Read FBC Review of "The Black Prism"
Watch FBC Video Interview with Brent Weeks
Watch The Black Prism Trailer
Watch FBC Video Interview with Brent Weeks
Watch The Black Prism Trailer
INTRODUCTION: In 2008, Brent Weeks burst upon the fantasy scene with the Night Angel
trilogy which had such an impressive narrative energy and unpredictable
twists and turns to overcome the occasional "cringe" paragraphs and
relatively standard world building and tropes.
The followup series, Lightbringer, which changed focus to a universe in which magic is closer to both industry and religion, has quickly become a major personal favorite of mine and two years ago, I closed my review of The Black Prism as follows: "The main flaw of The Black Prism is that it ends - despite 600+ pages and a reasonable ending point, I still wanted another 600 at least!"
So unsurprisingly, The Blinding Knife was one of my top expected novels of 2012 and when I received an advanced reading copy a few weeks ago, I spent about a week in its universe as I reread The Black Prism and then read The Blinding Knife some three times, the first quite fast as there is a point in the novel from where you cannot stop turning the pages to see what happens, the second time, enjoying it at leisure and teasing the hints and clues and the third just to spend more time there...
Since the blurb includes major spoilers for the first volume, most notably its ending, I will not quote it here while I will try to keep what follows as spoiler free as possible. In addition, I want to note that Lightbringer will consist of four books as the author hinted a while ago and was recently made official; this is great news as the universe of the series has become even more fascinating in this volume.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: As The Black Prism has been published in 2010, I will start with a recap of the series setup from my original review and I strongly recommend to check the book trailer linked above as it is excellent and gives a pitch perfect flavor of the series - there are some differences from the way characters are portrayed in the book of course, but hey this is what artistic license is for:
The followup series, Lightbringer, which changed focus to a universe in which magic is closer to both industry and religion, has quickly become a major personal favorite of mine and two years ago, I closed my review of The Black Prism as follows: "The main flaw of The Black Prism is that it ends - despite 600+ pages and a reasonable ending point, I still wanted another 600 at least!"
So unsurprisingly, The Blinding Knife was one of my top expected novels of 2012 and when I received an advanced reading copy a few weeks ago, I spent about a week in its universe as I reread The Black Prism and then read The Blinding Knife some three times, the first quite fast as there is a point in the novel from where you cannot stop turning the pages to see what happens, the second time, enjoying it at leisure and teasing the hints and clues and the third just to spend more time there...
Since the blurb includes major spoilers for the first volume, most notably its ending, I will not quote it here while I will try to keep what follows as spoiler free as possible. In addition, I want to note that Lightbringer will consist of four books as the author hinted a while ago and was recently made official; this is great news as the universe of the series has become even more fascinating in this volume.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: As The Black Prism has been published in 2010, I will start with a recap of the series setup from my original review and I strongly recommend to check the book trailer linked above as it is excellent and gives a pitch perfect flavor of the series - there are some differences from the way characters are portrayed in the book of course, but hey this is what artistic license is for:
"The fundamental fact of the Lightbringer series is color-magic based on 7 colors, though only 5 are visible
....
As befits such, the known world is divided into seven semi-independent satrapies which you can see on the map. The center of the power is The Chromeria situated on a pair of islands in the inland Cerulean Sea, where all drafters are brought to be tested and trained and a ruling council sits.
As befits such, the known world is divided into seven semi-independent satrapies which you can see on the map. The center of the power is The Chromeria situated on a pair of islands in the inland Cerulean Sea, where all drafters are brought to be tested and trained and a ruling council sits.
.....
Of course things are not that simple and there is constant jockeying for power, but the linchpin of the Chromeria is the Prism
- the one per generation powerful magician that can draft all colors
and bring balance to the land.
......
The
Prism is high priest, the most powerful magician... but there is a
catch. Drafting moves the magician away from humanity and towards a
"luxin being" who tends to go mad and of course the more powerful the
drafter, the faster that happens, so ritual demands drafters commit
suicide rather than turn into "color wights". And since things work in
sevens, the Prism usually lasts 7 years, rarely 14 and not until Gavin Guile
- who is in his 16th year as Prism now - 21 or more, while the White
endures for a long time so she - in this case - holds the true reins of
power.
.....
16 years ago when Gavin was already confirmed as the next
Prism, his younger brother Dazen who was regarded by many as impulsive
at best and a "monster" at worst, developed Prism abilities too. This
ensured a conflict between the two and their followers, conflict that
soon escalated into all out war.
.......
So was fought the Prism War
with the "great and the good" on Gavin' side and the rebels, pirates,
revolutionaries and all disliking the status-quo on Dazen' side. Dazen's
great general Corvan Danavis,
otherwise a mediocre red drafter, almost won it for him but in the final
confrontations between the two brothers in the ruins of a house, only
Gavin came back, so Corvan surrendered in return for limited amnesty and
the establishment won. At least this is the official story.
.......
The novel's main POV's are Gavin Guile, his illegitimate 15 year old son Kip, the 17 year old Aliviana (Liv) Danavis, formerly Kip's childhood friend and now drafter in training at the Chromeria and Karris still not understanding why Gavin broke the engagement after the war and currently a magician Blackguard"
.......
The novel's main POV's are Gavin Guile, his illegitimate 15 year old son Kip, the 17 year old Aliviana (Liv) Danavis, formerly Kip's childhood friend and now drafter in training at the Chromeria and Karris still not understanding why Gavin broke the engagement after the war and currently a magician Blackguard"
....
