Anthony Ryan's Blog, page 33
September 21, 2014
Last 30 Days��� Book Recommendations
For those who don���t follow me on Twitter, on 23rd August I set myself the task of recommending a book a day until Christmas along with a short review on Goodreads. Here���s the list for the last 30 days for anyone who missed it:
Hyperion by Dan Simmons – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223816
The Darkness that Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/324718560
Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1035991441
Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1036810587
Crossed by Garth Ennis – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1037745731
The Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/725036643
All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/717366050
Vurt by Jeff Noon – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1040358888
Watching War Films with My Dad by Al Murray – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/918121939
Broken Angels by Richard Morgan – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223698
The Thousand Names by Django Wexler – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1043204778
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1044115670
The Dead Zone by Stephen King – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223368
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223551
An Animated Life by Ray Harryhausen – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1047059554
Robin Ince’s Bad Book Club by Robin Ince – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/396745389
The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/987382048
Icon by Frank Frazetta – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1050037194
Neuromancer by William Gibson – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223673
Use of Weapons Iain M Banks – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223648
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1052797420
Dune by Frank herbert – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223544
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245224264
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1055394174
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1036354909
Voyage by Stephen Baxter – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1057330544
War of the Aeronauts by Charles M. Evans – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/711370188
Dark Fire by CJ Sansom – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1058921216
The Scar by China Mieville – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1059845898
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1060416159
Last 30 Days’ Book Recommendations
For those who don’t follow me on Twitter, on 23rd August I set myself the task of recommending a book a day until Christmas along with a short review on Goodreads. Here’s the list for the last 30 days for anyone who missed it:
Hyperion by Dan Simmons – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223816
The Darkness that Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/324718560
Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1035991441
Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1036810587
Crossed by Garth Ennis – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1037745731
The Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/725036643
All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/717366050
Vurt by Jeff Noon – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1040358888
Watching War Films with My Dad by Al Murray – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/918121939
Broken Angels by Richard Morgan – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223698
The Thousand Names by Django Wexler – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1043204778
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1044115670
The Dead Zone by Stephen King – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223368
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223551
An Animated Life by Ray Harryhausen – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1047059554
Robin Ince’s Bad Book Club by Robin Ince – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/396745389
The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/987382048
Icon by Frank Frazetta – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1050037194
Neuromancer by William Gibson – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223673
Use of Weapons Iain M Banks – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223648
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1052797420
Dune by Frank herbert – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245223544
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245224264
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1055394174
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1036354909
Voyage by Stephen Baxter – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1057330544
War of the Aeronauts by Charles M. Evans – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/711370188
Dark Fire by CJ Sansom – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1058921216
The Scar by China Mieville – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1059845898
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1060416159
September 12, 2014
‘Slab City Blues’ now on Kindle
For any Kindle owners who may have missed it, all four stories in my Slab City Blues sf-noir series are now available on Amazon.
Slab City Blues, available free for the next four days on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
Slab City Blues: A Song for Madame Choi, available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
Slab City Blues: A Hymn to Gods Long Dead, available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
Slab City Blues: The Ballad of Bad Jack, available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
September 3, 2014
New Podcast Interview on Scrivener Soapbox
Thanks to TJ Redig for inviting me onto the Scrivener Soapbox podcast to talk about Blood Song, Tower Lord, Slab City Blues and advice for new writers… and beer. Check it out here: http://www.tjredig.com/scrivenersoapbox/2014/8/17/2014-09-03-20-anthony-ryan
Also on iTunes.
August 30, 2014
‘Blackguards’ Kickstarter Funded & Stretch-Goal Reached
I’m very pleased to report that the Kickstarter for Ragnarok Publications’ ‘Blackguards’ anthology is now funded and has reached the $17,000 stretch goal, which means my Raven’s Shadow novella ‘The Lord Collector’ will now be included. The original $14,500 goal was reached after only three days and the stretch goal two days later. Many thanks to everyone who pledged their hard-earned money to make this happen. It would be great if all the other stretch goals were met, so please spread the word if you can: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1089607742/blackguards-tales-of-assassins-mercenaries-and-rog
August 25, 2014
“Blackguards” Anthology – I’m a Stretch Goal
The Kickstarter page is now live for Ragnarok Publications’ new anthology Blackguards: Tales of Assassins, Mercenaries and Rogues, check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1089607742/blackguards-tales-of-assassins-mercenaries-and-rog
The funding goal for publication is $14,500. However, if the final total pledged exceeds $17,000 the anthology will include my novella The Lord Collector. This is an all-new, previously unpublished fifteen thousand word story set in the Raven’s Shadow universe, featuring a guest appearance by a pale eyed, raspy voiced Master from the Sixth Order of our prior acquaintance.
Other stretch goals include commissioning interior artwork, another story from an as yet unnamed author, and opening the anthology up to submissions, so any aspiring writers might want to drop by and make a pledge.
