Yearly Archives: 2009

News

An Aside | Science Fiction and Fantasy Ethics, a new blog

By Aidan Moher May 24th, 2009

Now this is a blog I can’t resist! A whack of my favourite authors getting together to blog about all the good things going on in the Science Fiction & Fantasy world?

Our mission is to celebrate everything positive, funky and exciting in the Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror Universe!

The SFFE is a core platform, a hub of authors who have banded together with the aim of celebrating all that is positive in genre fiction. We aim to leave cynicism and negativity at the door, and concentrate on what makes us smile, what entertains us, and what brings light and joy to our SF, fantasy and horror universe.That’s not to say there is no place for criticism— there’s plenty bad in the world. However, this little digital corner is a place for positive progression, somewhere you will (hopefully) come if you want to smile.

The list of authors is endless.

The new Science Fiction and Fantasy Ethics project, aimed at highlighting all the positive and enjoyable aspects of the SFF community, has now got a full-fat no preservative fully-sugared editorial line-up as described below. All, many or none might contribute to articles, reviews and mad missions in the context of this project, depending on personal work commitments, but if nothing else the whole thing promises to be a damn fun bit of, err, fun…

EDITORIAL

Tony Ballantyne
Eric Brown
Mark Chadbourn
David Devereux
Ian Graham
Paul Kearney
Tim Lebbon
Tom Lloyd
James Lovegrove
Gail Z. Martin
James Maxey
Juliet E. Mckenna
Mark Morris
Andrew Oldham
Sarah Pinborough
Andy Remic
Brian Ruckley
Tim Stretton
James Swallow
Jeffrey Thomas
Jetse de Vries
Danie Ware
Conrad Williams

WRITERS

Nik Butler
Sissy Pantelis
Claire Ralph
Sharon Ring
Mark Smith

Though the site isn’t officially live until June 1st, I’m sure the cast will be providing content worthy of being added to any fan’s RSS reader. Be sure to head on over and check out Science Fiction and Fantasy Ethics HERE.

Cover Art

Cover Art | The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham

By Aidan Moher May 23rd, 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?

Review

Review | The Baker’s Boy by J.V. Jones

By Aidan Moher May 21st, 2009
The Baker's Boy by J.V. Jones

The Baker’s Boy

Author – J.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.
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Cover Art

Cover Art | The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (UK Edition)

By Aidan Moher May 21st, 2009

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.