Rob Rowntree's Blog, page 4
October 15, 2013
New interview
Those lovely people at http://awesomegang.com/ have just posted a new interview with me. There's some info about my next book and some insight into where Unbound Brothers came from.
You can read the interview here http://awesomegang.com/rob-rowntree/
You can read the interview here http://awesomegang.com/rob-rowntree/
October 13, 2013
Am I the only one... Marvel's Agents of Shield
It's been a few weeks since my last post, been busy. So I thought I'd start with something that's been bugging me for the last 3 weeks. Am I the only one that thinks Marvel's Agents of Shield is juvenile crap?
I've watched the first three episodes, with mounting dismay as I hoped they'd get better. But the poor (almost Xena level) effects, weak stories and bad acting have made this series an unwatchable mess. Even my 12 and 9year old boys think it's rubbish.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted it to be good. I liked the Avengers movie and while it's true to say that most superhero movies leave me wanting more I was all eager for this to be a success. Instead it's turned out to be another money-grabbing spin off made with the sole purpose of serving the cash-cow goddess.
It's shit and the writers should be ashamed of themselves.
I've watched the first three episodes, with mounting dismay as I hoped they'd get better. But the poor (almost Xena level) effects, weak stories and bad acting have made this series an unwatchable mess. Even my 12 and 9year old boys think it's rubbish.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted it to be good. I liked the Avengers movie and while it's true to say that most superhero movies leave me wanting more I was all eager for this to be a success. Instead it's turned out to be another money-grabbing spin off made with the sole purpose of serving the cash-cow goddess.
It's shit and the writers should be ashamed of themselves.
September 8, 2013
They say you can never go back... Ringworld
Back in April, SyFy announced that they were commissioning a mini series of Ringworld, one of my favourite novels. It holds a dear place in my heart, as at the age of 14, Ringworld, along with Clarke's, 2001 A Space Odyssey, brought me to the fascinating world of SF.
As the mini series was announced, I decided to read the original series again. I'd read the books many times before, but never in one sitting; Ringworld through to Ringworld's Children.
Ringworld and The Ringworld Engineers hold up well, demonstrating rightly so, why Niven's creation was and is the quintessential big dumb object. Vast distances are handled with skill and style at once awing the reader but never leaving them behind. You feel immersed in the landscape. The story while being a relatively simple quest, never fails to surprise and intrigue. A background read of Protector and The Tales of Known Space may orientate the new reader, but they are not required.
Niven mentions that he never intended to return to his creation but that circumstance and some die hard fans provided renewed interest. That worked well for The Ringworld Engineers.
No so well for The Ringworld Throne. This novel starts with and extended section dealing with Ringworld natives, where Niven's hero, Louis Gridley Wu, remains on the sidelines. While the story is interesting it is bogged down by the constant reference to Rishathra - sexual practise outside of one's species but within the intelligent hominids that make up the Ringworld natives. Not as weird as it sounds, but the novel hits you over the head with it over and over again. That doesn't mean the novel's terrible, but it's not like the others.
Ringworld's Children finds the Ringworld besieged by the other races of knownspace and there's a race on to save the billions of natives populating the giant structure. The novel ends with what in my opinion is the only way it could. The lead character makes a great sacrifice.
Interestingly, the writing is superior in The Ringworld Throne, Niven obviously improving with age.
Over all the series holds up well and draws you in with interesting characters, a neat plot, and mind bending locations. The first two books are good, the following books not so, but still good enough to hold one's attention.
Can SyFy make a mini series out of the first two novels. Well, I guess the technical ability's there and I have no doubt a good script can be written, but whether the TV watching public can handle the odd aliens, the strange locations and the crazy plot devices only time will tell.
Of course I'll watch it. But nothing will hit me as much as the first time I visited Ringworld all those years ago. You can go back, but it's not always quite how you remember it.
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As the mini series was announced, I decided to read the original series again. I'd read the books many times before, but never in one sitting; Ringworld through to Ringworld's Children.
