Category Archives: Worldbuilders 2010

Published: November 27, 2010

Books from DAW

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Today we’ve got a ton of books donated by my lovely publisher, DAW.

Well… Okay. Not a ton. That’s just not true. But we do have dozens of lovely books from DAW.

Let’s take a look at them:

  • A hardcover copy of The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams.

I read War of the Flowers a couple years back, just before my own book came out. I enjoyed it, as I do with all of Tad’s work. I especially liked his take on Faeries. I really enjoy it when someone puts a fresh twist on that particular piece of folklore.

“Travel into another dimension is a popular fantasy ploy, but rarely accomplished with such humor, terror and even logic as in this stand-alone by bestseller Williams.” – Publishers Weekly

  • A hardcover set of Inda: Inda, The Fox, King’s Shield and Treason’s Shore by Sherwood Smith.

“The world creation and characterization within Inda have the complexity and depth and inventiveness that mark a first-rate fantasy novel… This is the mark of a major work of fiction…you owe it to yourself to read Inda.” — Orson Scott Card

  • A hardcover set of the Smoke series: Smoke and Shadows, Smoke and Mirrors, and Smoke and Ashes by Tanya Huff.

“A wild romp, full of dark humor, a delightfully twisted version of the usual haunted house story.” – Locus

“A master of urban fantasy.” – Library Journal.

“Sword-Dancer is an admirable introduction to the six-volume adventures of Tiger and Del, one of fantasy’s more popular and appealing odd couples…. Roberson comes out swinging and delivers some dramatically powerful sequences… There’s no denying that by the end of Sword-Dancer, Roberson will have fantasy fans dancing in the streets.” – SF Reviews.net

“With every book, the magic of Jennifer Roberson waxes stronger and stronger. Wrought with an epic mysticism and power, the continuing strands of the Cheysuli saga glimmer with the sheen of excellence as they weave their way into a landmark collection of fantasy literature.” – Rave Reviews.

  • A set of the Coldfire trilogy: Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls and Crown of Shadows by C. S. Friedman.


I really liked these when I read them about five years back. Friedman does some cool worldbuilding. And best of all, it’s a complete series, so you can read the whole thing beginning to end.

“Friedman has produced a splendid hybrid of sf and fantasy in this first volume of a trilogy. Hauntingly memorable protagonists, high drama, and vivid world-building mark the beginning of what promises to be a magnum opus of the imagination. A priority purchase for fantasy or sf collections.” –Library Journal

“One of the things I like best about MZB’s Darkover novels is the sheer humanity of the characters. It’s rare to find a dislikable character in her books, for even the villains are driven by ordinary, understandable, human emotions. Unlike many science fiction novels, love is central to most of her stories. She understands the motivational power of the love of parents and children, the love between siblings, and, of course, romantic love.” – SF Site Featured Review by Cindy Lynn Speer

  • A copy of The Transformer Trilogy omnibus edition by M. A. Foster.

“Solid, well-written, thoughtful.” – Locus

“Strikingly original.” – Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review

  • A copy of The Book of the Ler omnibus edition by M. A. Foster.

“Sensitive yet full of action, rich in emotional textures and highly intelligent.” – Library Journal

“A scary and sexy modern-day vampire thriller.” – Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

  • A set of the Dragon Prince series: Dragon Prince, The Star Scroll and Sunrunner’s Fire by Melanie Rawn.

“Rawn’s lush world of princes and dragons, sun-born magic, and tangled politics comes to life in this romantic fantasy saga.” – Library Journal

” …an exquisitely crafted novel that appeals not just to sci-fi/fantasy readers, but also to anyone who enjoys a deep study of human nature.” – Midwest Bookreview

  • A set of Esther Diamond novels: Doppelgangster and Unsympathetic Magic by Laura Resnick.


Okay. I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But I have to admit that I’m curious to read these books after just looking at them. And no, it’s not because they have a pretty woman on the front. Well, yeah. That’s part of it. But it’s not all of it. These look like a fun read to me.

Plus you have to love the title of the second one….

“Esther Diamond is the Stephanie Plum of urban fantasy! …Unplug the phone and settle down for a fast and funny read. ” — New York Times bestselling novelist, Mary Jo Putney

  • A set of the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy: Arrows of the Queen, Arrow’s Flight and Arrow’s Fall by Mercedes Lackey.

Valerie says:

Arrows of the Queen was the first fantasy novel I ever read, after the Lord of the Rings of course. I must admit that as a nine year old girl, I initially picked up the book because of the cover with the pretty horse but then continued on to devour every single one of her books written in this world. Years later, Arrows of the Queen was the first book I read after arriving in Stevens Point. Pat had a copy in his library and I snitched it one afternoon for some quality comfort-fantasy reading while settling down in a new job and new town.

“The kind of novel that belongs on every fantasy lover’s bookshelf…carefully wrought, entertaining reading by a brilliant and dedicated author.” — The Midwest Book Review

  • A set of The Last Herald Mage trilogy: Magic’s Pawn, Magic’s Promise and Magic’s Price by Mercedes Lackey.

This is another series I read growing up. Then I re-read it again back around 2003. I was surprised how much I still enjoyed it. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case with books you read as a child.

“Lackey’s talent for characterization lends depth to this coming-of-age adventure.” – Library Journal

  • A set of Vows and Honor: The Oathbound, Oathbreakers and Oathblood by Mercedes Lackey.

Valerie says: Lackey uses standard fantasy elements such as the sword and sorcery team to create episodic adventures where bravery and justice triumph and the bad guys get what they deserve, often in humorous and awkward ways.

