Joshua Palmatier's Blog, page 11
July 16, 2015
New Book Discussion!
I've posted the first book discussion of the July releases from DAW Books over at the DAW Books unofficial blog (
dawbooks
)! We're looking at Faces by E.C. Blake, the third book in his Masks of Aygrima series. Swing on by and check it out!
dawbooks
)! We're looking at Faces by E.C. Blake, the third book in his Masks of Aygrima series. Swing on by and check it out!
July 14, 2015
Writerly Interview . . . Sort Of
OK, so Brent Kellmer posted this little questionnaire/interview for writers/novelists up on Facebook and tagged me to answer it. I figured I'd just make it a general interview post and then everyone can see/find it if they're interested. So here we go:
A short survey for the authors out there (well, at least the novelists):
1. How much time do you tend to spend on preparations for your novel before you actually start writing it? (By preparations, I mean preparatory research, plotting, outlining, etc. -- whatever you do)
I do very little preparation ahead of time. I'm a pantser or organic writer, meaning that I might write a plot synopsis to get my publisher to buy the book before I write it, but once I sit down to write I don't refer to the plot synopsis, don't outline, and simply write. This generally means I have a few guideposts in the plot in my head--perhaps a few key moments of the book that I know of ahead of time--but how the characters end up at those guideposts is unknown to me and comes out as I write. Basically, I sit down and start writing. No real prep time at all.
2. How much time do you generally take for your initial draft?
My initial draft usually takes 8 to 12 months to write, keeping in mind that my day job interferes with how much output I can get. If I didn't have the day job . . . I'd probably write the initial draft in about 6 months. Just a guess there.
3. How many drafts after the first do you generally do before sending it out for readers? (By drafts, I include complete rewrites and significant edit passes, but not minor editing passes.
After this first draft, I will do essentially three more drafts. The second draft is my own personal revision of that first draft based on things I know need to be changed and possibly on some feedback from friends is someone else has read it along the way. (I have a few beta readers, but not many.) This is the draft I will then send to my agent, Joshua Bilmes. He will then generally have a bunch of things that he feels need to be fixed before we can send it to the editor. So I'll do another draft based on his feedback. After this, he generally feels that it still needs more work, but we send it to my editor, Sheila Gilbert at DAW, so that she can give me her thoughts and I do another heavy duty revision based on her input and whatever else my agent thinks needs more work. So one revision for me, one for my agent, and one for my editor.
4. How many drafts (including the first) do you generally do prior to sending it to your editor/agent?
Oops, answered this one already in the previous question. One revision for me, then off to my agent.
5. Do you have a daily word count or specific amount of time set aside for writing? If so, how many words (or how long)?
When I'm working the day job, my daily goal is 1000 words, usually squeezed into an afternoon writing session. (I teach at a college and try to schedule all of my courses and office hours in the morning.) When I'm on break from the day job, I shoot for 2000 words, with a small writing session in the morning (if I can) and a longer one in the afternoon.
And now a gratuitous shot of my cover art for Shattering the Ley, out now in paperback!
A short survey for the authors out there (well, at least the novelists):
1. How much time do you tend to spend on preparations for your novel before you actually start writing it? (By preparations, I mean preparatory research, plotting, outlining, etc. -- whatever you do)
I do very little preparation ahead of time. I'm a pantser or organic writer, meaning that I might write a plot synopsis to get my publisher to buy the book before I write it, but once I sit down to write I don't refer to the plot synopsis, don't outline, and simply write. This generally means I have a few guideposts in the plot in my head--perhaps a few key moments of the book that I know of ahead of time--but how the characters end up at those guideposts is unknown to me and comes out as I write. Basically, I sit down and start writing. No real prep time at all.
2. How much time do you generally take for your initial draft?
My initial draft usually takes 8 to 12 months to write, keeping in mind that my day job interferes with how much output I can get. If I didn't have the day job . . . I'd probably write the initial draft in about 6 months. Just a guess there.
3. How many drafts after the first do you generally do before sending it out for readers? (By drafts, I include complete rewrites and significant edit passes, but not minor editing passes.
After this first draft, I will do essentially three more drafts. The second draft is my own personal revision of that first draft based on things I know need to be changed and possibly on some feedback from friends is someone else has read it along the way. (I have a few beta readers, but not many.) This is the draft I will then send to my agent, Joshua Bilmes. He will then generally have a bunch of things that he feels need to be fixed before we can send it to the editor. So I'll do another draft based on his feedback. After this, he generally feels that it still needs more work, but we send it to my editor, Sheila Gilbert at DAW, so that she can give me her thoughts and I do another heavy duty revision based on her input and whatever else my agent thinks needs more work. So one revision for me, one for my agent, and one for my editor.
