New Books (February)

March 1, 2016August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Adrian Tchaikovsky, AJ Hartley, Alex Stewart, Allen Steele, Andy Remic, Back Bay Books, Baen, Black Library, Brian McClellan, Bryony Pearce, Christopher Charles, Claire North, Corgi, Dan Cluchey, David Annandale, David Baldacci, David Fisher, David Levien, Don DeLillo, Elizabeth Bonesteel, Faber, Gollancz, Grand Central Publishing, Hadley Freeman, Hodder, Jack Sutherland, Jessica Chiarella, Jo Baker, Jo Spurrier, Joe R Lansdale, John Connolly, John Lansdale, K.J. Parker, Katie Heaney, Knopf, Lauren Groff, Lee Kelly, Marc Turner, Mark Andrew Ferguson, Max Allan Collins, Mickey Spillane, Mishell Baker, Mitchell Hogan, Molly Prentiss, Mulholland Books, Noah Hawley, Orbit, Patrick Hemstreet, Penguin, Pierce Brown, Plume, Rachel Dunne, Riverhead Books, SB Divya, Scout Press, Scribner, Shane Kuhn, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Stripes Books, Stuart Stevens, Subterranean Press, Teddy Wayne, Thomas Dunne Books, Tim Lebbon, Titan Books, Tor Books, Tor Teen, Tor UK, Tor.com, Touchstone, Transworld, Victor Pelevin, Voyager, William Shatner, Willow Palecek

Featuring: David Annandale, Jo Baker, Mishell Baker, David Baldacci, Elizabeth Bonesteel, Pierce Brown, Christopher Charles, Jessica Chiarella, Dan Cluchey, Max Allan Collins, John Connolly, Don DeLillo, S.B. Divya, Rachel Dunne, Mark Andrew Ferguson, Hadley Freeman, S.L. Grey, Lauren Groff, A.J. Hartley, Noah Hawley, Katie Heaney, Patrick Hemstreet, Mitchell Hogan, Lee Kelly, Shane Kuhn, Joe R. Lansdale, John Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, David Levien, Brian McClellan, Claire North, Willow Palecek, K.J. Parker, Bryony Pearce, Victor Pelevin, Molly Prentiss, Andy Remic, William Shatner, Mickey Spillane, Jo Spurrier, Allen Steele, Stuart Stevens, Alex Stewart, Jack Sutherland, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Marc Turner, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Teddy Wayne

* Continue reading →

Upcoming: HEART OF GRANITE by James Barclay (Gollancz)

February 23, 2016February 24, 2016 Civilian Reader Covers, Upcoming Fantasy, Gollancz, Heart of Granite, James Barclay, Military Fantasy

BarclayJ-HeartOfGraniteUK I’ve only read one of James Barclay’s novels, Dawnthief, the first in his Raven series. I rather enjoyed it — the characters were good, the story interesting. Not really sure why I never continued with the series… His next novel, Heart of Granite, is due to be published by Gollancz on August 18th, 2016. It has a pretty interesting cover (above). I’m not entirely sure what I think of it, though — the image is very nice, but it makes me think of an artistic cover for a science book, rather than a military fantasy novel. This is probably a sign that years of book jacket design conditioning has had an impact…

Here’s the synopsis:

One man, one brief conversation… a whole world of trouble…

The world has become a battleground in a war which no side is winning. But for those determined to retain power, the prolonged stalemate cannot be tolerated so desperate measures must be taken.

Max Halloran has no idea. He’s living the brief and glorious life of a hunter-killer pilot. He’s an ace in the air, on his way up through the ranks, in love, and with his family’s every need provided for in thanks for his service, Max has everything…

I couldn’t tell if this was a standalone or the first in a new series. Regardless, t’m quite looking forward to giving this one a try. (Kindle users: it’s only £3.99 on pre-order.)

