Thursday, December 6, 2007
Dean Koontz’s ‘Frankenstein’ Creative Team Announced (Official Press Release) + Dabel Brothers Store Re-Opened!!!
Of all of the projects that Dabel Brothers has officially announced, I’m most excited for the adaptation of Dean Koontz’s “Frankenstein”. What can I say, I just love Mr. Koontz’s work and the creative team for the adaptation are excellent choices :) Anyways, here’s the official press release:
December 4, 2007 – Few things could be more exciting for the Dabel Brothers than the opportunity to bring Dean Koontz’s first Frankenstein novel to life in comic book format.
Unless, of course, it’s the opportunity to develop Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son with the help of legendary comic book industry veterans like Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth.
“Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein is due out in May, 2008, but we’re already halfway through the first issue,” said Les Dabel, Vice President of Dabel Brothers Publishing. “And between Mr. Koontz’s source material, Chuck’s stellar adaptation, and Brett’s incredible artwork, I think this book is going to be one of the best we’ve ever put together!”
That’s a tall order for the Dabel Brothers, who have produced plenty of critically-acclaimed, mega-selling literary adaptations, such as George R. R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight, Orson Scott Card’s Red Prophet: The Tales of Alvin Maker, Raymond E. Feist’s Magician: Apprentice and Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures. But 2008 is shaping up to be their banner year with their recently announced Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, George R. R. Martin’s Wild Cards, and, of course, Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son all hitting the stands by the second quarter.
But, said Dabel, they’re not taking anything for granted this time around. “That’s why we’ve entrusted this book to Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth,” he said. “We’ve worked with both of them on other projects, and we know that they’re both incredible professionals who have earned the right to have a multitude of fans.”
Chuck Dixon has been writing comic books since the late 1970s, with a portfolio that includes books from every major American comic book publisher. While he is best known for his popular work on DC’s Batman books during the 1990s, Dixon has been the writer behind dozens of other titles, including Crossgen’s Sigil and Way of the Rat, Marvel Comics’s Moon Knight and Punisher War Zone, DC Comics’s Detective Comics, Catwoman and Robin, and the bestselling comic book adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Dixon is revered by his fans for his tight pacing and his snappy dialogue – two skills that will serve him well in an action thriller like Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein.
"This is a book that was made for comics,” said Chuck Dixon. “Dean has a story here that begs for visuals, from dizzying Himalayan mountainscapes to creepy urban dungeons. This is perhaps the easiest adaptation I've ever worked on. There's so much here!"
Brett Booth has been a popular comic book artist since the early 1990s, when he attracted lots of attention from fans for his work on Image Comics’s Backlash, based around a character he co-created with Jim Lee. Since then, Booth has worked on dozens of titles throughout the comic book industry, such as popular Marvel Comics books Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, a crossover featuring Backlash and Spider-Man, Wildstorm’s Thundercats: Dogs of War, and the Dabel Brothers’ own adaptation of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter.
“It's an interesting story,” said Brett Booth. “I'm trying to work my way through all the major monster categories. Next up, I'll be looking for something with a mummy! Visually, this should be fun, and Chuck’s done a great job with the adaption.”
And as production on the first issue continues, the Dabel Brothers are certain that Dean Koontz fans and comic book readers alike are going to love the finished product.
“Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein is already a huge bestseller as a novel because of its great story,” Dabel said. “The comic book is going to continue that trend for certain – people are going to want to pick this one up!”
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son #1 will be available from Dabel Brothers Publishing in May 2008 at comic book stores everywhere. Del Rey Books will collect the first six issues of the comic in a hardcover edition later in the year.
In other news, Dabel Brothers has recently re-launched their online store and in celebration, they are offering an exclusive poster of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files and two limited edition (500 pieces) art prints featuring beautiful, never-before-seen artwork of Ned and Sansa Stark from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Truly, the prints are just stunning and I already have my order in for “...in the quiet of the godswood”. Can’t wait to have that hanging up in my office :) For the full press release including details on how to order, click HERE.
December 4, 2007 – Few things could be more exciting for the Dabel Brothers than the opportunity to bring Dean Koontz’s first Frankenstein novel to life in comic book format.
Unless, of course, it’s the opportunity to develop Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son with the help of legendary comic book industry veterans like Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth.
“Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein is due out in May, 2008, but we’re already halfway through the first issue,” said Les Dabel, Vice President of Dabel Brothers Publishing. “And between Mr. Koontz’s source material, Chuck’s stellar adaptation, and Brett’s incredible artwork, I think this book is going to be one of the best we’ve ever put together!”
That’s a tall order for the Dabel Brothers, who have produced plenty of critically-acclaimed, mega-selling literary adaptations, such as George R. R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight, Orson Scott Card’s Red Prophet: The Tales of Alvin Maker, Raymond E. Feist’s Magician: Apprentice and Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures. But 2008 is shaping up to be their banner year with their recently announced Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, George R. R. Martin’s Wild Cards, and, of course, Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son all hitting the stands by the second quarter.
But, said Dabel, they’re not taking anything for granted this time around. “That’s why we’ve entrusted this book to Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth,” he said. “We’ve worked with both of them on other projects, and we know that they’re both incredible professionals who have earned the right to have a multitude of fans.”Chuck Dixon has been writing comic books since the late 1970s, with a portfolio that includes books from every major American comic book publisher. While he is best known for his popular work on DC’s Batman books during the 1990s, Dixon has been the writer behind dozens of other titles, including Crossgen’s Sigil and Way of the Rat, Marvel Comics’s Moon Knight and Punisher War Zone, DC Comics’s Detective Comics, Catwoman and Robin, and the bestselling comic book adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Dixon is revered by his fans for his tight pacing and his snappy dialogue – two skills that will serve him well in an action thriller like Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein.
"This is a book that was made for comics,” said Chuck Dixon. “Dean has a story here that begs for visuals, from dizzying Himalayan mountainscapes to creepy urban dungeons. This is perhaps the easiest adaptation I've ever worked on. There's so much here!"
Brett Booth has been a popular comic book artist since the early 1990s, when he attracted lots of attention from fans for his work on Image Comics’s Backlash, based around a character he co-created with Jim Lee. Since then, Booth has worked on dozens of titles throughout the comic book industry, such as popular Marvel Comics books Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, a crossover featuring Backlash and Spider-Man, Wildstorm’s Thundercats: Dogs of War, and the Dabel Brothers’ own adaptation of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter.
“It's an interesting story,” said Brett Booth. “I'm trying to work my way through all the major monster categories. Next up, I'll be looking for something with a mummy! Visually, this should be fun, and Chuck’s done a great job with the adaption.”
And as production on the first issue continues, the Dabel Brothers are certain that Dean Koontz fans and comic book readers alike are going to love the finished product.
“Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein is already a huge bestseller as a novel because of its great story,” Dabel said. “The comic book is going to continue that trend for certain – people are going to want to pick this one up!”
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son #1 will be available from Dabel Brothers Publishing in May 2008 at comic book stores everywhere. Del Rey Books will collect the first six issues of the comic in a hardcover edition later in the year.
In other news, Dabel Brothers has recently re-launched their online store and in celebration, they are offering an exclusive poster of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files and two limited edition (500 pieces) art prints featuring beautiful, never-before-seen artwork of Ned and Sansa Stark from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Truly, the prints are just stunning and I already have my order in for “...in the quiet of the godswood”. Can’t wait to have that hanging up in my office :) For the full press release including details on how to order, click HERE.
