Book Review: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

In a future Thailand, calories are the greatest commodity. Anderson is a calorie-man whose true objective is to discover new food sources that his company can exploit. His secretary, Hock Seng, is a refugee from China seeking to ensure his future. Jaidee is an officer of the Environmental Ministry known for upholding regulations rather than accepting bribes. His partner, Kanya, is torn between respect for Jaidee and hatred for the agency that destroyed her childhood home. Emiko is a windup, an engineered and despised creation, discarded by her master and now subject to brutality by her patron. The actions of these characters set in motion events that could destroy the country.









Oh gods, Oh gods I tried. I am not known to give up on a lot of books. There are even some books I give up on and decide I'll likely come back to....sadly, Paolo Bacigulpi's THE WINDUP GIRL is not one of them.

Now I am clearly in the minority here as the book has won both the Nebula award and tied for first for the Hugo (and I am pretty sure that China Meiville's THE CITY & THE CITY is more worth the win), but oh my god I was bored and annoyed.

Firstly, if you approach this book from any kind of grounded, believable scientific/futurist standpoint you will only be frustrated. This is the story of a future world where the human race can't seem to re-engengineer power after the oil industry goes south, but genehacking fruits and veggies is easy-peasy....but has also produced oodles of accidental bio-engineered diseases that kind of run rampant. Wait, so you're telling me it's a BAD idea to tamper with the genetic makeup of foods but everyone does it anyway.....to the point that calorie is king and currency? Who knew the future scientific minds were so dopey. Please. If you try to tell me that the worlds scientists will revert to coiled springs for power in a plant that is run by dirty marketeers and giant bio-engineered elephants turn wheels, and algea growing tanks that have these screens that take the skim off the top, and then there's these giant wooden pins that...

...are you asleep yet?

Cause I sure was. I can't even harp on this book properly cause it's so boring.

Emiko, the windup girl (artificial sex doll human) of the title, who is abused and degraded by her patron and Bangkok society at large, is at least a BIT interesting, but she just kind of gets lost in amongst the other crap. I mean here we have a character that could be the very pinpoint story in this book. The one that has all the conflict and humanity-shuns-robot thing...and what do we do with her? We give her over to the main protagonist Anderson Lake....and she stagnates there. Anderson Lake is completely irredeemable and unlikable entirely. Hock Seng, his factory worker who deals with day to day stuff and the like is actually worse, and comes off as petty, spiteful and ridiculously annoying. The young character of Mai is too connected to Hock Seng to be of any interest, and then there are the ministries of Environment and Trade....*snnnnoooore....snkkrrfkkk...* Wha? Hello? What were we talking about?

So yeah, you know that crap you didn't like in the Star Wars prequels about the whole Trade Federation and political blockades? Yup, that's the kind of bollocks that is going on in this book too, and it's more boring here. Things like the mob boss that Hock Seng is in cahoots with, and the Muay Thai person, and the other assorted characters...all boring.

This is a story for people who like politics, and environmental law and maybe a little bit of philosophy. Wikipedia calls it Bio-punk....and I loathe that word. Don't invent a word to describe a sub-genre of sci-fi that only qualifies as sci-fi LOOSELY. Beyond that the prose is kind of all over the place. It's not bad perse, but rather its kind of "scatterbrained". Then there's the constant need to use Thai and Chinese and Malay words in italics...which is odd. Bacigulpi uses them in the first chapter, explains them, and then continues to use them in italics. It's as if he's saying "Hey look! I'm am so smart! I can rock this in another language" which bugs me anyways, as the book is in english and while talking about people "wai" (hands pressed together to forehead) is appropriate as it is a cultural thing (though no need for the constant italics dude, we get it), it's a lot of then other terms used that don't really need to be in Thai. I mean, you wrote the book in English dude....why give sporadic words or terms (non-cultural specific!) unless you are just showing off? Offputting to say the least.

You've also got one decidedly overly-graphic rape scene and one that we don't see but is described. My god. I'm sorry, but I don't sit down and enjoy reading about a girl (creche grown or not) being raped by a champagne bottle. Sorry, to me that IS NOT entertainment. That's the sort of sick crap we hear about in the news. Personally, I read books to escape and be entertained, not to be disturbed on various levels. How this guy won the HUGO and Nebula is kind of beyond me. It's almost as if Fantasy/Sci-Fi Awards have decided to start awarding the big prizes to genre writers who are attempting a masquerade as contemporary literary authors. Note to Bacigulpi: You can do social commentary without it being overtly offensive or obvious...ask Alastair Reynolds how to do it, cause that guy writes readable books.

To finish up. I made it about 3 quarters through and then skimmed to the end. I want to be nice, so I WILL say that buried somewhere in this giant needless volume is a story worth telling, and I think it is mainly Emiko's story (minus the graphic rape), but it never goes where it should go to be worthwhile and in the end she is totally WASTED. This could be social commentary on the use of her as an object ect. (Like BI66ER in the Matix:The Second Renaissance) and seeing her freak out, but it never has the cleverness of that and ends up being decidedly heavy-handed and offputting. I could give two craps about Anderson Lake, Hock Seng, Mai, Lord Dung, Algae, Springs, Megodonts, Giant wooden spikes, gene-altered fruits and therefore diseases, and I care even less for trade and environmental ministries and the inner workings of factory lines. Seriously there is a chapter that describes how the factory line all works...and then it is destroyed. So Mr. Bacigulpi...please explain to me the need to put us through the tedious explanation of the factory line and the algae tanks if you are only going to destroy it i the next scene?

Like I said, I am in the minority here as A LOT of people like this book, but I guess the story just wasn't my bag and it only served to bore me. Sorry folks, I didn't get into this one and I tried as I heard so many good things.

Comic book reviews for the week of October 27th in six sentences (or less)

Best of the week

Hellblazer: City of Demons #2

If you’ve read one Hellblazer comic, you’ve read them all. The ‘blazer genre tropes are pretty well worn by this time; so writer Si Spencer just embraces what’s great about the character and rolls with it. As I mentioned when I reviewed the first issue I don’t get why this is being spun out into a mini but artist Sean Murphy’s work is so great that I couldn’t care less. Anyway, Constantine seems to have been possessed by a demon (or demons) and he can pass along this possession like an infection to anyone he meets. Of course normal people don’t deal with being infected by a demon very well and they tend to do lots of horrific and bloody things. I’m enjoying the hell out of the series so far, no pun intended, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

Actions Comics #894

In this issue Lex Luthor continues on his quest to seek the truth behind the black power rings from the Blackest Night event. Only Lex’s journey has been put briefly on hold while he comes to grips with the fact that he is, y’know, dead. Death, making a rare cameo outside of Neil Gaiman’s ever popular Sandman series, shows up to wheel, deal and help Lex accept his sudden change in status. This is a fantastic issue. In Paul Cornell’s hands Lex Luthor is still the same ruthless, irredeemable villain he’s always been, only now for some reason he’s a lot more interesting. Cornell manages to explore some of the seldom seen aspects of Luthor’s personality without invalidating who the character is at this core. And it’s always great to see that Gaiman’s Sandman characters continue to play a role in the DCU. If I thought there was any hope in hell Neil would come back to the characters I’d love to see this issue as a trial balloon to gauge reader interest in the franchise.

Avengers #6

Avengers vs. Ultron vs. Future Avengers vs. Kang. There can be only one. Bendis’s first story arc on the reincorporated AVENGERS comes to a close. And with all things time travel related it was a great opportunity for the writer to drop some hints about future story arcs. I don’t have too much to quibble with here. The art was pretty and the story and dialogue were engaging. That being said, I’m dropping the title. I’ve always been a DC guy at heart and on top of that my budget can’t really float another 3.99 ongoing. But it was fun while it lasted and I have no issue pointing prospective readers towards the book if they’re looking for a good read.

