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Saturday, August 21, 2010
You ever have those days?
You know, the one where you find out your brother has Dengue Fever? Yeah.... I had that day today. My brother lives in Thailand so he's at much higher risk than we would be to a mosquito borne infections. Anyway, being the lucky guy he is, he picked a really bad form of the disease and has Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. It has low fatality rate as long as patients are treaded in the hospital and my brother is currently being transferred to they best one they have that's nearest to him so he can be under constant care. It sounds as if the prognosis will be good.
But how often do you get a call that a loved one has Dengue Fever? Not often, that's for sure. I'm still trying to figure out if I should be worried or not. I guess I'll let you know when I figure out how panicked I should be.
If anyone has an info on the fever, please pass it on. Anything to make us feel like we know what we're dealing with would be great.
Sorry if this is a rambling kind of post. My mom called late and I'm kind of rheumy. So, apologies for all the typos.
But how often do you get a call that a loved one has Dengue Fever? Not often, that's for sure. I'm still trying to figure out if I should be worried or not. I guess I'll let you know when I figure out how panicked I should be.
If anyone has an info on the fever, please pass it on. Anything to make us feel like we know what we're dealing with would be great.
Sorry if this is a rambling kind of post. My mom called late and I'm kind of rheumy. So, apologies for all the typos.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Kia POP: Zero-emission car from Korea
The attention in the environment or decrease global warming appears continuously go to the worldwide and fresh country of motor vehicle, Korea that have good idea at want to do energy clean automobile also
The "Kia POP" is a car concept that features a unique bubbly design to attract gen-next users. Presenting a massive windscreen that stretches all the way back to allow a transparent roof, the commuter car accommodates two passengers on one single curvaceous bench seat, hopefully, in comfort. Generating power from an all-electric drive train, the compact car can be recharged by plugging it into a regular wall socket used at homes. Placing the passenger sits slightly ahead of the driver, the electric car allows more room cargo area at the rear.
Now, many automobile camp still head for to develop new model car will to is like to insert the plug charge more and more, especially the group "City Car" which have small-sized more and more and testify drive that improve. Kia pop regard concept car that begin for the first time and in the future still must have the development before produce prototype car and next to mass production
Review: Mass Effect: Redemption
Mass Effect: Redemption takes place two years prior to Mass Effect 2, following the story of Mass Effect 1 party member Liara T’Soni as she goes on an emotional personal quest. After Commander Shepard, the famed hero of the Alliance, supposedly dies in a sudden attack on the Normandy, it seems all sorts of groups are vying for the oddest thing – the deceased hero’s corpse. The worst group working towards this goal is none other than the Collectors – now, the only question is, why do they want Shepard’s body?
Going into this comic, I have to admit that my expectations were quite high; the two Mass Effect games are probably the best story-telling in any games I’ve ever seen, offering complex choices and amazing tales to tell. I’m happy to say that while this isn’t the best comic I’ve ever read, it definitely was a very solid read, and went well with its video game companion.
Redemption focuses on Dr. Liara T’Soni, who many Mass Effect players will know as the calm, somewhat naïve Asari in the first game. Well, guess what, everyone? She’s not calm or naïve anymore. No, in Redemption, Liara has taken a turn for kickass it seems, dealing out her biotic powers on anyone who stands in her way of finding Shepard’s body. It’s definitely a different take on her from what we see in the first game, and while I do like it… well… Okay, I’m just going to put this right out there: Why Liara pick as the main character in the first Mass Effect comic? I mean, I don’t hate her, but I’ve always felt she’s just kind of dull, and that didn’t really change in Redemption, either. She had her cool moments – destroying the Shadow Broker’s communications room on Alingon comes to mind, as well as, “I SAID GET BACK!” – but overall, I would rather have had another character in the spotlight other than her. Garrus Vakarian comes to mind.
So I don’t hate her character, if that’s what it sounds like, and I did enjoy reading about her in comic form – I just would rather have had another character in the starring role.
Now, let’s go onto something that’s obviously a big factor in comics; the art. I actually really liked the art in Redemption; it overall had a lot of quality to it. One complaint I have about it, though, is that even though it’s all nicely drawn, the actual pre-existing characters aren’t really accurate. The only pre-established characters that I can think of are Liara, Miranda and the Illusive Man, but none of the three were drawn how they should have been, in my opinion.
First, you have Liara, who could be any random Asari for all we know; there is no distinctive trait in her appearance with how she’s drawn.
Going into this comic, I have to admit that my expectations were quite high; the two Mass Effect games are probably the best story-telling in any games I’ve ever seen, offering complex choices and amazing tales to tell. I’m happy to say that while this isn’t the best comic I’ve ever read, it definitely was a very solid read, and went well with its video game companion.
Redemption focuses on Dr. Liara T’Soni, who many Mass Effect players will know as the calm, somewhat naïve Asari in the first game. Well, guess what, everyone? She’s not calm or naïve anymore. No, in Redemption, Liara has taken a turn for kickass it seems, dealing out her biotic powers on anyone who stands in her way of finding Shepard’s body. It’s definitely a different take on her from what we see in the first game, and while I do like it… well… Okay, I’m just going to put this right out there: Why Liara pick as the main character in the first Mass Effect comic? I mean, I don’t hate her, but I’ve always felt she’s just kind of dull, and that didn’t really change in Redemption, either. She had her cool moments – destroying the Shadow Broker’s communications room on Alingon comes to mind, as well as, “I SAID GET BACK!” – but overall, I would rather have had another character in the spotlight other than her. Garrus Vakarian comes to mind.
So I don’t hate her character, if that’s what it sounds like, and I did enjoy reading about her in comic form – I just would rather have had another character in the starring role.