“…a new series involving a pair of likable, savvy heroines. Sword and sorcery with warmth and humor make this a story that will appeal to most fantasy fans.” – Library Journal

Valerie comment: This is a fun read for any Lackey fan; it takes some of her best elements and characters from the Valdemar series and focuses on the adventures of one particularly awesome female hero.

“Spellbinding storyteller” – Rave Reviews on Mercedes Lackey continuing her epic Valdemar series.

  • A set of Moontide and Magic Rise: World Without End and Sea Without a Shore by Sean Russell.

“Russell has the rare ability to immerse his readers so completely in his tale that reaching the end feels like waking from a particularly vivid dream.” – Nona Vero

“A strange and beautiful book with an unusual depth and nuance of character set forth in lustrous dialogue and prose the texture of honeyed silk.” – Kirkus Reviews

That’s a great blurb. I hope someone uses the words “lustrous” and “nuance” when reviewing my next book.

“Fantasy at its best.” – Quantum

Cherryh is one of those authors I read all the time growing up. She’s got such a great grip on story. What’s more she’s one of the few authors I can think of that walks very lightly back and forth between Fantasy and Science Fiction and does a smashing good job in both genres.

“Cherryh has created her strongest character and her best novel in a story of space exploration, colonization, and war.” —Questar

Remember folks, for every 10 dollars you donate to Heifer International, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others like them. Plus there’s the whole helping make the world a better place thing. That’s nice, too.

Don’t forget, Worldbuilders is matching 50% of all donations. So why not head over to the Team Heifer page and chip in. C’mon. All the cool kids are doing it…

Or, if you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2010 | By Pat19 Responses
Published: November 24, 2010

Auctions: A Professional Critique of Your Manuscript

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Last year, several publishing professionals donated their time and energy to Worldbuilders, offering to give unpublished novelists feedback on their manuscripts.

The response was wonderful. The auctions raised thousands of dollars for Worldbuilders, and a lot of people got good feedback on their books. It was one of those warm, fuzzy win-win situations.

So this year we’re doing it again. I’ve gathered a few professionals willing to donate their critiquing skills to the cause.

All auctions are starting at the price of one (1) penny. Personally, I think these would make great Christmas gifts for that hard-to-shop for writer in your life…

And remember, all the proceeds go to improving people’s lives all over the world with Heifer International. So bid lavishly and spread the word.

  • A read-and-critique of the first 20,000 words of your manuscript by Lindsay Ribar.
(Bam!)

Lindsay is assistant to Matt Bialer, my agent. That means she reads a *lot* of manuscripts and works intimately with the publishing world every day. What’s more, she does work as a freelance editor. In short, Lindsay knows about stories, what sells, and how the industry works.

What more could you ask for, really?

Here’s the official description of what she’s offering:

Lindsay Ribar (assistant to Matt Bialer, freelance editor) will read and evaluate the opening chapters of one manuscript (up to 20,000 words) within six weeks of submission. She will write a general evaluation of the book, with a focus on character, language, and story structure. Line- and copy-editing are not included. Representation is not a guarantee, but not out of the question either. Lindsay is open to editing all genres of fiction, but keep in mind that the bulk of her experience lies in the realm of YA, fantasy, SF, thrillers, and mysteries.

Interested? You can bid on the critique by Lindsay Ribar over here.

  • A read-and-critique of the first 100 pages of your manuscript by David Pomerico.

David is the sort of editor I would have loved to have read my manuscript and give me a few pointers back during the long years of rejection before my book was published. What’s more, he’s an absolute prince for donating his time and energy to Worldbuilders even though I don’t have the least bit of blackmail evidence to use against him.

The official description:

David Pomerico is an Assistant Editor at Del Rey Spectra, where he focuses primarily on traditional fantasy, urban fantasy, and dystopian and post-apocalyptic literature.  That’s not to say that he doesn’t know other genres (he claims to be something known as “well-read”), but that’s definitely where his interests lie.  He’s worked with a variety of authors, including Felix Gilman, Sarah Zettel, David J. Williams, Chris Wooding, Darin Bradley, and Ari Marmell, as well as being a part of the Star Wars publishing program at Del Rey.  He’s offering a detailed critique and commentary (but not a line edit) for the first 100 pages or so of your manuscript (double-spaced, please—and no margin shenanigans!), which he will get back to you within the first three months of 2011.  While he could possibly be blown away and want to make an offer on your book, this isn’t guaranteed (otherwise this might be a really pricey auction!)

Mailing details and contact with David will be set up following the auction.

Interested? You can bid on David’s critique over here.

  • A read-and-critique of the first 20,000 words of your manuscript by agent Matt Bialer.

Matt is my agent, and I wouldn’t trade him for his weight in gold. He helped me revise my book several times before we landed a publisher, and his help has been invaluable in revising my second book. He’s all kinds of smart, understands stories, and I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

You can get more of his professional information HERE.

Matt Bialer (literary agent) will read and evaluate the opening chapters of one manuscript (up to 20,000 words) within three months of submission, not including the last few weeks of December. He will read and critique, and help the author think about the issues that could be raised by editors at publishing houses. He will write a general evaluation of the book, both strengths and weaknesses, but line editing is NOT included. If the book is fantastic or has the potential to be fantastic then offering representation is not out of the question — but representation is not a guarantee.

Interested? You can bid on this critique from Matt Bialer over here.

  • A read-and-critique of your entire manuscript by Pat Rothfuss.

(Me.)