Gravel #21

Wait, is this series over? Because this issue reads suspiciously like a series finale. Being an Avatar release there are always about a hundred pictures in the back of the book, detailing the many variant covers of the company’s upcoming releases. And unfortunately I can’t see a solicitation for issue #22 anywhere. Given that series creator Warren Ellis is supposedly penning a live screen adaption of GRAVEL I find the timing of the title’s cancellation extremely unfortunate. Or perhaps it was always meant to wrap up in this way. Anyway, in this ish Gravel throws down with Bible Jack for control of London’s magic. There’s some magic, some gore, a little of the old ultra-violence and a bit of swearing. Happy Halloween!

Green Arrow #5

Green Arrow fights off an uprising of Blackest Night style super zombies while trying to save the life of an innocent bystander who was injured by the assassin Nix. Typing sentences like that reminds me why I can’t interest my wife in comics. Especially if I were to mention that GA beats the zombies by shooting them with slivers of wood from the God Tree. I enjoy how titles with the Brightest Day banner on them are still touching on Blackest Night plot points six issues later. Too often Big Two events are really just an excuse to mix up the status quo. Once the new status has been achieved the big events are quickly forgotten. I suppose that in the pursuit of new readers this reset button is a necessary evil. But I prefer to think of continuity as a boon and not a hindrance.

Superman #704

If there were a section for most irrelevant comic of the week, you’d be looking at it. DC apparently needed to plug some material into their Superman publishing schedule in order to cover for writer JMS’s ongoing illness. What the reader gets is an unnecessary fill-in issue with Lois reminiscing about the road untaken. Or at least, that was probably the intention. Instead it feels more like 22 pages of Lois whining and complaining about being stuck in Superman’s shadow, which is at completely at odds with her character. The art is flat, feels strangely unfinished and every so often the artist, Leandro Oliveira, throws in a canted angle that sticks out from the page like a chorus line of nuns doing the can-can. If you read just one Superman title this week, well, I hope it isn’t this one.

Ultimate Avengers 3 #3

Mark Millar. Blade. Ultimate Universe. Vampires. Mix liberally and apply to the infected area twice daily. Add a healthy dollop of Steve Dillon and enjoy.

Ultimate Comics Mystery #4

I forgot to pick up this issue. What can I say, it was a heavy week and it slipped through the cracks.

Ultimate Comics Spider-man #15

Only one more issue to go before this title goes back to it’s new, old number. Wait, did I say that right? Anyway, in this issue Peter Parker is attempting to regroup and pick up the pieces of his life after almost dying at the hands of the Chameleon Twins. His relationships with MJ and Gwen are falling apart. And even though he’s be lauded as a hero by the Daily Planet, somehow fighting crime seems to have lost its appeal. This is the first real pause for reflection this title has taken since it was rebooted fifteen issues ago. This is Bendis at his best, portraying complicated, nuanced character relationships with depth and feeling. Unlike so many other heroes in the spandex set, what makes Spider-man one of the greats is how he deals with his life when the mask comes off. Bendis has done a great job here reminding us of the timeless nature of the character.

As an aside, Marvel needs to pack in those absolutely terrible Spider-man\Mazda ads on the back over. I'm all for companies making a buck with cross promotions. I just don't think the serious car buyer is going to be won over by an ad on the back of his or her funny book.

Wonder Woman #604

This is how we do it! Unlike his work on SUPERMAN I’m enjoying JMS’s turn on WONDER WOMAN much more. I suspect a lot of that has to do with the fact that essentially Straczynski has been given a clean slate to play with the character. What you’re looking at when you pick up this book is the Ultimitized version of the character and, in my opinion, its really starting to come together. There are just enough familiar elements here to be comfortable to returning readers, but the take is fresh and new enough that new readers don’t feel hemmed in by decades of stifling continuity. In this issue, Wondie throws down with Ultimate Steve Trevor who, without Diana’s influence, has become a horrifically scarred mercenary for hire responsible for the deaths of all the Amazons.

News: Doctor Who

Miggea - a world on the very edge of reality. The cusp between this universe and the next. A point where space-time has worn thin, and is in danger of collapsing. And the venue for the grand finals of the competition to win the fabled Arrow of Law. The Doctor and Amy have joined the Terraphiles - a group obsessed with all aspects of Earth's history, and dedicated to re-enacting ancient sporting events. They are determined to win the Arrow. But just getting to Miggea proves tricky. Reality is collapsing, ships are disappearing, and Captain Cornelius and his pirates are looking for easy pickings. Even when they arrive, the Doctor and Amy's troubles won't be over. They have to find out who is so desperate to get the Arrow of Law that they will kill for it. And uncover the traitor on their own team. And win the contest fair and square. And, of course, they need to save the universe from total destruction.







Um hi....why is it no one told me that Michael Moorcock, one of the grandfathers of modern fantasy, decided to write an EU Doctor Who book?! How did that one slip past my radar?

Sigh. THE COMING OF THE TERRAPHILES sounds like a blast. It's funny, that the Extended Universe Doctor Who books (I've read a bunch that featured the Tenth Doctor and Rose or Martha [ one that was written by the great Dan Abnett explaining what happened to Martha during hear year before the Series 3 finale]) are SO much better than most of the Star Wars EU books. Basically the BBC commissions these books and they really are like episodes on their own and work really well as such. But then, most of the previous Doctor's enjoy healthy lives still in Audio book form and audio plays, not to mention comic books and graphic novels. It's really a universe worth checking out if you are a fan. It's not high literature, but these books are usually a hell of a ride...and one written by Moorcock? Yeah, I'll damn well be buying that when it comes out.

Also in the Doctor Who world of news. Matt Smith's appearance on the youth spinoff show THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES concludes today with the second of the two parter "THE DEATH OF THE DOCTOR".

It's being reported that there is new speculation about just what is going to comprise the forthcoming sixth series and a book that was released has some tidbits from Moffatt himself....and seems to include some vague mentions of perhaps Alt Universe Rose, and Susan Foreman (the companion of the first Doctor who has not been seen since the B&W days in the 60's).

In some weird, book linky news, Sylvester McCoy (the 7th Doctor) has been cast as Ragast in the long in development hell THE HOBBIT which is now back to being directed by Peter Jackson.

Finally, Chris and I were discussing that we think it would be awesome (and completely feasible) for Matt Smith's 11th Doctor to meet Alt Universe David Tennant Clone Doctor who lives with Rose...and the brilliance that would ensue from having them share the stage. Pipedreams? Maybe not what with the talk of Rose showing back up.....

TRON: Legacy - Derezzed video

Maybe you're like me and you have the original Tron on DVD. And when you're not using it to keep the opposite sex at bay, (why would you want to do that anyway), you're basking in the glory of what passes for cutting edge special effects a la 1982.

I think Tron: Legacy is going to put the first film to shame. Here's some new footage from the film, well, new to me anyway set to Derezzed by Daft Punk.

Enjoy.

Book Review: Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan

When a destitute young woman hires two thieves to help save her remote village from nocturnal attacks, they are drawn into the schemes of the wizard Esrahaddon. While Royce struggles to breach the secrets of an ancient elven tower, Hadrian attempts to rally the villagers to defend themselves against the unseen killer. What begins with the simple theft of a sword places the two thieves at the center of a firestorm--that could change the future of Elan.

...and number two went even faster than number one.

So, after sitting down and penning my review of the first amazing book in Michael J. Sullivan’s “Riyria Revelations” series, THE CROWN CONSPIRACY, last night I sat down with the second book AVEMPARTHA and read about 40 pages non-stop. Sadly, I didn’t get into a super late night/early morning reading session this time, but this is only due to my girlfriend having returned home from the trip she was on and wanting me to get some actual sleep....and I caved. Haha!

At any rate, I woke up with one solitary purpose in mind, one which I am sure you can guess at. So, aside from stepping out for lunch with a good friend, I set about devouring this second book in the series. I simply had no idea that I would read the bloody thing all afternoon and evening until I finished it. I did. So here we are...probably a little later than it was last night and I am writing another review. Happily so in fact!