Now, let’s go onto something that’s obviously a big factor in comics; the art. I actually really liked the art in Redemption; it overall had a lot of quality to it. One complaint I have about it, though, is that even though it’s all nicely drawn, the actual pre-existing characters aren’t really accurate. The only pre-established characters that I can think of are Liara, Miranda and the Illusive Man, but none of the three were drawn how they should have been, in my opinion.
First, you have Liara, who could be any random Asari for all we know; there is no distinctive trait in her appearance with how she’s drawn.
Then there’s Miranda, who, similar to Liara’s situation, could be any hot brunette (though… I suppose technically speaking, that’s not too different from her game look).
And finally, the Illusive Man, who just looks… weird.
So, while these characters aren’t drawn terribly per se, it’s just not accurate considering how they look in the games. It’s not a big complaint, but it’s a small nitpick I have about the comic.
While we’re on the subject of pre-established characters, I did like how the writers found a way to include Miranda and the Illusive Man – though at times it did feel a bit forced. For example, would the Illusive Man really have spoken to Liara immediately like he did, then going as far as recruiting her to do a job that was perhaps the most important one in his mind to be accomplished at that time? Especially when she was an alien. It just seems surprising to me, and a bit odd.
Omega Station’s inclusion was a nice addition, offering some familiarity (though I suppose since the first issue came out before Mass Effect 2 was released, this wouldn’t have been a familiar spot at the time of Issue 1#’s release, but for me reading it now it qualifies as “familiar”) in the settings. Alingon was okay, but you really don’t see much of the planet other than the inside of the Shadow Broker’s base of operations. We did get a nice description of it, however.
As far as the story goes, I enjoyed it. It wasn’t anything really spectacular; this is a tie-in story, which means it’s built very much on the events of Mass Effect 2. This isn’t a bad thing, because it serves its purpose nicely.
For those of you who might be worried that this messes up your mind’s image of your own Sheppard – male, female, black, white, etc – don’t worry; Shepard’s appearance and gender, even his or her alignment, is kept completely open. The closest thing we have to a reference of gender is a line from Tazzik, looking at the beaten up body of Shepard – “Hard to tell if it’s even a man or a woman, blown to hell like that.” I loved this line because it played into the whole, “Shepard is completely your own unique character” thing.
So, to wrap things up, I really did enjoy this comic. Sure, it has its faults, but what comic or book doesn’t? This is the perfect comic to go alongside Mass Effect 2, so if you’re a fan of the franchise, I’d definitely recommend picking this up. However, there are so many tie-ins to the games that if you don’t have any previous investment in the series, this might be hard to really enjoy.
(Wait a second, what did I just say? If you don’t have any previous investment? That must mean you haven’t played the games, so… What are you doing reading this? Go! Play them! NOW!)
Guest reviewer Opal Skoien is a regular contributor to the Man In Black Reviews website and the Star Wars fan site www.njoe.com.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Giveaway! 5 Copies of "Dust" by Joan Frances Turner (U.S. entries only)
This appears to be my week for giveaways. Penguin Books made the very generous offer to sponsor a giveaway featuring 5 COPIES of "Dust" by Joan Francis Turner. Be sure to head over to my giveaway page and CHECK IT OUT
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Giveaway! "The Truth of Valor" by Tanya Huff
You didn't think I was going to list all of those books and not share did you? Since I had a specific request for a sci-fi title, I'm offering "The Truth of Valor" by Tanya Huff for giveaway. Be sure to go to my giveaway page and CHECK IT OUT.
BikeBug lets bikers communicate wirelessly
Bicycles may be the most conventional and sustainable mode of transportation, but lacking modern technology and equipment they often lag behind their motorized counterparts. Adding more flavor and technology to your biking experience
The BikeBug is Bluetooth radio concept that lets cyclists communicate with each other while riding in a group, consists of two major components; a radio resided in a stretchy, hook-on exoskeleton, and an earpiece or microphone that includes the volume control mechanism. An incorporated Bluetooth transmitter links the earpiece or mike with the radio wirelessly through which the cyclists will have a wire free convenience.
Family Radio Service frequencies, commonly used in economical handheld radios, for wireless communication
The BikeBug is Bluetooth radio concept that lets cyclists communicate with each other while riding in a group, consists of two major components; a radio resided in a stretchy, hook-on exoskeleton, and an earpiece or microphone that includes the volume control mechanism. An incorporated Bluetooth transmitter links the earpiece or mike with the radio wirelessly through which the cyclists will have a wire free convenience.
Family Radio Service frequencies, commonly used in economical handheld radios, for wireless communication
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Books Received
I have gotten an utterly insane number of books from some very, very generous publishers over the last two weeks or so, and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't take the time to show proper gratitude by listing them here on the blog.
It took me almost two hours to make this list. I am extremely lucky-- and very grateful.
(Be sure to click the "Read More" link to see all the titles)
Ghost of a Chance by Simon R. Green (Ace)
A brand-new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightside novels!
The Carnacki Institute exists to "Do Something" about Ghosts-and agents JC Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer will either lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice.
Killbox by Anne Aguirre (Ace)
Navigational grimspace "jumper" Sirantha Jax forms an army to defend colonists stationed on the outskirts of space from a legion of flesh- eating aliens.
The Grimrose Path by Rob Thurman (Roc)
National bestselling author of Roadkill
Bar owner Triva Iktomi knows that inhuman creatures of light and darkness roam Las Vegas-especially since she's a bit more than human herself. She's just been approached with an unusual proposition. Something has slaughtered almost one thousand demons in six months. And the killing isn't going to stop unless Trixa and her friends step into the fight...
Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan (Ace)
Meet Miranda Grey-music and magic are in her blood.
