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Archive for October, 2008
Postscripts #16 cover art
Posted by Paul Raven on October 31st, 2008 at 10:55
Happy Halloween, PS fans! Just to keep to the seasonal vibe, here’s the pumpkin-tastic artwork for Postscripts #16, created by Steven C Gilberts:
Ready to ship very shortly, Postscripts #16 contains new fiction from John Grant, Adam Roberts, William Alexander, Paul Jessup, Tim Lees, Brendan Duffy, Robert Edric, Bruce Golden and Scott Edelman… click through below and buy a copy right away!
- Postscripts #16 hardcover – [ £25 / $46.25 approx. ]
- Postscripts #16 paperback – [ £6 / $11.10 approx. ]
Don’t forget – the formats and subscription fees for Postscripts are changing for the better! Check out Pete’s earlier announcement for full details, including a special incentive offer…
Announcing Secret Histories, an exclusive Tim Powers bibliography by John Berlyne… and more!
Posted by Paul Raven on October 29th, 2008 at 9:00
Happy Halloween from PS Publishing
Well, here we are… All Hallows Eve. I’m actually writing this on a cold and blustery 18th and I know that a lot of you – just like me, in fact – will be away from your computers, scanning the night skies for broomsticks, trick-or-treating or dancing naked in the woods around a crackling fire (hell, these are tough times and we all of us need to have a little fun). Anyway, I thought it was time to sit down and pass along some news items.
Secret Histories – a Tim Powers bibliography by John Berlyne
First off the bat, we’re delighted that at long last we’re able to announce Powers: Secret Histories, John Berlyne’s extensively researched and lavishly produced collection of Tim Powers material. Click through on the image above to see the cover art at a much larger size!
A book that essentially redefines the term ‘bibliography,’ Secret Histories has been nearly ten years in the making and brings together an astonishing range of Powers ephemera – a huge treat and a remarkable resource for both fans and collectors alike. As well as a complete, illustrated reference of every Tim Powers book published to date, Secret Histories offers an extraordinary insight into the stories behind the stories, collecting together in a single volume Powers material previously seen only in private collections. Here – in print for the very first time – you’ll find poetry, drawings, research and plotting notes, novel outlines, early drafts, out-takes and an excerpt from the author’s unpublished 1974 novel, To Serve in Hell.
Supporting these riches are story notes and commentary by Powers himself and you’ll also find articles and essays from collaborators, friends and renowned Powers aficionados including Dean Koontz, Jim Blaylock, China Miéville, Karen Joy Fowler, John Bierer, John Berlyne and William Ashless. Powers: Secret Histories is an unprecedented bibliographic tribute celebrating the work of a truly extraordinary writer.
We’ll be issuing three editions of this oversized hardcover, all printed in glorious full colour and all dust-jacketed:
- a limited numbered state, signed by Powers – 1,000 numbered copies @ £40.00;
- a slipcased state, signed by all contributors, and issued with an additional book — an incomplete and previously unpublished novel written by Powers in the early seventies entitled The Waters Deep, Deep, Deep. Only available as part of this package, The Waters, Deep, Deep, Deep will be signed by Powers and will feature unique cover art and internal illustrations by him, as well as both an introduction and afterword – 200 copies @ £195.00;
- and, to reflect Powers’s considerable caché as a collectable author, we’re also offering a deluxe, lettered edition which will be as the above slipcased state but with an exceptionally significant additional item. Tim has given us exclusive permission to reproduce a full colour facsimile edition of his original handwritten manuscript of The Anubis Gates, complete with doodles, crossings out, dog-eared corners and even coffee stains! Only twenty-six copies of this facsimile, signed by Powers and individually lettered, will be available as part of this deluxe three book, specially slipcased edition.. an incredible item that offers a unique insight into the history of this much-loved, modern-day, time-travel classic. – 26 copies @ £495.00.