4. How many drafts (including the first) do you generally do prior to sending it to your editor/agent?
Oops, answered this one already in the previous question. One revision for me, then off to my agent.
5. Do you have a daily word count or specific amount of time set aside for writing? If so, how many words (or how long)?
When I'm working the day job, my daily goal is 1000 words, usually squeezed into an afternoon writing session. (I teach at a college and try to schedule all of my courses and office hours in the morning.) When I'm on break from the day job, I shoot for 2000 words, with a small writing session in the morning (if I can) and a longer one in the afternoon.
And now a gratuitous shot of my cover art for Shattering the Ley, out now in paperback!
July 7, 2015
Book Day for SHATTERING THE LEY (paperback)!
Today is the release day for Shattering the Ley in paperback, commonly called BOOK DAY! If you happen to see Shattering the Ley on the shelf at your local bookstore, snap a pic of it and post it on social media (tag "Joshua B. Palmatier" on Facebook or use @bentateauthor on Twitter). Or, if you've already got a copy of the book at home in hardcover or paperback, snap a pic of it to show it's been adopted already. *grin* And if you've already read it, PLEASE stop by your favorite online resource (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, etc.) and take a moment to write a review. All of these things help spread the word about the book and encourage people to pick up a copy, which of course helps your author keep authoring.
If you haven't heard of the book, well, here's the back cover copy, cover art, handy links for ordering, and some blurbs that might convince you to take a much closer and more personal look. Feel free to ask questions in the comments. And please share a link to this post on your social media as well!
Shattering the Ley
Erenthrall--sprawling city of light and magic, whose streets are packed with traders from a dozen lands and whose buildings and towers are grown and shaped in the space of a day. At the heart of the city is the Nexus, the hub of the ley line system that powers Erenthrall and links the city and the Baronial plains to the rest of the continent and the world beyond. The Prime Wielders control the Nexus with secrecy and lies, but it is the Baron who controls the Wielders and the rest of the Baronies through a web of brutal intimidation enforced by his bloodthirsty guardsmen and unnatural assassins.
When the rebel Kormanley seek to destroy the ley system and the Baron’s chokehold on the continent, two people find themselves caught in the chaos that sweeps through Erenthrall and threatens the entire world: Kara Tremain, a young Wielder coming into her power, who discovers the forbidden truth behind the magic that powers the ley lines, and Allan Garrett, a recruit in the Baron’s guard, who learns that the city holds more mysteries and more danger than he could possibly have imagined . . . and who holds a secret within himself that could mean Erenthrall’s destruction . . . or its salvation.
Buy Shattering the Ley at these fine online stores: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Nook, and Zombies Need Brains' Online Store.
Blurbs:
"Shattering the Ley, the terrific new fantasy from Joshua Palmatier, is built of equal parts innocence, politics, and treachery. It features a highly original magic system, and may well be the only fantasy ever written where some of the most exciting scenes take place in a power plant. I couldn’t put it down." --S.C. Butler, author of Reiffen’s Choice from Tor
“Intricate world-building, engaging and complex characters and a fresh sharp take on magic and politics, Shattering The Ley proves that Joshua Palmatier is definitely a key new voice in original fantasy.” --Kari Sperring, author of The Grass King’s Concubine from DAW
“Palmatier at his best! Not only does he deliver the fascinating world and compelling characters readers have come to expect from him, but a taut thriller about the apocalyptic consequences of tampering with the natural world that elevates this fantasy into a cautionary tale for our age.” --Barbara Ashford, author of Spells at the Crossroads from DAW
Reviews:
Palmatier (the Throne of Amenkor trilogy) kicks off an epic fantasy series with this complex tale set in a world where wonders are accomplished by manipulating the magical energy of ley lines. Over several years, the city of Erenthrall--home to the miraculous Nexus at the heart of the ley system--is imperiled by the abuse of ley power and the dissident priests of the Kormanley. Caught up in the growing conflict are Kara, whose ability to manipulate the ley earns her a swift promotion through the ranks of the Wielders, and Allan, one of the ruthless Baron Arent's enforcers. As Erenthrall endures disruptions, blackouts, rebel uprisings, and political infighting, tension rises until catastrophe seems imminent. Palmatier lets the story build slowly, introducing a sprawling cast and fascinating setting, before explosively upsetting the status quo. This initial installment feels like build up for the rest of the story, but still delivers a compelling adventure. –-Publisher’s Weekly