Ringworld and The Ringworld Engineers hold up well, demonstrating rightly so, why Niven's creation was and is the quintessential big dumb object. Vast distances are handled with skill and style at once awing the reader but never leaving them behind. You feel immersed in the landscape. The story while being a relatively simple quest, never fails to surprise and intrigue. A background read of Protector and The Tales of Known Space may orientate the new reader, but they are not required.
Niven mentions that he never intended to return to his creation but that circumstance and some die hard fans provided renewed interest. That worked well for The Ringworld Engineers.
No so well for The Ringworld Throne. This novel starts with and extended section dealing with Ringworld natives, where Niven's hero, Louis Gridley Wu, remains on the sidelines. While the story is interesting it is bogged down by the constant reference to Rishathra - sexual practise outside of one's species but within the intelligent hominids that make up the Ringworld natives. Not as weird as it sounds, but the novel hits you over the head with it over and over again. That doesn't mean the novel's terrible, but it's not like the others.
Ringworld's Children finds the Ringworld besieged by the other races of knownspace and there's a race on to save the billions of natives populating the giant structure. The novel ends with what in my opinion is the only way it could. The lead character makes a great sacrifice.
Interestingly, the writing is superior in The Ringworld Throne, Niven obviously improving with age.
Over all the series holds up well and draws you in with interesting characters, a neat plot, and mind bending locations. The first two books are good, the following books not so, but still good enough to hold one's attention.
Can SyFy make a mini series out of the first two novels. Well, I guess the technical ability's there and I have no doubt a good script can be written, but whether the TV watching public can handle the odd aliens, the strange locations and the crazy plot devices only time will tell.
Of course I'll watch it. But nothing will hit me as much as the first time I visited Ringworld all those years ago. You can go back, but it's not always quite how you remember it.
They keep rolling in...
Another good review for Unbound Brothers.
Check it out here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/712228339
Check it out here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/712228339
August 18, 2013
Interviewed
Go check out my interview over at
http://www.theindieview.com/2013/08/18/indieview-with-rob-rowntree-author-of-unbound-brothers/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=indieview-with-rob-rowntree-author-of-unbound-brothers
http://www.theindieview.com/
Once you've taken a look at the interview why not pick up a copy of the book, Unbound Brothers. For the next two weeks it's on offer at $0.99 and £0.77.
It's gaaining some good reviews and I'm pretty pleased with how things are going.
Rob
http://www.theindieview.com/2013/08/18/indieview-with-rob-rowntree-author-of-unbound-brothers/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=indieview-with-rob-rowntree-author-of-unbound-brothers
http://www.theindieview.com/
Once you've taken a look at the interview why not pick up a copy of the book, Unbound Brothers. For the next two weeks it's on offer at $0.99 and £0.77.
It's gaaining some good reviews and I'm pretty pleased with how things are going.
Rob
August 14, 2013
The Indieview interview
On Saturday 18th August there'll be an interview with me over at The Indieview website.
http://www.theindieview.com/
Go check it out and let me know what you think.
To coincide with the interview, I'll be reducing the price on Unbound Brothers to $0.99 and £0.77 for two weeks.
Don't miss your chance to grab my novel at this reduced price. The good reviews keep rolling in and for that price it's worth taking a chance. Here are a few quotes;
'Rob Rowntree's debut novel is a mix of Arthur C. Clark and Michael Crichton.'
'...Mr. Rowntree has an amazing grasp of descriptive writing, filling the pages with pictures through his words. Through his writing, the reader can experience space and all of its wonders and dangers.'
'Don't normally read sci fi books but this was recommended. Excellent read, gripping story and very believable characters. Looking forward to a follow up - would definitely recommend to others.'
'Rowntree does a great job with this book. Filled with mystery, wonder and terror, "Unbound Brothers" will hook you from the very beginning and not let you go.'