The books are all finished design-wise. We’re currently getting the various tip sheets signed and the slipcase company is working on the elaborate creations we’ve devised to house the books. I now feel confident to announce that, as per our plans, we’ll have copies available for EasterCon next March – where Tim is Guest of Honour. We should, however, point out that, judging from interest we’ve had from people over the last few years with regard to this long-awaited project, the top two editions are likely to be sold out on pre-order.
Postscripts redux
Following on from my recent announcement, we can now confirm that Postscripts magazine will cease after issue #17 (this winter)… but put away those hankies, true believers! Postscripts the quarterly anthology will commence in the spring of 2009 with issue #18, pretty much a special all-crime issue.
Just to refresh your memories:
- there’ll be more words – instead of our hitherto usual 55-60,000 words, we’ll be going for around 70-80,000 (our novella titles generally run 20-40,000);
- the two-column format will change to a full-width format;
- both editions will be hardcover (an unsigned state at £12/$25 and a signed state at £25/$50) – so no more paperbacks;
- and finally, there’ll be no more postage charges for subscribers.
New Postscripts subscription rates
Subscription rates for the unsigned hardcover edition will be:
- four issues [one year]: £40 post-free (instead of £48 plus postage if you buy the issues individually – the paperback edition is currently £26 in the UK and £30 outside the UK)
- eight issues [two years]: £72 post-free (instead of £96 plus postage – not previously available)
- twelve issues [three years]: £96 post-free (instead of £144 plus postage – not previously available)
Subscription rates for the signed hardcover edition will be:
- four issues [one year]: £100 post-free (instead of £120 plus postage – no change)
- eight issues [two years]: £190 post-free (instead of £240 plus postage – not previously available)
- twelve issues [three years]: £270 post-free (instead of £360 plus postage – not previously available)
Subscribers will still receive a special chapbook each December, completely free of charge. These chapbooks will not be available to buy, even direct from PS.
Special five-year subscription incentive – ultra-limited edition of Stephen King’s “One For The Road”
And for those folks who would like to take out a five-year subscription, we have an extra-special deal:
- twenty issues of the unsigned edition [five years]: £200 post-free (instead of £240 plus postage – not previously available)
- twenty issues of the signed edition [five years]: £450 post-free (instead of £500 plus postage – not previously available)
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that the discounts for the five-year subs just don’t seem as good as those for the two- and three-years subs. Well, we’ve got a little extra incentive for the five-year deal. But be warned: we’ve got only 200 of the unsigned edition and 100 of the signed edition. Here’s what it is.
We’ve negotiated the one-off rights to publish Stephen King’s wonderful story “One For The Road” (a favourite of mine) as a strictly-limited, extensively illustrated, full colour hardcover edition.
Steve won’t be signing any copies – he’s still nursing his wrist from The Colorado Kid (heck, he had to type the last couple of novels one-handed! – what a week that turned out to be!) – but the top state will be signed by the artist and it’ll be slipcased and, like the edition going out to subscribers to the unsigned Postscripts, strictly numbered. First come, first served… and when they’re gone, they’re gone. But hold on there, hoss… the order box is not yet up on the website – but it will be in the next week or so. This is just by way of a heads-up. And no, we don’t have details of the artist at this stage – we’re still discussing the possibilities with Steve. As soon as we know, you’ll know.
Once again, please note that all current subscriptions will be honoured – so if your existing sub is for the current paperback edition and is good through to (and including) issue #19, then there’ll be no extra money required until you decide to renew with issue #20. And all current subscribers are very welcome to take out the new five-year sub right now with the sub set to commence when their existing sub runs out.
And for those for whom either £240 or £450 is a bit too much for one hit, there’ll be a separate renewal box for one quarter of that amount (ie. £60 or £112.50) – all you’ll need to do is hit that box four times within one year and, after the fourth one, you’ll receive your copy of One For The Road. (Of course, your actual subscription to Postscripts will begin as soon as you send us just one payment… and your copy of Steve’s story will be set on one side for you.)
That all make sense? I sure hope so. But you’ll let me know, I’m sure.