*********
The kickoff of a new fantasy series from the author of The Vacant Throne (2008, etc.). Erenthrall is a city powered by magic channeled through a web of ley lines whose focus is the Nexus. Baron Arent Pallentor rules the city and controls the surrounding baronies by intimidation and his mastery of the ley system via the Wielders and the elite Primes, among whom Prime Wielder Augustus, like the baron himself, achieves near-immortality by bathing in the magic of the ley. The Baron orders the creation of extensions to his power at whim--new buildings, flying machines and other devices brought about by means of the ley’s magic. But a rebel group calling itself the Kormanley considers this a perversion of the natural order and seeks to oppose him. One faction of the Kormanley, losing patience with slow persuasion, turns to violence, becoming in effect a terrorist group. Allan Garrett, an ambitious member of the Baron’s SS-like Dogs, cannot prevent his wife’s death by one of the Kormanley’s bombs, and he deserts--but not before discovering he has the unconscious ability to suppress the effects of the ley’s magic. Kara Tremain, a young Wielder fast tracked as a future Prime, witnesses her parents’ deaths in another terrorist incident and becomes determined to help stamp the perpetrators out. What nobody yet grasps is that the appearance of “distortions,” weird and deadly space-time warps that appear at random to shred people and swallow buildings, has its direct cause in the stresses imposed on the ley. Magic operating along scientifically testable principles: Palmatier exploits an active imagination to good effect, with characters who develop along with the story--the first 200 pages, however, could have been condensed into 20--with plenty of tension and excitement. Fantasy regulars looking for a fresh series with real bite should find it worth a try. --Kirkus Review
***********
Critics of fantasy say the genre is simple escapism. How can novels about magic and swordplay say anything meaningful to our age of concerns about terrorism and the environment? Such detractors clearly have not read Shattering The Ley by Joshua Palmatier which deals with both these subjects in the framework of an imagined world fantasy novel that manages to subvert several of the usual fantasy clichés.
In this book, the city of Erenthrall uses the magic of the earth's ley lines to run everything from street lights to floating carts to the construction of new towers. The Prime Wielders who control this magic have fashioned the ley into the Nexus, essentially a magical equivalent of a country's electrical grid. The book opens with schoolgirl Kara Tremain learning that she has a strange affinity for ley powered objects as globes brighten when she draws near them and, when her father takes her to see the magical creation of the first new tower in 20 years, she feels the energy and faints.
Meanwhile, Allan Garrett, a new Dog (one of the cruel city guardsmen), witnesses the self-immolation of a Kormanley priest who accuses the Baron and Wielders of perverting nature in creating the Nexus system before lighting himself on fire. Allan himself has a somewhat inconvenient tendency to disrupt ley workings.
Then, shortly after a gardener Wielder, Ischua, tells Kara she has a strong ability to wield the power of the ley at an unusually young age, her younger friend Justin disappears despite a careful search by Kara and their other friend Cory. Justin is tortured into becoming a Hound, one of the Baron's secret trackers and spies. The Wielder, Ischua, is secretly a member of the Kormanley and hatches a plot to influence Kara to favor their cause since she is strong enough to become a Prime Wielder. While the Dogs search for the Kormanley, a splinter group launches exploding carts at the crowd gathered to watch the activation of the new tower, killing Kara's parents.
In virtually any other fantasy, Kara would turn out to be a chosen one, who would gather the various characters into a team to defeat the Baron and/or the Kormanley. Instead, Palmatier brilliantly shatters genre conventions. Kara and Allan do not meet for most of the book and I do not think there is a single scene with Justin, Cory, Kara, and Allan all together. And the main conflict is environmental, a breakdown in the ley system is creating distortions in the air, like a tear into another dimension that can trap people partway through them and then cut anything that is halfway through when it vanishes. The Kormanley claim this is a further manifestation of the need to stop misusing the ley and allow it to return to its natural patterns.
Altogether, this is an innovative fantasy novel with a very modern feel. Today's readers can certainly relate to the concerns of these characters and the more sophisticated morality than the conventional good versus evil struggle of too many fantasies. When the Dogs are chasing the Kormanley, it is hard to see which is the lesser of two evils. For readers who are willing to tackle a more challenging fantasy, without clear heroes and obvious conflicts, Shattering the Ley is an excellent read. –Sam Lubell, SFRevu
***************
Palmatier (The Vacant Throne) takes familiar ideas of ley lines and magic wielders but gives them fresh life in this rich fantasy world. --Library Journal, 6/15/2014
If you haven't heard of the book, well, here's the back cover copy, cover art, handy links for ordering, and some blurbs that might convince you to take a much closer and more personal look. Feel free to ask questions in the comments. And please share a link to this post on your social media as well!
