Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews

2012 Galileo Awards nominees

2012-01-30T16:00:00.002+02:00

The long list of 2012 Galileo Awards has been significantly shortened and although the new Romanian speculative fiction awards use the Australian system of voting and this short list will be further sieved I believe that we can call the titles remained in the race as the nominees for the 2012 Galileo Awards. So, without further ado here are the 2012 Galileo Awards nominees:

The Best Volume:
“The Seasons” (Anotimpurile) by Bogdan-Tudor Bucheru (Millennium Books)
“Ink and Blood” (Cerneală și singe) by Ștefana Cristina Czeller (Millennium Books)
“DemNet” (DemNet) by Dan Doboș (Media-Tech)
“Chronicles from the End of the World” (Cronici de la capătul pămîntului) by Costi Gurgu (Millennium Books)
“Alone on Ormuza” (Singur pe Ormuza) by Liviu Radu (Millennium Books)

The Best Short Prose:
“Prophecies about the Past” (Profeţii despre trecut) by Aron Biro (Steampunk: A second revolution edited by Adrian Crăciun, Millennium Books)
“The Last Hourglass” (Ultima clepsidră) by Oliviu Crâznic (Steampunk: A second revolution edited by Adrian Crăciun, Millennium Books)
“The Southern Swamps” (Mlaştinile din sud) by Costi Gurgu (Chronicles from the End of the World, Millennium Books)
“The Black Fortress” (Cetatea neagră) by Costi Gurgu (Steampunk: A second revolution edited by Adrian Crăciun, Millennium Books)
“A trouble in the Wonderful Inand” (O hucă în minunatul Inand) by Michael Haulică (Galileo Magazine, issue 3)
“The Story of Calistrat Hadîmbu from Vizireni, foully murdered by Raul Colentina in a Bucharest’s outskirts inn” (Povestea lui Calistrat Hadîmbu din Vizireni, ucis mişeleşte de nenicul Raul Colentina într-un han de la marginea Bucureştilor) by Michael Haulică (Steampunk: A second revolution edited by Adrian Crăciun, Millennium Books)
“From Gipsies” (De la ţigani) by George Lazăr (Steampunk: A second revolution edited by Adrian Crăciun, Millennium Books)

The Best Anthology:
“Steampunk: A Second Revolution” (Steampunk: A doua revoluție) edited by Adrian Crăciun (Millennium, 2011)
“Venus” (Venus) edited by Antuza Genescu (Eagle & SRSFF, 2011)
“The Dragon and the Ewe Lamb” (Balaurul și Miorița) edited by Mihail Grămescu (Eagle, 2011)
“Pangaea” (Pangaia) edited by SRSFF (Eagle & SRSFF, 2010)
“2011 Galileo Awards” (Premiile Galileo 2011) edited by Horia Nicola Ursu (Millennium, 2011)

It seems that Millennium Press is dominating again the Galileo Awards with 4 novels, all the short fiction (since Galileo Magazine is published also by Millennium) and 2 anthologies from these lists of nominees, so I cannot wonder if a wider selection and a different voting system would not be better for this wonderful initiative. I am also thinking if a members’ jury, chosen for each year, would not improve the Galileo Awards and would help the Romanian speculative fiction scene more.

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Book trailer - "The Prisoner of Heaven" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

2012-01-27T12:30:00.002+02:00

As much as I am struggling to be objective for this post I am afraid that my subjectivism on the matter runs really deep. I have to warn you that I love Barcelona, and not only for one of its football teams, but because it charmed me even from my first visit there and I love Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novels a lot. That is why I was mesmerized by this book trailer before I started watching it. All right, it is a bit untrue since I am not that subjective. However, I do love how the archive photos are put together in recreating something of the Barcelona of the 50s, the time in which “The Prisoner of Heaven” takes place, and inflicting it to the readers. The black and white photos have a magical touch, because not always everything is about color. I said a while back that I would love my Spanish to be as good as I dream to be, because I would love to read the new Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novel in its original language. For the time being I am not confident enough that I will manage such a task, but I would still love to have a copy of “El Prisionero del Cielo” (The Prisoner of Heaven) in Spanish. Unfortunately, this desire has to wait just a bit longer as well, since I do have to put some money aside first. But enough with the laments. The book trailer looks wonderful, yet another reason for “The Prisoner of Heaven” to be high on my wish list for 2012. And I say 2012, because Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s “The Prisoner of Heaven” will be released in the UK, by Orion Books, on 21st of June.

Cover art - "The Straight Razor Cure" by Daniel Polansky (French edition)

2012-01-25T15:30:00.002+02:00

I will not bore you again with my dislike of characters on the book covers. Actually it is not so much a dislike, but something that I am not very much attracted to. The balance is inclined towards the opposite scale after opening the book covers, however. Strong and clearly defined characters are among the main factors that make me enjoy a story more. Today I will not talk about Daniel Polansky’s debut novel, because, unfortunately, caught in the time whirlpool last year I didn’t get the chance to pass over the book cover. Instead I will talk about that cover or more exactly covers. Daniel Polansky’s novel had two different covers for its UK and US editions, but also two different titles. “The Straight Razor Cure” in the UK featured a character on the cover, not clearly defined, but with the customary hood of the many fantasy book covers of late. Instead “Low Town” in the US had a far more simple cover, more concentrated on letters and design. It is true that I may not have managed to open Daniel Polansky’s novel, but I ventured outside the English language market and discovered a cover very much on my liking. And where else could such a cover be if not in France? The Bragelonne edition of “The Straight Razor Cure” or “Low Town”, “Le Baiser du Rasoir” (which is translated as “The Kiss of Razor” I believe, so we have a third title) is a beauty focused on scene and atmosphere, with lovely details of the buildings seen and attractive colors. I also love that the razor actually splits the cover in two plans, but without breaking and with the best effect on the overall picture. The author of the best cover I’ve seen so far for Daniel Polansky’s novel is Fred Augis, a French artist born in Lyon, currently living in Paris and whose other works can be seen at Between Dog and Wolf website.

TOC - “The Best Horror of the Year 4” edited by Ellen Datlow & “The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2012” edited by Paula Guran

2012-01-23T15:45:00.002+02:00

Stephen Jones’ “The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror” and Ellen Datlow’s “The Best Horror of the Year”, “The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror” before that, are the two yearly anthologies that will find a home in my personal library as long as they would be published. Recently, another such anthology sneaked its way in, Paula Guran’s “The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror”, because both 2010 and 2011 editions proved to be very good and truly rewarding. 2012 will not differ much in this case, I am eagerly waiting for all these three collections of stories to be published so I can bring one copy of each into my humble collection of such anthologies (I wish I had all of them, but it is not the case at the moment). Two of these anthologies, Ellen Datlow’s “The Best Horror of the Year 4” and Paula Guran’s “The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2012” announced their final line-ups this month, on Ellen Datlow’s blog and Prime Books’ website respectively. Both feature authors I am familiar with and I am looking forward to read and writers that unknown to me but who I am very curious to meet through their fiction. Here are the two tables of contents with the specification that I am waiting for the cover artworks of these two anthologies since the previous years proved to be excellent in this aspect as well.

“The Best Horror of the Year 4” edited by Ellen Datlow

“The Little Green God of Agony” by Stephen King (A Book of Horrors)
“Stay” by Leah Bobet (Chilling Tales)
“The Moraine” by Simon Bestwick (Terror Tales of the Lake District)
“Blackwood’s Baby” by Laird Barron (Ghosts by Gaslight)
“Looker” by David Nickle (Chilling Tales)
“The Show” by Priya Sharma (Box of Delights)
“Mulberry Boys” by Margo Lanagan (Blood and Other Cravings)
“Roots and All” by Brian Hodge (A Book of Horrors)
“Final Girl Theory” by A. C. Wise (Chizine #48)
“Omphalos” by Livia Llewellyn (Engines of Desire)
“Dermot” by Simon Bestwick (Black Static 24)
“Black Feathers” by Alison Littlewood (Black Static 22)
“Final Verse” by Chet Williamson (F&SF May/June)
“In the Absence of Murdock” by Terry Lamsley (House of Fear)
“You Become the Neighborhood” by Glen Hirshberg (The Janus Tree and Other Stories)
“In Paris, In the Mouth of Kronos” by John Langan (Supernatural Noir)
“Little Pig” by Anna Taborska (The Eighth Black Book of Horror)
“The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine” by Peter Straub (Conjunctions 56)

***

“The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2012” edited by Paula Guran

“Hair” by Joan Aiken (The Monkey’s Wedding & Other Stories / F&SF July/August)
“Rakshashi” by Kelley Armstrong (The Monster’s Corner: Through Inhuman Eyes)
“Walls of Paper, Soft as Skin” by Adam Callaway (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Issue #73, July 14, 2011)
“The Lake” by Tananarive Due (The Monster’s Corner: Through Inhuman Eyes)
“Tell Me I’ll See You Again” by Dennis Etchison (A Book of Horrors)
“King Death” Paul Finch (King Death)
“The Last Triangle” by Jeffrey Ford (Supernatural Noir)
“ Near Zennor” by Elizabeth Hand (A Book of Horrors)
“Crossroads” by Laura Anne Gilman (Fantasy Magazine, Aug 2011)
“After-Words” by Glen Hirshberg (The Janus Tree and Other Stories)
“Rocket Man” by Stephen Graham Jones (Stymie, Vol. 4. Issue 1, Spring & Summer 2011)
“The Colliers’ Venus (1893)” by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Naked City: New Tales of Urban Fantasy)
“Catastrophic Disruption of the Head” by Margo Lanagan (The Wilful Eye: Tales from the Tower, Vol. 1)
“The Bleeding Shadow” by Joe R. Lansdale (Down These Strange Streets)
“Why Light?” by Tanith Lee (Teeth)
“Conservation of Shadows” by Yoon Ha Lee (Clarkesworld, August 2011)
“ A Tangle of Green Men” by Charles de Lint (Welcome to Bordertown)
“After the Apocalypse” by Maureen McHugh (After the Apocalypse)
“Lord Dunsany’s Teapot” by Naomi Novak (The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities)
“Mysteries of the Old Quarter” by Paul Park (Ghosts by Gaslight)
“ Vampire Lake” by Norman Partridge (Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 2)
“A Journey of Only Two Paces” by Tim Powers (The Bible Repairman and Other Stories)
“Four Legs in the Morning” by Norman Prentiss (Four Legs in the Morning)
“The Fox Maiden” by Priya Sharma (On Spec, Summer 2011)
“Time and Tide” by Alan Peter Ryan (F&SF, Sept/Oct 2011)
“Sun Falls” by Angela Slatter (Dead Red Heart)
“Still” by Tia V. Travis (Portents)
“Objects in Dreams May Be Closer Than They Appear” by Lisa Tuttle (House of Fear)
“The Bread We Eat in Dreams” by Catherynne M. Valente (Apex Magazine, Issue 30, November 2011)
“All You Can Do Is Breathe” by Kaaron Warren (Blood & Other Cravings)
“Josh” by Gene Wolfe (Portents)

Cover art - "School's Out Forever" by Scott K. Andrews

2012-01-19T13:00:00.003+02:00

I have many soft spots when it comes to my readings and one of the major ones is post-apocalyptic literature. It is one of a few genres or sub-genres that I devour with every occasion I get. And one of the constant sources of nourishment when it comes to post-apocalyptic fiction is Abaddon Books’ series of novels in the Afterblight Chronicles. One of the titles that I enjoyed, although for different reasons than the heavy pieces of this sub-genre, is Scott Andrews’ “School’s Out”. Despite that I didn’t get the chance to read the next two Scott Andrews’ contributions in the Afterblight Chronicles, “Operation Motherland” and “Children’s Crusade”, “School’s Out” still lingers in the back of my mind.

Well, I will have the chance soon to catch up with these novels, because Abaddon Books will release and omnibus edition of Scott Andrews’ works on September 2012. As I said “School’s Out” wasn’t exactly a match for other post-apocalyptic novels and short stories I read, but I admit once again that I enjoyed it and given the chance I will read it one more time with pleasure. This is the main reason for my interest in the upcoming omnibus, “School’s Out Forever”. Another such reason, well, is this amazing cover. I fell in love with it the instant I saw it. It fits Scott Andrews’ work like a glove. The minimal color scheme, the props and background work perfectly for me and I am convinced that this omnibus couldn’t have had a better cover. Responsible for this beauty is Luke Preece, an artist who works for Rebellion Developments and who is found guilty of creating other very interesting covers for Abaddon Books and Solaris Books. Still, I found the cover for Scott Andrews’ “School’s Out Forever” to be Luke Preece’s best so far and it gives me another reason for picking this omnibus up and enjoying it while listening to one of my absolute favorite singers, Alice Cooper, with the song that immediately comes to mind right now and entitled, how else, “School’s Out”.

2012 Galileo Awards, the long list

2012-01-18T12:30:00.004+02:00

After setting the basis for a Romanian speculative fiction award in 2011 Galileo Magazine is preparing for the second edition of the Galileo Awards. At the moment the Galileo Awards are in the selection phase, gathering candidates for its categories. Although the list of nominees for The Best Short Prose is still under development, the long list for The Best Volume and the debut category, The Best Anthology, are already known:

The Best Volume:
“INRI Project” (Proiectul INRI) by Bogdan Bocșa (Brumar)
“The Seasons” (Anotimpurile) by Bogdan-Tudor Bucheru (Millennium Books)
“The Honest Courtesan and the Astrologer” (Curtezana onestă și astrologul) by Voicu Bugariu (Eagle)
“Oh God from Beyond the Universe’s Belly” (Dumnezeule de dincolo de burta universului) by Aurel Cărășel (Nemira)
“Ink and Blood” (Cerneală și singe) by Ștefana Cristina Czeller (Millennium Books)
“DemNet” (DemNet) by Dan Doboș (Media-Tech)
“The Seagulls Island” (Insula pescărușilor) by Mircea Liviu Goga (Eagle)
“Chronicles from the End of the World” (Cronici de la capătul pămîntului) by Costi Gurgu (Millennium Books)
“The Future Machine” (Mașina viitorului) by Victor Martin (Autograf MJM)
“Journey in Capricia” (Călătorie în Capricia) by Mircea Opriță (Eagle)
“Questionnaire for Ladies Who Were Secretaries for Some Very Decent Men” (Chestionar pentru doamne care au fost secretarele unor bărbați foarte cumsecade) by Liviu Radu (Eagle)
“Alone on Ormuza” (Singur pe Ormuza) by Liviu Radu (Millennium Books)

The Best Anthology:
“Steampunk: A Second Revolution” (Steampunk: A doua revoluție) edited by Adrian Crăciun (Millennium, 2011)
“Venus” (Venus) edited by Antuza Genescu (Eagle & SRSFF, 2011)
“The Dragon and the Ewe Lamb” (Balaurul și Miorița) edited by Mihail Grămescu (Eagle, 2011)
“Pangaea” (Pangaia) edited by SRSFF (Eagle & SRSFF, 2010)
“2011 Galileo Awards” (Premiile Galileo 2011) edited by Horia Nicola Ursu (Millennium, 2011)

The Galileo Awards also have a Special Award for the Entire Career which will be announced together with these categories.

The final lists of nominees will be available in February and the winners will be announced on the second half of March.

Book trailer - "A Cold Season" by Alison Littlewood

2012-01-16T13:00:00.002+02:00

I am certain that in 2012 I will buy more books than I can read, as it is always the same each year actually. But the first acquisition of this year is Alison Littlewood’s debut novel, “A Cold Season”. I am familiar with Alison Littlewood’s short fiction, mostly those published in the excellent Black Static. Although my first encountering with her fiction wasn’t something memorable, “The Empty Spaces” in Black Static 16, the next two shifted the scales of the balance, “Black Feathers” in Black Static 22 and “About the Dark” in Black Static 25. Therefore I had no hesitations when I placed “A Cold Season” in my shopping basket.

As was the case last year with another title that sits firmly on my wish list for 2012, Simon Bestwick’s “The Faceless”, Alison Littlewood’s debut novel “A Cold Season” benefits from the many talents of Mark West who created its book trailer. And once again we have an atmospheric and haunting trailer, appropriate for the idea that I formed about “A Cold Season” so far. Of course, that until I will read Alison Littlewood’s novel. But first I have to keep a close eye on the postman.

Cass is building a new life for herself and her young son Ben after the death of her soldier husband Pete, returning to the village where she lived as a child. But their idyllic new home is not what she expected: the other flats are all empty, there's strange graffiti on the walls, and the villagers are a bit odd. And when an unexpectedly heavy snowstorm maroons the village, things get even harder. Ben is changing, he's surly and aggressive and Cass's only confidant is the smooth, charming Theodore Remick, the stand-in headmaster. Not everyone approves of Cass's growing closeness to Mr Remick, and it soon becomes obvious he's not all he appears to be either. If she is to protect her beloved son, Cass is going to have to fight back. Cass realises this is not the first time her family have been targeted by Theodore Remick. But this time, the stakes are immeasurably higher...

Looking forward to 2012

2012-01-10T13:00:00.000+02:00

2011 was a very good year. It is true that my schedule changed completely, but this fact doesn’t take away anything from a year that proved to be rewarding in many ways. Therefore, no complaints whatsoever about 2011. But since always there is room for improvement why not hope for a better 2012. Although I can’t imagine it would turn out to be a better year since we can’t look further than 21st of December ;) In the last years I set a few reading goals that in the end turned into thin air. I was thinking of some reading goals for 2012, but with the scheduled end of the world and my last failures of reaching these goals I will not set anything in the prospect. Except one thing. Last year I truly rediscovered the pleasure of short fiction. And since those were some of the most rewarding reading moments of 2011 I will set a goal for 2012 in the end: to read 366 short stories. I managed to keep the rhythm of one short story per day so far, so I am on track with my goal. I will also keep a list of the short stories I read and I will post it at the end of the year with a top of those I liked the most.

At the end of last year I didn’t manage to post very often, but this year I will try to return to the usual schedule. I have some ideas for the blog and I hope that they will turn into something real. I know that I am indebted with plenty of reviews from last year. After thinking about this situation I have to admit that I will not be able to write full length reviews for these books, some of them wonderful readings. But I will try to catch up with them in form of a few mini-reviews and present some of the impressions these books made on me.

Besides these, let’s hope that 2012 will be a wonderful year for all. And I hope that 2012 will bring you only joyful moments.

That is about it for 2011. See you all on 2012

2011-12-12T12:14:00.000+02:00

With my son’s first birthday party, the closing of a very busy working year and a planned family Christmas I am afraid that this is the last post of 2012. 2011 was a rewarding year and I am looking with pleasure in retrospective. It is true that 2011 came with a tight and hectic schedule, but that proved to be only a small and easily surmountable inconvenience. The blog suffered a bit. Well, suffered more, but I do hope that 2012 would see a return to at least half of the usual posting regularity. Therefore, a bit early, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Book trailer - "The Christmas Spirits" by Whitley Strieber

2011-12-01T12:00:00.002+02:00

One of the first horror novels I read was Whitley Strieber’s “The Forbidden Zone” and although some of the details are a blur now this particular novel is part of the group that made me love horror fiction so much. It is also true that since then I didn’t read any of Whitley Strieber’s novels for reasons that are not quite clear. Well, I do have such a chance now, thanks to Hodder & Stoughton that provided me with a copy of Whitley Strieber’s ebook, “The Christmas Spirits”. And since Christmas is almost at the door it seems like an interesting seasonal reading. Not only that, but it also has a more than interesting trailer too.

George Moore is a modern day Scrooge, a futures trader who drives his staff hard, and won't let his assistant go home to look after her autistic son on Christmas Eve.
Like Scrooge he is mean with money, but he is also mean with his sympathies and his time. He has to swerve to avoid putting money in a charity box and also crosses the road to avoid a family he thinks are probably gypsies on his way to dinner at a cheap cafeteria. An old man sitting nearby looks as if he might be looking for the warmth of some human contact. George refuses to meet his eye and hurries home.
Various slightly odd, even disconcerting things happen. He encounters a nun who looks like an elderly child. He sees a Santa in the window of a department store, who seems to emerge from his Grotto, look confused, and is then surrounded by small elf-like figures who drag him back behind the curtains. Finally, when he arrives back in his apartment the old man from the cafeteria suddenly appears and reveals himself as George's old mentor in trading and in greed. Bill Hill reveals that he is dead and that he has come to give George a warning. He warns George he will have three visitors that night, and then in a flash he disappears.
So it comes about that, as Bill Hill said, George receives three visitors that Christmas Eve, just as Scrooge was visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. But these are not the ghosties and sprites that frightened Dickens's readers. George's visitors are more ambiguous, more frightening to a modern sensibility. They are visitors that will give even today's reader goose bumps.

They take George on an emotional journey that like Scrooge's journey - and the journey in another Christmas story, It's a Wonderful Life - teaches him the true value of Christmas, the true meaning of life and finally ... how to love. This new classic is both very scary and very Christmassy.

Book trailer - "Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories" by Marian Coman

2011-11-22T13:40:00.002+02:00

As I learned from personal experience movie trailers are not something to take for granted, most of the times the impression left by the movie is quite different from its trailer. I cannot say that I stopped watching movie trailers because of this, but I do not take them as guidance as I used to do at the beginning. However, I have mixed feelings when it comes to book trailers. I didn’t buy any book based on book trailers. Well, actually I did buy one, Ransom Riggs’ “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”, and that proved to be a more than an excellent choice. Like the movie trailers, I do watch any book trailer that falls into my attention, but I watch book trailers also after I read that particular book which is not the case with the movie trailers. Recently I’ve seen a trailer for one of my favorite books of 2011, Marian Coman’s “Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories”, and this is one of the cases of watch/compare/imagine with my personal opinions about the book. I admit that I am not very fond of the book trailer for Marian Coman’s excellent collection of stories. Somehow, I see his book differently and I would have gone with a different approach for this trailer. Considering that in Romania we do not get many book trailers and Marian Coman’s talent deserves any form of publicity (except the negative one, of course) he can get I will salute the apparition of the book trailer. And hopefully, the next trailer for one of Marian Coman’s books will be even better.

"El Prisionero del Cielo" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - cover art & synopsis

2011-11-11T13:00:00.002+02:00

My Spanish is nowhere near as good as I would like it to be, but I would absolutely love to get my hands on a copy of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s latest novel, “El Prisionero del Cielo” (The Prisoner of Heaven), in its original language. Especially since it will be released on 17th of November in Spain and I do have to wait a bit longer for a translated edition to read. After the initial release announcement of “El Prisionero del Cielo”, pretty much surrounded by mystery, now we do have a cover art for the new Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novel and an all too appetizing synopsis. And how can it not be, when the third novel in a scheduled series of four featuring the exciting Cemetery of the Forgotten Books has as main characters the two remarkable heroes of “The Shadow of the Wind”, Daniel Sempere and Fermín (who is one of the most delightful characters of my reading experiences). Here is the synopsis of the novel found on Planeta website in my translation attempt.

Barcelona, 1957. Daniel Sempere and his friend Fermín, the heroes of “The Shadow of the Wind” are back on a new adventure to face the greatest challenge of their lives. Just when everything begins to smile on them, a disturbing character visits the Sempere’s bookshop and threatens to reveal a terrible secret which lay buried for two decades in the dark memory of the city.

To know the truth, Daniel understands that his destiny leads inexorably to a confrontation with the greatest shadows: those that grow inside him. Brimming with intrigue and excitement, “El Prisionero del Cielo” is a masterly novel where the threads of “La Sombra del Viento” (The Shadow of the Wind) and “El Juego del Ángel” (The Angel’s Game) converge through the magic of literature and leads us to the mystery that hides in the heart of the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books.

The first Arcane Anthology table of contents

2011-11-09T15:00:00.002+02:00

As I mentioned in a previous post after the initial issue Arcane Magazine changed its format in an annual anthology series. Since then the first issue became Arcane Sampler a precursor for the first Arcane anthology, due to be released at the end of this year and not in January 2012 as was originally scheduled. The first Arcane anthology will contain thirty stories and although not many names from its line-up ring a bell that was the case with the first Arcane Magazine issue too and the respective experience was more than satisfactory. Even more, I can’t think of a better way to discover new and talented voices that such anthologies (or magazines) as Arcane. Here is the complete line-up with which Nathan Shumate will start the Arcane anthology series.

“We Belong to Her” by Joe Mirabello
“A Capella” by Jonathan S. Pembroke
“The Truth About Mother” by Van Aaron Hughes
“The Web of Legends” by Damien Walters Grintalis
“Reyes Rides the Deville” by Dan Cavallari
“The Heart of the Matter” by Paul L. Bates
“El Diablo de Paseo Grande” by Milo James Fowler
“The Delivery” by A.A. Garrison
“Corporautolysis” by Christopher Slatsky
“Mallecho” by Stephen Willcott
“God of the Kiln” by Eric Francis
“Tied” by D.T. Kastn
“Lady of the Crossroads” by Christine Lucas
“Beneath the Arch of Knives” by James Lecky
“A Pinky Between Friends” by Bartholomew Klick
“Possessed of Talent” by Ayden Parish
“Sweet Heaven in My View” by Frank Stascik
“It’s Not the Boys in This Family That Have to Worry” by Brady Golden
“Kiss of Death” by Jeremy Zimmerman
“Legacy” by SM Williams
“An Unquiet Slumber” by Rhiannon Rasmussen-Silverstein
“A Friend, the Spider” by Caitlin Hoffman
“Destination Unknown” by Anthony J. Rapino
“In One There is Many” by Max Vile
“Incident at the Geometric Church” by David McGillveray
“Black Bush” by Gemma Files
“The Best and Bitt’rest Kiss” by S.K. Gilman
“Visiting Hours” by Josh Strnad
“Sweet Dreams” by Fran Walker
“The Business of Herman Laczko” by Mark Beech

A return, with a small change of schedule

2011-11-07T12:30:00.000+02:00

With most of the working projects cleared it is time for me to return to the blogging schedule. Sort of, since this schedule will suffer a bit of changes too. It has been a hectic working year and still is. Apart from this, the best thing of my life happened close to 11 months ago and he is such a delight that I often forget about everything else. My son took priority over everything else and that is reflected on my passions as well. I still read and I am still enjoying reviewing the books I read, after all blogging about them brought to my passion a new perspective. And although I know that I still have room for improvement without any regrets for the past year I left reviewing on a second plan. I have plenty of reviews to finish and a couple of interviews that remained stuck somewhere in the middle. So I believe that a small change in the blogging schedule is necessary at this point. I will still post and review, hopefully interview some of the authors and artists I love too, but I am not certain how the rhythm of the posting would be. I do hope though that you will still enjoy those posts whatever their time of appearance will be.