Man. It’s hard for me to do these promotional write-ups for myself. Let’s see…

Before I became a published writer, I was a teacher for five years. Before that, I was a writing tutor for nine years. So I know something about giving productive feedback on a piece of writing. I’ve read roughly ten thousand novels, and my first book, the Name of the Wind, is published or forthcoming in 30 languages.

I think about stories all the time and am obsessive about revision. I also have a soothing baritone voice, an IQ in the 160s, and the ability to steal any other mutant’s power just by touching them.

Ah hell… See? I can never take these things seriously. Just read the official description below for the details:

Patrick Rothfuss (international bestselling author, lover of women, and hirsute iconoclast) will read your manuscript and give you critical feedback. We’ll schedule this based on when your manuscript will be ready and my own schedular constraints.

I’ll read through your manuscript, scrawling notes and dirty words in the margins, then I’ll call you on the phone and we can discuss it. I won’t write you up a detailed critique because that’s not how I roll. But we’ll probably chat on the phone for a couple of hours discussing the various strengths and weaknesses of the book, your writing craft, and I’ll offer any suggestions I might have.

If I think your book is super-awesome, I might be willing to pass it along to someone. But be very aware that what you’re buying here is a critique, not a blurb or an introduction to the publishing world. A critique.

Interested? You can bid on the critique by Pat Rothfuss over here.

NOTE: All these auctions will be ending on December 3rd.

Time is limited, so if you know someone that might be interested in these auctions, I’d appreciate you spreading the word….

Don’t forget, there are hundreds of rare and signed books up for grabs in this year’s Worldbuilders fundraiser. For all the details, click here.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2010 | By Pat50 Responses
Published: November 23, 2010

A Plenitude of Signed Books

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

While I was busy gathering more books and getting these blogs ready, Worldbuilders topped 25,000 dollars in donations. Rumor has it this makes us unspeakably cool.

I’ve raised the bar to 50,000 dollars. I’m pretty sure we can beat this one fairly quickly. Tell your friends. Spread the word.

Today we have another wealth of donated books. Many of these sent in by fans and readers who wanted to help make worldbuilders a success.

All of these have been signed by the authors. Many of them are first editions. And several of them are limited editions, numbered and slipcased and all manner of cool.

Enjoy.

  • A hardcover first edition of Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan. Signed by the Author. 


Includes a picture of Robert Jordan signing this book.

You don’t need me to tell you about the Wheel of Time.

“The battle scenes have the breathless urgency of firsthand experience, and the . . . evil laced into the forces of good, the dangers latent in any promised salvation, the sense of the unavoidable onslaught of unpredictable events bear the marks of American national experience during the last three decades.” – The New York Times on The Wheel of Time.

“The complex philosophy behind The Wheel of Time series is expounded so simply the reader often gives a start of surprise at returning to the real world. Rand’s adventures are not finished and neither is this thinking person’s fantasy series.” – Bruswick Sentinel (Australia).

  • Four UK copies of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. Signed by the author.

Note that these are UK editions of Gabaldon’s books. That means they’re written with an English accent, making them 25% cooler.

“All you’ve come to expect from Gabaldon . . . adventure, history, romance, fantasy.” — The Arizona Republic

  • A copy of Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. Signed by the Author.

“A fun new occult mystery series. Unusually well crafted.” – Locus

“The Warded Man works not only as a great adventure novel but also as a reflection on the nature of heroism.”—Charlaine Harris

  • Two copies of Tome of the Undergates by Sam Sykes. Signed by the author.

“Monstrous, murderous, psychotic, deranged, possessed and insane – the only question is what our heroes hate more: the demons they’re fighting, each other or themselves” – Stephen Deas, author of The Adanamtine Palace

  • Two first edition hardcover copies of Tome of the Undergates by Sam Sykes. Signed by the author.

“Wildly descriptive Slaughter-fest fantasy with a surprising pathos” – Stephen Deas.

“Feist is back on top form, and really delivering the goods. The characters are in place, the scenes are set, and on the evidence of Rides A Dread Legion, it’s going to be a wild ride.” – SF Site Featured Review.

  • A copy of of Bec by Darren Shan. Limited edition. Signed by the author.

“All the spells, severed body parts and horror you expect from Shan, with a nail-biting and shocking finish.” – Waterstone’s Books Quarterly.

“One of the most affecting and subtly profound novels of the year. … For such a peculiar, stripped-down tale, it’s fantastically evocative… Not too cute, not too weirdly precocious, not a fey mouthpiece for the author’s profundities, Jack expresses a poignant mixture of wisdom, love and naivete that will make you ache to save him — whatever that would mean.” – Washington Post Book World.

  • A copy of The Empty Family by Colm Toibin. Signed by the author.

“[The Empty Family] reconfirms his mastery of the short story…. ToÍbÍn raised his profile with the exquisitely bittersweet Brooklyn, and this collection is every bit as rich… Likely to rank with the best story collections of the year.” — Kirkus (starred review)

  • A copy of What I Didn’t See and Other Stories by Karen Joy Fowler. Signed by author.

“Arresting… each piece puts us on notice in its own way that an intriguing intelligence is at work.” –The Boston Globe.

The book is published by Quirk Books, the same publisher that brought us Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Among other things, the book tells you which signer was murdered by his own nephew, which signers ended up imprisoned by the British, and which were locked up because of their own greed and stupidity.

“With this work, Kiernan and D’Agnese present readers with astonishing individual portraits of all the signers in an attempt both to dispel some of the mythology surrounding the document as well as to establish a place in the historical discourse for those men not named Jefferson, Hancock, Franklin, or Adams.” – School Library Journal, starred review.