Shattering the Ley
Erenthrall--sprawling city of light and magic, whose streets are packed with traders from a dozen lands and whose buildings and towers are grown and shaped in the space of a day. At the heart of the city is the Nexus, the hub of the ley line system that powers Erenthrall and links the city and the Baronial plains to the rest of the continent and the world beyond. The Prime Wielders control the Nexus with secrecy and lies, but it is the Baron who controls the Wielders and the rest of the Baronies through a web of brutal intimidation enforced by his bloodthirsty guardsmen and unnatural assassins.
When the rebel Kormanley seek to destroy the ley system and the Baron’s chokehold on the continent, two people find themselves caught in the chaos that sweeps through Erenthrall and threatens the entire world: Kara Tremain, a young Wielder coming into her power, who discovers the forbidden truth behind the magic that powers the ley lines, and Allan Garrett, a recruit in the Baron’s guard, who learns that the city holds more mysteries and more danger than he could possibly have imagined . . . and who holds a secret within himself that could mean Erenthrall’s destruction . . . or its salvation.
Buy Shattering the Ley at these fine online stores: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Nook, and Zombies Need Brains' Online Store.
Blurbs:
"Shattering the Ley, the terrific new fantasy from Joshua Palmatier, is built of equal parts innocence, politics, and treachery. It features a highly original magic system, and may well be the only fantasy ever written where some of the most exciting scenes take place in a power plant. I couldn’t put it down." --S.C. Butler, author of Reiffen’s Choice from Tor
“Intricate world-building, engaging and complex characters and a fresh sharp take on magic and politics, Shattering The Ley proves that Joshua Palmatier is definitely a key new voice in original fantasy.” --Kari Sperring, author of The Grass King’s Concubine from DAW
“Palmatier at his best! Not only does he deliver the fascinating world and compelling characters readers have come to expect from him, but a taut thriller about the apocalyptic consequences of tampering with the natural world that elevates this fantasy into a cautionary tale for our age.” --Barbara Ashford, author of Spells at the Crossroads from DAW
Reviews:
Palmatier (the Throne of Amenkor trilogy) kicks off an epic fantasy series with this complex tale set in a world where wonders are accomplished by manipulating the magical energy of ley lines. Over several years, the city of Erenthrall--home to the miraculous Nexus at the heart of the ley system--is imperiled by the abuse of ley power and the dissident priests of the Kormanley. Caught up in the growing conflict are Kara, whose ability to manipulate the ley earns her a swift promotion through the ranks of the Wielders, and Allan, one of the ruthless Baron Arent's enforcers. As Erenthrall endures disruptions, blackouts, rebel uprisings, and political infighting, tension rises until catastrophe seems imminent. Palmatier lets the story build slowly, introducing a sprawling cast and fascinating setting, before explosively upsetting the status quo. This initial installment feels like build up for the rest of the story, but still delivers a compelling adventure. –-Publisher’s Weekly
*********
The kickoff of a new fantasy series from the author of The Vacant Throne (2008, etc.). Erenthrall is a city powered by magic channeled through a web of ley lines whose focus is the Nexus. Baron Arent Pallentor rules the city and controls the surrounding baronies by intimidation and his mastery of the ley system via the Wielders and the elite Primes, among whom Prime Wielder Augustus, like the baron himself, achieves near-immortality by bathing in the magic of the ley. The Baron orders the creation of extensions to his power at whim--new buildings, flying machines and other devices brought about by means of the ley’s magic. But a rebel group calling itself the Kormanley considers this a perversion of the natural order and seeks to oppose him. One faction of the Kormanley, losing patience with slow persuasion, turns to violence, becoming in effect a terrorist group. Allan Garrett, an ambitious member of the Baron’s SS-like Dogs, cannot prevent his wife’s death by one of the Kormanley’s bombs, and he deserts--but not before discovering he has the unconscious ability to suppress the effects of the ley’s magic. Kara Tremain, a young Wielder fast tracked as a future Prime, witnesses her parents’ deaths in another terrorist incident and becomes determined to help stamp the perpetrators out. What nobody yet grasps is that the appearance of “distortions,” weird and deadly space-time warps that appear at random to shred people and swallow buildings, has its direct cause in the stresses imposed on the ley. Magic operating along scientifically testable principles: Palmatier exploits an active imagination to good effect, with characters who develop along with the story--the first 200 pages, however, could have been condensed into 20--with plenty of tension and excitement. Fantasy regulars looking for a fresh series with real bite should find it worth a try. --Kirkus Review
***********
Critics of fantasy say the genre is simple escapism. How can novels about magic and swordplay say anything meaningful to our age of concerns about terrorism and the environment? Such detractors clearly have not read Shattering The Ley by Joshua Palmatier which deals with both these subjects in the framework of an imagined world fantasy novel that manages to subvert several of the usual fantasy clichés.
