Twitter Chat with Tor (Wed - 3/16) ~ Debut Authors

 

Tor Books announces the second of their monthly Twitter chat series!

Calling all Tweetgeeks:  debut authors Peter Orullian, Beth Bernobich, and Rhiannon Frater talk about publishing their first novels in the second #Torchat this Wednesday, 3/16 at 4 PM EST

Tor Books is excited to announce the second #TorChat, the new sf/f genre-themed, hour-long chat series hosted on Twitter. Guest authors will join fans in a lively, informative and entertaining discussions of all that’s hot in genre fiction (140 characters at a time) from 4 to 5 PM Eastern on the third Wednesday of every month. Each #TorChat will revolve around a different genre topic of interest, with new guest authors and exclusive fan giveaways from @Torbooks.

This Wednesday’s chat is about debut authors. Not just the question everyone wants to know (how did you get published?!) but also questions specific to debut novels in genre writing. Special guest authors Peter Orullian (@PeterOrullian), Beth Bernobich (@beth_bernobich), and Rhiannon Frater (@rhiannonfrater) will chat with fans on why they chose genre fiction, how they got published, and what comes after the contract.

The chat will be introduced and (loosely) moderated by Tor publicist Cassie Ammerman (@leanoir), with giveaways of advance copies of upcoming summer SF releases from @TorBooks following the 4 -5 PM chat.

---

Author Guests:

 

Peter Orullian has worked in marketing at Xbox for nearly a decade, most recently leading the Music and Entertainment marketing strategy for Xbox LIVE, and has toured as a featured vocalist internationally at major music festivals. He has published several short stories. The Unremembered is his first novel. He lives in Seattle. www.orullian.com 

The Unremembered (Book One of The Vault of Heaven) ~ by Peter Orullian  pre-purchasing links US|UK|Canada; Hardcover: 640 pages; Tor Books; (April 12, 2011) 

Beth Bernobich comes from a family of story tellers, artists, and engineers. She juggles her time between working with computer software, writing, family, and karate. Her short stories have appeared in publications such as Asimov’s, Interzone, Postscripts, Strange Horizons, and Sex in the System. She lives with her husband and son in Connecticut. Passion Play is her first novel. http://www.beth-bernobich.com

Passion Play ~ by Beth Bernobich US|UK|Canada; Hardcover: 368 pages; Tor Books; First Edition edition (October 12, 2010)

Rhiannon Frater is the author of The First Days: As the World Dies and two sequels, Fighting to Survive and Siege, all originally self-published and soon to be published by Tor. She and her husband live in Austin, Texas. http://rhiannonfrater.blogspot.com/

The First Days: As the World Dies ~ by Rhiannon Frater (preliminary cover image is available on her blog). This author will be of particular interest to the self published folks out there – since her novels where originally self published and have been picked up by Tor. Very cool!

---

About Tor Books:  Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, is a New York-based publisher of hardcover and softcover books, founded in 1980 and committed (although not limited) to SF and fantasy literature. In 2002, Tor launched Starscape, an imprint dedicated to publishing quality science fiction and fantasy for young readers, including books by critically acclaimed and award winning authors such as Cory Doctorow, Orson Scott Card, and David Lubar. Between an extensive hardcover and trade-softcover line, an Orb backlist program, and a stronghold in mass-market paperback, Tor annually publishes what is arguably the largest and most diverse line of science fiction and fantasy ever produced by a single English-language publisher. Books from Tor have won every major award in the SF and fantasy fields, and for the last twenty-three years the company has been named Best Publisher in the Locus Poll, the largest consumer poll in SF.

---

We love Tor. Everyone loves Tor. If you don’t love Tor – well…. skip it then. But this should be an interesting event.

Although I did not participate in the first it has been my experience with other group chats of this ilk that they are fun. I invariably meet someone new and interesting, like Blake Charlton (Spellwright). What a talented guy and funny too! – US|UK|Canada.

If you join in and add me on twitter - (@layersofthought). I will friend you back. *big smile*

We also have a bundle of posts coming up in the next several days:

• The Lucky Leprechan Giveaway Hop – with over 250 blogs linked up with bookish giveaways.
• A guest post from the husband and wife writing team – The Gears (authors of just released today - The Dawn Country US|UK|Canada).
• A review by John of the sci fi stand alone Home Fires written by Gene Wolfe. US|UK|Canada.
• Goodness knows what else the blog gods will grace us with!

Happy Tuesday; are you getting ready to wear some green?

Review by JD: Hawkmoon ~ The Sword of the Dawn by Michael Moorcock

 

This is the third of the Hawkmoon books, which is itself part of Moorcock’s huge and interconnected world of Eternal Champions. It seems to be archetypical Moorcock, where the hero warrior battles against overwhelming dark forces - a combination of science fiction, fantasy, swords & sorcery, and the early seeds of steampunk.

John’s Blurb:  In this series of books the role of the Eternal Champion is played by Duke Dorian Hawkmoon von Kőln. As the book starts, the forces of the evil Dark Empire led by Baron Meliadus have already conquered much of the known world, and Hawkmoon and his allies have only managed to escape by using the ancient machine of the wraith-folk to shift the last free city into another dimension of the Earth. But fearing that it is only a question of time before the Dark Empire finds a way of following them, Hawkmoon and his friend Huillam D’Averc go on a dangerous quest to find the one man who seems to hold the key to connecting the two dimensions – a man who lives in the home country of the Dark Empire. The book follows the heroes as they travel through time and strange lands and encounter a mystifying range of people and creatures, both good and bad.

Thoughts:  This is my first encounter with Moorcock, and my reaction is a bit mixed. On the one hand there is a wonderful imagination at work, and there’s a dizzying display of characters, concepts, landscapes, machines, ideas and plot lines. Moorcock’s worlds have a nice mix of the medieval and futuristic fantasy - while there may be some mind-boggling technology around, everyone fights with swords!

