Yearly Archives: 2012

Discworld, Art by Paul Kidby

Discworld, Art by Paul KidbyIt was with tragic hearts that the Fantasy community first learned in 2007 of Sir Terry Pratchett’s slow battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Though he is still writing, Pratchett speaks openly about the disease and the effects that it has had on his career, his art and his creations. Recently, speaking with the New Statesmen, Pratchett revealed that he will be handing over control of his Discworld universe to his daughter Rhianna Pratchett, a writer herself, likely best known for the work she has done in the videogame industry, having worked on Tomb Raider, Mirror’s Edge, and Heavenly Sword, among other titles.

There’s nothing yet to suggest whether the younger Rhianna will work within the Discworld universe, or simply act as a guardian for the series and intellectual property, though Tor.com reports on an interview with Sir Pratchett that suggests “will continue on with the books once Terry decides it is time. Pratchett is quoted as saying, “the Discworld is safe in my daughter’s hands.”

Confirmed, however, is Rhianna Pratchett’s heavy involvement of a television adaptation of her father’s Discworld work, specifically Guards, Guards, and Pratchett “has every confidence in his daughter,” suggesting that both the television series and the book series are in good hands. Now, given Rhianna Pratchett’s involvement in the videogame industry, who’d be interested in a Telltale Games developed Discworld adventure game, similar to the old Psygnosis attempt?

The Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

Yay for consistency and impact. I love the progression over the course of the trilogy from the tired-and-overdone hooded figure to this figure, cockiness replaced by ambition and power. Great stuff, and perfect for Lawrence’s trilogy. I still don’t like the title font, but, hey, you can’t win ’em all, can you?

Starcraft: Heart of the Swarm

As reported by several websites, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, the second in a planned trilogy of games that will together form StarCraft II, is set for release in March, 2013, just a few months away. Polygon explains what fans have to look forward to in March:

Heart of the Swarm will be available at a suggested retail price of $39.99 both in stores and digitally from the official StarCraft 2 website. A collector’s Edition that includes digital and physical bonus items will also be available at select retail stores for $79.99. This includes a behind-the-scenes DVD and Blu-ray, a collector’s edition soundtrack, a hardcover art book and a Zerg Rush mousepad.

Users can receive both Heart of the Swarm and StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty from Battle.net for a discounted price of $59.99 — a 24 percent discount from its $79.98 price tag when purchased together.

Having not played the first in the StarCraft II trilogy (I guess?), the option of buying both games for sixty bucks is appealing, but it does chafe a bit to pay nearly full price for what is, ostensibly, the second/middle part of a game, regardless of how much content/how many missions are available in each ‘part.’ Just a matter of branding, though, I suppose. StarCraft: Wings of Liberty, StarCraft: Heart of the Swarm, and StarCraft: Legacy of the Void wouldn’t seem so bad, would it?

Emilie and the Hollow World by Martha Wells

While running away from home for reasons that are eminently defensible, Emilie’s plans to stow away on the steamship Merry Bell and reach her cousin in the big city go awry, landing her on the wrong ship and at the beginning of a fantastic adventure.

Taken under the protection of Lady Marlende, Emilie learns that the crew hopes to use the aether currents and an experimental engine, and with the assistance of Lord Engal, journey to the interior of the planet in search of Marlende’s missing father.

With the ship damaged on arrival, they attempt to traverse the strange lands on their quest. But when evidence points to sabotage and they encounter the treacherous Lord Ivers, along with the strange race of the sea-lands, Emilie has to make some challenging decisions and take daring action if they are ever to reach the surface world again.

Another in a string of great covers from Strange Chemistry, the YA spin-off of Angry Robot Books headed by Amanda Rutter, a former blogger and friend of this blog, and another great cover for Martha Wells, who seems blessed by the cover art Gods. I haven’t read any of Wells’ work, but with covers like these, I’m damn well tempted.