The Blinding Knife has a slightly different structure from The Black Prism as Kip takes center stage, though Gavin
appears a lot of course. The "official" opposing side is
handled using Aliviana's pov, while a new and slightly crazy POV appears giving us a seemingly rambling narration with a darkly funny tinge, though his role and actions cohere nicely at the end.
One of the hallmarks of top sff series is expansion as I tend to dislike the series that set up everything in the first volume and then just fill in the gaps and The Blinding Knife brings a major universe enlargement: geographical, magical and "theological". There are new colors (and new names for them!), old and new gods, while new countries beyond the Seven Satrapies are mentioned, countries which may become important later.
There is also major character expansion, not only as actual persons but as their roles, with cool stuff like Seers, Mirrors, prophecy cards and "history cards", these last being an analog of the recording video of our time, though of course you need magic to access them. Being a Brent Weeks novel, twists and turns abound, there are lots of great moments, tragedy and triumph, while the narrative pull is still very high.
The Blinding Knife has a great ending at a TBC place with
one major reveal and one twist; actually the reveal is something about which I remember
speculating a little when reading The Black Prism and thinking, no, cannot be, but
still this is Brent Weeks so yes it could...
As before, the major shortcoming of the novel is that it ended as I would have loved 600 pages more again - The Blinding Knife stands at ~630 pages of text, plus character list, plus glossary and the map in front is useful too. And the title, well Blinding Knife indeed...
Overall, The Blinding Knife is just great stuff, an exuberant epic fantasy that I could read thousands of pages of and still want more and a top 10 novel of mine for the year.
12:00 AM | 
Posted by
Liviu |
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Daughter Of The Sword by Steve Bein w/ bonus review of Only A Shadow (Reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)
Official Author Website
Order “Daughter Of The Sword” HERE
Read “Why Swords?” by Steve Bein
Read Luc Reid's Interview with Steve Bein
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Steve Bein was born in Oak Park, Illinois, a near west suburb of Chicago. He has done his undergraduate and graduate studies at universities in Illinois, Germany, Japan, and Hawai‘i. The end result being, a PhD in philosophy from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Steve is a rock climber, mountaineer, SCUBA diver, skier, and avid traveler, and he has dabbled in a wide range of martial arts (twenty-five at last count) and he holds black belts in two American forms of combative martial arts. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Interzone, Writers of the Future, and in international translation. He currently splits time with his family in Rochester, New York and Minnesota. This is his debut.
OFFICIAL BLURB: Mariko Oshiro is not your average Tokyo cop. As the only female detective in the city’s most elite police unit, she has to fight for every ounce of respect, especially from her new boss. While she wants to track down a rumored cocaine shipment, he gives her the least promising case possible. But the case—the attempted theft of an old samurai sword—proves more dangerous than anyone on the force could have imagined.
The owner of the sword, Professor Yasuo Yamada, says it was crafted by the legendary Master Inazuma, a sword smith whose blades are rumored to have magical qualities. The man trying to steal it already owns another Inazuma—one whose deadly power eventually comes to control all who wield it. Or so says Yamada, and though he has studied swords and swordsmanship all his life, Mariko isn’t convinced.
But Mariko’s skepticism hardly matters. Her investigation has put her on a collision course with a curse centuries old and as bloodthirsty as ever. She is only the latest in a long line of warriors and soldiers to confront this power, and even the sword she learns to wield could turn against her.
FORMAT/INFO: Daughter Of The Sword is 480 pages long divided over nine book sections and further sub-divided into eighty numbered chapters. Narration is in the third-person via Mariko, Fuchida Shuzo, Saito Toshiro, Hisami Toshiro, Okuma Daigoro and Kiyama Keiji. There is also a glossary of the terms used in the book alongwith a detailed author’s note and acknowledgements page. Daughter Of The Sword is the first volume of the Fated Blades series and the author is currently working on the second Fated Blades book, which is tentatively titled “Year Of The Demon”.
October 2, 2012 marks the US Trade Paperback and e-book publication of Daughter Of The Sword by ROC books. The cover art is done by Chris McGrath.
ANALYSIS: There are some books that grab your attention because of their blurb or genre details, some books that hook your eyes with their cover art. Yet few books manage to do both and this debut by Steve Bein beckoned me with its blurb details and awesome cover. I was excited and began reading to see how this book would hold up against my curiosity. I couldn’t have ever imagined what was to happen next.
Firstly a few details are necessary in regards to the book, the blurb above does not tell us about the full story that is contained in this book. This book is divided into nine sections that take place is various time eras; the first one is set in the 22nd year of the Heisei era or 2010 C.E. The first story thread is about Mariko Oshiro, the only female detective of the elite Tokyo Metropolitan Police department and her constant struggle in gain respect among the eyes of her peers. She is assigned to a simple probable robbery case wherein she meets professor Yasuo Yamada, who clues her in to the mystery regarding the Inazuma blades. The Second thread is set in 124th year of the Kamakura era or 1308 C.E. and focuses on Saito Toshiro a samurai in the service of lord Asikaga Owari-no-kami Jinzaemon. The story focuses on what happens when he comes across a special Inazuma blade and the carnage that follows.