2:22 PM | 
Posted by
Robert |
Robert V.S. Redick’s “The Red Wolf Conspiracy”, the debut novel by a client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency (Ian Cameron Esslemont, Stephen Hunt), has been confirmed as Waterstone’s Fantasy and SF Book of the Month for February 2008, when it is being published by Gollancz. It will also be that month’s Main Selection for the Fantasy and SF Book Club. “Congratulations to both the author and publisher,” said John Jarrold. “Well deserved!”
“The Red Wolf Conspiracy” has been getting a lot of buzz and already has a couple of early reviews via The Wertzone and Sandstorm Reviews. I actually just got my copy and it looks pretty interesting :) Here’s a little of what was printed on the back cover:
“Robert V.S. Redick brings high magic, low politics, corruption and betrayal and high-seas adventure into an extraordinarily heartfelt and exciting fantasy. Highly promotable new author. Already shortlisted for the Thomas Dunne Award with rights sold in Germany, France, Russia and Spain. Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman and Scott Lynch.”
“The Red Wolf Conspiracy” has been getting a lot of buzz and already has a couple of early reviews via The Wertzone and Sandstorm Reviews. I actually just got my copy and it looks pretty interesting :) Here’s a little of what was printed on the back cover:
“Robert V.S. Redick brings high magic, low politics, corruption and betrayal and high-seas adventure into an extraordinarily heartfelt and exciting fantasy. Highly promotable new author. Already shortlisted for the Thomas Dunne Award with rights sold in Germany, France, Russia and Spain. Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman and Scott Lynch.”
For more information, be sure to check out Robert V.S. Redick’s website HERE, which includes a Chapter Excerpt HERE.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
"Already Dead", "No Dominion" + "Half the Blood of Brooklyn" by Charlie Huston
Official Charlie Huston WebsiteOrder “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” HERE
Enter HERE to Win a SET of the Joe Pitt novels
After finishing “The Shotgun Rule” (Reviewed HERE), I knew that I wouldn’t be able to wait very long before starting another Charlie Huston novel. At first though, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do next—go back to the beginning of Charlie’s career and read his Henry Thompson trilogy (Caught Stealing, Six Bad Things, A Dangerous Man) or start on his currently ongoing Joe Pitt series. That decision was made for me when I heard that a new Joe Pitt novel was coming out this December. With that resolved and all three books in hand, all I had to figure out now was how to do the review. Initially I thought I’d keep things simple and just review each book separately like normal, but then I thought it would be so much more fun to read them all back-to-back-to-back and write one huge review... So, I went with Plan B :)
1) “Already Dead” – December 2005 (268 pages). Going in, I was super-confident that this series was going to be right up my alley and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. For starters, that same unflinching Tarantino-esque dialogue, urban vernacular and stylized violence that I loved so much from “The Shotgun Rule” were on display here in all of its explicit glory. Even better, there was a much more pronounced noir influence—Joe’s first-person narrative, crime / mystery subplots, a frequent use of flashbacks, Manhattan’s seedy underworld setting—running in the book and I absolutely love noir! You know what I love even more though…vampires. And that’s the defining gimmick in “Already Dead”. Joe Pitt, a fairly typical blend of resident fall guy and sardonic bad-ass, is a Vampyre…
Vampirism remains one of the more popular concepts in the world of fiction be it film, literature, television or videogames. Unfortunately the novelty has somewhat worn off over the years because more times than not, the same ideas are just being recycled over & over. What I like about Charlie’s Vampyres is that they’re a mix of old and new ideas, resulting in a mythology that is at once familiar, yet refreshingly edgy. So, on the one hand you have such recognizable traits as the need to drink human blood—animal blood doesn’t seem to work though; a fatal weakness against sunlight; enhanced senses, strength & speed; rapid healing; and immortality…of a sort. At the same time, these Vampyres are immune to garlic and holy water; they can see their reflection; and as Joe demonstrates throughout the novel, they can eat food; smoke, drink enough to get a buzz; have sex; and get beaten up, knocked out cold, poisoned and even killed much like any normal human—though it is a bit tougher ;). There’s also the little matter of the Vyrus which is what turns people into Vampyres in the first place and is a pretty interesting concept though not much is known about it, except starving the Vyrus seems to have some nasty side effects. What I liked best though, was the Vampyres’ differing philosophies.
Basically, in Manhattan there’s about nine million humans compared to four thousand Vampyres. So, with numbers like that stacked up against you, opinions tend to vary about how the Vampyres should be living their lives and as a result, different clans are formed. The largest and most powerful of these Clans is the mafia-like Coalition which preaches invisibility and are said to control “a vast & secret supply of blood”. Then there’s the more liberal-thinking Society who wants to unite all of the Clans and go public. And then there’s the Buddha-like Enclave who live a life of 'meditation & martial arts', starving them selves in the pursuit of the metaphysical and possess extraordinary abilities. There are other Clans as well along with Rogues who try to make it on their own, but those three are the important ones, at least in this story. You see, Joe is more or less a Rogue who’s been playing the sides of all three Clans. Normally he’s got things under control, but when a routine Zombie problem that needs taking care of in his neighborhood turns ugly, the shit starts hitting the fan. First, he’s got Coalition breathing down his neck to make sure he fixes the problem quietly; then he’s got the Society all up in his face because some of the members think he’s a Coalition spy; and finally he’s being pressured by the Enclave to join their clan. To make matters worse, Joe can’t find the Zombie carrier who’s been infecting people; he’s lied to the Coalition which could mean execution—stakes & sunrise style; and he’s been hired to help a rich, powerful & influential human couple find their runaway Goth girl with the wife & husband each having their own agenda. If that’s not enough, someone’s trying to set him up; his precious blood supply has been stolen; a deadly ghost-like Wraith is on the prowl; and Joe’s relationship with his human girlfriend is on the rocks. No, the future does not look at all bright for Mr. Joe Pitt…
So that’s “Already Dead” for you. It was all that I was hoping for and then some—great characters, a crazy story, kick-ass dialogue, a vivid setting. You have to give the author credit. Opening volumes in a series can be tricky, but Charlie handles it with ease. I mean the book grabs you from the very first page; it does an excellent job of establishing the milieu, Joe’s character, his supporting cast and explaining the different clans, Vampyres, etc., without force-feeding the info to you; and while the story is all wrapped up with a neat little bowtie, it definitely leaves you thirsting for more. All in all, just a fantastic way to kick off the series…
2) "No Dominion" – December 2006 (251 pages). It’s been a year since the fallout at the end of “Already Dead” and Joe’s been taking it easy, staying out of trouble. After all, when the Coalition’s spymaster Dexter Predo and the Society’s head of security Tom Nolan are out for your blood, it’s probably best to keep a low profile. Unfortunately, Joe’s blood stash is running low, jobs have been scarce, and he’s just learned from his HIV-positive girlfriend Evie that her disease has taken a turn for the worse. So he does the only thing he can think of—go back to his old pal Terry Bird, the leader of the Society, and ask for a little help. What he gets is a clandestine mission to find out about some new “high” called Anathema that is specifically for Vampyres. As one might expect if you know anything of noir, what starts out as a simple reconnaissance becomes dangerously complicated as Joe finds himself caught in a brewing turf war between the Hood, Coalition and the Society. In short, “No Dominion” is basically a novel about “setups and betrayals and backstabbing and power plays…”