I purposely have tried to avoid spoilers in this review as I want anyone to go into it fresh so I won’t talk about a lot of the plot, sufficed to say it is another cracker and I was reading it like I stole it and someone was coming to take it away and I was time constrained.

This book, if it is at all possible, is even better than the first. Why? You might ask me. Well, I have a few reasons for making such a bold statement. Firstly, let’s equate the difference between the first book and this one. I want to use a horse analogy here, so bear with me. The first and second books are both riding the same horse, just with different saddles. This second volume, the characters (for the most part) have already been established, so now the author can get down to the brass tacks of a little more worldbuilding. We get much more of politics and religion within the world of Elan, not to mention more about the history of the world and even more about certain characters back stories, and ALL of it is interesting and readable. What is decidedly nice though is that even though I know there is quite a lot of information being shared, it’s not everything. Reading this book was like having a fireside conversation with one of its enigmatic characters, Esrahaddon, as he certainly gives you the truth but he doesn’t give you all of it, not yet anyways. Always leave them wanting more is one of the sayings about great storytellers, and Sullivan accomplishes this like a pro.

Princess Arista, who had a smallish part in the first book, becomes a major player in this one and I was certainly glad for it as she is a very strong, level-headed character and a lot of fun to read about. Here’s something interesting I noticed...Arista has traits in common with her brother. It is easy for an author to make characters be siblings, but it is quite another thing to make them seem as if they are siblings by how they are written as characters. Sullivan achieves this and impresses me, yet again, with his deft hand. This brings me to another thing I really enjoyed in this volume, and that is the bringing to the forefront another couple of characters who were small players in the first book, the eldest Pickering Brothers Mauvin and Fanen. These two brothers are so great, both brave to the point of being seemingly fearless and true staunch defenders of the true crown and power in the land, but mostly like our two leads, they are heroes. Fanen is a little more headstrong and wilful, but this is simply because of his familial standing as second born.  Not to be outdone the new characters (mostly the villagers of Dhalgren and Thrace Wood) are just as intriguing and well-written. Thrace herself is indeed everything she needs to be from the get-go. She is both nervous and timid, and yet driven by need and then later on even goes through a transformation and the way she is introduced just makes that transition even more satisfying to read. There is actually a moment with Thrace that is so hauntingly beautiful that it was one of those moments where you think to yourself "Boy, am I ever immersed in this world and these lives" and it's kind of humbling to read something that touches your so.

It also nice to see the villains of the piece have to contend with dissension in their ranks, and plots that may not succeed. As it is tough to see your protagonists heading towards evil plots, it is nice to know that their storyweaver is indeed looking out for them.  Sullivan has these dealt with in unexpected and sometimes even abrupt ways and that was decidedly refreshing to read. So again we have tropes of old school fantasy being used with a few tweaks and turns on the head making for incredible readable pages.

Our two leads, Medford-based thieves Hadrian Blackwater and Royce Melborn, are once again the stars though. They continue to shine with their easy back and forth, their skills in various areas of sneaking, stealing and fighting, and most of all their humanity. These guys are infinitely likable and I challenge anyone not to read about their adventures and not want more.  There is more here about both of their back stories and both have some very interesting things going on there, but of course we don’t know it all....yet.

The author brings forward some great grey areas in this book too. Characters that we once assumed as entirely bad may not have been, and ones we thought as completely good may not have been either. It’s really nice actually and was a surprise in some cases. I still don’t know all of what is going on in this world (which is SO much fun!) and while Sullivan answers a few threads from his multi-book arcs, he opened a bunch more and literally left me salivating for more. 

There are many great moments within these pages. One early on concerning a sign outside a playhouse actually make me chuckle out loud. Another happens when Arista is travelling with the Bishop and her annoying matronly servant Bernice and there is some discussion about cookies. Man, the humour is always so subtle and SUCH a pleasure to read, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Sullivan has a gift. Of course his masterstroke in AVEMPARTHA is the final line which is so perfectly executed at the end of a random conversation that I had to read it twice, jaw hitting the floor with a lovely thunk.

Michael J. Sullivan once again proves to me why I spend hours reading his book and doing not much else on my days off before I start my new job is worth it. AVEMPARTHA is a not only a worthy successor to the first book in the series, it actually improves upon it (a feat I wasn’t sure was possible seeing how much I enjoyed the first one). Now I realize that the first one was like the overture. The orchestra was warming up and now we have sat down and started this story in earnest and I can see threads of the greater plot starting to creak forward and I am again astounded. Beyond that, the author is able to maintain the episodic nature of these stories even here where he is worldbuilding. I found that every time he was worldbuilding, it was done WHILE his characters were pushing the pace forward for the episode itself. The ending itself very nearly explodes off the page. The action is wonderful, the tension is palpable and the prose is once again tight, gorgeous and clean with no unused or un-needed space. 

AVEMPARTHA is a  more-than-worthy follow-up and an opening to a wider world of Elan, one in which I hope to spend many more hours enjoying. All I can do now is be is thankful that I stumbled across this man’s incredible writing and hope that my reviews will lead you all to read the works.  It should also be noted that he is the artist responsible for the gorgeous cover art as well, and I would easily have these pieces in my house on a wall. 

At any rate, I thankfully have the 3^rd book NYPHRON RISING on my desk next to me ready to start (and one more day off....a dangerous combo...haha!) and I ordered signed copies of the 4^th and 5^th books directly from the author Via RIDAN’s website as more of the profits will hopefully go to him and I wholeheartedly support that as I am grateful even to be able to read them.

Oh, and there is a moment early on in the first few pages of this book where the word "Riyria" is explained...and that moment is so pitch-perfect that I got shivers down my arms.

What the hell are you still standing there for? Get out there. Buy these books!

Book Review: THE SMOKE RING by Larry Niven

There’s a subset of sci-fi authors that I like to refer to as science teachers. They’re the brainy types who like to rattle on, at great length, about the physical composition of stars or spend whole chapters going on some technical term that leaves casual readers (ok, me) scratching their heads in confusion.

With these authors plot and character often take a back seat to thinly veiled essays on the nature of HOW THINGS WORK.

Larry Niven is better than most when it comes to walking the line between science and narrative, but even he can fall into this unfortunate genre trap. When I first cracked the cover to THE SMOKE RING, Niven’s follow up to his 1983 novel THE INTEGRAL TREES, I was confronted by a half dozen technical diagrams which explained the physical properties of the world of the story. I knew I was in trouble, this was going to be Niven at his science-y best.

Much like his RINGWORLD series Niven has crafted a world with a unique set of physical properties. The inhabitants of the ring live in a state of near free fall in a band of breathable air around a neutron star. There are no earth like planets in the ring so humans must live on trees, hundreds of kilometres long. The trees slowly orbit the star, drifting throughout the band, occasionally coming close to other inhabited dwellings.

Got all that? Clear as mud?

Human beings have come to live in this state as the result of a failed mutiny against the ship Discipline, and it's AI construct, Kenedy. THE SMOKE RING picks up about 15 years after the events of TREES. Jeffer the Scientist and his fellow refugees have carved out a life for themselves on Citizens Tree. Their only link to the past is the Cargo and Repair Module (CARM) stolen from Kenedy in their frenzied escape 15 years ago. Kenedy is able to monitor the tribe through the CARM but the inhabitants of Citizen Tree check in on the module very infrequently, so he is left with an incomplete picture of what is happening.

The tranquility of the Tree is disrupted by the arrival of a family of loggers, forced into free fall by an explosion on a tree they were processing. The loggers come from the Admiralty, perhaps the most technologically advanced section of the Ring. Manipulated by Kenedy, who is desperate to learn of the fate of the mutineer's descendants, Jeffer takes the CARM, a small group of tree dwellers and a handful of the loggers into the Admirality.

