Reading Realms

Amazon Launching Licensed Fan Fiction Publishing: Kindle Worlds

May 22nd, 2013 by xaraan

Amazon is going to offer a platform to publish fan fiction, though licenses they establish. Some Warner Bros properties have already been picked up and more are on the way. This could end up being a pretty big deal if amazon manages to get licensing for enough of the right properties, but it also has a few hurdles, which I'll get to.

Here is the Press Release:

Get ready for Kindle Worlds, a place for you to publish fan fiction inspired by popular books, shows, movies, comics, music, and games. With Kindle Worlds, you can write new stories based on featured Worlds, engage an audience of readers, and earn royalties. Amazon Publishing has secured licenses from Warner Bros. for Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and The Vampire Diaries, with licenses for more Worlds on the way.

'Dangerous Women' Anthology from George Martin & Gardner Dozois

May 19th, 2013 by xaraan

Earlier this week, we posted some news about Martin & Dozois' Rogues Anthology that was heading to the publishers, but Dangerous Women has long been sent in and will be released later this year.

Much like Rogues, and Warriors before it, Dangerous Women has an impressive list of contributors, such as Joe Abercrombie, Sherilynn Kenyon, Jim Butcher, Lev Grossman, Martin himself and many more. We should see the novel on shelves by Christmas of this year.

The cover reveal is after the break, as well as the list of contributors, and as you can see they've stuck with the same cover style they used for Warriors and will probably use again for Rogues. With a list of names like that, you probably don't need fancy art.

'Words of Radiance' Update from Brandon Sanderson

May 19th, 2013 by xaraan

Brandon Sanderson released an update on his progress on the second volume of The Stormlight Archive: Words of Radiance, the sequel to Way of Kings.

Apparently the work on this series has simply been more difficult than most of the other books he churns out due to the various plots going on and it tends to take more rewrites. He is close to finishing though, at 260,000 words of his 300,000 word goal and is still hoping to finish by August and hit the November release date, but admits he could miss and end up in the first quarter of 2014. Judging by the amount of work Sanderson turns out, I think it's safe to say if there is a delay, it is a necessary one.

You can read his full update after the break...

2012 Nebula Award Winners

May 18th, 2013 by xaraan

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (that's SFWA to make it easier on all of us) announced the winners for the 2012 Nebula Awards tonight, along with the Ray Bradbury Award, and Andre Norton Award. It's like the Emmys of speculative fiction, with all the good and bad that comes with a statement like that.

Solstice Awards were awarded to editor Ginjer Buchanan and astronomer and entertainer Carl Sagan, the latter of which was accepted by his son Nick Sagan. The Kevin O'Donnell Jr. Service Award was awarded to Michael Payne. Check out the full list of nominees and winners after the break...

First Look at Brandon Sanderson's 'Steelheart'

May 16, 2013 by xaraan

The first novel of Sanderson’s new series, Steelheart, follows David—a teenager in the city that was once called Chicago—as he searches for the extraordinarily powerful Epic named Steelheart, who killed his father. Steelheart possesses the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, no explosion can burn him. Nobody fights back… nobody but the Reckoners.

A shadowy group of ordinary humans, the Reckoners spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then taking them out. For the death of his father, David wants to be there for the kill. For years, like the Reckoners, David has been studying, and planning, and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. He’s seen Steelheart bleed.

Steelheart takes an action-heavy plot, layers in complexity, and delivers twists and a breathtaking conclusion, as David and the Reckoners try to undo the dystopia the Epics have created. According to Sanderson’s agent Eddie Schneider, Steelheart has entered preliminary negotiations for a major Hollywood deal.

Overzealous Fans and Charlaine Harris

May 15, 2013 by xaraan

Fans threatening the writer over her final novel? Hopefully many of the remarks out there are people purposefully going over the top and not seirous, but in today's world it's hard to tell and just unnecessary.

"After that ending, who wants to egg Harris's house with me?"

I'm a pretty geeky guy and have my share of obsessions. I grew up in love with Star Wars and was heartbroken by the prequels. I was addicted to D&D and was let down by their failed attempts to bring the franchise to the big screen. I'm a long time comic reader and there is often so much to stress over in that genre that one's head might explode. So I understand really getting into something, loving the world and characters, but I also realize that taking a step back is a valuable approach, one that more fans need to learn how to master.

"...if Sookie doesn't end up with Eric, I'm going to kill myself."