PS Publishing Tenth Anniversary projects – the Decade boxed set
Next year will be PS Publishing’s tenth year in business – in short, a milestone. (Well, it is as far as we’re concerned!) So we’re aiming to celebrate it with a few special projects.
The first one we can announce is that we’ll be doing a special four-book boxed set called Decade (hey, Neil Young did it so why can’t we?!). The set will comprise new editions – revised by the authors and featuring new cover artwork plus, we hope, additional material relevant to the original pieces – of Graham Joyce’s Leningrad Nights, James Lovegrove’s How The Other Half Lives, Kim Newman’s Andy Warhol’s Dracula and Michael Marshall Smith’s The Vaccinator. All of the books will be signed by the author concerned and there will be 250 numbered copies of the set priced at £100.
Okay, that’s enough for this time. We’ll bring you up to speed with new purchases next time out.
Look after each other . . . and happy reading!
Pete
Les Edwards art on Christmas cards
Posted by Paul Raven on October 28th, 2008 at 10:17
If you’re looking for something a bit different for your Christmas card choices this year, you might be interested to know that Les Edwards – fantasy artist extraordinaire and regular PS Publishing collaborator – is selling packs of cards featuring artwork used on previous festive issues of Postscripts magazine.
The Crimson Guard returns to Blogcritics
Posted by Paul Raven on October 27th, 2008 at 10:28
Self-described Canadian iconoclast Richard Marcus has reviewed Ian C Esslemont‘s latest Malazan offering, Return of the Crimson Guard, over at Blogcritics.org. Marcus enjoys the different focus and themes that Esslemont’s books have by comparison to Erikson’s, but it’s the synergy of the two writers creating a shared world that he appreciates the most:
It’s through characters like Kyle, the people he meets up with, and others in various camps with the different armies, that Esslemont is able to paint a picture of what life in the heart of Malazan Empire is like. While Erikson’s books have mainly dealt with events occurring in the furthest reaches of the conquered territories, Esslemont takes us into the corridors of power and behind the scenes to expose some of the secrets in its heart and even more of the corruption that has been festering in its veins.
[snip]
Epic fiction is probably some of the hardest to write as you not only have to write a story that will hold your reader’s attention but you have to create the world that the story takes place in. It’s like creating an extra character who doesn’t do or say anything, but without whom the story is pointless. Ian C. Esslemont and Steven Erikson have done what I would have previously considered impossible – they have created a fictional epic that is on a par with those epics that were created to honour real people and real civilizations.
That’s a weighty accolade, for sure; and as an added internet bonus, there’s an interview with Ian C Esslemont over at Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist where he gets grilled by not just one but four Malazan fanatics! Plenty of extra geek points available there…
And don’t forget that due to the proofreading problems with Return of the Crimson Guard, our offer still stands – if you still want to buy a copy of Esslemont’s latest, we’ll sweeten the deal with one free book from our pre-2008 catalogue. Yes, that’s any book at all from before 2008, for nothing. Pop back to the original announcement for details on how to claim the offer, then click through below to buy your copy of RotCG:
- Return of the Crimson Guard – slipcased two-volume hardcover – [ £75 / $138.75 approx. ]
Charles Tan reviews Samuels’ Glyphotech
Posted by Paul Raven on October 24th, 2008 at 10:28
Charles Tan is on a PS reviewing streak at the moment; here he is discussing Mark Samuels‘ Showcase collection, Glyphotech:
Arguably one of Samuels’s biggest assets is his ability to create a dreadful atmosphere, sometimes stemming from the most innocuous of circumstances. All that while using easy-to-grasp English that can be detailed when necessary and sparse when appropriate.
[snip]
Glyphotech and Other Macabre Processes is a must-have for Samuels fans but those looking for modern Lovecraftian stories would also do well in trying out the author. The collection is compelling horror that excels in establishing a distinct atmosphere and weirdness.
An ideal read for the imminent spooky season of Halloween, then! So click through below and grab yourself a copy of this compelling collection from a rising star of the Lovecraftian school of horror:
- Glyphotech – hardcover [£10 / $20 approx.]
