This is a Worldbuilders blog.
Today we’ve got some more prized donated by DAW, my publisher.
All of these books are ARCs. ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy. They’re the books that publishers print *before* they print the book. They send them to reviewers, bookstores, and other Very Important People in the publishing world in order to give them an early taste of what’s coming out.
They usually don’t print very many of them, and because of that, a lot of times ARCs are actually much rarer than first edition books.
Also, because they’re printed earlier in the editorial process, they’re almost always based on the uncorrected proofs of the books. So when you read them, you get to laugh up your sleeve at all the author’s typos and generally feel superior.
Some ARCs are have more substantial differences. In the black-bound ARC of The Name of the Wind, for example, there are several chapters that are dramatically different than what showed up in the finished book.
Best of all, some of these ARCs are for books haven’t actually hit the shelves yet. Which means if you win them, you get to be one of the cool kids and read the book before all your friends.
So here we go: ARCs.
- Two ARCs of Water to Burn by Katharine Kerr.
“The plot gallops, the mysteries matter, and the secret at the heart of it all just whets my appetite for more.” – Kate Elliott, author of Crown of Stars
- Two ARCs of Apocalypse to Go by Katharine Kerr.
“Katharine Kerr creates a host of interesting characters… The setting is fun; Kerr makes great use of San Francisco landmarks… the reader feels like he or she is right there in the city with the characters.” – FantasyLiterature.com
- Three ARCs of Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire.
Pat’s note: This one caught my eye when it showed up, and I really wanted to read it. Because the official version won’t be out until March. Not because of short pink skirt. Mostly.
“Seanan McGuire’s Discount Armageddon is an urban fantasy triple threat – smart and sexy and funny. The Aeslin mice alone are worth the price of the book, so consider a cast of truly ORIGINAL characters, a plot where weird never overwhelms logic, and some serious kickass world-building as a bonus.” – Tanya Huff, author of The Wild Ways
- Two ARCs of The Wild Ways by Tanya Huff.
“The Gales are an amazing family, the aunts will strike fear into your heart, and the characters Allie meets are both charming and terrifying.” – #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Charlaine Harris
- Three ARCs of City of the Lost by Stephen Blackmoore.
“City of the Lost is the best kind of paranormal noir: gritty, breakneck- paced, and impossible to put down. Joe Sunday is a new antihero to watch, and the next installment can’t come soon enough.” – Caitlin Kittredge, author of The Iron Thorn
- One ARC of The Ninth Circle by R.M. Meluch.
“The Ninth Circle is an immensely readable book that flows very quickly and draws you in with sharp little hooks that demand you finish the book before you dream of beginning any other.” – Blog Critic
- One ARC of Brightly Burning by Mercedes Lackey.
“Lackey combines the intensity of a young man’s agonized coming of age with a tale of love, honor, and sacrifice. Essential for series fans, this title belongs in most fantasy collections.” – Library Journal
- One ARC of Storm Warning by Mercedes Lackey.
“Lackey’s talent for evoking the youthful passions of her heroes and heroines brings life to this creation. Recommended.” – Library Journal
- Two ARCs of Sins of the Demon by Diana Rowland.
“A nifty combination of police procedural and urban fantasy.” – Charlaine Harris, New York Times Bestselling Author
- Two ARCs of Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch.
“…great fun, with lots of quirky characters, witty dialogue, a bit of romance, some hot sex, and oodles of action.” – Booklist
One ARC of The Compass of the Soul by Sean Russell. Includes a signed blookplate.
“A strange and beautiful book that offers an unusual depth and nuance of character, set forth in lustrous dialogue and prose the texture of honeyed silk.” – Kirkus Reviews
- One ARC of The Madness Season by C.S. Friedman.
“Three hundred years in the future, the Tyr, a hivelike alien race, have subjugated the peoples of Earth. Daetrin, an ancient vampiric shapechanger, uses his unique talents to battle the aliens while trying to understand and accept himself. Intriguing plot and excellent characterization combined with good writing … make for an original science fiction romp.” – School Library Journal
- One ARC of Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman.
“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 ARC of Green Rider by Kristen Britain.
“A wonderfully captivating heroic fantasy adventure.” —Terry Goodkind
- Two ARCs of Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed.
“This promising debut offers a glimpse of a dusty and wonderful fantasy city through the eyes of three engaging, unconventional protagonists.” – Elizabeth Bear, Hugo Award-winning author
Two ARCs of Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh.
“Veteran sf/fantasy author Cherryh plays her strongest suit in this exploration of human/alien contact, producing an incisive study-in-contrast of what it means to be human in a world where trust is nonexistent.” – Library Journal
- An ARC of Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor.
Pat’s Note: Not only is this a great book, but Who Fears Death won the World Fantasy Award in October, so this one is extra cool….
“Both wondrously magical and terribly realistic.” – The Washington Post
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Remember, you for every 10 dollars you donate on the Worldbuilders Team Page, you get a chance to win everything here, not to mention the hundreds of other books that have already been donated.
What’s more, if you donate before January 31st of 2012, Worldbuilders will match 50% of your donation.
Also, every dollar donated brings us closer to $100,000. Once we hit that, I’ll post up another blog with more personal additions to the fundraiser.
Spread the word…