Introducing Knighttime, The Hazardous Players’ ongoing humorous fantasy adventure
The Hazardous Players have been building a fantasy adventure which constructs multiple narratives using various media: writing, video, audio performance and art to create a story that is an expanding fantasy for children and adults. Though a non-traditional approach to literature, it is an unique way to tell a story, harkening back to the time of episodic adventures on the radio.
Each week The Hazardous Players offer up a new chapter in the adventures of good Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst. Listen as they reluctantly stumble their way through the land of Udenland, while trying to avoid being eaten by any number of terrifying beasts. Along the way they meet several of the eccentric members of Udenland society who more often than not, prove a greater challenge than the terrifying beasts.
Fortunately for the knights they have with them the Henchwoods Guides, the essential guides for identifying the myriad of creatures and plants which pose a threat to their safety and generally well being. Regularly the guide is updated with illustrations and facts about new discoveries, including everything from migration habits to the best way to avoid being eaten (usually involves running).
The Problem in Pimpleton
Good Sirs Cottington and Bratwurst have been commanded by King Theodor to ride to the village of Pimpleton, where they must face a terrible foe. Will the knights rise to the occasion and bravely face this terrifying menace that is bringing chaos to the kingdom? Don’t count on it.
Listen to the Problem in Pimpleton now
The Secret of Donotalado
Once again King Theodor plots to rid himself of Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst. With the assistance of his trusted advisor Reg, they scheme of a quest that will take the two knights well beyond the borders of Udenland, and hopefully to their deaths.
Listen to the first episode of The Secret of Donotalado
Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst, on the orders of the King, have reluctantly begun their next adventure in search of the Mystic Painting of Donotalado. First stop-the unsavoury village of Pimpleton, scene of the knights first tale, The Problem in Pimpleton. The Knights hope to track down their unlikely friend, Nigel, the Emerald Forest Twin Tail, (a very rare and intelligent dragon) who has vast knowledge of…well, pretty much everything. If anyone knows what this painting thing is suppose to do, surely he must…maybe…yes, yes I’m certain…pretty sure anyway. Upon reaching Pimpleton, they are greeted by some of its citizenry, including Pimpleton’s finest, Sheriff Dogberry, who helps steer them on their way. With the help of two charming young lads, Colin and Timothy, they find themselves at the Tinkers Cuss Inn where the local criminal class likes to hang their hats.
Listen to the second episode of The Secret of Donotalado
Having arrived at The Tinkers Cuss Inn, the infamous way station of Udenland’s criminal element, our two heroes settle in for what they hope is a relaxing evening of rumination and imbibing. The Tinkers Cuss, or, as it is know to the locals, “The Cuss”, has long been a gathering spot for the more despicable members of Udenland society. Drawn there by the “ask no questions, especially about how you got that scar and whether that’s blood on your shirt ” policy of proprietor Robert Thiggleswade. The outlaws and thugs of Udenland find The Cuss a welcoming place to convene, in order to drink, brawl, plan criminal activities and compare knitting projects (oddly popular with Udenland’s reprobates). That is, until the recent addition of Nigel to the local law enforcement. Nigel’s presence managed to alarm The Cuss’s usual clientele, causing them to give Pimpleton a wide berth. As word spread of Nigel’s existence the less appealing, (in Roberts opinion) dragon-spotters began to arrive, hoping for a glance at the rare Emerald Forest Twin Tail. Fortunately for Robert, Nigel’s recent departure has brought about a renaissance in villainess behaviour, as many of The Cuss’s traditional patrons have begun to return. Unfortunately for the knights, one Horatio Bladderstone, self-professed scoundrel and all-round miscreant, has intruded upon their evening of leisure. The ignominious Monsieur Bladderstone realizing that Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst are quite ignorant of what dangers lay ahead for them, helpfully educates them to the impending lethal hazards they face. Listen as the knight’s anxiety levels grow to ever-greater proportions as they prepare for the next stage of the journey, and, discover if Horatio Bladderstones intentions are honourable or dastardly.