Charlie’s second Joe Pitt casebook was a little different from the first one. For starters, it has a little slower beginning, but once Joe hops on that A train watch out! From there, the book really picks up the tempo as Joe finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between the Hood’s DJ Grave Digga & Papa Doc; then he’s ensnared by the vicious Lady Vandewater who’s working on a devious scheme to incite a war between the clans; which leads back to the Society, a Coalition plot and a coup attempt. Personally, I love this kind of storytelling—all of the tangled threads, red herrings, double crosses and unexpected revelations… Highly entertaining :) I will admit though that the book was a bit light in the action department compared to “Already Dead”, and that it seemed to spend a lot of time at the end explaining what exactly just happened. I guess it was a little complicated, but still. Aside from all of the political maneuvering, there was actually other stuff going on in “No Dominion”. One was the subplot with Joe’s girlfriend Evie, which I mentioned earlier. Nothing much really happens in the book regarding this, but I think it’ll be a major issue in the next Joe Pitt novel. Of more significance was the actual Vyrus. We get to learn a bit more about it like how it only infects certain “straights” (normal people), and how there might be some truth to the Enclave’s belief that the Vyrus is spiritual in nature. It’s definitely an interesting concept and I can’t wait to see where Charlie goes with it… And that about sums up “No Dominion”. The book was just as enjoyable as the first Joe Pitt novel, if for different reasons, and left a little more hanging than its predecessor, but Charlie Huston once again delivers…
03) “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” – December 26, 2007 (240 pages). So far Joe has had some pretty wild adventures and along the way he’s proven time and again to be one tough SOB. Still, even a tough SOB has a breaking point and in “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” we get to learn first-hand just what that breaking-point is. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Starting back at the beginning, another year has gone by and during that time Joe has firmly resumed his role as enforcer for Terry Bird and the Society. Life should be good right!? I mean Joe’s got a steady gig now which means Clan protection, not having to hunt for his own blood, and an income that he can use to pay for his girlfriend’s treatments. Ah, but this is Joe Pitt we’re talking about here, professional shit-magnet. So trouble’s just a stone’s throw away. First, the Clans discover that the world’s a much larger place than their little island of Manhattan when Vampyres start crossing the bridge from Brooklyn causing all sorts of political turmoil. Then, an apparent Van Helsing—nickname for a “righteous hunter of the undead”—shows up committing a murder that brings Coalition into the picture. Also back on the scene is the soon-to-be-filthy-rich Horde Bio Tech Incorporated heiress Amanda Horde, her transsexual lover/protector Sela, and their noble idea of developing a cure for the Vyrus. Which brings us to the most important matter in the book, at least to Joe. You see Evie, Joe’s HIV-positive girlfriend, is failing and the only way to save her is by using the Vyrus. Here’s the dilemma though—not only is it morally wrong to essentially trap Evie in a life that is as vicious & bleak as the one Joe lives, but it’s illegal under penalty of death and not everyone can accept the Vyrus in the first place, and those who reject it, well, they die…horribly. Fortunately for Joe, there’s one Vampyre who can actually tell if a straight will be able to accept the Vyrus or not—Daniel, the leader of the Enclave. Unfortunately, time’s running out for Daniel and before Joe can even ask the question to the answer he so desperately seeks, he’s sent on a mission into the heart of Brooklyn where things really get out of hand, all leading to an explosive finale where no one, not the Brooklyn vampyres, not the Society, not the Enclave, not friends nor straights—no one will stand in Joe’s way as he tries to save the girl he loves…even if it means war…
Charlie’s Joe Pitt casebooks is one of those rare series that just keeps getting better and better, and “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” was easily the best so far. I mean, if you think about it, the first two books are mainly establishing what kind of a Vampyre Joe is and his various relationships, laying down the groundwork for the Clans’ political structure, deciphering their opposing philosophies, and just basically realizing Charlie’s unique vampyre mythology. Sure, all of that was usually rooted in some great storytelling, but essentially, it was a lot of worldbuilding. “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” is the start of the payoff. The world’s basically been established, so characters are evolving, conflicts are coming to a head, and Joe’s finally making a stand for something he truly believes in…and it’s sadistically magnificent. Plus, how crazy is Charlie’s imagination? Already he’s doing stuff with the vampire mythos that hasn’t been seen before, and then he goes and introduces the Freaks—a group of Vampyres that put their abilities on display as a circus act—and a clan of Jewish Vampyres who believe themselves descended from the lost Tribe of Gibeah! Bloody brilliant! A couple of notes though. First, I thought readers would have no problem following what was happening in “No Dominion” even if they hadn’t read the first Joe Pitt novel. That’s not the case here. I highly recommend that you read both “Already Dead” and “No Dominion” before starting this one, especially since a lot of characters/subplots—Amanda Horde, The Count, Lydia, Daniel, Evie—from those books play such an important role here in “Half the Blood of Brooklyn”. And secondly, prepare yourself for a cliffhanger. While the first two books were more or less self-contained stories, “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” is more of a set-up novel, and thus, leaves you dangling. So yeah, next December can’t come fast enough, but fortunately “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” was so mind-blowingly good, I’m still trying to catch my breath!
Conclusion: Looking back, I guess you could probably lump Charlie’s Joe Pitt casebooks with the other urban fantasy novels out there. After all, it does have that first-person POV, a contemporary setting and the supernatural elements… Then again, the closest comparison I could come up with was Mike Carey’s Felix Castor novels, and maybe traces of Glen Cook’s Garrett P.I. series or Jim Butcher’s popular Dresden Files, but even those pale in comparison to Charlie’s more hardcore series. In other words, with its extreme violence, explicit language and fearless racial/gender epithets, Joe Pitt is not for the squeamish or the politically correct. And for those who haven’t read any Charlie Huston novels yet, there are two little quirks to be aware of… 1) The author doesn’t use any chapter or part breaks in the Joe Pitt novels, and 2) Charlie also doesn’t use any quotation marks with the speech denoted by hyphens. So, if you can look past all of that then you’re in for one hell of a treat, cuz if Quentin Tarantino is the king of all that is hip and postmodern in contemporary filmmaking, then Charlie Huston is well on his way to securing the throne in the world of urban crime fiction…
1) “Already Dead” – December 2005 (268 pages). Going in, I was super-confident that this series was going to be right up my alley and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. For starters, that same unflinching Tarantino-esque dialogue, urban vernacular and stylized violence that I loved so much from “The Shotgun Rule” were on display here in all of its explicit glory. Even better, there was a much more pronounced noir influence—Joe’s first-person narrative, crime / mystery subplots, a frequent use of flashbacks, Manhattan’s seedy underworld setting—running in the book and I absolutely love noir! You know what I love even more though…vampires. And that’s the defining gimmick in “Already Dead”. Joe Pitt, a fairly typical blend of resident fall guy and sardonic bad-ass, is a Vampyre…Vampirism remains one of the more popular concepts in the world of fiction be it film, literature, television or videogames. Unfortunately the novelty has somewhat worn off over the years because more times than not, the same ideas are just being recycled over & over. What I like about Charlie’s Vampyres is that they’re a mix of old and new ideas, resulting in a mythology that is at once familiar, yet refreshingly edgy. So, on the one hand you have such recognizable traits as the need to drink human blood—animal blood doesn’t seem to work though; a fatal weakness against sunlight; enhanced senses, strength & speed; rapid healing; and immortality…of a sort. At the same time, these Vampyres are immune to garlic and holy water; they can see their reflection; and as Joe demonstrates throughout the novel, they can eat food; smoke, drink enough to get a buzz; have sex; and get beaten up, knocked out cold, poisoned and even killed much like any normal human—though it is a bit tougher ;). There’s also the little matter of the Vyrus which is what turns people into Vampyres in the first place and is a pretty interesting concept though not much is known about it, except starving the Vyrus seems to have some nasty side effects. What I liked best though, was the Vampyres’ differing philosophies.