On the down side there is so much crammed into 220 pages that everything feels a bit shallow, and in particular the characters are very two-dimensional. An enticing storyline or character is introduced, but before it develops into something really interesting you are suddenly zipped on to the next situation. In places I found myself longing for Moorcock to slow down and dig deeper – which is odd as this is just one book from a series of four, and that series is itself part of a much larger body of connected work.

I don’t know if this pace and style is common to all of his work; I kind of get the feeling that it is, but perhaps I’ve just chosen the wrong place to enter the world of Moorcock. I will try again, as some of his ideas and creations are quite brilliant. In the meantime, I’d rate this book 3 stars.

---

Now for a bit of “musical geekishness” via John. Moorcock has worked a lot with the rock band Hawkwind, writing lyrics for them, adding vocal tracks and sometimes even appearing live during their concerts.

Here is a link to one of their songs associated with Moorcock’s Eternal Champions series. Taken from the band’s album “Warrior on the Edge of Time”, Moorcock is reading his own lyrics. Sadly the “video” is only a picture of the album cover; we did find a great video clip of him appearing live with the group but unfortunately it was one of those where the download/re-post function was disabled. Nevertheless, this is still a wonderful piece of 1970s sci-fi/fantasy rock and roll.

Believe it or not John and I still listen to this stuff; we love it and still rock on!

Please note, if your are receiving this post via email the video will probably not show ~ so link to the blog, take a break, sit back, turn up the volume, and enjoy!

---

Hawkmoon: The Sword of the Dawn ~ by Michael Moorcock

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1 edition (August 3, 2010)
• Originally published in 1968

Amazon links for US/UK/Canada.

The first and second books of the series are listed here:

• The Jewel in the Skull ~  Amazon links for US/UK/Canada.
• The Mad God’s Amulet ~ Amazon links for US/UK/Canada.

If you would like more information about this series please link to the preview post which includes all three books for this extensive series.

---

Stay tuned for more “classic” Sci Fi/Fant/UF recently republished by Tor.

• Karl Shroeder’s ~ Virga series
• Philip José  Farmer’s ~ Riverworld series
• Niven and Barnes’ ~ The Barsoom Project (the sequel to Dream Park)
• Mercedes Lackey’s ~ Trio of Sorcery (three new stories based on older characters)

As always John/JD will be addressing any comments around this book so don’t forget to click the follow up box to get his response.

Thanks for reading.

Review by Shellie: Haunted Legends ~ edited by Ellen Datlow and Nick Mamatas

 

A diverse collection of ghost stories based on actual legends, making it all the more interesting, fun, and just plain scary. 

This book was a complete pleasure to read, and what a perfect time of year to do so.  Part of the reason that I got so excited about this collection is that each of the stories is prefaced with a bit about each of the authors, and then concluded with a little snippet by the author about how he/she has come to write the story and the legend it was based upon. I clamor over stuff like this.

The fact that these stories have a foot in reality and are set currently is even more appealing to me. I do like horror which I can personally relate to.  Better yet is that it is a fairly diverse collection, taking legends from South America and Mexico, the UK, US/Native American, Japan, the Caribbean, the Ukraine, Vietnam, and India. Its diversity is an aspect which has an immense appeal for me.

Now onto the good bits!  Here are a few sentences (with no spoilers) on each of the stories based on ghost legends from around the world, with my personal favorites designated with asterisks.

"Knickerbocker Holiday" ~ by Richard Bowes.  This story is based upon the headless horseman. It is set currently and feels like it may be a chapter from a book which the author may be publishing. It is GLBT.

*** "That Girl"   ~  by Kaaron Warren. ***   Based around a local urban legend of a young woman who appears in local taxi cabs. Eerily it has links to an insane asylum making it all the more disconcerting.

"Akbar"  ~  by Kit Reed.  Based on a legend from India, it is set in an ancient abandoned settlement built into the desert walls of a canyon. It has a haunting of sorts.

“The Spring Heel”  ~  by Steve Pirie.  This is a very dark tale about a homeless woman set in the locale of England and based upon the legend of a “Spring Heel”.

“As Red as Red"  ~  by Caitlin R. Kiernan.  This story is a bit more atmospheric than horrific and yet is very good. It is also GLBT.

*** "Tin Cans"  ~  by Ekaterina Sedia. ****   Based on an actual horrific character from Russian history which has some very interesting social ramifications, specifically on those whom assisted this “monster”  with his base behaviors.

“Shoebox Train Wreck” ~  by John Mantooth  A psychologically horrific tale about guilt and its connection to a train wreck. This is a heart wrenching story.

"15 Panels Depicting the Sadness of the Baku and the Jotai," ~  by Catherynne M. Valente.  An unusual story with an amazing premise, which is around a bizarre and interesting myth from Japan. Valente has a writing style which is akin to poetry, and considering the subject this writing style is perfect for the story.

“La Llorona”  ~  by Carolyn Turgeon. The legend of the weeping woman from Mexico and South American is a prevalent one and forms the basis for this story. It is very sad.

“Face Like a Monkey”  ~ by Carrie Laben.  Based upon an urban legend set in the border towns of the US of a bird/bat/monkey-like creature that is said to haunt the area and Mexico.

*** "Down Atsion Road"  ~ by Jeffery Ford. ***    A story the author created from his own experiences in the area where he lives. So it’s based upon a truth of sorts, and on local Native American legend which has fused into the local history.

"Return to Mariabronn"  ~ by Gary A. Braunbeck.  There are urban legends of ghosts roaming rural US highway all around the country. This is one, and is read below via podcast link. The reader has an incredible voice and is perfect for the season.

*** “Following Double-Faced Woman” ~ by Erzbet YellowBoy. ***  A very sad and powerful tale which links a local Native American legend with drug addiction.