'Unbound Brothers squarely belongs to the space opera subgenre, but it's unlike any space opera I've read. It's darker than Niven and just as mysterious.'
Don't miss out.
http://www.theindieview.com/
Go check it out and let me know what you think.
To coincide with the interview, I'll be reducing the price on Unbound Brothers to $0.99 and £0.77 for two weeks.
Don't miss your chance to grab my novel at this reduced price. The good reviews keep rolling in and for that price it's worth taking a chance. Here are a few quotes;
'Rob Rowntree's debut novel is a mix of Arthur C. Clark and Michael Crichton.'
'...Mr. Rowntree has an amazing grasp of descriptive writing, filling the pages with pictures through his words. Through his writing, the reader can experience space and all of its wonders and dangers.'
'Don't normally read sci fi books but this was recommended. Excellent read, gripping story and very believable characters. Looking forward to a follow up - would definitely recommend to others.'
'Rowntree does a great job with this book. Filled with mystery, wonder and terror, "Unbound Brothers" will hook you from the very beginning and not let you go.'
'Unbound Brothers squarely belongs to the space opera subgenre, but it's unlike any space opera I've read. It's darker than Niven and just as mysterious.'
Don't miss out.
Great story from Kate Macleod over at Strange Horizons
For lovers of all things speculative go check out Kate Macleod's story 'Din Ba Din' over at Strange Horizons. here's the link http://strangehorizons.com/2013/20130812/dinbadin-f.shtml
She a great writer an dthis story is way cool.
She a great writer an dthis story is way cool.
July 25, 2013
Work in progress
My book, Unbound Brothers (http://www.amazon.com/Unbound-Brothers-ebook/dp/B00DKA096W/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i), is selling well, so I thought I'd give an update on future plans and upcoming publications.
Some time in late September or early October, I'll be releasing two previously published short stories to Kindle via KDP.
Silver, a story about a girl, an arranged marriage and some... well, you'll have to read to see what happens.
And then there's, John and Lee, Down by the G'star, a tale involving a president, an assassin and a Gravastar. Don't say I didn't warn you.
I'm also working on my next novel, Refugium. It's early days yet, but things are shaping up. Below is a rough draft of the beginning. The novel won't be finished until some time next year, when I plan to submit it to Angry Robot books.
Did I say it was a rough Draft...?
REFUGIUM
2368: Bluff overlooking Samuel’s Landing, Aotearoa. Forty-five days since first-strike.
Total number of survivors unknown.
Pennymae Niedojadlo-Sandelanie crashed into a slush-filled ditch in an explosion of mud and icy water. Exhaustion threatened; her body shuddered as she gulped in cold, salty air, a momentary stillness affording time for her to wonder how many people they had lost.
Glancing into an overcast sky heavy with sleet, Pennymae’s resolve returned. I won’t forget the blue, nor the sun, she told herself. Teeth gritted, she rolled onto her stomach and slithered towards the edge of the gully. Ignoring the freezing water that ran around and across her body, she took a quick peek over the edge.
Two dark figures scurried uphill, toward her. Apparently fatigued and hunched against the weather, the silhouettes stumbled into the gully a couple of meters to Pennymae’s right. Pennymae crouched down, and shouted, “Sound off.”
“That you Penny?”
“Bains?”
“Rendle too.”
“Like we trained, Bains. Discipline.” For a second her confident retort almost brought calm.
“We’re scared, Penny.”
Yeah, aren’t we all. Pennymae sagged back against the trench-wall. Okay, deep breaths, concentrate, take control. “Did you see any others?”
“Carlos, Rheanna and Kendai were behind us, but...”
But they’re gone, like so many since first strike. Snatched by the Skeeters; a flickering elusive death – a fact-of-life now, a constant dance of survival with an apparently almost undefeatable foe. Twenty had set out; now only Pennymae, Bains and Rendle remained – a trio to bear witness. Why, Death himself could do no better.