Overwhelmed by her uncanny ability to manipulate people's emotions through her music, Miranda Grey comes to the attention of vampire lord David Solomon. Believing he can help bring her magic under control, David discovers that Miranda's powers may affect the vampire world too...
Chosen by Jeanne C. Stein (Ace)
Anna Strong's primitive vampire instincts are getting harder to control. And a new enemy wants to take advantage of that fact, for Anna has been chosen to shape the destiny of all vampires-and all humans.
Curse of the Wolf Girl by Martin Milar (Underland Press)
Kallix, a morose, laudanum-addicted, unschooled, slightly anorexic werewolf is still on the run. The youngest daughter of the Thane of the MacRinnalch Clan of werewolves, held responsible unfairly for the death of the Thane, and justifiably responsible for the deaths of a great many other werewolves, remains prohibited from returning to Scotland in order to maintain the uneasy peace that temporarily prevails in court, despite the endemic debauchery and degeneracy always threatening to again spiral out of control. Frankly, things aren’t much better for her in London than in Scotland. The love of her life is in hiding and her enemies increase in number by the day. Strong as she is when enraged, it’s becoming ever more dangerous to be her. Daniel and Moonglow, her two human friends, do what they can to keep her hidden in plain sight (who would look for a werewolf in a remedial program for high school dropouts?) and keep her fed. Millar is a true world-creator, populating Curse of the Wolf Girl with a universe of characters: fashion-designing werewolves, cross-dressing werewolves, and neurotic, psychotic, and erotic werewolves, as well as fairies, Fire Elementals, and good ole humans — whipping them in faster and faster revolutions with his thrilling, vertiginous rollercoaster narrative.
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks (Orbit)
Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: Five years to achieve five impossible goals.
But when Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.
The Law of the Nines by Terry Goodkind (Jove)
Publishers Weekly
Science fiction author Goodkind takes a new approach to the modern-day thriller in this fantastic tale featuring Alex, a down-and-out artist set to inherit a fortune on his 27th birthday. The catch is that Alex is set to inherit his mother's insanity as well, which overcame her when she reached the same age. Mark Deakins proves a master storyteller; his strong performance shines with excellent stage presence from start to finish. Deakins speaks in a strong, commanding tone and is a virtuoso at accents and dialects—and Goodkind gives him plenty of each to play with.
Shadow Chase by Seressia Glass (Simon & Schuster)
In a job like this, one mistake can cost you everything.As a Shadowchaser, Kira Solomon has been trained to serve the Light, dispatch the Fallen, and prevent the spread of chaos. It’s a deadly job, and Kira knows the horror of spilling innocent blood. But now she has a new role, as the Hand of Ma’at, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Order, and an assignment that might just redeem her.A fellow Shadowchaser has gone missing, and so has a unique artifact imbued with astonishing magic. Unless the Vessel of Nun is returned, it will cause destruction beyond anything the modern world has seen. Kira’s got a team at her back, including Khefar, a near-immortal Nubian warrior who’s already died for her once. But as complicated as her feelings for him are, they’re nothing compared to the difficulties of the task she faces.And the only way to defeat the enemy is to trust in a powershe can barely control, and put her life—and her soul—on the line.
Fire by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson (Ace)
Master storytellers Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson present the second volume in their four planned collections, each one about the "Elementals"-water, fire, earth, and air. In Fire they tell five tales of creatures who live and die by fire, whether in the present day or the prehistoric past. From the amazing Firespace, where only fire- breathing dragons can survive; to a heroic young man who chases the mythic fireworm through dark tunnels of a dream; to a fascinating history of the Phoenix, the bird who dies and is resurrected by fire; these characters and stories from two deeply talented writers are sure to get fantasy readers everywhere all fired up.
Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll (Tor)
Ancient alchemy and modern bohemians mix predictably in this formulaic urban fantasy. Jewelry artisan Garet James receives a sealed metal box from the owner of a watch repair shop. Once the box is opened, all manner of misfortunes befall her. Fey folk soon emerge from the city's counterculture to assist Garet and explain that she's a hereditary guardian against black magic. The shop owner is none other than medieval alchemist John Dee, who plans to unleash demons upon the world in seven days. Carroll--a pseudonym for mystery writer Carol Goodman (Arcadia Falls) and her husband, poet Lee Slonimsky--puts Garet through the usual initiate's paces of developing the special powers she needs to thwart Dee's plot. The characters who teach her are quirky and quaint, but their adventures with her will strike readers as generic and familiar.
Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay (Roc)
Crispin is a master mosaicist, creating beautiful art with colored stones and glass. Summoned to Sarantium by imperial request, he bears a Queen's secret mission, and a talisman from an alchemist. Once in the fabled city, with its taverns and gilded sanctuaries, chariot races and palaces, intrigues and violence, Crispin must find his own source of power in order to survive-and unexpectedly discovers it high on the scaffolding of his own greatest creation.
The Dragon Book Jack Dann (Editor), Gardner Dozois (Editor) (Ace)
"Strong storytelling and new takes on a beloved fantasy topic result in a welcome addition to the literature of dragons." (Library Journal)
Whether portrayed as fire-breathing reptilian beasts or as noble creatures of power and grace, dragons have been found in nearly every culture's mythology. Now, in The Dragon Book, today's greatest fantasists reignite the fire... Includes stories by New York Times bestselling authors Jonathan Stroud, Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Diana Gabaldon, Tamora Pierce, Harry Turtledove, Sean Williams, and Tad Williams, as well as tales by Peter Beagle, Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, Cecelia Holland, Naomi Novik, Kage Baker, Samuel Sykes, Diana Wynne Jones, Mary Rosenblum, Tanith Lee, Andy Duncan, and Bruce Coville.