In this book, the city of Erenthrall uses the magic of the earth's ley lines to run everything from street lights to floating carts to the construction of new towers. The Prime Wielders who control this magic have fashioned the ley into the Nexus, essentially a magical equivalent of a country's electrical grid. The book opens with schoolgirl Kara Tremain learning that she has a strange affinity for ley powered objects as globes brighten when she draws near them and, when her father takes her to see the magical creation of the first new tower in 20 years, she feels the energy and faints.
Meanwhile, Allan Garrett, a new Dog (one of the cruel city guardsmen), witnesses the self-immolation of a Kormanley priest who accuses the Baron and Wielders of perverting nature in creating the Nexus system before lighting himself on fire. Allan himself has a somewhat inconvenient tendency to disrupt ley workings.
Then, shortly after a gardener Wielder, Ischua, tells Kara she has a strong ability to wield the power of the ley at an unusually young age, her younger friend Justin disappears despite a careful search by Kara and their other friend Cory. Justin is tortured into becoming a Hound, one of the Baron's secret trackers and spies. The Wielder, Ischua, is secretly a member of the Kormanley and hatches a plot to influence Kara to favor their cause since she is strong enough to become a Prime Wielder. While the Dogs search for the Kormanley, a splinter group launches exploding carts at the crowd gathered to watch the activation of the new tower, killing Kara's parents.
In virtually any other fantasy, Kara would turn out to be a chosen one, who would gather the various characters into a team to defeat the Baron and/or the Kormanley. Instead, Palmatier brilliantly shatters genre conventions. Kara and Allan do not meet for most of the book and I do not think there is a single scene with Justin, Cory, Kara, and Allan all together. And the main conflict is environmental, a breakdown in the ley system is creating distortions in the air, like a tear into another dimension that can trap people partway through them and then cut anything that is halfway through when it vanishes. The Kormanley claim this is a further manifestation of the need to stop misusing the ley and allow it to return to its natural patterns.
Altogether, this is an innovative fantasy novel with a very modern feel. Today's readers can certainly relate to the concerns of these characters and the more sophisticated morality than the conventional good versus evil struggle of too many fantasies. When the Dogs are chasing the Kormanley, it is hard to see which is the lesser of two evils. For readers who are willing to tackle a more challenging fantasy, without clear heroes and obvious conflicts, Shattering the Ley is an excellent read. –Sam Lubell, SFRevu
***************
Palmatier (The Vacant Throne) takes familiar ideas of ley lines and magic wielders but gives them fresh life in this rich fantasy world. --Library Journal, 6/15/2014
July 2, 2015
New DAW Releases!
I've just posted the new DAW releases fro July 2015! Swing on over to the unofficial DAW Books blod (
dawbooks
) and check out new books from E.C. Blake, E.C. Ambrose, and Marshall Ryan Maresca, plus the paperback release of my own novel SHATTERING THE LEY.
dawbooks
) and check out new books from E.C. Blake, E.C. Ambrose, and Marshall Ryan Maresca, plus the paperback release of my own novel SHATTERING THE LEY.June 30, 2015
ZNB Announces New Anthology Projects!
Zombies Need Brains LLC, my SF&F themed anthology publishing company, is getting ready to run a new Kickstarter and has announced the TWO anthology themes that we'll be trying to get published. The Kickstarter will likely start sometime in August (I'm shooting for August 15th, but that may change) and if it's successfully funded there will be an open call for submissions for the two anthologies after that. In an attempt to give writers a chance to come up with a cool idea, write a story, and revise it before the submission deadline, I'm announcing the two themes now. So here they are:
Alien Artifacts: Life is out there. Alien civilizations have grown and died and been reborn again since the dawn of the universe. Some of those civilizations have left behind signs of their existence, hidden in the ruins on unexplored planets or floating in space in the form of ghost ships. In this anthology, 14 of today’s best short story writers will tackle what could happen if, in our exploration of space, we run across some of these ancient alien artifacts. Will they catapult humanity to new technological heights . . . or reveal our darkest secrets and destroy us? Edited by Patricia Bray and Joshua Palmatier, this anthology will contain approximately 14 stories with an average length of 6000 words each.