  • A copy of Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S. G. Browne. Signed by the author.

“A terrific comedy about the perils and joys of life beyond death… A zombie comedy with brains” – Kirkus.

  • A Clash of Kings and Part 2 of A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin. Signed by the Author.

“I read my eyes out. I couldn’t stop until I’d finished and it was dawn.” – Anne McCaffrey.

  • A hardcover copy of Omega by Christopher Evans. Numbered, limited edition in a protective slipcase. Signed by the author.

“Christopher Evans is, to my mind, one of the great lost voices of British science fiction… now there is another novel, one that combines the bold and brutal alternate history of Aztec Century with the subtle and disturbing unpicking of identity of In Limbo… We can only hope that Evans’s triumphant return to science fiction is a harbinger of yet another revival in his writing.” – Strange Horizons Reviews.

  • A hardcover copy of Banquet for the Damned by Adam L.G. Nevill with an introduction by Ramsey Campbell. Numbered, limited edition in a protective slipcase. Signed by both Nevill and Campbell.

“Banquet for the Damned…  brings together the graphic and the subtle, supernatural and human horror, and makes them play their parts to the best effect.” – SF Site Featured Review.

  • A harcover copy of Nowhere Near an Angel by Mark Morris. Numbered, limited edition in a protective slipcase. Signed by the author.

“Mark Morris is one of the finest horror writers at work today.” – Clive Barker.

  • Signed, numbered, slipcased limited hardcover edition of Random Walk by Lawrence Block. Numbered, limited edition in a protective slipcase. Signed by the author.

“If there is one crime writer currently capable of matching the noirish legacies of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, it’s Lawrence Block.” San Francisco Chronicle

  • A hardcover first edition of The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson with a Way of Kings bag and bookmark. Signed by the author.

I’ve talked about this book in a previous blog.

But if you don’t want to read all of that, this blurb sums things up pretty well: “This book is cool, and Brandon Sanderson smells like fresh-baked cookies.” – Patrick Rothfuss.

*     *     *

Remember folks, for every 10 dollars you donate to Heifer International, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others like them. Plus there’s the whole helping make the world a better place thing. That’s nice, too.

Don’t forget, Worldbuilders is matching 50% of all donations. So why not head over to the Team Heifer page and chip in. C’mon. All the cool kids are doing it…

Or, if you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.

Also posted in fan coolness | By Pat14 Responses
Published: November 19, 2010

T-Shirts and Our New Store

Well, it’s been a week, and the results of the t-shirt poll are fairly conclusive.

So here’s what we’re going to be doing:

1. We’re printing the Name Compilation shirt. It will be white text on a black shirt.

2. We’re printing The Eolian Bar shirt too. It will also be on a black shirt.

3. We’re going to print the Kingkiller design. But first we’re going to fix the font and decide what color it should be. So that one will be delayed a little bit.

But for those of you who are interested, we’re selling the Name Compilation shirt and the Eolian Bar shirt in our new store. There are men’s and women’s sizes.

Since we’re on the topic. Let’s talk a little bit about the store.

You’ll note it’s lovingly named the Tinker’s Packs. That’s because it contains pretty much anything I imagine people might want to buy. I’ve even gone so far as to put up some foreign translations of my books for sale, as people occasionally asking where they can find one.

A few things you should know about the store:

  • Orders will be processed on a first-come first-served basis. So if you’re looking to get something shipped to you by Christmas, it’s better to order it sooner rather than later.
  • Some of the items (especially the rare or out of print books) we only have in small numbers. As they sell out, they’re gone. It’s first come first serve, I’m afraid.
    • Edit: Some things have already sold out.
  • All proceeds go to Worldbuilders, of course.

A few questions answered:

Why are the books so expensive?

Some of them are expensive because there aren’t very many of them. They’re rare. First editions. Small print runs. Stuff like that.

More ordinary books are priced about double what they cost me. I can get a hardcover copy of NOTW for about 22 bucks, so I sell personalized copies in the store for 45.

This is keeping with Worldbuilder’s theme of matching donations. If someone buys a book for 20 dollars, then I donate the money. They really haven’t contributed to the charity, they just bought a book. But if they pay 40 bucks, they’re getting a book AND helping with the fundraiser. Follow me?

I don’t have a paypal account, can I still buy something from the store?

Yeah. Drop us a message through the contact form in the store and we’ll work out an alternate payment method.

Lastly, I have a few questions to ask y’all…

  • Any suggestions for what color the Kingkiller shirt should be? From comments in previous blogs, white doesn’t seem very popular, but I don’t know what other color would work for that shirt.
  • Do we want a Worldbuilders t-shirt even if it’s just a small version of the logo on a colored shirt? Say a nice forest green?
  • Is there anything else you’d like to see in the store? I’m open to suggestions.

Stay tuned. We’re going to be having a lot of cool stuff posted in the coming days…

pat

Also posted in t-shirts, The Tinker's Packs | By Pat98 Responses
Published: November 18, 2010

Books from Del Rey and Spectra

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

This year, Del Rey and Spectra were nice enough to send along some books for the fundraiser.

This is kind of a big deal. You see, Del Rey and Spectra are the first big New York imprints to donate to Worldbuilders even though I don’t have any sort of direct business relationship with them.

Now don’t get me wrong. Publishers like DAW, Bad Moon, and Subterranean Press  have been with Worldbuilders from the beginning. Their support has been invaluable and lavish. I love them with a fierce love, and appreciate them more than I can say.

But it’s always been my hope that Worldbuilders would become more than just a fundraiser I run on my blog with donations I mostly wrangle up myself.