It's about here that Niven abandons his hold of the plot and turns the book into an extended series of snapshots on life inside the Ring. It becomes an intellectual game, how would vegtation and animal life develop in the Ring and what would it look like? How would human beings adapt, how would their socials codes change? Is there industry and growth inside a culture that is essentially cut off from natural resources?

Through Jeffer and his band of reluctant explorers Niven constantly places the group in a series of circumstances that are only designed to reveal what life is like in the Ring. Fortunately, the author is skilled enough to keep these vignettes moving right along. I found that while, as a reader, I was getting frustrated by the lack of narrative cause and effect at least I was being entertained in the process.

As a result of the group's adventuring they stumble across the remnants of a decomissioned CARM and when Kenedy links to it he discovers that his recollection of the human mutiny is not as complete as it could be. The group returns to Citizens Tree and Kenedy is left to ponder his next move as the caretaker for this wayward remnant of humanity.

This book reads like the second part of a trilogy. And given where the story wraps up, with Kenedy gently trying to steer humanity back to the stars, I can't for the life of me figure out why Niven didn't continue on with this story, given how he's left his reader's hanging. The story's greatest failing is that, at times, it never seems to go anywhere. Instead, it meanders, with characters conviently changing their personal motivation in order to serve Niven's goals of exploring all the nooks and crannies of the Smoke Ring.

I can't help but feel that a stronger narrative would transform this book from merely an interesting read to a really good one. The characters feel somewhat bland and interchangable and there's no real sense of urgency to their actions. Even when there lives, or way of life, is at stake they calmly mosey along, seemingly not really concerned with their fate.

If you're like me, THE SMOKE RING, is the perfect commuter book. Something light and interesting you can read on the subway; a tale you can easily put down when you reach your station. Not every book strives to be a home run. THE SMOKE RING has more modest ambitions, an over the wall double perhaps?* And it achieves those goals admirably.

*note book reviews and sports metaphors generally don't mix well. Mine was no exception.

Book Review: The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan

 There's no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time...Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out...and so begins this epic tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.

Well, that was unexpected.

I sometimes hear tell of a book (or books) that are by an author I’ve never heard of, by a publisher I’ve never heard of and I research it. In this case, I saw a review of a book called THE CROWN CONSPIRACY by a guy named Michael J. Sullivan, and the praise seemed to be rather unanimous. I decided to do a little digging, and after finding the authors website I discovered that this wasn’t just a one off, but a series of six books (five of which have been released so far), so I read the synopsis of the first book and felt mighty intrigued. I decided I wanted to read this first book, but lo and behold it has been published by an indie publisher, and Chapters/Indigo (Canada’s main bookseller) in their infinite poorly managed catalogue of books did not have it. Nor could I find any bookseller in Toronto who did have it. So I ended up (inevitably it would seem) on Amazon.ca that same night and clicked the first book into my Cart. Now, we all know Amazon does its whole, suck-you-in with free super-saver shipping thing for orders over a certain amount of mulah...long story short, in what was likely a decision brought on by having a dwindling To-Read pile and the warmth of a few glasses of a 10 year scotch I ordered the first THREE books in the series, THE CROWN CONSPIRACY, AVEMPARTHA, and NYPHRON RISING....and MAN am I ever glad I did that!

This book was astonishing in its simple hook to get you into the story (see synopsis above), but the execution is so near flawless that I am in a bit of awe here. For a story that is about two thieves dealing with being falsely accused of killing their king and the aftermath of that, there is SO much else going on here and most of it is so clever that you would be hard-pressed to find chinks in the armour, so to speak. I started this book last night sitting down intent on reading maybe ten pages or so to see if it started out well, and before I knew it I had easily devoured 130 pages..and the only reason I had to stop reading was due to the fact that unbeknownst to me, the witching hour had arrived and passed and it was suddenly 3AM!

Needless to say that I set out today with one thing in mind. To finish this wonderful story! So I did just that, and it actually trumps my favourite new series this year up to this point (which had been Suzanne Collins brilliant HUNGER GAMES trilogy), by its skilful storytelling. The writing is easy and flows with a voice that is decidedly deft. This guy knows how to pen a story, no question. In a lot of other fantasy series today there is so much focus on world building that the story itself can get a little bogged down and though it’s not horrible to have that sort of novel out there, it is refreshing to have a book that returns to the roots of the genre, while holding on to a few of the things that make current fantasy books so good. Sullivan cleverly straddles the line between complex thread-built, long arcing plot (which is certainly there, but it is only smoke and whispers....a line here, an idea there...at this point)  and a whimsical story with interesting characters that picks you up and whisks you away on a fantastic story that will have you cheering for more. 

The story itself feels like what it would be like if you plunked Danny and Rusty from Ocean’s 11 down into a fantasy setting and had them trying to sort their way out of a jam while trying to outsmart the villains in a way that you never see coming. Even better, is that the charm of these characters makes them even more likable. That’s not to say the supporting cast aren’t equally impressive, as I think Alric’s personal transition is amazing, Arista is significantly interesting, Esrahaddon is probably one of the most enigmatic characters I have come across in a long while bar none. The showstopper though, the standout (other than the two leads) is certainly the young monk Myron. His reaction to the outside world he’s never seen was both funny and endearing at the same time, and there are moments where his emotions literally leapt off the page at me, one instance early on with a tree and an old friend was very nearly tear-jerking. Therein lies the skill Sullivan possesses. Being able to convey that sort of connection to a character mere pages after having met him is impressive to say the least.  Only a smattering of other authors that I read have this skill. Jim Butcher has it, as do Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss and the earlier mentioned Suzanne Collins. It is something that is missing from a lot of authors writing these days and so it is extra sensational when I come across it. 

The pacing is pitch-perfect. There is not a page unused or wasted in the whole book. In a less skilled author’s hands, this could have been a far longer and more tedious read, but again Sullivan leaves me in awe as there isn’t a sentence I’d say isn’t required. The man creates the world with a simple prose that brings to mind things like woodsmoke from a stone chimney, rain spattering a windowpane, snow gently falling outside while a candle burns silently away in a shop window, or a lazy river meandering its way through the lush countryside. 

So, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I am endlessly thankful that I ordered the first three books in the series as I don’t think my brain wants me to read anything else right now other than the second book AVEMPARTHA. 

THE CROWN CONSPIRACY is an astounding debut by a masterful storyteller, the likes of which will keep you reading till the wee hours of the morning long after the candle has burned down to a nub. Of that I can honestly attest (if I read by candlelight....which I sometimes think would add to the ambiance....but I digress).

This book being published by an independent publisher called RIDAN PUBLISHING is harder to come by in Canada (not sure about the States) but you can order it from the authors website directly, or like I did, from Amazon. It is MORE than worth your effort to get a hold of, as it DEFINITELY lingers in the top five books I have read all year, sharing company with Brandon Sanderson, Suzanne Collins and Jim Butcher. 

Full marks!

Comic book reviews for the week of October 20th in six sentences (or less)

Apparently its Love your artists week here at Iceberg Ink. Because, with one notable exception, I’ve been raving enthusiastically about every artist to put pencil to paper this week. They’re just that friggin’ good.

Best of the Week

Walking Dead #78

You know what makes this series so great? The fact that its an ongoing tale of the zombie apocalypse and the zombies are probably the least interesting thing about the story. Seriously, the characters, the pacing, the dialogue all mesh seamlessly with the art to create a near flawless experience. The story is fresh, interesting and month in and month out it’s always at the top of my pull list. In this issue a shootout at the compound draws the attention of a herd of nearby zombies, neatly setting up a story arc that writer Robert Kirkman has been building too since Rick and the gang escaped from the prison complex. If you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out the premiere of the WALKING DEAD television series next Sunday. My only complaint is that I’ve read the comic so many times that there won’t be (m)any surprises for me. But I’m looking forward to seeing what Frank Darabont does with the source material.