“Oaks Park”  ~ by M.K. Hobson  A personal tale set around a girl whose ghost haunts an old amusement park.

“For Those in Peril on the Sea”  ~ by Stephen Dedman  The author has taken reality shows to a new high in this story set on a cursed boat.

“The Foxes”  ~ by Lily Hoang.   Based upon a personal family legend which the author turns into a story. This is a very unusual telling and set in Vietnam.

*** "The Redfield Girls"  ~  by Laird Barron. ***  A group of middle aged women visit a lake cabin on their yearly summer get together. The legends attest that it is haunted or has demons in its murks. I had heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and goose pimples while reading this story. I would have to say that this was my favorite of the collection.

“Between Heaven and Hull”  ~ by Pat Cadigan.  This short story is set in England and is at once creepy and funny. It has a link to one of the editors. Having driven in the UK “on the wrong side of the road” and thinking about Americans attempting it makes this story particularly terrifying.

“Chucky Comes to Liverpool”  ~ by Ramsey Campbell.   This was not my favorite of the bunch, since Chucky creeps me out beyond annoyance. This is nothing to do with the author’s abilities and creativity, and the fact that the author connects the story to actual incidents occurring in Liverpool regarding censorship makes this story very poignant.

"The Folding Man"  ~  by Joe Lansdale.  I do have to say this is probably the most graphic/gory of the tales. It is also mind bending, the stuff of childhood nightmares, and very American.

All in all this is a wonderful collection. It is on the top of my list of favorite read this year at 4.5 stars. The best part is now I have 20 more authors to include in my list of books to search out and read. As I have mentioned, I have become a fan of Ellen Datlow since Spring of this year, and now have Nick Mamatas on my list as well.

---

We also have a special treat which includes no candy or calories - courtesy of Tor. Thank you Alexis! 

In this audio clip, as mentioned above,  is one of the stories read in a deep and atmospheric voice. Its so perfect for Halloween! You can download it to your computer to  iTunes. Please enjoy:  "Return to Mariabronn" ~ by Gary A. Braunbeck. 

Attributions: The above podcast/audio file was created by Ohio State University’s CSTW Writers Talk interviews.  I am not sure how long this link will be available so check it out soon!

---

If you would like more information on this freshly released book please see Layers of Thought’s preview for Haunted Legends.  Amazon purchasing links for US|Canada|UK.

This review will be included in the RIPV Challenge, The Speculative Fiction Challenge and The Basics.

Enjoy your Halloween weekend, and please stay tuned for one more post related to the fright season and then we change gears for the Fall.

Reviews by Shellie ~ Scary Shorts, Movies, and Book Contest Links

 

Swamp Thing?  ~  Nope.

But its so campy,  and I liked the spooky picture.  So with a play on words and the fact that I may be “swamping” readers with these multiple mini horror-ish reviews –  with that in mind skim and skip to those bits of your liking or interest. Be sure to check the bottom of the post since I am linking a huge blog hop where you can win Halloween related books all designed for those who want a chill for the season. 

Now on to the reviews.

---

Short Story:  Recrossing the Styx  ~ by  Ian R. MacLeod 

• From Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine
• Non affiliate back copy purchasing link for July/August 2010.

This was an intriguing short by Ian R, MacLeod; I have not read anything of his writing prior to this. I  will definitely be looking out for more or his writing. This short is a dystopian with an element of horror. But what dystopian doesn’t have a scare factor? 

The setting is in a future US where the landscape has become environmentally sterile. Many of our current practices are still in place, such as those nasty “consumeristic” tendencies. Things have changed just every so slightly, and there now exists a section of the population - which are referred to as the “dead” – who have been re-animated thanks to medical advances which have allowed some body parts to be replaced. The availability of this treatment is based upon the ability to pay for it. 

This has created a large population of wealthy, old, rickety, piecemeal people who spend their time on cruise ships floating on a lifeless sea having body parts replaced, including the frequent “jump starts” when things really do completely give out.  But here's the really creepy bit - where do these spare parts come from? I’m not telling….. *giggle*

I do have to say that MacLeod is an exceptional writer. His writing is easy to read yet his wording and message are complex. This particular story has that dry twist which is darkly funny and so very entertaining. The ending is great and unexpected making this type of short are my very favorite. Highly recommended.

---

 

Short Stories:  Dark Faith ~  edited by Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Grodon

• Smashword purchasing link.
• Published by Apex Publications ~ May. 07, 2010
• pages – 338

Basis for the collection ~ Editor’s Quote:   ….we all believe in something. So I invited horror, science fiction, and fantasy writers to riff on the idea of faith. Who we are, artists and people of faith, expressing our theology, whatever it may be, in our writing. And with the challenge to take it to another level: art is never for its own sake, but for people’s sake. I believe that art should be engaged with—and, in its own way, explore—truth; and we shouldn’t be afraid of truth, no matter where it takes us.

Thoughts around several stories/poems from this collection:

While the editor is deeply committed to his personal faith, I like the fact that in a search for horror/art and mind bending stories he has included the varying beliefs that each author has represented in this collection. So these stories display diversity and many belief systems.

“The Story of Belief-Non” (Poem) by Linda D. Addison ~  A lovely poem where the writer holds science as her belief system.

“Ghosts of New York” by Jennifer Pelland  ~  This particular story is based on a ghost who is doomed to repeat her jump from one of the two towers on 9-11. This is a difficult and sad read, and pulls in some history from New York and its older tragedies which are also paralleled within the story. It questions what occurs after death and why would one become a tethered ghost, as is the main character. It leaves the reader with an uneasy sense of disquiet and wondering about how our lives really end.

“I Sing a New Psalm” by Brian Keene   ~  This is a poem written in the format of a modern psalm, which tells a horrific and sad story, and recounts the teller’s loss of faith.