My dream, you see, is that Worldbuilders will grow beyond that. I hope it will eventually become an organization where geeks of all creeds and affiliations come together in order to make the world a better place.

This is a big step in that direction, and it warms my bitter old heart.

  • A hardcover copy of The Conqueror’s Shadow and an ARC of The Warlord’s Legacy by Ari Marmell. Hardcover signed by the author.

For those of you that don’t know.  ARC stands for Advance Reader’s Copy. ARC’s are books publishers put out early to promote upcoming books.

This particular ARC is especially cool, as Warlord’s Legacy won’t be released until January 2011. So if you win these books, you get to read it long before it hits the shelves. Then you can gloat about it to your friends.

The fabulous Robin Hobb says, “ Twists of humor leaven this story of desperate people in dangerous times, as a conqueror discovers that perhaps those who live by the sword are sometimes doomed to face the business end of one.  A great mix of character and action.”

  • A set of Three Days to Dead and As Lie the Dead by Kelly Meding.

“Three Days to Dead is one of the best books I’ve read. Ever. Evy Stone is a heroine’s heroine, and I rooted for her from the moment I met her. Kelly Meding has written a phenomenal story, one that’s fast-paced, gritty, and utterly addictive. Brava! More! More! More!”— Jackie Kessler, co-author of Black and White.

“As vivid an evocation of England during World War II as anyone has ever written . . . You’ll find here a novelist who can plot like Agatha Christie and whose books possess a bounce and stylishness that Preston Sturges might envy.” — The Washington Post.

  • A set of Wolfbreed and Wolf’s Cross by S. A. Swann.

A lot of people have been saying a lot of good things about these books. But rather than list all of them, let’s leap directly to the top of the heap:

“Vivid and visceral, dark and delicious, this one kept me turning pages from start to finish.” – George R.R. Martin.

  • A copy of The Warded Man and a hardcover copy of The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett.

I won’t go all gushy about how much I enjoy Peter Brett’s books. Instead, I’ll just link to the interview I did with him last year. He’s a lovely guy, and I’m not saying that just because he’s cool enough to chip to help match donations for Worldbuilders.

“I enjoyed The Warded Man immensely. There is much to admire in Peter Brett’s writing, and his concept is brilliant. There’s action and suspense all the way.”—Terry Brooks .

I had someone accost me in a bookstore less than a week ago and gush about this book. Such was their intensity that I’ve moved it near the top of my to-be-read-when-I-finally-get-a-moment pile.

“The Native Star is engaging, atmospheric, and lovely. I was quite taken by the concept of an Old West built on a foundation of magic and zombie slave labor. Oh, and giant raccoons. Bring on the coons! And how spectacular is the name Dreadnought Stanton? This book utterly absorbed me from start to finish—these days you have no idea how rare that is. You have something special in your hands—no pun intended.” —Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless.

“Lebbon’s work is infused with the contemporary realism of Stephen King and the lyricism of Ray Bradbury.”— Fangoria

“You want this book…It’s the kind of book that leaves you breathless haunted and in awe. It makes me think of Little Brother meets Lord of the Flies meets Heart of Darkness meets Mad Max and the Road Warrior meets Letham. … It’s a powerful fast read of a gut punch of a novel. In other words–you want this book.” –Paul Jessup, author of Werewolves.

  • A set of a hardcover copy of Star Wars Death Troopers and an ARC of Star Wars Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber.

Okay. I lose some geek points for not knowing about these books. How can I not have heard about zombie star-wars books? Seriously. Why hasn’t anyone clued me in?

As you can see by the picture, Red Harvest is an ARC. It won’t be out until late December. So if you win, this will be a great opportunity to tease that super geeky star-wars friend in your peer group until he cries.

Or, if you’re a nicer person than I am, you could always give it to him for Christmas. Either way.

Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies says, “This is the Star Wars of every horror fan’s dreams—gory, funny, and brimming with a blood-spattered cast of swashbucklers and space-zombies.”

*     *     *

Remember folks, for every 10 dollars you donate to Heifer International, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others like them. Plus there’s the whole helping make the world a better place thing. That’s nice, too.

Don’t forget, Worldbuilders is matching 50% of all donations made. So why not head over to the Team Heifer page and chip in. Trust me. You’ll feel great afterward.

Or, if you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.

But first, everyone say, “Thank you Del Rey and Spectra.”

Also posted in Subterranean Press | By Pat17 Responses
Published: November 16, 2010

More Signed Books

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

A bunch more signed books today. Let’s start off with the ones donated by the authors themselves:

  • A set of The Lighthouse Duet: Flesh and Spirit, Breath and Bone by Carol Berg. Signed by the author.

I’ll admit I’ve never read Carol Berg. But when these books showed up, my assistant Valerie emitted a piercing screel of delight.

So, rather than voice my ignorant opinion, I figure we’ll just ask her what she thinks.

Heya Valerie, you remember what color you are?

A nice mellow green. So your blog readers can happily imagine you have a nice mellow assistant.

Pishaw. You’re way better than mellow. But we can pretend for the readers if you like.

Okay, here we go. Carol Berg. How good is she on a scale of one to Gaiman?

The best way I can describe my appreciation of her writing is in the fact that after I lost my first collection of books and decided to stop buying/collecting books and switched exclusively to libraries, I did re-buy copies of all her books.

Hold on. You don’t collect books?

Well I did drive across six states to come work for you, and I could only fit about six boxes of books in my car. So whenever I covet a book I ask myself if it is worthy of being personally carried around the world with me wherever I go. Final decision: no, I do not collect books and I only have two bookshelves of books in my house.