Prospero in Hell by L. Jagi Lamplighter (Tor)
The exciting, suspenseful story of Miranda’s search for Prospero, the fabled sorcerer of The Tempest
The search of a daughter for her father is but the beginning of this robust fantasy adventure. For five hundred years since the events of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Miranda has run Prospero, Inc., protecting an unknowing world from disasters both natural and man-made. Now her father has been taken prisoner of dark spirits in a place she could only guess. Piecing together clues about her father’s whereabouts and discovering secrets of her shrouded past, she comes to an inescapable conclusion she has dreaded since Prospero was lost.
Prospero has been imprisoned in Hell, kept there by demons who wish to extract a terrible price in exchange for his freedom. As the time of reckoning for Miranda draws near, she realizes that hundreds of years of their family’s magic may not be enough to free her once-powerful father from the curse that could destroy them...and the world.
The High King of Montival by S.M. Stirling (Roc)
The New York Times bestselling author continues his post- apocalyptic series chronicling a modern world without technology.
With The Sword of the Lady, Rudi Mackenzie's destiny was determined. Now he returns to Montival in the Pacific Northwest, where he will face the legions of the Prophet. To achieve victory, Rudi must assemble a coalition of those who had been his enemies a few months before and forge them into an army that will rescue his homeland.
Only then will Rudi be able to come to terms with how the Sword has changed him, as well as the world, and assume his place as Artos, High King of Montival...
Path of the Sun by Violette Malan (Daw)
A new fantasy adventure featuring "the highly talented Dhulyn and Parno."(Locus).
Mercenary partners Dhulyn Wolfshead and Parno Lionsmane think they're escorting the Princess of Arderon to her wedding with the new Tarkin of Menoin, but the Mercenary Brotherhood has a secret mission for them: find out what happened to the two Brothers who were sent on assignment to Menoin a year ago-and vanished.
Once in Menoin, they discover that the Brothers' disappearance is linked to a series of killings. And when the Princess of Arderon's corpse is found mutilated in the same way as the others, Dhulyn and Parno track the killer into the Path of the Sun, an ancient labyrinth from which people sometimes never return...
Imager's Intrigue by L.E. Modesitt Jr. (Tor)
In Imager, the first book of the Imager Portfolio, we met Rhennthyl, an apprentice portrait artist whose life was changed by a disastrous fire. But the blaze that took his master’s life and destroyed his livelihood revealed a secret power previously dormant in Rhenn; the power of imaging, the ability to shape matter using thought. With some trouble, he adapts to the controlled life of an imager.
By Imager’s Challenge, Rhenn has become a liaison to the local law forces. He finds himself in direct conflict with both authorities and national politics as he tries to uphold the law and do his best by the people of his home city.
Now, in Imager’s Intrigue, Rhenn has come into his own. He has a wife and a young child, and a solid career as an imager. But he has made more than one enemy during his journey from apprentice painter to master imager, and even his great powers won’t allow him to escape his past.
The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff (Daw)
The "rousing military adventure"(Locus) continues with a brand-new Valor novel.
Former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is attempting to build a new life with salvage operator Craig Ryder on his ship, the Promise. Turns out civilian life is a lot rougher than she'd imagined-salvage operators are losing both cargo and lives to pirates. And when they attack the Promise, Craig is taken prisoner and Torin is left for dead.
When Torin finds out why the pirates needed Craig, she calls in the Marines to get him back-and to stop the pirates from changing the balance of power in known space.
The Osiris Ritual by George Mann (Tor)
A steampunk mystery adventure featuring immortality, artifacts, and intrepid sleuths Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes
Sir Maurice Newbury, Gentleman Investigator for the Crown, imagines life will be a little quieter after his dual successes solving The Affinity Bridge affair. But he hasn’t banked on his villainous predecessor, Knox, who is hell-bent on achieving immortality, not to mention a secret agent who isn’t quite what he seems....
So continues an adventure quite unlike any other, a thrilling steampunk mystery and the second in the series of Newbury & Hobbes investigations.
The Questing Road by Lynn McConchie (Tor)
An exciting new fantasy in the tradition of Andre Norton’s Witch World
The coauthor of The Duke’s Ballad and Silver May Tarnish returns with a new fantasy that captures the spirit of her successful collaborations with Andre Norton.
Searching for a stolen foal, several farming folk inadvertently cross through a gateway into a different world. Not long after, the lord and lady of a nearby keep begin a trip to find the sire of the lady’s empathic cat. They too traverse a gate unwittingly and find themselves in the same strange world.
On the other side of the gate the two groups meet and discover that the world they have entered is in great danger. The foal has been stolen to be sacrificed as part of a scheme to loose a horde of demons upon the world. Somehow the cat and the foal are the keys to the possible salvation of this world, which may prove a home to them and their owners…or their doom.
The Stainless Steel Rat Returns by Harry Harrison (Tor)
After a ten-year absence, the return of one of the most enduring series characters in modern SF
James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" DiGriz, Special Corps agent, master con man, interstellar criminal (retired), is living high on the hog on the planet of Moolaplenty when a long-lost cousin and a shipful of swine arrive to drain his bank account and send him and his lovely wife, Angelina, wandering the stars on the wildest journey since Gulliver's Travels.
In this darkly satiric work, Harry Harrison bring his most famous character out of retirement for a grand tour of the galaxy. The Stainless Steel Rat rides again: a cocktail in his hand, a smile on his lips, and larceny in his heart, in search of adventure, gravitons, and a way to get rid of the pigs.
An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire (Daw)
Experience the thrill of the hunt in the third October Daye urban fantasy novel.