Charlaine Harris' final Sookie Stackhouse novel, known to many as the True Blood TV series now, has stirred up a little too much negative passion in fans after an early copy was leaked online in Europe. Thousands of negative comments and reviews have been posted around the internet about Sookie's final romantic choice in the novel, many with various threats added into the mix. I'm all for complaining, hopefully constructively, about work you don't like, especially when you've invested time and emotion into something. But when you start to take it personally, you need to take that step back.

The 'Rogues' Anthology from George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois

May 13th, 2013 by xaraan

George R.R. Martin announced on his blog today that the manuscript for his next Anthology collection Rogues is complete and has been sent in to the editor. Similar to the Warriors Anthologies in prior years, this novel is packed with great work. Check out the list of contributors after the break.

'Dungeons & Dragons' The Movie... Again

May 11th, 2013 by xaraan

Not really news in the world of books, but there is plenty of crossover for me and possibly many other fans. D&D pulled me into the world of fantasy and reading as a kid and will always have a special place in my heart. Studios are looking to bring the franchise to the big screen again, but will it fare better than last time?

If you don't remember the first time Dungeons & Dragons came to theaters, count yourself lucky. When many of us were waiting for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies in 2000, New Line rushed out D&D to financial and critical failure. I've been told a couple straight to video releases followed, but since I try to block this movie from my mind as much as possible, I refuse to investigate.

Fast forward thirteen years and it looks like Warner Brothers is ready to take another crack at the franchise. With Harry Potter in the past, they are looking for another fantasy franchise, and D&D offers good opportunity. Can they make the most of it?

'The World of Ice and Fire' Release Delayed

May 19th, 2013 by xaraan

Fans of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series are used to waiting and now it won't just be for the next novel in his story. A companion book about the world he has created is now being delayed, originally planned for release in November of 2013, it will see stores now until the following year.

Due to more ambitious plans for the content of the book, the publisher could not guarantee a 2013 release date, so it has been pushed back to 2014. Combined with the fact that books of this type typically sell best during the holidays, it's probably going to be held from release until late 2014, delaying the book by nearly a year.

Cover Art and Synopsis for Brian McClellan's 'The Crimson Campaign'

May 8th, 2013 by Xaraan

'The hounds at our heels will soon know we are lions'

Tamas's invasion of Kez ends in disaster when a Kez counter-offensive leaves him cut off behind enemy lines with only a fraction of his army, no supplies, and no hope of reinforcements. Drastically outnumbered and pursued by the enemy's best, he must lead his men on a reckless march through northern Kez to safety, and back over the mountains so that he can defend his country from an angry god.

In Adro, Inspector Adamat only wants to rescue his wife. To do so he must track down and confront the evil Lord Vetas. He has questions for Vetas concerning his enigmatic master, but the answers might come too quickly.

With Tamas and his powder cabal presumed dead, Taniel Two-shot finds himself alongside the god-chef Mihali as the last line of defence against Kresimir's advancing army. Tamas's generals bicker among themselves, the brigades lose ground every day beneath the Kez onslaught, and Kresimir wants the head of the man who shot him in the eye.

REVIEW: 'Promise of Blood' by Brian McClellan

May 7th, 2013 by Xaraan

The Age of Kings is dead . . . and I have killed it.

It's a bloody business overthrowing a king...

Field Marshal Tamas' coup against his king sent corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and brought bread to the starving. But it also provoked war with the Nine Nations, internal attacks by royalist fanatics, and the greedy to scramble for money and power by Tamas's supposed allies: the Church, workers unions, and mercenary forces.

It's up to a few...

Stretched to his limit, Tamas is relying heavily on his few remaining powder mages, including the embittered Taniel, a brilliant marksman who also happens to be his estranged son, and Adamat, a retired police inspector whose loyalty is being tested by blackmail.

But when gods are involved...
Now, as attacks batter them from within and without, the credulous are whispering about omens of death and destruction. Just old peasant legends about the gods waking to walk the earth. No modern educated man believes that sort of thing. But they should...

Comic Reading Log - April

April 25th, 2013 by xaraan

Welcome to the new feature I plan on doing at as each month wraps. Aside from books, I also read comics and though I write for a comic book website, I don't do a ton of reviews because it always seemed odd to have thousand-word reviews on a twenty page comic book. Instead I plan to keep a monthly log of the books I read and my thoughts on the recent issue/storyline.

I've read comics since I was a wee boy and I've felt pushed away a couple of times, once in the 90's and again a few years ago. Both times was because I felt I was wasting my money on stale, cookie cutter and often badly written stories. Though I will probably always have an interest in some of the superhero staples that first hooked me, independent comics are what's keeping my interest these days and if you are interested in reading good stories (I'm assuming you are since you are reading this on a book review blog) then you should definitely check out some of the comics listed here.