I can’t believe I didn’t know this about you. I… we… I don’t know if I can talk to you right now. I think I need to put up blurb from someone else while I wrap my head around this.

“Berg brings to life every stone in a peaceful monastery and every nuance in a stratified society, describing the difficult dirty work of ordinary life as beautifully as she conveys the heart-stopping mysticism of holiness just beyond human perception.” – Sharon Shinn

  • A set of The Books of the Rai-kirah: Transformation, Revelation, and Restoration by Carol Berg. Signed by the author.

Okay. I’m over it. Kinda. Pitch this series to me. Why should I read it?

Because, and pardon the giddy fan review, Berg writes worlds of magic and mystery. Her plots are usually grand schemes to change the world itself while the characters are full of very human flaws and failings. Plus I think her writing is classy and elegant. Is that too gushy?

Nah. You didn’t use words like “luminous” or “effulgent” or anything. You’re good.

  • A set of The Bridge of D’Arnath Quartet: Son of Avonar, Guardians of the Keep, The Soul Weaver, and Daughter of Ancients by Carol Berg. Signed by the author.

Okay. One more time. Hit me.

Everything I said before. Plus I want to add that her books aren’t just fantasy fluff. They make me think things I never thought before.

“If you enjoy fantasy with a dark thread… Carol Berg is someone you should try. If you like good characters in an exciting, unpredictable plot, this is also a series for you.” – Colleen Cahill, SFREVU

  • A set of The Twenty Palaces novels: Child of Fire and Game of Cages by Harry Connolly. Signed by the author.

Jim Butcher says Child of Fire “is excellent reading and has a lot of things I love in a book: a truly dark and sinister world, delicious tension and suspense, violence so gritty you’ll get something in your eye just reading it, and a gorgeously flawed protagonist. Take this one to the checkout counter. Seriously.”

Man. That’s a great blurb. Why can’t I get a blurb from Butcher? Every time I see him, he just curses and hucks stones at my head.

  • Five copies of Shadow’s Son by Jon Sprunk. Signed by the author.

“Masterful storytelling at its finest, be prepared for a late night.” –Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author.

“ Shadow’s Son is easily one of my favorite books of 2010 and I look forward to seeing what Sprunk can add to this trilogy.” –Fantasy Book Critic

“This collection of 17 stories from Card’s e-zine takes its title from his belief that writers getting readers to suspend disbelief is like old-fashioned medicine-show hawkers convincing customers that their patented elixirs will work. […] Adding value are the authors’ afterwords, which disclose the remarkable diversity of ways writers reach the Web or the page and how Card influences new writers.” – Roland Green, Booklist

From the back of the book: “Adventure . . . danger . . . romance . . . or maybe a good scare? Yearning to read some fantasy . . . science fiction . . . humor . . . urban fantasy . . . horror . . . or even a haunting Civil War tale? We’ve got what you’re looking for! The authors in Gen Con’s Writer’s Symposium have collected 22 of their favorite tales into this volume.”

The Writers of the Future anthology has a warm place in my heart, as I got my start in Volume 18. I always make a point of picking up the new one every year, as I know that these writers really had to beat out some stiff competition.

As Tim Powers says, “[Writers of the Future] is THE place to look for the writers who will be winning Hugos and Nebulas a few years from now.”

“The anthology stood out for one reason to me–each story captured some of the magic and uniqueness that can only be found if you live in a city.  Amid the constant lights, streams of traffic, and seeming sleeplessness, a city holds a powerful magnetism for ordinary and paranormal folks alike.  This collection spotlighted the best of those feelings.” – BSC Reviews

  • A set of the As You Wish series: How Not to Make a Wish, When Good Wishes Go Bad, and To Wish or Not To Wish by Mindy Klasky. Signed by the author.

“Fresh and often hysterically funny, this story also has a solid emotional core. Heroine Kira’s fire-person perspective keeps it all real for the reader…” – Romantic Times.

  • Two copies of The Fall of Ossard by Colin Taber. Signed by the author.

“Brave… Innovative… Bold…” – Stefen Brazulaitis, reviewer and columnist, Australian Bookseller and Publisher.

“I stayed up all night!” – Sara Douglass

“I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pages turn at a rapid pace and I loved the ending. This is not your expected fantasy-type book. I can’t wait for the next of the series.” – Rebecca’s Book Blogspot.

Kat Howard will always have a warm place in my heart, as she invited me to one of my first conventions as a professional writer.

I didn’t find out until much later that she’s a hell of a writer, as evidenced by the story she’s got in Gaiman’s new Anthology.

Robert J. Wiersema wrote in the National Post: “There’s not a single misstep, not a single story that can, or should, be skipped: Stories is a winner from cover to cover. […] Kat Howard’s A Life in Fictions, for example, is a strangely powerful account of what happens to a writer’s muse in both good times (when she is becoming different characters, taking on their traits and quirks) and bad (as when her world freezes, the writer suffering from writer’s block).”

*     *     *

In the two years I’ve been running Worldbuilders, I’ve hit up authors and publishers for books. It’s worked out petty well, and I’ve been really impressed at how generous people have been.

This year, just to see what would happen, I threw the doors open wider, inviting anyone to donate books. Amazingly, a lot of fans and readers have been willing to donate some really lovely stuff to the cause. All of the following are signed.

  • A copy of Odd and The Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. Signed by the author.

On a scale of one to Gaiman, this book unsurprisingly ranks in at a full Gaiman.