Listen to the third episode of The Secret of Donotalado
Our brave knights make a quick escape from Pimpleton and the devious charm of Horatio Bladderstone. Their path leads them into the uncharted and mysterious forest north of Pimpleton. The forest we know to be populated by “dangerous and magical creatures”, as report by Mr. Bladderstone. Here, in order to survive, they must rely on stealth, courage and fortitude, all traits I must point out, that our knights severely lack. As they stumble on through the dense wilderness, they draw the attention of the local inhabitants, who don’t general appreciate uninvited guest trespassing in their territory.
Listen to the fourth episode of The Secret of Donotalado
Finding themselves imprisoned by the Pixies, (also known as The Fachan), Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst have spent the night in their cramped cell arguing over which of them would make a better side dish for Mortimer’s breakfast. Mortimer, being a large, terrifying, monstrous…what? we have no idea. Even The Henchwoods Guide has no entry on Mortimer’s particular species. Unknown to the knights, the pixies have been charged to guard and protect a great treasure, which may explain the pixies somewhat peevish behaviour towards trespassers. Of course Cottington’s attitude doesn’t help their situation much either. The Fachan are known for being exceedingly stubborn and single-minded. The Verdant Forest Clan is especially proud of their clan’s pigheadedness and their excessively harsh punishments. Sirs Cottington and Bratwurst have quite a fight ahead of them if they want to avoid being digested by Mortimer. Can the knights quell the pixie queen’s anger and escape being devoured? Or, perhaps they will find help from an unexpected source? Or, maybe pigs will fly, who knows? We could go on like this all day.
Listen to the fifth episode of The Secret of Donotalado
Egad! Yes! Egad I say! And I don’t say that very often, (I mean really, who does?) could this be the end of Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst? Well, we discussed this before, not likely. Without Cottington or Bratwurst no story. Sorry, now I have ruined the moment, let me try this again. EGAD!!! Is Mortimer the vicious…thing, going to devour Sir Cottington and Sir Bratwurst? SAY IT ISN’T SO!!! The Knights having taken a wrong turn find themselves cornered by Mortimer at an ancient Druid Stone Circle, deep in darkest part the Great Cottington Forest. OH NO! Why are there monkeys drawings on this page? NO REALLY!!! why are there monkeys here? It’s just weird. DON’T WORRY!!! it will make sense once you have listened to ACT VI of The Secret of Donotalado.
Listen to the sixth episode of The Secret of Donotalado
OK, we admit it; things have gotten a bit strange, what with the monkeys, glowing lights and bizarre magic in the forest. What could it all mean? Do we care? Well of course we care! Would we be making these stories if we didn’t care!? Really how rude. Do we care, indeed! With Nigel’s arrival perhaps some things will be explained. He is the oldest know creature in Udenland, certainly the most brilliant. When it comes to “been there, done that” Nigel’s definitely your man, er… Dragon In this episode our hero’s find themselves in one of the most beautiful areas in all of Udenland. The Inflorescence Plain, one of the loveliest and comparatively least dangerous parts of the kingdom. Though its past is tainted with blood, as it was the location of many battles early in the history of Udenland. It is now vast kaleidoscope of color since flowers fill the vista as far as you can see. Something Sir Cottington greets with a hardy “eh” and a shrug as he has about as much depth as a glass of spilt milk. So now they are three stalwart travellers in search of the elusive secret. All hoping to solve the Secret of Donotalado and the mysteries of the stone circles, they travel forth into the unknown, prepared for anything, except maybe the approaching storm that is ACT VII of the Secret of Donotalado.
Posted: March 14th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Penny Arcade’s Love Affair with Patrick Rothfuss
One of the better webcomics on the internet is Penny Arcade, written and drawn by Tycho (Jerry Holkins) and Gabe (Mike Krahulik). They’re the masterminds behind not just a great comic but also PAX, the Penny Arcade Expo which is held each year and focuses on console gamers, computer gamers and tabletop gamers.
But they’re not just gamers, as you’d assume by reading their webcomic. They have great taste in authors as well, and are eagerly awaiting the next instalment in Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles.