October "Toby" Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to track the villain down-even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael's realm, home of the Wild Hunt-and no road may be taken more than once. If Toby cannot escape with the children, she will fall prey to the Wild Hunt and Blind Michael's inescapable power.
Passion Play by Beth Bernobich (Tor)
Ilse Zhalina is the daughter of one of Melnek’s more prominent merchants. She has lived most of her life surrounded by the trappings of wealth and privilege. Many would consider hers a happy lot. But there are dark secrets, especially in the best of families. Ilse has learned that for a young woman of her beauty and social station, to be passive and silent is the best way to survive.
When Ilse finally meets the older man she is to marry, she realizes he is far crueler and more deadly than her father could ever be. Ilse chooses to run. This choice will change her life forever.
And it will lead her to Raul Kosenmark, master of one of the land’s most notorious pleasure houses…and who is, as Ilse discovers, a puppetmaster of a different sort altogether. Ilse discovers a world where every pleasure has a price and there are levels of magic and intrigue she once thought unimaginable. She also finds the other half of her heart.
Lush fantasy. Wild magic. Intrigue, seduction, and treachery, with a kingdom at stake. Passion Play is the journey of a woman who must conquer her passions in order to win all that she desires.
Cold in the Light by Charles Gramlich (Invisible College Press)
Where the beings known as the Whoun/ came from, only a few know. What they're going to do next is anyone's guess.
But in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, where a decades old conspiracy has started to unravel, a cop and a lady doctor are about to find out. Against an enemy from their nightmares, the two will have to fight, to save the life of an unborn child who isn't human, a child that will change their world forever.
In the brooding forest, they'll learn what it means to fear the dark...And the light.
The Cassini Code by Dom Testa (Tor)
In this third gripping installment of the epic SF adventure that began with The Comet's Curse and The Web of Titan, the Council must deal with growing unrest among the spaceship's crew while traversing the deadly minefield that is the Kuiper Belt.
The teenage crew of Galahad has survived their first encounter with an alien race. Though shaken by the power of the Cassini, Triana and her Council are eager to continue their voyage. But there are those on the crew who feel that it is time for Galahad to turn around. Led by the charismatic Merit, a small group of crew members has begun lobbying for a return to Earth. To them, the narrow escapes from both the saboteur and the Cassini are signs that the mission of Galahad is doomed to failure. When the ship enters the deadly minefield that is the Kuiper Belt, it seems as though they might have a point. As Galahad dodges a storm of asteroids, Triana finds herself dealing with an increasingly hostile crew. Even members of the Council are beginning to listen to Merit’s arguments. Can Triana find a way to prevent a mutiny aboard Galahad and lead her crew to safety?
Hawkmoon: The Sword of the Dawn by Michael Moorcock (Tor)
Fantasy legend Michael Moorcock won hundreds of thousands of readers with his vast and imaginative multiverse, universe upon universe of alternate time and space in which Law and Chaos wage a continuous struggle to change the fundamental rules of existence.
Moorcock's heroes of the multiverse have been lauded as some of the most iconic characters of fantasy. Among the Eternal Champions, Dorian Hawkmoon is one of the most loved. In an alternate far future, Hawkmoon is pulled unwillingly into a war that will eventually pit him against the ruthless Baron Meliadus and the armies of the Dark empire. Antique cities, scientific sorcery, and crystalline machines serve as a backdrop to this high adventure.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead by Mark Twain and Don Borchert (Tor)
Mark Twain once said “The rumors of my death were greatly exaggerat—BRAINS!!!!!”
Pulled from the grip of Mark Twain’s rotting zombie hands, is Tom Sawyer like you’ve never seen him before, in a swashbuckling, treasure-seeking adventure, spiked with blood, gore, and zombie madness.
In this expanded and illustrated edition of Mark Twain’s beloved tale of boyhood adventures, Tom’s usual mishaps are filled with the macabre and take place in a world overrun by a zombie virus that turns people into something folks call “Zum.” The United States is infected with a plague of rotting, yet spry, Zum, searching for fresh meat.
In this world, there’s no need to whitewash Aunt Polly’s fence. Instead, Tom cons his friends into sharpening fence posts to lethal points to repel a Zum attack. To escape the boredom of civilized life, Tom and his pal Huckleberry Finn don’t have to fake their deaths, just pretend to be Zum. And instead of playing cowboys and Indians, Tom hones his fighting skills in a bloodthirsty game of “Us and Zum.” He always wins . . . until he bumps into the real thing.
When vicious, self-aware zombies evolve and threaten the town . . . what will Tom and Huck do to protect their loved ones, and will they live to tell the tale?
With all the comedy, romance, and adventure that readers expect from Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer now becomes a new breed of hero for a whole new world—a grade-A zombie hunter.
The Silent Army by James Knapp (Roc)
The pulse-pounding sequel to State of Decay
Federal agent Nico Wachalowski must stop Samuel Fawkes from awakening his own private army of zombies even if it means killing the woman he loves-now resurrected as a "Revivor"-permanently.
Masques by Patricia Briggs (Ace)
After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi. But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where he will strike next?
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews (Ace)
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.
Echo by Jack McDevitt (Ace)
A new novel of the fantastic unknown by the national bestselling author of Time Travelers Never Die.
Eccentric Sunset Tuttle spent his life searching in vain for forms of alien life. Thirty years after his death, a stone tablet inscribed with cryptic, indecipherable symbols is found in the possession of Tuttle's onetime lover, and antiquities dealer Alex Benedict is anxious to discover what secret the tablet holds. It could be proof that Tuttle had found what he was looking for. To find out, Benedict and his assistant embark on their own voyage of discovery-one that will lead them directly into the path of a very determined assassin who doesn't want those secrets revealed.