Batman and Robin #15

Sniff. Grant Morrison’s ultimate Batman story is almost over. If you haven’t picked up a Morrison bat-title in the last few years, well, you’d better save yourself some time and skip to the next review; because there’s nothing for you here. Dick gets shot in the back of the head, Damien teams up with the Joker, an ancient Wayne ancestor is masquerading as Bruce Wayne’s deceased father and BW himself shows back up again after traveling thousands of years through time. Throw in some beautiful looking Frazer Irving art and you’ve got a damn good reason to read comic books.

Brightest Day #12

A Martian Manhunter-centric issue with just a dash of Firestorm thrown in for seasoning. J’onn J’onzz is one of those character who I don’t know all that well. I know his basic backstory and I’m familiar with his personality traits from his time on the JLA. But for a guy who’s managed to float his own ongoing series on a couple of occasions I know hardly anything about his past. Which is why an issue like this is a helpful info dump and provides some useful character context. Apparently D’Kay, our mystery Green Martian (yes, another one,) is an unscrupulous scientist who undertook immoral experiments on her own people and then tried to purge any who’s thoughts couldn’t be read by telepathy. It’s a good, solid issue with some gorgeous art by Patrick Gleason. Bonus points though to any reader with the eagle eyes who can spot the art slip up on page 7.

DC Universe: Legacies

It’s like reading a Wikipedia entry on comic book plots you already know. Years worth of stories condensed into 22 pages, only with really pretty pictures. Kudos to Len Wein for trying to keep it interesting by framing the whole thing through the eyes of an ordinary man. But that’s a trope that’s been overused in comics for years. Unfortunately the story doesn’t really add anything new to the DCU, then again, it was never meant to. The backup story, featuring the umpteenth retelling of Clark’s first visit by the Legion, is good for a chuckle though.

Green Lantern Corps #53

Chapter One of the new story arc, The Weaponer. One of Sinestro’s former Qwardian allies comes to Korugar, which looks suspiciously like Earth, in search of the former Green Lantern’s daughter. The Weaponer plans to take his revenge through Sora for some crime that never seems to be explained. Unable to find her, he decides to throw down with Kyle Raynerin an obligatory fight scene. This was a fair issue although it certainly had its low points. The artist, Tyler Kirkham, chose to portray the clothing and architecture of an alien world an awful lot like Earth, right down to the baseball caps and hoodies. Kyle spends a lot of time boasting about his credentials as a galactic warrior and then gets taken out in six pages. For a man who’s defeated every A-list baddie in the DCU he goes down quickly and quietly. If you’re a rabid fan of the Green Lantern world, this issue will hardly turn you off. For a fan just passing through it’s a bit like listening to the elevator music version of one of your favourite tunes.

Hellblazer #272

Britain’s favourite street magician is going through some hard times. John Constantine is one of the few character’s in comic books who actually ages with the years. Lately he’s gone mad, hacked off a thumb, nearly sliced off his arm, lost one girlfriend (dead), lost a second girlfriend (abandoned in the past) and now’s he the target of some very bad people who reside in a very tropical hot spot. It all sort of feels like it’s building to something doesn’t it? After 272 issues Constantine’s life has gone through some drastic changes, but in the end he’s still the same cynical (and lonely) mage he’s always been. Thank god Brian Buccellato is around make even a grizzled old fart like Constantine seem rugged and fabulous.

Justice League of America #50

I love Mark Bagley. Getting to watch him draw the hell out of the JLA-lite for 50 pages is a treat for me. This issue is all big dust up. The Crime Syndicate of Amerika is trying to take over the world and the JLA is naturally duty bound to stop them; with their fists. There’s a sub plot here with Dr. Impossible and some dark version of the New Gods that I know nothing about. Presumably it came during the time I temporarily abandoned the title.

Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates #4

For a line that was supposed to eschew restrictive continuity, line wide reboots and unnecessary character revisions the Ultimate Universe has proven its not immune to these overused plot devices after all. In this issue Jeph Loeb continues to tinker with the Ulti Uni by reimagining Ultimate Thor more along the lines of his 616 version. Gone is the peace loving hippie and in his place is the rage filled warrior. Perhaps there will be an interesting and compelling reason for the change. More likely, brawny Nordic warriors with squinity-yelly faces and a propensity to start brawls are considered to be more interesting than one who chooses to use his powers for unconventional means. I suggest reading this comic just because you like to watch Frank Cho draw the hell out of things. I mean, that’s a pretty good reason right there, isn’t it?

Upcoming: THE CRIPPLED GOD cover art!

Oh hot damn! Cover art the tenth and final volume of Steven Erikson's Malazan series released.

Badassery folks, badassery!

Upcoming: Morrison brings BATMAN INC. in November

 

I am a fairly stalwart Batman fan. Have been for years. I kind of have him tied for first with Superman, and Green Lantern , but he's still top 3 anyways. I also love the writing of one Mister Grant Morrison.

In November, Morrison is bringing Batman back from the past where he was believed dead in The Return Of Bruce Wayne In the new title BATMAN INC. the dark knight decides to get hard on crime and put together a team of vigilantes who will answer to him only. 

I like it. I'm excited about it. Knowing Morrison, it ought to be a heck of a ride whatever it ends up being.

The artist Yanick Paquette is also bringing back the yellow oval logo on Bats chest (recently it has only been the black on black one, or black on grey. I like the yellow logo...but I believe I may be partial to the black on grey. That's nitpicking though.

Ongoing: WOT First reads: THE SHADOW RISING & THE FIRES OF HEAVEN

Being a WHEEL OF TIME beginner gives me certain advantages, and disadvantages, but mostly I always feel that I am so VERY behind. Due to the simple fact that I put these books off for so long and ignored Chris’s pleas that I read them (See my post reviewing the first 3 books over at my old site here), I am significantly behind the times. So without further adieu, I have finished the 4^th and 5^th books and I’d like to get reviews down for them while they are fresh. Now when I say review, that’s with an obvious grain of salt as these books have been out for a fair amount of time now and fans are no stranger to the intricacies of them...so perhaps I ought to term these not reviews, but my own thoughts about what is already cannon.

First up, THE SHADOW RISING. 

At the beginning of the book everyone is still at the Stone of Tear. Rand has taken hold of Callandor and proves himself to be part of the prophecy. 

  Trollocs and Myrdraal attack the Stone and Rand kills them all with a cascade of One Power lightning setting off the chain of events that follow. The group splits again. Rand, Mat, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan and the Aiel set off for the Waste in search of something. Perrin, Loial and Faile head off for the boys home, Two Rivers and Emonds Field as they hear of Whitecloaks killing folk and Perrin needs to help. Min heads to the White Tower to deliver messages to The Amyrlin seat from Moiraine.  Elayne and Nynaeve who are joined by Thom Merrylin head off to Tanchico on the southwest coast searching for Black Ajah.

What’s interesting about this book was that the beginning was exciting, and then when everyone slips off to their various destinations the pace drops down and this was the first time in this series that I felt the text bogs itself down. That’s not to say it’s interminable, but it’s certainly noticeable. That said, the only really dragging parts were Rand’s dealing with the Aiel on the political “Is he truly He Who Comes With The Dawn” bits. I mean Rhuidean on the whole is one of the most spectacular parts of the book, and that includes Rand’s plotline there, and Mat’s  as well as Moiraine’s threads.  It’s after that when the whole idea of Couladin rivalling the Car’A’Carn (chief of chiefs moniker) and all the time spent at Cold Rocks Hold that to me was BOOOORING.  The other plodding part has to be Elayne, Nynaeve, and Thom’s experiences in Tanchico, which up until Moghedien really shows up is also decidedly slow. 

