It’s time to talk about some of the great titles that have been coming into the studio. Sadly, we can’t produce enough shows to interview the authors of all the books we get, but there are some wonderful titles here, and you guys and gals need to know about them.
From Pyr Books, The Martian General’s Daughter is a gripping tale of a world at war; of cunning strategies and vile politics; of bravery, foolishness, and excess. There is only one thing you need to know to trust that author Theodore Judson has written a masterful tale: it was published by Lou Anders. Nuff said. That cat is the real deal, and TMGD looks like a stellar read.
Ann and Jeff Vandermeer bring us The New Weird, a book self-proclaimed as “canonic,” and the title is well deserved. I won’t engage in the debate that has simmered through the blogosphere about the New Weird, but this gem for Tachyon Publications does its best to chronicla New Weird’s history. Featuring stories by China Mieville, Clive Barker, Michael Moorcock, and Jeffory Ford would be enough, but the Vandermeer’s also include essays, excepts from the original forum discussion that defined the New Weird, and a story challenge featuring Paul Di Filippo, Cat Rambo, Sara Monette and others. All in all, a fascinating book.
Sly Mongoose is Tobias S. Buckell’s third venture into his losely connected space opera series. I’m currently reading this book, and so far it is the best of the three volumes. I think Buckell will be a name to reckon with for many decades in the field of science fiction. He has displayed power in both long form and short, and I’m not just saying this because he’s part of the podcast. He can transport you to another reality and make the real world disappear with an effiency that many writers (and certainly wannabes like myself) envy. And he gets absolutely killer cover art!
John Scalzi returns to the Old Man’s War universe with Zoe’s Tale, a stand alone novel told from Zoe’s perspective. Scalzi hardly needs a small fry like myself to educate the masses on his behalf. His famous blog is second to none, and in the last few years he has garnered awards and nominatios for just about every award a writer could want in this field. I’ve only had time to leaf through Zoe’s Tale so far, but it promises to showcase Scalzi in top form.
Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst is the first book in a trilogy that explores the ancient relationship between man and wolf. I can’t say that the story is something that grabs my interest right off, but the writing is solid. So, if you like stories about ancient myths and intelligent animals, give this one a shot. And please feel free to send your review to the voicemail line.
That’s it for now. Happy reading.
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