- Glyphotech – jacketed hardcover [£25 / $50 approx.]
The Agony Column gets caught in the Cage of Night
Posted by Paul Raven on October 23rd, 2008 at 7:48
Over at the painfully-named Agony Column, Mario Guslandi plucked up the courage to step inside Ed Gorman‘s Cage of Night with a view to reporting back on what he found there. And right off the bat, Guslandi has good things to say:
That publishers can sometimes be morons is no secret, but Ed Gorman‘s statement that his novel Cage of Night written in the 90s was rejected by many of them “because they couldn’t figure out if it was a crime novel or horror fantasy” speaks volumes about the craziness of the mass publishing world, where marketing and labels count more than quality.
Testify, Brother Guslandi! His closing statement is equally unequivocal:
Here we have a solid story written in a steady, engrossing narrative style by a master in the art of creating true characters, who speak in credible dialogues and act as people do in everyday life. And, just because everything sounds so real, you’ll be scared and unsettled but you’ll find yourself unable to put the book down until you’ve reached the last page.
Well, Ed Gorman gained that heavyweight reputation for a good reason. But don’t take our word for it – click through below and grab a copy of Cage of Night for yourself. If you dare…
- Cage of Night (slipcased hardcover) – [ £50 / $92.50 approx. ]
- Cage of Night (hardcover) – [ £50 / $92.50 approx. ]
Torque Control sings the Song of Time
Posted by Paul Raven on October 21st, 2008 at 8:09
Niall Harrison wears a fair few genre fiction hats at once, one of which is the editorial bonnet for Vector, the critical journal of the BSFA. As such, he sometimes publishes reviews at the Torque Control blog, like this one where Ian R MacLeod‘s Song of Time is considered back-to-back with Paul McAuley‘s new novel, The Quiet War.
It’s a pretty lengthy review (and probably not the sort of thing to dig into if you’re the type to get upset about ‘spoilers’) but here’s the closing passage:
… in the same way that Song of Time is less about the reality of the future than the idea of it, it’s less about the specific character of music than the feelings it inspires and the atmosphere it evokes. The “song of time” within the narrative takes advantage of various technological innovations to constantly evolve: any copy of the score which is ever opened will be subtly different to any other, according to rules laid down by the original composer, growing and changing (as memories grow and change). It’s a grounded sf-nal speculation – the music of a culture in which access to recordings is ubiquitous – but also serves as a hymn to the power of the present moment, and a reminder that nostalgia, whether for the past or the future, can be a trap. It’s a truism to say the same of the best novels, that they change not just from one reader to the next, but from one reading to the next, demanding to be revisited, so perhaps the most generous praise I can offer of Song of Time is to say that the act of reading it feels just as ephemeral, and essential, as the music to which Roushana Maitland devotes her life.
High praise, indeed – we all need a little music in our lives, after all. So click through below to revisit the future in the company of Ian R MacLeod:
- Song of Time (slipcased hardcover) : £50 (US$92.50 approx.)
- Song of Time (hardcover) : £20 (US$37 approx.)
King of the Crimson Guard reviews Return of the Nerds. No, wait, hang on…
Posted by Paul Raven on October 20th, 2008 at 8:12
It turns out even royalty read PS Publishing titles! Well, internet royalty, at least – Mike the self-crowned King of the Nerds has read and reviewed Return Of The Crimson Guard, Ian C Esslemont‘s latest contribution to the world of Malazan which he co-created with Steve Erikson.
The King passed the following verdict:
Return of the Crimson Guard is, in my opinion, a significant improvement (in terms of craft) over Night of Knives. In particular the last hundred and fifty pages or so, a lengthy battle sequence, of RotCG is at least equal in complexity to the frenzed action in Night of Knives but is infinitely easier to follow [...] Esslemont comes close to equaling Erikson in the portrayal of the Malazan regulars in the final moments of the book.
In the end Return of the Crimson Guard is a worthy entry to the series that stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of books set on the Malazan world.
So, a must-have for fans of the Malazan Empire.