The good stuff though abounds in this book. Mat’s revelations and discoveries through the doorway ter'angreal in Rhuidean blew me away, his subsequent possession of the ashandarei and the Fox Medallion, not to mention his price to pay for them were some of the best scenes in the series so far. Rand’s revelations and visions within the crystal garden are telling and very cool to discover the true history of the violent Aiel peoples lies in a peaceful past.  Perrin’s plot thread at home in the Two Rivers, while good, at times found themselves plodding along to inevitable conclusions I’d already reached, but that said it was still awesome to see Tam Al’Thor and Abell Cauthon wanting to fight the good fight again, and Perrin leading. Also Perrin’s discovery of what happened to his family are really heartrending and there was indeed a lot of emotion to be had there. I don’t mind that he marries Faile....but she’s still a character I can’t stand. I mean, she’s worse than Nynaeve....and that’s saying something methinks. Min’s plotline and Suian’s stilling and loss of the command of the White Tower was pretty shocking and I can still kind of feel the emotions there. Good stuff all round.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed this volume a lot. There were slow bits, but more good stuff than bad really. My complaints on this one come in on the light side actually, the more I think on it. A fun addition to the series and a few tidbits setting up where it will go.

That brings us to THE FIRES OF HEAVEN. Which I just finished tonight after a bit of marathon “I have to finish” style reading.  This book was a toughie. I started it back after I finished TSR in about mid May with plans to keep on rolling right through the series, but after starting it and having it pick up where it left off the story petered off again and got slowish...again having to do with The Waste and politicking, history and behaviour of the Aiel, and Siuane, Min and Leanne playing farm maids to Bryne and then escaping (kinda ho-hum really)...and other books started to come out. I put the book down (bookmark still firmly in place) and went on to read other things. The to-read pile slowly got picked away at over the summer and early fall and after a number of false starts on books I didn’t like...I came back to the WOT series and gave FIRES the chance it heartily deserved. 

Things got off to a new, fresh and exciting start with Siuane, Min, Leanne and Logaine finding the bastion of Aes Sedai who escaped the Tower after the coup, lead by Sheriam (amongst others clearly), and Bryne eventually shows up and claims his rights on Siuane as an oathbreaker, but not before the Aes Sedai present can swindle him into leading their army against the now-red-ajah-run White Tower. Then Rand and Co. have crossed the Dragonspine looking for dissident Aiel, Couladin who is raiding cities and villages all the way to Cairhein, which he means to take by force. Rand plans and executes an attack on Couladin and his Shaido Aiel and he, joined by Avienda and Egwene uses the One Power to attack masses of Shaido with lightining, only to have his command tower knocked out by Sammael from afar.  Matt plans to leave but gets sucked back into things and ends up leading an assault on Couladin’s forces and kills the leader himself, severing his head. Finally, after hearing a rumour of Morgase’s death at the hands of Gaebril, a man who is actually the Forsaken Rahvin in disguise, Rand vows vengeance, but Moiraine with knowledge she gained in the last book at Rhuidean has other ideas which lead to the exciting climax.

And here I was, again thinking to myself, why did I put this book down. It has such exciting things happening! Well, I think after 5 books I have discovered the crux of the matter. Jordan’s series is longwinded. It’s AWESOME, BRILLIANT and KICKASS...but longwinded. So, I get these slow bits thrown in that test my patience and resolve, but for every one or two slow chapters, Jordan throws like five or six crazy-ass awesome chapters at me like bullets. It’s hard to not like this guys books. I’m always sitting there ho-humming another boring chapter about Nynaeve bemoaning a low-cut dress she has to wear, when the next chapter all of the sudden ramps up the awesome and I get something about The Seanchan continent, and Rand getting  all cozy with Avienda in a Saidin-made igloo, or Matt fighting for his life against a crazy bedmate. It’s like he knows the chapter before was a bit tedious so he rewards you with some good stuff. Sigh. It’s a frustrating relationship, but everytime I finish one of these bad boys I want to have the next one on my bedside table ready to rock. 

Which brings me to...I’ve got LORD Of CHAOS and I am starting it tonight. So far this series has had a few slow moments, but nothing I won’t overlook to find out where it all goes.  Happily so in fact.

Note: I think the THE FIRES OF HEAVEN eBook cover pictured above is one of my faves of the new covers...but it has SO much more significance for me now that I finished that volume...and the artist could NOT have made a better choice for a subject. Just perfect!

Upcoming: Mouseguard: Legends Of The Guard Vol. 1

Inside the June Alley Inn, located in the western mouse city of Barkstone, mice gather to tell tales, each trying to outdo the other. A competition, of sorts, begins. The rules: Every story must contain one truth, one lie and have never been told in that tavern before. With the winner getting his bar tab cleared, fantastic stories are spun throughout the evening. Legends of the Guard is a new Mouse Guard anthology series featuring the work of artists and storytellers handpicked by series creator David Petersen, including Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), Alex Sheikman (Robotika), Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things), Gene Ha (Top 10), Sean Rubin (Redwall), Guy Davis (B.P.R.D.), Katie Cook (Fraggle Rock), Karl Kerschl (Teen Titans: Year One), Craig Rousseau (Impulse), and Mark Smylie (Artesia).

I am a flag waving, card carrying supporter of David Petersen's Mouseguard series. I love the art, the story, and basically everything else that goes along with it. I have hardcover versions of both Mouseguard: Fall 1152, and Mouseguard: Winter 1152, and I don't plan for this next volume to slip me by either. Currenbtly Petersen is writing Mouseguard: The Black Axe, which is a six issue series which began in Sept. Of this year, and on the horizon is also Winter War of 1149.

Very exciting. I realize it is close to a year away from release, but I only just learned of it, so I deemed it the type of post we all need on a crappy Monday morning.

Comic book reviews for the week of October 13th in six sentences (or less)

Hey everyone, these are 24 hours late because we suffered a power failure last night (which feels like the modern equivalent to 'the dog ate my homework').

Best of the Week

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5

The current chapter of Grant Morrison’s Batman epic is drawing to a close. And even the most casual fan of either the writer, or the character he’s playing with, has to respect the lengths to which Morrison has gone to mine the lesser known aspects of the franchise and reconcile some of its more fantastic elements. Suddenly, everything is on the table, because it all happened. Every cockamamie Silver Age story that was wiped away by CRISIS OF INFINITE EARTHS with an embarrassing shrug actually took place. It’s like the Batman franchise has been rebooted on the sly and decades worth of stories are now relevant again, or at least deserve a chance to be re-examined in the wake of Morrison's stint.

Hellblazer: City of Demons #1

I’m not sure why the Hellblazer franchise decided to spin this story out into a miniseries, because right now there’s nothing taking place in these pages that can’t be handled in the main title. Is Vertigo sitting on a backlog of ‘blazer stories and wanting to see some return on their investment? Anyway, I would have passed on this if it wasn’t being pencilled by the fantastic Sean Murphy. You might remember him from his work on JOE THE BARBARIAN and Learning with Wolverine. There’s nothing here that you don’t see in a straight of ‘blazer story. John Constantine drinks, smokes, acts like a dick and is apparently still British. All good in my books, but I’m still curious to see what makes this story so special.

Knight and Squire #1

Combining Paul Cornell, the current writer of ACTION COMICS, with Knight and Squire, one of Grant Morrison’s great reinventions seems like a recipe for printing money. In reality it’s neither good nor bad, but just kind of...there. The writing is solid, the art passable but not spectacular and its full of British-y goodness. Surprisingly, it does nothing for me. The story deals with heroes and villains that gather to socialize once a month at a local pub, prevented from fighting each due to the influence of ‘truce magic.’ As you might expect, the truce is broken and chaos ensues. I’m willing to stick with the story for another issue, but this title will really have to up its game if it expects to keep me as a reader.