The Third story jumps to the 20th year of the Azuchi-Momoyama era or 1587 C.E. and centers upon Okuma Daigoro who is bequeathed his father’s sword upon his death and wonders at the reason behind it as familial tensions arise due to that single decision. Lastly the fourth story is set in the 17th year of the Showa era or 1942 C.E. and Kiyama Keiji is the narrative force. A young lieutenant in the Military intelligence wing of the Japanese army, he strives to do right by his country in the time of World War II. He comes across a young girl Hayano Shoji who clarifies the nature of things around him and his sword and sets him on his path to redemption.
This is the main gist of all the four stories occurring in this book, the first thread has five sections devoted to it while the third one gets two sections and the second and fourth has one each. The main reason why this book resonated with me so strongly was because of the excellent characterization that occurred with each new POV voice, they all succeed in making the reader completely engrossed in their specific portion of the story and oblivious to the previous parts you have read. Beginning with Mariko who's trying to fight chauvinism in her department and help professor Yasuo Yamada with his quest, then with Saito and Hiyama as they each try to get to bottom of a mystery. Then we come across Daigoro who has to manage family and his new status and yet try to remain true to his Father's wisdom and lastly Keiji upon whose youthful shoulders rests the future of a nation at war. All four story threads have been impacted by the various Inazuma blades and it was interesting to see which story focussed on which blade. This multifocal character approach made this debut that much more exciting to read and not to mention special!
The story threads all focus on these various characters but behind them are the Inazuma blades that ascertain their characteristics from time to time. Thereby often swaying the characters and the trajectories of their lives. This mystical aspect of the blades is never overtly explained but things happen too much in concert for it to be labeled as simple coincidence. I liked this light-handed authorial touch in making this mystical aspect a natural occurrence of the story without over-emphasizing it and yet the reader will be convinced of their effect. This light paranormal approach to the storyline was very reminiscent of John Connolly’s Charlie Parker books and I hope that Steve Bein will strive to achieve excellence in his craft a la John Connolly. The second aspect of the book that I cherished was how smoothly the story flowed from section to section. The author has presented each tale as a standalone piece and yet there are links tying each the stories intricately to each other. This aspect of separate stories that link together to form a wonderfully enigmatic mosaic was a great way to draw the reader into the world of the Inazuma blades and one which should gain the author many accolades.
Another point that I want to talk about is the world showcased within as well as the author’s research undertaken. The places and times shown in this book are presented very precisely. The details of samurai ways and Japanese culture along with minutiae about swords and sword fighting are interspersed generously throughout the story. This not only enriches the story but also helped me imagine the world as detailed by the author’s prose. I daresay none of it felt like info-dumping at any stage and I was completely absorbed by the author’s focus in presenting several different worlds that are so lushly described within these pages.
Lastly the epic-ness of the story is very much understated but its there. In regards to this factor, I can vouch without worry that this is one of the best debuts I have ever read. Come to think to of it, Its hard to put a genre label on this book. It can be called a contemporary fantasy story or a historical thriller with a supernatural bent to it. In the end all that matters is that this book is simply FANTASTIC and the reader will be thoroughly enthralled by the storyline & characters presented within. On a side and personal note, for years I’ve been trying to get my wife to read SFF books to no avail as she prefers thriller & mysteries only. However with this book I think I can finally get her to come and read the fantas(y)tic side of fiction.
The only smidgen I can think about this book which didn’t fit amidst all the awesomeness of this book, is its ending. It seemed all ends were tied up a bit too neatly (if that can be thought of as a drawback). Everything worked out a bit too perfectly but this is a personal quirk and I'm sure we'll discover further discrepancies associated with the blades in the sequel. This book is supposed to be book one of a series and so it’s obvious that there will be more to follow however should the reader be interested in reading a standalone book. Its safe to say this book can be read as a standalone story and as you reach the last page you can be satisfied with all the plot resolutions offered.
CONCLUSION: Steve Bein’s Daughter Of The Sword is one of those rare debuts that checked all my critical points that I look for in a book. Daughter Of The Sword is an epic story that cannot be precisely defined by genre settings or its blurb. Read it for what it is; an epic tale that heralds the emergence of a major talent. For me Daughter of The Sword is the 2nd best book I have read this year and most importantly one of the best debuts I have ever read. Grab it ASAP and see for yourself why Steve Bein deserves all the praise coming his way…
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Only A Shadow is a novella set in the Fated Blades Universe. It was originally a part of Daughter of The Sword in its earlier drafts however was later removed and now is being offered as an e-special. It was released on September 4, 2012 and is 59 pages long. The story is eight chapters long and its blurb can be found here.
The story is set in 117th year of the Muromachi era or 1442 C.E. and is about Iga Jujiro and his new ninja recruit Tada and their plan to steal the Tiger of the Mountain from Jujiro’s clan enemies. Both Jujiro and Tada are Point-of-view characters and they each have their own plans and machinations. The story is a heist story but also one in which both characters strive to do what they feel is right and in the end only one may prevail.
This novella is a perfect introduction to Steve Bein’s writing style and the Fated Blades milieu. The story immediately drops the reader into a world wherein ninjas are actively working and feudal clan warfare is raising its ugly head. The author then introduces both main characters and their motivations while simultaneously laying out the background story of one of the famed Inazuma blades. Terrific action scenes are combined with rousing characterization to make this novella a must read for all those interested in a slice of historical Japanese fiction.
