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.

• A set of The Novels of Tiger and Del by Jennifer Roberson.

“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

• A set of the Cheysuli omnibus editions by Jennifer Roberson.

“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

• A complete set of the Darkover omnibuses by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

“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 set of the Blood series by Tanya Huff.

“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

• A copy of By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey.

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 copy of Beneath the Vaulted Hills by Sean Russell.

“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.

• A copy of The Initiate Brother by Sean Russell.

“Fantasy at its best.” – Quantum

• A set of Downbelow Station and Regenesis by C. J. Cherryh.

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.