Today’s blog comes again from the Worldbuilders Team, and everyone in the office is still basking in the glow of the stretch goals we posted up recently. If you haven’t seen them yet, you can see our cool slider full of them here…
We’re pretty proud of it. And as of right now we’re at $290,000, so we’re perilously close to our next stretch goal.
Either way, we thought we’d remind you of one of the added benefits of donating to help us reach those stretch goals: the awesome books you can win in the lottery. Donations of $10 or more on our Team Page get you the chance to win one of many hundreds of books we have here waiting for you.
Today’s batch of coolness comes from Del Rey, and they sent over a lot of great stuff that should appeal to a bunch of geeks. There are multiple copies of almost all of them, and then a few special, signed ones you can win in an auction, should they pique your interest…
- Copies of The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough.
“A brilliant debut, full of compelling characters and thick with tension.” – Kevin Hearne
Post-apocalyptic science fiction? Check. Mysterious alien technology? Check. Solid world building? So much check. The first book in the Dire Earth Cycle will have you turning pages fast enough to create friction.
- Auction: The Darwin Elevator. Signed and dated by Jason M. Hough.
We also have a cool signed copy that we’re auctioning off, so if you don’t want to miss out head over here and bid.
- Copies of The Wards of Faerie by Terry Brooks.
“In time for the 35th anniversary of The Sword of Shannara (first published in 1977), Brooks opens up a new avenue for more tales of magic and epic adventure. His many fans will want this.” – Library Journal
This first book in Terry Brooks’s new Shannara trilogy hits the ground running. Get ready to jump back into this expansive world and dig into its tumultuous past. We can’t say a whole lot about this book without ruining it, but Brooks is in fine form here.
- Copies of His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik.
“A completely authentic tale, brimming with all the detail and richness one looks for in military yarns as well as the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy.” – Entertainment Weekly
This is the first book in Naomi Novik’s brilliant Temeraire series. Napoleonic War + Dragon = Awesomeness. Nicole at The Tinker’s Packs was listening to this series most of last year and obsessing about it just a little.
- Copies of Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
“Remarkable . . . Scott Lynch’s first novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora, exports the suspense and wit of a cleverly constructed crime caper into an exotic realm of fantasy, and the result is engagingly entertaining.” – The Times
If you like mystery stories and fantasy stories, why not combine them? Pat will tell you how awesome this book is in his Goodreads review, in no uncertain terms.
Plus, Scott is involved in our next stretch goal: he and Elizabeth Bear will be getting drunk and doing a review of The Desolation of Smaug. So that’s going to be interesting…
- Copies of The Best of Connie Willis by Connie Willis.
“Ranging from the hilarious to the profound, these stories show the full range of Willis’ talent for taut, dazzling plots, real science, memorable characters, penetrating dialogue and blistering drama–and may guide inquisitive readers toward her equally accomplished and acclaimed novels.” – Kirkus Reviews
Connie Willis has been wonderful to us here at Worldbuilders. Last year alone, she donated quite a few rarities from her own personal bookshelf–she even sent a book on cassette! This year, she’s featured with this gorgeous collection of some of her shorter works. Connie Willis does it all, and since all ten of the stories in this collection have won either the Hugo or Nebula award (or both), you know you’re in good hands.
- Copies of Children of Fire by Drew Karpyshyn.
“This intricately layered adventure breathes realism and overshadowing menace into ancient mythic archetypes, exposing the pain and wonder inherent in magic and the mingled hope and cynicism of modern fantasy.” – Publishers Weekly
You know Drew Karpyshyn from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect series. This is his original material, an epic story about four orphans born with the individual traits of a hero-turned-destroyer. It’s their destiny to usher in a renewed era of peace or free their twisted forebear from his prison.
- Copies of Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.
“Of those who work in the grand epic-fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best…. [He] is a tense, surging, insomnia-inflicting plotter and a deft and inexhaustible sketcher of personalities…. This is as good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien.” – Time Magazine
Unless you’ve been living under a particularly heavy rock, you’ve probably heard of Game of Thrones. If you’ve only seen the HBO series, or haven’t had a chance to pick these up yet, we’ve got a chance for you to win some here.
And for those of you who already love the series, though, we’ve got some awesome auctions of limited edition weaponry and statues from Westeros.
- Auction: A Feast for Crows. Signed by George R.R. Martin.
“A story told with as much passion and humanity as Martin has brought to any previous volume. And it adds much detail and texture to an already rich and layered world.” – Thomas M. Wagner, SF Review
This one is volume 4 in A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones being the first), so we didn’t want to throw this in the lottery and annoy someone why may not have the first three. Instead, and since it’s signed, we’re auctioning it off so someone who’s ready to add it to their collection can do so. If you’re that someone, head over and bid.
