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Sunday, July 29, 2007

SPOTLIGHT: Books of August

Welcome to the August 2007 edition of Fantasy Book Critic’s monthly SPOTLIGHT. Previous spotlights can be visited HERE for June and HERE for July. My sincerest thanks go out to Calibander (Westeros forum) once again for the book tips, for any readers that find this article useful, and of course to all of the authors whose books are being released in August. Enjoy!!! (NOTE: Unless stated otherwise, all release dates are for the US):

Gods Behaving Badly” by Marie Phillips. UK Release Date: August 2, 2007. A year ago Ms. Phillips was a struggling writer with no agent, no book deal and was working part-time in an indie bookstore. Now she’s the author of the highly anticipated debut “Gods Behaving Badly”, a comical & endearing story about Greek gods existing in the 21st century where nobody believes in you, your own family doesn't respect you and you're stuck working mundane jobs as a dog walker or a telephone sex operator…
Official Marie Phillips Website
Official “Gods Behaving Badly” Myspace
Order “Gods Behaving BadlyHERE
Watch Marie Phillips Talk About Her Novel HERE

The Dreaming Void” by Peter F. Hamilton. UK Release Date: August 3, 2007. Set over a 1000 years after the end of The Commonwealth Saga (“Pandora’s Star”, “Judas Unchained”), “The Dreaming Void” is the start of a brand new trilogy from Britain’s #1 science fiction writer, whose previous works include the Greg Mandel series, the bestselling Night’s Dawn trilogy, “Fallen Dragon”, “Misspent Youth” and various short fiction. Space opera lovers everywhere, let the Pilgrimage begin…
Official Peter F. Hamilton Website
Order “The Dreaming VoidHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read SFF World’s Review of “The Dreaming Void
Read Pat + Adam’s Interview with Peter F. Hamilton HERE

Spook Country” by William Gibson. Release Date: August 7, 2007. Probably best known for “Neuromancer” (1984) which won the Hugo, Nebula + Philip K. Dick awards, Mr. Gibson has cemented himself as one of THE ground-breaking voices in science fiction over the years, and continues that trend with his ninth novel “Spook Country”, a follow-up to the bestselling and critically-acclaimed “Pattern Recognition” (2003), which was the author’s first novel to be set in a contemporary world…
Official William Gibson Website
Official Spook Country Blog
Order “Spook CountryHERE
Watch Mr. Gibson’s Interview HERE

Sandworms of Dune” by Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson. Release Date. August 7, 2007. Featuring the duo behind the Prelude to Dune and Legend to Dune prequel trilogies to Frank Herbert’s original six-volume Dune series, “Sandworms of Dune” is the continuation to “Hunters of Dune” (2006), which together is based directly on Frank Herbert’s final outline for ‘Dune 7’. For good or for bad, “Sandworms of Dune” will finally answer the questions left behind at the end of “Chapterhouse: Dune”…
Official Dune Website
Order “Sandworms of DuneHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

The Accidental Time Machine” by Joe Haldeman. Release Date: August 7, 2007. Author of the 1975 classic “The Forever War”, Joe Haldeman has been writing science fiction for over thirty years now, accumulating numerous awards along the way including five Hugos, five Nebulas, a John W. Campbell Award, a World Fantasy Award, etc. “The Accidental Time Machine” is the author’s latest novel, “a provocative tale of a man who stumbles upon the discovery of a lifetime—or many lifetimes…”
Official Joe Haldeman Website
Order “The Accidental Time MachineHERE

The Intruders” by Michael Marshall. Release Date: August 7, 2007. Already nominated for the CWA’s Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award and picked up by the BBC to be adapted into a drama TV series, “The Intruders” marks the American hardcover debut for the internationally, NYTs bestselling novelist/screenwriter whose bibliography consists of the Philip K. Dick Award-winning “Only Forward”, “Spares”, the Warner Bros.-optioned “One of Us”, the acclaimed “Straw Men” trilogy, and various short fiction…
Official Michael Marshall Website
Order “The IntrudersHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s Review of “The Intruders

The Mirador” by Sarah Monette. Releaste Date: August 7, 2007. Continuing the unique fantasy series that began in “Mélusine” (2005) and “The Virtu” (2006), “The Mirador” once again teams up unlikely heroes Felix Harrowgate & Mildmay the Fox as they try to prevent the destruction of The Mirador. Ms. Monette is also known for her short fiction receiving the 2003 Spectrum Award for “Three Letters from the Queen of Elfland”, and is releasing her short story collection “The Bone Key” on August 15, 2007 via Prime Books
Official Sarah Monette Website
Official Sarah Monette LiveJournal
Order “The MiradorHERE
Read Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three + Chapter Four from "The Mirador"