Upcoming: STRANGER OF TEMPEST by Tom Lloyd (Gollancz)

January 29, 2016February 4, 2016 Civilian Reader Covers, Upcoming Cover Art, Fantasy, Gollancz, Heroic, Most Anticipated 2016, Stranger of Tempest, Tom Lloyd

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How cool is that cover? True, it is slightly reminiscent of the Fellowship of the Ring scene in which Gandalf faces off against the Balrog while the fellowship is making its way through the Mines of Moria. BUT! The fellow has a rifle. And it looks rather cool, and it’s by Tom Lloyd, who’s a great author. It’s unclear if this is the first book in a new series, or a standalone. Nevertheless, it sounds interesting:

It’s not easy being an honest man in a lawless world…

Lynx is a mercenary with a sense of honour; a dying breed in the Riven Kingdom. Failed by the nation he served and weary of the skirmishes that plague the continent’s principalities, he walks the land in search of purpose. He wants for little so bodyguard work keeps his belly full and his mage-gun loaded. It might never bring a man fame or wealth, but he’s not forced to rely on others or kill without cause.

Little could compel Lynx to join a mercenary company, but he won’t turn his back on a kidnapped girl. At least the job seems simple enough; the mercenaries less stupid and vicious than most he’s met over the years.

So long as there are no surprises or hidden agendas along the way, it should work out fine.

Stranger of Tempest is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz, on June 16th, 2016.

New Books (Jan)

January 15, 2016August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books A.F.E. Smith, Adam O’Fallon Price, Algonquin, Anthony O’Neill, Black Library, Bret Witter, Camille Perri, Carol Goodman, China Miéville, Christopher Farnsworth, Christopher Sorrentino, Doubleday, Gav Thorpe, Glen Erik Hamilton, Glen Weldon, Gollancz, Grove Atlantic, Heidi Pitlor, Jill Lepore, Joanne Harris, Jonathan Wood, Kristopher Jansma, Lavie Tidhar, Lawrence M Schoen, Lindsey Davis, Liz de Jager, Louisa Hall, Matt Gallagher, Matthew Quirk, Megan Miranda, Mike Lawson, Minotaur Books, Mulholland Books, Open Road Media, Patrick Lee, Richard Kadrey, Richard Russo, Rob Boffard, Sean McFate, Simon & Schuster, Simon Morden, St Martin's Press, Tachyon Publications, Terry Brooks, Thomas Christopher Greene, Tim Akers, Tim Lebbon, Titan Books, Tor Books, Transworld, Viking, Voyager, William Morrow

MinionsPlugInLight

A post-Christmas and New Year smorgasbord of awesome has come flooding in, these past couple of weeks. On top of that, there have been some I’ve bought myself (I got a lot of wonderful book vouchers and Amazon credit, this year…).

Featuring: Tim Akers, Robert Jackson Bennett, Rob Boffard, Terry Brooks, Lindsey Davis, Liz de Jager, Christopher Farnsworth, Matt Gallagher, Carol Goodman, Thomas Christopher Greene, Louisa Hall, Glen Erik Hamilton, Joanne Harris, Kristopher Jansma, Richard Kadrey, Mike Lawson, Tim Lebbon, Patrick Lee, Jill Lepore, Sean McFate & Bret Witter, China Miéville, Megan Miranda, Simon Morden, Anthony O’Neill, Adam O’Fallon Price, Camille Perri, Heidi Pitlor, Matthew Quirk, Richard Russo, Lawrence M. Schoen, A.F.E. Smith, Christopher Sorrentino, Gav Thorpe, Lavie Tidhar, Glen Weldon, Jonathan Wood Continue reading →

Review: 13 MINUTES by Sarah Pinborough (Gollancz)

January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 Civilian Reader Review 13 Minutes, Fiction, Gollancz, Most Anticipated 2016, Must Read 2016, Mystery, Sarah Pinborough, Suspense, Thriller, YA

An excellent new thriller from one of Britain’s best authors

Natasha was dead for 13 minutes. And it changed her world completely…

I was dead for 13 minutes.

