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Robert Batten

Goodreads Author

Born

in Hobart, Australia

Website

https://robertbatten.net

Twitter

RobbieBatten

Genre

Science Fiction, Fantasy

Member Since

February 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/robertbatten

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Robert is the author of Blood Capital, a dystopian sci-fi novel of espionage and rebellion set in the ruins of Sydney. It is due for release by Inkshares in July 2018 after winning two major prizes in the 2016 Launch Pad competition: the Inkshares Publishing Prize and Ridley Scott / Scott Free Guaranteed Option Prize.

Ever since acquiring his latest glasses, people have been telling Robert he looks like Clark Kent. He’s since sworn to never buy another pair of glasses again. When not imagining himself as the man of steel, Robert reads and writes science-fiction and fantasy novels. He loves reading David Eddings, Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, Sarah J. Maas, V.E. Schwab, Laini Taylor, Garth Nix, among many others.

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What is your favourite (or most influential) sci-fi or fantasy book?

Robert Batten That is an incredibly hard question to answer (I am a Libran, picking "one" of anything is nearly impossible). Above all, I think it would be Sabriel …moreThat is an incredibly hard question to answer (I am a Libran, picking "one" of anything is nearly impossible). Above all, I think it would be Sabriel (and the remainder of the original Abhorsen trilogy) by Garth Nix. His divided world of technology and magic has stuck with me like no other. Other writers have created worlds I love — from classics like Tolkien to modern masters like Ilona Andrews — but the worlds Nix create resonate with me on a deep level. It also helps that he's a local (Melbourne) hero.

Looking beyond the Abhorsen series, there are some other works that have been influential. Everyone (yes, everyone) needs to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. That series is a gut-punch of pressurised urban fantasy wrapped in amazing prose. Other modern works I am currently addicted to include the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, A court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas, the Throne of Glass series (also by Sarah J Maas), and the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance.

For anyone into vampires but looking for something different, The Passage by Justin Cronin is a revelation. He turns the genre on its head, creating something entirely new from the bones of his dystopian future.

Shifting into more classic science-fiction, there are a few novels I should mention. Eon, by Greg Bear, was one of the first true science-fiction novels I picked up back in High School. I've been meaning to go back to it to see how its aged, but it was important in pushing me out of my comfortable fantasy obsession. Not long after that The Broken God (David Zindell) blew my mind. It's a slower-paced book, but packed with an amazing future dominated by philosophy and mathematics (and the occasional space battle). I could go on reminiscing about books, but I'll stop before it gets out of control. The last two I'll throw out there are Ready Player One (Earnest Cline) and The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams). Ready Player One is an amazing nostalgia trip for someone my age, and Hitchhikers is something I go back to over and over.(less)

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What books are on your summer reading list this year?

Robert Batten That's a long list, but right now high on my list of priorities are (not necessarily in order): One Fell Sweep (Ilona Andrews), A Court of Wings and R…moreThat's a long list, but right now high on my list of priorities are (not necessarily in order): One Fell Sweep (Ilona Andrews), A Court of Wings and Ruin (Sarah J Maas), Magic Triumphs (Ilona Andrews), Strange the Dreamer (Laini Tailor), the rest of the Shades of Magic series (V. E. Schwab), The God in the Shed (JF Dubeau), The Last Machine in the Solar System (Matthew Isaac Sobin), Silver Silence (Nalini Singh), Ride the Storm (Karen Chance)... Okay, maybe I should leave it at "a lot."(less)

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Robert Batten’s books

Average rating: 5.0 · 4 ratings · 1 review · 1 distinct work

Blood Capital

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings

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Robert Batten's Blog

Blood Capital Lunar New Year Update

It's been such a long time since I sent out an update I wouldn't blame you if you're asking yourself, "Robert who?" right now. Fair enough, I've been negligent in my posting to both this blog and sending out newsletters, but I haven't stopped writing (I promise).

I'm here to thank you for your patience and provide a brief update before diving back in to finish this book. So, firstly (and most impor

Robert is Currently Reading

Robert Batten is currently reading

A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone, #1)

by Scarlett St. Clair (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 30, 2023 06:59PM

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A Pack of Blood and Lies (The Boulder Wolves, #1)

by Olivia Wildenstein (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 30, 2023 06:58PM

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Bewitched (Bewitched, #1)

by Laura Thalassa (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 30, 2023 06:57PM

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Robert’s Recent Updates

Robert Batten has read Tamiko and the Two Janitors (Amaranthine Saga #3) by Forthright . (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 27, 2024 04:36PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tamiko and the Two Janitors by Forthright .. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tamiko and the Two Janitors by Forthright . <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Robert Batten has read Mikoto and the Reaver Village (Amaranthine Saga #4) by Forthright . (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Robert’s Quotes

“If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children. ”
― Confucius

333 likes

“A well-composed book is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter in any other way.”
― Caroline Gordon

tags: books, imagination, writing

2610 likes

“You're always the person you were when you were born," she says impatiently. "You just keep finding new ways to express it.”
― Gloria Steinem, My Life on the Road

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“Writing is the only thing that when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.”
― Gloria Steinem

tags: writing

361 likes