In the meantime though, they had this to say about Rothfuss’ “definitely not a kids’ book,” The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffe: the Thing Beneath the Bed;
“It turns out that Patrick is a huge PA fan. In fact he posts in our forums which I guess makes him a bigger PA fan than me. He sent us a free copy of his latest book which sadly is not part two of the Kingkiller Chronicle. This book is actually called The Princess and Mr. Whiffle and it has nothing to do with killing kings or the chronicles such a deed might spawn. This is actually a creepy/funny story in the style of a children’s book. It turns out that Patrick Rothfuss is a good writer no matter what he’s doing. It’s a quick little read but funny and I recommend you pick it up along with his fantasy epic The Name of The Wind.”
Apparently Subterranean Press has seen a direct uptick in sales following PA’s mention of the book, and is apparently right on schedule for a release in the summer (northern hemisphere summer).
Posted: March 11th, 2010
Author: JoshSHill
Categories: Latest News
Harriet Wilson joins HarperCollins Children’s Books
Harriet Wilson is to join HarperCollins Children’s Books as Editorial Director. She will commission and develop authors and series across the fiction list with a particular focus at the younger end.
Harriet Wilson began her career in children’s publishing at Random House Children’s Books in 2000. She then moved to a senior editorial role at Macmillan before returning to Random House in 2008 to oversee The Bodley Head list. During her ten years in publishing she has worked with many bestselling and award-winning authors such as Joseph Delaney, Jonathan Stroud and Malorie Blackman.
Posted: March 10th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Templar Publishing to publish 10 fiction titles in 2010
Templar Publishing has launched into fiction with a commitment to hardback publishing and distinctive formats. The company plans to publish 10 fiction titles this year, ranging from early readers to young adult.
"Although we are known as a publisher of illustrated books, we feel we can bring something to the fiction market and our niche will be in the package. We have looked at what children want and they don’t want their books to end up as tatty paperbacks. We will give our fiction the ‘Templar treatment’ by publishing in hardback with extra finishes. We are planning to publish a broad list and have bought in titles from New Zealand, Australia, Germany and the US – we are just looking for great stories,” said Templar Publishing managing director Amanda Wood.
Titles due to be published this year include Not Bad for a Bad Lad by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman in May, Worldshaker by Richard Harland (June), Day of Deliverance by Johnny O’Brien (June) and The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin (July).
Founded in 1978, Templar Publishing has become one of the world’s most respected publishers and packagers of illustrated children’s fiction, novelty and picture books. In 2008 Templar was recognised by the Independent Publisher’s Guild as UK Children’s Publisher of the Year and Independent Publisher of the Year.
Best known for the ground-breaking Ology series, which first launched in 2003 with Dragonology, and has become a global brand with seven core titles in print and over 15 million copies sold to date.
Posted: March 10th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Lee & Low Books acquire Tu Publishing
Lee & Low Books, the independent children’s book publisher, has acquired Tu Publishing, an independent press focusing on multicultural fantasy and science fiction for middle grade and young adult readers.
“Our customers have been asking us for years to publish stories for older readers. Tu represents an excellent way for us to bring diversity to a whole new audience,” says Lee & Low publisher Jason Low.
Recent controversies over whitewashing have brought widespread attention to the dearth of people of colour in fantasy and science fiction stories, although avid fans of these genres have long acknowledged the problem.
Tu Publishing founder Stacy Whitman began the press in 2009 to address the need for more books featuring diverse characters and inspired by non-Western cultures, a need that she had seen as both a reader and an editor of fantasy and science fiction.
Supporters met Whitman’s project with great enthusiasm and donated funds via the online organization Kickstarter to help launch the company. Through many small donations, Tu Publishing surpassed its $10,000 goal, catching the attention of Lee & Low.
“The outpouring of support on the Kickstarter project and from children’s book professionals validates my mission, and the opportunity to join forces with Lee & Low, with its vast experience publishing diverse children’s books, will allow me to accomplish my goals even beyond what I could have expected,” Whitman explains.