Were-: We’ve all read hundreds of stories about werewolves . . . but what about the less famous of the were-clans—the werelions, wereducks, and wereferns? These underrepresented families need to come out of the dark, full moon or not! From light and humorous to dark and serious, this anthology will explore other varieties of were-creatures and tell their stories. No werewolves allowed! Edited by Joshua Palmatier and Patricia Bray, it will contain approximately 14 stories with an average length of 6000 words each.
So, all of you writers out there, put on those thinking caps and start cogitating! And keep track of Zombies Need Brains at their website (www.zombiesneedbrains.com) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc) and Twitter (@ZNBLLC) so you know when the Kickstarter kicks off AND, if it's successful, when the deadline is for the open call. Swing on by the ZNB online store to check out their two previous anthologies and ZNB merchandise!
Alien Artifacts: Life is out there. Alien civilizations have grown and died and been reborn again since the dawn of the universe. Some of those civilizations have left behind signs of their existence, hidden in the ruins on unexplored planets or floating in space in the form of ghost ships. In this anthology, 14 of today’s best short story writers will tackle what could happen if, in our exploration of space, we run across some of these ancient alien artifacts. Will they catapult humanity to new technological heights . . . or reveal our darkest secrets and destroy us? Edited by Patricia Bray and Joshua Palmatier, this anthology will contain approximately 14 stories with an average length of 6000 words each.
Were-: We’ve all read hundreds of stories about werewolves . . . but what about the less famous of the were-clans—the werelions, wereducks, and wereferns? These underrepresented families need to come out of the dark, full moon or not! From light and humorous to dark and serious, this anthology will explore other varieties of were-creatures and tell their stories. No werewolves allowed! Edited by Joshua Palmatier and Patricia Bray, it will contain approximately 14 stories with an average length of 6000 words each.
So, all of you writers out there, put on those thinking caps and start cogitating! And keep track of Zombies Need Brains at their website (www.zombiesneedbrains.com) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc) and Twitter (@ZNBLLC) so you know when the Kickstarter kicks off AND, if it's successful, when the deadline is for the open call. Swing on by the ZNB online store to check out their two previous anthologies and ZNB merchandise!
Book Review: "Dragon * Princess" by S. Andrew Swann
Let's end the month with a book review!
This is the first book by S. Andrew Swann that I've read, continuing my attempt to read new-to-me authors this year. And it was a blast! Definitely a fun romp through fantasy tropes with a twist.
Premise: Frank Blackthorne is a not-so-great thief on the run after accidentally disrupting a virgin sacrifice to a Dark Lord. After rescuing the virgin, he finds himself in need of an escape from an entire kingdom. When a wizard approaches him with an offer to help save a princess from a dragon in exchange for the princess' hand in marriage, he's rightfully suspicious, but also out of options. Of course, the rescue goes horribly wrong and suddenly he finds himself trapped in the princess' body and deposited in the middle of nowhere. Now he has to find his way back, find the wizard, and hopefully get his own body back!
Again, this is intended to be a fun, glorious romp through all of the fantasy tropes you've grown to love and it's exactly that. The twist, of course, is the body swapping, which S. Andrew Swann handles wonderfully. The moment I started reading, I was caught up in the story and the adventure dragged me along and kept me interested, with likeable characters (a must for these types of books) and a plot that unravels and gets more complicated the more Frank finds out in his search for the wizard. The best part of the novel is that the plot hinges completely on the four major characters involved (princess, dragon, wizard, thief) and that each of those characters has their own story, their own motivations, and all of them are completely believable.
If you like fun, humorous fantasy, I'd definitely recommend this book (and its sequel, which I've already read). I'm now waiting impatiently for the third book in the series.
This is the first book by S. Andrew Swann that I've read, continuing my attempt to read new-to-me authors this year. And it was a blast! Definitely a fun romp through fantasy tropes with a twist.
Premise: Frank Blackthorne is a not-so-great thief on the run after accidentally disrupting a virgin sacrifice to a Dark Lord. After rescuing the virgin, he finds himself in need of an escape from an entire kingdom. When a wizard approaches him with an offer to help save a princess from a dragon in exchange for the princess' hand in marriage, he's rightfully suspicious, but also out of options. Of course, the rescue goes horribly wrong and suddenly he finds himself trapped in the princess' body and deposited in the middle of nowhere. Now he has to find his way back, find the wizard, and hopefully get his own body back!