I don’t remember how I ended up in the icy water but I do know this — it wasn’t an accident and I wasn’t suicidal.

They say you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but when you’re a teenage girl, it’s hard to tell them apart. My friends love me, I’m sure of it. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t try to kill me. Does it?

13 MINUTES by Sarah Pinborough is a gripping psychological thriller about people, fears, manuiplation and the power of the truth. A stunning read, it questions our relationships — and what we really know about the people closest to us…

Sarah Pinborough’s latest thriller is both an excellent thriller and an insightful examination of what it means to be a teenager in the social media age. It blends these two facets together perfectly, creating one of the first must-read novels of the year. Continue reading →

Catch-Up Interview with EDWARD COX

December 23, 2015December 21, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Catch-Up, Cathedral of Known Things, Edward Cox, Fantasy, Gollancz, Must Read 2015, Relic Guild, Watcher of Dead Time

Your second novel, The Cathedral of Known Things, is out now, published by Gollancz. What can fans of The Relic Guild expect from the second novel?

The boundaries that were set up in the first book are broken down, and the universe is expanded. We see the Houses of the Aelfir for the first time, along with the Genii War. More of the secrets that were kept from the agents of the Relic Guild, and those they had to keep from each other, are revealed. There are some new characters, some new weapons, and one or two surprises along the way. All mixed in with the usual monsters, magic and mayhem, of course.

How did you find the writing process the second time around? Any particular challenges?

The old challenges were still there. The Relic Guild is a single story told over three books. It’s divided into two timeframes, separated by forty years. Planning the past and the present across three books could be hideously complicated at times. Having now finished the third book, The Watcher of Dead Time, I can honestly say that The Cathedral of Known Things was the hardest to write. Continue reading →

Quick Review: TWELVE KINGS by Bradley P. Beaulieu (Gollancz/DAW)

December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Bradley Beaulieu, DAW Books, Epic, Fantasy, Gollancz, Must Read 2015, Twelve Kings, Twelve Kings in Sharakai

A fascinating new fantasy series

In the cramped west end of Sharakhai, the Amber Jewel of the Desert, Çeda fights in the pits to scrape a living. She, like so many in the city, pray for the downfall of the cruel, immortal Kings of Sharakhai, but she’s never been able to do anything about it. This all changes when she goes out on the night of Beht Zha’ir, the holy night when all are forbidden from walking the streets. It’s the night that the asirim, the powerful yet wretched creatures that protect the Kings from all who would stand against them, wander the city and take tribute. It is then that one of the asirim, a pitiful creature who wears a golden crown, stops Çeda and whispers long forgotten words into her ear. Çeda has heard those words before, in a book left to her by her mother, and it is through that one peculiar link that she begins to find hidden riddles left by her mother.

As Çeda begins to unlock the mysteries of that fateful night, she realizes that the very origin of the asirim and the dark bargain the Kings made with the gods of the desert to secure them may be the very key she needs to throw off the iron grip the Kings have had over Sharakhai. And yet the Kings are no fools — they’ve ruled the Shangazi for four hundred years for good reason, and they have not been idle. As Çeda digs into their past, and the Kings come closer and closer to unmasking her, Çeda must decide if she’s ready to face them once and for all.

I’m a fan of Beaulieu’s work. I haven’t read as much of it as I would like, but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far. Twelve Kings is no exception: it offers a big, sprawling new fantasy world and series, populated by interesting and diverse characters — with shades of the horrific to add extra flavour.
Continue reading →

Interview with TOM TONER

November 25, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Amaranthine Spectrum, Fantasy, Gollancz, Night Shade Books, Promise of the Child, Sci-Fi, Tom Toner, Weight of the World

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Tom Toner?

Hello! Tom Toner is a 29 year-old debut novelist from Somerset with a very patchy beard. Thanks very much for having me.

Your debut novel, The Promise of the Child, is published by Gollancz. It’s already generating quite a bit of attention and praise: How would you introduce it to a potential reader? Is it part of a series?