“Gaiman does it again…this sweet, wistful, slyly funny novella…succeeds both as a delightful children’s book and an adult collectible. Children will enjoy Odd’s quiet heroism and the simple adventure; adults will love the squabbling gods and the strong women. All in all, another winner.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  • A hardcover copy of Hyddenworld: Spring by William Horwood. Signed by the author.

“This is the first installment in a new series that builds on the fantasy genre, taking in elements from historical fiction, folk tales and legends. The real hook, though, is the characters: each is introduced with such care that the reader really gets to know them and is genuinely concerned about their story.” – Waterstones Books Quarterly.

  • A hardcover first edition copy of Nocturnes by John Connolly. Signed by the author.

“Connolly creates those rarest of books – literate and beautifully written page-turners.” – Mark Billingham, Daily Mail.

  • A copy of Redemption Falls by Joseph O’Connor. Signed by the author.

“Redemption Falls…is told with extraordinary ingenuity, the tone a mixture of the playful and the grave, at times fast-moving, smart, and very clever, and then full of beautiful writing and heartbreaking sequences. The cadences of the competing voices in the book combine to produce a dazzling narrative.” – Colm Tóibín, author of The Master, winner of the 2006 Dublin International IMPAC Award

  • A hardcover signed numbered limited edition of The Corpse King by Tim Curran. Signed by the author.

“Horror finds its roots in many places […] Often overlooked, however, but perhaps even more potent are the pages of history. We didn’t always live in such a sanitized, advanced, progressive world.  For all but a few, especially those who lived in crowded urban areas, life was often a miserable, filthy, degrading experience that offered little hope for the future, and in this sewer-bound world very real, tangible horrors, inescapable abounded.” — Kevin Lucia, Shroud Magazine

  • A hardcover copy of Under the Poppy by Kathe Koja. Signed by the author.

“This book made me drunk. Koja’s language is at its poetic best, and the epic drama had me digging my nails into my palms. It’s like a Tom Waits hurdy-gurdy loser’s lament come to life, as sinister as a dark circus.” — Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing

This book is a serious treasure. Not only is it a massive collection filled with a lot of hard-to-find Ellison stories, but it’s signed by Ellison AND Dowling. I covet it.

I was seriously considering selling this one in an auction this year, but I’ve decided to leave it in the general lottery instead. Why? Because I like having some rarer stuff in the lottery, that way, everyone gets a shot at it, not just collectors or folks with a ton of money to spend.

I also hope things like this in the mix will help to nudge people to donate a little more. Because you never know, you might get lucky…

“Ellison has never fit comfortably in any category. Instead, he’s tackled them all (or so it seems) and more often than not has come out on top. Considering the often insular tastes of genre readers, that alone is reason enough to place this book at the top of every recommended reading list.” – Jayme Lynn Blaschke SF Site

Remember folks, for every 10 dollars you donate to Heifer International, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others like them. Plus there’s the whole helping make the world a better place thing. That’s nice too.

Don’t forget, Worldbuilders is matching 50% of all donations made. So why not head over to my page at Team Heifer and chip in. Trust me. You’ll feel great afterward.

If you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.

Also posted in a few words you're probably going to have to look up, Neil Gaiman | By Pat33 Responses
Published: November 13, 2010

Signed Books from Generous Authors

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Here’s our first batch of books. All of them have been donated by the authors themselves, and all of them are lovingly signed.

  • A first edition hardcover set of The Crossroads Trilogy: Spirit Gate, Shadow Gate, and Traitors’ Gate by Kate Elliot. Signed by the author.

One of my fellow DAW authors, Kate Elliot, has donated a full hardcover set of her Crossroads trilogy.

Fantasy Book Critic calls it “…Elliott’s best work and is highly recommended to both fans of the author and any readers who appreciate fantasy in the vein of Robin Hobb, Jacqueline Carey, and J.V. Jones…”

  • Two copies of Cold Magic by Kate Elliot. Signed by the author.

From Publishers Weekly: “The first installment of Elliott’s Spiritwalker trilogy puts a decidedly steampunk edge on epic adventure fantasy. The setting is a pseudo-Victorian Europe at the emergence of an industrial revolution, replete with dirigibles, gas lights, and great political and social upheaval.”

  • Four copies of The Magicians by Lev Grossman. All are signed by the author and come with a Brakebills College crest t-shirt.

I mentioned Lev’s book a while back on the blog.

But why listen to me when Lisa Tuttle from the London Times says, “This is my ideal escapist fantasy read, a Harry Potter book for grown-ups … I can’t imagine any lover of well-written classic fantasy, from C. S. Lewis’s Narnia books to the works of Diana Wynne Jones, who won’t absolutely adore it.”

  • Two hardcover copies of Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells. Signed by the author.

Publishers Weekly says: “Fast-paced, witty and inventive, Wells’ latest fantasy is not only about saving the world; it is also about saving Maskelle from self-doubt and isolation. The vividly imagined Celestial Empire’s peril is made all the more dramatic by the characters’ sarcastic, reasonable conversations, and by their very human responses to inhuman dangers; there is real reading pleasure here.”

  • A copy of Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines. Signed by the author.

I was getting all ready to gush about this book as I did on the blog long ago when I found the following quote and realized I shouldn’t even try to top it.

“This book is too f***ing cool for words!” – Wil Wheaton

That’s how awesome Wheaton is, folks. He can actually pronounce asterisks.

  • A copy of The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines. Signed by the author.

Easter Friesner author of Nobody’s Princess says, “The Stepsister Scheme is not your Granma’s fairy tale. Action, intrigue, romance, action, treachery, and did I mention action? These princesses will give Charlie’s Angels a serious run for the money, and leave ‘em in the dust. Read it!”