Of course, you may remember that there were some proofreading problems with Return of the Crimson Guard, but the offer we made in their wake still stands – if you still want to buy a copy of Esslemont’s latest, we’ll sweeten the deal with one free book from our pre-2008 catalogue. Yes, that’s any book at all from before 2008, for nothing. Pop back to the original announcement for details on how to claim the offer, then click through below to buy your copy of RotCG:
- Return of the Crimson Guard – slipcased two-volume hardcover – [ £75 / $138.75 approx. ]
Charles Tan tackles Template
Posted by Paul Raven on October 19th, 2008 at 13:10
Philippino genre fiction maven Charles Tan took a look at Template by Matthew Hughes on his Bibliophile Stalker blog, and found it much to his liking – so much so that Tan compares Hughes to one of the original masters of science fiction:
Personally, reading Template reminds me of the Foundation and I, Robot series. The story is tight, it appeals to my intellectual curiosity rather than adrenaline, and a lot is conveyed through dialogue and introspection. With this novel, I can easily imagine Hughes to be the modern successor of Asimov.
High praise indeed! Click through below to order your own copy of Template and find out what all the fuss is about:
- Template (slipcased hardcover) – [£50.00 / $92.50 approx.]
- Template (hardcover) - [£20.00 / $37.00 approx.]
Cover art for Di Filippo’s Harsh Oases
Posted by Paul Raven on October 17th, 2008 at 9:49
Here’s the finished front of the jacket to Paul Di Filippo‘s imminent Harsh Oases collection, out soon from PS Publishing:
It’s based on a well known painting – The Snake Charmer by Henri J.F. Rousseau – and the design was done by Pedro Marques, his first for us here at PS Publishing. A good start, no?
An hey, it’s on a Paul Di Filippo book – which, judging purely on the basis of the man’s track record, will be packed full of weird and wonderful brain-stuff. So, don’t miss out: click through below to order your copy ahead of release, and be the first to explore these Harsh Oases…
- Harsh Oases by Paul Di Filippo – slipcased hardcover [ £50 / $92.50 approx. ]
- Harsh Oases by Paul Di Filippo – hardcover [ £20 / $37 approx. ]
Lavie Tidhar interviewed at Apex online
Posted by Paul Raven on October 14th, 2008 at 8:46
Some time next year PS Publishing will be putting out a novella by Lavie Tidhar, rising star of the short fiction field and one of genre’s more adventurous eccentrics. Entitled Cloud Permutations, Tidhar describes the novella as “a sort of a South Pacific-flavoured planetary romance”, no doubt inspired by him spending the majority of 2007 on one of the remotest islands on the planet. I have a particular admiration for him because, as far as I know, he’s the only other white guy with dreadlocks in the genre fiction scene… :)
You can find out more about Tidhar’s fiction (and his wanderlust) over at the website of another fine small genre publisher; Apex Online has an interview with the man:
Apex: And you describe yourself as someone who “writes weird fiction.”
Lavie: Yes. I can’t really pinpoint it any more than that. I love all kinds of genres, both to read and to write – it seems silly to restrict myself to just one. Weird seems to sort of cover it though… you know, the kind of stuff that, if you describe it to people, they sort of go bug-eyed and say, ‘Ha, that’s a bit weird.’ One of my favourite stories to write was a clown western (“High Noon in Clown Town”, Postscripts 9). And Postscripts recently bought a new story from me called “The Love Craft”, which is essentially a Women-in-Prison / Alien Abduction story. Now that was fun!
They’ve got one of his recent stories available to read for free, too – “Blakenjel” is also full of South Pacific flavour, so it should act as a nice teaser for Cloud Permutations.
Reviews in the wild for The Hiss Of Escaping Air
Posted by Paul Raven on October 13th, 2008 at 7:59
Rod Lott of Bookgasm rattled his way through Christopher Golden‘s special edition FantasyCon GOH chapbook, The Hiss Of Escaping Air, and seems pretty pleased with the experience:
It’s somewhat remarkable that something so short can contain so much mystery, and it doesn’t have time to disappoint or even lag. [...]