It took me almost two hours to make this list. I am extremely lucky-- and very grateful.
(Be sure to click the "Read More" link to see all the titles)
Ghost of a Chance by Simon R. Green (Ace)
A brand-new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightside novels!
The Carnacki Institute exists to "Do Something" about Ghosts-and agents JC Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer will either lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice.
Killbox by Anne Aguirre (Ace)
Navigational grimspace "jumper" Sirantha Jax forms an army to defend colonists stationed on the outskirts of space from a legion of flesh- eating aliens.
The Grimrose Path by Rob Thurman (Roc)
National bestselling author of Roadkill
Bar owner Triva Iktomi knows that inhuman creatures of light and darkness roam Las Vegas-especially since she's a bit more than human herself. She's just been approached with an unusual proposition. Something has slaughtered almost one thousand demons in six months. And the killing isn't going to stop unless Trixa and her friends step into the fight...
Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan (Ace)
Meet Miranda Grey-music and magic are in her blood.
Overwhelmed by her uncanny ability to manipulate people's emotions through her music, Miranda Grey comes to the attention of vampire lord David Solomon. Believing he can help bring her magic under control, David discovers that Miranda's powers may affect the vampire world too...
Chosen by Jeanne C. Stein (Ace)
Anna Strong's primitive vampire instincts are getting harder to control. And a new enemy wants to take advantage of that fact, for Anna has been chosen to shape the destiny of all vampires-and all humans.
Kallix, a morose, laudanum-addicted, unschooled, slightly anorexic werewolf is still on the run. The youngest daughter of the Thane of the MacRinnalch Clan of werewolves, held responsible unfairly for the death of the Thane, and justifiably responsible for the deaths of a great many other werewolves, remains prohibited from returning to Scotland in order to maintain the uneasy peace that temporarily prevails in court, despite the endemic debauchery and degeneracy always threatening to again spiral out of control. Frankly, things aren’t much better for her in London than in Scotland. The love of her life is in hiding and her enemies increase in number by the day. Strong as she is when enraged, it’s becoming ever more dangerous to be her. Daniel and Moonglow, her two human friends, do what they can to keep her hidden in plain sight (who would look for a werewolf in a remedial program for high school dropouts?) and keep her fed. Millar is a true world-creator, populating Curse of the Wolf Girl with a universe of characters: fashion-designing werewolves, cross-dressing werewolves, and neurotic, psychotic, and erotic werewolves, as well as fairies, Fire Elementals, and good ole humans — whipping them in faster and faster revolutions with his thrilling, vertiginous rollercoaster narrative.
Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: Five years to achieve five impossible goals.
But when Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.
Publishers Weekly
Science fiction author Goodkind takes a new approach to the modern-day thriller in this fantastic tale featuring Alex, a down-and-out artist set to inherit a fortune on his 27th birthday. The catch is that Alex is set to inherit his mother's insanity as well, which overcame her when she reached the same age. Mark Deakins proves a master storyteller; his strong performance shines with excellent stage presence from start to finish. Deakins speaks in a strong, commanding tone and is a virtuoso at accents and dialects—and Goodkind gives him plenty of each to play with.
In a job like this, one mistake can cost you everything.As a Shadowchaser, Kira Solomon has been trained to serve the Light, dispatch the Fallen, and prevent the spread of chaos. It’s a deadly job, and Kira knows the horror of spilling innocent blood. But now she has a new role, as the Hand of Ma’at, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Order, and an assignment that might just redeem her.A fellow Shadowchaser has gone missing, and so has a unique artifact imbued with astonishing magic. Unless the Vessel of Nun is returned, it will cause destruction beyond anything the modern world has seen. Kira’s got a team at her back, including Khefar, a near-immortal Nubian warrior who’s already died for her once. But as complicated as her feelings for him are, they’re nothing compared to the difficulties of the task she faces.And the only way to defeat the enemy is to trust in a powershe can barely control, and put her life—and her soul—on the line.
Master storytellers Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson present the second volume in their four planned collections, each one about the "Elementals"-water, fire, earth, and air. In Fire they tell five tales of creatures who live and die by fire, whether in the present day or the prehistoric past. From the amazing Firespace, where only fire- breathing dragons can survive; to a heroic young man who chases the mythic fireworm through dark tunnels of a dream; to a fascinating history of the Phoenix, the bird who dies and is resurrected by fire; these characters and stories from two deeply talented writers are sure to get fantasy readers everywhere all fired up.
Ancient alchemy and modern bohemians mix predictably in this formulaic urban fantasy. Jewelry artisan Garet James receives a sealed metal box from the owner of a watch repair shop. Once the box is opened, all manner of misfortunes befall her. Fey folk soon emerge from the city's counterculture to assist Garet and explain that she's a hereditary guardian against black magic. The shop owner is none other than medieval alchemist John Dee, who plans to unleash demons upon the world in seven days. Carroll--a pseudonym for mystery writer Carol Goodman (Arcadia Falls) and her husband, poet Lee Slonimsky--puts Garet through the usual initiate's paces of developing the special powers she needs to thwart Dee's plot. The characters who teach her are quirky and quaint, but their adventures with her will strike readers as generic and familiar.
Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay (Roc)
Crispin is a master mosaicist, creating beautiful art with colored stones and glass. Summoned to Sarantium by imperial request, he bears a Queen's secret mission, and a talisman from an alchemist. Once in the fabled city, with its taverns and gilded sanctuaries, chariot races and palaces, intrigues and violence, Crispin must find his own source of power in order to survive-and unexpectedly discovers it high on the scaffolding of his own greatest creation.
