The lovely people at Quercus have provided four giveaway copies of Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström’s latest novel, TWO SOLDIERS! I have a copy for myself, too, and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in. I haven’t read much Scandinavian thriller fiction, so I’m eager to start this. Roslund & Hellstrom also wrote the bestselling Three Seconds and Cell 8 (both of which are under £2 for UK Kindle, incidentally).

Two Soldiers was translated by Karl Dickson. It is published tomorrow! Here’s the synopsis:

TWO SIDES.

In the Stockholm suburb of Råby, tensions between the Swedish authorities and organised juvenile gangs are approaching critical mass.

TWO SENTINELS.

Investigators José Pereira and DCI Ewert Grens are increasingly disturbed by the escalating militancy of these criminal enterprises.

TWO SOLDIERS.

The police are of little concern to blood brothers Leon and Gabriel. They have vowed to secure dominance in the area, at any cost.

A dangerous collision awaits both sides. And so does a shocking revelation that will make all four men question the direction their lives have taken.

I’m afraid this is a UK-only giveaway, so sorry to all other readers. If you’d like to get your hands on a copy, all you have to do is leave a comment, below, or email at the usual address (at the very bottom of the page). I’ll leave things open until noon, Monday 28th April.

This piece by Brandon Sanderson is mostly about the nomination of the entire Wheel of Time series in the Hugo Best Novel category (Brandon wrote the final four volumes), and the reactions this has elicited from various corners of fandom. There are some, as Brandon notes and are readily visible on Twitter, who have complained about the WoT fanbase, the apparent travesty of the nomination, and many other less-than-praiseworthy reactions.

As I haven’t read the series, nor particularly care about awards, the nomination didn’t really stir much of an opinion or reaction. However, Brandon’s article has a second point, growing out of his impression of the treatment of the WoT fans, which I think is even more important. After eloquently and fairly addressing the “issue” of the series’ nomination, Sanderson moved on to what amounts to a general call for more open-armed civility in the SFF community. It seems so odd that this sentiment should be so noteworthy, but on the internet it is far from the most oft-expressed… The extent to which the post has been re-circulated partly illustrates the rarity of the sentiment, but is also what inspired me to share it here.

First up, on welcoming WoT fans into the community:

“Welcome the Wheel of Time fans into our community. Welcome the next group of fans in too. Give whatever it is they’re passionate about a try. You might like it, and if not, you’ll still probably like them…”

Side-bar: Wouldn’t they technically already be part of the SFF community…?

“… You can’t beg people to come and participate in fandom, then tell them not to vote on your awards because you don’t like their preference in books. Indeed, attacking the fans of a work rather than criticizing the work itself is crossing a very big, and important, line. For many years, we in fandom have had to suffer these kinds of dismissive, hurtful, and destructive attitudes from those who attack us because we like science fiction. Do not side with the bullies. Do not hold your own opinion in such high regard that you dismiss all others.“It is not shameful to like the Wheel of Time. No more than it should be shameful to be the kid who read Dune in middle school while others snickered. We should never have to feel embarrassed for honestly expressing our taste in fiction… If you have said these kinds of things about the Wheel of Time or its fandom in the past few days, I challenge you to take a long, hard look at your tone and what you’re implying. Ask yourself if you really want to belong to a world where only one kind of opinion is valid, where only your taste is acceptable. Because in my experience, these are the sorts of attitudes that science fiction and fantasy fiction have spent their history combatting.”

As the kid who would read Star Wars and Warhammer novels covertly at school (at least, more covertly than I would have preferred), in order to avoid being picked on, or have my stuff defaced/destroyed by others, I wholeheartedly approve of (and embrace) the We’re All Fans Here atmosphere in the SFF community. We’re a Very Big Tent, encompassing a very wide array of speculative fiction genres. There’s room for all tastes and fandoms in the larger SFF community. It’s what makes it one of the most vibrant – if not the most vibrant – of fan communities out there. The fact that you’re more likely to come across snark and attacks directed at others on the internet is by no means a SFF-exclusive phenomenon. But it was certainly nice to, for a change, come across a post like Brandon’s.

Disagreements are common and natural, as are differences in taste, but instead of driving wedges or sorting ourselves into opposing camps, these differences should be used to highlight similar tastes and interests (and values), and introduce others to that which we feel strongly about. Not to berate or push away.

That being said, I still don’t particularly care about awards, even if I can – from time to time – feel strongly about a nominee.