Whitman will join Lee & Low as editorial director of the new imprint, which will undergo a slight name change to Tu Books. Several manuscripts are already under consideration for possible acquisition, with hopes of releasing the first books under the new imprint in 2011.
For more information on Lee & Low Books, and the new Tu Books imprint, visit http://www.leeandlow.com/.
Posted: March 10th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Damnation Books: new releases for March 2010
Damnation Books, a start up e-publishing company specializing in paranormal and dark fiction released the following new titles on March 1, 2010. Each title will be available in Kindle and print format.
Careless Book 2: Alyce Kerr, Faith Healer Trilogy by Yolanda Sfetsos
eBook ISBN: 9781615720729
Alyce Kerr used to be a celebrity Faith Healer. Now all she wants to do is to stay out of the limelight. Her short career of healing the sick publicly has left her with a gaping hole in her soul and a binding to a demon that makes her vulnerable. With Ross by her side and the help of a recluse demonologist, Alyce may be able to reclaim her soul… but at what price? Can the demonologist be trusted with Alyce’s life, or will her curiosity with all-that-is-demonic work against them?
Caribbean Caracole by Patricia MacEwen
eBook ISBN: 9781615720705
What does any woman want? To love, and be loved in return. That’s all Marguerite is asking for when she flees her drunken husband, running into the darkness in her bare feet. Knowing almost nothing of the tiny Caribbean island that shelters her, she knows even less of the spirit world surrounding her. She doesn’t understand that spirits too can be twisted by loss and by loneliness, that transformation comes at a terrible price.
eBook ISBN: 9781615720682
She should have brought her wind chimes in, she thought, when she heard them ringing in the first gusts of the approaching hurricane. She was sitting on the edge of the bed with her feet fishing for slippers when she remembered. She had brought the chimes in. They were hanging downstairs in her living room, where there was no wind to move them.
Dance of the Furrowed Goddess by Bruce Golden
eBook ISBN: 9781615720699
Price: $2.50 (ebook only)
An aging stripper finds that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially when that eye sees through an alien lens.
eBook ISBN: 9781615720866
Print ISBN: 9781615720859
Captain Jake Matthews has already sacrificed almost any hope of a normal life in order to battle America’s enemies far from home. Now Jake, and his team of Green Berets, joins forces with an ex-Navy SEAL working for the CIA, to put an end to the most malevolent covert operation ever conceived. Jake must now face losing the only people that mean anything to him, his men, as they track an elusive foe leading a group of psychotic commandos determined to bring America to its knees.
eBook ISBN: 9781615720804
Print ISBN: 9781615720798
A lonely teenager escapes from his troubles to the quiet night, only to find that he is not alone. A beautiful girl watches him, eyes sparkling like the stars in the sky. Together they walk under the light of the moon, sharing the briefest of moments, but one that changes his life forever. Before leaving him she tells him he can see her again, but only at night. Then she vanishes into the darkness.
Sacrifice Book 2: Blood and Ashes Series by Michele Acker
eBook ISBN: 9781615720828
Print ISBN: 9781615720811
Hired swords, Sorea and Daryn search for pieces of a weapon to destroy Valina. This vile sorceress holds twelve children hostage in her fortress. Will they find it before she does and before any more children are sacrificed for evil magic? The two mercenaries must battle nightmarish monsters, cross invisible bridges and come to terms with their feelings for each other. They refuse to give up, knowing that stopping Valina is their most important goal, no matter what the ultimate Sacrifice.