“Right you know why we are here. Edge up and record.”
Seeing her companions pop their heads above the ditch, Pennymae followed suit. Her optic-overlays dropped figures and icons - distance, time, menus -into her immediate view. She glanced at her menu, scrolled options, selected scrub image and watched as programmes removed much of the clutter of the sleet blizzard, massaged contrast and brightened the image.
Not as light as a summer’s day, but good enough.
Down the bluff and across a wide bay sat Samuel’s Landing, their first town, their only town. Central buildings, four or five story structures, spiralled out, giving way to smaller, squatter structures, warehouses and factories, eateries and drinking houses, all tumbling outward towards the one, and occasional two story dwellings the colonists had lived in; six years of effort, surrounded by hard-won crop-fields and regimented animal paddocks. We came so close, Pennymae thought. And that after such a disastrous start.
In the upper left of her vision numbers tumbled, changed red.
Selecting her optics menu, she zoomed the image. A mix of disorientating buildings and fields flew forward, they crowded her. She blinked. “Are you two getting everything?”
Bains grunted, and she thought she heard Rendle whimper.
Something slithered over her leg. She ignored it, concentrating on the view.
Below, in the abandoned town, motion toyed with her gaze. Black figures darted, daring her to lock on, see them, in fact toying with her sense of reality. They danced, skittered, half in and out of reality, black wraiths imploring her to see them, to grasp their totality. But stare as she might, Pennymae found it impossible. When her eyes locked onto a Skeeter, the image slid from her mind, to ooze away like a bad dream, leaving behind a cold unwelcome touch. Deep within the recesses of her mind, Pennymae shuddered.
The grey harbour waters churned in a stiff offshore wind, sad white caps collected and reflected what little light escaped the leaden sky.
Initialising a small program, Pennymae’s optics zoomed out as she gazed further up the coast; past fractured cliffs and jagged faults, eventually settling on the nugget. Such an ineffectual word, thought Pennymae.
Rising like a small mountain about its impact crater, the nugget looked smoky and dull, a pewter sheen pocked with holes and dimples. Dark specks moved here too.
Low cloud scuttled over the tallest peaks and local bird-analogues toyed with limp thermals. The nugget’s body lay across the divide between land and sea, like a beached behemoth straddling two worlds. Indeed it was. But not of water and land.
“How long?”
Bains sounded far away. Her chronometer said fifty seconds. “Get ready.”
Bains gasped. Not wanting to miss the culmination of their efforts Pennymae refrained from glancing at her comrades.
Forty seconds.
But Rendle cried out, “No, no...”
Pulling her head around and into the gully, Pennymae froze.
Thirty seconds.
Something dark and wavering stood above her friends. Fading in and out of the wan daylight, if looked like fabric wafting in the wind, the damp air held a faint aroma of cinnamon.
Twenty seconds...
It reached for Bains and Rendle, slicing through, and snatching them away. Their screams torn from world. Pennymae thought of gull’s cries.
Ten.
It towered over her, billowing darkness and fear.
Five.
Blue skies.
Three.
Sunlight.
Two.
And laughter. She wouldn’t forget.
One.
A star burst on the world, brightness bleeding over the edge of the gully like hard light pushing the gloom away. Above darkness churned. Pennymae smiled.
Some time in late September or early October, I'll be releasing two previously published short stories to Kindle via KDP.
Silver, a story about a girl, an arranged marriage and some... well, you'll have to read to see what happens.
And then there's, John and Lee, Down by the G'star, a tale involving a president, an assassin and a Gravastar. Don't say I didn't warn you.
I'm also working on my next novel, Refugium. It's early days yet, but things are shaping up. Below is a rough draft of the beginning. The novel won't be finished until some time next year, when I plan to submit it to Angry Robot books.
Did I say it was a rough Draft...?
REFUGIUM
2368: Bluff overlooking Samuel’s Landing, Aotearoa. Forty-five days since first-strike.