“He Who Would Not Bow” by Wrath James White ~ This is a very scary story about the Angel of Death and an unforgiving and cruel God who takes over Earth and demands fealty.

There are twenty odd stories in this collection and what better way to find a new favorite author. Here are the titles for a few other stories in the collection, with authors that I recognize:

“The Last Words of Dutch Schultz Jesus Christ” ~ Nick Mamatas
“You Dream” ~ Ekaterina Sedia
“Mother Urban’s Booke of Dayes” ~ Jay Lake
“Days of Flaming Motorcycles” ~ Catherynne M. Valente

This book comes very highly recommended from several friends on Goodreads. I do have to agree so far and for $4.99 you cannot beat it. The Smashwords link for purchase is in the title above.

---

Movies:

The Cave ~ In the hopes of exploring a legendary cave a group of professionals looking for unknown life forms find its opening in the mountains of Transylvania. As this expert team gets trapped below the surface they find they are not alone, and its not just bats. US/UK/Canada - The Cave

We watched this several years ago and had forgotten until the very end. It tells you how memorable the story is. Fortunately there is another movie released close to the same time which occurs in a cave as well. I would opt for it. US/UK/Canada  - The Descent

 

 Vampyr ~ This is touted as one of the first movies to have had sound and was filmed in the 1930s. It is very atmospheric and has very little or no gore; it is worth the watch just to see the differences in techniques for making movies when the options for editing and special effects were very limited. I liked it. Quite funny in bits actually, and it would be suitable for most children.

One bit of trivia, the financier who funded the movie did so on agreement that he could be one of the main characters. US/UK/Canada  - Vampyr

 

 

Jacob’s Ladder ~  Now this movie gets a five star in our book. It is one of the best horror flicks I have seen and would even count it as one of my favorite movies. It is based upon the terror a man feels after he returns from Vietnam… or perhaps not. This eerie, surreal, horrific, and mind bending film is very highly recommended. US/UK/Canada  - Jacob’s Ladder

 

 

Pandorum ~ If you like science fiction and horror this will be a movie you love. If you don’t then I would skip it. The movie settings are incredible and the monster is very very creepy. They did some fancy art work and incredible makeup in this movie. I do have to say the martial arts are a bit over the top but a good movie never the less. US/UK/Canada  - Pandorum

I have to credit a few new friends on twitter from #SciFiChat who recommended this several weeks ago.  We loved it.

Do note that with the possible exception of Vampyr I do not recommend any of the above movies for children.

---

Link Up to Win Books:  A huge number of giveaways is being offered via the Spooktacular Blog Hop which I have joined for the season. The books which are offered from Layers of Thought are:

• Fire Burn & Cauldron Boil and To Kill a Warlock ~ by HP Mallory (urban fantasy romance ebooks)
• Bood Song and Siren Song ~ by Cat Adams (scary vampire series)
• The Half-Made World ~ by Felix Gilman (steampunk western)
• Dying Light ~ by Scott M. Meek (futuristic sci fi vampire)

You do not need to be a subscriber to enter any of the above giveaways and two are international. These giveaways can be found with the 87 other blogs who are hosting similar books at the Spooktacular Blog Hop post.

You have until October 31st 12 pm EST to enter most of the contests. Good Luck!

---

This review list was specifically created for the RIP V Challenge for the movie and short story portion. And although this scary challenge is almost over stay tuned to Stainless Steel Droppings for the Once Upon a Time challenge in the spring which is based upon fantasy and fairy tales. I can’t wait.

Until then enjoy your chills and thrills ~ Happy Almost Halloween!

Review by Shellie: My Name is Memory ~ by Ann Brashares

 

An unusual and heart-wrenching story about love and the consequences of one’s actions.

My Blurb:   In a world where human souls reincarnate into other bodies after death, our main character Daniel has what may be a curse or a gift; he remembers each and every one of his past lives. By this method Ann Brashares takes us on a romantic and historical journey from ancient times until the present.

What is significant for this story is that in his first life, Daniel, in all his “youthful stupidity”,  was responsible for the death of a little girl. As each of Daniel’s lives cross with those of Sophie’s, he is inextricably linked with her through his intense desire to make amends.

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this novel for a variety of reasons. It is written well; it made me feel deeply; I liked the format which includes type setting differentiation between time settings; I personally relate to reincarnation theory as a belief system; and lastly the author answered all my niggling questions when presenting this paranormal world.

Although I have not read any other books by this author, I have noted that she has an usual style of writing. It flows well yet every once in a while she will come up with a phrase or a sentence which is constructed in an unusual manner. It is reminiscent of Cormack McCarthy’s style from his blockbuster - The Road. Both writers are extremely readable with little bits that appear which are slightly curious and yet extremely powerful.

Even though I was not crazy about the last dramatic scene, which I felt was a bit “cheesy” or contrived, and I am not a huge romance fan, this story sucked me in and made my heart ache. I related to the characters, liked them, and was terrified about the protagonist and the concepts within reincarnation that he represented.

The format of the type setting was helpful in staying clear through the time changes as the text moves back and forth, where the past and the present both have different types of lettering. This made it easy to follow the main character’s view point without getting confused. (I hope that the editors have used this format in the finished copy since mine was a pre-publish edition).

Reincarnation is an interesting concept for me as I enjoy understanding different cultural and social belief systems and because it is in current practice today, lending a realistic link to this fantasy. Most significantly, I also relate to a world view that holds a person responsible for each and every action.

When looking at the book in parallel with others that I have read recently on transmigration, my thought is that the guidelines presented in the book are based upon the actual precepts dating back to prehistory. I am not going to spoil them here, but as mentioned above some are extremely frightening.