A bit more silence

2011-10-24T12:00:00.001+03:00

I have to apologize for the prolonged silence, but the business trip went longer with almost a week than expected. As a result of this long trip the amount of work needed to be done grew too and I am afraid that for a week or two I have to extend my silence.

Book trailer - "The Faceless" by Simon Bestwick & on the road again

2011-10-10T13:30:00.002+03:00

The list of titles due to be released in 2012 and I wish to read is already growing to an extensive length. One of such titles is Simon Bestwick’s “The Faceless”, his second novel which will be published by Solaris Books on February 2012. I am not very familiar with Simon Bestwick’s works, I read only two of his short stories, but both of them were very much on my liking and therefore I was interested in learning more about “The Faceless” as soon as I heard of its release. All the information found from that point forward fueled my desire to read Simon Bestwick’s novel, which comes with a very interesting premise, a speaking for itself cover artwork and not in the least a recently made teaser for “The Faceless”, discovered through the courtesy of Mark West. I am not much of a fan for book trailers, they tend to leave me cold most of the times, but there are plenty of them which are very good and work their charm, although always in the companionship of more information about the respective title. Such is the case with Simon Bestwick’s “The Faceless” teaser, a trailer that manages to set the mood for the novel in little over 30 seconds.

In the Lanchashire town of Kempforth, people are vanishing. Mist hangs heavy in the streets, and in those mists moved the masked figures the local kids called the Spindly Men. When two-year-old Roseanne Trevor disappears, Detective Chief Inspector Renwick vows to stop at nothing until she finds her. In Manchester, terrifying visions summon TV pyschic Allen Cowell and his sister Vera back to the town they swore they'd left forever. And local historian Anna Mason pieces together a history of cruelty and exploitation almost beyond belief, born out of the horrors of war - while in the decaying corridors and lightless rooms of a long-abandoned hospital above town, something terrible is waiting for them all.

P.S. My work requires my presence on yet another abroad business trip, once again in the hospitable Poland. So, again my blog will be silent for a short while, but I do hope to see you all next week.

A new novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

2011-10-06T12:00:00.002+03:00

In the recent years the one writer who had the fastest and most tremendous impact on my reading experience is Carlos Ruiz Zafón. “The Shadow of the Wind” was the best novel I read in a long period at the time I finished it and it still remains unbeaten on that position so far. “The Angel’s Game” didn’t rise at the same level as “The Shadow of the Wind” for me, but it still is a wonderful book. This year I caught up with all of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novels, “Marina” a beautiful and touching novel that lies the foundation for the later “The Shadow of the Wind”, and the catching “The Prince of Mist”, “The Midnight Palace” and “The Watcher in the Shadows”, part of “The Mist Trilogy”. Just in time for the new Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novel, “El Prisionero del Cielo” (The Prisoner of Heaven, I believe this is the proper translation, but it remains to be seen), due to be released on 17th of November by Planeta. Not much information can be found about “El Prisionero del Cielo” yet, except that the novel is set in Barcelona of the 40s and 50s, features the amazing Cemetery of the Forgotten Books and is the third novel in the series of “The Cemetery of the Forgotten Books”, together with “The Shadow of the Wind”, “The Angel’s Game” and a fourth novel that will complete a scheduled tetralogy. I will be back with more information and the cover of “El Prisionero del Cielo”, the novel that became one of my top reading priorities, when they will be available.

Cover art - "Dead Harvest" & "The Wrong Goodbye" by Chris F. Holm

2011-10-05T14:30:00.002+03:00

Some of my fondest memories of the school years are about crime and mystery novels (fantasy and horror novels were a very rare species in those particular times in Romania), small paperbacks that were conspiratorially hidden beneath the school books and read while I was supposed to do my homework. Those hard-boiled detectives in search of truth and justice surpassed any mathematical problem that needed its solution or any obligatory reading that had to be made. The reasons for my attraction for those wonderful novels were very simple in the beginning, the covers of those little treasures and the magical Humphrey Bogart in “The Maltese Falcon”. It is an excellent time for nostalgia now, because Angry Robot Books pulled out of its sleeves two amazing covers for the next year releases of Chris F. Holm’s “Dead Harvest” (March 2012) and “The Wrong Goodbye” (November 2012). Two book covers in the classic style that made my school years even better than they were. Actually, as I look more at the Chris F. Holm’s book covers, made by the graphic design studio, Amazing15, more I think that it would be an excellent thing to see more such covers on the market. Not in an excess, but a few more. Thank you, Angry Robot Books, for bringing back some wonderful memories!

Michael Haulică's "Povestiri Fantastice" available in electonic format

2011-10-04T13:01:00.003+03:00

Another of the my favorites Romanian speculative fiction writers is Michael Haulică, whose recently released collection of stories, “Povestiri Fantastice” (Fantastic Stories), I finished this summer, but which still waits to be reviewed. Like Marian Coman, whose first appearance on the English market I featured recently, Michael Haulică had a couple of presence on the English marker in the form of a few translated stories, but also had stories translated in French, Danish, Hungarian, Croatian, Bulgarian and Czech. One such appearance is “LAPINS”, a story that can be found online, at the World SF blog. “Povestiri Fantastice” (Fantastic Stories) is available now in electronic format on the UK, US and German Amazon, in the original language for the moment, but it still is one step forward. However, I do hope that there would be other steps to be made and one in particular, the translation of “Povestiri Fantastice” in English. It will be a wonderful thing to happen to Michael Haulică and the Romanian speculative fiction. Until then, for a tiny taste of Michael Haulică’s works, here is the table of contents of “Povestiri Fantastice”, the volume available in electronic format and structured in three sections, reflecting the works of Michael Haulică from his debut until present:

Introduction: Radu Pavel Gheo – “O lume bolnavă” (A sick world)

MADIA MANGALENA (1999) – volume also available on Amazon (UK, US, DE & FR), in Romanian too, but in physical format
“Lipstick” (Lipstick)
“SIHADA” (LAPINS – the story available on the World SF blog)
“Noi, cei cu ochii arşi” (We, those with burned eyes)
“O portocala pe masa” (An orange on the table)
“Jocurile Olimpice ale Războiului” (The Olympic Games of War)
“Mireasma tîrzie a morţii” (The late fragrance of death)
“Sinuciderea din strada Mierlei” (The suicide from Blackbird Street)
“Mufişti, gofreni şi noduri” (Jacks, crimpers and nodes)
“Jucător pe viaţă, indexat la Paladini” (Player for life, indexed by Paladins)
“Cornelia cu sînii goi” (Cornelia with the bare breasts)
“Colecționarul” (The collector)
“Paznic de gînd” (Thought guardian)
“Viermele Perfecţiunii” (The worm of perfection)
“Neverly Hills” (Neverly Hills)
“Motocentaurii dorm singuri” (The motocentaurs sleep alone)
“Madia Mangalena” (Madia Mangalena)
“Hanni, femeia lui Mano” (Hanni, Mano’s woman)
“Full Contact” (Full Contact)
“Singurătatea ploii violete” (The loneliness of the purple rain)
“Ucideţi binefăcătorul!” (Kill the benefactor!)
“Căinţa” (The repentance)
“Ultimul mandate” (The last mandate)

DESPRE SINGURĂTATE ŞI ÎNGERI (2001): (About loneliness and angels)
“În hol” (In the hallway)
“Anotimpul de praf” (The season of dust)
“Lebăda” (The swan)
“Gramatica deasupra oraşului” (The grammar above the city)
“Acela care” (That who)
“Copiii liliacului” (The bat’s children)
“Neguţătorul de vise” (The dreams’ merchant)

AŞTEPTÎND-O PE SARA (2005): (Waiting for Sara)
“Full Contact 2. Nabokov” (Full Contact 2. Nabokov)
“Mordelia” (Mordelia)
“Te iubesc pe 32 de biţi sau O noapte cu Brad Pitt” (I love you on 32 bits or A night with Brad Pitt)
“Pasaj de trecere” (Crossing passage)

TRANSFER: (Transfer)
“Vremea zăpuşelii” (The time of stuffiness)
“Microtexte” (Microtexts)

2011 British Fantasy Awards winners

2011-10-03T12:00:00.012+03:00

Yesterday, in a ceremony held during Fantasycon, at Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton the winners of the 2011 British Fantasy Awards have been announced:

BEST NOVEL (AUGUST DERLETH FANTASY AWARD): “Demon Dance” by Sam Stone (The House of Murky Depths)

BEST NOVELLA: “Humpty’s Bones” by Simon Clark (Telos)

BEST SHORT STORY: “Fool’s Gold” by Sam Stone (“The Bitten Word” edited by Ian Whates/ NewCon Press)

BEST COLLECTION: “Full Dark, No Stars” by Stephen King (Hodder & Stoughton)

BEST ANTHOLOGY: “Back from the Dead: The Legacy of the Pan Book of Horror Stories” edited by Johnny Mains (Noose & Gibbet)

BEST NON-FICTION: “Altered Visions: The Art of Vincent Chong” (Telos)

BEST ARTIST: Vincent Chong

BEST SMALL PRESS: Telos Publishing

BEST MAGAZINE/PERIODICAL: “Black Static” (Andy Cox (ed.)/TTA Press)

BEST COMIC/GRAPHIC NOVEL: “At the Mountains of Madness” by Ian Culbard (Self Made Hero)

BEST FILM: Inception (Christopher Nolan/Syncopy Films)

BEST TELEVISION: Sherlock (Steven Moffat/BBC)

KARL EDWARD WAGNER SPECIAL AWARD: Terry Pratchett

SYDNEY J. BOUNDS AWARD FOR BEST NEWCOMER: Robert Jackson Bennett, for “Mr. Shivers” (Orbit Books)

Well, Sam Stone won both best novel and short story categories, but I am not sure that I have any desire to read her works. Looking over the information of her novels doesn’t stir any desire in me to pick them up soon. Especially since vampires are a very good reason to drive me away from a novel at the moment. Stephen King won the best collection and although I enjoyed a lot Tim Lebbon’s “Last Exit for the Lost” I am happy for the King of Horror too. For old times’ sake! The best non-fiction and best artist have in common the wonderful work of Vincent Chong, the worthy winner for the 5th time in the row of the Best Artist British Fantasy Award. Telos Publishing is the least known small press to me, but this is a good reason for me to check on their activity a bit more thorough. It is a delight to see “Black Static” as the best magazine, since each of their issues is excellent and brings me great joy. I am also 5 issues closer to complete the entire collection of “Black Static”. As for the best newcomer, I really should read my copy of Robert Jackson Bennett’s “Mr Shivers”. It is still on my bookshelves although in the mean time Robert Jackson Bennett released another novel, “The Company Man”, and prepares for the imminent “The Troupe”.

These are only a few personal thoughts on this year’s British Fantasy Awards, but hopefully next year I will be able to be more prepared and go through a more detailed review of the winners’ list.

Congratulations to all the winners!

"The Edinburgh Dead" by Brian Ruckley

2011-09-30T11:30:00.003+03:00

"The Edinburgh Dead"

by Brian Ruckley

Publisher: Orbit Books

Review copy received through the courtesy of the publisher, Orbit Books

Edinburgh 1828: In the starkly-lit operating theatres of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.

Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city’s criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.

Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment – and no one is safe from its corruption.

There are occasional times when I am not very willing to look upon the bookshelves of my library. Those are the times when the time seems so short and the number of titles I wish to read so overwhelming. Authors who I love and I wish to catch up with all their works, series started which need to be finished, new writers awaiting patiently to be discovered are all reasons for a mild personal depression on those passing moments. Brian Ruckley’s “Godless World” is not a part of any of these particular points of pressure on my reading habit. He was one of the new writers who got a chance for a reading early after his first debut, his series is long since finished and he is one of the authors I love and know almost all his works. More so, Brian Ruckley’s newest novel, “The Edinburgh Dead”, stepped over the queue of waiting books and reached my reading table after a little over a month since its publication.

“The Edinburgh Dead” was born, as we can find out from the interview at the end of the novel, from Brian Ruckley’s attraction for the Edinburgh’s history and in particular from the events of the Burke and Hare murders. Brian Ruckley takes some of the events of 1828, keeps some of the historical facts alive, shifts others into fantasy to suit the needs of his plot and crafts a story that is part historiography part pseudohistory, part fact part fiction, but captivating in its entire form. Almost everything there is to know about Edinburgh of 1828 can be found in the pages of “The Edinburgh Dead”. Brian Ruckley treats, more or less, each aspect of the changing period in the life of Edinburgh within his story. The geographical, military, cultural, diplomatic, economic and environmental components are used to breathe life into Edinburgh of 1828, every detail, small or big, put in its proper place to make the setting as vivid as possible. I believe that the amount of documentation made by Brian Ruckley must be extensive, but to say that will sound overly technical. And it would not be fair, since the author softens the cold, harsh facts of history with his words and descriptions.

The core of the story is a murder investigation, but which in time turns into surprising paths and transforms itself step by step. The road taken by the investigation moves naturally and logically, there are no moments when the plot missteps or overreaches its course. And although those responsible are revealed early on the march towards the final conflict offers plenty of twists, a couple of action scenes and nothing to be taken for granted. Leading the investigation is Adam Quire, a determined sergeant in the Edinburgh Police with a tumultuous past. Brian Ruckley puts an equal effort in building the main character as in bringing the Edinburgh of 19th century to life and these efforts make Adam Quire a very strong character. Approaching Adam Quire from both his physical and mental angles Brian Ruckley makes him an entirely human character, with as much faults as qualities and a personal way of tackling life. What sets Adam Quire apart from other character will be the natural emotion of fear, felt by Adam but not as often as it should by other characters in fiction.

“The Edinburgh Dead” is not entirely without fault. We move within the confines of a time and of a profession, but we stumble upon an overly used cliché. As a matter of fact, Hollywood used the stereotype of the suspended police officer trying to solve a crime so much that it stings my eye at its faintest appearance. In Brian Ruckley’s novel, at a certain point, it would have been understandable, but it is not sustained sufficiently by the story and crumbles on itself. Also, Adam Quire is a powerful character and Brian Ruckley takes a look into his past, an interesting and excellent executed look. But it is the only one and in my opinion it would have worked if it had been included within the story instead of taking an actual journey into the past too. I did enjoy this journey into Adam’s past though, solitary as it is, and I will set this issue aside. However, Adam Quire also overshadows every other character of the cast and this is a bit unfortunate. There are a few minor characters that show promise, but their development is unfulfilled. As for the negative characters, I am certain that they would have benefited more from a grander growth of their personality. But overall, these issues have a small impact on the entire structure of “The Edinburgh Dead” and they do not make it shake or break at any moment.

It is always nice to see authors stepping over the boundaries of genres, changing theme and gear. Brian Ruckley steps on a different path with “The Edinburgh Dead”, but he does it with remarkable and magnetic style and before it I’ll take my hat off and bow to.

"Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories" by Marian Coman

2011-09-28T12:45:00.004+03:00

"Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories"

by Marian Coman

Volume released in electronic format, which can be found on Amazon (US & UK) & Smashwords

Previous works reviewed on my blog: "White Nights, Black Days" & "The Chocolate Testament"

The review is based on a bought copy of the book

Marian Coman is part of a young generation of Romanian writers, but he is one of the few who touches with the strokes of his talented pencil the realms of the speculative fiction. Marian Coman was born on May 1977, in Mangalia, Romania and is currently the editor-in –chief of the newspaper “Obiectiv – Vocea Brăilei”. He graduated the courses of the Petre Andrei University with a specialization in psychology and social assistance. Marian Coman made his debut at the age of 17, when he published his first short story. That debut was followed by other short stories published in a number of Romanian anthologies and by the editorial debut with the personal volume, “Nopți Albe, Zile Negre” (White Nights, Black Days), in 2005. Since the release of his first personal volume Marian Coman also published another fiction collection in 2007, “Testamentul de ciocolată” (The Chocolate Testament), and a publishing volume, “Teoria flegmei. Apel la mitocănie” (The Phlegm Theory. Appeal at Grossness). His work was recognized with an EUROCON Award in 2006, a Kult Award for personal volume also in 2006 and with another Kult Award, for exceptional literary quality, in 2007. “Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories” is his first volume to be translated into another language, collecting four short stories previously released in “Nopți Albe, Zile Negre” (White Nights, Black Days) and giving a small measure of the talent Marian Coman posses.

“Fingers” is the story of a man in a strange relationship with the warp on his right forefinger and recollecting some of his childhood memories. It is one of the most evocative pieces of Marian Coman, although this particular aspect will appeal differently to the Romanian readers than those outside. That doesn’t mean that only Marian Coman’s compatriots will find this story captivating, I only believe that the points of interest for “Fingers” will come from different angles. Set during the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu the story connects, to a point, with the collective memory of the Romanian readers putting on the wall scenes and events which can prove to be painful and sweet in the same measure. For other readers, these scenes might create an eerie and strange atmosphere, bitter here and there, but true to the reality of those historical times. That harsh period of time is dressed however in the clothes of fiction which bring all the readers to the same ground, allowing them to share some weird and unsettling moments together.

“The Bathroom Door” is the story of a boy who moves together with his parents in a new apartment only to find that the bathroom connects to a different realm. This story touches again the period of the Communist regime in Romania, but less than the previous one. Instead is more concentrated on the fictional elements, bringing forth terrifying images in a bigger or smaller scale. “The Bathroom Door” has a humorous side, that might seem unwelcomed in the context of the story, but which relieves a little the heavy atmosphere set by the general line of this drama.

In “Unwired” (which can be read on Grasping for the Wind too) a few survivors of a mysterious event find themselves on an island sometime after their escape, with a young boy different from the rest of the island’s population as main character, finding himself in search of acceptance. Marian Coman creates a fictional setting and situation, easily identifiable throughout the story. However, the human condition is taken into account in its full dimension. Particularly when the innocence embraces the violence and cruelty. “Unwired” is a very short, but sad story, which leaves the reader in a state of melancholy.

The monks from “Between Walls” find that the walls of their monastery are unsettled by strange noises. In the search for the source of those noises they will also attempt to cleanse their monastery of its disquietude. “Between Walls” has at its base one of the most known Romanian legends, that of the master builder Manole. His legend, described in the folk ballad “The Monastery on the Argeș River”, tells the myth of the onymous monastery. Basically, the master builder Manole and nine of his men are hired by Negru Vodă to build the most beautiful monastery only to see the walls they raised by day crumbling by night. Manole has a dream in which learns that in order to finish the building he and his men have to sacrifice some very dear to them and the next day that person proves to be Ana, the pregnant wife of Manole. After the master builder Manole bricks his wife inside the monastery’s walls Negru Vodă leaves him and his men on the building roof to prevent them to raise other, more beautiful, monastery. Manole and his men make wings from the roof’s tiles, but fell to the ground and die one by one. It is said that in the place where Manole fell it is now a spring of clear water. Marian Coman changes the approach of the legend, giving it a new perspective, a background for the marriage between Manole and Ana and a glimpse into the monastery’s future. The author also offers a natural environment for the human character and condition within “Between Walls”.

“Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories” is a short collection of stories, but it gives enough opportunity for Marian Coman’s talent to surface. A flowing language, kept with an appropriate translation as far as I can see, a mind that spawns images and scenes with a discomforting ease and an ability to give grace to tragedy are qualities that make Marian Coman a unique and powerful writer. I only hope that he receives the deserved occasions to enchant the readers as often as possible, equally in his native language as in others around the world.

Welcome, Black Room Books!

2011-09-27T13:00:00.002+03:00

Apex Book Company is one of the small publishing houses that are on the front line of quality speculative fiction. Their Apex Magazine is always a source of very good short fiction and for finding new and talented writers, while Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon’s anthology “Dark Faith”, Mari Adkins’ anthology “Harlan County Horrors”, Lavie Tidhar’s collection of world SF “The Apex Book of World SF”, Nate Kenyon’s “Prime” and Gary A. Braunbeck’s “To Each Their Darkness” are the main reasons for me to consider Apex Publications among my favorites. These days Apex Book Company came with a new, very pleasant, surprise for its readers, the birth of a new Apex imprint, Black Room Books. And by the presentation of Black Room Books I do hope that the new born will have a very long and successful life in the publishing world, because it certainly holds plenty of promise:

Black Room is an imprint of parent company Apex Publications. A spin-off, if you will, created to cater to the types of awesome books that don't fit the mold of "commercial", but that still deserve proper attention and publication. Our titles will be the type that leave a mark in your mind long after the last page is finished. We want these books to step up to the boundaries of genre fiction, evoke the names of the great ones, and jump as far as they can.

Already Black Room Books has a few titles prepared for future release, Tim Waggoner’s “Like Death”, Jennifer Pelland’s “Machine”, J.M. McDermott’s “Disintegrations Visions” and the new volume in Lavie Tidhar’s collection of world SF, “The Apex Book of World SF 2”. However, the honor for opening the ceremony goes to Tim Waggoner’s “Like Death”, novel scheduled for release on 25th October and which already has an excellent cover, although it is a very chilling one. Tim Waggoner’s “Like Death” is at its second publication with Black Room Books, after the initial release in 2005 from Leisure Books, but since it was under my radar then and the cover creeps me out I am happy that it sees the light of publishing again.

For more information about all that is prepared on the table of Black Room Books we can visit their website, blackroompub.com. And let’s wish Black Room Books a warm welcome and a long stay in the world of publishing.

Title spotlight - "Terror Tales of the Lake District" edited by Paul Finch

2011-09-26T13:00:00.004+03:00

Legends and fairy tales are the most important structures in the foundation of my reading experience. Among the stories that made their way onto my reading table at the beginning of my adventure in the fiction world one in particular springs immediately from my memories, a heavy volume of collected world legends and fairy tales. I believe that I still have that volume and although it is battered by time and numerous readings I think I’ll dig it out for a pleasant journey down the memory lane. In time my taste for legends suffered changes, but my love for these particular stories only grew. This is one the reasons for Paul Finch’s anthology, “Terror Tales of the Lake District”, due to be released by Gray Friar Press this month (I believe) made the bells of my interest rang loud. And it is not the only one. The demented clown of Muncaster, the winged horror of Langdale, the drowned bride of Windermere or the nightmares on Burnmoor are offering plenty of reasons for my mind to go wild because of the curiosity inflicted by them. I will add to this a few names that are on the line up of “Terror Tales of the Lake District”, as well as on my favorites list, such as Gary McMahon, Ramsey Campbell, Simon Bestwick, Reggie Oliver and Carole Johnstone (whose stories I recently re-discovered and were more impressive than the first time) and there is no wonder that I already ordered Paul Finch’s anthology.

The Lake District — land of mountains and megaliths, night-black lakes and fathomless woods filled with spectral mist ...
The eerie entity on Striding Edge
The living corpse of Croglin
The demented clown of Muncaster
The winged horror of Langdale
The drowned bride of Windermere
The hairy brute of Beetham
The nightmares on Burnmoor
Chilling tales by Ramsey Campbell, Adam Nevill, Simon Clark, Peter Crowther, Reggie Oliver, Gary McMahon and other award-winning masters and mistresses of the macabre.

This wild, mountainous region in northwest England is famous for its towering crags, deep woods and majestic lakes. It is still one of the most popular holiday destinations in the whole of the UK, particularly for climbers, hikers, campers and yachtsmen. But some corners of it are extremely remote and even now in the 21st century remain wreathed in rural mystery and spooky superstition.
This brand new anthology, edited by master of chills, Paul Finch, contains ten works of original horror fiction all set in England's haunting Lake District, and three classic reprints. It also features numerous anecdotal tales concerning true incidents of Lakeland terror which will ensure you'll never regard that scenic part of the world in the same innocent light again.

“Little Mag’s Barrow” by Adam L.G. Nevill
The Mad Clown of Muncaster
“The Coniston Star Mystery” by Simon Clark
The Croglin Vampire
“Devils of Lakeland” by Paul Finch
The Mumps Hall Murders
“The Moraine” by Simon Bestwick
The Tawny Boy
“The Claife Crier” by Carole Johnstone
The Monster of Renwick
“Jewels in the Dust” by Peter Crowther
The Devil’s Hole
“Above the World” by Ramsey Campbell
Nightmares of Burnmoor
“The Jilted Bride of Windermere” by Gary Fry
The Horror at Carlisle Castle
“Walk the Last Mile” by Steven Savile
The Poltergeist of Walla Crag
“Framed” by Peter Bell
Fiend’s Fell
“Night of the Crone” by Anna Taborska
The Tortured Souls of Lord’s Rake
“Along Life’s Trail” by Gary McMahon
The Black Hound of Shap
“Striding Edge” by Reggie Oliver

Arcane Magazine is dead, long live Arcane Anthology

2011-09-22T13:30:00.002+03:00

Before going on the summer holiday I reviewed the first issue of “Arcane Magazine” saying at the time that it would be a shame for this new and interesting magazine to die after its first appearance. Well, unfortunately it did, but fortunately only to be resurrected immediately in a new form. Nathan Shumate, the editor of “Arcane Magazine”, announced the transformation of Arcane, Penny Dreadfuls for the 21st Century from the magazine to an annual anthology series. I would have liked to see more issues of the magazine, but I know that keeping such a publication can be a struggle. Therefore, I am happy that it is not a disappearance into oblivion, but a transformation. And since the first issue, that is now a prelude to the “Arcane” anthology series, was interesting I am looking forward to the first collection of new “Arcane” stories scheduled for release on January 2012.

Cover art - "A Dance with Dragons" by George R.R. Martin (Portuguese edition)

2011-09-20T12:30:00.002+03:00

I’ve seen this cover artwork for George R.R. Martin’s “A Dance with Dragons” on the author’s Not A Blog and I really liked it. Well, to tell the truth I liked it the first time I saw it, a while back, on Andreas Rocha’s website in its original title, “Silent Shadows”. Andreas Rocha is one of my favorite modern artists, one with whom I had the pleasure to make an interview for my blog and whose career I followed ever since I discovered his works. I am happy to see that Saída de Emergência, the Portuguese publisher of “A Dance with Dragons”, chose Andreas Rocha’s artwork for the cover of George R.R. Martin’s novel, because I am always happy to see the works of my favorites, a series, an author and an artist in this case, and more so when they are mixed and balanced together. Since the Portuguese publisher splits each book of “A Song of Ice and Fire” in two volumes I am curious to see what Saída de Emergência has in store for the cover artwork of the second volume of “A Dance with Dragons”. No matter who the artist of that cover would be until the release of that volume we can admire the cover artwork of Andreas Rocha for “A Dança dos Dragões”, more of his art on his website and if you have the pleasure, the interview I made with Andreas Rocha in 2009.