- Copies of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller.
“…so well written it’s disgusting. This is Star Wars fiction at its absolute best. It’s a Star Wars book that explores stories from the movies and television series, fleshes them out and adds further dimension to what we know or think we know.” — Bryan Young, Examiner.com
If you’ve ever wondered how the great Obi-Wan Kenobi became a crazy old hermit living on an insignificant desert planet, you’re about to find out. In the most difficult decision of his life, Kenobi must decide if the best thing he can do to save the galaxy might be nothing at all.
- Copies of The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett.
“The Warded Man works not only as a great adventure novel but also as a reflection on the nature of heroism.” — Charlaine Harris
Humans fight back against an onslaught of demons. But so much more. Traditional fantasy with some horror elements from the guy who shaved Myke Cole’s head with a straight razor. Knowing Peat like we do, it amazes us that such dark fantasy can come from such a nice guy.
- Copies of A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway.
“Holloway stuffs her adventure with an abundance of characters and ideas and fills her heroine with talents and graces, all within a fun, brisk narrative.” — Publishers Weekly
A Study in Silks is set in a steampunk world filled with magic and intrigue, starring Sherlock Holmes’s very capable and engaging niece. If you’re not already intrigued, how about a touch of romance?
- Copies of Red Rising by Pierce Brown.
“Fast-paced, gripping, well written – the sort of book you cannot put down. I am already on the lookout for the next one.” – Terry Brooks
When we were digging around, trying to find a good review of the forthcoming Red Rising (it’ll come out at the end of the month), there was so much to choose from. The one, unifying word that seemed to appear in every last review was, “Wow!” Now all of us kind of want to read it.
- Auction: Red Rising by Pierce Brown. To be released January 28th, 2014.
Since the lottery items won’t make it to the winners until after Red Rising comes out, we figured we’d auction off a copy and do our best to get it to the winner before its release date. Join the party and bid on this one for a chance to read it early.
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Special thanks goes out to Del Rey, as well as all of our other donors so far.
We’re going to be really ramping things up these last two weeks, so be sure to check back often, and be sure to get your donations in before the fundraiser ends on February 2nd at 11:59pm Central Standard Time.
Thanks for being awesome folks…
17 Comments
Well! I just can’t wait to see which of these we win…;)
So Lynch and Bear are going to get drunk and review Desolation of Smaug? Now that sounds awesome, and hilarious. Sure hope that stretch goal is met.
ETA: I really think that you should encourage the pair to do this on video, Pat. Really.
Out of curiosity, Ktheah. Did you listen to the Audio version of the book, or was the username “Cthaeh” already taken?
I didn’t listen to the audio, and I don’t know if Cthaeh is already taken. I go by Kate, my legal name is Katherine, and my last name starts with H. After struggling to type Cthaeh, it just struck me that the letters were awfully close to my name/initials, so…I twisted it and grabbed it for a handle. I should probably change the spelling to more accurately reflect the spelling in your book though.
Savin’ my money for an ARC of Words of Radiance. *crosses fingers*
Noticed an error – the header says “In His Majesty’s Service” but the picture shows books titled “His Majesty’s Dragon”
Oops – fixed, thanks!
I can not *wait* for the Lynch& Bear Drunken Hobbit review. It is what I live for. IF I had 8 grand I would donate it just to hear it right now.
Love, love, love the little icon thingy. Makes it so much easier to access everything. Thank you.
Glad you love it – we’re pretty proud of it.
Yes. It fills me with great joy.
Here I am all most 68 years old and I squealed a little when I saw you replied to one of my posts. I’m just silly.
We’re all a little silly. It’s okay…
How about a SciFi writers work out video? Been doing p90x recently and its really annoying seeing all these superfit people tell me how fun it is. I am exhausted at the end. how about a video with people I can identify with?
I don’t know if you know Stephen Boyett (wrote Ariel), but he does work out videos as well. He could lead it and have you guys go until you puke.
Oh and don’t they have polar bear swims up in wisconsin? … just saying.
or you could go to Greenbay (not sure how far that is from you), show up in a Chicago Bears Jersey. Where a sign in the front say ‘Ditka is da Man’ and then on the back say ‘Lombardi Sucks’. Walk around and film people’s reaction. Though you would want to do this in broad daylight and be sure to bring mace.
Your a good guy for doing this patrick. I am just having some fun with you.
Holy crap, Gaiman reads Green Eggs and Ham?
Is that even legal?
Looking forward to that stretch goal….
Yeah. It’s going to be *awesome*
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