My buddy Josh Rountree releases his first book, a collection of short stories called Can’t Buy Me Faded Love. Josh is a real master at presenting Americana in fantastic milieus, and his first collection doesn’t disappoint. I had the pleasure of reading some of these stories as he was working on them, and, YUP, I’m even given a nod in the Acknowledgements. That’s a first.
The book is beautiful to look at. Wheatland Press did a superb job, and Darin Bradley delivered an amazing cover.
So, if you’re in the mood for great stories themed around the classics of rock and roll, pick this one up. It gets the AISFP seal of approval. A full review will hit the Reviews Page soon.
Pyr brings us a reprint of Robert Silverberg’s 1971 novel Son of Man with a jaw-dropping illustration from John Picacio, who finished second for the Hugo Award this year. The description has a distinct 70s feel: “Clay is a man from the twentieth century who is somehow caught up in a time-flux and transported into a distant future.” I don’t think modern SF writers could get away with such easy generalizations. Readers want to know right away the mechanism for the time travel, the plausibility for it, even if it’s nothing more than scifi hand waving. This reminds me a bit of John Carter.
That being said, the book may very well delve into deeper explanation. We’ll just have to give it a read and find out.
John Scalzi is back with more SF hilarity, proving that the U.K. doesn’t have a cornerstone on funny SF. Agent to the Stars follows a big-shot Hollywood wheeler and dealer who must negotiate with some rather friendly aliens who, unfortuantely, stink to high heaven and are about as attractive as Nick Nolte posing for the police. I’m on the fence with this one. I just read Old Man’s War and really enjoyed it, and Scalzi certainly knows how to use humor, but this might be a bit much for me. We’ll see.
Orbit brings us Orcs, by Stan Nicholls, an omnibus of three novels that promises to “change the way you feel about orcs forever.” Which is why I find it so fascinating. I’ve never really thought of Orcs as compelling characters, but Nicholls shows us Orcs with a destiny, with the ability to intellectually reason their violence.
That’s just what I gather from the jacket. So, check it out. Looks like a winner for you fantasy fans. And make sure to visit the awesome website. I love this.
This book has a dragon on the cover. Need I say more? Okay, how about prophecy, the whims of gods, war, magical powers, and lots and lots of blood. Epic fantasy at it’s best, and the first book a new series that promises to deliver the goods. Tom Lloyd was also born the same year I was. Not sure how that makes me feel. . . Okay, I’m still happy for him!
Our new collection is rounded by Busted Flush, a Wild Cards Mosaic Novel edited by George R. R. Martin and featuring the writings of Melinda M. Snodgrass, Carrie Vaughn, Stephen Leigh, and more. Wild Cards. Martin. Nuff said.
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