Basically, in Manhattan there’s about nine million humans compared to four thousand Vampyres. So, with numbers like that stacked up against you, opinions tend to vary about how the Vampyres should be living their lives and as a result, different clans are formed. The largest and most powerful of these Clans is the mafia-like Coalition which preaches invisibility and are said to control “a vast & secret supply of blood”. Then there’s the more liberal-thinking Society who wants to unite all of the Clans and go public. And then there’s the Buddha-like Enclave who live a life of 'meditation & martial arts', starving them selves in the pursuit of the metaphysical and possess extraordinary abilities. There are other Clans as well along with Rogues who try to make it on their own, but those three are the important ones, at least in this story. You see, Joe is more or less a Rogue who’s been playing the sides of all three Clans. Normally he’s got things under control, but when a routine Zombie problem that needs taking care of in his neighborhood turns ugly, the shit starts hitting the fan. First, he’s got Coalition breathing down his neck to make sure he fixes the problem quietly; then he’s got the Society all up in his face because some of the members think he’s a Coalition spy; and finally he’s being pressured by the Enclave to join their clan. To make matters worse, Joe can’t find the Zombie carrier who’s been infecting people; he’s lied to the Coalition which could mean execution—stakes & sunrise style; and he’s been hired to help a rich, powerful & influential human couple find their runaway Goth girl with the wife & husband each having their own agenda. If that’s not enough, someone’s trying to set him up; his precious blood supply has been stolen; a deadly ghost-like Wraith is on the prowl; and Joe’s relationship with his human girlfriend is on the rocks. No, the future does not look at all bright for Mr. Joe Pitt…
So that’s “Already Dead” for you. It was all that I was hoping for and then some—great characters, a crazy story, kick-ass dialogue, a vivid setting. You have to give the author credit. Opening volumes in a series can be tricky, but Charlie handles it with ease. I mean the book grabs you from the very first page; it does an excellent job of establishing the milieu, Joe’s character, his supporting cast and explaining the different clans, Vampyres, etc., without force-feeding the info to you; and while the story is all wrapped up with a neat little bowtie, it definitely leaves you thirsting for more. All in all, just a fantastic way to kick off the series…
2) "No Dominion" – December 2006 (251 pages). It’s been a year since the fallout at the end of “Already Dead” and Joe’s been taking it easy, staying out of trouble. After all, when the Coalition’s spymaster Dexter Predo and the Society’s head of security Tom Nolan are out for your blood, it’s probably best to keep a low profile. Unfortunately, Joe’s blood stash is running low, jobs have been scarce, and he’s just learned from his HIV-positive girlfriend Evie that her disease has taken a turn for the worse. So he does the only thing he can think of—go back to his old pal Terry Bird, the leader of the Society, and ask for a little help. What he gets is a clandestine mission to find out about some new “high” called Anathema that is specifically for Vampyres. As one might expect if you know anything of noir, what starts out as a simple reconnaissance becomes dangerously complicated as Joe finds himself caught in a brewing turf war between the Hood, Coalition and the Society. In short, “No Dominion” is basically a novel about “setups and betrayals and backstabbing and power plays…”Charlie’s second Joe Pitt casebook was a little different from the first one. For starters, it has a little slower beginning, but once Joe hops on that A train watch out! From there, the book really picks up the tempo as Joe finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between the Hood’s DJ Grave Digga & Papa Doc; then he’s ensnared by the vicious Lady Vandewater who’s working on a devious scheme to incite a war between the clans; which leads back to the Society, a Coalition plot and a coup attempt. Personally, I love this kind of storytelling—all of the tangled threads, red herrings, double crosses and unexpected revelations… Highly entertaining :) I will admit though that the book was a bit light in the action department compared to “Already Dead”, and that it seemed to spend a lot of time at the end explaining what exactly just happened. I guess it was a little complicated, but still. Aside from all of the political maneuvering, there was actually other stuff going on in “No Dominion”. One was the subplot with Joe’s girlfriend Evie, which I mentioned earlier. Nothing much really happens in the book regarding this, but I think it’ll be a major issue in the next Joe Pitt novel. Of more significance was the actual Vyrus. We get to learn a bit more about it like how it only infects certain “straights” (normal people), and how there might be some truth to the Enclave’s belief that the Vyrus is spiritual in nature. It’s definitely an interesting concept and I can’t wait to see where Charlie goes with it… And that about sums up “No Dominion”. The book was just as enjoyable as the first Joe Pitt novel, if for different reasons, and left a little more hanging than its predecessor, but Charlie Huston once again delivers…
03) “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” – December 26, 2007 (240 pages). So far Joe has had some pretty wild adventures and along the way he’s proven time and again to be one tough SOB. Still, even a tough SOB has a breaking point and in “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” we get to learn first-hand just what that breaking-point is. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Starting back at the beginning, another year has gone by and during that time Joe has firmly resumed his role as enforcer for Terry Bird and the Society. Life should be good right!? I mean Joe’s got a steady gig now which means Clan protection, not having to hunt for his own blood, and an income that he can use to pay for his girlfriend’s treatments. Ah, but this is Joe Pitt we’re talking about here, professional shit-magnet. So trouble’s just a stone’s throw away. First, the Clans discover that the world’s a much larger place than their little island of Manhattan when Vampyres start crossing the bridge from Brooklyn causing all sorts of political turmoil. Then, an apparent Van Helsing—nickname for a “righteous hunter of the undead”—shows up committing a murder that brings Coalition into the picture. Also back on the scene is the soon-to-be-filthy-rich Horde Bio Tech Incorporated heiress Amanda Horde, her transsexual lover/protector Sela, and their noble idea of developing a cure for the Vyrus. Which brings us to the most important matter in the book, at least to Joe. You see Evie, Joe’s HIV-positive girlfriend, is failing and the only way to save her is by using the Vyrus. Here’s the dilemma though—not only is it morally wrong to essentially trap Evie in a life that is as vicious & bleak as the one Joe lives, but it’s illegal under penalty of death and not everyone can accept the Vyrus in the first place, and those who reject it, well, they die…horribly. Fortunately for Joe, there’s one Vampyre who can actually tell if a straight will be able to accept the Vyrus or not—Daniel, the leader of the Enclave. Unfortunately, time’s running out for Daniel and before Joe can even ask the question to the answer he so desperately seeks, he’s sent on a mission into the heart of Brooklyn where things really get out of hand, all leading to an explosive finale where no one, not the Brooklyn vampyres, not the Society, not the Enclave, not friends nor straights—no one will stand in Joe’s way as he tries to save the girl he loves…even if it means war…Charlie’s Joe Pitt casebooks is one of those rare series that just keeps getting better and better, and “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” was easily the best so far. I mean, if you think about it, the first two books are mainly establishing what kind of a Vampyre Joe is and his various relationships, laying down the groundwork for the Clans’ political structure, deciphering their opposing philosophies, and just basically realizing Charlie’s unique vampyre mythology. Sure, all of that was usually rooted in some great storytelling, but essentially, it was a lot of worldbuilding. “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” is the start of the payoff. The world’s basically been established, so characters are evolving, conflicts are coming to a head, and Joe’s finally making a stand for something he truly believes in…and it’s sadistically magnificent. Plus, how crazy is Charlie’s imagination? Already he’s doing stuff with the vampire mythos that hasn’t been seen before, and then he goes and introduces the Freaks—a group of Vampyres that put their abilities on display as a circus act—and a clan of Jewish Vampyres who believe themselves descended from the lost Tribe of Gibeah! Bloody brilliant! A couple of notes though. First, I thought readers would have no problem following what was happening in “No Dominion” even if they hadn’t read the first Joe Pitt novel. That’s not the case here. I highly recommend that you read both “Already Dead” and “No Dominion” before starting this one, especially since a lot of characters/subplots—Amanda Horde, The Count, Lydia, Daniel, Evie—from those books play such an important role here in “Half the Blood of Brooklyn”. And secondly, prepare yourself for a cliffhanger. While the first two books were more or less self-contained stories, “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” is more of a set-up novel, and thus, leaves you dangling. So yeah, next December can’t come fast enough, but fortunately “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” was so mind-blowingly good, I’m still trying to catch my breath!