Constant failing connection

2011-09-15T13:17:00.001+03:00

I am on a business trip this week and although I took my laptop with me planning to post on the blog since the schedule permited it, but my plans got mixed up. Mainly due to my mobile connection which comes and goes as it pleases. Mostly, it is not here when I need it. Well, nothing much to do about it, therefore I will leave the posts I have for next week. See you soon :)

"What They Hear in the Dark" by Gary McMahon

2011-09-12T12:30:00.003+03:00

"What They Hear in the Dark"

by Gary McMahon

Publisher: Spectral Press

The review is based on a bought copy of the book

An absence is more terrifying than a presence…

Rob and Becky bought the old place after the death of their son, to repair and renovate – to patch things up and make the building habitable.

They both knew that they were trying to fix more than the house, but the cracks in their marriage could not be papered over.

Then they found the Quiet Room.

I have the chance constantly to read and review the debut works of various writers, but not very often it happens to read and review the debut title of a new publishing house. I actually think that it happened only once before. Now I had a second such chance, when Spectral Press released its first chapbook from a series of limited signed editions, I am not a very big fan of the limited editions, but that is another matter for another time, of such stories, released on quarterly basis. And what better way to start such a publishing project than releasing the work, “What They Hear in the Dark”, of one of the strongest modern horror voices, Gary McMahon, if not the strongest.

Rob and Becky find themselves in need of a dramatic change in their lives after the violent death of their son. They buy a new house, in need of heavy repair, in an attempt to give a new meaning to their lives, to have a purpose that occupies their mind and time while their emotional wounds are soothed and healed. Throughout the entire chapbook it is obvious that the house bought by Rob and Becky is a metaphor of their marriage, an extrapolation of their relationship in the new acquired house, both in a crumbling state due to an absence. The same thing is with the Quite Room, the central point of Gary McMahon’s story, again brought at the metaphorical level as well, an image of how the married couple deals with their tragic loss at individual level.

If this juxtaposition is one of the main keys of “What They Hear in the Dark”, the emotional impact brings an uncomfortable similitude between what experience the characters and the reader. Gary McMahon manages to reach beyond the pages of his story, the tragedy of the couple, more underlined by the brutal and ruthless characteristics of that tragedy, the emotional torment of the characters and the heavy atmosphere of the marriage are brought into existence with such vividness that it is impossible for the reader not to be marked. It is true that the story focuses more on Rob’s emotions, Becky’s feelings being only sketched, but that I believe that would have been a greater problem if “What They Hear in the Dark” was longer and not only a twenty pages story. Besides this minor point however, there is nothing to complain about Gary McMahon’s chapbook. The beautiful prose, the way Gary McMahon slowly reveals all the levels of his story and emotional impact make from “What They Hear in the Dark” a story that is not easy to forget.

Gary McMahon’s “What They Hear in the Dark” is Spectral Press’ first released publication, but if all its planned chapbooks are as these twenty pages of sheer emotion I am willing to be its faithful follower despite my dislike for limited editions.

Title spotlight - "Scenes from the Second Storey" edited by Mark S. Deniz & Sharon Ring

2011-09-09T10:30:00.004+03:00

One of the books I’ve read on holiday, and I am still reading since I am only half through, is Amanda Pillar and Pete Kempshall’s anthology, “Scenes from the Second Storey”. The first interesting thing that caught my attention when I first heard about this anthology is that “Scenes from the Second Storey” is a tribute brought by Mark S. Deniz, the founder of Morrigan Books, the publishing house which released the anthology, to The God Machine’s homonym music album. Each story is dedicated to one of the songs on The God Machine’s “Scenes from the Second Storey” track, but since Mark S. Deniz wished for many talented writers to envision those songs in fiction he ended up with more than thirteen authors for his anthology. Therefore the homage brought to the album came in two forms, a first one edited by Amanda Pillar and Pete Kempshall and featuring an all Australian line-up of writers (which I am currently reading) and a second, international edition, edited by Mark S. Deniz and Sharon Ring. This week, the line-up for the international edition of “Scenes from the Second Storey” was posted on Morrigan Books’ website. It gives me plenty of reasons to look forward to the release of “Scenes from the Second Storey” on 11th November in electronic format and later on in a printed version, but it also makes me wonder, as the anthology’s presentation says, how will the two interpretations in fiction of the same song fare with each other. I am waiting with great anticipation to see how the inevitable comparison will turn out, especially since the bar is set very high due to the impressive and exceptional quality of the stories I’ve read so far in Amanda Pillar and Pete Kempshall’s Australian edition of “Scenes from the Second Storey”.

Thirteen tales of murder, revenge, betrayal, obsession and desire - your usual fare? Well not when adding the fact that all these stories were inspired by The God Machine’s album of the same name, a concept queried by some before reading the first of these two themed anthologies.

Now comes the second instalment, following on from the Australian authors penning their wonderful versions of The God Machine’s classic tracks to a mix of international authors, commissioned by Morrigan Books to give their take on the songs. How similar are the two written versions to the album’s tracks? Do they capture the essence? You, the reader, can decide for yourselves this November when the international version of Scenes from the Second Storey is released.

“Dream Machine” by Miles Deacon
“She Said” by KV Taylor
“The Blind Man” by Carole Johnstone
“I’ve Seen the Man” by Gary McMahon
“The Desert Song” by Adrienne Jones
“Home” by Shannon Page
“It’s All Over” by Paul Kane
“Temptation” by Pete Kempshall
“Out” by Mike Stone
“Ego” by Gerard Brennan
“Seven” by Joseph D’Lacey
“Purity” by T. A. Moore
“The Piano Song” by Ian Whates

The holiday is in the past now

2011-09-06T13:15:00.002+03:00

It is the first time since my high-school years that I feel that the summer holiday was not enough. It is true that back then there were three months of vacation, but three not enough months. This year there were only two weeks of holiday, but I could use at least three more. Anyway, nothing to do about it, therefore thinking too much about it doesn’t have any use.

It was a great holiday though. Lago di Garda is a very beautiful place and Sirmione, where we stayed, is a quiet and relaxing location. I could have stayed all day long near the lake and read, but I had plenty of different activities. Visits to some historical places, cycling, splashing in the pool, but no sun bathing since I am a bit like a vampire in this case. Mihnea, our 8 month old son, had plenty of magical moments too. He enjoyed a lot the pool, the walks near the lake and meeting the ducks that swim there and the dogs that walked near it and above all the Mary-go-round in Gardaland. Speaking of Gardaland, we took a ride in Raptor, an insane attraction and an experience that I am not willing to repeat any time soon. A wonderful holiday.

So, this week things get back on track slowly. The most pleasant of them is blogging, which will get its regular schedule soon. I have a few more reviews to write, besides a couple of older ones, and I believe that I can start working on them next week. These two weeks of holiday were very busy with diverse activities, but I did have the chance to finish Drew Magary’s “The Postmortal” (which was rewarding), Chris Wraight’s “Dragonmage” and half of the Black Gate 15th issue and of the Amanda Pillar and Pete Kempshall’s anthology “Scenes from the Second Storey” (exceptional so far). Also I will finish the review of Marian Coman’s “Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories”, the excellent collection I’ve talked about before going on vacation. Plenty of things to do for putting my blog back on track.

How were the last couple of weeks for you?

Summer holiday

2011-08-20T13:00:00.001+03:00

Finally, that time of the year has come. The first one. For a long time I didn’t expect the summer holiday with such impatience. It was a busy year so far, although I am not complaining, and it cut a bit in my free time. Anyway, I will be leaving on Monday and this time I will not pack any books for the holiday. Instead I will bring my Kindle with me, fully charged. I have the e-reader for month now and I became accustomed with it. I certainly didn’t expect such an experience. The holiday will give me plenty of chances to experience more with it and write my full feedback at my return. Also, I will certainly have plenty of reviews, because I do hope to catch up with the ones that remained behind and transform the notes I made for them in reviews. I hope that you will have a great time the next couple of weeks too and to see you back after the 5th of September :)

Arcane, Penny Dreadfuls for the 21st Century - Issue 1

2011-08-19T13:31:00.003+03:00

Arcane Magazine, Penny Dreadfuls for the 21st Century

Issue 1

The review is based on a bought copy of the magazine

For a period of time I drifted away from the short form of fiction, although I did enjoy it a lot before. As a matter of fact, plenty of the authors I favor today have been discovered through their short stories. After this period of time however I rediscovered the pleasure of reading short fiction and came back to it with renewed force. In one of my wanderings through the Internet in search of short fiction I stumbled upon a link that led me to the Arcane Magazine’s website. At that time I didn’t find much time to spend on the respective website though, but luckily the inspiration made me bookmarked it. And later on I thanked my inspiration, because I did come back and picked a copy of the first issue for a reading session.

“Hazards” by Justin Pollock – The narrator relates the strange events surrounding one of his attempts to help the passengers of a car pulled on the side of the road, with its hazards on. Told in the first person the story reveals a rather uncertain character, too eager to prove himself a good citizen, unsteady in his recounting and struggling for words on some descriptions. It gives him personality, but not a very sympathetic one. The main feature of “Hazards” doesn’t bring anything new or original, I’ve encountered the same idea in a form or another in a few occasions before. It is true that brings into attention some of the present social realities, but doesn’t save the story too much. Justin Pollock’s story being quite short it is suitable for a relaxed coffee break.

“Darnell Behind Glass” by Jeff Crook – Darnell Charles, who runs his small gas station and convenience store, finds in the hard way that the bums who frequent his business are more than what meets the eye. It is a character driven story, centered on Darnell Charles, a character successfully build by Jeff Crook. The atmosphere grows around the main character, as the plot gains momentum. Some of these elements reminded me, in the good way, of “The Sixth Sense” movie. The final touches of the plot are hinted in the beginning of “Darnell Behind Glass” and the finale comes with a philosophical conclusion. Overall, a well executed story.

“The Mine” by Jason V. Shayer – Two young men go to the local mine in hope of seeing some dead bodies, after one of them hears of a supposed gunfight between the local Sheriff and some outlaws hiding in the old mine. A western story backed by language, with a particular touch sustained by tension and atmosphere. Once Owen and Matt, the two young men in search of a thrill, step inside the mine I didn’t know what to expect next, Jason V. Shayer succeeding in keeping the tension at a high level. There are few surprises along the way and the story doesn’t end without a final, quite interesting twist.

“Ricky and the Elder Gods” by S.M. Williams – Ricky helps two elderly gods pickup people in their quest towards a special place and for a mysterious ritual only to find an unexpected obstacle at the last one. S.M. Williams offers a rhythmically balanced story, featuring mysterious books, secret societies and two elder gods with plenty of action scenes to keep it interesting. The end was a bit disappointing for me, because although it implies to future terrifying moments the reasons behind the story rivalry and the implied course of actions are ambiguous. Otherwise “Ricky and the Elder Gods” is a fast paced, entertaining story.

“Gingerbread and Ashes” by Jaelithe Ingold – When his sister disappears, Hansel goes back to the house of his notorious childhood tale, now found in a state of decaying, in search for her. It is one of the strongest stories of the debut issue of Arcane Magazine, if not the strongest. Jaelithe Ingold doesn’t reinterpret the Grim Brothers’ story, but follows its main characters long after it, at their elder age. I love it because it implies to some of the consequences that can result from the known fairy tale, because of its deep psychological aspects and because it centers on some human behavior and desires that are certainly more terrifying than any monster that can be spawned by the mind. Subtle and disturbing it also leaves a small sad feeling behind it.

“Dear Management” by Tom Wortman – A company’s new employee finds himself bothered by a strange smell in his new office and decides to investigate its provenience, only to discover a source as surprising as it is horrifying. The story is related through a series of letters that the new employed writes to the management of the company that offered him his job. It is an interesting choice for recounting the events of the story, although it might seem a bit misplaced in case of a couple of letters. There are also a few letters that seem repetitive and doesn’t help the story to advance. But it is a story that captures the attention of the reader, gathers momentum along its course for its climax and also comes with a humorous and light tone in some places.

“In the Place Where the Tree Falleth” by Michael Lutz – Henry Cudder is a bible salesman and he tries to make a last sale to the owners of a house surrounded by a strange looking gatherings of trees. Michael Lutz’s story is another personal favorite of mine from the current issue of Arcane Magazine. It has very good atmosphere, kept all the way to the final sentences. Every step, from the first word to the last, the atmosphere is filled with a strange and eerie sensation, leading to some uncomfortable moments as much for the story’s main character as for the reader. “In the Place Where the Tree Falleth” doesn’t reveal all of its mystery, insinuates aplenty, but in equal measure leaves the mind of each reader to take charge.

“Laundry Night” by Stephen Hill – Rita discovers that some of the clothes washed in the dryer room tend to disappear. One night Rita will discover the source behind these disappearances. I failed to engage with Stephen Hill’s story on any level. Actually, there was one aspect that did engage me, but in the end it was heavily underlined by the rest of the outcome. No terror or discomfort can result from such an ordinary source of meal, more so when it touches the disgusting. Not the disgusting or grotesque elements of horror, but of the unpleasantness for the reader. The end is predictable and drawn too much on the moral side to do the story any good. It is a shame though, because the tensed beginning and the condition of Rita’s marriage offer “Laundry Night” a good start, abruptly slipping on the downside for me though.

“Hello Operator” by Donny Waagen – The story’s protagonist finds himself in an unfamiliar neighborhood at night, but when he reaches a phone booth for a much desired call he’ll find himself in a totally different situation. Donny Waagen offers a few tensed moments for his story, a claustrophobic feeling and a fitting end. The fact that this is his first sold story might reflect on a few comparisons that felt awkward for me, but there are plenty of good things to compensate those and to keep the reader hooked to “Hello Operator”.

“Courting the Queen of Sheba” by Amanda C. Davis – When their circus acquires a new showing exhibit some of its performers will have a problem on their hands. The story induces the reader in a past period of time, it is truly evocative of that time and doesn’t falter in keeping it present through its entire course. Still, the apparent danger that threats the characters of the story doesn’t seem to be very serious at any point. The tone is a little too relaxed for the danger to be felt. As a matter of fact, the story has a different tone than the rest of the entries in the first issue of Arcane Magazine, it feels more like a pulp adventure. But this is more in the favor of “Courting the Queen of Sheba” than not.

“A Requiem for Tarsenesia” by William Knight – Tarsenesia must protect itself from the lurking monsters outside its gates through music. But when the master luthier Marcus finds trouble inside the city walls his daughter, Ishtra, discovers that Tarsenesia isn’t exactly the safe heaven it appears to be. William Knight creates a fantastic setting for his story and Tarsenesia is one of the main points of attraction for “A Requiem for Tarsenesia”. The setting is fantastical, but the conflict is not. It can be found throughout the history of the world or in the everyday life, but the fantastic setting takes it out of the ordinary and gives it strength. And as dangerous as it is the outside menace for Tarsenesia, it isn’t matched by the one born from the shake of hands between the sacred and profane when one part’s interest demands it. “A Requiem for Tarsenesia” is a tale of revenge, with a tint of poetical justice, and in the end the act of vengeance is as rewarding as it is cruel.

“The Hole” by Rob Errera – A hole deep in the ocean floor rises on land once the earth changes while it exercises its influence on everything that surrounds it. I am not exactly sure what to make of this story, but the truth is that it kept me reading until the end. It is also true that the humans in the story don’t behave in the most encouraging way, but that makes the story interesting. All in all “The Hole” is a nice way to draw the debut issue of Arcane Magazine to a close.

The short form of fiction struggles most of the times and I’ve seen at my time a good number of magazines dedicated to this form dying due to various reasons. “Arcane Magazine” is a new born and from the information I gathered it has a few difficulties standing on its feet. I believe that this piece of information is a sad thing to be learned, because although the first issue cannot be named a perfect start, “Arcane, Penny Dreadfuls for the 21st Century” offers plenty of quality fiction that would be a shame to see this magazine die after its first published appearance.

Guest post - Jasper Kent

2011-08-18T12:30:00.005+03:00

Today, Bantam Press releases the UK edition of Jasper Kent’s third novel in “The Danilov Quintet” series, “The Third Section”. “The Third Section” is one of the titles I am looking forward to read this year, since I enjoyed a lot “Twelve” and “Thirteen Years Later”, but until I have that chance I am happy to have Jasper Kent as my guest on the blog with the occasion of “The Third Section” UK release day.

The Same – But Different
by Jasper Kent

Sound familiar?

It’s an answer that many an author must have heard. And the question? It comes after a novel has done reasonably well; a question that every author asks his (or her) editor: What next? The answer – the same, but different – is not plucked from the air. It’s a reflection of the views of the readership. If they wanted exactly the same, they could just read the book again. On the other hand, given that they liked the first book, what interest would they have in something totally different?

The author turns away, his lips intoning the counter-question: How different? He rarely bothers to ask the editor; the answer is obvious: Just different enough.

I think I err more towards the different than the same. As the name suggests, there will be five books in The Danilov Quintet, the last separated from the first by 105 years. If at the end things weren’t different from the beginning, then history would be failing in its duty. But if nothing remained the same, history would be unfathomable.

Just now we’re at the half-way point. From today you can (and should) buy the middle book of the series – The Third Section – and when you hit page 237 (out of 474) you will, in some sense, be exactly at the middle. Temporally, you’ll be a little earlier; 43 years from the beginning, 62 from the end. By the end of the book a conception and a death will have marked the true midpoint for the Danilov family. The first two books had one hero – the last two will have another.

The Third Section has a heroine.

Tamara Valentinovna Komarova, the central character of The Third Section, is the same, and is different. She has the same love of her country as Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov; the same faith towards her friends – often misplaced; the same cunning; the same hatred of the voordalak. But, unlike Aleksei Ivanovich, she is a woman – a woman in imperial Russia. She cannot rely on her physical strength, or even upon the respect of her fellow Russians. To defeat, or even survive, the enemy that Aleksei once faced; she can only fall back on her wits, her beauty and her guile. The problems she faces are the same – or at least similar; her solutions to them are quite, quite new.

Vive, as they must surely say in Russia, la différence.

Guest post - Daniel Polansky

2011-08-16T13:00:00.003+03:00

Slums of the Shire

by Daniel Polansky

Occasionally you'll be with a group of people and they'll get to talking about their favorite historical epochs, nostalgic for lives they never led. One person will talk up their childhood love of the Wild West, another reveal a penchant for Victorian England. This last one just has a thing for corsets, but it's better not to call them on it.

When my turn rolls round I take a sip of whatever we're drinking and look at my shoes. “The mid 90's were pretty good,” I say lamely. “Slower internet and everything, but at least we had penicillin.”

Perhaps it's my being a history buff, but the past sucked. For about a millennium and a half after the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe just seems like a real shit place to reside. Lots of rooting in filth until you die at thirty a half mile from where you born. Nominally the nobles had it better, but still, your fever would have been treated with the application of leaches and your pretty young bride had like a one in two chance of surviving child birth.

This probably is why I don't understand fantasy—that is to say that collection of high medieval tropes collected by Tolkien and gleefully reproduced by two generations of descendants.

Take elves for instance—though perfectly capable of imagining a world where higher intelligence evolved in a species separate from humanity, my powers of make believe fail when positing that the relation between said species would be anything beyond unceasing warfare. Even a cursory glance at human history reveals our collective willingness to commit genocide on fellow homo sapiens—how much quicker would we have been to eradicate a separate species competing for identical resources? If elves existed, our ancestors would have hunted them down to extinction and erected a monument to the accomplishment.

But I digress.

Even when nestled comfortably in a quest to kill a dragon or overthrow a dark lord or what have you, strange thoughts plague me. What does the shady side of Gondor look like? How many platinum coins would a dime bag set me back? What is the point of hobbits? They're just short, fat people. People are plenty fat as it is.

Low Town is sort of my attempt to answer some of those questions (not the last one). It's the story of the Warden, a former intelligence agent and current drug dealer, whose gradual slide into self-destruction is briefly checked by the discovery of a dead body in the neighborhood he runs. An ill-timed bout of conscience rattles the easy cage of venality he's built for himself, and leads him on a collision course with the life he'd left behind. The Warden is a guy trying to survive the next few days, and not particularly squeamish as to what that requires—the sort of person more likely to populate a classic crime novel than to be found stocking the fantasy section of your local Borders (RIP).

More broadly, Low Town is an attempt to meld the best aspects of noir with a low fantasy setting—a meeting of tastes which I think complement each other nicely. The spare language and fast pace of good noir offers a pleasant counterpoint to the sprawling—one might even say bloated—length of much modern fantasy. On a somewhat broader level, the tendency of fantasy to focus on world shaking events often renders it irrelevant to the average reader, whose life relatively rarely devolves into single combat against vaguely satanic analogs. By contrast, noir is concerned with the individual, with greed and lust, sins all of us can comprehend to some degree. Low Town centers on the conceit that a world with magic wouldn't be altogether different from a world without it. People are still (on the whole) selfish, stupid creatures, focused almost exclusively on the immediate satisfaction of their basic desires, only now some of them can shoot fire out of their hands.

That's the idea at least. It comes out today (August 16th) in the US and Canada, and on Thursday (August 18th) in the UK and Commonwealth. I hope you check it out and see if I've succeeded, or if I'm just a pretentious clown. Or both.

Cover art - "Final Chronicle of the Dread Empire" series by Glen Cook

2011-08-15T13:16:00.012+03:00

Recently I’ve posted the cover artwork for the new edition of the first volume of Glen Cook’s “The Last Chronicle of the Dread Empire”, “Reap the East Wind”, due to be released by Night Shade Books on October. Last week, Night Shade Books revealed the covers of the next two volumes of the “The Last Chronicle of the Dread Empire” series, the new edition of “An Ill Fate Marshalling” and the original and final “A Path to the Coldness of Heart” (scheduled to be released 20 years ago, but delayed so long because the manuscript was stolen). Once again the artist responsible for these beauties is Raymond Swanland and once again I found myself speechless before his artworks. Especially in front of the cover of “An Ill Fate Marshalling”, that looks absolutely gorgeous. I am eagerly looking forward to buy a copy of these volumes when they will be released, “Reap the East Wind” on October, “An Ill Fate Marshalling” on December and “A Path to the Coldness of Heart” on January 2012, to complete a series of excellent covers for Glen Cook’s “Dread Empire” novels.

It has ended. It begins again. In Kavelin: Lady Nepanthe's new life with the wizard Varthlokkur is disturbed by visions of her lost son, while King Bragi Ragnarson and Michael Trebilcock scheme to help the exiled Princess Mist re-usurp her throne - under their thumb. In Shinsan: a pig-farmer's son takes command of Eastern Army, while Lord Kuo faces plots in his council and a suicide attack of two million Matayangans on his border.
But in the desert beyond the Dread Empire: a young victim of the Great War becomes the Deliverer of an eons-forgotten god, chosen to lead the legions of the dead. And the power of his vengeance will make a world's schemes as petty as dust, blown wild in the horror that rides the east wind.

King Bragi Ragnarson decides to join Chatelain Mist's coup against the Dread Empire. Varthlokkur -- the King's wizard -- tries to dissuade Ragnarson from this chosen path, but only the drum-beat of war is heard. The King's Spymaster Michael Trebilcock joins with the wizard to stave off The Ill Fate Marshaling, to no effect.
Many of the characters from past volumes take center stage, and the climatic events of this book shake the world of the Dread Empire to its very core, creating A Path to Coldness of Heart.

At long last, the conclusion to Glen Cook's Dread Empire saga has arrived! King Bragi Ragnarson is a prisoner, shamed, nameless, and held captive by Lord Shih-kaa and the Empress Mist at the heart of the Dread Empire.
Far away in Kavelin, Bragia's queen and what remains of his army seek to find and free their king, hampered by the loss or desertion of their best and brightest warriors. Kavelina's spymaster, Michael Trebilcock, is missing in action, as is loyal soldier Aral Dantice. Meanwhile, Dane, Duke of Greyfells, seeks to seize the rule of Kavelin and place the kingdom in his pocket, beginning a new line of succession through Bragia's queen, Dane's cousin Inger. And in the highest peaks of the Dragona's Teeth, in the ancient castle Fangdred, the sorcerer called Varthlokkur uses his arts to spy on the world at large, observing the puppet strings that control kings and empires alike, waiting... For the time of the wrath of kings is almost at hand, and vengeance lies along a path to coldness of heart.

"Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories", Marian Coman's fiction available in English

2011-08-12T13:16:00.005+03:00

“I am thinking sometimes that I am a chopping machine. A monstrous chopping machine from which, like endless worms, the words are crawling outside. I am a chopping machine, a silent mill that grinds memories, that crashes readings, music and people, I am a chipped mixer that mingles fragments of dusty myths and caught on the fly ideas, I am a neuronal grater that lays on the paper a compact paste in which the smiles of friends, the grins of strangers, the moans of lovers, the morning coffee or the breakfast eaten at noon can still be read.” (Marian Coman – “White Nights, Black Days”)

The quote from Marian Coman’s “White Nights, Black Days” firmly touches autobiography, although it is from a work of fiction. One work of fiction that has a place high on my list of preferences together with the other Marian Coman’s published fiction book, “The Chocolate Testament”. Indeed the compact paste that Marian Coman lays on paper bares strong emotions and touches intimately the reader. It was the same case with his latest short story, “White Butterfly”, a new piece of fiction after two years of pause.

Still, it was the exclusive privilege of the Romanians to enjoy Marian Coman’s wonderful prose and overflowing imagination. Not anymore. Because for the first time Marian Coman’s fiction is available in English. In electronic format for the moment and I do hope that it will have the chance to be released on paper too. “Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories” features four short pieces of fiction, one better than the other. “Fingers”, “The Bathroom Door”, “Unwired” and “Between Walls” are beautiful choices, poised to make a mark on the reader. They left a mark on me. “Fingers” a fantastic story that shows you an image of a childhood spent under the Communist regime led by Nicolae Ceaușescu. The Romanians have different connections with this story and although others readers do not have the same purchase on its background I believe that they would still find its beauty. “The Bathroom Door” has accents of horror, but it is more than that, “Unwired” has elements of science fiction, while “Between Walls” journeys deep within one of the most essential Romanian myths, giving the respective legend a new dimension.

Marian Coman is part of the group of Romanian modern writers who fully deserve to make appearances on the English market and not only there. I am happy to see that Marian Coman made this first step and his fiction is available to a wider audience. And since I said in my review of “White Nights, Black Days” that: “It also made me think that if I had the power I would force Marian Coman to write more. Better still, I would pay him to do it.”, I opted for the later and bought an electronic copy of “Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories” because I know that those are money well spent.

