Alex C. Telander's Blog, page 86

"1Q84" by Haruki Murakami (Knopf Books, 2011)

Bestselling Japanese author Haruki Murakami returns with his next encapsulating novel, and this one's a long one.  Originally released as three separate serialized books in Japan, 1Q84 has been released as a 944-page behemoth in the US.  It is the year 1984 and the main character, Aomame makes the decision and exits a taxicab on a gridlocked freeway and goes down an emergency escape staircase and finds herself transported to an alternate world of sorts, though it is still very similar to our own; she comes to call it 1Q84, where "Q" is Japanese for ?.

Aomame is a special kind of person; technically an assassin who has developed a way of stabbing a person at a specific point in the back of the neck with a small ice-pick type implement that immediately kills the person and makes it almost impossible to rule as anything other than a heart attack.  Aomame's targets are vicious, cruel man who have been bad to their spouses or children or other people for a long time and don't deserve to live in this world.

Then there is the other main character, a writer named Tengo, who is rewriting a most unusual novella penned by a seventeen year-old girl with the goal of having it win a literary prize and become a bestseller.  It is a most unique tale about these "little people" who create an air chrysalis, which is the title of the book.  Only, once the book becomes hugely successful, Tengo learns more about the origin of the story from the author, as well as the fact that these little people may very well be real in this 1Q84.

Aomame doesn't notice much different with the world of 1Q84, except that the police wear different uniforms and carry automatic machines guns, and also come nightfall there are two moons that rise up: one that looks just like ours, and another smaller misshapen one that rises shortly after it.  This is also a world where the little people exist too, though only Tengo knows about that.  And yet, under Murakami's skillful hand, the two are destined to meet and be together, after their previous involvement when they were children; it will take time, but the question remains whether it will be soon enough before the little people carry out their own special plan.

1Q84 has many of the elements that Murakami fans have come to expect from him, with his unique characters that draw you in, a crazy world that makes you feel like you're playing a Japanese horror game in some ways, and a writing style that will sweep you along.  A weak point with the book is that while it was originally three books, it could've used some editing, which is always a risk with long works that span multiple volumes, and it slows the pace, detracting from the story.  Nevertheless, 1Q84 is a darkly enchanting novel that will suck you in and not let you go until you are satiated at the end, where a number of questions are answered, though of course, not all, for something must be left to the imagination, otherwise it wouldn't be a true Murakami novel.

Originally written on February 13, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of 1Q84 from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.

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Book Report: Book News for the Week of February 19

And here's my weekly book report on Forces of Geek.

BookBanter Column on Forces of Geek: Great Tools For Writing

Great Tools for Writing

A lot has changed in the world of writing since the first word was recorded by human kind, and how writer's write has changed greatly also.  There were the Egyptians recording on their papyrus, Homer carving into stone, Chaucer writing away on vellum, Shakespeare scratching on parchment, writers of the twentieth century tapping away on their typewriters; and then there was the dawning of the new age of the computer or word processor. [CONTINUE READING . . .]

"Heir of Novron" by Michael J. Sullivan (Orbit Books, 2012)

The final collected volume of the Riyria Revelations, Heir of Novron, is now available and the really cool thing about is that it's probably the best volume, bringing together the two best books of the series: Wintertide and Percepliquis.  What's also interesting is how each book is quite different from the other, one might even say they're diametrically opposed in some ways: the former is a shorter, smaller, concise story that deals more with intrigue and knowing who you know and being in the right place at the right time, as well as focusing on one town and the enchanting celebration of a winter holiday; the latter is an epic fantasy tale that many have come to enjoy with the genre, featuring a grand quest, a band of important characters, and important events that will change the world of Elan and its people.

In Wintertide, on this year's holiday of the same name, a special celebration has been planned.  The New Empire wants to make a big deal of its victory over the Nationalists, and has some important public executions planned: the villainous Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar.  The only problem is that Royce and Hadrian are in town and they happen to be good friends with both of those people and have plans of springing them free whatever it takes.

Sullivan clearly had fun with Wintertide, playing around with Hadrian engaging in a joust, even though he doesn't know much about the whole nobility and chivalry thing, but he sure knows how to fight.  And how having friends in the most unlikeliest of places often proves invaluable.  Fans will enjoy this penultimate chapter, with Sullivan's strong descriptions and scenes of the winter festivities; of the sounds, sights and smells.  It's an enjoyable, thrilling tale before the final showdown.