Sepulchral Earth by Tim Marquitz
eBook ISBN: 9781615720767
Print ISBN: 9781615720750
Two years after the furious dead rose up to murder the living, the remnants of mankind face a brutal extinction. Wretched and broken, trading humanity for life, the survivors suffer under the inevitable shadow of death. Aided by friendly spirits, the necromancer Harlan Cole wages war against the merciless forces of the undead. Driven to bring peace to the souls of his wife and daughter, Harlan vows to return the dead to their graves, or join them trying.
eBook ISBN: 9781615720781
Print ISBN: 9781615720774
In this supernatural thriller, three aimless souls collide in a tempest of lust, violence and vice in Washington, DC, where the elitist country clubs they call their home can be as cutthroat as the business of staying popular. As their triangle grows tighter, they each battle to hold on to their sanity, one fleeing to Africa, the other two signing up for a cruise to Mexico. But they cannot evade their fate. And as they face down doubles and triples of themselves stalking them wherever they run, they will learn that the demons that haunt them will accept only blood for their final sacrifice.
The First Angry Man by Samuel King
eBook ISBN: 9781615720675
What will be the legal status of our intelligent creations? Will we treat them as equals, or will they remain forever enslaved?
eBook ISBN: 9781615720842
Print ISBN: 9781615720835
A novel about the nature of the thrill. The thriller meets erotica in a marriage made in hell. The perfect gentleman is a lady killer. A man who will do anything to satisfy the most flippant desire, stop at nothing for a fleeting moment’s stimulation of body and mind, whatever pleasure or suffering he causes in the process, no matter what price he ultimately will have to pay. The thrill for some is in flying a plane. Others like to jump. He prefers to do the pushing. How far will a man go to reach new heights, new depths? Sex is not enough to fill the void of such a shallow abyss. How far will a man go to cheapen a thrill? As far as he can.
Tracing the Devil by Wayne Mansfield
eBook ISBN: 9781615720743
Print ISBN: 9781615720736
Nigsummu was always going to be different. Fathered by a demon and born to a whore, what chance did he have? With no soul of his own he sucks the very life force from his mother, absorbing hers, and ends up being abandoned in the desert. Suckled by a jackal for the first days of his life he is then adopted by a poor hunter and his family, But his is not to be a normal life. Leaving home at fifteen he explores his ancient world, finally reaching the coast three years later. From there he is taken across the Mediterranean to mainland Europe, where his voyage of discovery begins. His journey is not only personal, discovering his sexuality, his identity and how difference is a matter of perspective, but he also learns much about the human condition.
Good Night Charlie Marks by Perry P. Perkins
eBook ISBN: 9781615720668
"A villager and his wife had a goose that laid a golden egg every day." – Aesop, It’s 1979 and in the hottest corner of Hell’s Kitchen, Charlie Marks has a wonderful, terrifying secret."
Posted: March 9th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Time is not what it seems…
When a drug overdose causes Leoni, a troubled teen from twenty-first-century Los Angeles, to have a near-death experience, her soul is lifted from the modern world and flung into a parallel time 24,000 years in the past. There her fate becomes entangled with that of Ria, a young Stone Age woman fighting for her life against the ferocious Illimani, an army of evil led by the vicious Sulpa, a powerful demon determined to destroy humanity.
As the invaders annihilate Ria’s people, inflicting torture and human sacrifice, Sulpa moves ever closer to his ultimate goal: to manifest physically in the twenty-first century and doom all of mankind to perpetual slavery. The hour is late and all hope of stopping him seems lost. But there is still hope, if Leoni and Ria can rise to the challenge fate has set them. Uniting outside the flow of earth time, they must venture forth into regions of wonder, master their own deepest fears, and fight battles they could never have prepared for, if Sulpa is to be defeated …
Graham Hancock is the author of The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis, Heaven’s Mirror, Supernatural and other bestselling investigations of historical mysteries. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. His public lectures and broadcasts, including two major TV series for Channel 4, Quest for the Lost Civilisation, and Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age, have further established his reputation as an unconventional thinker who raises controversial questions about humanity’s past. Written with the same page-turning appeal that has made his non-fiction so popular, Entangled is his first work of fiction.
Fantasy Book Review will be reading and reviewing Entangled shortly and we will also have some copies to give away as prizes so please check back soon and enter the competition.
Posted: March 8th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Egmont enters eBook market
March 1, 2010 saw Egmont UK launch its first e-book list with a range of contemporary and classic titles.
