the same style and pattern with its predecessor, I noticed a striking Ganesha statue. Could you tell us about its presence and if it has any tie-ins with the book’ plot?
GW: The image is very striking, isn’t it? I’m afraid I can’t give away too much of the plot yet, but I can say that the statue plays a significant role in the story.
Q] Could you explain about how the genesis of the Land of Hope and Glory series occurred? How long have you been working on it, and what drew you to the subject matter of the series?
GW: I had a few vague ideas floating around in my head. I wanted to write something that combined 19th century warfare with magic. I also wanted to write something with an Indian theme. I was reading about the 1857 uprising in India and somehow all the ideas just crystallised in my mind into Land of Hope and Glory.
Q] For some authors, it’s easier writing their second novel. For others, it’s more difficult. What has it been like for you compared to writing your debut? Have you done anything differently the second time around?
GW: The main challenge with the second novel was that I had to write it a lot faster than the first. I wrote the first book, off and on, over the course of four years. I had to write the second in a year to fit in with my publisher’s schedule. That was a bit of a shock. But otherwise, I followed the same general approach for both books.
I started writing the first book in 2006, so I’ve been working on this series for six years now.
Q] Most writers have a muse and some don't, what has been the case for you? Also what is your daily writing schedule like? Do you have any specific routines like a certain Dan Brown who uses gravity boots?
GW: No, I don’t have a muse. At the moment I’m lucky enough to be able to write full-time. In theory I try to keep ordinary office hours, but in practice I’m a slow writer, so to get things finished on time I often work late and at weekends. My friends and family have been very understanding about this.
I didn’t know about Dan Brown’s gravity boots! But, no, I don’t have any special routines. The only rule I’ve introduced is unplugging the computer from the internet. It’s so easy to waste time on the internet.
Q] Will you be exploring other lands besides England in your books and will the readers get to see the Indian subcontinent wherein Sattva was first discovered? Similarly will we get to learn more on the relationship between Sattva, its human users and the overall world?
GW: In the first three books, the emphasis is on Britain. But I would like to explore the rest of Europe and it would be great to set some stories in Rajthana itself. I have quite a few ideas, but at the moment I’m focusing on finishing these three initial books.
However, more is revealed about sattva in the second book and there will be much more in the third book. Also, Rajthanan characters play a greater role in books two and three, and so, through them, we find out a little more about Rajthana.
Q] Nowadays with many series having such diverse genre labels such as Bug-punk, Ice-Punk, Bio-punk etc. What do you feel about your series being labeled as “Sattva-Punk”?
GW: When I saw you’d coined the term “sattva-punk” in your review I thought it was a stroke of genius. It’s a perfect label for the series. Perhaps some other writers will try writing sattva-punk now too.
Q] After finishing your series, whenever that might be, what do you hope to write next? Do you see yourself trying out different genres? Different formats?
GW: At the moment I’m busy working on book three and I find it hard to consider anything much beyond that. The future is hazy, but whatever I’m doing, I’m sure I’ll always be writing stories of some sort.
Q] In alternate history, often a map or timeline makes the narrative easier to follow for the reader; will we get to see either or both in the next book/s?
GW: Many people have requested maps and a timeline and I will provide them. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to include anything with book two, as that has already gone to the printers. However, I will start putting this information up on my website as soon as I can find the time. I promise!
Q] Could you tell us about the research which you undertook before attempting to write this series and what were things which you focused upon and any fascinating things that you found amidst your research?
GW: I ended up doing a lot more research than I expected, mostly because I found out I knew very little about the topics I’d chosen to write about.
I came across all kinds of fascinating things along the way, too many to mention here. But one thing that springs to mind is the fact that gunpowder and firearms might have been invented in India. Certain ancient Indian manuscripts describe weapons, called ‘nalikas’, that appear to be cannon and muskets. These manuscripts also contain recipes for gunpowder. All of this apparently predates the use of firearms anywhere else in the world.
Historians disagree about this, so we can’t say for certain that firearms were invented in India. But I found this suggestion intriguing and so, accordingly, I decided the Rajthanans in my book would call muskets ‘nalikas’.
Q] Who are the people who can lay claim to being your literary idols and which books are your favorites amongst the many genres that you read in?
GW: The books that have influenced my writing the most are, perhaps predictably, The Lord of the Rings and the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake. I read these when I was fairly young and they had a big impact on me. In many ways all my writing is an attempt to recreate the magic of reading these books for the first time.
Q] In closing, do you have any last thoughts or comments you’d like to share?
