Quick Q&A with NATHAN GARRISON

October 30, 2015October 29, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Fantasy, Nathan Garrison, Shadow of the Void, Veiled Empire, Voyager, Voyager Impulse

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Nathan Garrison?

I am a father, husband, musician, chef, soldier, dreamer, and geek. Oh, and I write stuff too!

Your debut novel, Veiled Empire, is published by Voyager. It looks pretty interesting: How would you introduce it to a potential reader? Is it part of a series?

I’d say it’s got a decent blend of classic and modern styles, both in tone and content, and is packed with action. It is part of a (forthcoming) series, but it can also be read as a standalone. Continue reading →

Upcoming: THOSE BELOW by Daniel Polansky (Hodder)

October 26, 2015 Civilian Reader Upcoming Cover Art, Daniel Polansky, Empty Throne Series, Epic, Fantasy, Grimdark, Hodder, Most Anticipated 2016, Those Above, Those Below

Earlier today, Tor.com shared the cover artwork for Daniel Polansky‘s upcoming new novel, Those Below. It was unveiled earlier by Hodder, although I inexplicably managed to miss that post… The sequel to Those Above, and final novel in the author’s epic fantasy Empty Throne series, it’s due to be published by Hodder in the UK, on March 10th, 2016. I really can’t wait to get my mitts on this one…

Here’s what it’s about:

For centuries beyond counting, humanity has served the Others, god-like Eternals who rule from their cloud-capped mountain-city, building a civilization of unimagined beauty and unchecked viciousness.

But all that is about to change. Bas Alyates, grizzled general of a thousand battles, has assembled a vast army with which to contend with the might of Those Above. Eudokia, Machiavellian matriarch and the power behind the Empty Throne, travels to the Roost, nominally to play peacemaker – but in fact to inspire the human population toward revolt. Deep in the dark byways of the mountain’s lower tiers, the urchin Pyre leads a band of fanatical revolutionaries in acts of terrorism against their inhuman oppressors. Against them, Calla, handmaiden of the Eternals’ king, fights desperately to stave off the rising tide of violence which threatens to destroy her beloved city.

Excerpt: CHAOS UNLEASHED by Drew Karpyshyn (Del Rey)

October 21, 2015October 16, 2015 Civilian Reader Excerpt Chaos Unleashed, Children of Fire, Children of the Fire, Del Rey, Del Rey UK, Drew Karpyshyn, Fantasy, Scorched Earth

Today, we have an excerpt from Chaos Unleashed, the third volume in Drew Karpyshyn’s Children of the Fire fantasy series. Here’s the synopsis:

The Legacy, a magical barrier protecting humanity from Chaos, has crumbled.

Four unlikely champions, each touched with Chaos magic at birth, are all that can stop the return of Daemron the Slayer. Armed with the Talismans of power the four champions, the Children of Fire, must find the Keystone, a fabled place where, or so it is said, the Legacy can be restored.

But even the noblest heart can be twisted by the tainted magic of Chaos…

Chaos Unleashed is published in the UK by Del Rey tomorrow. The first two volumes in the series — Children of Fire and The Scorched Earth — are also published by Del Rey UK, and available now.

Read on for the excerpt… Continue reading →

New Books (September-October)

October 17, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Adrian J Walker, Alison Littlewood, Allen Eskens, Amie Kaufman, Ann Leckie, Apocalyptic, Audible UK, David Ellis, David Mitchell, David Tallerman, David Wong, Deborah Biancotti, Delacorte Press, Emily Foster, Emma Kavanagh, Fantasy, Gillian Anderson, Hodder, James Patterson, Jay Kristoff, Jeff Rovin, Jim Butcher, Johanna Basford, John Seabrook, Knopf, Linda Nagata, Louise Hall, Margo Lanagan, Neil Gaiman, Nick Frost, Orbit Books, Paul Murray, Richard Ford, Robinson, Roc Books, Salman Rushdie, Sam Munson, Sci-Fi, Scott Westerfeld, Susan Dennard, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Will McIntosh

Featuring: Gillian Anderson, Johanna Basford, Jim Butcher, Susan Dennard, David Ellis, Allen Eskens, Richard Ford, Emily Foster, Nick Frost, Neil Gaiman, Louise Hall, Amie Kaufman, Emma Kavanagh, Jay Kristoff, Ann Leckie, Alison Littlewood, Will McIntosh, David Mitchell, Sam Munson, Paul Murray, Linda Nagata, James Patterson, Jeff Rovin, Salman Rushdie, John Seabrook, David Tallerman, Adrian J. Walker, Scott Westerfeld, David Wong

[Yes, those GIFs have nothing to do with books. So?] Continue reading →

Quick Review: SUNSET MANTLE by Alter S. Reiss (Tor.com)

October 15, 2015October 14, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Alter S Reiss, Fantasy, Novella, Sunset Mantle, Tor Books, Tor.com

Short epic fantasy

Hero. General. Outcast.

With a single blow, Cete won both honor and exile from his last commander. Since then he has wandered, looking for a place to call home. The distant holdings of the Reach Antach offer shelter, but that promise has a price.

The Reach Antach is doomed.

Barbarians, traitors, and scheming investors conspire to destroy the burgeoning settlement. A wise man would move on, but Cete has found reason to stay. A blind weaver-woman and the beautiful sunset mantle lure the warrior to wager everything he has left on one final chance to turn back the hungry tides of war.