"Strong storytelling and new takes on a beloved fantasy topic result in a welcome addition to the literature of dragons." (Library Journal)
Whether portrayed as fire-breathing reptilian beasts or as noble creatures of power and grace, dragons have been found in nearly every culture's mythology. Now, in The Dragon Book, today's greatest fantasists reignite the fire... Includes stories by New York Times bestselling authors Jonathan Stroud, Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Diana Gabaldon, Tamora Pierce, Harry Turtledove, Sean Williams, and Tad Williams, as well as tales by Peter Beagle, Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, Cecelia Holland, Naomi Novik, Kage Baker, Samuel Sykes, Diana Wynne Jones, Mary Rosenblum, Tanith Lee, Andy Duncan, and Bruce Coville.
The exciting, suspenseful story of Miranda’s search for Prospero, the fabled sorcerer of The Tempest
The search of a daughter for her father is but the beginning of this robust fantasy adventure. For five hundred years since the events of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Miranda has run Prospero, Inc., protecting an unknowing world from disasters both natural and man-made. Now her father has been taken prisoner of dark spirits in a place she could only guess. Piecing together clues about her father’s whereabouts and discovering secrets of her shrouded past, she comes to an inescapable conclusion she has dreaded since Prospero was lost.
Prospero has been imprisoned in Hell, kept there by demons who wish to extract a terrible price in exchange for his freedom. As the time of reckoning for Miranda draws near, she realizes that hundreds of years of their family’s magic may not be enough to free her once-powerful father from the curse that could destroy them...and the world.
The New York Times bestselling author continues his post- apocalyptic series chronicling a modern world without technology.
With The Sword of the Lady, Rudi Mackenzie's destiny was determined. Now he returns to Montival in the Pacific Northwest, where he will face the legions of the Prophet. To achieve victory, Rudi must assemble a coalition of those who had been his enemies a few months before and forge them into an army that will rescue his homeland.
Only then will Rudi be able to come to terms with how the Sword has changed him, as well as the world, and assume his place as Artos, High King of Montival...
A new fantasy adventure featuring "the highly talented Dhulyn and Parno."(Locus).
Mercenary partners Dhulyn Wolfshead and Parno Lionsmane think they're escorting the Princess of Arderon to her wedding with the new Tarkin of Menoin, but the Mercenary Brotherhood has a secret mission for them: find out what happened to the two Brothers who were sent on assignment to Menoin a year ago-and vanished.
Once in Menoin, they discover that the Brothers' disappearance is linked to a series of killings. And when the Princess of Arderon's corpse is found mutilated in the same way as the others, Dhulyn and Parno track the killer into the Path of the Sun, an ancient labyrinth from which people sometimes never return...
In Imager, the first book of the Imager Portfolio, we met Rhennthyl, an apprentice portrait artist whose life was changed by a disastrous fire. But the blaze that took his master’s life and destroyed his livelihood revealed a secret power previously dormant in Rhenn; the power of imaging, the ability to shape matter using thought. With some trouble, he adapts to the controlled life of an imager.
By Imager’s Challenge, Rhenn has become a liaison to the local law forces. He finds himself in direct conflict with both authorities and national politics as he tries to uphold the law and do his best by the people of his home city.
Now, in Imager’s Intrigue, Rhenn has come into his own. He has a wife and a young child, and a solid career as an imager. But he has made more than one enemy during his journey from apprentice painter to master imager, and even his great powers won’t allow him to escape his past.
The "rousing military adventure"(Locus) continues with a brand-new Valor novel.
Former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is attempting to build a new life with salvage operator Craig Ryder on his ship, the Promise. Turns out civilian life is a lot rougher than she'd imagined-salvage operators are losing both cargo and lives to pirates. And when they attack the Promise, Craig is taken prisoner and Torin is left for dead.
When Torin finds out why the pirates needed Craig, she calls in the Marines to get him back-and to stop the pirates from changing the balance of power in known space.
The Osiris Ritual by George Mann (Tor)
A steampunk mystery adventure featuring immortality, artifacts, and intrepid sleuths Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes
Sir Maurice Newbury, Gentleman Investigator for the Crown, imagines life will be a little quieter after his dual successes solving The Affinity Bridge affair. But he hasn’t banked on his villainous predecessor, Knox, who is hell-bent on achieving immortality, not to mention a secret agent who isn’t quite what he seems....
So continues an adventure quite unlike any other, a thrilling steampunk mystery and the second in the series of Newbury & Hobbes investigations.
The Questing Road by Lynn McConchie (Tor)
An exciting new fantasy in the tradition of Andre Norton’s Witch World
The coauthor of The Duke’s Ballad and Silver May Tarnish returns with a new fantasy that captures the spirit of her successful collaborations with Andre Norton.
Searching for a stolen foal, several farming folk inadvertently cross through a gateway into a different world. Not long after, the lord and lady of a nearby keep begin a trip to find the sire of the lady’s empathic cat. They too traverse a gate unwittingly and find themselves in the same strange world.
On the other side of the gate the two groups meet and discover that the world they have entered is in great danger. The foal has been stolen to be sacrificed as part of a scheme to loose a horde of demons upon the world. Somehow the cat and the foal are the keys to the possible salvation of this world, which may prove a home to them and their owners…or their doom.
The Stainless Steel Rat Returns by Harry Harrison (Tor)
After a ten-year absence, the return of one of the most enduring series characters in modern SF
James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" DiGriz, Special Corps agent, master con man, interstellar criminal (retired), is living high on the hog on the planet of Moolaplenty when a long-lost cousin and a shipful of swine arrive to drain his bank account and send him and his lovely wife, Angelina, wandering the stars on the wildest journey since Gulliver's Travels.