Since I had previously read the Daughter Of The Sword, I knew how crucial the Tiger On The Mountain’s presence was in several sections of the debut book and so I was excited to know more about its background. While this story is a small snippet in its illustrious history, it doesn’t give us the entire backstory. I believe that is the author’s objective in doling out tantalizing bits of information and secrets for beguiling readers bit by bit. This attempt works and readers will find an excellent story here about a theft that is to occur while at the same time contemplating who is fooling whom. An excellent introduction to the Fated Blades milieu and a must read for all those looking for a short, fast paced, and twisted read.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Fading Light: An Anthology Of The Monstrous edited by Tim Marquitz (Reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)
Order the Anthology HERE
Read FBC's Review of Armageddon Bound
Read FBC's Review of Resurrection
Read FBC’s Review of At The Gates
Read FBC's Review of Echoes Of The Past
Read FBC's Interview with Tim Marquitz
EDITOR INFORMATION: Tim Marquitz is the author of the Demon Squad series, and the Sepulchral Earth serial stories. He is also an editor, a heavy metal aficionado, a Mixed Martial Arts fan, and is also a member of the Live Action Role Playing organization. When he’s not busy writing dark stories, which catch his imagination he also manages to go about his day job. Tim lives in El Paso, Texas with his wonderful family.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This anthology was something I was looking forward to because it played with the apocalyptic themes along with horror genre, both of which fascinate me entirely. The blurb can be read here and I'll be speaking about each story as it will be in line with the previous anthology FBC reviews and simply helps in elucidating what I liked and disliked about each story (apologies in advance for its length).
Parasitic Embrace by Adam Millard - It’s a tale that begins a volcanic eruption in Spain that causes chaos on a global scale. Amanda is worried about her mother when the cloud reached the British Isles and they discover that there’s something within that is much more deadly. This was a simple short story whose premise will be very familiar to most horror readers. It is a decent story that does not surprise much and ends rather suddenly. I thought it was an okay story and in line with the theme of the book.
The Equivalence Principle by Nick Cato - This was another strange story about a guy named Steve Burke who has a strange belief about the earth’s gravitational force. This story has a dual narrative with the identity of the other being left up to the reader to decide. This story was a bit weird but kudos to the author for twisting his imagination and bringing about end of humanity in a way that’s almost never thought of.
A Withering of Sorts by Stephen McQuiggan - The story begins with a travelling family that stops at a bar looking for a hotel. The father and mother however have no idea where they are and the barkeep along with his customers are only too happy to divulge why strangers are not welcome in their town especially children. This was the first story that I really enjoyed and one, which deviates from the theme to a certain extent.
Goldilocks Zone by Gary W. Olson - Amita Prasad is enjoying the buzz of a drunken evening when she realizes that the stars have disappeared. Slowly and surely things start disappearing or re-forming (if that’s a better word). Everyone transforms into something else. This story was a very weird one and I couldn’t gel with it at all. It was perhaps too bizarre for my tastes and its reception will depend on each reader’s preferences.
They Wait Below by Tom Olbert - This story was first of the several excellent ones of the collection. It begins with Corby, an ecological inspector narrating the past events occurring at an oil-rig. The hazards he had to face and the terrors he saw have lead him to doubt what is truly happening. This story was a zinger very much in line with the book theme and has shades of John Carpenter’s The Thing, this tale ends on a nice twist and is the first standout jewel of this collection.
Blessed Be the Shadowchildren by Malon Edwards - The story carries on the excellence of its predecessor. It’s a story within a story, with the first thread about Levi, the narrator and his friend Lali trying to find something in a land wherein the sun is dying. The second thread deals with the reason for the sun’s death and the hubris of the god who caused it. A twisted story and very well written by Malon Edwards, this story was another one that took the book theme and played it out to a different tune.
The Beastly Ninthby Carl Barker - This was the first historical story in this collection and deals with the battle between the French and English. Napoleon has returned to France after escaping from his island prison and the person chosen to stop him, is the Duke of Wellington Lord Arthur Wellesley. This story was just an all out hit with me, drawing upon history and mixing it with the supernatural, the author really surprised me with the end twist as well. This is a story, which I hope the author decides to write more about and give us a longer story.
Late Night Customer by David Dalglish - David Dalglish is usually known for his dark fantasy tales and it’s no surprise that he has a hankering for horror. The story is set in a diner wherein the protagonist waitress Darcy Evans meets a hassled traveller Brad who’s running from something that catches up with him in the diner. A fast paced and dark story with an ending similar to the first Terminator film but one that is way way more pessimistic.
Rurik’s Frozen Bones by Jake Elliot - This is the second of the historical tales and this is set in Scandinavia in the early 9th century AD. The story is narrated by Rurik, who after his most recent sea experience, refuses to go back. He recalls the past to Oslo the Boarstout. This story had a good thriller feel and ends on an uncertain note. Not among my favorites but still a very good effort.
Wrath by Lee Mather - Wrath is a story that deals directly with the apocalypse. Steven is a recovering alcoholic that just wants to reunite with his son who has been with his brother’s family so far. Playing with themes of family and biblical curses, this story was another surprise and one that ended on a rather twisted note. A decent effort and a story which will be either liked on ignored depending on the reader’s tastes.
Friends of a Forgotten Man by Gord Rollo - This story for me was one of the creepiest ones I have ever read in my life. It features a man imprisoned in a subterranean basement, who is perhaps losing his sanity entirely and thinks of the leeches and insects around him as his friends. Things however are weirder than they seem as the story proves. This was another deviation from the anthology’s theme but the story was just so powerful in its horror that I didn’t mind at all. Just a word of caution for all those who aren’t overtly fond of leeches or creepy-crawlies this story is not for you.