When reading the book I had many questions about the reincarnation theory the author presented; I was thinking “how is she going to explain that?“ It is highly commendable that Brashares answered them all. An example of several of my questions are - where do the souls of animals go after death? What about changing sexes - how does that work? And what happens between lives?  Very interesting indeed.

I’d recommend this novel if you like romantic paranormal stories and are interested in reincarnation, if you enjoy stories about true love, if you enjoy ancient historical information included within a novel, or if you like experiencing some very intense and deep emotions when reading. Now the best for last - If you like mind-bending endings then you will really enjoy this book. I do have to say that the ending is a real shocker. I liked it, although some readers may not agree.

I give this book 4 stars; I am looking forward to the next two in the series.

************************************************************************************

If you would like more information on the book, such as publisher’s blurb, purchasing links, as well as author information – take a look at Layers of Thought’s preview for My Name is Memory.

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK/Canada.

Linda at Silly Little Mischief mentioned that this is the first in a trilogy. She also has a short review on her site and some amazing recipes and pictures of meals that she has cooked on her surrounding posts. Just a warning - don’t look at them if you’re dieting. 

If you have written a review and I have missed it please link it in the comments below. I will include it in this post.

Leslie from Under My Apple Tree gave it 4.5 stars

This book will be included in a variety of challenges – The RIPV, The Speculative Fiction Challenge, The New Author Challenge, World Religion, and The Basics.

Have a good one!

Speculative Previews ~ Betrayer of Worlds; Salvation City; Voltaire's Calligrapher; The Reapers are the Angels; Sabine Dolls;The Wedding Gift; and The Scrubs

 

The Never Ending Book Collection ~ This post has been created just in case you don’t have enough books to read.  Because if you’re like me, it’s not possible to have too many books to read.

A note on previews: These are our recent speculative fiction books which have been received for review. No opinions yet; just book blurbs, author info, some purchasing links, and perhaps a little snippet from yours truly – Shellie.

 

Books included in this Preview: 

• Betrayer of Worlds ~ by Larry Niven and Edward M. Learner
• Salvation City ~ by Sigrid Nunez
• Voltaire's Calligrapher ~  by Pablo De Santis
• The Reapers are the Angels ~ by Alden Bell
• Sabine Dolls ~ by Sandy Hyatt-James
• The Wedding Gift ~ by Kathleen Mckenna
• The Scrubs ~ by Simon Janus

*******************************************************************************

Betrayer of Worlds ~ by Larry Niven and Edward M. Learner

About: Fleeing the supernova chain reaction at the galactic core, the cowardly Puppeteers of the Fleet of Worlds have---just barely---survived. They’ve stumbled from one crisis to the next: The rebellion of their human slaves. The relentless questing of the species of Known Space. The spectacular rise of the starfish-like Gw’oth. The onslaught of the genocidal Pak.

Catastrophe looms again as past crises return---and converge. Who can possibly save the Fleet of Worlds from its greatest peril yet?

With a mixed bag of characters and their own competing agendas, their hopes and fears, dreams and ambitions are about to collide. And the winner takes . . . worlds.

The prequel to the amazing Ringworld series.

Author Bios: Larry Niven is the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series, along with many other science fiction masterpieces. He lives in Chatsworth, California.

Edward M. Lerner worked in high tech for thirty years, as everything from engineer to senior vice president, while writing science fiction as a hobby.  Since 2004 he has been writing full-time, and has written various novels including this first to the grand space epic Fleet of Worlds series – which are Ringworld prequels. 

 

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (October 12, 2010)

Science Fiction

Amazon pre-purchasing links for US/UK/Canada.

Layers of Thought:  This is apparently the first in a series to be created by the authors.  John has picked this one up and has read 50 pages already. So a review will be coming soon!

**********************************************************************************

Salvation City ~ by Sigrid Nunez

A provocative novel set in the near future, about what happens when the whole world falls apart.

After a flu pandemic has killed large numbers of people worldwide, the United States has grown increasingly anarchic. Large numbers of children are stranded in orphanages, and systems we take for granted are fraying at the seams. When orphaned Cole Vining finds refuge with an evangelical pastor and his young wife in a small Indiana town, he knows he is one of the lucky ones. Sheltered Salvation City has been spared much of the devastation of the outside world.

But it's a starkly different community from the one Cole has known, and he struggles with what this changed world means for him. As those around him become increasingly fixated on their vision of utopia - so different from his own parents' dreams - Cole begins to imagine a new and different future for himself.

Author Bio: Sigrid Nunez is an author of five novels including her debut, A Feather on the Breath of God, Naked Sleeper, Mitz: The Marmoset of Bloomsbury, For Rouenna, and The Last of Her Kind. She often addresses class and violence in her novels. She chronicles a time period, such as the 1960's, socially, politically, and intimately in the eyes of women, and is perceptive about character and opinions. Find out more on her web site. 

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead (September 16, 2010)
• Apocalyptic

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK/Canada.

Layers of Thought:  Nunez was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for First Fiction, which is awarded annually to a novel or book of short stories by an American author who has not previously published a book of fiction.

**********************************************************************************

Voltaire's Calligrapher ~  by Pablo De Santis

About:  Dalessius is twenty when he comes to work for one of the Enlightenment’s most famous minds, the author and philosopher Voltaire. As the great man’s calligrapher, Dalessius becomes witness to many wonders—and finds himself in the middle of a secret battle between the malevolent remnants of the all-but-dead Dark Ages and the progressive elements of the modern age.

The calligrapher’s role in this shadowy conflict will carry him to many perilous places— through the gates of sinister castles and to the doors of a bizarre bordello; toward life-and death confrontations with inventive henchmen, ingenious mechanical execution devices, poisonous fish, and murderous automatons. As the conspiracy to halt the Enlightenment’s astonishing progress intensifies, young Dalessius’s courage—as well as Voltaire’s unique cunning and wit—are put to the ultimate test as they strive to ensure the survival of the future.