Green Lantern #58

One of things that impresses me about Geoff Johns is the man’s ability to stick with a title. In today’s comic book market, some writers can’t stay with a book longer than an arc or too. Yet Johns frequently manages to write on a title for years, a rarity in any age and practically unheard of today. With Doug Mahnke rocking the pencils and Johns continuing to pen the story he’s been working on for the last five years this title is consistently at the top of my pull list. This month we’re treated to the continuing adventures of the Rainbow Raiders. Johns is doing an admirable job portraying the disparate personalities that banded together after the events of THE BLACKEST NIGHT in a realistic and believe manner. (Well, as realistic as a group of aliens with multicoloured magic wishing rings can ever hope to be)

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors

Peter J. Tomasi might not be gracing the pages of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS anymore, but he’s not too far from the GL franchise thanks to his work on EMERALD WARRIORS. I get the impression that Johns uses the main GL title to tie the franchise into the DCU and move events forward. This leaves GLC and now EW to pick up some of the dangling plot threads and flesh out the larger world of the Corps. Its a system that works really well for all the titles involved. And Fernando Pasarin is just killing it on pencils. I’m not used to seeing art this great on a book that I consider to be part of the expanded DCU and not a core title.

Superman #703

I’m conflicted. On the one hand I respect what J. Michael Straczynski is attempting to do with the Superman franchise. He’s trying to approach the character in a fashion that he believes has never been done before. And I respect that. On the other hand, I’m not sure he’s been entirely successful in his aims. Let’s face it, when you have a publishing history as long as Superman does there aren’t very many unexplored angles. While readers may never have seen it in such an elongated form, the concept of a reflective Superman has been done before, many times over. Done properly in the course of a single issue it can be a powerful tool. Spread it across an entire story arc and it can border on tedious. This month, Superman continues in his mission to walk across America. He gets in a fight, wins it and everything looks pretty much the same as it has in his world for the last 70 years. I’m not willing to write JMS off yet. But at this point I’m look forward to his SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE book more so than I am his work on the main title.

Superior #1

Say what you will about Mark Millar, and the man certainly has his fair share of detractors, but the man knows how to make the most of what he has. If he’s not promoting himself, or his work, he’s name dropping his Hollywood connections or stepping outside his traditional box to try new things, like directing a film for pete’s sake. The man is a shameless huckster and the comic world is better for it. Whether you like or dislike his writing most people seem to have an opinion about it. Which means you’re probably reading what he puts out and that’s the point of the whole thing. Anyway, SUPERMA…I mean SUPREM…er…SUPERIOR #1 is a straight up origin tale with Superman like overtones. Most origin tales are limited by what they can do as they’re too busy checking off the obligatory narrative plot points. With any luck the second issue will allow Millar to start monkeying around with conventions of the genre.

Upcoming: Who is Deborah Harkness?!

When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.
For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.

Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans—and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.

Deborah Harkness made her debut in-person on the panel at the New York Comic-Con that Del-Ray set up to discuss fantasy novels. She sat among GIANTS of the current fantasy stage, Jim Butcher, Joe Abercrombie and Brandon Sanderson to name but a few.

You were probably wondering, like me, "Who the heck is that woman? What is she doing on a panel with my favourite authors? Should I know who she is?"

Well, wonder no longer. I have some info about her first book titled A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, and the website that goes along with it. It appears that Del-Ray wanted to debut this new author to the genre by shrewdly dropping her into a panel with tried and true crowd/fan pleasers. Placing her into that standing-room only, packed to the rafters hall at NYCC has as good as guaranteed a concentrated audience who will, at the very least, go home and look her up. Let alone the fact that video from the panel has been posted online and has been making the rounds of fantasy blogs and message boards, including this one, causing likely the same desire to look her up.

What a recipe! If her book is as good as all that, then this will go a long way to market her debut and give it the teeth it will need to bust into the fantasy genre as a winner. As we fantasy/sci-fi fans are a fickle lot, it might be tough so let's hope she's up to the challenge. the book sounds promising and I am always willing to try out new authors.

Who knows, maybe she'll be the "IT" fantasy author of 2011, like Abercrombie, Rothfuss and Lynch were before her. My only issue may be the story once again of someone falling for a vampire....but at least this time it is a witch. I'll hold judgment on that front until I read it.

I kind of want to give a slow clap to Del-Ray on this one. Though entirely transparent as such, it was still a pretty savvy marketing move.

...and my head just exploded from the awesome...

Jim Butcher sits next to Joe Abercrombie who sits next to Peter V. Brett who sits next to Naomi Novik who sits next to Deborah Harkness who sits next to Brandon Sanderson....and my head exploded from the collected awesome of this panel at the New York Comic Con over the weekend. Man, I would have LOVED to be in that room!



NYCC Panel Video: Fantasy Authors from Suvudu on Vimeo.

NYCC Panel Video: Fantasy Authors Part II from Suvudu on Vimeo.

Book Review: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay (trilogy) - Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

It’s decidedly late and I am still ridiculously tired after yesterday’s marathon of awakeness (what? It’s a word!), but I wanted to get this written out before I fall asleep. Plus I wanted to do it while it was not only still fresh in my head, but while the end of the series is still recently completed.

This is actually a pretty spoilerless review. I've avoided discussing certain events and plotpoints in depth so that you can pretty much read this series clean.

My first comment here should be that I kept the first book in this series at the end of a long stick for a LONG time. The synopsis is so much like the plot to the book/film BATTLE ROYALE that I was initially upset that the author would so blatantly steal a plot. Or so I thought. After much prodding by various friends who not only enjoyed the first book, but couldn’t put it down I finally began to relent. My brain started to list other plotlines that are very similar, LOGAN’S RUN, The RUNNING MAN, 1984....the list goes on. In fact, after reading the first book, I can certifiably say that the ONLY resemblance it bears to BATTLE ROYALE is the idea of having kids kill each other till the last one is standing...the resemblance ends there, and Collins takes us off on one hell of a ride through her imagination, and I am ashamed I ever thought she stole any plotlines.

The only good thing that comes from having waited forever to read this series is that the third and final volume MOCKINGJAY only just came out, so I didn’t have to wait like the fans did for the sequels to be released. This is a very good thing, for as I found out very quickly I was DEAD WRONG in giving this book a pass and dismissing it as a BATTLE ROYALE knockoff. I will freely eat my hat now. The first book in the series grabbed hold of me within a few pages and threatened to never let me go. I sat with rapt attention and read every damned word. By the middle of it I was rushing to get the end to find out what happens.

So, the first book THE HUNGER GAMES.

The characters are so realized in their respective roles. Katniss is pitch perfect. She is a hero, but is also struggling to grow up in a world so cruel and unlike our own and questions herself all the time. It’s those around her, some of who she sees as irreparably broken who inevitably bring her nuggets of truth and profound wisdom. It’s nice to see Collins knows how people in real life behave, but she goes us one better and shows us how really messed up people in a really messed up world behave, and she does it effortlessly. Haymitch’s alcoholism and surliness that hides his soft side. Kat’s mother is a completely adept healer, but hasn’t the foggiest clue how to maintain a relationship with her daughter without her dead husband as a buffer. Kat’s sister Prim (in whose place she takes in the Hunger Games) is quirky, and childish in equal amounts. Her prep team lead by flamboyant Cinna are surreal in their representation and this clearly shows us the excess that The Capitol lives within and how it has blinded its own citizens to the atrocities they watch on TV every year. Even the other tributes (Games competitors) are so well fleshed out as teens that I was pretty blown away by them. Each in their own way could be lain as templates on top of people I knew in highschool, easily. The one that comes to the forefront, and Kat’s most endearing relationship is not with either of the love interests (yes, there is a love triangle, I’ll get to that later), instead it is with another competitor, a little girl from District 11 named Rue who reminds Kat of her little sister. I felt more for that relationship in a matter of pages than I did in anyone else in the rest of the first book. It is stunningly realized and I can’t even tell you how much I admire the author for her skill in writing this. The Games themselves (which start at about the halfway point in the book) are paced like wildfire, and everything that happens in them is completely immersive. I can tell you it was a late night I stayed up and finished reading the first one.