GW: The only thing I’d like to say is thank you so much for taking the time to review my book and interview me. It’s not easy to promote a book and appearing on Fantasy Book Critic will be a big help.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Spotlight on the BIG September Releases, David Weber, Brent Weeks, Ken Follett and Peter Hamilton (with comments by Liviu Suciu)
The slimmest of the four at ~600 pages of which some 540 are text and some 40 present the roughly 900 named characters, David Weber's 6th Safehold novel, Midst Toil and Tribulation, will be published on September 18 by Tor. A superb return to form after the good but not great How Firm a Foundation, the book marks the settling of the series in the full planetary conflict mode.
A review around its publication date with some thoughts on Goodreads for now and the top sf of the year for me to-date, though more properly I should call it the top epic of the year as its epic-ness outweighs its sfnality by a lot. Reviews of earlier books in the series can be found in our Review Index.
A review around its publication date with some thoughts on Goodreads for now and the top sf of the year for me to-date, though more properly I should call it the top epic of the year as its epic-ness outweighs its sfnality by a lot. Reviews of earlier books in the series can be found in our Review Index.
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At close to 700 pages, Brent Weeks' 2nd Lightbringer novel, The Blinding Knife, will be published on September 11 by Orbit. Currently reading it, I can say that so far it is as good as expected with the same narrative pull that catapulted the author to the top-tier list of my favorite authors and made any of his books an asap read on receive.
A full review around publication time - this one may show earlier in stores as Orbit's books occasionally do - and initial thoughts on Goodreads as soon as I finish it in the next several days.
A full review around publication time - this one may show earlier in stores as Orbit's books occasionally do - and initial thoughts on Goodreads as soon as I finish it in the next several days.
Edit: As per this interview with the author, the series will be a tetralogy not a trilogy as originally announced and then back to the Night Angel universe!
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At a reported 950+ pages, Ken Follett's 2nd Century Trilogy novel, Winter of the World, will be published on September 18 by Dutton. I quite loved the first volume and I am really looking forward to another door-stopper epic and the rise and fall of the fortunes of its large character cast. This one I plan to get on publication, so look for a review a week or so later.
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Finally, at about 1100 pages, the biggest of all, Peter Hamilton's standalone, Great North Road, will be published in the UK by Tor.uk with a December US publication by Random House.
I read the book a while ago and I liked a lot (!) from it, though I thought that about 400 pages of its parochial Newcastle detective story that takes over 500 pages could have been cut for a much stronger novel overall. A full review in late September with my thoughts on Goodreads for now.
I read the book a while ago and I liked a lot (!) from it, though I thought that about 400 pages of its parochial Newcastle detective story that takes over 500 pages could have been cut for a much stronger novel overall. A full review in late September with my thoughts on Goodreads for now.
.JPG)
Read the first chapter HERE
Order the book HERE
Read FBC’s review of Fated
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Benedict Jacka first thought of becoming a writer when at the age of eighteen he started writing a story in his school library. Since then he's graduated with a B.A. in philosophy from Cambridge, lived in China, and worked in various different occupations such as civil servant, bouncer and teacher before returning to London to study law. He’s also taken part in competitive ballroom dancing and martial arts. He currently lives in London.
OFFICIAL BLURB: Things are going well for Alex Verus. He’s on moderately good terms with the Council, Luna’s settling in as his apprentice, and nobody has tried to kill him in weeks.
But when a mysterious woman bursts into his shop one night with a construct assassin on her tail, he’s thrown into the middle of a plot to revive a long-forbidden ritual for draining the power from living creatures. Alex’s old enemies Cinder and Deleo are after the secret, as well as a Council mage named Belthas and a mercenary named Garrick; at least one of them is trying to get Alex killed, and unfortunately for Alex he doesn’t know which.
And finally, Luna’s found a boyfriend. In between dodging assassination attempts and trying to keep Luna in one piece, Alex needs to figure out who’s really playing who – and whose side he should be on. He can see the future, but knowing whom to trust is something else.
FORMAT/INFO: Cursed is 293 pages long, divided over twelve chapters. Narration is in the first-person solely via Alex Verus. It also contains a chapter excerpt for Taken. Cursed is the second book in the Alex Verus series and can be read as a standalone title.
May 29, 2012 marked the North American paperback and e-book publication of Cursed via ACE books. The UK version was released in both paperback and e-book format on June 7, 2012 via Orbit.
ANALYSIS: Benedict Jacka’s debut Fated came with high praise from Anne Sowards and Jim Butcher and therefore had a higher amount of anticipation from most readers (including myself). Fated was a decent debut as noted in my review, it had its share of shining points and some dull edges that made it seem like most other highly anticipated debuts. Graeme of Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review also noted some points which I thought were crucial in highlighting the book’s not-so-rosy spots. All in all I was curious to see where the author would take the story next and with the release schedule being so reader friendly, I dove into Cursed.