Photo Credit: North News and Pictures

On the 27th April, I will be setting off from the Roman amphitheatre at Capua, north of Naples, on a 130 mile/208 kilometre walk to the Colosseum in Rome. I’ll be doing it not in modern hiking clothes, but in the uniform and with the kit of a Roman legionary from the time of the Second Punic War. In all, my equipment and weapons will weigh over 3.5 stone/24kgs. I won’t be alone, either. Two other authors, Anthony (Tony) Riches and Russell (Russ) Whitfield, will be with me, dressed as different types of Roman soldier.

Before you ask, we’re not insane. We all write novels set in ancient Rome, and we’re doing it for charity. We’ve also done this before, although over a shorter distance. In 2013, we walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall, raising nearly £19,000 for the charities Combat Stress and Medecins Sans Frontieres. It’s hard to know if we’ll reach the same amazing total, but there’s over £9,100 in the pot as of the 18th April.

I’ve been training for the march since November last year. I did this after seeing how hard it was to wear a mail shirt (1.5 stone/9.5kgs) on the Hadrian’s Wall walk. Russ wore it then, and it damn near killed him – despite the fact that he’d been training for a Tough Mudder event for ages. So, three times a week for the last five months, I have religiously donned the shirt and my shield (1 stone 2lbs/8kgs) as well as a sword and helmet, and headed out on the tracks and roads around where I live in Somerset. To being with, I only walked for about 5-6 miles each time, but I increased that as the walk drew nearer. During the really wet weather in January and February, I took to a rowing machine, complete with mail shirt! It was a bit hard-core, but good for fitness.

Photo Credit: North News and Pictures

For the last few weeks, I’ve been hiking 8-12 miles three times weekly. Yesterday, I walked 15 miles. It wasn’t too bad, and I could still move this morning, so I am hopeful that the walk itself will be manageable. That said, we will have to march 19 miles every day for 6 days, leaving an ‘easy’ 12 miles for the last day. It will be no easy feat, and our feet will have to remain injury-free enough to achieve those distances. Apart from wanting to repay the generosity of everyone who’s donated by completing the walk, we will have the incentive of being on camera. We took the decision to film the entire experience for a number of reasons. With a bit of luck, we might get it onto TV. At the least, we will have a product to be used at literary festivals and other events, and something for our children to laugh at for the rest of our lives.

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You can follow the #RomaniWalk: Facebook, via Twitter (@BenKaneAuthor, @AnthonyRiches, @Russ_Whitfield). If you’d like to donate, thank you! You can do so here.

(A great variety of sponsorship packages are available. They start at £25, and the sponsors receive all kinds of goodies, from DVDs of the documentary to signed pictures and books, and even tickets to the film premiere in London, later this year. See the list here.)

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Ben Kane’s latest novel, Hannibal: Clouds of War, is out now – published in the UK by Preface. It is Kane’s third Hannibal novel, following Enemy of Rome and Fields of Blood. He has written a number of other excellent, best-selling historical novels – including the Spartacus and Forgotten Legion series. Here is the synopsis for Clouds of War:

As Rome’s war with Carthage continues, two friends – now on opposing sides – confront each other in one of the most brutal sieges of all time…

213 BC. Syracuse. Under the merciless Sicilian sun, a city is at war.

Outside the walls, a vast Roman army waits. Yet the city’s incredible defences, designed by Archimedes, mean that Syracuse will not be taken easily.

A veteran of the bitter war since its beginning, Quintus is ready to give his life in the service of the Republic. But dangers face him from within his own ranks as well as from the enemy – who include his former friend, the Carthaginian, Hanno.

Hanno has been sent by his general Hannibal to aid Syracuse in its fight against Rome. Pledged to bring death to all Romans, he is diverted from his mission by the discovery of Quintus’ sister Aurelia, a captive within the city.

Two friends on opposing sides. A woman caught between them. They are about to meet in one of the most brutal sieges of all time.

Who will survive?

Last month, I reviewed the first volume of RAT QUEENS, a new fantasy comic series published by Image Comics. It’s a great new take on warband-fantasy tales, populated by a colourful cast of great characters. The series is written by Kurtis J. Wiebe (who also writes the excellent Peter Panzerfaust), and art duties are handled by Roc Upchurch.

I’ve been thinking a lot about it since I finished (and reviewed) it, and I thought I’d share this short scene from it. Not only is it amusing, but also I could relate…

If you are a fan of fantasy, comics, or both, then I would highly recommend Rat Queens. It blends humour and the tropes we have come to love (and, sometimes, hate) so very well.

Rat Queens, Vol.1: “Sass and Sorcery” is out now in the UK and US.