Bio:  A journalist and comic-strip creator who became editor in chief of one of Argentina’s leading comics magazines, Pablo De Santis is the author of six critically acclaimed novels, one work of nonfiction, and a number of books for young adults. His works have been published in more than twenty countries. He lives in Buenos Aires. 

Paperback: 160 pages

Publisher: Harper Perennial; Original edition (October 5, 2010)

Historical Thriller (Slipstream)

Amazon pre-purchasing links for US/currently available in UK and Canada.

Layers of Thought: This book is a translation from Spanish and is almost a novella at 160 pages. The historical connection is interesting and what better way to get your history than via a speculative novel. I love the UK cover, which is with the tattooed woman.

***************************************************************************

The Reapers are the Angels ~ by Alden Bell

God is a slick god. Temple knows. She knows because of all the crackerjack miracles still to be seen on this ruined globe.

Older than her years and completely alone, Temple is just trying to live one day at a time in a post-apocalyptic world, where the undead roam endlessly, and the remnant of mankind who have survived, at times, seem to retain little humanity themselves. This is the world she was born into. Now one vengeful man is determined that, in a world gone mad, killing her is the one thing that makes sense.

Author Bio:  Alden Bell is a pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord, whose first novel, Hummingbirds, was released in Fall '09. He teaches at a New York City prep school. He lives in New York City with his wife. Macmillan has a page with an audio and written interview, and this is a link to Joshua Gaylords’s web site.  

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; First Edition edition (August 3, 2010)

Horror/Post Apocalyptic 

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK/Canada. 

Layers of Thought:  I have seen some positive reviews on this zombie novel, but have not read any yet. What a creepy cover!

****************************************************************************

Sabine Dolls ~ by Sandy Hyatt-James

About:  Think of a beautiful planet where nobody has to work or worry about money. There is such a place called Tynai, sixty thousand light-years away. However, Tynai women can’t bear children and procreation is done in a laboratory. Five Earth women, stolen by Tynai men eager to produce children naturally, reluctantly find themselves living on this alien planet. What follows is an explosion of sexual tension between Galbryn, the enigmatic leader of the alien men and Branca, our feisty Earth heroine. When this gives way to passionate love, hatred, revenge and war follow. 

Taste and touch the experiences of the five Earth women, but also feel the disappointment of the indigenous women. Be charmed by the spurzots: androids programmed only to please, but be wary when they are re-programmed to kill. Most importantly, be right there as the two main characters exchange sublime moments as only true lovers can.

Author Bio: Sandy Hyatt-James was born in England.  She studied literature in college but became a Social Work Manager. She has given up work to devote more time to writing. Now living in Bulgaria with her husband, two dogs and a cat.  When she isn’t writing, she teaches English Language part-time.   

Sandy is a Goodreads author, connect with her there, on her blog, you can also read an excerpt from Sabine Dolls on the publisher’s web site.

Paperback: 346 pages

Publisher: Bluewood Publishing Ltd (July 15, 2010)

Science Fiction/Romance

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK/Canada.

For ereaders who need an other than Kindle format purchasing link to the publisher for various ebook formats.

Layers of Thought:  I discovered this book on Goodreads through a friend who gave it 5 stars. What a great cover!

**************************************************************************** 

The Wedding Gift ~ by Kathleen Mckenna

17 year old Leeann Worthier is the perfect girl in town - or so she says. George Willets is the heir to a booming petroleum business. When they announce their engagement, George's controlling mother is unimpressed, and Leeann absolutely refuses to live with her mother-in-law. So George gives his new wife a house as a wedding gift.

Thirty years before, the same house hosted a grisly scene: George's uncle and cousins were all slaughtered and his aunt Robina accused of both murder and suicide. When the ghost of Robina begins to haunt Leeann, she realizes she's made a huge mistake ....

About the author:  Kathleen Mckenna is a transplanted Alaskan who spent twelve years on her first paragraph and now lives and writes prolifically in the opposite kind of desert in New Mexico. 'The Wedding Gift' is Kathleen's third novel, the first of a supernatural trilogy. The second in the series, 'The Comeback', will be published by Night Publishing in late 2010.

 

Paperback: 210 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace (August 27, 2010)

Horror

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK–Kindle only/Canada.

Layers of Thought: This is a paranormal horror story written by a follower of this blog, and is perfect for the Halloween season.

*************************************************************************************

The Scrubs ~ by Simon Janus

James Jeter, the notorious serial killer with a sixth sense, holds court inside London's Wormwood Scrubs Prison. He's the focus of the "North Wing Project." Under the influence of a hallucinogen, Jeter can create an alternative world known as "The Rift" containing the souls of his victims. Pardons are on offer to inmates who'll enter “The Rift”.

Michael Keeler has nothing to lose and little to live for. He's sent into The Rift to learn the identity of Jeter's last victim. It's a mission where the guilty can be redeemed, but at a price...

Author Bio:  Simon Wood is also Simon Janus, and is a California transplant from England. He's an ex-competitive racecar driver, a licensed pilot and an occasional private investigator. He shares his world with his American wife, Julie. Their lives are dominated by a longhaired dachshund and five cats. Here is his website for more information.

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 141 KB

Science Fiction/Horror

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK in Kindle format, and Smashwords.

Layers of Thought:  This is a sci fi/horror story.  It is only 99 pages and is in ebook format. (There are versions which are available for printing via Smashwords).  Interestingly, this prolific author writes under Simon Janus when it is horror and Simon Wood when he’s writing within other genres.

****************************************************************************************

These books have been received for review from various sources. A big thank you to each of  the publishers, publicists, and authors who have sent Layers of Thought these copies for review.

We already know which book John has chosen. Which one would you read first?

Thanks for reading.