Again, this is intended to be a fun, glorious romp through all of the fantasy tropes you've grown to love and it's exactly that. The twist, of course, is the body swapping, which S. Andrew Swann handles wonderfully. The moment I started reading, I was caught up in the story and the adventure dragged me along and kept me interested, with likeable characters (a must for these types of books) and a plot that unravels and gets more complicated the more Frank finds out in his search for the wizard. The best part of the novel is that the plot hinges completely on the four major characters involved (princess, dragon, wizard, thief) and that each of those characters has their own story, their own motivations, and all of them are completely believable.
If you like fun, humorous fantasy, I'd definitely recommend this book (and its sequel, which I've already read). I'm now waiting impatiently for the third book in the series.
June 23, 2015
Book Review: "Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson
In my continued quest to read books from authors I've never read before, I decided I should start on some of Brandon Sanderson's works. This is the first of his books and the first that I've read. And I can see why he's become popular.
Premise: The city of Elantris was the city of the gods--when random people were transformed into shining white near-immortals with the power to wield the magic called Dor, they were sent to the city to live out the life of gods. But something has gone wrong. Now, instead of becoming gods, those chosen are sent to the decaying city of Elantris and shunned and ridiculed, believed to be cursed. Raoden, prince of Arelon, is struck from the curse and thrown into Elantris, where he discovers that the Elantrians are indeed cursed, their bodies dead, their pains never-ending. Sarene, princess of Teod, arrives in Kae outside the city of Elantris to marry Raoden, only to discover he has supposedly died. But she suspects something else has happened and she intends to find out what. Hrathen, high priest of Fjordell, arrives in Kae with one purpose: convert the entire country to his own religion . . . or see them destroyed. All three of them collide both inside and outside the walls of Elantris, each seeking to find what they have lost.
This was an interesting fantasy novel, with all of the best trappings of fantasy brought together in a unique and interesting way. The idea behind the city of Elantris is intriguing and that alone keeps you reading. What exactly happened to cause it to be "cursed" and will Raoden be able to figure out how to fix it? Add in the political intrigue that's swirling around Sarene and Hrathen and I was hooked. All three of the characters were interesting and real and the situations into which they were thrust drove the plot forward. And the plot . . . well, it takes enough twists and turns toward the end to keep even rollercoaster enthusiasts satisfied.
I'd have to say this is the best fantasy novel I've read in a long time. It had cool concepts, interesting magic (even if that magic didn't work for most of the novel), and characters that I liked and wanted to follow. The world had some of the standard trappings of a fantasy novel--a ruthless king, the medieval time period for a setting, etc.--but it didn't feel like your standard fantasy. The city of Elantris and what it represented gave it a more modern feel. This is what I've been searching for in my fantasy reading--something different but still obviously fantasy.
My only criticism of the book has to do with pacing. The beginning of the book and the end of the book have two different paces to them. At the beginning, we're introduced to the world and the three main characters in a leisurely pace that may have been a touch slow and drawn out, but not overly so. But then, forward the end, as the twists in plot start occurring, the pace becomes too rushed. In essence, the turning plot happens too fast. I think there could have been more of a balance achieved here--where words were cut from the beginning to speed up the pace, but then added back in toward the end to slow the action there down slightly.
Other than that, I had no complaints about this book and highly recommend it to fantasy readers everywhere. Good plot, non-standard setting, interesting concepts, and above all characters that you want to read about. I'll definitely be reading more Brandon Sanderson. I've been told that Mistborn will blow me away. I guess we'll see!
Premise: The city of Elantris was the city of the gods--when random people were transformed into shining white near-immortals with the power to wield the magic called Dor, they were sent to the city to live out the life of gods. But something has gone wrong. Now, instead of becoming gods, those chosen are sent to the decaying city of Elantris and shunned and ridiculed, believed to be cursed. Raoden, prince of Arelon, is struck from the curse and thrown into Elantris, where he discovers that the Elantrians are indeed cursed, their bodies dead, their pains never-ending. Sarene, princess of Teod, arrives in Kae outside the city of Elantris to marry Raoden, only to discover he has supposedly died. But she suspects something else has happened and she intends to find out what. Hrathen, high priest of Fjordell, arrives in Kae with one purpose: convert the entire country to his own religion . . . or see them destroyed. All three of them collide both inside and outside the walls of Elantris, each seeking to find what they have lost.
This was an interesting fantasy novel, with all of the best trappings of fantasy brought together in a unique and interesting way. The idea behind the city of Elantris is intriguing and that alone keeps you reading. What exactly happened to cause it to be "cursed" and will Raoden be able to figure out how to fix it? Add in the political intrigue that's swirling around Sarene and Hrathen and I was hooked. All three of the characters were interesting and real and the situations into which they were thrust drove the plot forward. And the plot . . . well, it takes enough twists and turns toward the end to keep even rollercoaster enthusiasts satisfied.