Total number of survivors unknown.
Pennymae Niedojadlo-Sandelanie crashed into a slush-filled ditch in an explosion of mud and icy water. Exhaustion threatened; her body shuddered as she gulped in cold, salty air, a momentary stillness affording time for her to wonder how many people they had lost.
Glancing into an overcast sky heavy with sleet, Pennymae’s resolve returned. I won’t forget the blue, nor the sun, she told herself. Teeth gritted, she rolled onto her stomach and slithered towards the edge of the gully. Ignoring the freezing water that ran around and across her body, she took a quick peek over the edge.
Two dark figures scurried uphill, toward her. Apparently fatigued and hunched against the weather, the silhouettes stumbled into the gully a couple of meters to Pennymae’s right. Pennymae crouched down, and shouted, “Sound off.”
“That you Penny?”
“Bains?”
“Rendle too.”
“Like we trained, Bains. Discipline.” For a second her confident retort almost brought calm.
“We’re scared, Penny.”
Yeah, aren’t we all. Pennymae sagged back against the trench-wall. Okay, deep breaths, concentrate, take control. “Did you see any others?”
“Carlos, Rheanna and Kendai were behind us, but...”
But they’re gone, like so many since first strike. Snatched by the Skeeters; a flickering elusive death – a fact-of-life now, a constant dance of survival with an apparently almost undefeatable foe. Twenty had set out; now only Pennymae, Bains and Rendle remained – a trio to bear witness. Why, Death himself could do no better.
“Right you know why we are here. Edge up and record.”
Seeing her companions pop their heads above the ditch, Pennymae followed suit. Her optic-overlays dropped figures and icons - distance, time, menus -into her immediate view. She glanced at her menu, scrolled options, selected scrub image and watched as programmes removed much of the clutter of the sleet blizzard, massaged contrast and brightened the image.
Not as light as a summer’s day, but good enough.
Down the bluff and across a wide bay sat Samuel’s Landing, their first town, their only town. Central buildings, four or five story structures, spiralled out, giving way to smaller, squatter structures, warehouses and factories, eateries and drinking houses, all tumbling outward towards the one, and occasional two story dwellings the colonists had lived in; six years of effort, surrounded by hard-won crop-fields and regimented animal paddocks. We came so close, Pennymae thought. And that after such a disastrous start.
In the upper left of her vision numbers tumbled, changed red.
Selecting her optics menu, she zoomed the image. A mix of disorientating buildings and fields flew forward, they crowded her. She blinked. “Are you two getting everything?”
Bains grunted, and she thought she heard Rendle whimper.
Something slithered over her leg. She ignored it, concentrating on the view.
Below, in the abandoned town, motion toyed with her gaze. Black figures darted, daring her to lock on, see them, in fact toying with her sense of reality. They danced, skittered, half in and out of reality, black wraiths imploring her to see them, to grasp their totality. But stare as she might, Pennymae found it impossible. When her eyes locked onto a Skeeter, the image slid from her mind, to ooze away like a bad dream, leaving behind a cold unwelcome touch. Deep within the recesses of her mind, Pennymae shuddered.
The grey harbour waters churned in a stiff offshore wind, sad white caps collected and reflected what little light escaped the leaden sky.
Initialising a small program, Pennymae’s optics zoomed out as she gazed further up the coast; past fractured cliffs and jagged faults, eventually settling on the nugget. Such an ineffectual word, thought Pennymae.
Rising like a small mountain about its impact crater, the nugget looked smoky and dull, a pewter sheen pocked with holes and dimples. Dark specks moved here too.
Low cloud scuttled over the tallest peaks and local bird-analogues toyed with limp thermals. The nugget’s body lay across the divide between land and sea, like a beached behemoth straddling two worlds. Indeed it was. But not of water and land.
“How long?”
Bains sounded far away. Her chronometer said fifty seconds. “Get ready.”