Then we come to the second volume, CATCHING FIRE, and away I go again. What’s interesting here though is the pace change. I think Collins realized she had a winner on her hands with the first book, but another author might have been compelled to try to recapture the traits of the first book in some way in the second. Collins doesn’t attempt that, and in fact was rather deft at restarting her story build from a new square one. So we act like the first book was prologue and the second book we stop, take a breath, and the story begins anew, but from a different jumping off point. One in which all the pieces have been laid, we understand motivations and ideas. So I get into it right away and think, well this is a change, but it’s still good.

That’s when Collins starts to throw me curve balls.

I can honestly say that aside from a few moments in the final volume, CATCHING FIRE contains the most head jarringly awesome curve balls in a book. Everything I expected to happen....didn’t. She went in directions with the story I never could have imagined, and it made for some really great storytelling. The second book DOES however read like a bridge to the third. You can tell, and you can feel it coming. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing at all though. It’s just that you KNOW you are reading the second volume in a trilogy. The story in the second book forces Kat and Co. To grow though, and that was really pleasant to see, an author who realized that her characters can’t stagnate. Children inevitably grow up...and in this series, they have to grow up FAST.

At this point, for a second I want to draw your attention to the other recent YA series that got this much press. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I read the first 2 and a half books of that series before realizing a few things. 1. That author can’t write for shit and wouldn’t know a good story if it jumped up and bit her in the ass - 2. The protagonist was a spoiled little brat who toyed with the emotions of all those around her and was annoying as hell – 3. I don’t want my niece to grow up thinking that good qualities are a rotten vile girl who pines after two monsters out of a fairytale like they weren’t exactly that.

I wanted to draw your attention to that series for one reason. Suzanne Collins bests Meyers in EVERY category. Collins can WRITE, and not only that but she weaves a completely enthralling story that will keep you company till the wee hours. Her teens act like TEENS, and her adults act like ADULTS! Also, her story has romance in it, but is not composed ENTIRELY of it the way Meyer’s series is. Meyer’s series is one long boring ass romance story about a couple in a meadow who keep telling each other they love one another, and she tries to disguise it as a vampire story, or a werewolf one. At any rate, Collins has a full story to tell you over the course of her books, but she doesn’t let the romance aspects get in the way, and in fact the romance and love triangle kind of has a bit of a back seat, and let me tell you how refreshing that was. In a category where the majority of books for YA are not-so-subtly disguised romance books full of tripe about hot male angels, vampires, werewolves, genies, or trolls. Seriously, I dare you to go into your local bookshop and hit the teen section and tell me that over half of the books aren’t EXACTLY the above description in some way. Thankfully Collins tells us a worthwhile story of a future where a corrupt city of people dominate the others through oppression and the games, and how society is so beaten down they just take it, until one bloody day at the end of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, one young girl makes a decision, and changes the world.

The third volume MOCKINGJAY finishes up strong, and again Collins starts throwing me curves. Like characters not doing what I thought they would, or Katniss having to deal with stuff I didn’t think she would have to. Two REALLY BIG things happen in the final 150 pages of the third book that just blew my mind away, and Collins can be credited with my open-mouthed gape at the pages. It finishes the story, but in a completely different way than I thought she would, and it’s rough and ragged, but that’s the point. These characters have all been through absolute and utter hell, and she does a very creditable job of showing us that in her ending, which has bouts of happiness, and bitter sweetness, while all the while not losing that sense of cautionary tale. I am in awe here. It’s nearly 1AM and I am sure I’ll be thinking about the last book well into my sleep.

Finally, let’s talk about the love triangle. Katniss loves both Peeta and Gale, but for different reasons. Now, I’m with you...why does there NEED to be a love triangle, navigating the waters of love at the tender age of 16 or 17 is hard enough with one couple, let alone three people. So why don’t these authors just leave it at two. Well, thankfully Collins makes it work here and I think it is due to the fact that like I said above, it sits on the backburner. When the characters bring it up, I don’t groan and I keep thinking how deftly she writes it only when it needs to occur so that her audience doesn’t get bored. That was nice. For the record, I liked both Peeta and Gale, but to me Gale always feels at arms length, and Peeta is so prominent in the first book, and is so much like I aspire to be as a guy...I like him better.

Take from this the following: If there is a successor to the Harry Potter-J.K. Rowling crown it is Not, I repeat NOT Stephenie Meyer. It is, without a doubt Suzanne Collins.

A great series. That grows with each book, and each on their own stand up as different animals, and that’s part of what makes the series endure. The first book is about lost innocence, the second is about confusion and reaction to that loss, and the third is about making adult choices and the retributions and gifts that come along with those choices.

Don’t be like me. Give this series a chance. It is one of the best I have read.

Comic book reviews for the week of October 6th in six sentences (or less)

Best of the week

Ultimate Thor #1
I have a confession to make. I used to be in love with Marvel’s Ultimate line. When it first hit I thought it was fun, fresh and free of stupefying continuity. Then the line grew stale, Jeph Loeb happened and it never really regained its luster. ULTIMATE THOR goes a long way towards recapturing what made the Ultimate line so great. It’s about four years too late to turn the tide, but its a great read nonetheless. This first issue covers his Thor’s early years in Asgard, the fall of Asgard at the hands of the Nazi’s and his first Ultimized appearances on earth. Except for the 3.99 price tag, I can’t think of a single thing to complain about. Read it after The Ultimates 2 and I think it should blend into Ultimate continuity quite seamlessly.

Batman: Odyssey #4
Good lord, I’ve heard of purple writing before, but the scripting in this book is so overdone its hard to read it without breaking into laughter. I found myself constantly rereading several sections in the book, trying to get a handle on what’s happening in the various scenes and a grasp some feel for the flow of the story. I’m not sure why this title doesn’t have the Elseworlds logo on it. It’s clear that nothing happening in the title is part of the DCU proper. Instead, it seems like Neal Adams got inspired by Miller’s All-Star Batmanand is trying to push the character of Batman in the most ludicrous direction possible.

Brightest Day #11
While BRIGHTEST DAY may not meet the requirements to technically be considered part of DC’s strategy to put out a weekly comic, it certainly embodies the spirit of the plan. And, after 11 issues I feel confident in saying that it easily surpasses Trinityand Countdown, while coming a hairsbreadth away from the high watermark that was 52. The art is strong and the story has powerful forward momentum that comes from its serialized nature. What’s not to like? Anyway, in this issue, Black Lantern Firestorm (aka Deathstorm) introduces shadow versions of the heroes and villains resurrected in the pages of THE BLACKEST NIGHT.

Neonomicon #2
Love him or hate him Alan Moore is a creator who continues to generate a fair amount of controversy in the insular comic book blogosphere. After reading the first issue of this title I found it helpful to spend some time knocking around online, perusing other reader’s analysis of the story. There were some interesting interpretations to be found that allowed me to look at the story on levels I hadn’t previously considered. But none of it prepared me for the visceral and disturbing imagery of the second issue. If, as Moore contends, there isn’t really anything interesting happening in comic books anymore then this is a nice little ‘up yours’ to comic readers. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions, but make no mistake, people will be offended by this book.

Superman: The Last Family of Krypton #3
Speaking of Elseworld titles, and we were, this one is a nice little throwback to years gone by when DC was afraid to throw a couple crazy ideas at the wall and see if anything would stick. It’s always nice to see Carey Bates play in the DC sandbox. Renato Arlem’s art doesn’t do much for me unfortunately. I find it flat and somewhat static. It’s not bad by any means, It’s just not my cup of tea. My biggest complaint with LAST FAMILY is that it falls prey to the trap that kills so many ‘what if’ stories. While initially these imaginary tales start off with bold new ideas on inflexible established franchises, too often they end up mirroring the current state\world of the character. Lex must always be bad, Kal must always be Superman and Clark must always end up with Lois. I’d be more interested in a renewed Elseworlds line if they took more risks with their properties and allowed creators to really push their boundaries with the characters.