“A flock of collared doves. Of albatrosses and finches that swarm croaking in an inextricable maze. That’s how the whole lot of children seemed to me, see from the balcony of the apartment I’m living in. I looked at them and I felt as if, as small as I saw them from above, I could catch and crush them between my nails like fleas. To hear their shell crack, with that noise of strawberry seeds stuck between the teeth”. (Marian Coman – “Fingers and Other Fantastic Stories) – available on Amazon.com.

Cover art - "Dead Winter" by C.L. Werner

2011-08-11T13:00:00.002+03:00

One of the best fantasy artists and one of my top favorites is Jon Sullivan. Jon Sullivan’s works are always making me lose time in their admiration, but it is time well spent. Among his wonderful works we can find the cover artworks Jon Sullivan made for The Black Library’s novels, series of covers which would make me buy the novels without much other consideration if I wouldn’t know better. In the near future The Black Library will offer the readers, once again, to delight in one of Jon Sullivan’s covers, realized for one of their Warhammer titles. This time it is C.L. Werner’s “Dead Winter”, due to be released on May 2012. I loved C.L. Werner’s “Grey Seer” and “Temple of the Serpent” novels, featuring the skaven Thanquol, and I am happy to see Jon Sullivan’s artwork on one of C.L. Werner’s novels. Especially since the artwork looks really great, with a terrific atmosphere, excellent details and some nasty looking elements (in the favor of the artwork, of course). A wonderful cover that makes me eagerly await the release of the novel. You can also find more close-up details of the cover on The Black Library’s blog and more amazing artworks by Jon Sullivan on his website.

As for C.L. Werner’s “Dead Winter”, it sounds threatening, but very interesting:

More than a thousand years after the Age of Sigmar, the Empire he struggled to create rests on the edge of destruction – the reign of the greedy and incompetent Emperor Boris Goldgather has shaken down the great and prosperous edifice of his erstwhile realm. Without warning, a terrible and deadly plague strikes, wiping out entire villages and leaving towns eerily silent through the long frozen months. As the survivors struggle to maintain order and a worthy military presence, vermin pour up from the sewers and caverns beneath the cities, heralding a new and unspeakable threat – the insidious skaven!

"Razumov's Tomb" by Darius Hinks

2011-08-10T12:00:00.002+03:00

"Razumov's Tomb"

by Darius Hinks

Publisher: The Black Library

The review is based on a bought copy of the book

As the Chaos moon of Morrslieb veers wildly off course, the Old World is wracked by a series of bizarre plagues. From a lofty spire of the Celestial College, the Empire's Grand Astromancer, Caspar Vyborg, scours the heavens for an explanation, seeking guidance in the stars. But as the Empire sinks further into madness and violence, his order is forced to search stranger places than the night sky - the investigation leads them to the grave of a long-dead sorcerer named Razumov and an ancient, half-remembered prophecy. Caspar decides that his only hope is to complete the dark rituals that killed Razumov centuries earlier, but as Morrslieb waxes full and ferocious magical storms begin to tear the very fabric of reality, Caspar learns the true, terrible nature of Razumov's tomb.

The Warhammer gaming universe came to a turning point this July with the release of Storm of Magic, the largest expansion released to date for this game. The winds of magic blow through the Warhammer universe in great force and maelstroms shatter the world changing the land and unleashing new monsters in this vast setting. This brings major changes to the game, but it is not where my interest lies. Not because I would not be attracted by such a game, but because due to my location and difficulties resulting from it, the Warhammer game and accessories were inaccessible commodities for a very long period of time. However, I did follow the reflection of this universe in the world of fiction, reading as many Black Library’s Warhammer series of novels as possible.

The changes brought by the expansion of the Warhammer universe are only naturally felt on the fiction section too. Darius Hinks’ “Razumov’s Tomb” is the first in a series of three novellas released by Black Library this summer to capture the changes brought by the blowing of the Storm of Magic on the fiction universe of Warhammer. The reader discovers early on the changes suffered by the setting and the awakening of powerful magic. Magic, that comes out with all guns blazing, takes the major role in Darius Hinks’ novella by sheer force. Strange and new creatures roam the land surprising its inhabitants, barely remembered prophecies will come to pass, huge armies of beastmen or undead try to overpower their enemies, one long buried and asleep behemoth will be awaken, all succeed on the “Razumov’s Tomb” canvas to bring the reader a high-speed action story. There is a bit of fighting too, but only as garnish for the main course, the clash of magic.

Caspar Vyborg, Grand Astromancer of the Celestial College, follows a prophecy in the hope that its predicted outcome will not come to pass. Discovering the prophecy and an all too important location is his apprentice, Gabriel Bloch, with whom Caspar will face the blowing winds of magic in unexpected ways. A small conspiracy awaiting the two wizards brings them in plenty of difficult situations, but to some hilarious moments too. Actually, the entire Darius Hinks’ novella is a bit lighter than the usual fiction I read on the Warhammer universe. There is plenty of humor in “Razumov’s Tomb” that lightens the heavy atmosphere, but also a small measure of irony, which brought a great smile for me in the final sequences of the novella. As a matter of fact, the final moments of “Razumov’s Tomb” sweetens plenty of dark consequences left by the winds of magic on the story.

I am not sure how the Storm of Magic affects the Warhammer gaming universe, but on the fiction section it is an interesting change. And although Darius Hinks’ “Razumov’s Tomb” is not a memorable reading, it offers a fantasy story with a quick pulse, full of strange creatures and magic, for those looking for it.

Cover art - "Antiphon" by Ken Scholes (French edition)

2011-08-08T13:00:00.003+03:00

The list of nominees for 2011 World Fantasy Awards contains a few very pleasant surprises for me, one of them being the nomination of Stéphane Marsan and Alain Névant from the French publisher Bragelonne for the Professional Special Award. I am very familiar with the work of Bragelonne, mainly because my love for cover artwork and it is one of the fields where the efforts of Bragelonne are truly exceptional. Some of my favorites cover artworks come from Bragelonne and one that immediately comes to mind is Marc Simonetti’s beautiful cover for Ken Scholes’ “Lamentation”. Bragelonne continued to collaborate with the talented Marc Simonetti for the second novel in Ken Scholes’ “Psalms of Isaak” series, “Canticle”, as well as for the third one, “Antiphon”, due to be released in France on 26th of August. Marc Simonetti made another wonderful cover, although the figure appearing on the “Antiphon” cover artwork isn’t very attractive for me. However, the scene and the general sense of the artwork are at a high level, as is the work of Marc Simonetti usually. Looking over this series of covers and considering the pleasant presence of Bragelonne on the list of World Fantasy Awards nominees I do hope that someday I will see the name of Marc Simonetti on the same list too and why not, on the winners list as well.

Cover art - "Reap the East Wind" by Glen Cook

2011-08-06T10:59:00.002+03:00

I’ve talked about Raymond Swanland's artwork and book covers plenty of times before. So, without much comment here is another excellent mix of Raymond Swanland’s exceptional talent and Glen Cook’s “Dread Empire” series of novels, put together for us once again by Night Shade Books.

"Thirteen Years Later" by Jasper Kent

2011-08-04T13:30:00.003+03:00

"Thirteen Years Later"

by Jasper Kent

Publisher: Bantam Press (UK) & Pyr (USA)

Previous novels in the series: "Twelve"

Review copy received through the courtesy of the UK publisher, Bantam Press

1825. Russia has been at peace for a decade. Bonaparte is long dead and the threat of invasion is no more. For Colonel Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov, life is calm. The French have been defeated, as have the twelve monstrous creatures he once fought alongside, and then against, all those years before. His duty is still to his tsar, Aleksandr the First, but today the enemy is merely human.
However, the tsar himself knows he can never be at peace. He is well aware of the uprising fermenting within his own army, but his true fear is of something far more terrible – something that threatens to bring damnation upon him, his family and his country. Aleksandr cannot forget a promise: a promise sealed in blood … and broken a hundred years before.
Now the victim of the Romanovs’ betrayal has returned to demand what is his. The knowledge chills Aleksandr’s very soul. And for Aleksei, it seems the vile pestilence that once threatened all he held dear has returned, thirteen years later …

Despite a long period of reluctance towards vampires I picked Jasper Kent’s debut novel, “Twelve”, a while back with interest and it proved to be the right choice. As much as I enjoyed “Twelve” and I was looking forward to its sequel, “Thirteen Years Later”, with a constantly growing personal library it took me longer than I expected to start reading the second novel in Jasper Kent’s “The Danilov Quintet”.

1825 finds Russia in the brink of tumultuous changes and Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov is found in the middle of it. However, not only the present keeps Aleksei’s hands full, but also the past with which he tries to find a small portion of peace and which will come alive again in an unexpected and surprising manner. The events that took place thirteen years ago come back into focus and Aleksei finds himself staring directly into his past. The readers unfamiliar with the respective events will find no problem in keeping pace with them, because Jasper Kent keeps track of the past story, without leaving anything aside for the new readers, but also without impending the reading of the present story for those who know them, introducing Aleksei’s past gradually.

I remembered Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov as a pleasant character and this aspect didn’t change. The years have passed over him, but that is only naturally and fortunately Jasper Kent keeps the natural course of life into account when he develops the main character of “Thirteen Years Later” further on. This aspect, but not only, makes Aleksei such a believable character. His interaction and relationships with the other characters add to the construction of his character. Especially those concerning his wife, lover, son, ruler and enemy enforce the outline of the “Thirteen Years Later” main protagonist. He is not a perfect character, but he has enough power to become a memorable one.

“Thirteen Years Later” has two prevailing ingredients, the historical and the speculative. Jasper Kent manages successfully to sustain both of them and to mix them when necessary without altering the result. The speculative aspects make their presence felt more than in the previous novel, “Twelve”, taking the place into the spotlight more often. There are few surprises that enrich the speculative elements, but also a few predictable ones that can be easily guessed. The historical part of the novel is very well executed. There is not one point in which I felt that the setting is misplaced and the story forced to fit the period when it’s taking place. “Thirteen Years Later” gravitates around the legend of the Alexander I of Russia’s mysterious death and Jasper Kent offers the reader his vision on the matter. The historical anxiety Russia passed in December 1825 is excellently captured and with great talent. The mix with the speculative elements of the plot gives Jasper Kent’s story a new dimension and an original interpretation for the legend of Alexander I’s death.

However, on both main ingredients of “Thirteen Years Later” there were a couple of things that didn’t fit into the story very well for me. First of all is the ease with which Aleksei confines in the tsar’s doctors about the voordalaki and the speed with which these two accept the supernatural presence doesn’t seem exactly right. Also, Jasper Kent doesn’t manage to raise the character of Aleksandr Pavlovich Romanov at any moment to the height where the ones surrounding the tsar elevates him to. Another uncomfortable side of the novel is its pace. As I said the readers unfamiliar with the story of “Twelve” and which has a major role in “Thirteen Years Later” will find themselves in no difficulty, because Jasper Kent introduces them to the past events. Although there are no long passages of recollections impeding the reader the past events are mentioned too often and the result is a constant break into rhythm of the story, slowing down its development. It will be an injustice to say that “Thirteen Years Later” is entirely slow though. Split into three sections the novel gathers momentum in each of its parts and each of the three final parts end in action scenes very well paced.

“Twelve” was a wonderful surprise for me at the time of its publication, but “Thirteen Years Later” didn’t rise to the same level with its predecessor. Still, I enjoyed Jasper Kent’s “Thirteen Years Later” for its historical flavor, supernatural twist and hard tried protagonist, Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov. Therefore, I will gladly buy a ticket for the upcoming ride in Jasper Kent’s “The Danilov Quintet”, “The Third Section”.

Title spotlight - "A Book of Horrors" edited by Stephen Jones

2011-08-03T13:00:00.003+03:00

Stephen Jones starts his new anthology, “A Book of Horrors”, wondering about the present situation of the horror genre: “What the hell happened to the horror genre? Whatever happened to menacing monsters, vicious vampires, lethal lycanthropes, ghastly ghosts and monstrous mummies? These days our bloodsuckers are more likely to show their romantic nature, werewolves work for covert government organisations, phantoms are private investigators and the walking dead can be found sipping tea amongst the polite society of a Jane Austen novel.”

I have to say that these days, for me, vampires and zombies are totally lost. I very rarely tend to pick a book up that feature these creatures, mainly because their romantic side looks very odd and unappealing for me. Well, I also have to admit that I don’t mind a few hard boiled, monster private investigators, but only occasionally and I do hope that this doesn’t turn into a fashion as well, because I will see myself running away from it too in that case.

But this time there is no room for the soft part of these creatures, instead Stephen Jones, one of the most prolific editors of the horror fiction, brings this genre back on his rightful track. “A Book of Horrors” is an original anthology of horror and dark fantasy and features some heavy names in its line-up, such as Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Reggie Oliver, Michael Marshall Smith, Elizabeth Hand, Richard Christian Matheson, Caitlín R. Kiernan and John Ajvide Lindqvist, just to name a few. Stephen Jones’ “A Book of Horrors” will be hosted by the newly formed imprint of Quercus Books, Jo Fletcher Books, ran by the excellent former Associate Publisher of Gollancz, Jo Fletcher, and scheduled to be released around Halloween. However, Stephen Jones’ “A Book of Horror” comes in two limited editions as well, co-published by Cemetery Dance Publications and PS Publishing, one thousand copies signed by Stephen Jones and Les Edwards (who made yet another awesome cover) and one hundred copies of the traycased edition signed by all the contributors. I am not sure if I can afford one of these limited editions, certainly not the traycased edition, but I would certainly pick a copy of Jo Fletcher Books edition, because Stephen Jones’ “A Book of Horrors” looks too good to be passed by.

Open this book at your own peril! That is because this volume is exactly what it say on the cover—A Book of Horrors contains all-original stories by some of the most successful and exciting names in modern horror fiction. For the first time in many years, here is an original anthology of horror and dark fantasy in all its many and magnificent guises—from classic pulp-style tales of Dark and Stormy Nights, through more contemporary and psychological terrors, to the type of cutting-edge fiction that only the very best horror fiction can deliver. Brought together from around the world by World Fantasy Award-winning editor Stephen Jones, one of Britain's most acclaimed and experienced anthologists of horror fiction, here are many of the authors who have helped shaped the genre in all of its forms, along with terrifying tales of unease by a new generation of storytellers devoted to the Dark Side. But be warned: once you begin to delve within these pages, your imagination and senses will be assaulted by terrors both grim and gruesome, literary and lethal, that will stay with you long after you have closed its covers and tried to put aside the images and situations which have wormed their way deep within your mind. Don't blame us for the bad dreams or cold sweats that these tales will induce. We did tell you—this is A Book of Horrors, and once you open it there is no way that these scarifying stories will ever be forgotten... no matter how much you wish that the nightmares will just go away!

“Introduction: Whatever Happened To Horror?” by Stephen Jones
“The Little Green God of Agony” by Stephen King
“Charcloth, Firesteel and Flint” by Caitlín R. Kiernan
“Ghosts With Teeth” by Peter Crowther
“The Coffin-Maker’s Daughter” by Angela Slatter
“Roots and All” by Brian Hodge
“Tell Me I’ll See You Again” by Dennis Etchison
“The Music Of Bengt Karlsson, Murderer” by John Ajvide Lindqvist
“Getting It Wrong” by Ramsey Campbell
“Alice Through The Plastic Sheet” by Robert Shearman
“The Man In The Ditch” by Lisa Tuttle
“A Child’s Problem” by Reggie Oliver
“Sad, Dark Thing” by Michael Marshall Smith
“Near Zennor” by Elizabeth Hand
“Last Words” by Richard Christian Matheson

2011 World Fantasy Awards nominees

2011-08-01T13:00:00.002+03:00

The 2011 World Fantasy Awards nominees have been announced, together with the winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Angélica Gorodischer and Peter S. Beagle are the winners of the 2011 World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award. I am especially thrilled for Miss Gorodischer’s award since I loved her collection “Kalpa Imperial” published by Small Beer Press and I hope that this award will make available in English other works of her as well.

The nominees for the World Fantasy Awards, due to be presented at World Fantasy Convention held in San Diego CA between October 27th and 30th, are:

BEST NOVEL:
“Zoo City” by Lauren Beukes (Jacana South Africa; Angry Robot)
“The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms” by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
“The Silent Land” by Graham Joyce (Gollancz; Doubleday)
“Under Heaven” by Guy Gavriel Kay (Viking Canada; Roc; Harper Voyager UK)
“Redemption In Indigo” by Karen Lord (Small Beer)
“Who Fears Death” by Nnedi Okorafor (DAW)

BEST NOVELLA:
“Bone and Jewel Creatures” by Elizabeth Bear (Subterranean)
“The Broken Man” by Michael Byers (PS)
“The Maiden Flight of McCauley’s Bellerophon” by Elizabeth Hand (Stories: All-New Tales)
“The Thief of Broken Toys” by Tim Lebbon (ChiZine Publications)
“The Mystery Knight” by George R.R. Martin (Warriors)
“The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen’s Window” by Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Summer 2010)

BEST SHORT FICTION:
“Beautiful Men” by, Christopher Fowler (Visitants: Stories of Fallen Angels and Heavenly Hosts)
“Booth’s Ghost” by Karen Joy Fowler (What I Didn’t See and Other Stories)
“Ponies” by Kij Johnson (Tor.com 11/17/10)
“Fossil-Figures” by Joyce Carol Oates (Stories: All-New Tales)
“Tu Sufrimiento Shall Protect Us” by Mercurio D. Rivera (Black Static 8-9/10)

BEST ANTHOLOGY:
“The Way of the Wizard” edited by John Joseph Adams (Prime)
“My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me” edited by Kate Bernheimer (Penguin)
“Haunted Legends” edited by Ellen Datlow & Nick Mamatas (Tor)
“Stories: All-New Tales” edited by Neil Gaiman & Al Sarrantonio (Morrow; Headline Review)
“Black Wings: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror” edited by S.T. Joshi (PS)
“Swords & Dark Magic” edited by Jonathan Strahan & Lou Anders (Eos)

BEST COLLECTION:
“What I Didn’t See and Other Stories” by Karen Joy Fowler (Small Beer)
“The Ammonite Violin & Others” by Caitlín R. Kiernan (Subterranean)
“Holiday” by M. Rickert (Golden Gryphon)
“Sourdough and Other Stories” by Angela Slatter (Tartarus)
“The Third Bear” by Jeff VanderMeer (Tachyon)

BEST ARTIST:
Vincent Chong
Kinuko Y. Craft
Richard A. Kirk
John Picacio
Shaun Tan

SPECIAL AWARD, PROFESSIONAL:
John Joseph Adams, for editing and anthologies
Lou Anders, for editing at Pyr
Marc Gascoigne, for Angry Robot
Stéphane Marsan & Alain Névant, for Bragelonne
Brett Alexander Savory & Sandra Kasturi, for ChiZine Publications

SPECIAL AWARD, NON-PROFESSIONAL:
Stephen Jones, Michael Marshall Smith, & Amanda Foubister, for Brighton Shock!: The Souvenir Book Of The World Horror Convention 2010
Alisa Krasnostein, for Twelfth Planet Press
Matthew Kressel, for Sybil’s Garage and Senses Five Press
Charles Tan, for Bibliophile Stalker
Lavie Tidhar, for The World SF Blog

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Yet another period of silence

2011-07-20T15:00:00.000+03:00

It seems that 2011 is a very busy year from many points of view. Another working project requires my attention these days, leaving me only with only the barest of free time. Since my family needs my attention too, I can only cut from my online presence for the time being. So, for the next couple of days and next week I will not be able to post on my blog, as much as I would like to. I will return at the beginning of August, but only for a brief period since that month is the month of my summer vacation and I will be leaving in a much anticipated holiday. However, from September I hope that my online presence will become consistent again. Until we see each other again I hope that you’ll have a great time and plenty of wonderful readings :)

Cover art - "The Lord of the Changing Winds" by Rachel Neumeier (German edition)

2011-07-15T11:45:00.002+03:00

Alexander Preuss made some excellent covers for the editions of Joe Abercrombie’s novels, “Before They Are Hanged” and “Last Argument of Kings”, published by Subterranean Press, as well as the interior illustrations of the respective editions. The very talented German artist also worked with Centipede Press before for other beautiful covers and illustrations, that time for Gene Wolfe’s editions of “The Shadow of the Torturer”, “The Claw of the Conciliator” and “The Sword of the Lictor” released by Centipede Press. Recently I discovered another cover baring the signature of Alexander Preuss, the artwork for the cover of the German edition of Rachel Neumeier’s “The Lord of the Changing Winds”. I was aware of Rachel Neumeier’s novel when it was released last year by Orbit Books, but I have to admit that I let it slip under my radar without giving it much thought. However, Alexander Preuss’ artwork drew my attention back to “The Lord of the Changing Winds”, because it looks good and certainly better than the cover of the English edition in my opinion. It is a reflection of the title, but it has appeal and despite the fact that it bares the mark of a typical fantasy cover, I like it. I like it even more in its original form, one that can be found on Alexander Preuss’ CG Society portfolio and that has plenty of little and beautiful details that are missed due to different reasons on the smaller version of the cover. The German edition of Rachel Neumeier’s “The Lord of the Changing Winds”, “Der Greifenmagier: Herr der Winde” is published by Bastei Lübbe and is due to be released on October. I am not sure about Rachel Neumeier’s novel, I am inclined to give it a chance when Orbit Books will release later this year the omnibus containing it and the other two novels in “The Griffin Mage” trilogy, but I most certain that I will follow with great pleasure Alexander Preuss’ career from now on.

Title spotlight - "The Book of Cthulhu" edited by Ross E. Lockhart

2011-07-13T14:30:00.003+03:00

Cthulhu is in power this year! And how he cannot be when a new anthology dedicated to the mighty elder god will be released this year. After Innsmouth Free Press released “Historical Lovecraft” edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Paula R. Stiles on April (I finished a quarter of this collection already) and Prime Books announced the release of “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird”, an anthology edited by Paula Guran, on November, Night Shade Books brings its offering to the Great Old One through “The Book of Cthulhu”, an anthology edited by Ross E. Lockhart and due to be released on September. I admit that I succumbed to the powers of Cthulhu and I followed his appearances on fiction ever since my first encounter with him. It comes naturally then to eagerly await his new manifestation this autumn, especially since some heavy writers will invoke his name in Ross E. Lockhart’s anthology, such as Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Ligotti, Joe R. Lansdale, Brian Lumley or Gene Wolfe.

An interesting fact is that with certainty some of the names appearing on “The Book of Cthulhu” table of contents are true followers of the Old One since the same names appear on the table of contents of “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird” too. Laird Barron, Caitlin R. Kiernan, John Langan, Tim Pratt, W.H. Pugmire and Michael Shea have stories on both Ross E. Lockhart and Paula Guran’s anthologies, while Elizabeth Bear (“Shoggoths in Bloom”), Steve Duffy (“The Oram County Whoosit”), Cherie Priest (“Bad Sushi”) and Charles Stross (“A Colder War”) try to win Cthulhu’s favor with the same story. Despite the fact that these four stories are published on both “The Book Cthulhu” and “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird” they make only approximately 15% of similar content for the both anthologies and doesn’t impede my wish to read these two collections.

Besides a strong line-up of writers, Ross E. Lickhart’s “The Book of Cthulhu” has also a very appealing cover art. Made by the Polish artist nicknamed Obrotowy (since I could not find more information about the artist I believe it is a nickname, but I am not sure) the artwork sets perfectly the tone, in terms of mood and colors, for “The Book of Cthulhu”. I also like the lettering of the cover, which together with the excellent cover artwork have the perfect visual impact for me. As I said in plenty occasions before, it is a book that will catch my eye from a bookshop’s shelves before knowing what it is about or who is the author, in this case the editor. I would pick it up and the next things to be found would be the synopsis and the table of contents:

Ia! Ia! Cthulhu Fhtagn!
First described by visionary author H. P. Lovecraft, the Cthulhu mythos encompass a pantheon of truly existential cosmic horror: Eldritch, uncaring, alien god-things, beyond mankind's deepest imaginings, drawing ever nearer, insatiably hungry, until one day, when the stars are right....
As that dread day, hinted at within the moldering pages of the fabled Necronomicon, draws nigh, tales of the Great Old Ones: Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, Hastur, Azathoth, Nyarlathotep, and the weird cults that worship them have cross-pollinated, drawing authors and other dreamers to imagine the strange dark aeons ahead, when the dead-but-dreaming gods return.
Now, intrepid anthologist Ross E. Lockhart has delved deep into the Cthulhu canon, selecting from myriad mind-wracking tomes the best sanity-shattering stories of cosmic terror. Featuring fiction by many of today's masters of the menacing, macabre, and monstrous, The Book of Cthulhu goes where no collection of Cthulhu mythos tales has before: to the very edge of madness... and beyond!
Do you dare open The Book of Cthulhu? Do you dare heed the call?

“Andromeda among the Stones” by Caitlin R. Kiernan
“The Tugging” by Ramsey Campbell
“A Colder War” by Charles Stross
“The Unthinkable” by Bruce Sterling
“Flash Frame” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
“Some Buried Memory” by W. H. Pugmire
“The Infernal History of the Ivybridge Twins” by Molly Tanzer
“Fat Face” by Michael Shea
“Shoggoths in Bloom” by Elizabeth Bear
“Black Man With A Horn” by T. E. D. Klein
“Than Curse the Darkness” by David Drake
“Jeroboam Henley's Debt” by Charles R. Saunders
“Nethescurial” by Thomas Ligotti
“Calamari Curls” by Kage Baker
“Jihad over Innsmouth” by Edward Morris
“Bad Sushi” by Cherie Priest
“The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife” by John Hornor Jacobs
“The Doom that Came to Innsmouth” by Brian McNaughton
“Lost Stars” by Ann K. Schwader
“The Oram County Whoosit” by Steve Duffy
“The Crawling Sky” by Joe R. Lansdale
“The Fairground Horror” by Brian Lumley
“Cinderlands” by Tim Pratt
“Lord of the Land” by Gene Wolfe
“To Live and Die in Arkham” by Joseph S. Pulver, Sr.
“The Shallows” by John Langan
“The Men from Porlock” by Laird Barron

Book trailer - "The Straight Razor Cure" by Daniel Polansky

2011-07-11T13:20:00.001+03:00

One of the review copies that arrived in my mailbox recently is Daniel Polansky’s “The Straight Razor Cure”, received through the courtesy of Hodder & Stoughton, and it is the one that caught my attention almost instantly. Daniel Polansky’s debut novel, due to be released in the UK on 18th of August by Hodder & Stoughton under the title “The Straight Razor Cure” and in the US on 16th of August by Doubleday under the title “Low Town”, comes with some very interesting premises and sounds dark and gritty, characteristics that lately are on high demand in my preferences when it comes to fantasy novels. Dark and gritty is the book trailer too and quite interesting as well. Short, but pretty efficient, it stirred my interest and picked my curiosity further on, although I have to admit that a small part of acting within it looks a bit overly dramatic. Still, I believe that it achieves its purpose, together with the synopsis which with your permission I will quote again. I am really curious now how Daniel Polansky’s “The Straight Razor Cure” will prove to be.

