Yearly Archives: 2009

News

An Aside | Video Interview with Peter F. Hamilton

By Aidan Moher October 6th, 2009
The Temporal Void by Peter F. Hamilton

In preparation for the paperback release of The Temporal Void, later this month, Tor UK put together an video interview featuring Peter F. Hamilton and his very snazzy vest. Most interesting, is that the interview is composed of questions from bloggers and readers alike, rather than the lame stock questions that are usually asked in publisher fueled interviews.

Part One

Part Two

I’ve been saving Hamilton’s Night’s Dawn Trilogy for a time when I can dedicate myself to the (scary large) books. This interview should be a treat for Hamilton fans, though.

Cover Art

Cover Art & Synopsis | Under the Dome by Stephen King

By Aidan Moher October 6th, 2009

Thanks to Suvudu for the head’s up!

Under the Dome by Stephen King

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener’s hand is severed as “the dome” comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when — or if — it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens — town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician’s assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing — even murder — to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn’t just short. It’s running out.

A full wrap-around version of the cover is also available. Click the image to see a bigger version of it, if you so please:

Under the Dome by Stephen King, full wrap-around cover

In a recent email I recieved, Under the Dome was pegged as King’s longest novel since The Stand and has apparently existed in some form or another since the ’80’s. Beyond the Dark Tower series, I’ve not really had much experience with King, but I’m still curious to see how Under the Dome turns out.

News

An Aside | US Release Date for Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton

By Aidan Moher October 5th, 2009

I read, and enjoyed, Nights of Villjamur (REVIEW), the first novel in Mark Charan Newton’s Legends of the Red Sun series, a few months ago, just before its UK and Canadian release. Buzz online was good, which (along with positive sales, one would asume) led to Del Rey picking up the US rights to the novel (along with the sequel, City of Ruin).

Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton

Political intrigue and dark violence converge in a superb new action series of enthralling fantasy. An ice age strikes a chain of islands, and thousands come to seek sanctuary at the gates of Villjamur: a city of ancient spires and bridges, a place where banshees wail the deceased, cultists use forgotten technology for their own gain and where, further out, the dead have been seen walking across the tundra.

When the Emperor commits suicide, his elder daughter, Rika, is brought home to lead the Jamur Empire, but the sinister Chancellor plans to get rid of her and claim the throne for himself. Meanwhile a senior investigator in the city inquisition must solve the high-profile and savage murder of a city politician, whilst battling evils within his own life, and a handsome and serial womanizer manipulates his way into the imperial residence with a hidden agenda. When reports are received that tens of thousands of citizens are dying in a bizarre genocide on the northern islands of the Empire, members of the elite Night Guard are sent to investigate. It seems that, in this land under a red sun, the long winter is bringing more than just snow.

According to Newton’s website, US readers will be able to get their hands on Nights of Villjamur on June 1st, 2010. Astute followers of Newton will notice that this coincides with the June, 2010 UK/Canadian release of City of Ruin.

News

An Aside | Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal speak about A Wheel of Time

By Aidan Moher October 3rd, 2009

With the release of The Gathering Storm only a few weeks away, promotional material is starting to flow freely. Here’s a video of Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal (Robert Jordan’s widow) speaking about how Brandon became involved with the series.

Expect more videos like this to surface as the release of the novel draws nearer!

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News

An Aside | Can you ride a Horse? Do you want to appear in HBO’s A Game of Thrones?

By Aidan Moher October 2nd, 2009

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinVia Martin himself, it looks like there’s a call out for extras to appear in the HBO adaptation of A Game of Thrones.

From Extras NI:

HBO have begun production in Belfast of their latest TV series ‘A Game of Thrones’ based on George R.R. Martin’s award winning novel of the same name. Described as “an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom” – our extras are surely in for a treat. The starring cast includes Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey amongst many more.

Filming is due to take place in Northern Ireland in the last week of October and first two weeks of November and of course all our medieval and character faces that have been used on Universal’s feature film “Your Highness” will be at the top of the list for this project, however, the thing we urgently require for paid work are CONFIDENT & EXPERIENCED MALE HORSERIDERS, aged 16-60. If this describes you or someone you know, please send in a clear photo along with full name, height and contact telephone numbers to [email protected] URGENTLY.

So, it looks like I, alongside thousands of other (male) Martin fans, have about 24 hours to learn to ride a horse, get a bank loan and book a ticket to Northern Ireland. Of course, if you already qualify for those requirements… it just might be your lucky day!