In Percepliquis, the beginning of the end has begun: the elves of old have crossed the Nidwalden River in large numbers and are coming to take over; they threaten the entire continent of Elan.  The people have little hope left; they know they don't stand a chance against these powerful elves.  And it all comes down to Novron's heir, who must make a stand, and the only way he can do that is by finding the sacred horn.  It will involve an arduous quest, with a strong group of warriors who also possess intellect.  They will have to travel deep beneath the ground, in search of the ancient, ruined city of Percepliquis, following an old diary that may not even be true.  Fortunately, Royce and Hadrian are coming along for the ride, so if these intrepid few have any chance of finding the horn and saving the people of Elan, only these two will be able to make it happen.

In the longest volume yet, Sullivan has outdone himself here with lots going on: multiple storylines, lots of action, lots of conflict between friends and enemies, important details from the previous books brought to light, travels through various terrains, and an ultimate duel.  With the thrill of a top-rate action movie, combined with the epic grandeur of Tolkien's Return of the King, this is a final showdown you won't be able to stop reading, let alone put down.  Who will live; who will die?  In this grand finale, anything can happen . .. you won't want to miss it.

Originally written on February 11, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of The Heir of Novron from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.

You might also like . . .

GUEST POST with Ashlynne Laynne, Author of "The Progeny"

"No fate other than the one I choose." The timeless creed, and tattoo, bore by the Rousseau's— a vampire clan with the purest bloodline of any vampire family. Out of this clandestine group came one who was different, yet the same: Ascher – a half-bloodling— half- human, half vampire.

Ascher questions the purpose for his existence and which world he truly belongs to: the human world or the vampire world. Two months from sealing to Ursula— a prearranged union to a woman he abhors — he's at his wit's end. He knows if he calls off the sealing, the Romanian clan will strike with deadly force, but he cannot see eternity with a cold empty shell of a woman like Ursula.

Just when he thought life was complicated enough, he meets Shauna— a beautiful, bi-racial human Wiccan — and immediately develops an unshakable attraction to her. She makes him feel alive and vital despite his origins and Ascher makes a decision that turns his immortal world upside down.

 

About Ashlynne:

Ashlynne Laynne has always had a soft spot in her heart for vampires but grew tired of the garlic fearing, sun loathing creatures of old. An avid horror movie fan, she tends to enjoy media and music that is of a younger, more eclectic nature. This was the catalyst for her writing The Progeny. The vampire/witch pairing is unique and different when most books pair vampires with werewolves.

The infinite possibilities, for such a wickedly unique couple, intrigued her. There is no shortage of romance, steam and surprises in The Progeny. These books are for adults and contain adult sensuality and themes, but minimal profanity. She loves writing on the edge and teetering between the erotica and romance genres. She thinks of Ascher and Shauna as the damned version of Romeo and Juliet.

She's currently working on book two of the series entitled Blood Bonds. In her spare time, Ashlynne enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. Ashlynne juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write full time one day soon.

Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.

 

About The Progeny

 At its core, The Progeny is simply a story about a man and woman who fall in love, and the fact that he's a half-blood (half-human, half vampire) and she's a Wiccan human are secondary factors. It started as research about the Salem witch trials, some rough sketches of a special family heirloom that my guys would wear and two names—Ascher and Shauna. In the beginning, of the book, Ascher is grumpy. Frankly, who could blame him? He's engaged to seal to Ursula—a cold and careless vampire who wants nothing more than to get her hands on a bloodstone— and he feels conflicted about his existence.

All of that changes when he meets Shawnette McCutchin. She's beautiful, intriguing and possesses some of the most potent blood that he's ever smelled. A war immediately begins inside Ascher. He craves Shauna's blood just as much as he craves her body and the closer they get, the harder it is for him to control his urges. After Ascher calls off the sealing to Ursula, the trouble begins. His family's peaceful period ends when Ursula's army attacks the Rousseaus. Kidnapping, some steamy love scenes between our hero and heroine and Wiccan rage complete the plot.

 

Excerpt from The Progeny

Ascher pulled Shauna behind him, his stance clearly a protective one. But why-? Surely, she didn't need protection from her. His grip tightened around her arm, his knuckles straining with tension. Her mind finally registered his firm hold and sent messages to her heart and eyes.

She wiggled away from him. "Let go of me, Ash! What's wrong with you? Who is she?"

"I'm fine and she's nobody. Ursula was just leaving." He spoke with little conviction.

"The hell I am…" the stranger mumbled, an unsavory smirk turning up the corners of her mouth. "Tell her, Ascher. Tell her who I really am!"