Altus by Georgina Kamsika - Susan Mason is an oceanographer, who has been given a chance to go where no human has gone before. The Altus is a free-diving submersible that has been specially prepared to go into the Marianas Trench. What doctor Mason finds down below is the crux of the story. This story was a bit similar to the MEG series by Steve Alten. A decent effort but with a predictable ending didn’t do well for this story.
Angela’s Garden by Dorian Dawes - Angela’s Garden is a pleasant surprise of a story. It is another deviation from the book’s theme and reminded me a bit of Stephen King’s short stories and his book The Green Mile. Angela Bradshaw is a older lady abandoned by her family and she has some extra powers. She’s trying to avert a disaster that can take place. This is one of the best stories of this collection as it provides us with a remarkable character, who is an older lady and yet shows spunk. This story came close to being my favorite one among this entire collection simply based on the strength of its main character.
The Long Death of Day by Timothy Baker - This story is about John and his beloved Selena who are rather distraught at the approaching darkness and have to figure out what’s wrong with their relationship. This story was more of a downer for me as it focused more on the characters and they weren’t that interesting IMO. The story sticks to the overall theme of the anthology though.
Out of the Black by William Meikle - This was another of the very good stories of this collection. Three hundred and fifty years after the sun dimmed, life on earth has irreversibly changed. The unnamed narrator is sent out to find out the required ore and soon stumbles upon a subterranean center. To his horror what he finds, also follows him thereby echoing Nietzsche’s famous saying about an abyss. This was another story, which opened up in an exciting manner but fizzled out in the end.
Degenerates by DL Seymour - Degenerates was a surprising story. Set in 1968 in the small town of Dunwich, Diana Collins is the teacher who moves into the town, as she’s impressed with the mayor’s plan for racial integration. She however starts noticing a curious pattern of disappearance among the children that she teaches and soon add things up. The crux of this story is not hard to anticipate but its final twist will surely leave many surprised. Another good story and an excellent indicator about the pedigree of this anthology.
Dust by Wayne Ligon - Dust is a story that straddles the fine line between SF and fantasy and does it best to appease fans of both genres. It’s about an unnamed narrator and his grandmother, both of whom are on the Oregon coastline and are trying to figure out what might be truly happening. An odd story that reminded me of the mythology showcased in the Hellboy universe but distinct in its own way. Another good effort with a somber ending.
Der Teufel Sie Wissen by TSP Sweeney - The title of the story translates to “The devil you know” and is another historical story. This one is set in Nazi Germany and features a group of youths trying to gang up on their quarry, only to realize that they have no idea about what is truly going on. This was another of the fantastic short stories and one, which I believe the author should think of expanding into a longer novel. With an ending that is not only superb but also promises of further tribulations. This story left me wanting to know more of the world within and war to come…
Born of Darkness by Stacey Turner - Another contender for the favorites title, this story strongly follows the main theme of the anthology. The story focuses on the family of Jeb & Cassie and his mother Sarah. They are surviving on their own when they when a young girl comes to stay with them. What happens next is what makes this story special. I completely enjoyed this story and this almost seems like a chapter out of a book as the way it ends, the reader WILL want to know what happens next. Possibly my second favorite story because of the characterization and the mythological aspect of the story, this one is a gem!
Lottery by Gene O’Neill - Lottery is a rather shorter story, sharing its name and premise with the famous short story by Shirley Jackson. The author has inserted his own twist over here and this story deals with more of the paranormal. However it ends abruptly and no explanation is given in regards to the events. This was one of the weaker stories of the collection because of its ending and the incompleteness it fostered.
Where Coyotes Fear to Tread by Gef Fox - This story is definitely my favorite among this collection. It focuses on two people, Lester and his ex-girlfriend, Carla who are forced to unite and save their town Knoxville from something that’s out of their comprehension. Again with a terrific mythology utilized and funny characterization, this story simply shines. This also felt part of a greater story and I sincerely hope that the author considers writing the next part to this tale so I and other readers can find out what happens next. Having a very original premise and with some terrific writing, this story is truly the best of this collection.
The Theophany of Nyx by Edward M. Erdelac - The Theophany of Nyx was a highly anticipated story for me as it was written by Ed Erdelac whose previous short story (that I read) was a spectacular one featuring zombies, samurai in a Japanese prison. This danger in this story is primordial in origin and begins with the disappearance of the first lunar colony ever built. The story deals with the notion of what happens when another species tries to fight all the carbon based forms for its survival. A very academic tale (if that’s the term) but an effective one, Ed Erdelac showcases his weird imagination and gives us another intriguing story.
Double Walker by Henry P. Gravelle - Dr. Maria Dobbs’s newest patient Benedict is accused of the murder of his parents but he denies it and says his shadow did it. This story is focused on what could have happened as the protagonist tries to ferret out the truth. This story was an interesting one however the execution and ending didn’t really endear itself to me.
Light Save Us by Ryan Lawler - Ted makes sure the generator keeps running as otherwise the compound’s boundary will be over run by the creatures outside. In a recent attempt to get the machine from stopping, Ted will face homophobia, his lover Gray and much more. This story was an interesting one with shades of the Village to it but the author does his best to trip the readers by focusing the story solely from Ted’s POV. Another very good story with a very good end twist. This one should appeal to lots of readers.