The title of the book like its predecessor does give a small clue into the book’s plot, while the first book gave us a look into Alex Verus and his power as a diviner. This book while focusing on him also takes a closer look at Luna and her power arising from her familial curse. The story begins with Alex working with the Council thankfully on better terms due to his actions as seen in Fated. The council asks for his help on tasks due to his non-aligned nature and one such task finds him visiting an old factory in a decrepit part of London. His presence is required as he helps a group of soldiers lead by a man called Garrick to capture and possibly kill a creature called Barghest. They find out that some one has beaten them to it and since nothing can be done about it, Alex retires back to his shop.
His problems begin once again as Luna his assistant cum apprentice brings her new squeeze who picks up a certain deadly object from Alex’s shop and it seems that Alex can’t do much to stop it. To add to that a woman named Meredith is attacked near his shop and she decides to take sanctuary within. All of these things combine to give Alex a scare like no other and pretty soon other mages become embroiled in these matters, giving Alex no respite but to step in and once again try saving everyone including himself, Luna, and his friends as this time the web around him is too convoluted for him to decipher.
The plot in this book is a welcome respite from that of its predecessor, beginning from its usual mystery, the readers will be given more than just one case as Alex Verus is drawn into multiple schemes, some inadvertently like the case of Meredith trying to escape a monster, some through obligation as in with Luna and her boyfriend and lastly through his past history with Deleo and Cinder, the dark mages who are fiddling with a crucial power. All of these schemes have Alex running from pillar to post without any respite and all the while trying to stay one step ahead with his divining abilities. The author has to be lauded for completely overhauling the faults and discrepancies of his debut, not only is the plot twisted but also has quite some pace to it. Beginning from a quiet trip to a factory, the author lulls the reader as well as his protagonist into a false sense of security about the overall direction of the storyline before violently yanking the carpet from one’s feet both literally and figuratively.
The twists in this story will definitely surprise the readers as well as keep them flipping pages all the way to the surprising conclusion. I could not help but be nicely surprised at all the revelations this story had to offer in terms of the world, the magic system as well certain facets of a few characters. Alex Verus as a narrative force excels in his second outing as in the first book; there were more than a few comparisons to his famous compatriot across the pond in a certain windy city. However the author shows that Alex is his own man and while showing a tremendous resilience similar to that employed by Harry Dresden, he has his own style to enamor readers with. London as showcased in the story is also explored and more facets about its magical past and present are revealed to the reader. One particular subterranean revelation should have the readers buzzing in regards to its origin, purpose and over all effect in the future and kudos to the author for introducing such an unpredictable twist in the story.
In the previous book review I had mentioned five aspects about the book that made it seem too much like a clone of the Dresden Files, I’m happy to report that while many of those points are present, their influence has been effectively dulled. The protagonist takes the center stage and the readers will get to see the story develop around him and with the twists that occur, it should keep most readers guessing what will happen next. Some of those twists are a bit predictable in regards to the motivations of certain characters however the author definitely tries to compensate that by making the associations between characters that much harder to figure out.
There’s also the secretive past of Alex Verus that was so seductively mentioned in the first book and gets teased in this one as well, the readers however get no concrete information about him except some crucial observations from Cinder in regards to Alex’s nature. With a series one can never be sure how much the author will tip his hand in regards to the mysteries and so we will have to wait for the next book to see if we get to learn more about him. Lastly the way the story ends, readers will be itching to get their hands on Taken the third volume of the Alex Verus series and I will be among them as well.
CONCLUSION: Benedict Jacka outshines his debut effort and makes a case for himself and his series to be taken seriously. Cursed ups the ante in almost every department of the book and it will fetch the author more fans as they strive to find satisfaction from books other than the Dresden Files. Be sure to check out this wonderful series set in London about a secretive diviner mage and the people around him.
Fantasy is supposed to be something you outgrow. There’s supposed to come a point at which you put it aside, along with all other childish things, and start reading and writing real books. Fantasy isn’t Literature, you see. There’s a sort of stigma associated with it. When grown-ups ask about my novel, I smile thinly and shuffle my feet and say, “Well, it’s kind of a coming-of-age story and there are Themes and stuff. It’s pretty Deep, actually.” Then I retreat hastily onto duller, safer ground. Because it would be embarrassing to admit that it’s a fantasy novel. I’m a grown-up myself now. Why am I still reading fantasy? Why am I writing it?
The stigma is silly, of course. The world’s oldest and proudest storytelling traditions have always been fantastical: Gilgamesh, The Iliad, Beowulf. The idea that fantasy is only for kids or nerds is a fairly modern one.
The problem with fantasy is that it’s necessarily, well, fantastical. It either twists and skews our own world until it’s off-kilter and unfamiliar, or it transports us into a different world altogether. What good is that for teaching us how to cope with life in our own mundane, magic-less, self-absorbed reality? Therefore we tell ourselves that fantasy shouldn’t have a place in the adult world.