Welcome to Low Town. Here, the criminal is king. The streets are filled with the screeching of fish hags, the cries of swindled merchants, the inviting murmurs of working girls. Here, people can disappear, and the lacklustre efforts of the guard ensure they are never found.
Warden is an ex-soldier who has seen the worst men have to offer; now a narcotics dealer with a rich, bloody past and a way of inviting danger. You`d struggle to find someone with a soul as dark and troubled as his.
But then a missing child, murdered and horribly mutilated, is discovered in an alley.
And then another.
With a mind as sharp as a blade and an old but powerful friend in the city, he`s the only man with a hope of finding the killer.
If the killer doesn`t find him first.

In the mailbox

2011-07-09T12:28:00.006+03:00

Although speculative fiction takes the lion’s share of my readings, science fiction seems to be the poor sister of fantasy and horror and is often left with only the crumbs from their rich meal of books. Looking over the latest arrivals in my mailbox it seems that once again science fiction will not get any reprieved and it still has to wait for a sit at the table. I am not sure about "Heaven’s Shadow", because it doesn’t appeal to me too much. "The Departure" on the other hand sounds interesting, but I was thinking of starting with an earlier novel by Neal Asher and maybe later with his new series. However, the fantasy section is another matter entirely. Mark Charan Newton’s "Legends of the Red Sun" is a series that I enjoyed so far, so "The Book of Transformation" will satisfy my curiosity about the events that follow "Nights of Villjamur" and "City of Ruin". Col Buchanan’s "Stands a Shadow" is the second novel in his "Heart of the World" series, of which I heard only good things, therefore both his books are close to my top of reading list. Daniel Polansky’s "The Straight Razor Cure" sounds really interesting and its synopsis appealed to me instantly, so it is a book that I am willing to read very soon.

It occurred to me, that for sometime I do have copies of three books that I received but did not showcase do to their arrival in electronic format. "Scenes from the Second Storey" is an anthology that gathered praise on the Australian speculative fiction scene, Lavie Tidhar’s "Osama" is put in an interesting light with the recent global events and "Black Gate" is a magazine that I wished for quite a while to start reading and recently I had the pleasure to receive a review copy from John O’Neill, the publisher and editor of "Black Gate" magazine.

- "The Book of Transformation" by Mark Charan Newton (through the courtesy of Tor UK);

A new and corrupt Emperor seeks to rebuild the ancient structures of Villjamur to give the people of the city hope in the face of great upheaval and an oppressing ice age. But when a stranger called Shalev arrives, empowering a militant underground movement, crime and terror becomes rampant. The Inquisition is always one step behind, and military resources are spread thinly across the Empire. So Emperor Urtica calls upon cultists to help construct a group to eliminate those involved with the uprising, and calm the populace. But there’s more to The Villjamur Knights than just phenomenal skills and abilities - each have a secret that, if exposed, could destroy everything they represent. Investigator Fulcrom of the Villjamur Inquisition is given the unenviable task of managing the Knights’, but his own skills are tested when a mysterious priest, who has travelled from beyond the fringes of the Empire, seeks his help. The priest’s existence threatens the church, and his quest promises to unweave the fabric of the world. And in a distant corner of the Empire, the enigmatic cultist Dartun Súr steps back into this world, having witnessed horrors beyond his imagination. Broken, altered, he and the remnants of his cultist order are heading back to Villjamur. And all eyes turn to the Sanctuary City, for Villjamur’s ancient legends are about to be shattered . . .

- "Stands a Shadow" by Col Buchanan (through the courtesy of Tor UK);

Still grieving the death of her son, the Holy Matriarch of Mann has ordered her troops to embark on a mission to the Mercian Free Ports. Riding at the head of her army she plans to finally conquer the city of Bar-Khos, whose walls have kept them at bay for ten long years.
Ash has other plans for her. The old Rōshun warrior is determined that he will have vengeance for the crimes she has committed. But such a course of retribution is in direct opposition to everything he has lived for – this isn’t a Rōshun vendetta – it’s personal.
While Ash battles with his conscience, Ché, the Matriarch’s personal Diplomat and assassin, is questioning his own path. Watching as the Mannian army slaughters their way across the world, he wonders whether he believes any of the doctrine he has been taught to follow.
As the battle for Bar-Khos intensifies, more and more lives are affected: Bahn who leaves all he loves in the city to try to protect it from the ravening Mannian empire, Bull the murderer who senses a chance to make things right, and Curl, the young prostitute who is determined to seek her own retribution on the field of battle.
When the two armies clash – all looks set to be decided. But it’s not sheer force that will win this battle. But the tormented determination of one man seeking redemption . . .

- "The Departure" by Neal Asher (through the courtesy of Tor UK);

Visible in the night sky the Argus Station, its twin smelting plants like glowing eyes, looks down on nightmare Earth. From Argus the Committee keep an oppressive control: citizens are watched by cams systems and political officers, it's a world inhabited by shepherds, reader guns, razor birds and the brutal Inspectorate with its white tiled cells and pain inducers.
Soon the Committee will have the power to edit human minds, but not yet, twelve billion human being need to die before Earth can be stabilized, but by turning large portions of Earth into concentration camps this is achievable, especially when the Argus satellite laser network comes fully online . . .
This is the world Alan Saul wakes to in his crate on the conveyor to the Calais incinerator. How he got there he does not know, but he does remember the pain and the face of his interrogator. Informed by Janus, through the hardware implanted in his skull, about the world as it is now Saul is determined to destroy it, just as soon as he has found out who he was, and killed his interrogator . . .

- "Heaven's Shadow" by David S. Goyer and Michael Cassutt (through the courtesy of Tor UK);

Heaven’s Shadow begins with the discovery of an object of unknown origin headed toward Earth. Speculation as to what it might be runs high, and leads to an international competition to be the first to land on it, to claim both the prestige and whatever other benefits there might be. Thus, two rival teams of astronauts begin a thrilling and dangerous race – but what they find when they reach their goal will turn out to be unlike anything they could have imagined . . .
What they have landed on is no asteroid but a spacecraft from a civilization that has travelled tens of thousands of years to reach earth. While the team try to work out what it is they are needed for, more sinister occurrences cause them to wonder if their involvement with this alien race will ead to anything but harm for humanity.

- "The Straight Razor Cure" by Daniel Polansky (through the courtesy of Hodder);

- "Scenes from the Second Storey" edited by Amanda Pillar & Pete Kempshall (through the courtesy of Amanda Pillar);

Scenes from the Second Storey is an anthology that pays homage to an album that Morrigan Books’ publisher, Mark S. Deniz, believes is one of the greatest of all time; Scenes from the Second Storey, by The God Machine.
Each story in this collection has been inspired by a track from the album. Quirky, dark, insightful and sometimes downright disturbing, these tales reflect the emotions and images our authors experienced when they heard ‘their’ song from Scenes from the Second Storey.
In Scenes, you will meet a girl struggling to find cleanliness in a world full of corruption with Kaaron Warren; follow the twisted mental pathways of the egocentric with Robert Hood; watch two men search for enlightenment down a dark path with Paul Haines; and dance with a girl struggling to find her role within society with Cat Sparks.
These snippets are a mere taste of what you will discover between the covers of this anthology. If you love The God Machine or are looking for a collection that boasts a stable of talented Australian writers, you must grab a copy of Scenes.

- "Osama" by Lavie Tidhar (through the courtesy of Lavie Tidhar);

In a world without global terrorism Joe, a private detective, is hired by a mysterious woman to find a man: the obscure author of pulp fiction novels featuring one Osama Bin Laden: Vigilante...
Joe’s quest to find the man takes him across the world, from the backwaters of Asia to the European Capitals of Paris and London, and as the mystery deepens around him there is one question he is trying hard not to ask: who is he, really, and how much of the books is fiction? Chased by unknown assailants, Joe’s identity slowly fragments as he discovers the shadowy world of the refugees, ghostly entities haunting the world in which he lives. Where do they come from? And what do they want? Joe knows how the story should end, but even he is not ready for the truths he’ll find in New York and, finally, on top a quiet hill above Kabul—nor for the choice he will at last have to make...
In Osama, Lavie Tidhar brilliantly delves into the post-9/11 global subconscious, mixing together elements of film noir, non-fiction, alternative history and international thriller to create an unsettling—yet utterly compelling—portrayal of our times.

- "Black Gate", issue 15, Spring 2011 (through the courtesy of John O'Neill).

The theme of our massive 15th issue, captured beautifully by Donato Giancola’s striking cover, is Warrior Women. Eight authors — Jonathan L. Howard, Maria V. Snyder, Frederic S. Durbin, Sarah Avery, Paula R. Stiles, Emily Mah, S. Hutson Blount, and Brian Dolton — contribute delightful tales of female warriors, wizards, weather witches, thieves, and other brave women as they face deadly tombs, sinister gods, unquiet ghosts, and much more.
Frederic S. Durbin takes us to a far land where two dueling gods pit their champions against each other in a deadly race to the World’s End. Brian Dolton offers us a tale of Ancient China, a beautiful occult investigator, and a very peculiar haunting. And Jonathan L. Howard returns to our pages with "The Shuttered Temple," the sequel to "The Beautiful Corridor" from Black Gate 13, in which the resourceful thief Kyth must penetrate the secrets of a mysterious and very lethal temple.
What else is in BG 15? Howard Andrew Jones bring us a lengthy excerpt from his blockbuster novel The Desert of Souls, featuring the popular characters Dabir & Asim. Harry Connolly returns after too long an absence with "Eating Venom," in which a desperate soldier faces a basilisk’s poison — and the treachery it brings. John C. Hocking kicks off a terrific new sword & sorcery series with "A River Through Darkness & Light," featuring a dedicated Archivist who leads a small band into a deadly desert tomb; John Fultz shares the twisted fate of a thief who dares fantastic dangers to steal rare spirits indeed in "The Vintages of Dream," and Vaughn Heppner kicks off an exciting new sword & sorcery series as a young warrior flees the spawn of a terrible god through the streets of an ancient city in "The Oracle of Gog."
Plus fiction from Darrell Schweitzer, Jamie McEwan, Michael Livingston, Chris Willrich, Fraser Ronald, Derek Künsken, Jeremiah Tolbert, Nye Joell Hardy, and Rosamund Hodge!
In our generous non-fiction section, Mike Resnick educates us on the best in black & white fantasy cinema, Bud Webster turns his attention to the brilliant Tom Reamy in his Who? column on 20th Century fantasy authors, Scott Taylor challenges ten famous fantasy artists to share their vision of a single character in Art Evolution, and Rich Horton looks at the finest fantasy anthologies of the last 25 years. Plus over 30 pages of book, game, and DVD reviews, edited by Bill Ward, Howard Andrew Jones, and Andrew Zimmerman Jones — and a brand new Knights of the Dinner Table strip.

Thank you all very much!

"Banquet for the Damned" by Adam L.G. Nevill

2011-07-07T13:00:00.004+03:00

"Banquet for the Damned"

by Adam L.G. Nevill

Format: Paperback, 368 pages

Publisher: Virgin Books

Review copy received through the courtesy of the publisher, Virgin Books

Few believed Professor Coldwell was in touch with an unseen world - that he could commune with spirits. But in Scotland’s oldest university town something has passed from darkness into light. And now the young are being haunted by night terrors. And those who are visited disappear.

This is certainly not a place for outsiders, especially at night. So what chance do a rootless musician and burnt-out explorer have of surviving their entanglement with an ageless supernatural evil and the ruthless cult that worships it?

Adam Nevill published three novels already, the latest, “The Ritual”, released was this year. With the occasion of “The Ritual” publishing I contemplated reading Adam Nevill’s novel, but on a second thought I wondered if it were not better to see where his journey in the world of publishing had started. With this idea in mind I’ve started reading his debut novel, “Banquet for the Damned”, instead of Adam Nevill’s latest release.

“Banquet for the Damned” is a book that brought a small measure of success to Professor Coldwell and a few of devoted fans. One such admirer is Dante Shaw, a musician who receives his lifetime’s dream opportunity when Professor Eliot Coldwell invites him to assist his researches. With a concept album based on his most favorite book in sight Dante, together with his friend and fellow band member, journeys to the city of St. Andrews to meet his idol. The entire story of “Banquet for the Damned”, this time Adam L.G. Nevill’s novel, is set in the Scottish town, with the St. Andrews University an important part of the story as well. Although not entirely, the author manages to make the setting a vivid component of his story. It is true that sometimes I could not get an exact feeling of the location, but very often the setting joins and sets the mood of a particular scene. It is not worked perfectly, but it is more than a cardboard stage set, present only to set a surrounding for the characters to move on.

Eliot Coldwell is the reason for the presence in St. Andrews of one of the main characters, Dante Shaw, but also he is a key figure of the plot. However, he is the only character from those with a substantial presence within the story who is under-developed. All the supernatural elements of “Banquet for the Damned” have a connection with Professor Eliot Coldwell in one way or another, but these connections and a few features of his personality raised questions that remained unanswered in the end. The other characters suffer a bit too, Dante Shaw and Hart Miller seem to be a little stereotypical, but fortunately they do not bother the reader and I did not perceive them as a burden. I did like Hart Miller more, but that is a question of personal preference than anything else. However, I had more doubt about some of the minor characters. Dante’s friend, Tom, is refered only by his first name for the entire length of the novel and discarded easily at some point and without any other consideration. I don’t have any problem with Adam L.G. Nevill referring to the character only by his first name, well maybe just a very small one, but I believe that the story would have been benefited more from the development of this character and his relationship with Dante. Also, the presence of a few side characters towards the end comes a bit unexpected and convenient.

These can be seen as inconveniences, but none of the small issues I had with “Banquet for the Damned” are a major hindrance for the story. The story, however, is the strongest point of Adam L.G. Nevill’s novel. Adam L.G. Nevill builds a mystery, starting from a very strong prologue and continuing it page by page, blending together palpable and psychological terrors in an excellent mix. The supernatural is the center-point of the plot, but nothing related to its enigma is revealed suddenly or pulled out of the hat. The final scenes of “Banquet for the Damned” throw a light on the human element of the story as well, increasing the strength of the plot and the unsettling feeling of the story. There is almost nothing graphical at the Adam L.G. Nevill’s novel, the terrifying elements originating from the power of mind and imagination rather from the visual effects of violence. All the better, since such fears prove to be more frightening most of the times.

“Banquet for the Damned” is not the best of debuts, but it is a good story and I enjoyed it. I felt on some places that the novel could have been shorter, due to a couple of over-stretched and dragging moments, but otherwise it revealed a talented writer. I am happy that I started with Adam L.G. Nevill’s debut novel, because now I am certain that his works can only grow and become better.

Title spotlight - "House of Fear" edited by Jonathan Oliver

2011-07-06T12:00:00.003+03:00

Solitude around derelict and haunted houses, with the wind constantly whistling. Or is it something else making itself heard? These premises are right up my alley and these are a part of the reasons for my attention being drawn towards Jonathan Oliver’s new and upcoming anthology, “House of Fear”. More such reasons are the other edited anthology by Jonathan Oliver, “The End of the Line”, which comes with plenty of excellent recommendations (it is one I wished to read last year but which unfortunately still waits patiently on my book shelves) and another strong line-up of authors including some of my favorites, such as Sarah Pinborough, Tim Lebbon, Adam L.G. Nevill, Christopher Fowler or Joe R. Lansdale. Enough reasons for me to eagerly await the release of Jonathan Oliver’s anthology, “House of Fear”, due to be made by Solaris Books on September, 27th in the US and October 1st, in the UK. Also I am happy to see that “House of Fear” is released a bit later this year, because I now have the opportunity to catch up with Jonathan Oliver’s other anthology, “The End of the Line”, especially since it looks like I will have a quiet and peaceful summer vacation this year.

The tread on the landing outside the door, when you know you are the only one in the house. The wind whistling through the eves, carrying the voices of the dead. The figure glimpsed briefly through the cracked window of a derelict house.

Editor Jonathan Oliver brings horror home with a collection of haunted house stories by some of the finest writers working in the horror genre, including Joe R. Lansdale, Sarah Pinborough, Lisa Tuttle, Christopher Priest, Adam L. G. Nevill, Nicholas Royle, Chaz Brenchley, Christopher Fowler, Gary Kilworth, Weston Ochse, Eric Brown, Tim Lebbon, Nina Allan, Stephen Volk, Paul Meloy and more.

“Objects in Dreams may be Closer than they Appear” by Lisa Tuttle
“Pied-a-terre” by Stephen Volk
“In The Absence of Murdock” by Terry Lamsley
“Florrie” by Adam L.G. Nevill
“Driving The Milky Way” by Weston Ochse
“The Windmill” by Rebecca Levene
“Moretta” by Garry Kilworth
“Hortus Conclusus” by Chaz Brenchley
“The Dark Space in The House in The House in The Garden at The Centre of The World” by Robert Shearman
“The Muse of Copenhagen” by Nina Allan
“An Injustice” by Christopher Fowler
“The Room Upstairs” by Sarah Pinborough
“Villanova” by Paul Meloy
“Widow's Weeds” by Christopher Priest
“The Doll's House” by Jonathan Green
“Inside/Out” by Nicholas Royle
“The House” by Eric Brown
“Trick of The Light” by Tim Lebbon
“What Happened to Me” by Joe R. Lansdale

In the news

2011-07-05T13:00:00.002+03:00

Last night I’ve started Jasper Kent’s “Thirteen Years Later”. Finally. I reached only 50 pages, but I was immediately caught and besides that I wish to go back as soon as possible and lose myself in Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov’s adventures I was left wondering what took me so long to start reading the second novel in Jasper Kent’s “Danilov Quintet”. Especially since I loved “Twelve”, the first novel of the series. Well, better late than never.

The good news, however, is that Jasper Kent’s series will be true to its name and actually be a quintet, hosted by Transworld imprint, Bantam Press. Initially, Transworld and Jasper Kent reached an agreement for the first three novels of the “Danilov Quintet”, but since May this year the publisher acquired the rights for the final two novels as well. I am very happy to find this news, because as I mentioned in the beginning, I loved “Twelve” and I am bewitched by “Thirteen Years Later” so far. That’s why I believe that I will be ready for more and I will be willing to go all the way to the end of the “Danilov Quintet”, starting with “The Third Section”, due to be released on August, and followed by the fourth and fifth novels, both published by Bantam Press sometime in the future.

Cover art - "Percepliquis" by Michael J. Sullivan

2011-07-01T13:00:00.006+03:00

I am behind with a few things and one of them is Michael J. Sullivan’s “The Riyria Revelations” novels, “The Emerald Storm” and “Wintertide”. Although I do have both of them due to the courtesy of the author and his lovely wife my new and ever-changing schedule prevented me to read them so far. However I am determined to finish these novels in the course of this summer. Especially since the sixth and last volume of the series looms on the horizon.

“Percepliquis” release date was delayed more than once if I am not mistaken. One of the reasons for such a delay was a very interesting and very pleasant piece of information, Michael J. Sullivan received an offer for a new home for his “Riyria Revelations”, at Orbit Books. It is well deserved and I am happy to see Michael J. Sullivan reach a wider market, because “The Crown Conspiracy” was an unexpected and pleasant surprise for me, strongly confirmed afterwards by “Avempartha” and “Nyphron Rising”.

Another thing that made “The Riyria Revelations” an even more interesting series is that the cover artworks are created by the author himself. A series of simple, but evoking covers, enough to tease the appetite of the viewer and with an appealing color scheme. “Percepliquis” benefits from the same treatment, although I cannot say that it is my favorite, that honor goes to “Nyphron Rising”. In this case, something about the ship doesn’t seem right to me, but I have to admit that it still is a strong cover, that falls in the line of the previous ones and gives the series further solidity. It is great that Orbit Books allowed the release of “Percepliquis” on its own for the benefit of the fans and readers of the series who followed the adventures Hadrian Blackwater and Royce Melborn so far, because they opted for the publication of “The Riyria Revelations” in three volumes containing the six novels. It is a very nice gesture indeed. And although Orbit covers made by Larry Rostant are not bad, my reluctance towards characters on book covers make Michael J. Sullivan’s own designed covers my favorites.

“Percepliquis” will be released on January 2012 by Ridan Publishing and Orbit Books will release the first volume, “Theft of Swords”, on November 2011, the second, “Rise of Empire”, on December 2011 and the third and final volume, “Heir of Novron”, on January 2012.

Here is also the synopsis of Michael J. Sullivan’s “Percepliquis”:

I saw a great journey. Ten upon the road, she who wears the light will lead the way. The road goes deep into the earth, and into despair. The voices of the dead guide your steps. You walk back in time. The three-thousand-year battle begins again. Cold grips the world, death comes to all, and a choice is before you.

Percepliquis is the final installment of the epic fantasy, The Riyria Revelations. In this saga that began with The Crown Conspiracy, two thieves caught in the right place at the wrong time were launched on a series of ever escalating adventures that have all lead to this moment. Three thousand years have passed and the time for Novron’s heir to act has arrived.

Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 57, June 2011

2011-06-29T12:30:00.004+03:00

Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 57, June 2011

“Semiramis” by Genevieve Valentine – With the world heavily affected by a global climate dramatic change, the narrator, who is the administrator of the Svalbard Seed Vault, has a personal plan besides monitoring the seed conservation. The story is set into an apocalyptic future, where the world is partially flooded, with the level of water still rising. “Semiramis” has the touch of a biblical theme, but with a definite human touch, guessed in the case of the global climate change and experienced at first hand in the case of the birds populating the Svalbard’s cliffs. The story also has a certain depressing and hopelessness feeling, accentuated by the narrator’s desires, probably never to be fulfilled, to see something he planted grow or the flowers blossom into their known colors, but which he can only imagine by looking at their seeds. Despite the fact that “Semiramis” does not have much of a plot or conflict, the reasons behind the narrator’s actions remain a mystery, after all he is a mystery himself, I really liked Genevieve Valentine’s story. It has a bitter taste and it hits too close to our day to day reality, but it is delivered with a beautiful, personal touch.

“Trickster” by Mari Ness – In a fantastical world, the hero of the story is asked by one of the gods, Trickster, to kill one of the other gods. Mari Ness creates with just a few strokes of her pen a pretty strong pantheon of thirteen gods and an equally interesting character. Mari Ness alternates the passages revealing the main storyline with those in which the protagonist reveals her knowledge about the gods. These is an effective approach since the author limits the information of the respective pantheon to the character’s knowledge, surrounding the gods with an air of uncertainty and also giving more credibility to the main character. Why the Trickster acts in this particular way and why the protagonist follows this course of action knowing quite well who she is dealing with remain questions with vague answers. However, the end of the story puts everything I learned about the gods into a new perspective and salvages a bit the storyline that failed to move me too much. Although its main storyline left me indifferent “Trickster” proved to be an interesting story in the end, with a wonderful premise, a pretty strong character and an unexpected finish.

The fiction section of this issue of Clarkesworld Magazine looks good, although I felt differently about the two stories, with “Semiramis” the stronger one, I believe that they are not totally unbalanced and offer the reader a very pleasant experience.

Cover art - "Blackdog" by K.V. Johansen

2011-06-23T13:16:00.004+03:00

Did I buy books only because of their covers? I could say never, but that would certainly be a lie. It did happen, not very often, but it did. I can say though that for some time my criteria of buying books changed and it is not solely based on the cover artwork anymore. Although I cannot promise that would not happen again at some point in the future. Especially since covers such as the one seen in this post exist. For my today’s drooling over a cover artwork Raymond Swanland is at fault again and the publisher to be blamed is Pyr, which encouraged the artist to create yet another wonderful cover after their editions of James Barclay’s “Legends of the Raven”.

I said that I no longer buy books based solely on their cover artworks, but I still stop and admire them without taking into consideration the authors’ name or the book title. At first. Because the cover artwork does more than to delight my eyes and soul, it sends me in search of information about the author and book in question, if these are a mystery to me. This is the latest case, Raymond Swanland caught my attention with his amazing cover, for almost the same familiar reasons, the attractive art, the colors and the dynamism, but sent me in search of information about K.V. Johansen and “Blackdog”. A multiple award winning and nominated author, especially for children and young adult speculative fiction, K.V. Johansen published more than ten novels, but also collections of stories, picture and non-fiction books. Pyr will release K.V. Johansen’s latest novel, “Blackdog”, in September this year and although I cannot say that the novel’s synopsis I found on their website didn’t thrill me excessively, it still made me quite curious about it.

With all the honesty I say that I still ponder whether I should buy K.V. Johansen’s “Blackdog” at the moment, the mix of information about the author and novel and I admit that the cover artwork too incline the balance towards the purchase of the title. There is also an excerpt of “Blackdog” on K.V. Johansen’s website, but I wasn’t able to read it so far and can’t take it into consideration yet. But whatever my decision will be I have to say that the cover artwork did its job in this case, more so than the huge lettering that can be seen on some book covers. I mention the lettering, because it could have been the case here as well, Pyr could have opted to highlight the author’s name and the awards won by K.V. Johansen so far, but for me those would not have had the same effect as Raymond Swanland’s cover artwork.

Long ago, in the days of the first kings in the north, there were seven devils. . . .In a land where gods walk on the hills and goddesses rise from river, lake, and spring, the caravan-guard Holla-Sayan, escaping a bloodily-conquered lakeside town, stops to help an abandoned child and a dying dog. The girl, though, is the incarnation of Attalissa, goddess of Lissavakail, and the dog a shape-changing guardian spirit whose origins have been forgotten. Possessed and nearly driven mad by the Blackdog, he flees to the desert road, taking the powerless avatar with him.

And long ago, in the days of the first kings in the north, the seven devils, who had deceived and possessed seven of the greatest wizards of the world, were defeated and bound with the help of the Old Great Gods. . . .

Moth was once Ulfhild the King’s Sword, wizard and warrior of the north. And she was once Vartu Kingsbane, one of the seven devils of legend. Moth cares little for the fate of a minor goddess of the earth like Attalissa, but at the command of the Old Great Gods she is hunting down her former comrades, though how her enemies have compelled her obedience is a mystery even to her lover, the bear-demon Mikki.