"Yeah, Ascher," Shauna spoke in a mocking tone, her eyes becoming pieces of wet coal in narrow sockets. "Why don't you tell me the truth…who is she?"

He froze, his youthful face chiseled with a mixture of shock, horror and anger. "There's something you need to know."

"Spit it out, Ascher. Tell her! Or I will!" Ursula growled, her hands flicking the shades away from her face.

Terror, worse than any horror movie Shauna had ever seen. More ghastly than any monster a mind could conjure.

Shauna clutched her chest, stepping away from both of them. "Her eyes!" she screamed. "Ascher…what's wrong with her eyes?"

The stranger giggled and continued piercing her demonized stare into Shauna.

Ascher struggled to control his mounting anger. He clutched Shauna closer. "Do you trust me?"

The floor vibrated underneath their feet. Shauna's eyes became cold, the glare of distrust swimming in them.

"No. I don't! Why are you so nervous?"

"You left Katy alone. You should go back up with her. I'll be up there in a little while. Okay?"

"No. I want to know who she is. Right now, Ascher! Who…is…she?"

"Please, Shauna,"— he huffed with impatience— "just do it."

"For cryin' out loud…" Ursula groaned.

"I warned you, Ursula," he growled, every part of him aching to rip her to shreds. She had nerve. Were he not a gentleman, he'd finish her and be done with it.

"You don't warn me. Looks like you've been keeping a lot from her. Afraid she might not want you if she knows the real you?"

His lips strained against clenched teeth, begging to curl up and release a menacing snarl. Control— He had to stay in control. Push the anger back down. Stem the raging desire to lash out at Ursula.

Her red eyes narrowed, the smirk taunting him, daring him to expose himself. He was strong in his gifts, but rage made her stronger. Her mind turned, fighting off the subliminals he hurled at her.

She cackled, "That won't work, dearest. It's time she knows everything."

"Dearest?" Shauna questioned, her tiny fists balling.

Ascher reached for Shauna but she moved away from him.

"Don't touch me!"

"Ursula, doing this won't change things between us," he uttered, knowing she'd never listen to reason.

"No! She deserves to know the truth, Ascher," Ursula responded.

"Ursula, please—" He couldn't believe he was begging her for anything.

Ignoring his pleading, she continued, "My name is Ursula. Ascher and I are to seal in two days."

Shauna drew in a staggered breath. "Seal— as in marriage?"

Ascher sighed.

"Is this true?" Shauna demanded.

His head dropped in shame. "Yes, but…"

"So she is your fiancée? And let me guess, she's the first."

"Shauna, I can explain."

Shauna clutched her head with both hands screaming, "No!" The window, behind her, cracked. She ran towards the door, fresh tears flooding her face. Ascher grabbed at her, missing. "No!" she shouted again. The ceiling rumbled, water raining down from the sprinklers. "Move!" she shouted, pointing towards the door. It flew open, nearly ripping off its hinges. Ascher appeared in front of her. She scowled then pushed him back. "Go away!" she yelled then watched as an unseen force moved him from her path. She turned, backing away from both of them, her eyes fixated on the two. Her finger twirled then pointed at each of them. "Stay!"

"I hope you're happy now," he growled at Ursula then sprinted after Shauna, catching her before she hit the stairs. He clutched her, turning her to him. Distress blanketed her face. "Shauna please, just let me explain."

A strange burn started in her legs. What's happening to me? She'd had rage issues all her life but never anything like this. Her normally clear eyesight was now blurry and grey. The hall—she'd seen for three months and knew like the back of her hand—became an unfamiliar maze, veiled by her fuzzy vision.

She took a step, stumbled then regained her balance against the wall.

"I told you how important honesty was to me and you've been keeping this from me the whole time. You told me she was nobody… that it was only physical curiosity. It doesn't look that way to me. She talks like she owns you. You told me it was over between the two of you. How were you going to cover up getting married to someone else?"

"I wasn't, just listen to me…"

She shook her head. "I've listened enough. I can't trust you. Without trust, we have nothing. All you've done is feed me lies. You're a liar! I despise liars! I can't believe I was going to sleep with you—allow you to be my first." She gripped her stomach and doubled over. "I'm going to be sick…"

He reached for her, again.

"Don't touch me!" Every ounce of restraint left her body. Chaos now flooded her brain. She wanted to lash out. No, she needed to lash out.

"Shauna. Just let me take you home. I promise I'll explain things to you."

"What part of, 'I don't want to hear your lies'— don't you understand?" she seethed through clenched teeth, her anger blazing directly into him. "Back…!" she barked, pushing her hands away from her body, towards him. He flew back against the wall. "I don't want to hear it! Don't touch me, Ascher," she sobbed into her hands, "I hate you. I wish I'd never met you!"