  • A set of The Twelfth Houses: Mystic and Rider, The Thirteenth House, Dark Moon Defender, Reader and Realynx, and Fortune and Fate by Sharon Shinn. Signed by the author.

In a starred review from Booklist, Paula Luedtke said, “Clean, elegant prose is, as usual, one of the joys of a Shinn novel, and here it conjures entirely likable major characters and an interesting group-development narrative. Never tripping over the plot twists and complications, Shinn gives us an easy, absorbing, high-quality read sans gratuitous bloodshed and violence.”

Personally, I always sit up and take notice when a reviewer uses the word “sans.” (Mostly because I’m never sure how to pronounce it in my head.)

  • A hardcover set of The Throne of Amenkor: The Skewed Throne; The Cracked Throne; and The Vacant Throne by Joshua Palmatier. Signed by the author.

Alma Alexander writes, “For those who like their fantasy gritty and real, without sugarcoating, Joshua Palmatier’s “The Skewed Throne” is a gift. With not a dragon or unicorn in sight, it’s the people and the places where they live that matter in here.”

  • A set of The Onyx Court: In Ashes Lie and A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan. Signed by the author.

Jim Hines, (We met him up just a couple books ago, remember?) writes, “Brennan continues to blend history and magic so smoothly it’s hard to tell where one ends and the next begins.”

  • A hardcover set of The Magic Thief: The Magic Thief, Lost, and Found by Sarah Prineas. Signed by the author.

“A magical world, beautifully realized with totally believable characters [….] I was enchanted! A magical book that steals your attention and compels you to read on. Exciting, absorbing, compelling–a totally enjoyable read.” –Joseph Delaney, author of The Last Apprentice series.

  • A copy of Living With Ghosts by Kari Sperring. Signed by the author.

This one was Winner of the Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer 2009, and Neal Swain at AuthorMagazine says, “Kari Sperring’s writing is seamless and strong. She shows a knack for depicting not just the powerful emotions but also the caution and second-guessing that underlie many human interactions… ”

From the back of the book:

“The dazzling debut from a brilliant new fantasy talent. This highly original, darkly atmospheric fantasy novel immerses readers in a world where ghosts and other malevolent spirits seek entry into mortal realms – invisible to all but those who are not entirely human themselves”

  • A copy of The Four Musketeers: The True Story of D’Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis & Athos by Kari Maund and Phil Nanson. Signed by the authors.

This is another one I’d like to steal. I have a bit of curiosity about how legends evolve from real-life people.

From the book:

“The Three Musketeers, first published in serial form in France in 1844, is an abiding classic. It has been translated into many languages, repeatedly filmed and its heroes – d’Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis and Athos – have become literary archetypes. Yet, outside France, few people know that all four are based on historical figures: Armand d’Athos; Isaac de Portau; Henri d’Aramitz; and Charles de Batz, four Gascon noblemen who served in the French military, including the legendary Black Musketeers, under Louis XIV. The Four Musketeers is the first modern account in English of the historical background of the real musketeers, and the process by which these long-dead soldiers became legend.”

  • A set of The Singer’s Crown, The Eunuch’s Heir, and The Bastard Queen by Elaine Isakk. Signed by the author.

Traditional fantasy with a twist. The Library Journal calls this generational saga of stand-alone novels, “a richly drawn world filled with memorable characters.”

You can visit Elaine’s website but remember, you do NOT want to be her hero!

  • A copy of Steampunk’d. With a signed story by Paul Genesse.

Steampunk is hot right now, and I have to admit I’m rather fond of it myself.

What’s not to like? You’ve got lots of leather and brass. Great roaring engines. Protective eyegear. Women in corsets with wrenches. A giraffe. Tequila….

No. Wait. That’s not steampunk. What am I thinking of? I remember I saw it in Amsterdam and it looked like a hell of a lot of fun…

Oh well. Steampunk is good too.

From the book:

“Consider the slogan: “What the past would look like if the future had come along earlier.” The stories in this all-original anthology explore alternate timelines and have been set all over the world, running the gamut from science fiction to mystery to horror to a melding of these genres.”

“The writing team of Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson is an incredibly talented force to be reckoned with.  Every one of their tales is captivating, with characters that you grow to care about.  I have yet to read a tale by this husband/wife writing team that I haven’t liked. Fantasy novel fans will absolutely love the Crystal Doors series.” – Melissa Minners at G-pop.net.

Carl Hays from Booklist writes, “Sf legend van Vogt launched his storied career with Slan (1940), a now-classic tale about a race of telepathic mutants, the slans, battling oppression. Before his death in 2000, he had sketched the outlines of a sequel continuing the story [….] Already an accomplished sequel spinner with several Dune volumes to his credit, sf veteran Anderson captures van Vogt’s dynamic style and vision with immaculate precision. He even re-creates the original novel’s 1940s-era flavor, so that deep-dyed sf buffs can take a nostalgic trip back to sf’s golden age.”

Harlan Ellison likes it too, saying, “Van was a Grandmaster. Slan was his masterpiece. Now, like a dream come true, Kevin returns us to that singular world, the world of Jommy Cross.”

Remember folks, for every 10 dollars you donate to Heifer International, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others like them. Plus there’s the whole helping make the world a better place thing. That’s nice too.

Don’t forget, Worldbuilders is matching 50% of all donations made. So why not head over to my page at Team Heifer and chip in. Trust me. You’ll feel great afterward.

If you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.

Also posted in Wil Wheaton | By Pat16 Responses

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