This is a Worldbuilders blog.
Once again the lovely folks at Subterranean Press have sent us hundreds of books. Many of them rare or out of print, and all of them are gorgeous and lovingly crafted.
Let’s take a look….
- Twenty-five hardcover copies of A Pleasure to Burn by Ray Bradbury.
You all know who Ray Bradbury is, right? We don’t need to talk about that.
And if you’re reading this blog, you have to already understand how big a deal Fahrenheit 451 is. I’m sure of that, too.
This book brings together 16 vintage Bradbury stories and novellas that “chart the evolution of the images, ideas, and social concerns that found their purest, most potent expression in Fahrenheit 451. […] it is both an invaluable Bradbury sourcebook and a unique, intimate glimpse into the mysteries of the creative process.”
From Publishers Weekly (Pick of the Week, Starred Review): “An essential addition to the bookshelf of every Bradbury fan, the collection is also accessible to curious readers with a taste for the dark, the strange, and the macabre.”
- Twenty-five hardcover copies of The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi.
I’ll admit that I didn’t know about this book (and the one directly below) before they were donated, but now I’m going to have to have to read them as soon as I have time. Sooner maybe.
These books are *very* new, so there aren’t many reviews yet. Instead, here’s a brief description from Sub Press:
“In paired novellas, award-winning authors Tobias Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi explore a shared world where magic is forbidden and its use is rewarded with the axe. A world of glittering memories and a desperate present, where everyone uses a little magic, and someone else always pays the price.”
Bacigalupi is already well-known for his award winning novel The Windup Girl which was named by TIME Magazine as one of the ten best novels of 2009, and also won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Compton Crook, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards.
In short, he pretty much won everything with that book. Personally, I think he’s probably a witch.
- Twenty-five hardcover copies of The Executioness by Tobias S. Buckell.
While he might not be a witch, Buckell has his share of accolades as well. He’s a Writers of The Future winner and a Campbell Award finalist. Reviewers have called Buckell “a dazzling new voice” (Robert J. Sawyer) and “an exciting new writer” (Cory Doctorow.)
From the description of The Executioness by Sub Press:
“Magic has a price.
In Khaim, that price is your head if you’re found using it. For the use of magic comes with a side effect: it creates bramble. The bramble is a creeping, choking menace that has covered majestic ancient cities, and felled civilizations. In order to prevent the spread of the bramble, many lose their heads to the cloaked executioners of Khaim.”
It’s been forever since I’ve seen two authors writing in a shared world. This is cool stuff, and I’m excited to read it.
- Five hardcover copies of The Great Bazaar by Peter V. Brett.
This is one of those books I’m tempted to steal from the fundraiser. I’m a big fan of Brett’s work, and I missed my chance to buy this from Sub Press. Now it’s sold out and would cost me hundreds of dollars.
From Blood of the Muse:
“If The Painted Man was a Director’s Cut DVD, The Great Bazaar and Other Stories would be the second disc filled with all the Extras. More story, deleted scenes, a ward grimoire; it’s all here. […] Fans of The Painted Man will love The Great Bazaar and Other Stories. People not familiar with Brett’s work will find this a great introduction.”
- Twenty-five hardcover copies and five ACR’s of Brayan’s Gold by Peter V. Brett.
This book isn’t published yet, which means y’all can still pre-order it from Sub Press. If you want a copy, that might be a good idea, as I’m expecting it to sell out like the book up above.
From Sub Press:
“Return to the world of The Warded Man and The Desert Spear in an illustrated new novella by Peter V. Brett. […] Arlen Bales is seventeen, an apprentice Messenger in brand new armor, about to go out for the first time alongside a trained Messenger on a simple overnight trip. Instead Arlen finds himself alone on a frozen mountainside, carrying a dangerous cargo to Count Brayan’s gold mine, one of the furthest points in the duchy.”
- Five signed and numbered limited leather-bound editions of Backup by Jim Butcher.
Here’s another out-of-print treasure from Sub Press. These signed, leather-bound, numbered books are worth hundreds of bucks on the collector’s market.