Young Adult Previews ~ Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card; The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff; and The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

 

Young Adult Books Previews: They tell our readers what we will be reviewing by giving you publisher data, author info, and purchasing links. I do the work so you don’t have to. Our personal thoughts will come in the reviews for the books.

This preview list contains the following books:

• Pathfinder ~ by Orson Scott Card
• The Replacement ~ by Brenna Yovanoff
• The Eternal Ones ~ by Kirsten Miller

Please note a new feature – A little personal blurb about the book found during the research for the preview post. It will be blocked out just like this bit here and labeled Layers of Thought.

*************************************************************************************************

 

Pathfinder ~ by Orson Scott Card

About: A powerful secret. A dangerous path.

Rigg is well trained at keeping secrets. Only his father knows the truth about Rigg's strange talent for seeing the paths of people's pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him--secrets about Rigg's own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain.

Rigg's birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead. He will be forced to question everything he thinks he knows, choose who to trust, and push the limits of his talent…or forfeit control of his destiny.

Author Bio: Born in Richland, Washington in 1951, Orson Scott Card grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah. He lived in Brazil for two years as an unpaid missionary for the Mormon Church and received degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. The author of numerous books in several genres, Card is best known for Ender's Game and his online magazine, Intergalactic Medicine Show (www.oscigms.com). He teaches writing and literature at Southern Virginia University, and lives with his family in Greensboro, North Carolina.

• Simon Pulse, November 23,  2010
• Hardcover, 672 pages
• Ages: 12 and up and Grades: 7 and up

Amazon pre purchasing links for US/UK/Canada.

Layers of Thought: This is the first in a trilogy, which I have started reading. It feels like a great title for boys (and geeky girls) from this award winning author. It appears to be an interesting combination of fantasy and science fiction.

**************************************************************************************

The Replacement ~ by Brenna Yovanoff

About:  Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

Author Links: Brenna Yovanoff’s Website, and her Goodreads’ author page.

 

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover,  352 pages
• Razorbill (September 21, 2010)

Amazon pre purchasing links for US. Not available until Jan 2011 and only in paper back for UK/Canada.

Cover to left is for UK.

 

 

Layers of Thought:  This looks a bit like a “romancey” changeling story for young women and girls. I am thinking the UK cover will get more attention with the hunky guy on the cover although I do love the creepy cover for the US addition.

********************************************************************************************

The Eternal Ones ~ by Kirsten Miller

About: What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy.

In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Author Links: Kirsten Miller's Website, and her Goodreads’ author page.

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (August 10, 2010)

Amazon purchasing links for US/UK/Canada.

Layers of Thought:  A young adult reincarnation love story. We have been in the transmigration mode here in my reading list lately. I have another review of My Name is Memory coming soon and The Reincarnationist series which was great. Kinda weird…. I’m thinking... or a trend more likely.

***********************************************************************************

Which of these titles interests you the most? Have you reviewed or read one of these books, or have head anything about them? I am dying to hear.

These books have been sent for review from the publishers via request from Shelf Awareness.  If you are a blogger/reviewer, this is a wonderful site which I highly recommend. It is the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning with a cup of coffee. Life is good.

A Giveaway Note ~ I have extended The Hypnotist by MJ Rose by several weeks since there have only been a few takers for this great book. As well, the announcement date for The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby has been moved up a bit.  It should be live at the end of next week some time.

Why wait?  Excitingly she will be here locally in the Phoenix area and since we will be attending, the plan is to snap a few pictures and grab a signed copy – one to give away.  So we will have two lucky winners of this début book. Fun stuff!

In case your in the area the event will be held at Changing Hands Book Store in Tempe at 7 pm on Wednesday September 15th. Please say hello if you do attend. Expect pictures of you to be posted too. *evil grin*

Have great Thursday!

Giveaway, Excerpt and More ~ The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby

 

Only a day after its release, we have a giveaway for the “magical realism” novel ~ The Language of Trees  by Ilie Ruby.

For a little taste of Ilie’s writing, and a tease for the book,  there is a sample below. (For more information - please see our preview for The Language of Trees.)

Excerpt from: THE LANGUAGE OF TREES ~ by Ilie Ruby

PROLOGUE ~ May 1988

The silken hair of the three children glows bone white in the moonlight as they paddle the stolen canoe out into the icy waters of Canandaigua Lake. The May wind is like a rabid wolf howling in the darkness, darting this way and that, biting at the rain as it sweeps across the surface in blustery sheets, hitting the children's flushed faces. The children know that on nights like this, the spirits of the Seneca Indians are weeping. Some are buried out on Squaw Island, a few miles away, and the children know if they put an ear close to the water's surface, they will hear the spirits calling, inviting them under.

Melanie Ellis, the eldest, sets her heavy wooden paddle down at the stern, and leans her thin body over the side of the canoe to listen for their whispers. Her long blond hair trails over the water, making large ripples. Her purple cotton dress billows up, revealing two bruised knees. Maya, just eight, jostles the boat as she pounds her fists and drums on the canoe’s seat. Little Luke sits precariously on the canoe’s edge, his head of blond curls tossed in the wind. Luke can withstand a thing like the foul weather, even if he is only seven, even if his body is so light, his skin so pale under the glowy moon, his sisters tease him that he looks like a ghost.

The sky becomes a deep pearl gray as the fog thickens around the coast of Squaw Island, a mystical and forbidden place that the children have only dreamed of visiting. Surrounded by a man-made barrier of large granite rocks, it is the only place on earth where rare white lime deposits known as Water Biscuits exist. Illuminated by moonlight, they cling to its shores.

The island is too far out to swim, but not to row.