"Shauna…?" he whispered, pain and disbelief creasing his face.

"Just leave me alone. I never want to see you again."

"Shauna you don't…."

"Oh yes I do— I mean it and I quit! I can't work here anymore."

She ran out the emergency exit, setting off the door alarm, sprinting—into the night.

 

Ashlynne appreciates and loves to hear from her readers. Connect with her:

Twitter: @qlane

Facebook: Book Page- http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Progeny-Series-by-author-   Ashlynne-Laynne/129418917161599

                  Author Page- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ashlynne-Laynne/118945981513261

Author Blog: http://ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com/

Email: ashlynnelaynne@aol.com

 

Where to Buy The Progeny:

Amazon Kindle:  http://www.amazon.com/Progeny-ebook/dp/B0074535P6/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328127665&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble Nook:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-progeny-ashlynne-laynne/1108540255?ean=2940014108355&itm=1&usri=the+progeny+by+ashlynne+laynne

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/128489

GUEST POST From Tobias Buckell, Author of "Arctic Rising"

The fun thing about writing science fiction is that you posit something fairly wild, and then you start extrapolating out from that what if as rigorously as you can to see where all the consequences take you.

When I was originally reading the research for Arctic Rising, I was reading a lot of reports by the US military about their own estimates of how much ice would be in the Arctic in forty or so years. At first, their worst case scenario was a lot of melting in the summer. So when I set out to write Arctic Rising I thought, hey, let's say mostly all gone in the summer except for some bits kept alive by refrigeration cables and ingenious humans… with a polar bear reserve in the middle for sentimentality's sake.

By the time I was done writing the book, the general consensus from the same sources was that my science fictional scenario was going to be real.

Now everyone is pointing me to this article in the Guardian about the fact that the Arctic Ice is particularly low on the Atlantic side this year, even more than expected.

After so many years of writing about stuff that is well around the corner, it's a bit freaky to have people constantly emailing links saying 'check this out, your book needs to come out as quickly as possible!'

And the fact is, the loss of the ice is actually the very beginning of the story. It's just the fact on the ground. We've already warmed everything up the point where accelerated ice loss is enough of a fact that oil companies have put in the paperwork to drill for Arctic Oil, shipping companies are building northern deep water harbors and getting ready to expand their shipping routes, and the phrase 'Arctic Tigers' is getting readied for the nations that will benefit.

But what is really interesting to me, as a writer, is who is going to live up there once that happens? And how are they going to react to what is going to be a very different geopolitical world?

I tried to answer some of that in Arctic Rising, or at least, tackle with some of the ideas that have occurred to me as a result of all this reading.

_____________________________________________________________

ARCTIC RISING is a sci-fi techno thriller that addresses near-future concerns about the melting of the Arctic Ice Cap and the geopolitical tensions that could arise if this were to occur.

The Arctic Ice Cap has all but melted away. Enter the Gaia Corporation. Its two founders have come up with a plan to roll back global warming: thousands of tiny mirrors floating in the air to create a giant sunshade, capable of redirecting heat and cooling the earth's surface. They plan to terraform the Earth—but in doing so have created a superweapon the likes of which the world has never seen.

Anika Duncan is an airship pilot for the underfunded United Nations Polar Guard. Intent on capturing a smuggled nuclear weapon that has made its way into the Polar Circle, she finds herself caught up in a plot by a cabal of military agencies and corporations who want Gaia stopped. And when Gaia loses control of their superweapon, it will be Anika who has to decide the future of the world. The nuclear weapon she has risked her life to find is the only thing that can stop the sunshade when it falls into the wrong hands.

Tobias Buckell has an incredibly unique story to tell. Born in Grenada, he is the third generation in a family of sailors who lived a life of adventure aboard boats, traveling the Mediterranean and Caribbean. When hurricanes destroyed his family's boat and forced their move to the states, Buckell found himself in a place quite different from the sea: Ohio—and he's been there ever since.

In 2002, Buckell won the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Award and was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer the same year. He sold his first novel at twenty-five, the ground-breaking Crystal Rain, which was a Locus bestseller and followed by two novels in the same universe: Ragamuffin—nominated for both the Nebula and Prometheus awards and Sly Mongoose. In 2009, Buckell reached New York Times bestseller status with Halo: The Cole Protocol. In addition to his novels, Tobias's experiences in the publishing world—and various other topics—are documented on his weblog, which reaches thousands of readers each month.