Radio Freefall” by Matthew Jarpe. Release Date: August 7, 2007. “In the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein'sThe Moon is a Harsh Mistress’ but with a healthy dose of cyberpunk, ‘Radio Freefall’ is about a plot to take over the Earth by power-mad, sociopathic computer-geek billionaire, Walter Cheeseman, and it’s up to a strange cast of rock stars—Aqualung—and oddballs—Quin Taber—to stop him.” Cyberpunk, rock n’ roll, Heinlein comparisons—Matthew Jarpe’s debut novel sounds like a winner to me…
Official Matthew Jarpe Website
Order “Radio FreefallHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read Praise HERE

Spaceman Blues: A Love Song” by Brian Francis Slattery. Release Date: August 7, 2007. With a background as a freelance editor specializing in economics, public policy & international affairs, as well as writing nonfiction pieces on public policy & the arts, speculative fiction is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when looking at Brian Francis Slattery, but “Spaceman Blues is a literary retro-pulp science-fiction-mystery-superhero novel, the debut of a true voice of the future, and a cult classic in the making…”
Official Brian Francis Slattery Website
Order “Spaceman BluesHERE

Poltergeist (Greywalker, Volume Two)” by Kat Richardson. Release Date: August 7, 2007. Urban fantasy series may be a dime a dozen nowadays, but the Greywalker books by Kat Richardson—experience also includes role playing games, film, computer games and comic books—might have more to them than meets the eye. “Poltergeist” is the follow-up to “Greywalker” (2006) and once again follows PI Harper Blaine as she becomes entangled in a deadly investigation involving an artificial poltergeist…
Official Kat Richardson Website
Order “PoltergeistHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

The Well of Ascension” by Brandon Sanderson. Release Date: August 21, 2007. An exciting new voice in the fantasy genre, Brandon Sanderson first impressed readers with his standalone debut “Elantris” (2005) before turning it up a notch in last year’s “Mistborn: The Final Empire”, the start of a brand new trilogy. Picking up after the stunning events at the end of Mistborn, “The Well of Ascension” follows Vin, Elend, etc., as the empire faces a dangerous new age… Definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year!
Official Brandon Sanderson Website
Order “The Well of AscensionHERE

A Betrayal In Winter” by Daniel Abraham. Release Date: August 21, 2007. Another up-and-coming fantasy talent, Mr. Abraham’s bibliography features the debut novel “A Shadow In Summer” (2006) and numerous short fiction including the International Horror Writers Association Award-winning “Flat Diane”. “A Betrayal In Winter” is the second volume in The Long Price Quartet and is described as “an even more powerful sequel, a tragedy as darkly personal and violent as Shakespeare’s Macbeth…”
Official Daniel Abraham Website
Order “A Betrayal In WinterHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s Interview with Daniel Abraham

Seeing Redd” by Frank Beddor. Release Date: August 21, 2007. Who out there has never read Lewis Carroll’sAlice In Wonderland”, seen the Disney movie, or at least been exposed to one of the story’s countless variations? I’m betting very few of you. Well, The Looking Glass Wars—written by Hollywood producer Frank Beddor (There’s Something About Mary)—is a YA trilogy inspired by the original Carroll books and supposedly tells the true story of Alyss (Alice). “Seeing Redd” is the second book in the series…
Official The Looking Glass Wars Website
Order “Seeing ReddHERE (US) + HERE (UK)

The Book of Joby” by Mark J. Ferrari. Release Date: August 21, 2007. For seventeen years, Mark Ferrari has made his living doing freelance illustration for such clients as Lucasfilm, Lucas Arts Games, Industrial Light & Magic, Electronic Arts, Tor, Ace, New American Library, The Science Fiction Book Club, etc., before expanding his repertoire to include writing. “The Book of Joby” is Mr. Ferrari’s debut novel and is an epic fantasy reinventing the classic tale of humanity’s struggle between heaven & hell…
Official Mark J. Ferrari Website
Order “The Book of JobyHERE
Read Excerpts HERE

Jumper: Griffin’s Story” by Steven Gould. Release Date: August 21, 2007. Author of six SF books including “Jumper” and its sequel “Reflex” (2005), Steven Gould’s latest novel features the character Griffin who was created specifically for the upcoming film adaptation of “Jumper” starring Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Prequel Trilogy), Jamie Bell (King Kong) and Samuel L. Jackson with Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) directing. “Jumper” the movie is due out in 2008...
Official Steven Gould Website
Order “Jumper: Griffin’s StoryHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