Twenty-one best selling titles for pre-schoolers to teens will be available for the first time as eBooks, with the first 10 titles launching next Monday, the 8th of March.
Among the first titles to be published will be Blue Peter book prize winner You’re a Bad Man Mr Gum (Andy Stanton), Costa prize-winner Just Henry (Michelle Magorian), and west-end theatre favourite War Horse (Michael Morpurgo), plus children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit (Margery Williams), Running on the Cracks (Julia Donaldson) and Tumtum and Nutmeg (Emily Bearn).
Further titles to be released in the spring will include the classic children’s favourite, Winnie-the-Pooh (A. A. Milne) and a broader range of young adult fiction.
Mike Richards, Head of Marketing and Publicity, Egmont Press said: "This is a growing market in its early stages and as the leading children’s publisher we need to explore and understand the changing requirements. Over the past 12 months we’ve published books on three, separate digital platforms – handheld consoles, smart phones and e-readers – so that we can learn what works best for children in this exciting new market."
Published in partnership with HarperCollins and Libre Digital, the e-books will launch with prices set at 80% of print editions and will be available to buy via major e-book retailers.
Egmont UK’s e-books list joins a growing range of digital and specialist books and services including iPhone apps launched in December, the world’s first Flips books for the Nintendo DS and a series of Personalised Print on Demand titles.
For more information, visit www.egmont.co.uk
Posted: March 3rd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News, eBooks
Fantasy news round-up – March 3, 2010
In the US: Kindle books now available on Blackberry
Amazon has released a free Kindle for BlackBerry application that makes the online shop’s electronic books available for reading on the Research in Motion smartphones. The application, available for download online at www.amazon.com/kindlebb lets BlackBerry users access an online bookstore with more than 420,000 digital works.
OverDrive’s most downloaded
OverDrive, the global distributor of eBooks and audiobooks to libraries, today announced the ‘Most Downloaded Books from the Library’ for February 2010. Nicholas Sparks’ "Dear John" moved onto the adult fiction eBook and audiobook top ten lists on the heels of its motion picture adaptation. "The Lightning Thief," also released as a motion picture last month, ended Stephenie Meyer’s long run at the top of the juvenile fiction audiobook list, taking the top spot away from "The Twilight Saga" books. Dan Brown’s "The Lost Symbol" continued its reign at the top of the audiobook and eBook charts for the sixth consecutive month, while digital books by Kathryn Stockett, Dean Koontz, Steven D. Levitt, and Stephen J. Dubner were also among the most downloaded books from the library in February. For the complete lists, visit www.overdrive.com/mostdownloaded
Matthew Goode auditions for Bilbo Baggins role
Watchmen star Matthew Goode is the latest actor to audition for the lead role in the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel. The British actor, who shot to fame in the 2009 superhero movie, admits he recently auditioned for the coveted role of young Bilbo Baggins in Guillermo del Toro’s two-part epic The Hobbit. Other stars rumoured to be in the running include Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy and Tobey Maguire, who recently denied he has been approached to take the part.
JK Rowling forced to yet again defend her creation
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has been added as a defendant to an ongoing lawsuit between the estates of the late children’s author Adrian Jacobs. The suit claims that "JK Rowling copied substantial parts of the work of the late Adrian Jacobs, The Adventures of Willy the Wizard-No 1 Livid Land, and that Bloomsbury in selling the books have infringed the Estate’s copyright." In this new filing, the estate included JK Rowling as a defendant in that suit, after, as the estate claims, "discovering legal cause of action against her within the last six years." Rowling released this statement: "I am saddened that yet another claim has been made that I have taken material from another source to write Harry. The fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author’s estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book. The claims that are made are not only unfounded but absurd and I am disappointed that I, and my U.K. publisher Bloomsbury, are put in a position to have to defend ourselves."
