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Also released by Subterranean Press, is the (fantastic) cover art for their upcoming limited edition of Richard Morgan’s first foray into Fantasy, The Steel Remains.
You can order limited edition of the novel, signed by Morgan, HERE. Thanks to Pat for the heads up!
As a huge Tim Powers fan, this just tickles my fancy. PS Publishing has announced plans for the upcoming biography of Tim Powers, written by John Berlyne.
The official press release:
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poetry, drawings, research and plotting notes, novel outlines, early drafts, out-takes and an excerpt from the author’s unpublished 1974 novel, To Serve in Hell.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* a slipcased state, signed by all contributors, and issued with an additional book — an incomplete and previously unpublished novel written by Powers in the early seventies entitled The Waters Deep, Deep, Deep.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.
Certainly something that any fan of Powers’ work should be excited for! You can check out my recent review of Powers’ The Drawing of the Dark HERE.
EDIT: Originally I had stated that Subterannean Press was publishing this biography. It’s since been brought to my attention that I had the facts crossed and it is, in fact, my good friends PS Publishing that is putting the book out. Sorry guys!
Patrick Rothfuss’ eagerly anticipated sequel to his best selling debut novel, The Name of the Wind has already had a rocky past.
When The Name of the Wind was first being released, a lot of buzz revolved around the idea that the following two novels in the trilogy were already completed, meaning the trilogy would, in theory, see a quick release.
It was announced a few months later that there were going to be delays with the release of the novel. Rothfuss later explained the delays and more or less put peoples concerns to rest.
Unfortunately, though, it looks like The Wise Man’s Fear is seeing yet another delay. This time pushing the novel back to Fall 2009 at the earliest.
From Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist:
Just exchanged a couple of emails with Betsy Wollheim, the president of Daw Books, and I must sadly inform you that the eagerly anticipated sequel to The Name of the Wind has been postponed. Everyone involved is aware that the second volume must be even better than Patrick Rothfuss’ debut to satisfy fans, so they’re not taking any chances.
The author will turn in the first draft of the manuscript by the end of the year. The Wise Man’s Fear is no longer on the 2009 Daw schedule, which means that we can expect the book in the fall of 2009, if everything goes according to plan.
Rothfuss has my full support in this, but it makes one wonder how much work is needed to bring the already completed draft for The Wise Man’s Fear up to snuff. It is reassuring, though, to know that DAW and Rothfuss are serious about giving the trilogy all the attention and love it needs to become one of the heavy hitters in the genre.
Brandon Sanderson, good friend of A Dribble of Ink (INTERVIEW) and the scribe chosen to finish the final volume in Robert Jordan’s mega-series, The Wheel of Time, has just hit the New York Times Bestseller list for the first time, with his novel The Hero of Ages.
From his publicist at Tor Books, Dot Lin:
I just wanted to share the good news that, as of tonight, Brandon Sanderson hit the New York Times list for the first time with Hero of Ages.
We have watched him go from college student unknown (submitting unagented manuscripts- true story!) to seasoned bestselling author, so join in with me in congratulating him. Congrats, Brandon!
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, Congrats Brandon!
Author – Tim Powers
Paperback
Pages: 336 pages
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Release Date: June, 1979
ISBN-10: 0345430816
ISBN-13: 978-0345430816
When I first read The Anubis Gates, a novel hailed by many as Powers best, I fell in love with it. I had searched high and low for a copy for months and when it finally landed on my mother’s head (almost literally), I dove right in and almost instantly knew it was worth the search.
Since that time, I’ve hunted down many of Powers’ other work (sadly most of his older work can be hard to find, at least in my part of the world) and have saved each of them for a time when I need something special to read, something to kick my imagination back in gear. The Drawing of the Dark seemed like the perfect companion for the other novels I packed with me on my trip – it takes place in Hungary (which I just left) and Vienna, Austria (where I’m headed), has an Irish protagonist (which, if you couldn’t tell from my name, I have a lot of in my blood), and is about beer (which any decent man has a love affair with).
Unlike Powers’ other works, The Drawing of the Dark is a more standard fair, very akin to the works of other authors writing fantasy at the same time (Terry Brooks, Stephen R. Donaldson, etc…). It has everything that made Epic Fantasy of that period so damn good – big battles, rip-roarin’ magic, a mysterious wizard, hidden legacies – but with that Tim Powers twist.
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Author – Neil Gaiman
Paperback
Pages: 400 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: January 25, 2005
ISBN-10: 0060557818
ISBN-13: 978-0060557812
There are a few authors that I save for special occasions. Travelling is one of those special occasions and Neil Gaiman is one of those authors. So when it came time to pack my bags and choose the novels that were coming with me Neverwhere was a no-brainer. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I loved American Gods and figured something in the same vein set in Europe could only be a good thing. What I got wasn’t exactly what I expected, but it was a bloody fun romp, nonetheless.
Neverwhere is more Stardust (Gaiman’s whimsical take on the classic Faerie Tale) than American Gods (Gaiman’s dark, menacing take on America, Media and Gods), which, in the end, I think was a good thing for the novel. Neverwhere starts off quick, and never looks back – leading the reader through a version of the London Underground that constantly keeps the reader on their toes with imagination. Half the fun with the novel comes from that anticipation about what Gaiman will throw at Richard Mayhew (and, by extension, the read) next. Wonderful visuals delight and the characters met along the way are just as charming and magical as the fantasy world.
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Author – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Paperback
Pages: 487 pages
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: January 25, 2005
ISBN-10: 0143034901
ISBN-13: 978-0143034902
Years ago, when I last travelled through Europe, standing in the middle of a bustling bookstore in a Cologne train station, I held a copy of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind in my hands. I contemplated it, having heard the first rumblings of the novel and its quality. I ended up putting it back on the shelf, not purchasing it. Ever since that day, I regretted not reading it on that trip, and so when it came time to hit the train stations of Europe, I made sure to bring a copy with me.
This time, as my train trundled its slow way through the quaint, rolling hills of northern Slovakia, I was gazing out the window, The Shadow of the Wind resting on the seat beside me.
“Ahh, I’ve read that one,” says the young man across from me, broken English tumbling its way inelegantly through his thick accent. “Museum of Forgotten Books, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, encouraged by his enthusiasm.
“It’s good. A good book,” he said.
The young fellow on the train may have had the name of the fabled Cemetery of Forgotten Books wrong (though it could have been lost in the Slovakian translation), but he certainly got one thing right – The Shadow of the Wind is a good book. A very good book.
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