And perhaps some of the devils are free in the world, and perhaps some are working to free themselves still. . . .

Necromancy, treachery, massacres, and rebellions, gods dead or lost or mad, follow hard on the devils’ heels. But it is Attalissa herself who may be the Blackdog’s—and Holla-Sayan’s—doom.

Title spotlight - "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

2011-06-21T13:14:00.004+03:00

I have a list, very large, of titles that I wish to read without bringing in question the new books due to be published in the near or distant future. Still, such a thing will be impossible therefore my list grows almost on every day basis with a title, old or new, that I spotted. Recently, on one of my constant online places to visit, Stainless Steel Droppings, I discovered a book that otherwise I believe it would have skipped my attention, Ransom Riggs’ debut novel, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”. As soon as I found Ransom Riggs’ “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” a series of factors set in motion my immediate decision to place the novel on my reading list and on my next shopping list. First of all, it was the title of the novel. I admit that I was mesmerized by the title of Ransom Riggs’ novel from the start and I am absolutely certain that I would have picked the book from the bookshop shelves if I saw it there only because of its title. Second, it is the recommendation made by Carl, the editor of Stainless Steel Droppings, in the review he posted on his blog. Third, it was the book trailer of the novel that looks really good. 2 minutes that are very efficient, an atmosphere and setting that make my imagination go wild already and it would make a reason enough on itself for me to check the novel. Last, but not least, it is the synopsis that promises a very interesting experience and adventure for the novel. And the mix of fiction and vintage photography sounds appealing to me. With so many attractive reasons there is no wonder for me that Ransom Riggs’ “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” ended up on my list of books I wish to read and that I am looking forward to grab a copy of the novel released by Quirk Books two weeks ago and start reading it.

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

2010 Bram Stoker Awards

2011-06-20T12:45:00.011+03:00

Last Saturday, in an awards ceremony held at the Long Islands Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, New York, the winners of the 2010 Bram Stoker Awards were announced:

Superior Achievement in a Novel: “A Dark Matter” by Peter Straub (Doubleday/Orion)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel (Tie): “Black and Orange” by Benjamin Kane Ethridge (Bad Moon Books)

“The Castle of Los Angeles” by Lisa Morton (Gray Friar Press)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction: “Invisible Fences” by Norman Prentiss (Cemetery Dance)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction: “The Folding Man” by Joe R. Lansdale (from “Haunted Legends”, Tor)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology: “Haunted Legends” edited by Ellen Datlow and Nick Mamatas (Tor)

Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection: “Full Dark, No Stars” by Stephen King (Hodder/Simon and Schuster)

Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction: “To Each Their Darkness” by Gary A. Braunbeck (Apex Publications)

Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection: “Dark Matters” by Bruce Boston (Bad Moon Books)

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Ellen Datlow & Al Feldstein

Specialty Press Award: Joe Morey (Dark Regions Press)

Congratulations to all the winners!

Title spotlight - "Three Messages and a Warning" edited by Eduardo Jiménez Mayo & Chris N. Brown

2011-06-13T13:00:00.003+03:00

One of the things that I love about speculative fiction is the chance of exploring new worlds and settings. I believe that this must be a consequence of my love for travel, since I do love to explore our world too. I do not get the chance to travel as much and as often as I would certainly like, but I do have my share of travels. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for travel and discovery of new countries and cultures and that is with the help of fiction. I love to read authors from different parts of the world and to discover their corner of life through their fiction (although lately this aspect suffered a bit in my readings). It is a bit of travel too. A new opportunity to discover our world or step over the boundaries of reality will arise in December this year when Small Beer Press will release an anthology of contemporary Mexican stories of the fantastic, “Three Messages and a Warning”, edited by Eduardo Jiménez Mayo and Chris N. Brown. As the presentation of “Three Messages and a Warning” states I am certain that Enrique Jiménez Mayo and Chris N. Brown’s anthology is a collection that satisfies my both attractions for speculative fiction and exploration of our vast and fascinating word:

This huge anthology of all-original Mexican science fiction and fantasy features ghost stories, supernatural folktales, alien incursions, and apocalyptic narratives, as well as science-based chronicles of highly unusual mental states in which the borders of fantasy and reality reach unprecedented levels of ambiguity. Stereotypes of Mexican identity are explored and transcended by the thoroughly cosmopolitan consciousnesses underlying these works.

Here is also the table of contents of “Three Messages and a Warning” in alphabetical order and a small introduction of the editors as it is found on Small Beer Press’ website:

Lucía Abdó – “Second-Hand Pachuca”
Maria Isabel Aguirre – “Today, You Walk Along a Narrow Path”
Ana Gloria Álvarez Pedrajo – “The Mediator”
Liliana V. Blum – “Pink Lemonade”
Agustín Cadena – “Murillo Park”
Karen Chacek – “The Hour of the Fireflies”
Alberto Chimal – “Variation on a Theme of Coleridge”
Ana Clavel – “Warning and Three Messages in the Same Parcel”
Yussel Dardón – “A Pile of Bland Deserts”
Amparo Dávila – “The Guest”
Óscar de la Borbolla – “Wittgenstein’s Umbrellas”
Beatriz Escalante – “Luck Has Its Limits”
Bruno Estañol – “The Infamous Juan Manuel”
Iliana Estañol – “In Waiting”
Bernardo Fernández – “Lions”
Esther M. Garcia – “Mannequin”
Claudia Guillén – “The Drip”
Hernán Lara Zavala – “Hunting Iguanas”
Mónica Lavín – “Trompe l’œil”
Eduardo Mendoza – “The Pin”
Gabriela Damián Miravete – “Nereid Future”
Mauricio Montiel Figueiras – “Photophobia”
Queta Navagómez – “Rebellious”
Amélie Olaiz – “Amalgam”
Donají Olmedo – “The Stone”
Edmée Pardo – “1965”
Jesús Ramírez Bermúdez – “The Last Witness to Creation”
Carmen Rioja – “The Náhual Offering”
Pepe Rojo – “The President without Organs”
René Roquet – “Returning to Night”
Guillermo Samperio – “Mister Strogoff”
Horacio Sentíes Madrid – “The Transformist”
Gerardo Sifuentes – “Future Perfect”
José Luis Zárate – “Wolves”

About the Editors

Born in Boston and raised in San Antonio, Eduardo Jiménez Mayo holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Hispanic literature and a doctoral degree in the humanities from a Catholic university in Madrid. He has taught undergraduate literature courses at the University of Texas in San Antonio and recently obtained a doctorate in jurisprudence from Cornell Law School. He has published translations of books by contemporary Mexican authors Bruno Estañol, Rafael Pérez Gay and José María Pérez Gay. In recent years, he has also published scholarly studies on the Spanish poet Antonio Machado and the Mexican fiction writer Bruno Estañol. Lately, he has conducted readings and lectures on the subject of literary translation at the invitation of Cornell University, New York University, The New School and the Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco.

Chris N. Brown writes fiction and criticism from his home in Austin, Texas. His work has been variously described as “slick, post-Gibsonian, and funny as hell, like Neal Stephenson meets Hunter S. Thompson” (Cory Doctorow), “Borges in a pop culture blender” (Invisible Library), and “like a cross between Mark Leyner and William Gibson” (Boing Boing). He also contributes to the group blog No Fear of the Future.

Cover art - "Shadows Linger" by Glen Cook (Romanian edition)

2011-06-09T14:44:00.002+03:00

There is no need to reinforce my love for Raymond Swanland’s works, I mentioned him as one of my favorite artists in plenty of occasions. Some of his cover artworks that come to mind as soon as this subject is opened are the ones for Glen Cook’s “Black Company” titles. One such cover can be admired also on the Romanian edition of Glen Cook’s novel, “The Black Company”, released by Millennium Books. However, for the second novel in Glen Cook’s series of novels released on the Romanian market Millennium Books went for a different artwork, but similar in tone and approach to the ones made by Raymond Swanland. The respective cover is produced by Wenjun Lin, an artist unknown to me until now, but with a very interesting portfolio that can be seen here. Although the artwork featured on the Romanian edition of Glen Cook’s “Shadows Linger” was not specifically made for the cover of the book it works perfectly. It has the same composition and dynamism as the artworks produced by Raymond Swanland, but it keeps a measure of originality and personal approach. As a matter of fact, the eye can be tricked at a first glance. It is a wonderful choice.

I said before that Millennium Books’ efforts on the cover artwork of their titles are excellent and I would like to say it again. Especially since their covers bring freshness and joy on a market that seems to be complacent in a lukewarm and characterless situation when it comes to book covers.

Galileo Awards 2011

2011-06-06T13:00:00.006+03:00

My busiest time of the year, so far, it is almost over. Therefore starting from last few days I slowed down a bit and enjoyed a bit more of free time. I still have plenty of things to catch up, but I am certain that slowly I will manage to resume all of them.

First of all, as much as I would have liked to attend Bookfest, a Romanian National Book Fair, and the award ceremony of the first edition of the Galileo Awards, I wasn’t able to do so. But here are the winners of the 2011 Galileo Awards:

The best volume: Oliviu Crâznic – “…și la sfîrșit a mai rămas coșmarul” (…and at the end remained the nightmare) (Vremea)

I will honestly admit that this novel was not my choice in any of the voting stages. I didn’t find Oliviu Crâznic’s debut novel on my liking and the reasons for this can be seen on the review I wrote for his novel here on my blog.

The best short fiction: Costi Gurgu – “Îngeri și molii” (Angels and Moths) (Galileo 2)

I am not familiar with this short story, so I cannot say where Costi Gurgu’s story stays with me. However, I did read some of Costi Gurgu’s works and although they didn’t put his name among the ones of my favorite writers they were quite interesting.

Galileo Award for the entire career: George Anania

I only read one novel of George Anania, written together with Romulus Bărbulescu, “Doando”, but unfortunately I can’t remember much about it. As far as I can remember it is a novel about galactic exploration and conflict of civilizations.

Still, I can catch up on some of the works and writers nominated for the inaugural edition of the Galileo Awards, because Millennium Books publishes an anthology dedicated to the stories and writers nominated in 2011. Here is the complete line-up:

Cuvînt înainte (Foreword) – Horia Nicola Ursu
George Anania – Prisăcarul (The Beekeper)
Oliviu Crâznic – …şi la sfîrşit a mai rămas coşmarul (…and at the end remained the nightmare) (fragment)
Michael Haulică – Microtexte (Microtexts)
Mircea Oprita – Inginerii financiare (Financial Engineering)
Liviu Radu – Mestecenii (The Birches)
Cristian-Mihail Teodorescu – Electro-magneto-muza (Electro-Magneto Muse)
Ştefana Cristina Czeller – Slujesc Zeului Cîine (I Serve the Dog-God)
Costi Gurgu – Îngeri şi molii (Angels and Moths)
Florin Pîtea – Vînătoarea de sfincşi (The Hunt of Sphinxes)
Marian Truţă – Cumania 2010 (Cumania 2010)

Congratulations to all the winners!

In the mailbox

2011-05-28T11:21:00.004+03:00

Although it was a busy month it still held quite some pleasant moments. A few such moments arrived together with a few books in the mailbox. From the latest arrivals I have to admit that China Miéville’s “Embassytown” is the most appealing to me. I really like China Miéville’s works and I am certainly looking forward to his latest, in this case, “Embassytown”. A blend between historical fiction and horror, more so a Lovecraftian one, sounds very appealing as well. “Historical Lovecraft”, the anthology edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Paul R. Stiles looks very interesting and comes with a concept that is right up my alley. “Steampunk: Second Revolution” is a Romanian anthology dedicated as its name suggests to the steampunk. I have to say that I already read Adrian Crãciun’s anthology and I am already working on the review. I was interested in “Steampunk: Second Revolution” because it looks that for once we kept in line with a trend, not that is always a good thing, and I was curious how the Romanian fiction deals with it. It was an interesting experience. More about it soon. Peter Orullian’s “The Unremembered” is one of the novels that is much talked online. It sounds quite interesting to me too and I will certainly give it a chance as soon as possible. Alexey Pehov’s “Shadow Chaser” is the second novel in his series, “Chronicles of Siala”. I have the first novel as well, but I didn’t read it yet. Therefore “Shadow Chaser” might have to wait a bit more. I am not exactly sure where to place Carrie Vaughn’s “After the Golden Age” on my scale of interest. Superheroes were never on top of my interests and almost always I preferred something else in their favor. Therefore, I am not exactly sure if I will manage to read Carrie Vaughn’s novel and if so, how soon.

- "Embassytown" by China Miéville (through the courtesy of Panmacmillan);

Embassytown: a city of contradictions on the outskirts of the universe.
Avice is an immerser, a traveller on the immer, the sea of space and time below the everyday, now returned to her birth planet. Here on Arieka, humans are not the only intelligent life, and Avice has a rare bond with the natives, the enigmatic Hosts - who cannot lie.
Only a tiny cadre of unique human Ambassadors can speak Language, and connect the two communities. But an unimaginable new arrival has come to Embassytown. And when this Ambassador speaks, everything changes.
Catastrophe looms. Avice knows the only hope is for her to speak directly to the alien Hosts.
And that is impossible.

- "Historical Lovecraft" edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Paula R. Stiles (through the courtesy of Innsmouth Free Press);

Historical Lovecraft, a unique anthology blending historical fiction with horror, features 26 tales spanning centuries and continents. This eclectic volume takes the readers through places as varied as Laos, Greenland, Peru, and the Congo, and from antiquity until the 20th century, pushing the envelope of Lovecraftian lore. William Meikle’s inquisitor tries to unravel the truth during a very hostile questioning. Jesse Bullington narrates the saga of a young Viking woman facing danger and destruction. E. Catherine Tobler stops in Ancient Egypt, where Pharaoh Hatshepsut receives an exquisite and deadly gift. Albert Tucher discovers that the dead do not remain silent in 10th century Rome. These are tales that reimagine history and look into the past through a darker glass. Tales that show evil has many faces and reaches through the centuries. Tales that will chill your heart.

- "Steampunk: Second Revolution" edited by Adrian Crãciun (through the courtesy of Millennium Books);

- "The Unremembered" by Peter Orullian (through the courtesy of Tor Books);

The gods, makers of worlds, seek to create balance—between matter and energy; and between mortals who strive toward the transcendent, and the natural perils they must tame or overcome. But one of the gods fashions a world filled with hellish creatures far too powerful to allow balance; he is condemned to live for eternity with his most hateful creations in that world’s distant Bourne, restrained by a magical veil kept vital by the power of song.
Millennia pass, awareness of the hidden danger fades to legend, and both song and veil weaken. And the most remote cities are laid waste by fell, nightmarish troops escaped from the Bourne. Some people dismiss the attacks as mere rumor. Instead of standing against the real threat, they persecute those with the knowledge, magic and power to fight these abominations, denying the inevitability of war and annihilation. And the evil from the Bourne swells….
The troubles of the world seem far from the Hollows where Tahn Junell struggles to remember his lost childhood and to understand words he feels compelled to utter each time he draws his bow. Trouble arrives when two strangers—an enigmatic man wearing the sigil of the feared Order of Sheason and a beautiful woman of the legendary Far—come, to take Tahn, his sister and his two best friends on a dangerous, secret journey.
Tahn knows neither why nor where they will go. He knows only that terrible forces have been unleashed upon mankind and he has been called to stand up and face that which most daunts him—his own forgotten secrets and the darkness that would destroy him and his world.

- "Shadow Chaser" by Alexey Pehov (through the courtesy of Tor Books);

Saddened because they have left one of their number in a grave in the wilderness, Harold and his companions continue their journey to the dreaded underground palace of Hrad Spein. There, knowing that armies of warriors and wizards before them have failed, they must fight legions of untold, mysterious powers before they can complete their quest for the magic horn that will save their beloved land from The Nameless One. But before they can even reach their goal, they must overcome all manner of obstacles, fight many battles…and evade the frightful enemies on their trail.

- "After the Golden Age" by Carrie Vaughn (through the courtesy of Tor Books).

Can an accountant defeat a supervillain? Celia West, only daughter of the heroic leaders of the superpowered Olympiad, has spent the past few years estranged from her parents and their high-powered lifestyle. She’s had enough of masks and heroics, and wants only to live her own quiet life out from under the shadow of West Plaza and her rich and famous parents.
Then she is called into her boss’ office and told that as the city’s top forensic accountant, Celia is the best chance the prosecution has to catch notorious supervillain the Destructor for tax fraud. In the course of the trial, Celia’s troubled past comes to light and family secrets are revealed as the rift between Celia and her parents grows deeper. Cut off from friends and family, Celia must come to terms with the fact that she might just be Commerce City’s only hope.
This all-new and moving story of love, family, and sacrifice is an homage to Golden Age comics that no fan will want to miss.

Thank you very much!

Title spotlight - "Halloween" edited by Paula Guran

2011-05-26T11:44:00.004+03:00

Halloween is not one of the holidays of my country, but the mercantile spirit of our society brought some celebrations here too. I personally do not celebrate Halloween, but I have to admit that I like this holiday a lot. I especially love the Jack-o’-lanterns, which I also made in my childhood together with my grandmother although not part of any holiday, the Halloween costumes and the candies and caramel apples. There is a lot of fun, but I do my admiring from distance. Still, there is one place where I can let myself enjoy Halloween in the fullest and that place is in fiction. Another such opportunity will rise when Prime Books will release a new anthology edited by Paula Guran, “Halloween”. I am not sure exactly when the release date is (I believe it is in September), but Paula Guran’s “Halloween” line-up of authors looks extremely interesting and strong. Among the stories featured on this upcoming anthology there is Gary McMahon’s “Pumpkin Night”, a story that together with others from the collection “How to Make Monsters” opened my eyes to this very talented writer:

“Pumpkin Night” – Baxter is spending for the first time the Halloween without his wife. But his loneliness might not last long. Another favorite of mine, if not my favorite from the entire collection. I was almost feeling the Halloween atmosphere and Gary McMahon makes the pumpkins coming to life. The twist of the story took me by surprise and it was followed by an end that was more than satisfactory for me.

Therefore it seems that I will celebrate Halloween by feasting on this appetizing anthology. Here is its presentation and the alphabetical line-up as Prime Books published them on its website:

Shivers and spirits...the mystical and macabre...our darkest fears and sweetest fantasies...the fun and frivolity of tricks, treats, festivities, and masquerades. Halloween is a holiday filled with both delight and dread, beloved by youngsters and adults alike. Celebrate the most magical season of the year with this sensational treasury of seasonal tales—spooky, suspenseful, terrifying, or teasing—harvested from a multitude of master storytellers.

“The October Game” by Ray Bradbury
“Tessellations” by Gary Braunbeck
“Memories” by Peter Crowther
“Universal Soldier” by Charles de Lint
“Auntie Elspeth's Halloween Story (or The Gourd, The Bad, And The Ugly)” by Esther Friesner
“Struwwelpeter” by Glenn Hirshberg
“Pranks” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
“By the Book” by Nancy Holder
“The Sticks” by Charlee Jacob
“Riding Bitch” by K.W. Jeter
“On the Reef” by Caitlin R. Kiernan
“Memories of el Dia de los Muertos” by Nancy Kilpatrick
“The Great Pumpkin Arrives at Last” by Sarah Langan
“On a Dark October” by Joe R. Lansdale
“Conversations in a Dead Language” by Thomas Ligotti
“Hallowe’en in a Suburb” by H.P. Lovecraft (poem)
“The Vow on Hallowe’en” by Dorothy Macardle
“Pumpkin Night” by Gary McMahon
“The Halloween Man” by William F. Nolan
“Monsters” by Stewart O’Nan
“Three Doors” by Norman Partridge
“Ulalume” by Edgar Allan Poe (poem)
“Night Out” by Tina Rath
“Hornets” by Al Sarrantonio
“Tamlane” by Sir Walter Scott (poem)
“Mask Game” by John Shirley
“Pork Pie Hat” by Peter Straub
“Halloween Street” by Steve Rasnic Tem
“Tricks & Treats: One Night on Halloween Street” by Steve Rasnic Tem
“The November Game” by F. Paul Wilson
“Sugar Skulls” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

2011 Nebula Awards

2011-05-24T13:00:00.004+03:00

Last week-end the winners of the 2011 Nebula Awards have been announced:

Novel: “Blackout/All Clear” by Connie Willis (Spectra)

Novella: “The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers Beneath the Queen’s Window” by Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Summer ’10)

Novelette: “That Leviathan Whom Thou Hast Made” by Eric James Stone (Analog 9/10)

Short Story: “Ponies” by Kij Johnson (Tor.com 1/17/10) &

“How Interesting: A Tiny Man” by Harlan Ellison (Realms of Fantasy 2/10)

Andre Norton Award: “I Shall Wear Midnight” by Terry Pratchett (Gollancz; Harper)

Congratulations to all the winners!

Returning to the usual schedule

2011-05-23T13:15:00.000+03:00

Most of this very busy month is over, although it might hold another business trip next week that will lead to further 4 or 5 days of silence, but until then I can return to the usual blogging schedule. I do have to catch up with plenty of reviews and some interviews, but hopefully I will be able to bring these back of track slowly. How were your past few weeks?

A period of silence

2011-05-04T12:30:00.001+03:00

In the past week and the next week there are a few changes to be made at work and this process requires my full attention. Also, as usual for this month, I will need to make a business trip and therefore as much as I would like to post regularly I will not be able to do so. However, this hectic time of year will settle itself later this month, around 20th or 25th, and it is then when I will start blogging on regular basis again. I hope to see you all at the end of May and until then, please take care of yourselves :)

Awards round-up

2011-04-26T12:25:00.011+03:00

Another week-end with plenty of awards announcements has passed. Let’s start with the winners of the 2010 BSFA Awards announced at the 62nd Eastercon convetion:

Best Novel: “The Dervish House” by Ian McDonald (Gollancz)

Best Short Fiction: “The Shipmaker” by Aliette de Bodard (Interzone #231)

Best Non-Fiction: “Blogging the Hugos: Decline” by Paul Kincaid (Big Other)

Best Artwork: Joey Hi-Fi for the cover of “Zoo City”

Congratulations to all the winners!

***
2011 Ditmar Awards

The 2011 Ditmar Awards winners have been announced at Swancon36, the 36th Annual Western Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention:

Best Novel: “Power and Majesty” by Tansy Rayner Roberts (Voyager)

Best Novella or Novelette: “The Company Articles of Edward Teach” by Thoraiya Dyer (Twelfth Planet Press)

Best Short Story: “All the Love in the World” by Cat Sparks (Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press)

“She Said” by Kirstyn McDermott (Scenes From the Second Storey, Morrigan Books)

Best Collected Work: “Sprawl” edited by Alisa Krasnostein (Twelfth Planet Press)

Best Artwork: Short film – “The Lost Thing” (Passion Pictures) - Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan

Best Fan Writer: Alexandra Pierce for body of work including reviews at Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus

Best Fan Artist: Amanda Rainey for Swancon 36 logo

Best Fan Publication in Any Medium: “Galactic Suburbia” podcast - Alisa Krasnostein, Tansy Rayner Roberts and Alex Pierce

Best Achievement: Alisa Krasnostein, Kathryn Linge, Rachel Holkner, Alexandra Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts and Tehani Wessely - Snapshot 2010

Best New Talent: Thoraiya Dyer

William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review: Tansy Rayner Roberts for “A Modern Woman’s Guide to Classic Who”

Congratulations to all the winners!

***
2010 Philip K. Dick Award

The winner of the 2010 Philip K. Dick Award was announced at Norwescon 34, the Pacific Northwest’s Premier Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention:

2010 Philip K. Dick Award: “The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack” by Mark Hodder (Pyr)

2010 Special Citation: “Harmony” by Project Itoh, translated by Alexander O. Smith (Haikasoru)

Congratulations!

***
2011 Hugo Awards nominees

The nominees for the 2011 Hugo Awards and for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer have been announced. The winners will be announced on 20th August, at the Hugo Awards Ceremony held at Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention, held in Reno, Nevada.