I love Butcher’s Dresden Files and really enjoyed this story. I was surprised, but pleased, when I discovered it wasn’t from Harry’s point of view. The story follows Thomas Raith instead, and gives cool insight into his character.
Rob H. Bedford for SFFWorld says, “Backup is a solid entry to the background of the Dresden Files, a terrific story in and of itself, and the book itself looks to be a great collector’s item for both fans of Butcher’s Dresden Files or of good storytelling matched up with terrific art. Obviously from what my review says, I’d highly recommend Backup.”
- Twenty-five hardcover copies of Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill.
This was nominated for an Eisner award, so you know it’s got some mojo.
Publishers Weekly says, “This first of hopefully several volumes delivers on all counts, boasting a solid story bolstered by exceptional work from Chilean artist Rodriguez….”
- Twenty-five hardcover copies of Locke & Key: Head Games by Joe Hill.
From Subterranean Press:
“The three Locke children–survivors of a horrific home invasion that claimed their father–have just begun to rebuild their lives when little Bode discovers a key with an incredible power. […] Written by Hill and featuring the mind-bending art of Gabriel Rodriguez, the second installment of Locke & Key is one head-trip you won’t forget.”
- Five hardcover copies of A Fantasy Medley by Yanni Kuznia.
Now out-of-print, A Fantasy Medley features stories by Kelley Armstrong, Kate Elliott, C.E. Murphy, and Robin Hobb.
From Publishers Weekly (Starred Review): “Four fantasy heavyweights contribute original tales featuring intriguing female protagonists to this enthralling anthology.”
- Twenty-five hardcover copies of Deadman’s Road by Joe R. Lansdale.
From The Agony Column: “Deadman’s Road is generously illustrated by the incredibly talented Glen Chadbourne with lots of his ultra-detailed pen-and-ink drawings. [….] There’s a real sense of class and detail and craft combined with truly disturbing horror and, ever present, Lansdale’s unmatched sense of fun. Stepping into this book is like stepping into an old theater, running a black and white film you’ve never seen before.”
- Twenty-five signed and numbered limited hardcover editions of The Sky That Wraps by Jay Lake.
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover…. but damn, that’s a really nice cover.
Jay Lake is one of those writers that makes me look like a chump, turning out one quality book after another.
The San Francisco Book Review says, “Jay Lake is a first-class wordsmith, an author who relishes the possibilities of language, utilizing words to their utmost to craft incredibly detailed worlds both hauntingly familiar and mind-bogglingly different.”
- Twenty-five signed and numbered limited leather-bound editions of Blue and Gold by K. J. Parker.
The Library Journal says, “The author of The Engineer Trilogy has written a mesmerizing short novel that combines fictional autobiography with political intrigue and the art of the confidence man… History rewrites itself at every turn in this tale of an alchemist whose own base metal becomes, at last, pure gold.”
- Twenty-five signed and numbered limited hardcover editions of Swords & Dark Magic edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders.
From Subterranean Press:
“Featuring new stories from the bestselling and brightest writers working in the genre, including: New York Times bestselling authors Scott Lynch and Garth Nix; genre greats Michael Moorcock (with an all-new Elric novella), Michael Shea (with a fully authorized new Cugel the Clever adventure), Robert Silverberg (with an all-new Majipoor tale), Glen Cook (with an all-new Black Company story), Gene Wolfe, and C. J. Cherryh; and hot new writers who’ve been re-inventing swords and sorcery like Steven Erikson, Joe Abercrombie, Tim Lebbon, and many more.”
- Twenty-five hardcover editions of The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle by Patrick Rothfuss. Signed by the Author.
This book should look familiar to many of you.
You can’t trust me to be objective about my own book, so here’s a quote from the San Francisco Book Review:
“In what is by far the funniest and most original book of the year (so far), Rothfuss shows off his ability to think and create outside of the expected. The story is pure comic genius that will be fun and funny for parents and children. The illustrations, not to be outdone, offer subtle little quirks that, after reading the book multiple times, shine through and give it lasting re-read incentive.”
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.
And don’t forget, I’m 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.
Or, if you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.