Queen of Candesce: Book Two of the Virga” by Karl Schroeder. Release Date: August 21, 2007. Two-time winner of the Aurora Award, Mr. Schroeder is a prominent Canadian SF author of many novels & short fiction including the Hugo-nominated “Permanence” and “The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction” co-written by Cory Doctorow. “Queen of Candesce” is the sequel to the John W. Campbell-nominated “Sun of Suns”, which is set in the Virga universe: a far-future blend of steam-punk & space opera…
Official Karl Schroeder Website
Order “Queen of CandesceHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

Deeper” by Jeff Long. Release Date: August 21, 2007. In “The Descent” (1999), New York Times-bestselling novelist / historian / journalist / screenwriter Jeff Long (Year Zero, The Reckoning) took readers on an epic adventure into a primordial underworld where Hell does exist. A decade later, “Deeper” continues that tale as humanity “learns that a far greater menace lies in the unexplored heart of the planet. At once a love story, the ultimate thriller, and an extreme adventure, Deeper will leave you breathless…”
Official Jeff Long Website
Order “DeeperHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

The Genesis Code” by Christopher Forrest. Release Date: August 21, 2007. Yet another novel that blurs the truth while featuring ancient mysteries, shadowy organizations, a trail of clues to be solved, and deadly conspiracies, Christopher Forrest’s debut “digs deeply into the questions of the real nature of the human DNA code driven by scientific fact and new interpretations of ancient writings, symbolism & mythology culled from thousands of years of human history.” Think “Michael Crichton meets Dan Brown…”
Official Christopher Forrest Website
Order “The Genesis CodeHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Read An Interview with Mr. Forrest HERE

The Elves of Cintra” by Terry Brooks. Release Date: August 28, 2007. NYTs bestselling author of more than twenty-five fantasy novels including the beloved Shannara series, Terry Brooks surprised readers in last year’s “Armageddon’s Children”, which was set in a post-apocalyptic Earth that bridged the gap between two worlds—the Word & the Void and Shannara. Continuing the Genesis of Shannara trilogy, “The Elves of Cintra” is “an unforgettable second volume full of mystery, magic & momentous events…”
Official Terry Brooks Website
Order “The Elves of CintraHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE
Click HERE To Watch an Interview with Terry Brooks

The Shotgun Rule” by Charlie Huston. Release Date: August 28, 2007. A critically-acclaimed, modern day master of the hard-boiled crime noir, Charlie Huston’s works include the Henry Thompson trilogy (Caught Stealing, Six Bad Things, A Dangerous Man), the Joe Pitt vampire series (Already Dead, No Dominion), and the excellent Marvel comic book “Moon Knight. “The Shotgun Rule” is the author’s first standalone thriller and “is a raw tale of four teenage friends who go looking for a little trouble—and find it…”
Official Charlie Huston Website
Order “The Shotgun RuleHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade” by Diana Gabaldon. Release Date: August 28, 2007. Last summer Ms. Gabaldon released the long-awaited sixth book (A Breath of Snow & Ashes) in the highly popular Outlander saga. This summer the NYTs bestselling author revisits the Outlander spinoff character Lord John in his newest adventure, which “weaves together a shattering family mystery, a love affair with potentially disastrous consequences, and a war that stretches from the Old World to the New…”
Official Diana Gabaldon Website
Order “Lord John and the Brotherhood of the BladeHERE
Read Excerpts HERE, HERE + HERE

Patriot Acts” by Greg Rucka. Release Date: August 28, 2007. While starting out as a novelist (Atticus Kodiak series), Greg Rucka may be better known as a comic book writer, having worked with DC (52, Wonder Woman), Marvel (Wolverine), Top Cow, Dark Horse and various creator-owned properties (Queen & Country, Whiteout). “Patriot Acts” is the sixth Kodiak thriller and follows the “bodyguard turned fugitive as he goes underground to protect the woman he loves and a country he may have to betray to defend…”
Official Greg Rucka Website
Order “Patriot ActsHERE
Read An Excerpt HERE

5 comments:

Tia Nevitt said...

What an impressive summary! I know that must have taken hours to put together.

Anonymous said...

Above comment says it all!

Robert, can't wait to read the upcoming reviews. Your site is the best, man. Enjoy coming to it everyday.

Best.

Robert said...

Tia, Reanimated, I'm glad you like the feature! They take a little while to put together, but I spread it out over weeks--in fact I'm already started on September--and it's rewarding when I get such a response.

As far as upcoming reviews, I may be falling behind a bit this month because of our new home that we're closing on today or tomorrow, and with the pending move, etc., but I'll try my best to keep churning them out on a regular basis :D

Anonymous said...

I love all these books that you recommended! I can't wait to read them. Keep up the great work. Thanks!

Robert said...

Thanks anonymous! There's a lot of books I haven't gotten to yet, but I'm going to try to :) Watch out for the October spotlight in a couple of weeks...

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