Conclusion: Looking back, I guess you could probably lump Charlie’s Joe Pitt casebooks with the other urban fantasy novels out there. After all, it does have that first-person POV, a contemporary setting and the supernatural elements… Then again, the closest comparison I could come up with was Mike Carey’s Felix Castor novels, and maybe traces of Glen Cook’s Garrett P.I. series or Jim Butcher’s popular Dresden Files, but even those pale in comparison to Charlie’s more hardcore series. In other words, with its extreme violence, explicit language and fearless racial/gender epithets, Joe Pitt is not for the squeamish or the politically correct. And for those who haven’t read any Charlie Huston novels yet, there are two little quirks to be aware of… 1) The author doesn’t use any chapter or part breaks in the Joe Pitt novels, and 2) Charlie also doesn’t use any quotation marks with the speech denoted by hyphens. So, if you can look past all of that then you’re in for one hell of a treat, cuz if Quentin Tarantino is the king of all that is hip and postmodern in contemporary filmmaking, then Charlie Huston is well on his way to securing the throne in the world of urban crime fiction…
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Solaris Books to Publish Major New Steampunk Anthology (Official Press Release)
EXTRAORDINARY ENGINES:The Definitive Steampunk Anthology
Airships, automatons and aether! Extraordinary Engines is a brand new anthology from editor and reviewer Nick Gevers featuring all-original Steampunk-inspired stories from some of the genre’s foremost writers including Daniel Abraham, Kage Baker, Stephen Baxter, Beth Bernobich, Eric Brown, Keith Brooke, Paul Di Filippo, Hal Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, Jay Lake, Margo Lanagan, James Lovegrove, Ian R. MacLeod, Michael Moorcock, James Morrow, Kim Newman, Robert Reed, Chris Roberson, Adam Roberts, Lucius Shepard, Brian Stableford, Jeff VanderMeer and Marly Youmans (Subject to change). “Extraordinary Engines: The Definitive Steampunk Anthology” will be published simultaneously in both the US and UK by Solaris, in paperback, Fall 2008.
Solaris have also commissioned Alex CF of ‘Many Dead Things’, known for his astounding Steampunk creations, to produce a major new contraption to be used in the cover photography for the book.
Commissioning Editor Christian Dunn said of the deal "Extraordinary Engines is an absolutely top-hole anthology featuring work by some of the finest minds in the Empire and Colonies. The perfect book to take on safari or long constitutionals, and an ideal accompaniment to afternoon tea and tiffin."
Nick Gevers is a South African science fiction editor and critic, whose work has appeared in The Washington Post Book World, Interzone, Scifi.com, SF Site, The New York Review of Science Fiction and Nova Express. He writes two monthly review columns for Locus Magazine, and is editor at the British independent press, PS Publishing; he also edits the quarterly genre fiction magazine, Postscripts.
Solaris have also commissioned Alex CF of ‘Many Dead Things’, known for his astounding Steampunk creations, to produce a major new contraption to be used in the cover photography for the book.
Commissioning Editor Christian Dunn said of the deal "Extraordinary Engines is an absolutely top-hole anthology featuring work by some of the finest minds in the Empire and Colonies. The perfect book to take on safari or long constitutionals, and an ideal accompaniment to afternoon tea and tiffin."
Nick Gevers is a South African science fiction editor and critic, whose work has appeared in The Washington Post Book World, Interzone, Scifi.com, SF Site, The New York Review of Science Fiction and Nova Express. He writes two monthly review columns for Locus Magazine, and is editor at the British independent press, PS Publishing; he also edits the quarterly genre fiction magazine, Postscripts.