The current, and impressive, table of contents reads thusly and I think most fantasy readers would agree it’s well worth $10 of anyone’s money:
Carol Berg, “Seeds”
Richard Lee Byers, “Troll Trouble”
David Dalglish, “Take You Home”
James Enge, “Thieves at the Gate”
John Gwynne, “Better to Live than to Die”
Lian Hearn, “His Kikuta Hands”
Snorri Kristjansson, “A Kingdom and a Horse”
Joseph Lallo, “Seeking the Shadow”
Mark Lawrence, “The Secret”
Tim Marquitz, “A Taste of Agony”
Peter Orullian, “A Length of Cherrywood”
Cat Rambo, “The Subtler Art”
Laura Resnick, “Friendship”
Mark Smylie, “Manhunt”
Kenny Soward, “Jancy’s Justice”
Shawn Speakman, “The White Rose Thief”
Jon Sprunk, “Sun and Steel”
Anton Strout, “Scream”
Michael J Sullivan, “Professional Integrity”
Django Wexler, “First Kill”
August 8, 2014
Tower Lord giveaway. And the winners are…
Many thanks to everyone who entered the Tower Lord giveaway competition, especially those who donated to Michael J. Sullivan’s Ride to Conquer Cancer. Total donations amounted to $1092.00 which is terrific. Donations for this very worthwhile cause will remain open until September 12th so please consider making a contribution. Without further ado, the winners are:
1st place: Laura Fisher
2nd place: Josh Garner
3rd place: Marianne Harrington and Duncan McKenzie
2nd-chance draw winners: Karen Seidle and Benjamin Surratt
Congratulations to the winners and commiserations to everyone else. As per the rules, everyone who made a donation will receive signed bookplates for Blood Song and Tower Lord. Also, many thanks for all the positive comments in the emails, sorry I couldn’t reply to you all individually.
August 7, 2014
Barnes & Noble Website – Guest Post
I wrote a short article for the Barnes & Noble website on four great books with unhappy endings. Read it here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/anthony-ryan/
August 1, 2014
Tower Lord – Giveaway Competition
It’s time for another giveaway competition. The rules are the same as before, with an added bonus.
The Prizes
One first-place winner will receive a US hardcover edition of Tower Lord, signed, lined and dated by me.
One second-place winner will win a UK hardcover edition of Tower Lord, signed, lined and dated by me.
Two third-place winners will win a UK large format paperback edition of Tower Lord, signed, lined and dated by me.
The Bonus
There will also be a second chance draw in support of fellow fantasy author Michael J. Sullivan who will be taking part in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in September benefitting the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Centre. Michael will be riding 150 miles in two days to raise money for cancer research. Michael lost both his father and sister to cancer, but he is riding primarily for the fantasy and science fiction authors who we’ve recently lost to this disease including: Iain M. Banks, A. C. Crispin, Jay Lake, and unfortunately many more.
Anyone who makes a donation of $20 or more to this very worthwhile cause will be entered into a second chance draw. There will be two winners in this draw. One will be chosen at random and the other will be the one who makes the largest donation. Each winner will receive a US edition hardcover of Tower Lord, signed, lined and dated by me. Also, anyone who makes a donation will receive both of the bookplates below for Blood Song and Tower Lord, designed and signed by me. Make your donations via the following link, and be sure to include your name in the ‘recognition name’ field:
http://dc14.ridetovictory.org/site/TR/Events/2014WashingtonDC?px=1211326&pg=personal&fr_id=1070
As an added incentive, Michael has also agreed to send the winner a signed hardcover of their choice from the following books:
* Theft of Swords (includes The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha)
* Rise of Empire (includes Nyphron Rising and The Emerald Storm)
* Heir of Novron (includes Wintertide & Percepliquis)
* Blood of Thieves (The Crown Tower and The Rose and the Thorn)
How to enter:
Email me at anthonyryan27@hotmail.co.uk between now and midnight GMT on the 7th of August. Mark your email ‘Tower Lord Giveaway’ and include your name and address in the body of the email. Anyone wishing to be entered into the second chance draw must attach their receipt from Johns Hopkins confirming their donation. Feel free to photoshop out any personal information you don’t wish to share, but your name and donation amount will need to be visible. I will choose the winners at random on 8th of August. All addresses supplied will remain confidential and will be deleted at the close of the competition. Only one entry per contestant please, multiple emails from the same source will be banned and the sender blocked. P&P will be paid by me. Best of luck.
July 30, 2014
New Audio Interview
Thanks to Spencer Wightman for inviting me onto the Architect’s Apprentice podcast to talk about Tower Lord and various writing gubbins. You can listen here:
http://www.architectapprentice.com/blog/podcast-episode-2-with-anthony-ryan
Also available on iTunes.
WARNING: major spoilers so approach with caution.