UK-based PS is offering this novelette — written in conjunction with the author’s appearance as Guest of Honor at Fantasycon 2008 — in hardcover format for $11.10 in American dollars. That price is a steal for hardcore collectors, and just about right for everyone else.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Charles “Bibliophile Stalker” Tan has read it too:
Golden also seems to have a firm handle on dialogue, whether it’s fleshing out the supporting characters or revealing the confidence of our heroine. The author’s biggest asset however is how he straddles the line between the fantastic and the mundane. This eventually leads to the horror of this chapbook which is intentionally ambiguous.
[...] Whether it’s the technical skill or the emotional resonance of the story, Golden proves once more that he has the chops to fascinate and intrigue readers.
Looks like a positive verdict all round – and, as Rod pointed out, The Hiss Of Escaping Air is pretty affordable considering its comparative rarity, which is why there are so few of them left. So you’d best buy yours soon to avoid disappointment:
- The Hiss Of Escaping Air (paperback chapbook) – £6 [ US$11.10 approx. ]
Vault of Deeds reviewed all over the place!
Posted by Paul Raven on October 11th, 2008 at 9:31
Reviews of James Barclay‘s new novella Vault of Deeds are flooding in! First up is Mark Chitty at his Walker of Worlds blog, who bestows an uncompromising 9.5 out of 10 upon Barclay:
I’ll get this off my chest straight away, no need to beat around the bush: I loved Vault of Deeds. I love the characters, the setting, the humour. There was only one thing about this novella that I didn’t like: it was too short.
Graeme Flory of the eponymous Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review is likewise greatly entertained, to the tune of 8.5 out of 10:
It’s the humour that really made this one for me. Barclay looks like he’s having so much fun, not just with the dialogue but also with the situations and background [...]
You may know how it’s going to end, and you may have seen the humour before, but Vault of Deeds is still a fun read that both fans of James Barclay, and everyone else, will enjoy.
And finally, a review that comes with no score but whose depth of examination more than makes up for the lack of easy ranking. Richard Marcus’ review can even be read in two different places – at BlogCritics.org and at his own Leap In The Dark blog – and it says of Vault of Deeds:
While I’ve always enjoyed Barclay’s work prior to this, nothing in any of his earlier works had indicated he had such a flair for the ridiculous. He has done a brilliant job of standing the whole hero genre on its head using elements of farce and satire to make his point…
[...] Barclay has proven his mastery of both sword and sorcery and epic fantasy, he can now add comedy to his list of achievements as a writer. After reading Vault Of Deeds you’ll never look upon heroic fantasy in quite the same way again.
That’s three readers vanquished by James Barclay‘s rapier wit – will you be the next? Click through below to order your copy of Vault of Deeds and find out!
- Vault Of Deeds – hardcover [£10 / $18.50 approx]
- Vault Of Deeds – jacketed hardcover [£25 / $46.25 approx]
The Fix gets to grips with Erikson’s Revolvo
Posted by Paul Raven on October 9th, 2008 at 9:00
The Fix Online are at it again! This time Mike O’Driscoll gets to grips with Steven Erikson‘s art-scene satire, Revolvo. First, a brief synopsis:
“… Steven Erikson’s Revolvo is a welcome satire of the excesses of an insular art community that has cut itself off from any meaningful connection with the wider social and political world. Erikson envisions a near future country—Canada—in which the incestuous and narcissistic nature of this community has led to a situation where artists have no audience other than the cultural mandarins who commission, fund, laud, and heap awards on their work.”
The review goes into more detail if you’re curious, but if all you want is the verdict, it’s…
“… a hugely enjoyable, and at times blackly comic, dissection of the way in which art has become marginalised from the real concerns of everyday life. Approached as a loose, impressionistic satire, we see the extent to which Erikson recognises the way so much of what passes for art is concerned only with itself and its commercial value. The discourse surrounding art is itself implicated, remaining the preserve of, as Annie Trollop would have it, those in the loop. At its best, it provides a counterblast, a healthy dose of scepticism to the post-modernist musings of ivory tower dwellers everywhere.”