Best Novel:
“Blackout/All Clear” by Connie Willis (Ballantine Spectra)
“Cryoburn” by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen)
“The Dervish House” by Ian McDonald (Gollancz / Pyr)
“Feed” by Mira Grant (Orbit)
“The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms” by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)

Best Novella:
“The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen’s Window” by Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Magazine, Summer 2010)
“The Lifecycle of Software Objects” by Ted Chiang (Subterranean)
“The Maiden Flight of McCauley’s Bellerophon” by Elizabeth Hand (Stories: All New Tales, William Morrow)
“The Sultan of the Clouds” by Geoffrey A. Landis (Asimov’s, September 2010)
“Troika” by Alastair Reynolds (Godlike Machines, Science Fiction Book Club)

Best Novelette:
“Eight Miles” by Sean McMullen (Analog, September 2010)
“The Emperor of Mars” by Allen M. Steele (Asimov’s, June 2010)
“The Jaguar House, in Shadow” by Aliette de Bodard (Asimov’s, July 2010)
“Plus or Minus” by James Patrick Kelly (Asimov’s, December 2010)
“That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made” by Eric James Stone (Analog, September 2010)

Best Short Story:
“Amaryllis” by Carrie Vaughn (Lightspeed, June 2010)
“For Want of a Nail” by Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s, September 2010)
“Ponies” by Kij Johnson (Tor.com, November 17, 2010)
“The Things” by Peter Watts (Clarkesworld, January 2010)

Best Related Work:
“Bearings: Reviews 1997-2001” by Gary K. Wolfe (Beccon)
“The Business of Science Fiction: Two Insiders Discuss Writing and Publishing” by Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg (McFarland)
“Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It” edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Tara O’Shea (Mad Norwegian)
“Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century, Volume 1: (1907–1948): Learning Curve” by William H. Patterson, Jr. (Tor)
“Writing Excuses, Season 4” by Brandon Sanderson, Jordan Sanderson, Howard Tayler, Dan Wells

Best Graphic Story:
“Fables: Witches” written by Bill Willingham; illustrated by Mark Buckingham (Vertigo)
“Girl Genius, Volume 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse” written by Phil and Kaja Foglio; art by Phil Foglio; colors by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
“Grandville Mon Amour” by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse)
“Schlock Mercenary: Massively Parallel” written and illustrated by Howard Tayler; colors by Howard Tayler and Travis Walton (Hypernode)
“The Unwritten, Volume 2: Inside Man” written by Mike Carey; illustrated by Peter Gross (Vertigo)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form:“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” screenplay by Steve Kloves; directed by David Yates (Warner)
“How to Train Your Dragon” screenplay by William Davies, Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders; directed by Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders (DreamWorks)
“Inception” written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Warner)
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” screenplay by Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright; directed by Edgar Wright (Universal)
“Toy Story 3” screenplay by Michael Arndt; story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich; directed by Lee Unkrich (Pixar/Disney)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form:
Doctor Who: “A Christmas Carol” written by Steven Moffat; directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales)
Doctor Who: “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang” written by Steven Moffat; directed by Toby Haynes (BBC Wales)
Doctor Who: “Vincent and the Doctor” written by Richard Curtis; directed by Jonny Campbell (BBC Wales)
“Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury” written by Rachel Bloom; directed by Paul Briganti
“The Lost Thing written by Shaun Tan; directed by Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan (Passion Pictures)

Best Editor, Short Form:
John Joseph Adams
Stanley Schmidt
Jonathan Strahan
Gordon Van Gelder
Sheila Williams

Best Editor, Long Form:
Lou Anders
Ginjer Buchanan
Moshe Feder
Liz Gorinsky
Nick Mamatas
Beth Meacham
Juliet Ulman

Best Professional Artist:
Daniel Dos Santos
Bob Eggleton
Stephan Martiniere
John Picacio
Shaun Tan

Best Semiprozine:
“Clarkesworld” edited by Neil Clarke, Cheryl Morgan, Sean Wallace; podcast directed by Kate Baker
“Interzone” edited by Andy Cox
“Lightspeed” edited by John Joseph Adams
“Locus” edited by Liza Groen Trombi and Kirsten Gong-Wong
“Weird Tales” edited by Ann VanderMeer and Stephen H. Segal

Best Fanzine:
“Banana Wings” edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
“Challenger” edited by Guy H. Lillian III
“The Drink Tank” edited by Christopher J Garcia and James Bacon
“File 770” edited by Mike Glyer
“StarShipSofa” edited by Tony C. Smith

Best Fan Writer:
James Bacon
Claire Brialey
Christopher J Garcia
James Nicoll
Steven H Silver

Best Fan Artist:
Brad W. Foster
Randall Munroe
Maurine Starkey
Steve Stiles
Taral Wayne

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer:
Saladin Ahmed
Lauren Beukes
Larry Correia
Lev Grossman
Dan Wells

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Cover art - "11/22/63" by Stephen King

2011-04-21T13:00:00.003+03:00

It seems that this is a week of covers. This time, however, it is the moment of the King himself, because yesterday on Stephen King’s official message board the hardcover dust jacket of the Scribner edition of the anticipated “11/22/63” was revealed. The design is created by Rex Bonomelli and looks marvelous. A perfect companion for one of the novels I am eagerly looking forward to read this year. Stephen King’s “11/22/63” is another massive volume, close to 1000 pages, but there are plenty of reasons for me to put his novel on My Most Wanted list of books. To be brief and not to enumerate all the reasons why I am waiting for 8th of November, the release date of Stephen King’s “11/22/63”, I show you only two of them, the one you see above and the one I post below :)

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King's heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination - a thousand page tour de force.

Following his massively successful novel Under the Dome, King sweeps readers back in time to another moment - a real life moment - when everything went wrong: the JFK assassination. And he introduces readers to a character who has the power to change the course of history.

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students - a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning's father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake's friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane - and insanely possible - mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake's new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake's life - a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

A tribute to a simpler era and a devastating exercise in escalating suspense, 11/22/63 is Stephen King at his epic best.

Cover art - "Servant of the Underworld" by Aliette de Bodard (French edition)

2011-04-20T13:00:00.002+03:00

As much as I would like to bring my reviews back on track the truth is I am a bit behind with them. Still, the good news is that two of them are already half written, David Wingrove’s “Son of Heaven” and Aliette de Bodard’s “Servant of the Underworld”. I am especially happy about “Servant of the Underworld”, because yesterday I saw on Aliette de Bodard’s blog an awesome cover for the French (which else?) edition of her debut novel. I did like the cover of the English edition of “Servant of the Underworld” published by Angry Robot Books, simple, symbolic and efficient. But the cover of the French edition, “D’Obsidienne et de Sang”, looks wonderful and equally efficient. It is hard for me to choose between the covers of Aliette de Bodard’s “Servant of the Underworld”, because I like both of them a lot, but I do love the approach taken by Eclipse, the publisher of the French edition, too. Not only that this cover would make me pick the book if I see it on a bookshop shelves, but since I read and enjoyed the novel I find the artwork made by Larry Rostant, the master of photographic covers, suitable for “Servant of the Underworld”. And since Aliette de Bodard indicates on her blog post that Larry Rostant will create the covers for the rest of her trilogy I am looking forward to see with what the artist comes up next.

Cover art - "Them or Us" by David Moody (US edition)

2011-04-19T13:00:00.002+03:00

I had many pleasant surprises because of my blog and among them there is the discovery of David Moody. I loved his novels in the “Hater” trilogy, the first novel of the series, “Hater”, a bit more than the second, “Dog Blood”. But both of them were very interesting and with plenty of good things to be found, especially Danny McCoyne, who is a strong character. The conclusion of David Moody’s trilogy, “Them or Us”, is due to be released in the US on November by Thomas Dunne Books and in the UK on December by Gollancz. It is one of the novels that I am eagerly looking forward to read this year and find the conclusion of this fine trilogy. Although there is plenty of time until then we can admire the cover art of the US edition of David Moody’s “Them or Us”. It steps away from the line of the first two covers, but I have to say that it looks good. The conflict and its fatality found in the novel’s title, “Them or Us”, is projected on the artwork of the cover, in the two groups facing each other, the colors of the lettering and of the cover. I find it very appropriate. David Moody has a blurb for “Them or Us” on his website, but I would not recommend it for those unfamiliar with the series, because it contains some spoilers.

Awards round-up

2011-04-18T12:45:00.008+03:00

2010 Australian Shadows Awards

The winners of the 2010 Australian Shadows Awards have been announced:

LONG FICTION:

“Under Stones” by Bob Franklin (Affirm Press)

EDITED PUBLICATION:

“Macabre: A Journey Through Australia’s Darkest Fears” edited by Angela Challis & Marty Young (Brimstone Press)

SHORT FICTION:

“She Said” by Kirstyn McDermott (Scenes from the Second Storey, Morrigan Books)

Congratulations to all the winners!

***

2010 Galileo Awards nominees

The list of nominees for the first edition of the Galileo Awards has been announced. From today the list of nominees will be voted in the Australian system, with one title eliminated from the list at each stage and with the winners due to be announced at the National Book Fair, Bookfest, on 28th of May.

THE BEST VOLUME:

Oliviu Crâznic – “…și la sfîrșit a mai rămas coșmarul” (…and at the end remained the nightmare) (Vremea)

Michael Haulică – “Povestiri fantastice” (Fantastic Stories) (Millennium)
Mircea Opriţă – “Povestiri de duminică” (Sunday Stories) (Millennium)

Liviu Radu – “Modificatorii” (The Modifiers) (Millennium)

Cristian-Mihail Teodorescu – “S.F. Doi” (S.F. Two) (Bastion)

THE BEST SHORT FICTION:

Ștefana Cristina Czeller – “Slujesc Zeului-Cîine” (I Serve the Dog-God) (Galileo 2)

Costi Gurgu – “Îngeri și molii” (Angels and Moths) (Galileo 2)

Michael Haulică – “Microtexte” (Microtexts) (Povestiri fantastice, Millennium, 2010)
Florin Pîtea – “Vînătoarea de sfincși” (The Hunt of Sphinxes) (Galileo 2)

Marian Truță – “Cumania 2010” (Cumania 2010) (Galileo 2)

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

***

2010 Shirley Jackson Awards nominees

The nominees for the 2010 Shirley Jackson Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced at Readercon 22, which will be held between July 14th and 17th at Burlington Marriott, Burlington, Massachusetts.

NOVEL:

“Dark Matter” by Michelle Paver (Orion)

“A Dark Matter” by Peter Straub (Doubleday)

“Feed” by Mira Grant (Orbit)

“Mr. Shivers” by Robert Jackson Bennett (Orbit)

“The Reapers Are the Angels” by Alden Bell (Holt)

“The Silent Land” by Graham Joyce (Gollancz)

NOVELLA:

“The Broken Man” by Michael Byers (PS Publishing)

“Chasing the Dragon” by Nicholas Kaufmann (Chizine Publications)

“Mysterium Tremendum” by Laird Barron (Occultation, Night Shade)

“One Bloody Thing After Another” by Joey Comeau (ECW Press)

“Subtle Bodies” by Peter Dubé (Lethe Press)

“The Thief of Broken Toys” by Tim Lebbon (Chizine Publications)

NOVELETTE:

“--30—“ by Laird Barron (Occultation, Night Shade)

“The Broadsword” by Laird Barron (Black Wings, PS Publishing)

“Holderhaven” by Richard Butner (Crimewave 11: Ghosts)

“The Redfield Girls” by Laird Barron (Haunted Legends, Tor)

“Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains” by Neil Gaiman (Stories: All New Tales, William Morrow)

SHORT STORY:

“As Red as Red” by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Haunted Legends, Tor)

“Booth's Ghost” by Karen Joy Fowler (What I Didn't See, Small Beer Press)

“The Foxes” by Lily Hoang (Haunted Legends, Tor)

“six six six” by Laird Barron (Occultation, Night Shade)

“The Things” by Peter Watts (Clarkesworld, Issue 40)

SINGLE-AUTHOR COLLECTION:

“Occultation” by Laird Barron (Night Shade)

“The Ones That Got Away” by Stephen Graham Jones (Prime Books)

“The Third Bear” by Jeff Vandermeer (Tachyon)

“What I Didn't See” by Karen Joy Fowler (Small Beer Press)

“What Will Come After” by Scott Edelman (PS Publishing)

EDITED ANTHOLOGY:

“Black Wings: Tales of Lovecraftian Horror” edited by S. T. Joshi (PS Publications)

“Haunted Legends” edited by Ellen Datlow and Nick Mamatas (Tor)

“My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales” edited by Kate Bernheimer (Penguin)

“Stories: All New Tales” edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio (William Morrow)

“Swords and Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery” edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders (Eos)

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Cover art - "La Colère" (King's Wrath) by Fiona McIntosh

2011-04-15T15:15:00.002+03:00

I find myself in the impossibility of talking about Marc Simonetti’s artworks anymore. Not because I don’t like the art pieces Marc Simonetti creates, but because the constant high standard of his works leaves me speechless. He is always surprising and with each art piece he seems to achieve something more. We’ve seen before how Marc Simonetti enriched the French editions of various fantasy novels by creating some wonderful cover artworks; I’ve spotlighted a few of them, such as George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”, Patrick Rothfuss’ “The Name of the Wind” or Ken Scholes’ “Lamentation” & “Canticle”, here on my blog too. Now we can see another excellent one. The French editions of Fiona McIntosh’s trilogy, “Valisar”, published by Bragelonne, reached the third novel, “King’s Wrath”, and as we can see, “La Colère” as is the French title, has a stunning cover artwork, signed Marc Simonetti. As I said at the beginning I found myself without words, but I still have a wish: some day to see Marc Simonetti’s works on the cover of English editions too.

Title spotlight - "New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird" edited by Paula Guran

2011-04-14T15:30:00.007+03:00

I didn’t set many resolutions at the beginning of this year since lately I mostly failed to achieve them. However, one in particular started well so far and promises to be fulfilled, even over passed. It is my desire to read more short fiction this year and I already did, although the time didn’t allow me to review what I read yet. It is mostly online short fiction, but I also read two anthologies, that hopefully I will be able to review soon. Also, I already spotlighted a few more upcoming wonderful anthologies here on my blog and at the end of the year will make a review of all of them and see what I managed to achieve with them.

Until then, here is another anthology that looks very well and I put on my wish list for 2011. “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird” edited by Paula Guran sounds really well, more so because H.P. Lovecraft is one of my loves when it comes to reading. I love H.P. Lovecraft’s works and seeing what “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird” has in store it only makes me to eagerly look forward to Paula Guran’s new anthology. “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird” will be released by Prime Books on November and joins a list of excellent looking anthologies due to be released by the same Prime Books in 2011.

Here is the description of “New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird” edited by Paula Guran and the impressive line-up of stories and authors posted by Sean Wallace on his blog:

“That is not dead which can eternal lie, yet with stranger aeons, even Death may die.”
For more than eighty years H.P. Lovecraft has inspired writers of supernatural fiction, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and gaming. His themes of cosmic indifference, the utter insignificance of humankind, minds invaded by the alien, and the horrors of history — written with a pervasive atmosphere of unexplainable dread — today remain not only viable motifs, but are more relevant than ever as we explore the mysteries of a universe in which our planet is infinitesimal and climatic change is overwhelming it.
In the first decade of the twenty-first century the best supernatural writers no longer imitate Lovecraft, but they are profoundly influenced by the genre and the mythos he created. New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird presents some of the best of this new Lovecraftian fiction — bizarre, subtle, atmospheric, metaphysical, psychological, filled with strange creatures and stranger characters — eldritch, unsettling, evocative, and darkly appealing . . .

“The Crevasse” by Dale Bailey & Nathan Ballingrud
“Old Virginia” by Laird Barron
“Shoggoths in Bloom” by Elizabeth Bear
“Mongoose” by Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette
“The Oram County Whoosit” by Steve Duffy
“Study in Emerald” by Neil Gaiman
“Grinding Rock” by Cody Goodfellow
“Pickman’s Other Model (1929)” by Caitlin Kiernan
“The Disciple” by David Barr Kirtley
“The Vicar of R'lyeh” by Marc Laidlaw
“Mr Gaunt” by John Langan
“Take Me to the River” by Paul McAuley
“The Dude Who Collected Lovecraft” by Nick Mamatas & Tim Pratt
“Details” by China Mieville
“Bringing Helena Back” by Sarah Monette
“Another Fish Story” by Kim Newman
“Lesser Demons” by Norm Partridge
“Cold Water Survival” by Holly Phillips
“Head Music” by Lon Prater
“Bad Sushi” by Cherie Priest
“The Fungal Stain” by W.H. Pugmire
“Tsathoggua” by Michael Shea
“Buried in the Sky” by John Shirley
“Fair Exchange” by Michael Marshall Smith
“The Essayist in the Wilderness” by William Browning Spencer
“A Colder War” by Charles Stross
“The Great White Bed” by Don Webb

Cover art & blurb - "The Third Section" by Jasper Kent

2011-04-13T13:00:00.004+03:00

Looking over the past year I see that I have to catch up on a few things. Among them, my readings fell heavily behind, with a few titles that I really wished to read at their release time, but due to some reason or another I failed to do so. One of such titles is Jasper Kent’s “Thirteen Years Later”, the second novel in his “Danilov Quintet”, because I loved “Twelve”, the novel with which Jasper Kent kicks off his series. I really hope that I will manage to get back on track with my readings, “Thirteen Years Later” one of the priorities, especially since Bantam Press will release Jasper Kent’s third novel, “The Third Section”, on August. Now, we can see the cover of “The Third Section”, one that I am pleased to find that follows the line imposed by the first two covers. I like when a series follows a similar line on the covers, it gives it a sense of completeness and solidity. This is the case with all the Jasper Kent’s novels in the “Danilov Quintet” so far, three covers in a similar fashion, with a mix of historical and supernatural feelings that can be discovered between the covers as well. It is a series of covers that appeals highly to me.

Here is a blurb for Jasper Kent’s “The Third Section”, another motive for me to be anxious in catching up on the “Danilov Quintet”. Also, if these are not enough, on Jasper Kent’s website we can read the prologue of “The Third Section”.

Russia 1855. After forty years of peace in Europe, war rages. In the Crimea, the city of Sevastopol is besieged. In the north, Saint Petersburg is blockaded. But in Moscow there is one who needs only to sit and wait – wait for the death of an aging tsar, and for the curse upon his blood to be passed to a new generation.
As their country grows weaker, a man and a woman - unaware of the hidden ties that bind them - must come to terms with their shared legacy. In Moscow, Tamara Valentinovna Komarova uncovers a brutal murder and discovers that it not the first in a sequence of similar crimes, merely the latest, carried out by a killer who has stalked the city since 1812.
And in Sevastopol, Dmitry Alekseevich Danilov faces not only the guns of the combined armies of Britain and France, but must also make a stand against creatures that his father had thought buried beneath the earth, thirty years before.

China Miéville competition

2011-04-11T12:30:00.002+03:00

China Miéville is easily one of the writers who made a clear impact on my reading experience lately and became one of my favorite authors. Therefore one of my most anticipated releases of 2011 is his latest novel, “Embassytown”. The novel will be released by Pan Macmillan on 6th of May and with this occasion the publishers will also release new editions of China Miéville’s books with re-designed covers to match the one of “Embassytown”. I do find the new covers very appealing and I really like the effort Pan Macmillan put behind these series of covers.

Now, I should not reveal this information, because it will decrease my chances of winning, but I don’t believe it is much of a secret. I am only joking, but not about the competition. On the Book Depository there is competition that runs until the publication date of “Embassytown”, 6th of May, in which we can win a print of the cover of our choice, from the new designed ones, signed by China Miéville and the artist. If the prize sounds appetizing all you need to do is answer 5 questions about China Miéville for a chance to win it. I already did :D You can find full details of the competition and the questions on this Book Depository page. Good luck to all!

In the mailbox

2011-04-09T11:30:00.002+03:00

Three new arrivals lately in my mailbox. Adam Nevill’s “The Ritual” sounds very appealing and it is one of the novels I am looking forward to read. Now is my chance, but not before tackling the other two novels of Adam Nevill which I have in my personal library, “Banquet for the Damned” and “Apartment 16”. Hopefully I will manage it before the publication date of “The Ritual” or around it. Steven Erikson’s series still lies unread on my bookshelves, with the exception “Gardens of the Moon”. My plans of reading “Malazan Book of the Fallen” series failed miserly. But with the arrival of “The Crippled God” I hope that I will get my final push for reading the entire Steven Erikson’s series. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Norman J. Lafave’s “Nanomagica” comes with an interesting concept and although I am a bit reluctant lately towards small press titles, due to a recent series of unfortunate encounters, I hope to give “Nanomagica” its deserved chance.

- “The Ritual” by Adam Nevill (through the courtesy of Pan Macmillan)

And on the third day things did not get better. The rain fell hard and cold, the white sun never broke through the low grey cloud, and they were lost. But it was the dead thing they found hanging from a tree that changed the trip beyond recognition.

When four old University friends set off into the Scandinavian wilderness of the Arctic Circle, they aim to briefly escape the problems of their lives and reconnect with one another. But when Luke, the only man still single and living a precarious existence, finds he has little left in common with his well-heeled friends, tensions rise.

With limited fitness and experience between them, a shortcut meant to ease their hike turns into a nightmare scenario that could cost them their lives. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by forest untouched for millennia, Luke figures things couldn’t possibly get any worse.

But then they stumble across an old habitation. Ancient artefacts decorate the walls and there are bones scattered upon the dry floors. The residue of old rites and pagan sacrifice for something that still exists in the forest. Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. And as the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn’t come easy among these ancient trees . . .

- “The Crippled God” by Steven Erikson (through the courtesy of Tor Books)

Savaged by the K’Chain Nah’Ruk, the Bonehunters march for Kolanse, where waits an unknown fate. Tormented by questions, the army totters on the edge of mutiny, but Adjunct Tavore will not relent. One final act remains, if it is in her power, if she can hold her army together, if the shaky allegiances she has forged can survive all that is to come. A woman with no gifts of magic, deemed plain, unprepossessing, displaying nothing to instill loyalty or confidence, Tavore Paran of House Paran means to challenge the gods – if her own troops don’t kill her first.

Awaiting Tavore and her allies are the Forkrul Assail, the final arbiters of humanity. Drawing upon an alien power terrible in its magnitude, they seek to cleanse the world, to annihilate every human, every civilization, in order to begin anew. They welcome the coming conflagration of slaughter, for it shall be of their own devising, and it pleases them to know that, in the midst of the enemies gathering against them, there shall be betrayal.

In the realm of Kurald Galain, home to the long lost city of Kharkanas, a mass of refugees stand upon the First Shore. Commanded by Yedan Derryg, the Watch, they await the breaching of Lightfall, and the coming of the Tiste Liosan. This is a war they cannot win, and they will die in the name of an empty city and a queen with no subjects.

Elsewhere, the three Elder Gods, Kilmandaros, Errastas and Sechul Lath, work to shatter the chains binding Korabas, the Otataral Dragon, from her eternal prison. Once freed, she will rise as a force of devastation, and against her no mortal can stand. At the Gates of Starvald Demelain, the Azath House sealing the portal is dying. Soon will come the Eleint, and once more, there will be dragons in the world.

- “Nanomagica” by Norman J. Lafave (through the courtesy of Trapdoor Books)

By 2088, genetic engineering and nanotechnology have merged to create a near Elysian existence. Mankind is on the brink of immortality – disease, famine and pollution have been eradicated using this new technology – with seemingly magical results.

Behind this perfect mask, however, lurks a hidden threat – revealed by puzzling, apparently random tragedies. Chicago Police Inspector Robert Nazio and the brilliant Greg Gilroy, an anarchist and master hacker, find themselves thrown together at the center of an international crisis filled with twists, turns and technology gone awry.

Assembling a super team of intelligence experts, the investigation quickly evolves into a race to save the Earth from a diabolical threat that seems to be everywhere at once – infiltrating governments, corporations and research laboratories seemingly at will. Nazio and Gilroy’s only hope seems to lie in two Renaissance Festival throwbacks - illusionists who have magic of their own.

With paradise collapsing, who will win the battle - technology or magic?

Thank you all very much!

Title spotlight - "Creatures! Thirty Years of Monster Stories" edited by John Langan & Paul Tremblay

2011-04-08T11:59:00.003+03:00

After finding out about one anthology dedicated to monsters, Christopher Golden’s “The Monster’s Corner”, I recently discovered yet another very interesting one, “Creatures! Thirty Years of Monster Stories”. In my almost daily wanders around the Internet I found that John Langan and Paul Tremblay edited a new anthology featuring monster fiction and due to be released by Prime Books in November this year. I have to say that not only that the John Langan and Paul Tremblay’s anthology sounds interesting, but also the authors line-up looks very appealing, with some of the heavy names of speculative fiction present with stories on “Creatures! Thirty Years of Monster Stories”. With such a strong Table of Contents November seems so far away, but until then we can keep up to date by visiting the blog dedicated to the anthology edited by John Langan and Paul Tremblay.

IT CAME AND WE KNEW IT
“Godzilla’s Twelve-Step Program” by Joe R. Lansdale
“The Creature from the Black Lagoon” by Jim Shepard
“After Moreau” by Jeffrey Ford
“Among Their Bright Eyes” by Alaya Dawn Johnson
“Under Cover of Night” by Christopher Golden
“The Kraken” by Michael Kelly
“Underneath Me, Steady Air” by Carrie Laben
IT CAME WE COULD NOT STOP IT
“Rawhead Rex” by Clive Barker
“Wishbones” by Cherie Priest
“The Hollow Man” by Norm Partridge
“Not from Around Here” by David J. Schow
“The Ropy Thing” by Al Sarrantonio
“The Third Bear” by Jeff Vandermeer
IT CAME FOR US
“Monster” by Kelly Link
“Keep Calm and Carillon” by Genevieve Valentine
“The Deep End” by Robert R. McCammon
“The Serpent and the Hatchet Gang” by F. Brett Cox
“Blood Makes Noise” by Gemma Files
“The Machine Is Perfect, the Engineer Is Nobody” by Brett Alexander Savory
“Proboscis” by Laird Barron
IT CAME FROM US
“Familiar” by China Miéville
“Replacements” by Lisa Tuttle
“Little Monsters” by Stephen Graham Jones
“The Changeling” by Sarah Langan
“The Monsters of Heaven” by Nathan Ballingrud
“Absolute Zero” by Nadia Bulkin

Cover art - "The Alloy of Law" by Brandon Sanderson

2011-04-06T13:00:00.002+03:00

Some of the most interesting cover artworks I’ve seen are featured on Brandon Sanderson’s novels. And although I am not exactly a fan of the covers for the paperback editions of his “Mistborn” novels released by Tor Books, the ones on the hardback editions are very interesting. However, seeing on Aidan’s A Dribble of Ink and Adam’s The Wertzone blogs the UK cover for the upcoming “The Alloy of Law”, it got me thinking at the series of covers for the Gollancz editions of Brandon Sanderson’s novels. Looking simple compared with the US editions, but equally efficient, these strokes of brush and bare touch of color work very well for me. It proves that a minimalist concept can work wonders on a cover of a novel as well. Brandon Sanderson’s “The Alloy of Law” will be released in the US on 8th November by Tor Books and in the Uk on 17th November by Gollancz.

