Articles tagged "Books For Druids"

Starred Review for Redshirts

If you notice any of your patrons loitering around the stacks wearing something like this or this or definitely this, stop them at once and give them REDSHIRTS! It's what they're looking for anyway.

It's the future and Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the prestigious Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid. Andrew is thrilled with the assignment... that is, until he discovers that low ranking crew members such as himself have an suspiciously high mortality rate during away missions. If he doesn't figure out what's causing the deaths and stop it, he might be the next to die!

Booklist gave REDSHIRTS a starred review and said, "Scalzi takes the reality-versus-fiction idea in a new and decidedly mind-bending direction. It’s hard to imagine a reader who wouldn’t enjoy this one."

Library Journal called it "humorous and thought-provoking" and said it will "appeal to fans of sf (especially Star Trek devotees) who like a good laugh along with their big ideas and space action."

Sound like something you want to start now? Download the first four chapters for free!

Deep Thoughts

Book Club Picks with a Touch of Magic

I'm going to do things a little bit differently today. Normally we're all, "Frontlist! Frontlist! Frontlist!" up in here, but I want to make sure that you hear about two of my favorite gems from last year straight from the horse’s mouth (me being the horse, in this case). Paula Brackston’s enchanting debut, THE WITCH’S DAUGHTER, and Jo Walton’s magical semi-memoir, AMONG OTHERS, are both captivating character-driven historicals that celebrate outcast women with a knack for magic.

I read both of these books late in the marketing game (they’re both already out in paperback!), but I’m so glad I did.

On THE WITCH’S DAUGHTER

From 17th century Wessex to Victorian London to the battlefields of World War I, immortal witch Bess Hawksmith attempts to redeem her soul by saving lives all the while pursued by the evil sorcerer who transformed her from mortal to witch.

Booklist said, “Brackston’s first novel offers well-crafted characters in an absorbing plot and an altogether delicious blend of historical fiction and fantasy.”

And we’ve made it oh-so-easy on book clubs! There’s an excellent reading guide in the paperback version including an interview, an essay, recommended reading, and discussion questions! See the Reading Group Gold guide here.

Read an excerpt from the beginning here on Tor.com!

On AMONG OTHERS

This book is at once the story of a young boarding school student struggling to escape a troubled childhood, her journey of first encounters with great novels, and the tale of conquering an ancient enchantment.

You know this one’s going to be good because it was just nominated for the 2011 Nebula Award for Best Novel! Nebulas not your thing? Well, in a starred review Publishers Weekly said, “World Fantasy Award–winner Walton turns the magical boarding school story inside out in this compelling coming-of-age tale.” Still not convinced? What if I told you that Nancy Pearl said it’s a gem? Now, we’re talking!

Deep Thoughts

Wishing You Only the Friendliest of Ghosts in the Stacks!

Happy Halloween, oh stewards of spook!

We know there are a few of you out there who relish this time of year in which you recommend the most terror-inducing, nightmare-summoning, fear-saturated horror literature you can get your little claws on.

We approve.

We added a few scream-soaked reads to the top of this post. And feel free to browse our Horror fiction list for more ideas.

Wishing you much candy and only the friendliest of ghosts,
Talia & Ali

Deep Thoughts

Happy Hobbit Day!

It's Bilbo and Frodo's birthday today, so get out the lembas bread, crack a bottle of the Old Winyards, and get your butt to Hobbiton because we're ready to par-tay!

Reviews and Publicity

More Books for Kitty Fans

I'm guessing that you have a few fans of Carrie Vaughn's bestselling Kitty Norville series lurking around your library. In between Kitty releases, those fans might get understandably antsy, so here's a few more Vaughn stories to keep them satisfied.

DISCORD'S APPLE (7/2010) is a stand-alone dystopic fusion of mythology, fairy tales, and modern life.

"Taking a break from the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, Vaughn melds a near-future world torn by war with the legend of the fall of Troy in this brilliantly structured, beautifully written stand-alone." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

AFTER THE GOLDEN AGE (4/2011) is a very different stand-alone novel following the decidedly average daughter of two famous superheroes (I'm sure you've already heard me singing praises for it).

Kirkus Reviews says, "In this warm homage to and deconstruction of classic comic books, a young woman demonstrates that you don’t need superpowers to be a hero."
And Library Journal specifically notes that this one is "a good bet for most public libraries, especially if they're home to Kitty Norville fans or comic book devotees."

And if your patrons just can't leave Kitty's world, they're in luck! Next month Tor will release KITTY'S GREATEST HITS (8/2011), a series of short stories following some of the other characters in Kitty's life.

Library Journal says, "This collection should please fans of the series, especially those who want to know more about the side characters, but readers new to the Kittyverse will also find a fine introduction to this richly populated, fascinating paranormal world."

Vaughn is exceptional at pulling the strange, fantastic, and otherworldly into the lives of very real and modern young women. And if you want to get more people hooked on Vaughn's work, it should appeal to fans of Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series.

Reviews and Publicity

Publishers Weekly Editors' Top 10 SFF & Horror

Between BEA, ALA, a long 4th of July weekend, and general summer sluggishness, I'm behind on reading reviews. This morning while catching up on my Publishers Weekly reading I got to the Top 10: Editors' Picks issue (June 27th) and had to share a few of their top 10 selections in my favorite category: Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror.

HARBOR
by John Ajvide Lindqvist

One ordinary winter afternoon on a snowy island, Anders and Cecilia take their six-year-old daughter Maja across the ice to visit the lighthouse in the middle of the frozen channel. While the couple explore the lighthouse, Maja disappears. Another chilling tale from the author of LET ME IN (or, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN).

THE MONSTER'S CORNER: STORIES FROM INHUMAN EYES
edited by Christopher Golden

These haunting stories of monsters are all told from the monster's point of view. With contributions by Lauren Groff, Chelsea Cain, Simon R. Green, Sharyn McCrumb, Kelley Armstrong, David Liss, Kevin J. Anderson, Jonathan Maberry, and many others.

THE CHILDREN OF THE SKY
by Verner Vinge

After nearly twenty years, Vernor Vinge has produced an enthralling sequel to his memorable bestselling novel A FIRE UPON THE DEEP. Ten years have passed on Tines World and while there is peace, there are those among them—and among the humans—who seek power

Reviews and Publicity

Solstice Reading; or, Ali's Backlist Books for Druids

And so the summer solstice is upon us. If you're not living it up at Stonehenge or weaving flowery head wreaths and braiding your sister's hair, then maybe you need a good book to get you in the spirit.

My solstice backlist pick is Juliet Marillier's Alex Award-winner DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST.

Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift. When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once.

How exactly does this story tie in to the solstice? The curse on Sorcha's brothers turned them all into swans (read: total bummer). They only become humans again on midsummer and midwinter (read: solstices!). And there's all sorts of tricky magic, sorcery, and druids (read: excellent).

What is your solstice reading pick?

Reviews and Publicity

10 Can't-Miss SFF Books from Kirkus Reviews

This week Kirkus Reviews highlighted 10 Can't-Miss Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for 2011 including a few of our in-house favorites!

They selected Jo Walton's AMONG OTHERS because, "All SF fans will get what Morwenna is about, particularly the joy she experiences discovering new books and other people to talk to about them."

Richard Matheson's OTHER KINGDOMS caught their eye for the "accomplished and tragic" story: a "star-crossed romance between two lovers from different worlds."

Finally, THE QUANTUM THIEF made the list because author Hannu Rajaniemi, "is clearly one of those disgustingly brilliant people whom you could hate if you didn't admire him so much."