Bains gasped. Not wanting to miss the culmination of their efforts Pennymae refrained from glancing at her comrades.
Forty seconds.
But Rendle cried out, “No, no...”
Pulling her head around and into the gully, Pennymae froze.
Thirty seconds.
Something dark and wavering stood above her friends. Fading in and out of the wan daylight, if looked like fabric wafting in the wind, the damp air held a faint aroma of cinnamon.
Twenty seconds...
It reached for Bains and Rendle, slicing through, and snatching them away. Their screams torn from world. Pennymae thought of gull’s cries.
Ten.
It towered over her, billowing darkness and fear.
Five.
Blue skies.
Three.
Sunlight.
Two.
And laughter. She wouldn’t forget.
One.
A star burst on the world, brightness bleeding over the edge of the gully like hard light pushing the gloom away. Above darkness churned. Pennymae smiled.
July 22, 2013
Flash-sale
One day only - 24 hours. Ends 23/07/2013.
Unbound Brothers at $0.99. Don't miss this opportunity to pick up my novel at a rock bottom price.
5 ***** review:Not your usual Space Opera, July 20, 2013
By Sharon Reamer (Overath, Germany) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Unbound Brothers (Kindle Edition) Unbound Brothers squarely belongs to the space opera subgenre, but it's unlike any space opera I've read. It's darker than Niven and just as mysterious.
Unbound Brothers tells the tale of Alan Abrams, starship pilot, and his quest for redemption that takes him to a partially explored part of the Milky Way. Once there, he and the rest of the crew of the Joshua Peterson are confronted with what it means to be human as they are tested to the limits of their endurance.
The novel could easily be adapted to the wide screen with Dolby sound and 3D effects. Strong confident writing complements equally strong characterizations. Abrams' poignant backstory rounds out the novel's depth.
Even if you are not a fan of space opera - which I'm generally not (preferring hard SF) - there's plenty of nods to hard SF (could have been more!), and there's a generous touch of horror that adds some shivers to the complicated plot.
Unbound Brothers at $0.99. Don't miss this opportunity to pick up my novel at a rock bottom price.
5 ***** review:Not your usual Space Opera, July 20, 2013
By Sharon Reamer (Overath, Germany) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Unbound Brothers (Kindle Edition) Unbound Brothers squarely belongs to the space opera subgenre, but it's unlike any space opera I've read. It's darker than Niven and just as mysterious.
Unbound Brothers tells the tale of Alan Abrams, starship pilot, and his quest for redemption that takes him to a partially explored part of the Milky Way. Once there, he and the rest of the crew of the Joshua Peterson are confronted with what it means to be human as they are tested to the limits of their endurance.
The novel could easily be adapted to the wide screen with Dolby sound and 3D effects. Strong confident writing complements equally strong characterizations. Abrams' poignant backstory rounds out the novel's depth.
Even if you are not a fan of space opera - which I'm generally not (preferring hard SF) - there's plenty of nods to hard SF (could have been more!), and there's a generous touch of horror that adds some shivers to the complicated plot.
July 19, 2013
Underground Book Review - Unbound Brothers launch interview
In support of the launch of my science fiction novel, Unbound Brothers, those lovely people at Underground Book Review Magazine have foolishly let me do an interview.
If you want to know a little more about me, the writing processes I use and used producing, Unbound Brothers, or how I made my characters leap off the page, developed my version of hyperspace, designed my aliens, go take a look.
http://www.undergroundbookreviews.com/index.html
And don't forget that the low price, £1.99/$2.99 won't last forever. I'm getting some great reviews, so snap up your copy before the price goes back up.
If you want to know a little more about me, the writing processes I use and used producing, Unbound Brothers, or how I made my characters leap off the page, developed my version of hyperspace, designed my aliens, go take a look.
http://www.undergroundbookreviews.com/index.html
And don't forget that the low price, £1.99/$2.99 won't last forever. I'm getting some great reviews, so snap up your copy before the price goes back up.
