Monthly Archives: May 2009

Looks like Orbit Books is re-issuing Daniel Abraham‘s The Long Price quartet, which is good. It also looks like they’re saddling them with atrocious covers that seem to miss the point completely, which is bad.

The Long Price by Daniel Abraham The Long Price by Daniel Abraham

Now, I’ve not read Abraham’s novels, but based on the original cover art, and the times I’ve browsed through the first volume, it seems to me that these aggressive, character-focussed covers completely misrepresent the novels. Though, maybe that’s the point if Orbit feels they are going to need to find a new demographic with this re-release.

I wonder how people will feel when they pick up Book One of a duology and find two completely independent stories between the covers?

The Baker's Boy by J.V. Jones

The Baker’s Boy

AuthorJ.V. Jones

Paperback
Pages: 560
Publisher: Aspect
Release Date: June 1st, 1995
ISBN-10: 0446602825
ISBN-13: 978-0446602822


For the past few years my brother has constantly debated over starting George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. He’s thrown the idea at me a few times, but I’ve always had a few words of caution to go along with the praise:

‘Don’t be in a rush to read it,’ I say.

‘But I hear it’s so good!’ he replies.

‘Oh it is! None better.’

‘Then why shouldn’t I read it?’

‘Don’t rush into it,’ I say, ‘because Fantasy won’t be the same for you afterwards.’

Never has this been truer than with J.V. Jones’ The Baker’s Boy, the first volume of her The Book of Words trilogy.

Published at roughly the same time (mid-nineties), Jones’ The Book of Words and Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire tread a lot of similar ground – multiple viewpoint characters, politics, warring countries, light on magic, a world inhabited mostly by humans, eschewing the typical ‘Quest’ archetype – and yet they diverge at the most crucial point: quality.
Read More »

The UK cover art for The Dragon Keeper,the first volume of Robin Hobb’s upcoming duology, The Rain Wild Chronicles, has surfaced:

The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

I can’t really say I’m a fan. Though it matches the style of the UK re-releases of her works, it pales in comparison to the John Howe art that’s been gracing her covers for years. Too bad. I’m sure the book inside will be much better!

You can find the synopsis of The Dragon Keeper HERE.

Remember that awful artwork that leaked a couple of months ago? Remember how Tor denied that it was legit and the real cover art would be much better?

Well, the only kinda lied about it all.
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Erm… did Rand have too many beans at dinner? Or maybe the hole in the building behind him indicates extra hot chicken wings? Elayne certainly looks distressed. But, hey, at least it doesn’t look like he’s dancing a jig anymore! Sorta…

Seriously Tor, hire a new art department, please.