Dark Tide by Mark Lawrence - Dark Tide is the story of something which has been trapped in the earth’s surface but has recently got out due to human experimentation. Focused on a family as they attempt to survive what they do not understand. Dark Tide focuses on the bonds of family and what happens when they get stretched. An excellent ending to this monster anthology and it ends on a bang as the story’s climax leaves the reader with hope that anything is possible!
CONCLUSION: As you can see with the overtly lengthy review, this anthology definitely has something for all horror, post-apocalyptic story aficionados. Tim Marquitz has skillfully garnered a veritable host of stories to outwit and outthink the most jaded readers. I thought there were some great stories in this mix namely the ones by Gef Fox, Dorian Dawes, Stacey Turner, Malon Edwards, Carl Barker, TSP Sweeney and Gord Rollo. These ones stood out for me, not that the others were bad, I'm sure different readers will like different ones. Give Fading Light a shot if you want to read something different, you can be assured that you will not regret it!
NOTE: There is a companion piece to this anthology and I'll be reviewing that next week on Bastard Books.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
2012 Man Booker Shortlist announced and The Garden of Evening Mists is on it! (by Liviu Suciu)
Today the 2012 Man Booker Shortlist has been announced and I was really happy to see Tan Twan Eng's second novel, The Garden of Evenings Mists (FBC Rv) on it in addition to the inevitable Bring Up the Bodies, the truly awful Umbrella, the "not my cup of tea" Narcopolis and two novels I have not checked yet in Swimming Home (just got a copy and will try next) and The Lighthouse (I read the Amazon extract so far and I have not yet decided if/when I will try the book as it was of the "maybe in the right mood" kind, but secrets are trumpeted in the blurb and I love secrets in a book!).
Here is the shortlist announcement:
Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists (Myrmidon Books)
Deborah Levy, Swimming Home (And Other Stories/Faber & Faber)
Hilary Mantel, Bring up the Bodies (Fourth Estate)
Alison Moore, The Lighthouse (Salt)
Will Self, Umbrella (Bloomsbury)
Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis (Faber & Faber)
Deborah Levy, Swimming Home (And Other Stories/Faber & Faber)
Hilary Mantel, Bring up the Bodies (Fourth Estate)
Alison Moore, The Lighthouse (Salt)
Will Self, Umbrella (Bloomsbury)
Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis (Faber & Faber)
While I regret that my second favorite novel of the longlist (of which I tried all novels minus the two mentioned above, though I read end to end only four as two - Umbrella and Skios - were really bad and the rest four were not interesting enough), Ned Beauman's darkly funny The Teleportation Accident (FBC Rv) has not been shortlisted, I never really expected to see it there, nor The Garden of Evening Mists for that matter.
Of course the odds are that the inevitable Bring Up the Bodies will win and indeed it is quite a good book, but a little bit too sterile and with a sense of being written to win awards rather than "live" in contrast to the sprawling but excellent Wolf Hall (FBC Rv).
One of my top three books of the year for now and with a chance for vaulting at #1 depending on how it and the competition will wear until December, The Garden of Evening Mists is just awesome and I am really happy to see it getting a well deserved recognition!
Visit Gail Carriger's Official Website here
Read FBC's review of Soulless here
OVERVIEW: Alexia
Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to
find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf,
yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with
a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of
exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.
But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.
She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.
But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.
She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.
FORMAT: Changeless
is the second book in the Parasol Protectorate series. It is a combination of
mystery, paranormal romance and steampunk. Changeless stands at 388 pages and
was published by Orbit in April of 2010.
ANALYSIS: After years of finally getting around to reading
the first book in the series, Soulless,
I anxiously jumped into the second book of the series, Changeless. The bar was set pretty high by Soulless. I loved the characters, the dialogue between them and the
fast-paced nature of the plot, but unfortunately Changeless didn't have what I was looking for. That's not to say it
was a bad book, it just wasn't as good as the first one.
Changeless is a
typical vessel book that moves readers between book 1 and book 3. There is a
stand-alone mystery that is introduced and solved by the end of the book, but
everything that is done in the book beyond that is a setup for book 2 and I
think because of that I felt it lacked something that the first book had.
Another element that I really felt was lacking in Changeless
was the conversations between characters. I really felt they weren't as witty
or fun as they could/should have been. There just seemed to be something
missing between Alexia and Lord Maccoon. I just didn't feel a connection
between them like I did in the first book.
For those that hate cliffhangers, Changeless ends in a massive
and somewhat frustrating cliffhanger. It's hard to divulge details without
spoiling the novel, but I finished this book with so much frustration that I
find it hard to describe. A major event happens and literally all the
characters in the book start acting as if their IQ is in the single digits. I
felt this stupidity on the part of the majority of the characters was
out-of-character and didn't fit with the book.
Now I realize I spent a majority of the review talking about
why I didn't like the book, but that's not to say it was bad. I really feel as
if this book just wasn't what readers encountered in the first book – there was
a definite change of pace, plot and characters. I don't think the book was so
bad that I'd stop reading the series, but it really shows that the series may
be changing it up a little.