Twilight Unbound: The Stephenie Meyer Story to be published in hardcover
Last year, Stephenie Meyer became a comic-book star. Bluewater Productions in November released Female Force: Stephenie Meyer, a graphic biography detailing Meyer’s rise from unknown writer to the guiding force behind one of the book industry’s top-selling franchises. This new version will include updates on the success of New Moon, the most recent Twilight film, and a look at Meyer’s future plans for Edward and Bella, the romantic leads of her vampire books. The book will also be stuffed with extras, making it a must-buy for Twilight fans.
6,500 authors opt-out of Google Book settlement
Six and a half thousand authors; living and dead have opted out of the Google Book settlement. The authors had until 28 January to opt out of the revised settlement prior to the ruling last week that would allow Google to digitise many millions of books. However, the judge received over 500 written submissions, forcing him to delay his ruling. Among the big names still alive who’ve said no thanks are Jeffrey Archer, Graham Swift, Monica Ali, Bret Easton Ellis, and Philip Pullman. Ursula K Le Guin, who gained significant author support for her petition calling for "the principle of copyright, which is directly threatened by the settlement, [to] be honoured and upheld in the United States", also opted out.
China Mieville shortlisted for Nebula award
China Miéville’s surreal venture into crime fiction The City and the City has been shortlisted for major American science fiction and fantasy awards the Nebulas. Miéville’s novel, in which a murder case in the decaying European city of Besźel turns out to have connections to another city, existing in the same physical space, was nominated for the best novel prize by the 1,500-plus author members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The British author, winner of prizes including the Arthur C Clarke and the British Fantasy award, is up against American fantasy writer Jeff VanderMeer’s Finch, set in a city ruled by sentient fungal beings known as "gray caps", and Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl, in which the hero Anderson Lake meets an engineered being grown to satisfy the whims of a Kyoto businessman.
The shortlist for the Nebula best novel prize:
- The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
- The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak
- Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman
- The City and the City by China Miéville
- Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
- Finch by Jeff VanderMeer
Kate Wilson sets up children’s publisher, Nosy Crow
Kate Wilson is to set up her own publishing company, Nosy Crow. The company will follow the traditional children’s publishing model with titles for ages naught to 14 years and will also publish apps for iPhones and other devices through its Appiness division. Wilson is launching the company with former Macmillan colleague Camilla Reid who headed up Campbell Books. They previously developed popular formats such as jigsaw books and Buggy Buddies. The first books will be published in January 2011 and Nosy Crow will work with both established names and new talent. Wilson left her job as chief executive of Headline in October after just five months; before that she was group managing director of Scholastic UK and managing director of Macmillan Children’s Books.
Posted: March 3rd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Chris Beckett’s hard-hitting child abuse story to appear in Interzone
There have been a series of high profile child abuse, neglect and protection cases in Britain in the past year or so. One of these was the Child P case.
Chris Beckett is a Science Fiction writer who has a day job as senior lecturer in social work at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. He has authored a number of academic textbooks on social work theory, ethics and child protection. This experience as a social worker also informs his fiction. His prize-winning collection of stories contains many first published in Interzone, a British short SF story magazine. Chris’s experience in child protection is critical to his new story ‘Johnny’s New Job’. That story is based on his reaction to the Baby P and similar cases.
The story will appear in Interzone’s March 2010 issue number 227 along with Chris Beckett’s editorial on its genesis. Copies of this should be in UK newsagents and some bookshops from 5th March but around 10 days later in the US.
Chris Beckett’s first Interzone story appeared in October 1990 and since then over 20 of his stories have appeared. His second novel ‘Marcher’ from 2008 was based on stories which first appeared in Interzone and made extensive use of his social work experience.
Interzone, a bimonthly magazine of speculative fiction, is renowned as one of Britain’s leading short story showcases and has developed an international reputation with authors and readers. Interzone discoveries often go on to a career in writing after youthful or early appearances with short fiction in its pages. 1980’s examples are Charles Stross and Greg Egan and more recent generations of British authors, like Liz Williams, Tony Ballantyne and Chris Beckett, have spread their wings beyond the UK and Interzone with novels and/or publication in US short story magazines.
Posted: March 2nd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News
Book of the Month
Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And its been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.
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Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe
Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.
Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.