Which, I think, is a regrettably misinformed attitude towards fantasy. J. R. R. Tolkien had this to say in his remarkable essay “On Fairy Stories”:
"Probably every writer making a secondary world, a fantasy, every sub-creator, wishes in some measure to be a real maker, or hopes that he is drawing on reality: hopes that the peculiar quality of this secondary world (if not all the details) are derived from Reality, or are flowing into it."
(Tolkien picture Credit: The Guardian and Reuters)
Tolkien considered reality an integral part of all good fantasy. Fantasy may give us the self-indulgent opportunity to push beyond the boundaries of “possible” and imagine what might be different about our world, but ultimately those differences are mere details. Details aren’t the Reality to which Tolkien refers. Fantasy is created by humans, therefore it will always build upon and speak to the human experience.
If that’s the case, though--why not read things that deal with our reality directly? Why bother with fantasy at all?
Tolkien suggests that we’re actually at our most human when we create fantasy worlds, because the urge to imagine and create is an inherent part of our human makeup. On a similar note, I think the ability to create a fantasy world that resonates with readers requires a fundamental understanding of our own reality--an understanding of what makes us tick. Fantasy allows us to see ourselves more clearly, to cut through all the layers of “detail” until we reach what really matters--and what really matters will always be the same, whether your desert planet has a binary sunset, or your school years are spent battling the dark wizard who killed your parents, or you live in a hole in the ground in a place called the Shire.
Fantasy gives us the necessary distance to understand ourselves. We don’t need to purge fantasy from our bookshelves when we grow up. Fantasy will always belong there; we just need to remind ourselves why!
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Amanda McCrina has lived in Atlanta, Georgia for most of her life. She is currently a full time student majoring in history and with a minor in political science. She has a deep abiding interest in twentieth-century warfare–the World Wars, the Cold War, the Spanish Civil War–as well as a love of ancient Roman history which lead to the creation of her debut and the Cymeria series. She loves film and film culture and is a fan of Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott and Hayao Miyazaki. Amanda’s literary loves include Rosemary Sutcliff, George Orwell, P.G. Wodehouse, Douglas Adams, Timothy Zahn and Ernest Hemingway. His Own Good Sword is her debut.
Order “The
Glimpse” HERE
INTRODUCTION: First of all, I would like to stress that the girly cover and blurb for The Glimpse, which seems to indicate another
“paranormal love story” in the vein of Twilight
and such, are completely misleading. I had read the ARC some time ago before the
artwork and blurb were finalized, and was really surprised by what they had
chosen for the book!
The Glimpse is much more than that: it is a brilliant, fast-paced adventure that raises
many contemporary worries about the science of DNA and its possible
consequences. In short, The Glimpse
is another illustration of the saying: don’t judge a book by its cover…
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Claire Merle has worked for
some years within the British film industry, before moving to France where she
currently lives. The Glimpse is her
first novel.
FORMAT/INFO: The Glimpse is 432 pages long. June 7, 2012 marked the UK Paperback and Ebook publication of The Glimpse via Faber & Faber.
OFFICIAL PLOT
SYNOPSIS: In the not so distant future, society has been divided into Pures and
Crazies, according to the results of a DNA test.
When Ana
finds out there was a mistake with her test, her whole world crumbles. Now,
Pure-boy Jasper is her only hope of
salvation.
But when Jasper
disappears, Ana is distraught. She
sets off on his trail, determined to solve the mystery of his abduction. In
doing so she uncovers some devastating truths, but she also learns to love as
she has never loved before…
ANALYSIS: Again,
dear reader, this is not a love story! The
Glimpse deals with dark and disturbing themes such as abduction, mental
illness, death and deception by your family...it is far from the standard pink
romance, even if this element is present.
For
starters, The Glimpse introduces readers
to a dystopian world where DNA is used to discriminate people by determining a “person’s
predisposition to mental illness.” This is not a new or revolutionary idea—in
France for example, there have been heated discussions about whether to test
criminals for “criminal genes”—but the concept works well, while raising
interesting questions about the ethical issues of DNA testing. The world itself
is very detailed and credible, and overall the writing is much better than in
most YA novels I have read.
Secondly,
The Glimpse features well-drawn and
emotionally engaging characters led by the main protagonist Ana. Ana is wild, with a strong character forged by years of bullying by
the institution after it is discovered that she is not, in fact, Pure. She escapes
to explore the City by herself (where all the Unpure live) and is open-minded
enough to question the doctrine she has been made to believe all her life,
which leads to Ana rebelling against
the established order.
Plot-wise,
The Glimpse is very gripping and
fast-moving, with many unpredictable revelations and twists sprinkled throughout
the novel, which made the book enjoyable to read.
In
the end, Claire Merle’s The Glimpse is a great
adventure novel, which I really enjoyed and warmly recommend to all YA readers!
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