In this darkly satiric work, Harry Harrison bring his most famous character out of retirement for a grand tour of the galaxy. The Stainless Steel Rat rides again: a cocktail in his hand, a smile on his lips, and larceny in his heart, in search of adventure, gravitons, and a way to get rid of the pigs.
Experience the thrill of the hunt in the third October Daye urban fantasy novel.
October "Toby" Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to track the villain down-even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael's realm, home of the Wild Hunt-and no road may be taken more than once. If Toby cannot escape with the children, she will fall prey to the Wild Hunt and Blind Michael's inescapable power.
Ilse Zhalina is the daughter of one of Melnek’s more prominent merchants. She has lived most of her life surrounded by the trappings of wealth and privilege. Many would consider hers a happy lot. But there are dark secrets, especially in the best of families. Ilse has learned that for a young woman of her beauty and social station, to be passive and silent is the best way to survive.
When Ilse finally meets the older man she is to marry, she realizes he is far crueler and more deadly than her father could ever be. Ilse chooses to run. This choice will change her life forever.
And it will lead her to Raul Kosenmark, master of one of the land’s most notorious pleasure houses…and who is, as Ilse discovers, a puppetmaster of a different sort altogether. Ilse discovers a world where every pleasure has a price and there are levels of magic and intrigue she once thought unimaginable. She also finds the other half of her heart.
Lush fantasy. Wild magic. Intrigue, seduction, and treachery, with a kingdom at stake. Passion Play is the journey of a woman who must conquer her passions in order to win all that she desires.
Where the beings known as the Whoun/ came from, only a few know. What they're going to do next is anyone's guess.
But in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, where a decades old conspiracy has started to unravel, a cop and a lady doctor are about to find out. Against an enemy from their nightmares, the two will have to fight, to save the life of an unborn child who isn't human, a child that will change their world forever.
In the brooding forest, they'll learn what it means to fear the dark...And the light.
In this third gripping installment of the epic SF adventure that began with The Comet's Curse and The Web of Titan, the Council must deal with growing unrest among the spaceship's crew while traversing the deadly minefield that is the Kuiper Belt.
The teenage crew of Galahad has survived their first encounter with an alien race. Though shaken by the power of the Cassini, Triana and her Council are eager to continue their voyage. But there are those on the crew who feel that it is time for Galahad to turn around. Led by the charismatic Merit, a small group of crew members has begun lobbying for a return to Earth. To them, the narrow escapes from both the saboteur and the Cassini are signs that the mission of Galahad is doomed to failure. When the ship enters the deadly minefield that is the Kuiper Belt, it seems as though they might have a point. As Galahad dodges a storm of asteroids, Triana finds herself dealing with an increasingly hostile crew. Even members of the Council are beginning to listen to Merit’s arguments. Can Triana find a way to prevent a mutiny aboard Galahad and lead her crew to safety?
Fantasy legend Michael Moorcock won hundreds of thousands of readers with his vast and imaginative multiverse, universe upon universe of alternate time and space in which Law and Chaos wage a continuous struggle to change the fundamental rules of existence.
Moorcock's heroes of the multiverse have been lauded as some of the most iconic characters of fantasy. Among the Eternal Champions, Dorian Hawkmoon is one of the most loved. In an alternate far future, Hawkmoon is pulled unwillingly into a war that will eventually pit him against the ruthless Baron Meliadus and the armies of the Dark empire. Antique cities, scientific sorcery, and crystalline machines serve as a backdrop to this high adventure.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead by Mark Twain and Don Borchert (Tor)
Mark Twain once said “The rumors of my death were greatly exaggerat—BRAINS!!!!!”
Pulled from the grip of Mark Twain’s rotting zombie hands, is Tom Sawyer like you’ve never seen him before, in a swashbuckling, treasure-seeking adventure, spiked with blood, gore, and zombie madness.
In this expanded and illustrated edition of Mark Twain’s beloved tale of boyhood adventures, Tom’s usual mishaps are filled with the macabre and take place in a world overrun by a zombie virus that turns people into something folks call “Zum.” The United States is infected with a plague of rotting, yet spry, Zum, searching for fresh meat.
In this world, there’s no need to whitewash Aunt Polly’s fence. Instead, Tom cons his friends into sharpening fence posts to lethal points to repel a Zum attack. To escape the boredom of civilized life, Tom and his pal Huckleberry Finn don’t have to fake their deaths, just pretend to be Zum. And instead of playing cowboys and Indians, Tom hones his fighting skills in a bloodthirsty game of “Us and Zum.” He always wins . . . until he bumps into the real thing.
When vicious, self-aware zombies evolve and threaten the town . . . what will Tom and Huck do to protect their loved ones, and will they live to tell the tale?
With all the comedy, romance, and adventure that readers expect from Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer now becomes a new breed of hero for a whole new world—a grade-A zombie hunter.
The Silent Army by James Knapp (Roc)The pulse-pounding sequel to State of Decay
Federal agent Nico Wachalowski must stop Samuel Fawkes from awakening his own private army of zombies even if it means killing the woman he loves-now resurrected as a "Revivor"-permanently.
After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi. But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where he will strike next?
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews (Ace)
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.
A new novel of the fantastic unknown by the national bestselling author of Time Travelers Never Die.
Eccentric Sunset Tuttle spent his life searching in vain for forms of alien life. Thirty years after his death, a stone tablet inscribed with cryptic, indecipherable symbols is found in the possession of Tuttle's onetime lover, and antiquities dealer Alex Benedict is anxious to discover what secret the tablet holds. It could be proof that Tuttle had found what he was looking for. To find out, Benedict and his assistant embark on their own voyage of discovery-one that will lead them directly into the path of a very determined assassin who doesn't want those secrets revealed.
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