Ever since this novella was announced, I’ve been eager to read it. Like some other fans of fantasy, I sometimes think it would be nice to have a break from the Big Fantasy Tomes that seem to dominate. (Even though we frequently love the door-stoppers, too.) Sunset Mantle promised a shorter fantasy story told in a more compact form — short on length, if not world building and character development. I think it pretty well fulfils that promise, but it’s not without some weaknesses. Continue reading →

Guest Post: “Inspiration” by Howard Andrew Jones

October 13, 2015October 13, 2015 Civilian Reader Guest Post Beyond The Pool Of Stars, Fantasy, Howard Andrew, Influences & Inspiration, Paizo, Pathfinder, Tor Books

By now you’ve probably seen that old questions people ask writers so regularly – where do you get your ideas?

In this instance I can actually answer. I was inspired to write my new book for Pathfinder Tales by an interesting spot on the map of their game world. I’ve long admired the way Paizo seamlessly blended story hooks into their settings, and when I sat down to think about the location of my third novel set in Golarion I was drawn to a strange little coastland far to the south.

I don’t like writing where a lot of people have already gone. Not only is there even more background material to read – and a greater potential to miss something — it feels like I have less room to simply make stuff up, which is one of the big appeals of writing for a living. Continue reading →

Review: THE LORD OF THE END TIMES by Joshua Reynolds (Black Library)

October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Black Library, End Times, Fantasy, Joshua Reynolds, Lord of the End Times, Must Read 2015, Warhammer

The Warhammer World… Ends.

The End Times have come. Archaon Everchosen marches on the city of Middenheim, and if he captures it, the key to the Chaos gods’ ultimate victory will be his. The last heroes of men, elves and dwarfs gather to stop him, but to stand against the hordes of the Ruinous Powers, they must turn to darker allies. Against all reason, the last hope for the world may be the Undying King, Nagash himself – if he and the mortal races can find common cause and work together. If they cannot, Archaon’s plan will come to fruition and the world will be consumed by Chaos.

It’s been a fun and interesting few weeks, getting caught up with Black Library’s End Times series. After decades of interest in Warhammer (though, I must admit that I never played a proper game), and especially the novels, finishing this novel was something of a bittersweet moment. Reynolds does a great job of bringing the various threads together, and dishing out plentiful death and destruction. Not only that, he does it with some tongue-in-cheek humour, and an awareness of how big, bold and brash (and just a little over-the-top) this story has become and needs to be at its conclusion. I enjoyed this a lot. Continue reading →

Interview with M.C. PLANCK

October 9, 2015September 8, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Fantasy, Gold Throne In Shadow, Kassa Gambit, MC Planck, Pyr Books, Sword of the Bright Lady, Tor Books, World of Prime Series

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is M.C. Planck?

Like M. C. Hawking, except for literature rather than physics-derived rap lyrics. Also, my name. Not a pseudonym, despite the rumors.

Your latest novel, Gold Throne In Shadow, the second in your World of Prime series, is due to be published by Pyr Books in October. What can fans of the first novel expect from this sequel, and how would you introduce the series it to a potential reader?

The frame of the story is a classic: a person from our world crosses over to a world of sword and sorcery. What makes it different is the world he has travelled to: on the surface, it seems like any old pseudo-medieval fantasy kingdom, until you get to the bit about how magic is fuelled by eating people’s brains. The other difference is that our hero is not a young farm boy with a divine destiny, but a middle-aged engineer with bad manners.

Christopher Sinclair, like any sensible person, does not want to wander around waving a sword until a dragon eats him or a wizard turns him into a newt. Adventuring is only fun for the insane and the desperate; all he wants is to go home. Along the way he has some interesting, and ultimately disturbing, experiences. Continue reading →

Review: SLAYER by David Guymer (Black Library)

October 8, 2015October 17, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Black Library, David Guymer, End Times, Fantasy, Gotrek & Felix, Must Read 2015, Slayer, Warhammer

The Dooms of Gotrek & Felix…

With their friendship in tatters after a series of betrayals, Gotrek and Felix march south at the head of a ragtag army, intent upon driving the forces of Chaos out of the Empire and returning Felix to his wife. But Gotrek’s doom is at hand, and great powers are at work to ensure that he meets it. With enemies on all sides and destiny calling, Felix must make a choice: to follow Gotrek into the darkness that awaits him, or to abandon his oldest friend once and for all.

I’ve said it many times on CR, but I’ve been a fan of the Gotrek & Felix series since the early-1990s. In Slayer, David Guymer, the fourth author to work on the series, brings everything to a close. Tied in with the End Times, it’s a fantastic, even moving farewell. After I turned the final page, I felt genuinely sad and just a little bit lost for what to do now… Despite one niggle, this is an excellent finale. Continue reading →

Interview with ZEN CHO

October 6, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Ace Books, Fantasy, Magic, Regency England, Sorcerer Royal Trilogy, Sorcerer to the Crown, Tor UK, Zen Cho

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Zen Cho?

I’m a lawyer and writer from Malaysia, living in the UK. My short story collection Spirits Abroad was published by Malaysian press Buku Fixi in 2014 and was a joint winner of the Crawford Fantasy Award. I’ve edited an anthology called Cyberpunk: Malaysia, also published by Fixi, which came out this year.

Your debut novel, Sorcerer to the Crown, will be published in September by Tor Books. How would you introduce the novel to a new reader, and is it part of a planned series?

Sorcerer to the Crown is a historical fantasy set in Regency London, about England’s first African Sorcerer Royal, Zacharias Wythe. Zacharias is trying to reverse the decline in England’s magic when his plans are hijacked by ambitious runaway orphan and female magical prodigy, Prunella Gentleman.

The book is the first in a trilogy, but while the books will be linked, the plan is for each book to focus on different characters. The hope is that people will be able to read them as standalones. Continue reading →