Welcome to the December 2007 edition of Fantasy Book Critic’s monthly SPOTLIGHT. Previous spotlights can be visited here: June 2007, July 2007, August 2007, September 2007, October 2007 + November 2007. Closing out the year in surprisingly strong fashion, December offers a wide variety of titles in fantasy, science fiction and horror that should make for some nice stocking-stuffers :) So, enjoy and Happy Holidays! (NOTE: Unless stated otherwise, all release dates are for the US):
“Dragon Outcast” by E.E. Knight. Release Date: December 4, 2007. “Dragon Outcast (Volume III) continues E.E. Knight's thrilling fantasy series Age of Fire—Dragon Champion (Volume I), Dragon Avenger (Volume II)—about a brood of young dragon siblings: each unique, each powerful, and each fated to battle the other to the end. Here, the darkest of the dragons is introduced as he strives to make himself the strongest-and the last-of his brethren...” E.E. Knight is also the author of the Vampire Earth dark fantasy series…
Official E.E. Knight Age of Fire Website
Official E.E. Knight LiveJournal
Order “Dragon Outcast” HERE
Read Samples Chapters/Previews HERE (Must Sign Up for the Forum)
“Captain’s Fury” by Jim Butcher. Release Date: December 4, 2007. While best known for the highly popular urban fantasy series The Dresden Files—volume ten “Small Favor” comes out April 2008—which was even made into a short-lived Sci-Fi television series and is being adapted into a graphic novel by Dabel Brothers Publishing, the New York Times bestselling Jim Butcher is also the author of the more traditional fantasy series Codex Alera, which continues in his latest entry “Captain’s Fury” (Book Four)…
Official Jim Butcher Website
Order “Captain’s Fury” HERE
Read Sample Chapters HERE
“Opening Atlantis” by Harry Turtledove. Release Date: December 4, 2007. New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove has intrigued readers with such thought-provoking "what if..." scenarios as a conquered Elizabethan England in Ruled Britannia and a Japanese occupation of Hawaii in Days of Infamy and End of the Beginning. Now, in the first of a brand-new trilogy, Harry rewrites the history of the world with the existence of an eighth continent—Atlantis, a land of opportunity and wonders…
Official Harry Turtledove Website
Order “Opening Atlantis” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read Darque Reviews’ REVIEW of “Opening Atlantis”
“Dragon Outcast” by E.E. Knight. Release Date: December 4, 2007. “Dragon Outcast (Volume III) continues E.E. Knight's thrilling fantasy series Age of Fire—Dragon Champion (Volume I), Dragon Avenger (Volume II)—about a brood of young dragon siblings: each unique, each powerful, and each fated to battle the other to the end. Here, the darkest of the dragons is introduced as he strives to make himself the strongest-and the last-of his brethren...” E.E. Knight is also the author of the Vampire Earth dark fantasy series…Official E.E. Knight Age of Fire Website
Official E.E. Knight LiveJournal
Order “Dragon Outcast” HERE
Read Samples Chapters/Previews HERE (Must Sign Up for the Forum)
“Captain’s Fury” by Jim Butcher. Release Date: December 4, 2007. While best known for the highly popular urban fantasy series The Dresden Files—volume ten “Small Favor” comes out April 2008—which was even made into a short-lived Sci-Fi television series and is being adapted into a graphic novel by Dabel Brothers Publishing, the New York Times bestselling Jim Butcher is also the author of the more traditional fantasy series Codex Alera, which continues in his latest entry “Captain’s Fury” (Book Four)…Official Jim Butcher Website
Order “Captain’s Fury” HERE
Read Sample Chapters HERE
“Opening Atlantis” by Harry Turtledove. Release Date: December 4, 2007. New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove has intrigued readers with such thought-provoking "what if..." scenarios as a conquered Elizabethan England in Ruled Britannia and a Japanese occupation of Hawaii in Days of Infamy and End of the Beginning. Now, in the first of a brand-new trilogy, Harry rewrites the history of the world with the existence of an eighth continent—Atlantis, a land of opportunity and wonders…Official Harry Turtledove Website
Order “Opening Atlantis” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read Darque Reviews’ REVIEW of “Opening Atlantis”
“High Deryni” by Katherine Kurtz. Release Date: December 4, 2007. Originally published in 1973, “High Deryni” is the conclusion to Katherine Kurtz’s first Deryni trilogy (The Chronicles of the Deryni), a series which is now comprised of five trilogies including the not-yet-completed Childe Morgan trilogy, one standalone novel and various short stories. While “High Deryni” has been reprinted a number of times, this new version by Ace Books has been revised and expanded by the New York Times bestselling author…Official Katherine Kurtz Website
Order “High Deryni” HERE
“The Blue-Haired Bombshell” by John Zakour. Release Date: December 4, 2007. In the fifth book starring Zachary Nixon Johnson, the world's last freelance private investigator must find the assassin who murdered Sexy Sprocket and two other members of the World Council. His investigation leads him to the Moon and to a tall, sensuous, blue-haired beauty named Lea who possesses psychic powers, and powerful ambitions... Zakour describes his writing as "humorous, pulp, fun, SF which is bubblegum for the brain!"Official John Zakour Website
Order “The Blue-Haired Bombshell” HERE
Read Pink Raygun.com’s INTERVIEW with John Zakour
“Garden of Darkness” by Anne Frasier. Release Date: December 4, 2007. In the terrifying follow-up to the acclaimed “Pale Immortal” by USA Today bestselling Anne Frasier, medical examiner Rachel Burton is drawn back to the haunted town of Tuonela and the legend of the Pale Immortal, the so-called vampire whose exhumed body is now on display. As Evan—the man Rachel’s always loved—succumbs to madness, those around him will suspect the worst, but nothing will compare to the one who has been awakened...Official Anne Frasier Website
Order “Garden of Darkness” HERE
Read The Prologue HERE
Read Armchair Interviews REVIEW of “Garden of Darkness”
“Inferno” edited by Ellen Datlow. Release Date: December 10, 2007. Multiple World Fantasy and Bram Stoker Award-winning editor Ellen Datlow presents twenty original tales of terror from some of the most powerful voices in the field: Terry Dowling, Jeffrey Ford, Christopher Fowler, Glen Hirshberg, K. W. Jeter, Joyce Carol Oates, Lucius Shepard, Conrad Williams, etc. An aptly titled anthology, “Inferno” will scare the pants off readers and further secure Ellen Datlow's standing as a preeminent editor of modern horror…Official Ellen Datlow Website
Order “Inferno” HERE
Read Green Man Review’s REVIEW of “Inferno”
“The Sorcerers’ Plague” by David B. Coe. Release Date: December 10, 2007. Winner of the William L. Crawford Award for the first two volumes in The LonTobyn Chronicles, David B. Coe then enthralled readers and critics with his follow-up saga Winds of the Forelands, an epic fantasy full of political intrigue, complex characters and magical conspiracy. Now David takes the hero of that series to new adventures across the sea on a journey to the Southlands in a brand new trilogy that kicks off with “The Sorcerers’ Plague”…Official David B. Coe Website
Order “The Sorcerers’ Plague” HERE
Read Sample Chapters HERE
“Metal Swarm” by Kevin J. Anderson. Release Date: December 10, 2007. While a lot of Kevin J. Anderson’s extraordinary success—has written 41 national bestsellers and has over 20 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages—can be attributed to the work he’s done on Star Wars spin-off novels and the Dune prequels that he’s co-authored with Brian Herbert, Kevin actually considers his Saga of Seven Suns SF series some of his best work. “Metal Swarm”, the sixth volume, continues the epic Saga…Official Kevin J. Anderson Website
Order “Metal Swarm” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“The Sword of Venice” by Thomas Quinn. Release Date: December 10, 2007. Told against the backdrop of historical events—the continuing war between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, the Ferrara War that exploded across the Italian peninsula, and the constant intrigues of the powerful papacy—“The Sword of Venice”, Book Two of The Venetians (after 2005’s The Lion of St. Mark), brings to life the Ziani and Soranzo families, who must cope with love, loss, treachery, kidnapping, murder, war, and peace…Official Thomas Quinn Website