I don’t think I’ve ever quite fit in. I was an immigrant at five—England to Australia, admittedly, and not half as dislocated as a refugee or war orphan, but Australia in the 1970s was still no place to be any sort of other, even if it was just a pommy bastard with a poofter accent—and then I bounced around various country towns from the desert to the wheat belt to the coast until I turned nine. The town in which I lived during the eighties was a charming combination of bogan reservation, heavy metal outpost, and blue collar aspirational dream village, which was hardly the most nurturing environment for a kid who spent six weeks working at his father’s sheet metal works one summer holiday and swore off any form of manual trade for life. I used to joke that I was thrown out of the town when I was caught using two forms of cutlery in the same meal. Like all the best jokes, it contained an element of truth. Half the population of my high school could have written “member of Saruman’s army” under ‘career goals’. First year of high school our guidance counsellor was arrested for prostituting herself to support her drug habit. I wish I was joking. One of these things was not like the other: that’d be me.
University hit my brain like the spray of slo-mo water in a shampoo commercial. But even there, eighty miles from home, I was the barbarian surrounded by citizens: more articulate, better read, more sophisticated than me in every sense, and usually richer, to boot: I was travelling three hours a day by bus to and from home, back to a divorced mother trying to raise two nearly-adult sons on a single mother’s pension. I didn’t find a part-time job until I was twenty due to travel and my big, thick glasses (in a town built on fast food and metalwork, glasses are a distinct disadvantage in the job market). I missed out on some bloody good concerts that way. And on into adulthood: always in the crowd but never of it.
And so I remain. I love speculative fiction, but I’m not a fan. I enjoy TV shows, but don’t identify. I follow sports teams but aren’t part of the tribe. I flitter along the edges of things: observing, taking notes, absorbing, picking moments apart and reassembling them and pushing at the weak spots to see if I can find the story within them. I’m a normal looking guy—middle-aged, overweight, wife, kids, happy family life, good job. But there comes a point in almost every conversation when I realise I’m talking and everyone else… well, if they’re not outright staring then I can see the wheels turning as they try to work out just what the fuck I’m blethering about. Because I just don’t think like normal people.
I’m a mass of internal reference points, a giant walking filing system made from gossamer and pop culture, with data loops built from umpty years of music nobody else likes, books nobody else has read, documentaries they didn’t watch, factoids they don’t give a shit about… rolled and folded and twisted and writhing about each other like a King rat’s tail cluster inside a pile of sleeping puppies. I respect everything equally and don’t believe any of it, and I don’t give a damn how sacred that little shiny bauble of –ism is to you or anybody else, if there’s a story idea in it I’ll use it. Half the time I can’t be bothered slowing down to let the guy standing at the other side of the conversational circle with the beer in his hand and the football-team-of-your-choice t-shirt catch up. The other half of the time I’m down on the floor playing with his kids because they don’t give a damn how weird you talk as long as you make them laugh and build cool stuff. And I can do about a million different fart sounds which is comedy gold if you’re a kid…
Which maybe explains why the only times I really feel at home are when I’m surrounded by writers or comedians. Because as much as bikie gangs and guys who play ‘Freebird’ ninety times in a row without a shred of self-awareness might like to think otherwise, real outsider status doesn’t come from dressing up like each other and waving guns about and yelling about the damn gummint an’ our freedums and Ah vote goldammit! Outsider status comes from pulling up short halfway through a conversation with the sudden realisation that, no matter how many people surround you, you’re the only damn one who is pulling these thoughts together, and nobody else even sees the rigging you’re hauling upon. Because writers and comedians, it’s their job to think like me. And they don’t think like me because it’s their job, they think like me because they think like me.
I love being a writer. It’s precious to me, the major cornerstone of my psyche. Being a writer is where I keep all my stuff. Because it gives me an outlet for all that thought, all that dislocation and dissonance and loneliness and soul dysrhythmia that keeps my mind circling just outside the circle of firelight wondering what the bipeds are doing so close to the heat. And it’s where I connect with all those other strange little islands that call themselves writers and artists and bibliophiles when what they really are, are masses of misunderstood connections lurking inside someone who can’t connect to the general populace. And if I have to give all that up just to be part of everybody else, then too late: you should have told me when I was eight, and I still had the choice of betraying everything important to me and fitting in.
I may be weird. But it’s my weird!
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Lee Battersby was born in England but moved to Australia at a very young age. He discovered his love for SF at the age of nine and has never looked back since then. He has previously done gigs in stand-up comedy, cartooning, arts administration and even tennis coaching. He currently works as an arts and culture officer. He is married and lives with his family in western Australia. The Corpse Rat King is his debut book.
Order “The Corpse Rat King” HERE
Read an excerpt HERE
Order the Book HERE
Read the first four chapters HERE
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Jay Kristoff was born and brought up in Perth. He grew up reading and collecting books and spent most of his free time playing Dungeons & Dragons. He graduated with an Arts degree and then spent ten years in the field of “creative advertizing” for which he won a few awards as well. He currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and dog. This is his debut.
OFFICIAL BLURB: A DYING LAND - The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST - The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shogun to capture a thunder tiger - a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shogun is death.
A HIDDEN GIFT - Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shogun's hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he'd rather see her dead than help her.
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.
FORMAT/INFO: Stormdancer is 336 pages long divided over thirty four numbered and titled chapters and a epilogue. Narration is in the third-person via Yukiko, Masaru, Kasumi, Akihito, Yoritomo-no-miya, Buruu and Sumiko. There is also a map of the Shima Isles as well as Kigen city along with a glossary of the terms used in the book. Stormdancer is the first volume in the Lotus War series and the US cover art is done by Jason Chan.