I'd have to say this is the best fantasy novel I've read in a long time. It had cool concepts, interesting magic (even if that magic didn't work for most of the novel), and characters that I liked and wanted to follow. The world had some of the standard trappings of a fantasy novel--a ruthless king, the medieval time period for a setting, etc.--but it didn't feel like your standard fantasy. The city of Elantris and what it represented gave it a more modern feel. This is what I've been searching for in my fantasy reading--something different but still obviously fantasy.
My only criticism of the book has to do with pacing. The beginning of the book and the end of the book have two different paces to them. At the beginning, we're introduced to the world and the three main characters in a leisurely pace that may have been a touch slow and drawn out, but not overly so. But then, forward the end, as the twists in plot start occurring, the pace becomes too rushed. In essence, the turning plot happens too fast. I think there could have been more of a balance achieved here--where words were cut from the beginning to speed up the pace, but then added back in toward the end to slow the action there down slightly.
Other than that, I had no complaints about this book and highly recommend it to fantasy readers everywhere. Good plot, non-standard setting, interesting concepts, and above all characters that you want to read about. I'll definitely be reading more Brandon Sanderson. I've been told that Mistborn will blow me away. I guess we'll see!
June 18, 2015
Last June Book Discussion
I've just posted the last of the June book discussion over at the unofficial DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! We're looking at Blood Red by Mercedes Lackey, part of the Elemental Masters series. Swing on by and check it out!
dawbooks
)! We're looking at Blood Red by Mercedes Lackey, part of the Elemental Masters series. Swing on by and check it out!June 16, 2015
New Book Discussion!
I've just posted the latest book discussion at the unofficial DAW Books blog (
dawbooks
)! We're looking at the re-release of Tanith Lee's debut novel The Birthgrave, the first book in the Birthgrave trilogy. Swing on by and check it out!
dawbooks
)! We're looking at the re-release of Tanith Lee's debut novel The Birthgrave, the first book in the Birthgrave trilogy. Swing on by and check it out!June 11, 2015
Confluence Schedule!
OK, it looks like the schedule for Confluence in Pittsburgh this coming July 24-26th is getting finalized. Here's a peak at the current rough draft for me and Zombies Need Brains. Again, ZNB will have a booth in the dealer's room at the con, which will be manned by me and my mom. But my schedule is pretty packed, so it will likely be mostly my mom. This is what's planned, just remember that the schedule may change over the next few weeks.
Friday:
7pm: "It Came From the Slushpile!" Editors talk about cover letters, writing samples, what works, what doesn't, and more!
8pm: Literary Beer: Crowd-funded Anthologies: Creating successful crowd-funded anthologies.
Saturday:
9am: Kaffeeklatch: Zombies Need Brains: Come talk to the founder of ZNB and two of the contributing authors of its anthologies.
10am: Seven Things and SF/Fantasy Novel Always Includes: Checklist or bucketlist, your mileage may vary!
2pm: "As Long As Anyone Can Remember . . .": Surely everyone hasn't REALLY been doing things the same way for thousands of years. Authors talk about the causes and consequences of social evolution in the real world and epic fantasy.
7pm: The Manuscript on the Doorstep: Successful relationships between writers and editors.
Sunday:
10am: Magic for the 21st Century: No matter how our technology advances, we still want something out of the ordinary. Come explore magic realism, Clarke's law, and alternate sources of wonder.
Friday:
7pm: "It Came From the Slushpile!" Editors talk about cover letters, writing samples, what works, what doesn't, and more!
8pm: Literary Beer: Crowd-funded Anthologies: Creating successful crowd-funded anthologies.
Saturday:
9am: Kaffeeklatch: Zombies Need Brains: Come talk to the founder of ZNB and two of the contributing authors of its anthologies.
10am: Seven Things and SF/Fantasy Novel Always Includes: Checklist or bucketlist, your mileage may vary!
2pm: "As Long As Anyone Can Remember . . .": Surely everyone hasn't REALLY been doing things the same way for thousands of years. Authors talk about the causes and consequences of social evolution in the real world and epic fantasy.
7pm: The Manuscript on the Doorstep: Successful relationships between writers and editors.
Sunday:
10am: Magic for the 21st Century: No matter how our technology advances, we still want something out of the ordinary. Come explore magic realism, Clarke's law, and alternate sources of wonder.