Melanie plunges the paddle into the icy water. Squinting toward the hazy distance, she can see the island encircled by feather trees brushing the sky, the edges of its shoreline vanishing into the lake. The high water level has swallowed up the land bridge that once connected it to the mainland. Long ago, the island was so large one could get lost in the trees. During a war in 1779, Indian women and children escaped to safety across this bridge to hide in the droves of trees that covered the island and Melanie has always imagined them seeking shelter in the knees of trees and praying silently, sitting still as stone, and breathing so quietly that even the wind wouldn’t notice them. Just as she, herself, has done on nights when her father drinks too much and the smartest thing to do is sneak out of the house and hide, and breathe without making a sound, and imagine that she is disappearing.

The drops of rain are coming harder now, not soft marbles that roll down her face, but drops that feel like a million needles. Everything going on at home is distant now, pushed into darkness by the clamoring rain and the scent of restless spirits.

The storm is kicking up.

Thunder wracks the sky as Melanie forces the paddle against the waves. The wind howls, rolling the water like a serpent under the canoe. The lake begins to buck and push. The waves splash up against the sides of the boat, drenching the children in icy water. Maya and Luke have started to cry, begging her to go back. Melanie pushes her wet hair out of her eyes and glances behind her toward the Shongo’s property. For a moment, unmoving, she is captivated by the sight of the Diamond Trees, the two great willows whose flickering leaves, when caught in the moonlight, create diamonds of light scattered across the water. These trees light the way for those who are lost. She quickly turns back toward the island, trying to gauge the distance ahead. She can see it out there in the mist, floating toward her.

The waves are pushing the canoe toward the island.

The heavy paddle slips from Melanie’s hands, the waves wrestling it away. She crawls toward the front of the canoe, straining to retrieve it, but the paddle is quickly disappearing into the darkness. The boat is tossed aimlessly, caught halfway between the mainland and the island. The children cry out for help, their voices lost in the fog as they hold on to each other. Icy water surges up, filling the boat. Melanie must think fast. She edges toward the middle of the canoe, takes a deep breath, and plunges her hands into the numbing water to paddle. Luke reaches out for her, but she pushes him back, trying to keep the island in view. As the waves pull the boat closer, Melanie suddenly sees something: a figure moving on the island. Through the moonlit mist, her eyes can just make out the shimmering silhouette of a man so tall storm clouds rest on his shoulders. His body is so large that when he bends over with his shovel, he carries the moon on his back. He is digging furiously.

Trembling, Melanie calls out to him but her voice disappears into the crashing waves. She hears her siblings whimpering, and looks at their small bodies huddled against the seat, frozen, wide-eyed, watching her. Bracing her feet against the sides of the canoe for balance, she waves one arm at the giant as she struggles to stand. The island is closer now but the giant does not hear her. As the waves tip the canoe back and forth, she leans her weight from side to side, yelling to the giant again and again. Then there is a sudden roar of thunder followed by a whip of lightning that cracks the surface of the lake. In the flash, Melanie can see the giant more clearly, his wide face and black hair. She watches now as he throws down his shovel and picks up a large axe. Her eyes focus on the shadows as he lifts the axe into the air and down again, over and over, as though smashing the moonlight.

Maya catches the shock on her sister’s face as Melanie panics, tipping the canoe, her feet slipping out from underneath her. Melanie falls, her cheek slamming against the seat, her arms and legs scraping and sliding against the cold wet floor. Her vision blurs. And as she begins to black out, she can see Maya moving near the edge of the boat, the red of her dress darkening into the sky’s gray. She can hear the sound of her name being called through the wind.

Small cries are wrestled into a deadening quiet. Rain stops. Then there is nothing but the swishing of the boat.

Near dawn, the sky is hushed pink. Wisps of clouds rise from the chalky white shoreline of Squaw Island. Melanie is awakened by the soft scrape of white stones against the canoe’s floor. Peeking out from the island’s thin trees is the rusted door of an old boy scout cabin. Where there once was a giant, now only his imprint is left in the trees, his dark shadow clinging to the leaves and branches.

Floating in a lucent pool, Melanie trembles as she pushes herself up, despite the piercing pain that weighs her head down. She whispers Luke’s name as her eyes search for him.

Melanie feels her heart quicken when she doesn’t see Luke in the canoe. Only Maya, who is staring at her, her arms wrapped around herself, her dress, torn at the shoulder.

Melanie scans the horizon. On the island, she can see a shovel stuck in a pile of dirt.

A heavy curtain of mist slowly lifts off the water.

The lake still reflects each star, as though it were holding on, unwilling to let them fade.

“It’s all your fault,” Maya whispers, with pale eyes.

**********************************************************************************

 

A link to a short and recent interview with Ilie Ruby. Stop by and say hello!

 

****************************************************************************************

The Giveaway:

Since the book will be sent by the publisher - to enter you do not need to be a “reader” for this giveaway. Anyone can enter, but the book is only available for a US address.

Contest Info:

To enter you must:

• comment
• include in the post your email so that I can contact you

For optional extra points you can do any, or all of the below for 1 entry point each. All entries may be included in one single comment.

1. Be a subscriber of Layers of Thought – google or facebook. (I need to be able to see you – to get updates in facebook feed and add me as a friend otherwise it does not count.)
2. Blog it - side bars are great - please provide links
3. Tweet it  – provide links please
4. Friend on Twitter
5. Friend on Goodreads
6. Friend on Book Blogs
7. Friend on Glue  - new to glue? have questions? let me know.

As stated above, this giveaway is only available for a US address.

Contest ends Wednesday September 1, 2010 at 12 pm US Pacific time. Winner will be posted and notified on Friday September 3, 2010.

If you cannot wait - here are the purchasing links for Amazon in the US/UK/Canada.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

*Please stay tuned for a guest post and giveaway from M.J. Rose and her latest ~ The Hypnotist. The third in her reincarnation based thriller trilogy. I loved the first in the series and am working on number two. (Live link takes you to the group preview for the books.)*