Crown Rose

Williams, Avery, McDonald, Oh My!

Sean Williams is interviewed on the wonderful Adventures in SciFi Publishing podcast, available via iTunes and as a direct download. (Also interviewed, best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson.)

Meanwhile, The Book Swede takes us all the way back to our first season with a review of Fiona Avery’s historical fantasy, The Crown Rose.Says the Swede, “This is a good read. It combines classic French history, with an even older story, with generally good, intriguing and likeable characterisations, and a very well imagined 13th century Paris. It does indeed has a certain YA feel to it, but certainly less than the cover would seem to indicate, and is quite a fun feel-good read, but with enough battles, etc to keep my interest! 8.5/10.”

And Gardner Dozois has posted the contents of his forthcoming The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fifth Annual Edition. I’m thrilled that “Sanjeev and Robotwallah” by Ian McDonald has made the list, as it appeared originally in my own Fast Forward 1.Here’s the full list at SFScope.

Finally, we’ve uploaded a few more book pages from our 2008 season. Click “Forthcoming” on the left to see if you are on the Pyr site, and if you are viewing this through a feed click here.

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The Big Pyr News Roundup

Lots going on round the blogosphere to catch up on.

First, Sean Williams is interviewed by author Tobias S. Buckell in the latest edition of Clarkesworld Magazine. They discuss his Books of the Cataclysm, which begin with The Crooked Letter,as well as his science fiction, his upcoming novella Cenotaxis,his thoughts on writing for the Star Wars universe, and much, much more. Here’s a taste:

“I spent a very long time working on the religious background to the Books of the Cataclysm. Really, it started when my father chose to become a priest during my early high school years. I witnessed the study he undertook from the sidelines, and became fascinated with the idea of faded myths—stories (such as Noah’s Ark) that one culture appropriates from another and adopts as their own. Once it occurred to me that all religion can be viewed as a bunch of great stories that people take entirely too seriously, it was just a short hop sideways to the atheist I remain today—one who denies the existence of both deities and the afterlife but is endlessly fascinated with other people’s fascination with the same.”

Then SciFiChick comes in with not one, but three, Pyr reviews.

Keeping It Real, Justina Robson: “Deftly fusing science fiction and fantasy, it’s hard to categorize this novel. The magic is vividly portrayed, and the idea of such different and accessible dimensions makes for a truly unique setting. The character of Lila, would make a more interesting Bionic Woman, than the current tv show version. No cardboard cutout characters here.”

The Prodigal Troll, Charles Coleman Finlay: “This is a humorous and moving tale in the vein of such classics as The Jungle Book and Tarzan. With characterization as the strength of this novel, Finlay has created a fantastic world for this tragic circumstance. Seeing the human world from Maggot’s troll mindset, invokes times of humor as well as drama in a realistic way. Well, as realistic as a world where trolls and magic are the norm. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. “

Paragaea, Chris Roberson: “Paragaea is a wonderful story with the feel of a fantasy, but the heart of a science fiction novel. Though it isn’t necessary to read Set the Seas on Fire, I found it helpful to already have a background on the character of Hero. I found myself loving Paragaea , the story and world, even more. With more swash-buckling action and stronger characters, Roberson is a truly gifted storyteller.”

Then Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ Book Reviews chimes in with two Pyr reviews:

Bright of the Sky, Kay Kenyon: “I found the world that Kenyon created to be rather fascinating, not so much because of the strong Asian influence, but in the way that she designed her various aliens. No species are useless; they all seem to have a purpose that makes sense. I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of these different species–their bodies, minds, uses, hobbies, etc… All in all, the novel is good. It would be suited for someone that looks for a different flavor of adventure story–a sort of more subtle adventure that doesn’t attempt to be too grand until the end, fulfilling what I would call a sense of wonder over a sense of pure action. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes in the next book.”

The Crown Rose, Fiona Avery: “I enjoyed The Crown Rose a great deal. It was engaging, well-written, and quite obviously well-researched. I will say though that anyone with a strong (for lack of a better word) fundamentalist Christian view might find the ending of the book a trifle upsetting. I believe that the key to appreciating this book is an acknowledgment that, though much of the story is based in fact, it is in essence a work of fiction, and should be read as such. If you can manage that, this is definitely a book for you.”

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Multiple Pyr Reviews

A host of Pyr reviews have come in over the last few days. Here are the highlights:

Ian McDonald’s River of Gods:

“…if you can stand the initial shock of a future India, described in breathtaking detail by McDonald, then you will find yourself immersed in the world that he has created. River of Gods is a rich, fascinating novel…fans of hard science fiction will find plenty to like…” –SciFiNow Magazine, issue 5

Ian McDonald’s Brasyl:

Brasyl has been receiving high praise from just about everyone since it’s publication. It’s easy to see why. Not content with writing just one interesting story, McDonald gives us three… What’s even more amazing is that McDonald has taken these stories and wrapped them around a very hard science fictional idea. Namely that of the quantum computational view of cosmology.tackles big issues like free will and the heat death of the universe and places them in intensely personal stories, which serves to humanize these ideas and make them easier to understand… Brasyl rivals River Of Gods story-wise and surpasses it in science fictional terms. “-SFSignal, 4 1/2 stars

Justina Robson’s Selling Out (Quantum Gravity, Book 2):

“Provocative melding of fantasy and science fiction…her freewheeling language instills the plot with an unpredictability…limitless creativity and enthusiasm…” –SciFiNow Magazine, issue 5

“Robson continues, from Keeping It Real (2007), the story of super cyborg secret-agent extraordinare Lila Black as she follows her former charge Zal, the most famous rock star in Otopia, into Demonia…Clearly having fun in a world of elves, fairies, and high-tech toys, Robson has a great sense of rock and roll, too, which helps lots in this almost-over-the top confection.” –Booklist, September 1, 2007

Fiona Avery’s The Crown Rose:
“…a fascinating novel about a period in history imbued with mysticism, and it is exciting to read something so well encompassing that tradition. Fiona Avery has a marvelous talent for vivid characterization, and makes Isabelle and her family and servants glow with realism. This is a well-researched book, and it shows. Give yourself a trip to the thirteenth century and get this book!” –ReadertoReader.com, September 2007

Kay Kenyon’s Bright of the Sky: the Entire and the Rose: Book 1:
“Well written, with engaging, well-developed characters, Kenyon gives readers fascinating, alternative worlds on a breathtaking scale. Mind boggling worlds, deep plotting and characters—what more can we want from science fiction?” -SirReadaLot.org, September, 2007

Not bad, huh?

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