Order “The Sword of Venice” HERE
“Still Life With Devils” by Deborah Grabien. Release Date: December 10, 2007. In this paranormal suspense thriller from Deborah Grabien, author of the Haunted Ballads series, homicide chief Cassius Chant is desperately searching for the serial killer Captain Nemo before he claims his seventh victim. To help crack the case though, it will be up to Cassius’ sister Leotyne and her unique artistic ability. For you see, Leo can walk into the worlds she's created on canvas and this time, she’s going to hunt down a killer…Official Deborah Grabien Website
Order “Still Life With Devils” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read A Review of “Still Life With Devils” HERE
“Another One Bites the Dust” by Jennifer Rardin. Release Date: December 12, 2007. “Im Jaz Parks. CIA assassin. Black belt. Belly dancer at the Corpus Christi Winter Festival. The last is cover for my latest mission: retrieve a vital piece of biotechnology by killing the maniac who stole it. Then there are the reavers, ancient fiends who murder innocents and eat their souls. Only I can sense them. So it's not long before they'll want me dead, dead, dead.” Another One Bites the Dust is the second Jaz Parks adventure…Official Jennifer Rardin Website
Order “Another One Bites the Dust” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read LoveVampires INTERVIEW with Jennifer Rardin
“The Lost Fleet: Courageous” by Jack Campbell. Release Date: December 18, 2007. Writing under the pseudonym ‘Jack Campbell’, military science fiction author John G. Henry’s (Stark’s War, Paul Sinclair) national best-selling Lost Fleet series—Dauntless (Volume One), Fearless (Volume Two)—continues in “Courageous” as Captain John "Black Jack" Geary and the Alliance Fleet’s perilous journey home gets even more dangerous when they learn of an alien race with the power to annihilate humankind…Official John G. Henry Website
Order “The Lost Fleet: Courageous” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“Airs & Graces” by Toby Bishop. Release Date: December 18, 2007. “Since bonding with a winged foal by accident in “Airs Beneath the Moon”, Larkyn Hamley has risen from a wild country girl to become one of the finest students at the Academy of the Air. But Duke William, the new ruler of Oc, is obsessed with riding a winged horse himself and his madness leads him to ignore his traditional duties to protect the Duchy. Now it's Larkyn who must take flight to save her country, her Academy, and her own life…”Official Toby Bishop Website
Official Toby Bishop LiveJournal
Order “Airs & Graces” HERE
“Broken Angel” by Brian Knight. Release Date: December 18, 2007. Originally published in 2005 as a limited edition hardcover, “Broken Angel” by horror writer Brian Knight (Hacks, King of Souls) is seeing a reprint thanks to Delirium Books. “Life in Clearwater was quiet, even a little dull. Then the strange girl arrived—drugged, sick, with no memory of her past. As Angel’s health improves and her memory returns, insanity creeps through the small town like a plague, spawning violence, and no one is immune…”Official Brian Knight Website
Order “Broken Angel” HERE
Down An Excerpt HERE
“Starship: Mercenary” by Mike Resnick. Release Date: December 24, 2007. Incredibly, Mike Resnick (Kirinyaga, A Hunger in the Soul) has won five Hugos, been nominated for twenty-five more; has sold forty-eight novels, almost two hundred short stories; edited forty anthologies; and according to Locus, is the leading all-time award winner—living or dead—for short fiction among science fiction writers. “Mercenary” is the third Starship space opera adventure following “Mutiny” (Book One) and “Pirate” (Book Two)…Official Mike Resnick Website
Order “Starship: Mercenary” HERE
“Half the Blood of Brooklyn” by Charlie Huston. Release Date: December 26, 2007. In the third Joe Pitt casebook, war is on the way and every Vampyre in Manhattan can feel it coming. But Joe has another fight on his hands—his girl Evie is sicker than ever. On top of that, Joe has a new assignment: Go to Brooklyn to investigate the violent demise of a blood dealer. It’s a devilish task, yet one thought pushes him forward—Evie—even if his effort to save her ends up costing what little life he has left…” The best Joe Pitt novel yet!!!Official Charlie Huston Website
Order “Half the Blood of Brooklyn” HERE
“Dragon Harper” by Anne McCaffrey + Todd J. McCaffrey. Release Date: December 26, 2007. “Award-winning and bestselling author Anne McCaffrey has dazzled audiences with her numerous tales of the Dragonriders of Pern, one of the most popular science fiction series of all time. Now in “Dragon Harper”, Anne McCaffrey and her son, Todd J. McCaffrey, spin a tale of a mysterious illness that may succeed in doing what centuries of Threadfall could not: kill every last human on Pern…”Official Anne McCaffrey Website
Official Todd J. McCaffrey Website
Order “Dragon Harper” HERE
“Troy: Fall of Kings” by David Gemmell + Stella Gemmel. Release Date: December 26, 2007. Even though David Gemmell (Legend, Waylander, the Drenai & Rigante series) sadly passed away in 2006 before completing the final novel in his Troy trilogy—a historical fantasy loosely based on The Iliad, the author did have around 70,000 words written and detailed chapter notes available, which enabled his wife Stella to finish writing Fall of Kings (after 2005’s Lord of the Silver Bow and 2006’s Shield of Thunder)…Transworld’s David Gemmell Website
Order “Troy: Fall of Kings” HERE
Read SF Reviews.net REVIEW of “Troy: Fall of Kings”
“Firstborn” by Arthur C. Clarke + Stephen Baxter. Release Date: December 26, 2007. With “Time’s Eye” and “Sunstorm”, the first two books in their acclaimed Time Odyssey series, the legendary master of science fiction Clarke and his brilliant co-author Stephen Baxter imagined a near-future where the Firstborn seek to stop the advance of human civilization. In the conclusion, readers finally get to meet the Firstborn—the mysterious alien race who built 2001: A Space Odyssey’s iconic black monolith…Official Arthur C. Clarke Fan Site
Official Stephen Baxter Website
Order “Firstborn” HERE
“Diablerie” by Walter Mosley. Release Date: December 26, 2007. In this icy noir from a master of American fiction, the darkest secrets are the ones we keep hidden from ourselves. With the same erotic force as Killing Johnny Fry, but grounded in a far darker vision of human nature, “Diablerie” is a transfixing new short novel from one of our most powerful writers… Publisher’s Weekly says, “This is Mosley at his deepest and best, scratching away the faces we wear to reveal the person behind the masks…”Official Walter Mosley Website
Order “Diablerie” HERE
“Thunderer” by Felix Gilman. Release Date: December 26, 2007. “In this breathtaking debut novel from exciting new writer and lawyer Felix Gilman, one man embarks on a thrilling and treacherous quest for his people’s lost god in an elaborate Dickensian city that is either blessed…or haunted... A tour de force of the imagination, and a brilliant tale of rebellion, Thunderer heralds the arrival of a truly gifted fantasy writer who has created a tale as rich, wondrous, and captivating as the world in which it is set…”Official Felix Gilman Website
Order “Thunderer” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“Queen of Dragons” by Shana Abé. Release Date: December 26, 2007. Hidden among the remote hills of eighteenth-century England lives a powerful clan of shape-shifters who’ve become the stuff of myths and legends. They are the drákon—supersensual creatures with the ability to Turn from human to smoke to dragon. Now in “Queen of Dragons”, the third volume in Shana Abé's award-winning Drákon series, a treacherous new enemy threatens to destroy their world of magic and glittering power…Official Shana Abé Website
Order “Queen of Dragons” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“Dust” by Elizabeth Bear. Release Date: December 26, 2007. Ever since her first novel “Hammered” was published in 2005, Elizabeth Bear—the 2005 John W. Campbell Award winner for Best New Writer—has been amazingly prolific releasing the Jenny Casey trilogy, standalone novels, a collaboration with Sarah Monette, the first two volumes of the Promethean Age, and various short stories & collections. In “Dust”, Ms. Bear starts yet another series—the Jacob’s Ladder science fiction trilogy…Official Elizabeth Bear Website