The Promise of the Child is the first of a six part series called the Amaranthine Spectrum. It’s set in the closing years of the 147th century, over twelve and half thousand years from now, and I suppose you could call it an epic blend of space opera and fantasy. The book has a huge cast of characters, very few of them human in the traditional sense: on the Old World giants live in paper fortresses and singing sea monsters haunt the coasts, while up in the stars of the magisterial Firmament the remains of immortal mankind are slowly going mad. The Promise of the Child has a lived-in, antiquated feel: pure fantasy on one hand and the most ridiculous and frenetic of space operas on the other. Continue reading →

Upcoming: SON OF THE MORNING by Mark Alder (Pegasus)

November 4, 2015 Civilian Reader Upcoming Angels and Demons, Fantasy, Gollancz, Heaven and Hell, Historical, Mark Alder, MD Lachlan, Pegasus Books, Son of the Morning, Son of the Night

Mark Alder‘s Son of the Morning was first published a couple of years ago in the UK by Gollancz, but I just spotted that it is finally coming to North America, too — it is due to be published by Pegasus Books in February 2016. The cover is to the right, and the synopsis is as follows:

In an epic novel that reimagines the Hundred Years War — in a world where angels and demons choose sides on the battlefield — England and France find themselves locked in a holy war, but which country has God’s favor?

England, 1337: Edward III is beset on all sides, plagued by debt and surrounded by doubters. He refuses to pay homage to the newly crowned Philip Valois of France and seeks to secure his French holdings, but he’s outmanned. Philip can put 50,000 men in the field, but he is having his own problems: he has summoned the angels themselves to fight for France, but the angels refuse to fight. Both kings send priests far and wide, seeking holy relics and heavenly beings to take up the cause of their country, but God remains stubbornly silent, refusing to grant favor to either side.

Meanwhile, among the poor and downtrodden, heretical whispers are taking hold: what if God — who has never been seen to do anything for them — is not the rightful leader of the heavens after all? And as Edward’s situation becomes increasingly desperate, even his counselors begin to believe that if God won’t listen, perhaps they can find a savior not from Heaven, but from Hell.

In a sweeping tale packed with courtiers and kings, knights and priests, and devils and angels, Mark Alder breathes fresh and imaginative life into the Hundred Years War in this unique historical epic.

The sequel for Son of the Morning appears to be Son of the Night, which Amazon UK has listed for a November 2016 release, although this is possibly subject to change. No cover art as yet.

Mark Alder is a pseudonym, and the author also writes as M.D. Lachlan, whose Wolfsangel series is also published in the UK by Gollancz. The cover for the UK market is below:

Upcoming: DOWN STATION by Simon Morden (Gollancz)

September 14, 2015 Civilian Reader Upcoming Down Station, Fantasy, Gollancz, Most Anticipated 2016, Must Read 2016, Simon Morden, Urban Fantasy

How cool is that cover? Simon Morden‘s Down Station is due to be published in the UK by Gollancz on February 16th, 2016. It’s sounds pretty interesting (and a tad weird, but in a good way):

A small group of commuters and tube workers witness a fiery apocalypse overtaking London. They make their escape through a service tunnel. Reaching a door they step through… and find themselves on a wild shore backed by cliffs and rolling grassland. The way back is blocked. Making their way inland they meet a man dressed in a wolf’s cloak and with wolves by his side. He speaks English and has heard of a place called London — other people have arrived here down the ages — all escaping from a London that is burning. None of them have returned. Except one — who travels between the two worlds at will. The group begin a quest to find this one survivor; the one who holds the key to their return and to the safety of London.

And as they travel this world, meeting mythical and legendary creatures,split between North and South by a mighty river and bordered by The White City and The Crystal Palace they realise they are in a world defined by all the London’s there have ever been.

Reminiscent of Michael Moorcock and Julian May this is a grand and sweeping science fantasy built on the ideas, the legends, the memories of every London there has ever been.