In summation – a fun read with something to say. What more could you ask for? So why not adventure with Erikson somewhere other than the Malazan Empire, and see what he has to tell you about a world closer to home? Click through below to snare a copy of Revolvo while stocks last:
- Revolvo (jacketed hardcover) – £25.00 ($46.25 approx.)
- Revolvo (hardcover) – £10.00 ($18.50 approx.)
Song Of Time reviewed at ReadAlready
Posted by Paul Raven on October 8th, 2008 at 8:50
Over at the Read It Already blog, reviewer Stephanie has positive things to say about Ian R MacLeod‘s Song Of Time. The book’s main character is a musician, and so is Stephanie – something that can cause frustration from time to time. But not here:
“At this moment, I don’t know if the author is a professional musician or not; I don’t know if he’s got degrees upon degrees in music history and theory and performance, but this is the single most accurate book about being a performing musician that I have ever read. It covers the frustrations, the joys, the highs, the lows, the crazy people surrounding one, what one’s parents might say — so much.
She scores MacLeod highly for Song of Time‘s worldbuilding, too:
“Mr. MacLeod’s vision of the future is strangely beautiful; a lot of the changes can be viewed as Nature taking the world back over, although in a very technological fashion. [...] We see the progression from our time to twenty years later, to thirty years later, to a hundred years later gradually, and although I certainly don’t want to live in his future [...] it makes so much sense.”
4 ½ stars out of 5 is the final score – a respectable coda to any review! Stephanie suggests that other musicians will get the most out of the novel, but we’re confident that even those who merely listen to it will still find much to enjoy in Song of Time. So click through below and get your hands on Ian R MacLeod‘s latest masterpiece:
- Song of Time (slipcased hardcover) : £50 (US$92.50 approx.)
- Song of Time (hardcover) : £20 (US$37 approx.)
The Luminous Depths reviewed at Strange Horizons
Posted by Paul Raven on October 2nd, 2008 at 9:04
Over at Strange Horizons, Finn Dempster has taken on David Herter‘s The Luminous Depths for their reviews section, in part because he covered its predecessor, On The Overgrown Path. We’re pleased to see he didn’t find it a chore to return to Herter’s material – quite the opposite in fact!
The Luminous Depths has quite a brain-twister of a plot despite being rooted in reality, so here’s a bit of Dempster’s synopsis:
“… the narrative torch is passed to the brothers Pavel and Karel Capek, both composers and writers, and Josef Hass, an illustrator. All three are engaged in putting the finishing touches to an opera called Rossum’s Universal Robots, when they [...] become entangled in a web of surreal magic, the catalyst of which appears to be a piece of parchment [...] covered in miniature staves and notes and folded intricately into a paper chrysanthemum. The act of unfolding it sends the Capeks, Josef, and the whole operatic troupe forward in time eleven years, to a night-time Czechoslovakia in the brutal grip of the Nazi regime.”
The review closes with Dempster echoing the praise of Stephen Baxter from the book’s introduction:
“The Luminous Depths defies easy categorization, another trait it has in common with its predecessor. Baxter calls it “a page-turning cracker of a horror story” (p. ix) and, whilst it certainly is that, the description really only goes part-way toward classifying a stubbornly unclassifiable story which contains elements of fantasy and magic realism. Like Baxter, I look forward to One Who Disappeared, the final novella in the trilogy, and one that, on the strength of the first two installments, promises to deliver much.”
That’s a pretty glowing recommendation, I’m sure you’ll agree. A bit of science fiction and literary history, nested within the larger narrative of the Third Reich in Eastern Europe, with dark magical goings-on thrown in for good measure… click through below to enter Herter’s imagination and order a copy of The Luminous Depths:
- The Luminous Depths - hardcover [£10 / $18.50 approx]
- The Luminous Depths - jacketed hardcover [£25 / $46.25 approx]