Ryun Patterson of Bookgasm has posted his 5 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2009, and, as in past years, we’re very pleased with the number of Pyr books in (and in this case around) the list. Paul McAuley’s The Quiet War
Bookgasm: 5 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2009 Read More »
Derek Shearer, Professor of Diplomacy at Occidental College and former US ambassador, writing in The Huffington Post, on “Give Hope A Chance: The Renewal of Summer.” He speaks of his wife’s faith in Obama, the poignant feelings from his sister’s recent passing, and, his summer reading:
“I’ve also begun reading novels by British ‘science fiction’ writer Ian McDonald about other rising powers — India and Brazil. In River of Gods
Very glad you are enjoying the books, Derek. Next year will see the release of The Dervish House, set in Turkey in an even-nearer future. In the meantime, I hope you get your wish!
Give Hope, and Ian McDonald, a Chance Read More »
Three more Pyr books have appeared for the Kindle.
Ian McDonald’s River of Gods
Justina Robson’s Mappa Mundi
David Louis Edelman’s MultiReal (Volume II of the Jump 225 Trilogy)
That was fast!
Three More Kindle Releases Materialize Read More »
Those of you on the west coast who want to catch Ian McDonald, he’ll be signing at the Mysterious Galaxy Booth #614 at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, held at the UCLA campus on Sunday, April 26, at noon.
Ian McDonald on the West Coast Read More »
Time magazine’s Barbara Ehrenreich recommends Ian McDonald’s River of Gods
TIME magazine on Ian McDonald Read More »
I was thrilled this morning to open up my newsletter from San Francisco independent genre bookstore, Borderlands Books, one of my favorite bookstores on the planet, to discover that the recently released paperback of Ian McDonald’s River of Gods tied for fourth place with Michael Swanwick’s new collection, The Dog Said Bow-Wow, on their Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for September, 2007 in the trade paperback category. Here’s the full list for the category:
1. Butcher Bird by Richard Kadrey
2. Grey by Jon Armstrong
3. Reaper’s Gale by Steven Erikson
4. The Dog Said Bow-Wow by Michael Swanwick tie with
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
5. Nova Swing by M. John Harrison
Here’s Borderlands’ contact information, if anyone wants to help boost the book in the rankings!
Update: Somehow I missed this in my first read of the Borderlands newsletter: The Blade Itself – The First Law, vol. 1 by Joe Abercrombie (Pyr, Trade Paperback, $15.00) – Ben and several customers are raving about this grim heroic fantasy debut. Ben says “A fantasy novel that combines a famous barbarian who is sick of ‘the lifestyle,’ an up-and-coming nobleman who is so selfish you just want to slap him, a state-sanctioned torturer who is trying to see every angle in a twisted political labyrinth, and a curmudgeonly ancient wizard whom no one belives. Throw them all together, have them embark on a tale only hinted at in this fist novel, and you have the beginning of a truly unusual and wonderfully captivating series. Buy this book — and this is from someone who doesn’t read fantasy!”
River of Gods Borderlands Bestseller Read More »
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?
Multiple Pyr Reviews Read More »
Joe Abercrombie’s amazing debut fantasy, The Blade Itself,
I am back from Japan and the Hugo Awards, where it was a great honor to accept the award for Ian McDonald. Ian won Best Novelette for “The Djinn’s Wife“, originally published in Asimov‘s July 2006 issue. “The Djinn’s Wife” is, of course, part of the future India milieu Ian created in his Hugo-nominated novel River of Gods.
Meanwhile, the evening before, I was equally honored to accept a Chesley Award on behalf of Stephan Martiniere in the category of Best Cover Illustration – Hardcover for the wonderful work he did for the cover of River of Gods.
My full convention report is here. Also, be sure to see Jay Lake’s LiveJournal for some more great pictures from the show.
Hugo and Chesley Awards Read More »
Ian McDonald’s Hugo and Clarke nominated River of Gods is now out in trade paperback. It’ll be in stores in early September, and is already listed as in stock at Amazon.com.
What’s more, Joe Abercrombie’s extraordinary fantasy debut The Blade Itself is also out. I just got my copies day before yesterday. Like River of Gods, its also on Amazon already.
Reviewer Lucien Spelman goes on to say that Joe’s novel is “a fantasy novel full of enough ironic and slightly self-deprecating humor and Scorcese–esque violence to make the average hipper than thou non-fantasy reader want to learn more about the genre (my favorite kind to convert), yet filled with enough touchstones to make your average Tolkien weaned fantasy reader quite happy indeed.”
They’re Here! Blade and River! Read More »