Galileo Awards 2011, The Long List

2011-04-04T13:41:00.005+03:00

Galileo Magazine, which was born in the spring of 2010, makes wonderful efforts to promote the Romanian science fiction and fantasy, either through its printed edition or the electronic one. The magazine will release soon its third printed issue, with a wonderful cover, featuring the artwork of one of my top favorite artists, Raymond Swanland, and with an interesting content, dedicated mostly to Robert Silverberg. Besides this however, Galileo Magazine announces the first edition of the Galileo Awards, intended to reward annually the works of Romanian speculative fiction. This first edition will have two categories, The Best Volume and The Best Short Fiction, awarded to the author’s works, novels and collection of stories published for the first time and respectively to the short stories, novelettes or novellas published for the first time in personal or collective anthologies, magazines or fanzines, all of them released during 2010. The Galileo Awards winners will be announced on 28th May at the National Book Fair, Bookfest and the preliminary list of nominees looks like this:

The Best Volume:

Adrian Buzdugan – “Capela excomunicaților” (The Excommunicated Chapel) (Humanitas)
Oliviu Crâznic – “…și la sfîrșit a mai rămas coșmarul” (…and at the end remained the nightmare) (Vremea)
Michael Haulică – “Povestiri fantastice” (Fantastic Stories) (Millennium)
Snowdon King – “Uezen și alte povestiri” (Uezen and other stories) (Fides)
Victor Martin – “Monede de sticlă” (Coins of Glass) (Autograf MJM)
Mircea Opriţă – “Povestiri de duminică” (Sunday Stories) (Millennium)
Liviu Radu – “Modificatorii” (The Modifiers) (Millennium)
Liviu Radu – “Ghicit de seară” (Evening Fortune Telling) (Tritonic)
Liviu Radu – “Lumea lui Waldemar” (Waldemar’s World) (Tritonic)
Oana Stoica-Mujea – “Regina arkudă și amuletele puterii” (The Arkud Queen and the Amulets of Power) (Tritonic)
Cristian-Mihail Teodorescu – “S.F. Doi” (S.F. Two) (Bastion)

The Best Short Fiction:

Costel Baboș – “Maratonul paltoanelor” (The Overcoat Marathon) (Pangaia SRSFF, 2010)
Ciprian Ionuţ Baciu – “Contele” (The Count) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Balin Feri – “Crima necesară” (The Necessary Crime) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Balin Feri – “Consolarea” (The Consolation) (Nautilus 32, September 2010)
Balin Feri – “Descoperirea secolului” (The Discovery of the Century) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Aron Biro – “Homo Hermeticum” (Homo Hermeticum) (Nautilus 33, October 2010)
Aron Biro – “Paradisul pierdut” (The Lost Paradise) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Bogdan-Tudor Bucheru – “Între Lacuri” (Among Lakes) (Nautilus 25, February 2010)
Adrian Buzdugan – “Frigul” (The Cold) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Aurel Cărăşel – “Explozia verde” (The Green Explosion) (Nautilus 30, July 2010)
Aurel Cărăşel – “Mitologii creştine. Anatema” (The Christian Mythologies. Anathema) (Nautilus 25, February 2010)
Aurel Cărăşel – “Destinatarul” (The Recipient) (Nautilus 32, September 2010)
Aurel Cărăşel – “Libreville – secolul XIX” (Libreville – XIXth Century) (Nautilus 34, November 2010)
Laura Ceica – “De ce să nu crezi în Moş Crăciun!” (Why not to believe in Santa Claus!) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Adrian Chifu – “Răsăritul mai mic al domnişoarei Erica” (The Smaller Sunrise of Miss Erica) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Catalin Cofaru – “Fortăreaţa” (The Fortress) (Nautilus 34, November 2010)
Mircea Coman – “Ultimele clipe sînt extrem de scumpe” (The Last Moments are Extremely Precious) (Nautilus 25, February 2010)
Mircea Coman – “Dad” (Dad) (Nautilus 28, May 2010)
Mircea Coman – “Grădina Yasminei” (Yasmine’s Garden) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Sebastian A. Corn – “Vonu” (Vonu) (Galileo 1)
Ștefana Cristina Czeller – “Răzbunarea” (The Revenge) (Pangaia, SRSFF, 2010)
Ștefana Cristina Czeller – “Slujesc Zeului-Cîine” (I Serve the Dog-God) (Galileo 2)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Trîmbiţele Apocalipsei sunat-au” (The Trumpets of Apocalypse Have Sounded) (Nautilus 24, January 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Gîngăniile” (The Bugs) (Nautilus 26, March 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Atinge-ma, Sara!” (Touch Me, Sara!) (Nautilus 27, April 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Angelo Plămădeală şi Frontul revoluţionar” (Angelo Leaven and the Revolutionary Front) (Nautilus 29, June 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Noaptea extratereştrilor” (Night of the Aliens) (Nautilus 30, July 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Spovedania” (The Confession) (Nautilus 30, July 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Târgul” (The Bargain) (Nautilus 33, October 2010)
Stefana Cristina Czeller – “Interviul” (The Interview) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Ştefana Cristina Czeller – “Nopţile stranii ale lui Vasile Cotineaţă” (The Strange Nights of Vasile Costineață) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Liliana David – “Virus” (Virus) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Alexandru Ioan Despina – “17 Octombrie” (17th October) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Andrei Gaceff – “Strivirea buburuzei de la staţia lui 135” (The Squash of the Ladybug from the Station of 135) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Antuza Genescu – “Prizonieri în anotimpuri” (Prisoners in Seasons) (Pangaia, SRSFF, 2010)
Silviu Genescu – “Cetățeanul Welles” (Citizen Welles) (Pangaia, SRSFF, 2010)
Costi Gurgu – “Îngeri și molii” (Angels and Moths) (Galileo 2)
Michael Haulică – “Microtexte” (Microtexts) (Povestiri fantastice, Millennium, 2010)
Rares Iordache – “Disfuncționalitate conștientă: nu vreau să mă copiez!” (Conscious Dysfunction: I Don’t Want to Copy Myself!) (Nautilus 31, August 2010)
George Lazăr – “Viitorul mass media” (The Mass Media Future) (Pangaia, SRSFF, 2010)
Ciprian Mitoceanu – “Resurse nelimitate” (Unlimited Resources) (Nautilus 24, January 2010)
Ciprian Mitoceanu – “O experienţă stranie” (A Strange Experience) (Nautilus 26, March 2010)
Ciprian Mitoceanu – “Triunghi mortal” (Deadly Triangle) (Nautilus 29, June 2010)
Ciprian Mitoceanu – “O poveste perversă” (A Perverse Story) (Nautilus 31, August 2010)
Dan Ninoiu – “Cum ne-a salvat Vasile de la invazia extraterestră” (How Vasile Saved Us from the Alien Invasion) (Nautilus 35, December 2010)
Mircea Opriță – “Lucy” (Lucy) (Povestiri de duminică, Millennium, 2010)
Mircea Opriță – “Interviul” (The Interview) (Povestiri de duminică, Millennium, 2010)
Mircea Opriță – “Inginerii electronice” (Electronic Engineering) (Povestiri de duminică, Millennium, 2010)
Mircea Opriță – “Caliban, du-te la bibliotecă!” (Caliban, Go to the Library!) (Povestiri de duminică, Millennium, 2010)
Dario Pecarov – “Zeificatorii” (The Divinifiers) (Nautilus 26, March 2010)
Florin Pîtea – “Selecţie” (Selection) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Florin Pîtea – “Vînătoarea de sfincși” (The Hunt of Sphinxes) (Galileo 2)
Liviu Radu – “Loteria” (The Lottery) (Nautilus 29, June 2010)
Liviu Radu – “Maniere, mahmureală şi molii” (Manners, Hangover and Moths) (Nautilus 24, January 2010)
Liviu Radu – “Doi bătrîni, pe o bancă” (Two Old Men, On a Bench) (Galileo 1)
Liviu Radu – “Lumina trebuie să vină dinspre răsărit” (The Light Must Come from the East) (Modificatorii, Millennium Books, 2010)
Liviu Radu – “Dosarul „Hannibal ante portas“” (“Hannibal ante portas” Dossier) (Modificatorii, Millennium Books, 2010)
Liviu Radu – “Mestecenii” (The Birches) (Modificatorii, Millennium Books, 2010)
Liviu Radu – “Allez la France” (Allez la France) (Modificatorii, Millennium Books, 2010)
Liviu Radu – “Vînzoleli nocturne” (Nocturnal Fidgets) (Lumea lui Waldemar, Tritonic)
Liviu Radu – “Veți vedea, dacă ochi voștri…” (You’ll See, If Your Eyes…) (Pangaia, SRSFF, 2010)
Lucian Sava – “Ziua-celui-care-plânge-că-trăieşte” (The-Day-of-One-Who-Cries-Because-He-Lives) (Helion 1-2, February-April 2010)
Costin Constantin Simon & Reimund Schild-Kirer – “Nu e pentru ochii noştri să vadă” (It is Not For Our Eyes to See) (Helion1-2, February-April 2010)
Cristian Mihail Teodorescu – “Electronii sînt mai deștepți decît noi” (The Electrons are Smarter Than Us) (Nautilus 30, July 2010)
Cristian Mihail Teodorescu – “Orașul din ceață” (The City From the Mist) (SF2, Bastion, 2010)
Cristian Mihail Teodorescu – “Maestru Imperial” (Imperial Master) (SF2, Bastion, 2010)
Cristian Mihail Teodorescu – “Electro-magneto muza” (Electro-Magneto Muse) (SF2, Bastion, 2010)
Marian Truță – “Cumania 2010” (Cumania 2010) (Galileo 2)
Ioana Vişan – “La distanta de un lift” (One Elevator Distance) (Nautilus 27, April 2010)
Ioana Vişan – “Simfonie de gloanţe şi sânge” (Symphony of Bullets and Blood) (Nautilus 32, September 2010)
Ioana Vişan – “Din lipsă de Timp” (Because Of Lack of Time) (Nautilus 34, November 2010)

Congratulations and good luck to all the initial nominees!

17 ;D

2011-03-30T13:02:00.000+03:00

Well, I believe that they are actually 34 in Earth years, but I am not bother by it at all :) And since this year my party has one more permanent guest I will be away a bit celebrating. I do hope though that you will also have a marvelous day :D

Titles spotlight - Ekaterina Sedia's "Heart of Iron" & "Bewere the Night"

2011-03-29T12:30:00.006+03:00

With vivid imagination and fresh and original stories Ekaterina Sedia is one of the names that imposed itself among my favorite writers. There is no surprise then that when Ekaterina Sedia’s name appears on the list of upcoming releases I am eagerly and joyfully looking forward to her next work. This time there is more than one good news, because not only that Ekaterina Sedia has a new novel coming up this year, but also a new anthology.

“Heart of Iron”, the fifth novel of Ekaterina Sedia, comes up in July from Prime Books and has a very intriguing and interesting concept. My previous experiences with the authors’ works were nothing but pleasant so I am convinced that “Heart of Iron” will be a pleasant surprise as well.

In a Russia where the Decembrists’ rebellion was successful and the Trans-Siberian railroad was completed before 1854, Sasha Trubetskaya wants nothing more than to have a decent debut ball in St. Petersburg. But her aunt’s feud with the emperor lands Sasha at university, where she becomes one of its first female students—an experiment, she suspects, designed more to prove female unsuitability for such pursuits than offer them education. The pressure intensifies when Sasha’s only friends—Chinese students—start disappearing, and she begins to realize that her new British companion, Jack, has bigger secrets than she can imagine.

Sasha and Jack find themselves trying to stop a war brewing between the three empires. The only place they can turn to for help is the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace, newly founded by the Taiping rebels. Pursued by the terrifying Dame Florence Nightingale of the British Secret Service, Sasha and Jack escape across Siberia via train to China. Sasha discovers that Jack is not quite the person she thought he was … but then again, neither is she.

Also from Prime Books, in April, Ekaterina Sedia will publish an anthology featuring stories of shapeshifters and werecreatures, with some very interesting names lined-up on the table of contents, such as Kaaron Warren, Cherie Priest, Holly Black, Nick Mamatas or Lavie Tidhar, just to name a few.

Kitsune. Werewolves. Crane wives. Selkies. Every culture has stories of such strange creatures – animals turning into humans, humans shapeshifting into animals. Sometimes seductive, sometimes bloodthirsty, but always unpredictable like nature itself, these beings are manifestations of our secret hearts, our desire to belong to both worlds: one tame and civilized, the other unfettered and full of wild impulse. Here are stories that will make you wish you could howl at the moon until your heart bursts with longing or feel yourself shedding your human body as easily as a snake sheds its skin. Beware the night … it might not kill you, but it will certainly steal you away!

Introduction
“The Thief of Precious Things” by A.C. Wise
“Poison Eaters” by Holly Black
“Go Home Stranger” by Justin Howe
“The Heavy” by Cherie Priest
“Tusk and Skin” by Marissa Lingen
“A Song to the Moon” by Richard Bowes
“In the Seeonee Hills” by Erica Hildebrand
“The Sinews of His Heart” by Melissa Yuan-Innes
“(Nothing But) Flowers” by Nick Mamatas
“The Coldest Game” by Maria V. Snyder
“Red on Red” by Jen White
“Extra Credit” by Seth Cadin
“Thirst” by Vandana Singh
“Grotesque Angels” by Gwendolyn Clare
“Blue Joe” by Stephanie Burgis
“The Werewizard of Oz” by Lavie Tidhar
“Seven Year Itch” by Leah Cutter
“An Unnatural History of Scarecrows” by Mario Milosevic
“The Gaze Dogs of Nine Waterfall” by Kaaron Warren
“Snow on Sugar Mountain” by Elizabeth Hand
“The Aphotic Ghost” by Carlos Hernandez
“The Fowler’s Daughter” by Michelle Muenzler
“Moonlight and Bleach” by Sandra MacDonald
“She Drives the Men to Crimes of Passion!” by Genevieve Valentine
“Coyotaje” by Marie Brennan
“Swear Not by the Moon” by Renee Carter Hall
“Infested” by Nadia Bulkin
“Watchmen” by Aaron Sterns
“And Neither Have I Wings to Fly” by Carrie Laben

It is certain that Ekaterina Sedia will keep me very busy this year, especially since I still have to catch up with “The House of Discarded Dreams”, the novel she published last year.

2011 Ditmar Awards

2011-03-28T12:30:00.005+03:00

The nominees for the 2011 Ditmar Awards, awarded annually since 1969 and recognizing the achievement in Australian science fiction, have been announced. The winners will be announced at the Swancon36, the 36th Annual Western Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention, held between 21st and 25th April at Hyatt Regency Perth Hotel.

Best Novel:
“Death Most Definite” by Trent Jamieson (Hachette)
“Madigan Mine” by Kirstyn McDermott (Pan Macmillan)
“Power and Majesty” by Tansy Rayner Roberts (Voyager)
“Stormlord Rising” by Glenda Larke (Voyager)
“Walking the Tree” by Kaaron Warren (Angry Robot Books)

Best Novella or Novelette:
“Acception” by Tessa Kum (Eneit Press)
“All the Clowns in Clowntown” by Andrew J. McKiernan (Brimstone Press)
“Bleed” by Peter M. Ball (Twelfth Planet Press)
“Her Gallant Needs” by Paul Haines (Twelfth Planet Press)
“The Company Articles of Edward Teach” by Thoraiya Dyer (Twelfth Planet Press)

Best Short Story:
“All the Love in the World” by Cat Sparks (Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press)
“Bread and Circuses” by Felicity Dowker (Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications)
“One Saturday Night With Angel” by Peter M. Ball (Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press)
“She Said” by Kirstyn McDermott (Scenes From the Second Storey, Morrigan Books)
“The House of the Nameless” by Jason Fischer (Writers of the Future XXVI)
“The February Dragon” by Angela Slatter and Lisa L. Hannett (Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications)

Best Collected Work:
“Baggage” edited by Gillian Polack (Eneit Press)
“Macabre: A Journey through Australia’s Darkest Fears” edited by Angela Challis and Marty Young (Brimstone Press)
“Scenes from the Second Storey” edited by Amanda Pillar and Pete Kempshall (Morrigan Books)
“Sprawl” edited by Alisa Krasnostein (Twelfth Planet Press)
“Worlds Next Door” edited by Tehani Wessely (FableCroft Publishing)

Best Artwork:
Cover art – “The Angaelien Apocalypse/The Company Articles of Edward Teach” (Twelfth Planet Press) - Dion Hamill
Cover art – “Australis Imaginarium” (FableCroft Publishing) - Shaun Tan
Cover art – “Dead Sea Fruit” (Ticonderoga Publications) - Olga Read
Short film – “The Lost Thing” (Passion Pictures) - Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan

Best Fan Writer:
Robert Hood for Undead Backbrain
Chuck McKenzie for work in Horrorscope
Alexandra Pierce for body of work including reviews at Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus
Tehani Wessely for body of work including reviews at Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus

Best Fan Artist:
Rachel Holkner for Continuum 6 props
Dick Jenssen for cover art of Interstellar Ramjet Scoop
Amanda Rainey for Swancon 36 logo

Best Fan Publication in Any Medium:
“Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus” edited by Alisa Krasnostein et al.
“Bad Film Diaries” podcast - Grant Watson
“Galactic Suburbia” podcast - Alisa Krasnostein, Tansy Rayner Roberts and Alex Pierce
“Terra Incognita” podcast - Keith Stevenson
“The Coode Street” podcast - Gary K. Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan
“The Writer and the Critic” podcast - Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond

Best Achievement:
Lisa L. Hannett - cover design for “The Girl With No Hands and Other Tales” (Ticonderoga Publications)
Helen Merrick and Andrew Milner - Academic Stream for Aussiecon 4 Amanda Rainey - cover design for “Scary Kisses”
Kyla Ward - Horror Stream and The Nightmare Ball for Aussiecon 4
Grant Watson and Sue Ann Barber - Media Stream for Aussiecon4
Alisa Krasnostein, Kathryn Linge, Rachel Holkner, Alexandra Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts and Tehani Wessely - Snapshot 2010

Best New Talent:
Thoraiya Dyer
Lisa L. Hannett
Patty Jansen
Kathleen Jennings
Pete Kempshall

William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review:
Leigh Blackmore for “Marvels and Horrors: Terry Dowling’s Clowns at Midnight”
Damien Broderick for editing “Skiffy and Mimesis: More Best of Australian Science Fiction” Review
Ross Murray for “The Australian Dream Becomes Nightmare”
Tansy Rayner Roberts for “A Modern Woman’s Guide to Classic Who”

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Michael Moorcock's Elric: The Balance Lost comes to life this May with sensational art by Francesco Biagini & written by Superman's Chris Roberson

2011-03-25T12:15:00.006+02:00

Experience the all original Free Comic Book Day prequel this May & Elric: The Balance Lost #1 this July

Beginning this May, BOOM! Studios brings action, adventure and fantasy like never seen before with ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST! Featuring sensational art by Francesco Biagini (DINGO, DEAD RUN) and written by New York Times bestseller Chris Roberson (SUPERMAN, STAN LEE'S STARBORN), this Free Comic Book Day the most action-packed name in comics is ELRIC!

“After seeing Francesco's pages for ELRIC there is no doubt in my mind that Michael Moorcock's legendary Multiverse is in great hands,” says BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Francesco takes any story he's working on and turns it into a kinetic thrill ride on every page. It's only fitting that one of sword and sorcery's greatest characters is in the hands of comics' brightest talents!”

“Comics and fantasy fans will be blown away when they feast their eyes on the Free Comic Book Day ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST prequel!” says BOOM! Studios Marketing Director Chip Mosher. “With a true visionary of the comic arts medium like Francesco Biagini lending his talents to the already fantastic story penned by white-hot talent Chris Roberson, ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST will be the Free Comic Book Day grab no comic fan should miss!”

Francesco Biagini joins New York Times bestselling scribe Chris Roberson(SUPERMAN, iZOMBIE, STAN LEE’S STARBORN) beginning this May in an all-new, all-original ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST FCBD EDITION that’s not simply a preview of the July series, but a prequel that will excite longtime Elric fans and serve as an accessible entry point for the curious who have never experienced Moorcock’s saga.

For 40 years, comic book fandom has thrilled to the exploits of Elric since his introduction in Marvel Comics' CONAN THE BARBARIAN in the early 1970s. Neil Gaiman called Elric’s creator Michael Moorcock “my model for what a writer was” while Warren Ellis said he is one of the “eight core sites in my creative genome.” Now the godfather of the Multiverse teams up with hot New York Times bestseller Chris Roberson (SUPERMAN, iZOMBIE, STAN LEE'S STARBORN) for an ongoing series that sees a crisis break out across multiple worlds with Moorcock's other two most famous fantasy franchise characters, Corum of the Scarlet Robe and Dorian Hawkmoon! The workings of Fate are being tampered across the Multiverse, upsetting the Cosmic Balance. Elric is on a quest to restore The Balance and save the Multiverse from ruin! Elric, Corum, and Hawkmoon are forced into action far and wide, but will they fight on the side of Law...or Chaos?

ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST FCBD EDITION ships this May for Free Comic Book Day, featuring an original prequel story by New York Times bestseller and SUPERMAN writer Chris Roberson with art by Francesco Biagini and cover art by Erik Jones that leads directly into the first issue of the new ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST this July.

About BOOM! Studios

Award-winning "Best Publisher" BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com/) generates a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE, Stan Lee's SOLDIER ZERO, THE TRAVELER, and STARBORN (the first new series in print from the industry icon in 20 years), new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker as well as 20th Century Fox's PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and DIE HARD, Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, and The Henson Company's FARSCAPE. BOOM!'s recently rebranded all-ages imprint, KABOOM! will see publication of PEANUTS, SPACE WARPED, Roger Langridge's SNARKED!, Scholastic's WORDGIRL and DUCKTALES, as well as continuing to publish fan-favorite Disney Afternoon series DARKWING DUCK, CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS along with Disney standards MICKEY MOUSE, DONALD DUCK, UNCLE SCROOGE, and WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES.

2010 Aurealis Awards nominees

2011-03-23T12:30:00.002+02:00

The finalists for the 2010 Aurealis Awards, the annual award for the Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction, have been announced. The winners of the 2010 Aurealis Awards and the Peter McNamara Convenors’ Award for Excellence will be announced at the Aurealis Awards ceremony, sponsored by Harper Voyager, at The Independent Theatre, North Sydney on 21st May 2011.

Science Fiction Novel
“Song of Scarabaeous” by Sara Creasy (EOS Books)
“Mirror Space” by Marianne de Pierres (Orbit)
“Transformation Space” by Marianne de Pierres (Orbit)

Science Fiction Short Story
“The Heart of a Mouse” by K.J. Bishop (Subterranean Online, Winter 2010)
“The Angaelian Apocalypse” by Matthew Chrulew (The Company Articles Of Edward Teach/The Angaelian Apocalypse / Twelfth Planet Press)
“Border Crossing” by Penelope Love (Belong / Ticonderoga Publications)
“Interloper by Ian McHugh (Asimovs, Jan 2011)

“Relentless Adaptations” by Tansy Rayner Roberts (Sprawl / Twelfth Planet Press)

Fantasy Novel
“The Silence of Medair” by Andrea K Höst (self‐published)
“Death Most Definite” by Trent Jamieson (Orbit)
“Stormlord Rising” by Glenda Larke (HarperVoyager)
“Heart’s Blood” by Juliet Marillier (Pan Macmillan)
“Power and Majesty” by Tansy Rayner Roberts (HarperVoyager)

Fantasy Short Story
“The Duke of Vertumn’s Fingerling” by Elizabeth Carroll (Strange Horizons)
“Yowie” by Thoraiya Dyer (Sprawl / Twelfth Planet Press)
“The February Dragon” by LL Hannett & Angela Slatter (Scary Kisses / Ticonderoga Publications)
“All the Clowns in Clowntown” by Andrew McKiernan (Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's Darkest Fears / Brimstone Press)

“Sister, Sister” by Angela Slatter (Strange Tales III / Tartarus Press)

Horror Novel
“After the World: Gravesend” by Jason Fischer (Black House Comics)
“Death Most Definite” by Trent Jamieson (Orbit)
“Madigan Mine” by Kirstyn McDermott (Pan Macmillan)

Horror Short Story
“Take the Free Tour” by Bob Franklin (Under Stones / Affirm Press)
“Her Gallant Needs” by Paul Haines (Sprawl / Twelfth Planet Press)
“The Fear” by Richard Harland (Macabre: A Journey Through Australia’s Darkest Fears /
Brimstone Press)
“Wasting Matilda” by Robert Hood (Zombie Apocalypse! / Constable & Robinson Ltd)

“Lollo” by Martin Livings (Close Encounters of the Urban Kind / Apex Publishing)

Best Anthology
“Macabre: A Journey Through Australia's Darkest Fears” edited by Angela Challis & Dr Marty
Young (Brimstone Press)
“Sprawl” edited by Alisa Krasnostein (Twelfth Planet Press)
“Scenes from the Second Storey” edited by Amanda Pillar & Pete Kempshall (Morrigan Books)
“Godlike Machines” edited by Jonathan Strahan (SF Book Club)

“Wings of Fire” edited by Jonathan Strahan & Marianne S. Jablon (Night Shade Books)

Best Collection
“The Library of Forgotten Books” by Rjurik Davidson (PS Publishing)
“Under Stones” by Bob Franklin (Affirm Press)
“Sourdough and Other Stories” by Angela Slatter (Tartarus Press)
“The Girl With No Hands” by Angela Slatter (Ticonderoga Publications)
“Dead Sea Fruit” by Kaaron Warren (Ticonderoga Publications)

Best Illustrated Book/Graphic Novel
“Shakespeare's Hamlet” by Nicki Greenberg (Allen & Unwin)
“EEEK!: Weird Australian Tales of Suspense” by Jason Paulos et al (Black House Comics)
“Changing Ways Book 1” by Justin Randall (Gestalt Publishing)
“Five Wounds: An Illustrated Novel” by Jonathan Walker & Dan Hallett (Allen & Unwin)
“Horrors: Great Stories of Fear and Their Creators” by Rocky Wood & Glenn Chadbourne(McFarlane & Co.)

Young Adult Novel
“Merrow” by Ananda Braxton‐Smith (Black Dog Books)
“Guardian of the Dead” by Karen Healey (Allen & Unwin)
“The Midnight Zoo” by Sonya Hartnett (Penguin)
“The Life of a Teenage Body‐Snatcher” by Doug MacLeod (Penguin)
“Behemoth” (Leviathan Trilogy Book Two) by Scott Westerfeld (Penguin)

Young Adult Short Story
“Inksucker” by Aidan Doyle (Worlds Next Door / Fablecroft Publishing)
“One Story, No Refunds” by Dirk Flinthart (Shiny #6 / Twelfth Planet Press)
“A Thousand Flowers” by Margo Lanagan (Zombies Vs Unicorns / Allen & Unwin)
“Nine Times” by Kaia Landelius & Tansy Rayner Roberts (Worlds Next Door / Fablecroft
Publishing)

“An Ordinary Boy” by Jen White (The Tangled Bank / Tangled Bank Press)

Children’s Fiction (told primarily through pictures)
“Night School” by Isobelle Carmody (writer) & Anne Spudvilas (illustrator) (Penguin Viking)
“Magpie” by Luke Davies (writer) & Inari Kiuru (illustrator) (ABC Books)
“The Boy and the Toy” by Sonya Hartnett (writer) & Lucia Masciullo (illustrator) (Penguin Viking)
“Precious Little” by Julie Hunt & Sue Moss (writers) & Gaye Chapman (illustrator) (Allen &
Unwin)

“The Cloudchasers” by David Richardson (writer) & Steven Hunt (illustrator) (ABC Books)

Children’s Fiction (told primarily through words)
“Grimsdon” by Deborah Abela (Random House)
“Ranger's Apprentice #9: Halt's Peril” by John Flanagan (Random House)
“The Vulture of Sommerset” by Stephen M Giles (Pan Macmillan)
“The Keepers” by Lian Tanner (Allen & Unwin)
“Haggis MacGregor and the Night of the Skull” by Jen Storer & Gug Gordon, Aussie Nibbles(Penguin)

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!