Order “Dust” HERE
“The Thieves of Fate” by Richard Doetsch. Release Date: December 26, 2007. Michael St. Pierre, Doetsch's heroic thief from his acclaimed first novel “The Thieves of Heaven”, is back and this time is blackmailed into stealing a priceless treasure from within the perilous bowels of the Kremlin to save his old confidant Genevieve Zivera...and the father he never knew. The invaluable mythical box, the map to which is first revealed on the canvas back of a centuries-old, priceless painting, may hold the key to immortality…Official Richard Doetsch Website
Order “The Thieves of Fate” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“The Sweet Far Thing” by Libba Bray. Release Date: December 26, 2007. “It has been a year since Gemma Doyle arrived at the Spence Academy, where she discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world full of dark magic which she bound to herself, forging unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds…” Concluding the trilogy that began in “A Great and Terrible Beauty” & “Rebel Angels”, Ms. Bray’s latest is a YA novel of epic proportions…Official Libba Bray Website
Order “The Sweet Far Thing” HERE
“The Seven Days of Peter Crumb” by Jonny Glynn. Release Date: December 26, 2007. Making it’s US debut, Jonny Glynn's “The Seven Days of Peter Crumb” is an extraordinary first novel that portrays the deterioration of a man who suffers two personalities, only one of which is capable of remorse… Peter’s life has been derailed by a single, devastating act of violence, and now, in what he intends to be his last week on earth, he is determined to leave his mark upon humanity—randomly, unjustly, and with infinite attention to detail…Order “The Seven Days of Peter Crumb” HERE
Watch “The Seven Days of Peter Crumb” Video HERE
“Rule of Two (Star Wars: Darth Bane)” by Drew Karpyshyn. Release Date: December 26, 2007. From New York Times bestselling science fiction/fantasy author and award-winning writer/designer for BioWare (Mass Effect, Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire) Drew Karpyshyn, comes the thrilling sequel to “Star Wars: Path of Destruction” which continues the story of Darth Bane—his rise into one of the most powerful Sith Lords ever, and his fierce quest to destroy the Jedi and dominate the galaxy…Official Drew Karpyshyn Website
Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars Blog
Order “Rule of Two” HERE
“Heroes: Saving Charlie” by Aury Wallington. Release Date: December 26, 2007. “Saving Charlie” tells the story of Hiro who uses his ability to manipulate time to travel into the past to save Charlie—a waitress with an extraordinary memory—from being murdered by super-powered serial killer Sylar. Fans of the TV series were given only a brief glimpse into Hiro & Charlie's relationship as it grew into love over six time-changing months, but their history is told here with the depth and insight that only a novel will allow…Official Heroes Website
Official Aury Wallington Website
Order “Heroes: Saving Charlie” HERE
“Faerie Lord” by Herbie Brennan. Release Date: December 26, 2007. In “Faerie Lord”, the final installment of the New York Times and international bestselling Faerie Wars Chronicles (Faerie Wars, The Purple Emperor, Ruler of the Realm), Herbie Brennan—author over one hundred fiction and non-fiction books for adults, teens, and children—presents an exciting and riveting conclusion to the adventures of Henry Atherton and the Faerie Realm. UK readers will have to wait until February 4, 2008 for publication…Official Herbie Brennan Website
Order “Faerie Lord” HERE
“Bound In Moonlight” by Louisa Burton. Release Date: December 26, 2007. In this provocative follow-up to her sensational debut, “House of Dark Delights” (January 2007), romance/mystery writer Louisa Burton issues another invitation to the notorious Castle of the Hidden Grotto—a place of entrancement, temptation, and searing eroticism. Irresistible and deliciously dangerous, “Bound in Moonlight” propels you into a world of intoxicating sensuality that you’ll want to return to again and again…
Official Louisa Burton Website
Order “Bound In Moonlight” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“Rise of the Blood Royal” by Robert Newcomb. Release Date: December 26, 2007. The Destinies of Blood and Stone are fulfilled in this concluding book in the trilogy as Prince Tristan faces his final challenge, continuing the story of the Chosen Ones originally started in “The Fifth Sorceress”, “The Gates of Dawn”, “The Scrolls of the Ancients”, “Savage Messiah”, and “A March Into Darkness…” “For lovers of Dragonlance-style fantasy, Newcomb wonderfully captures the imagination.” – Publisher’s Weekly
Official Robert Newcomb Website
Order “Rise of the Blood Royal” HERE
Read Chapters HERE
“99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale” by David Wellington. Release Date: December 31, 2007. “Laura Caxton vowed never to face them again. The horror of what the vampires did is too close, the wounds too fresh. But when Jameson Arkeley, broken and barely recognizable, comes to her with an unholy discovery, her resolve crumbles and she’s thrown into a deadly, gruesome mission of saving an entire town from a mass invasion of the undead…” 99 Coffins is the exciting new sequel to Thirteen Bullets…
Official David Wellington Website
Order “99 Coffins” HERE
“Blood Dreams” by Kay Hooper. Release Date: December 31, 2007. With more than five million copies in print and eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Kay Hooper looks to continue the trend with “Blood Dreams”—the first installment in her new Blood trilogy—which brings back FBI Special Agent Noah Bishop and his Special Crimes Unit from Kay’s popular Fear series to join an all-new cast of characters to stop a fearsome serial killer without boundaries, without conscience, and without any fear of being caught…
Official Kay Hooper Website
Order “Blood Dreams” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“Bound In Moonlight” by Louisa Burton. Release Date: December 26, 2007. In this provocative follow-up to her sensational debut, “House of Dark Delights” (January 2007), romance/mystery writer Louisa Burton issues another invitation to the notorious Castle of the Hidden Grotto—a place of entrancement, temptation, and searing eroticism. Irresistible and deliciously dangerous, “Bound in Moonlight” propels you into a world of intoxicating sensuality that you’ll want to return to again and again…Official Louisa Burton Website
Order “Bound In Moonlight” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
“Rise of the Blood Royal” by Robert Newcomb. Release Date: December 26, 2007. The Destinies of Blood and Stone are fulfilled in this concluding book in the trilogy as Prince Tristan faces his final challenge, continuing the story of the Chosen Ones originally started in “The Fifth Sorceress”, “The Gates of Dawn”, “The Scrolls of the Ancients”, “Savage Messiah”, and “A March Into Darkness…” “For lovers of Dragonlance-style fantasy, Newcomb wonderfully captures the imagination.” – Publisher’s WeeklyOfficial Robert Newcomb Website
Order “Rise of the Blood Royal” HERE
Read Chapters HERE
“99 Coffins: A Historical Vampire Tale” by David Wellington. Release Date: December 31, 2007. “Laura Caxton vowed never to face them again. The horror of what the vampires did is too close, the wounds too fresh. But when Jameson Arkeley, broken and barely recognizable, comes to her with an unholy discovery, her resolve crumbles and she’s thrown into a deadly, gruesome mission of saving an entire town from a mass invasion of the undead…” 99 Coffins is the exciting new sequel to Thirteen Bullets…Official David Wellington Website
Order “99 Coffins” HERE
“Blood Dreams” by Kay Hooper. Release Date: December 31, 2007. With more than five million copies in print and eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Kay Hooper looks to continue the trend with “Blood Dreams”—the first installment in her new Blood trilogy—which brings back FBI Special Agent Noah Bishop and his Special Crimes Unit from Kay’s popular Fear series to join an all-new cast of characters to stop a fearsome serial killer without boundaries, without conscience, and without any fear of being caught…Official Kay Hooper Website
Order “Blood Dreams” HERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Watch the “Blood Dreams” Trailer HERE
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