Book Report: Book News for the Week of February 12th

My Book Report post over on Forces of Geekis up and collects a bunch of interesting news pieces and stories I pulled together for the week, so be sure to check it out:

"The Children of the Sky" by Vernor Vinge (Tor, 2011)

The Children of the Sky is the long-awaited sequel to the Hugo Award-winning A Fire Upon the Deep, from bestselling author Vernor Vinge.  Twenty years later in real time, and ten years later on the Tines World, the great war is over and there are some survivors: Ravna Bergnsdot who crash-landed on the planet with a number of human children, as well as a number Tines allies: the strange wolf-like humanoid pack animals after which the planet is named.  More than a hundred human children, who were in cold-sleep aboard the crash-landed vessel, have been saved by Ravna.

But the status quo does not remain, as those hungry for power begin to plan and plot and fight for it, seeking technology to gain the advantage.  Ravna will have to do everything she can to keep protecting the children and keep herself alive in this harsh world of alliances and factions warring for control and power.

The Children of the Sky is certainly not the sort of book you want to pick up for its pretty cover and start reading.  Reading its prequel, A Fire Upon the Deep, is a must to understand just what is going on; the reader may even want to read the other book in the series, A Deepness in the Sky.  Vinge continues with his incredibly complicated world of alliances and populations fighting for control and the reader can become easily lost, if he or she doesn't stay focused and keep up.  This book is not for the faint of heart; but for those who are committed, it is a worthy reward.

Originally written on January 24, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of The Children of the Sky from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.

You might also like . . .

"Percepliquis" by Michael J. Sullivan (Ridan Publishing, 2012)

This moment has been subtly building for the last five books, and now it is finally here.  When Michael J. Sullivan set out to write the five-book series of the Riyria Revelations, his goal wasn't to write an intrinsically-linked series of books, nor was it to write five stand-alone fantasy novels; it was to do a combination of the two.  Readers can enjoy each of these books in their own right, as the entertaining stories that they are, but at the same time there are sub-plot and elements embedded in there, building a comprehensive story that comes to a climax in this final volume, Percepliquis. 

The beginning of the end has begun: the elves of old have crossed the Nidwalden River in large numbers and are coming to take over; they threaten the entire continent of Elan.  The people have little hope left; they know they don't stand a chance against these powerful elves.  And it all comes down to Novron's heir, who must make a stand, and the only way he can do that is by finding the sacred horn.  It will involve an arduous quest, with a strong group of warriors who also possess intellect.  They will have to travel deep beneath the ground, in search of the ancient, ruined city of Percepliquis, following an old diary that may not even be true.  Fortunately, Royce and Hadrian are coming along for the ride, so if these intrepid few have any chance of finding the horn and saving the people of Elan, only these two will be able to make it happen.

In the longest volume yet, Sullivan has outdone himself here with lots going on: multiple storylines, lots of action, lots of conflict between friends and enemies, important details from the previous books brought to light, travels through various terrains, and an ultimate duel.  With the thrill of a top-rate action movie, combined with the epic grandeur of Tolkien's Return of the King, this is a final showdown you won't be able to stop reading, let alone put down.  Who will live; who will die?  In this grand finale, anything can happen . .. you won't want to miss it.

Originally written on February 6, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of Percepliquis from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.

You might also like . . .

 

"Wintertide" by Michael J. Sullivan (Ridan Publishing, 2010)

In the fifth and penultimate volume of Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, he once again manages to play off a familiar fantasy storyline, in this case the art of the joust and power of the nobility within a city, and with his unique cast of characters, makes Wintertide feel completely original.  While readers of the series may be familiar with Royce and Hadrian, it's the adventures they get up to in this book that really make it worthwhile, with an ending that sets up for a grand finale in the final book of the series.  Wintertide is the quiet before the storm.

On this year's holiday of the same name, a special celebration has been planned.  The New Empire wants to make a big deal of its victory over the Nationalists, and has some important public executions planned: the villainous Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar.  The only problem is that Royce and Hadrian are in town and they happen to be good friends with both of those people and have plans of springing them free whatever it takes.

Sullivan clearly had fun with Wintertide, playing around with Hadrian engaging in a joust, even though he doesn't know much about the whole nobility and chivalry thing, but he sure knows how to fight.  And how having friends in the most unlikeliest of places often proves invaluable.  Fans will enjoy this penultimate chapter, with Sullivan's strong descriptions and scenes of the winter festivities; of the sounds, sights and smells.  It's an enjoyable, thrilling tale before the final showdown.

Originally written on February 8, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.

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