September 18, 2012 marks the US hardback and e-book publication of Stormdancer by Thomas Dunne books. Stormdancer will also be published in the UK in hardback and e-book form by Tor UK on September 13, 2012.
ANALYSIS: There are some books that slowly start gaining momentum from the time they are announced. I have seen such buzz with the release of Scott Lynch's and Patrick Rothfuss’ debut books. The online world was abuzz with the ravings of bloggers and people who had managed to get their hands on it. A similar case was to be found here as well, since last year when Jay’s book was announced. Many were intrigued with the book information floating around. I believe this blurb by Patrick Rothfuss best encapsulates my feelings: “What’s that? You say you’ve got a Japanese Steampunk novel with mythic creatures, civil unrest, and a strong female protagonist? I’m afraid I missed everything you said after Japanese Steampunk. That’s all I really needed to hear.”
I believe along with me, most of the readers will be also be sucked in by the Japanese Steampunk angle. I was also eager to see the story, about a girl and the griffin she encounters in addition to the steampunk world version of Nippon. Let me get one thing out of the way before I begin this review, Jay Kristoff has created a FANTASTIC world. Beginning from the first page, the author immerses the reader into an exotic but alluring world wherein Oni (demons) exist side by side with a Japanese nation wherein machinery and equipment powered by the blood lotus plant have made it technologically superior but also ecologically unstable. The world showcased within is sumptuous to say the least, be it with small things such as chainsaw katanas or the mechanized samurai armors or the flying ships. The author creates a world which seems unique to read about and yet familiar at the same time. This world is one to be savored and I hope the author explores more of its nooks and corners while illuminating more of its back history and customs.
Now that I gotten that bit out of the way, I can talk about the rest of the book. The author also quickly introduces all the main characters beginning from the first chapter when the reader is introduced to the story’s protagonist, Yukiko as she is battling two Oni (demons) for her survival. The second chapter is then focused on Yoritomo-No-Miya, who serves the Shima Isles as its Seii Taishogun and he rules it as whimsically and cruelly to remind most fantasy readers of another boy-king from the world of Westeros. It’s his dream that basically propels the actions of most characters, as is his wish for the chief hunt master Masaru to capture and bring him a Thunder-tiger or Arashitora (Griffin) that has been recently spotted. These creatures have been deemed mythological and should one be captured, it would acquire the emperor the esteemed title/status of Stormdancer.
His greed sets Yukiko, her father Masaru and his comrades Akhito and Kasumi on a path of great tribulation and misery as they are forced to follow their Shogun’s orders without even knowing if the sighting was true or not. This journey will force them to face their past, a crucial Achilles heel about their nation's progress as well as many other truths. But before all that, they will have to capture something that is mythical and also known to be quite deadly. The story then just shoots from this premise and barrels the readers into a world that is unknown but its social and ecological problems seem to be very similar to of our own.
What can I say, I was completely bowled over by this exotic debut, mixing steampunk with a culture that has been hardly mined for such speculative fictional purposes. Jay Kristoff's world is so lushly described, from the Shogun’s iron samurai with their chainsaw katanas, to the sprawling capital city of Kigen, featuring mechanized rickshaws and respirator masks worn by most of the populace. The descriptions about the Shima isles and its people are done very well so the reader won’t feel confused by them. Then the author moves onto his next trick about the world slowly regressing into ecological oblivion due to the pollution caused by blood lotus, that is used to fuel all its technological advances. The author also describes this dystopian descent quite vividly thereby alerting the readers to the problems and quandaries faced by the main characters.
The main storyline is focused around Yukiko and the Arashitora whom she bequeaths the title of “Buruu” with the main plot being about how she locates Buruu and what happens next. This storyline is one that is fast paced and engaging and should have the readers flipping pages easily. Secondly the characterization done by author is another plus point. Beginning from Yukiko, to Masaru to Yoritomo to Buruu and many others, the author makes them out to be rather well developed people with their own back-stories. This helps the reader to get further invested in their struggles as they fight for what they believe to be right. All these factors made this debut a great book to read and I believe this book will have many many fans buzzing for the same.
Now with case of all lauded debuts there are often a few points that leave readers unsatisfied. In the case of Stormdancer, I found a couple reasons to counter its many positives. The thing that didn’t quite gel with all the awesomeness of the book is the predictability of the main story thread especially what happens when Yukiko and Buruu finally meet and the difficulties that follow? Let me clarify by what I mean, the predictability comes in the form of the trope utilized by the author namely the young protagonist finding his/her own destiny by bonding with the magical creature.
For most fantasy readers, there’ s nothing new to be found here in regards to how it all goes down but the author still manages to make the climax interesting by inserting an odd twist here and there. This track is also somewhat reinforced by the author as he explores Yukiko’s past and the main reason for her bonding so well with the Arashitora. During this we also get to see what problems beseech the Shima Isles and also who all are behind them. The ending while twisted, felt a wee bit incomplete as the reader is left hanging wanting to know more about what happens next and what happened to several characters in the action-packed finale. Both these points detract a bit from the overall awesomeness of this debut but not too much to sour it entirely.
CONCLUSION: Jay Kristoff is to be lauded for his sheer world-building audacity and for giving the readers a fresh new world to dwell into. Amalgamating steampunk with Japanese mythology and culture gives us a story that is thoroughly exciting and admirable. Often in the books this phrase is repeated “The Lotus must bloom”, I believe such is the talent of Mr. Kristoff that the Lotus will not only bloom but it will spread rampantly across the minds of readers.
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