Book Trailer: TOUCH by Claire North (Redhook/Orbit)

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 Civilian Reader Upcoming, Video Body Swapping, Book Trailer, Claire North, Fantasy, Master of the House, Must Read 2015, Orbit, Redhook, Sci-Fi, Serpent of Venice, Thief of Bangkok, Touch

I am a huge fan of Claire North‘s novels – The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is probably one of my favourite novels, and Touch (out next week) is also brilliant. Published by Redhook/Orbit Books (US/UK), both of these novels are absolute must-reads for all. To celebrate the release of Touch, Orbit has commissioned a trailer:

Here’s the novel’s synopsis and cover:

Kepler had never meant to die this way — viciously beaten to death by a stinking vagrant in a dark back alley. But when reaching out to the murderer for salvation in those last dying moments, a sudden switch takes place.

Now Kepler is looking out through the eyes of the killer himself, staring down at a broken and ruined body lying in the dirt of the alley.

Instead of dying, Kepler has gained the ability to roam from one body to another, to jump into another person’s skin and see through their eyes, live their life — be it for a few minutes, a few months or a lifetime.

Kepler means these host bodies no harm — and even comes to cherish them intimately like lovers. But when one host, Josephine Cebula, is brutally assassinated, Kepler embarks on a mission to seek the truth — and avenge Josephine’s death.

In related news, gleaned from Hachette US’s website, in November Orbit is publishing three new titles by North: The Serpent of Venice, The Master of the House and The Thief of Bangkok. (I’m guessing novellas, as there’s scant information available at this time.)

New Books (February #1)

February 14, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Ace Books, Andrzej Sapkowski, Ben Mezrich, Cecilia Ekbäck, Christopher Fowler, DAW Books, Del Rey, Den Patrick, Fantasy, George R.R. Martin, Gollancz, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Joe Abercrombie, Joe Schreiber, John Clarkson, John French, Justina Robson, Lee Kelly, Mark Alder, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Michael Alan Nelson, Michael Christie, Michael Moorcock, Michel Bussi, Myke Cole, Nicolle Wallace, Peter Orullian, Rowena Cory-Daniells, Saga Press, Sci-Fi, Stephen Marche, Steven Harper, Toby Clements, Urban Fantasy, Ursula le Guin, William Dietz

Featuring: Joe Abercrombie, Mark Alder, Michel Bussi, Michael Christie, John Clarkson, Toby Clements, Myke Cole, Rowena Cory Daniells, William Dietz, Cecilia Ekbäck, Christopher Fowler, John French, Steven Harper, Lee Kelly, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Ursula le Guin, Stephen Marche, Marshall Ryan Maresca, George R.R. Martin, Paul McAuley, Ben Mezrich, Michael Moorcock, Michael Alan Nelson, Peter Orullian, Den Patrick, Justina Robson, Andrzej Sapkowski, Joe Schreiber, Harry Turtledove, Nicolle Wallace Continue reading →

Review: BLADES OF THE TRAITOR (Black Library)

February 12, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Black Library, Blades of the Traitor, Chirurgeon, Chris Wraight, Daemonology, Emperor's Children, Graham Lyons, Guy Haley, Horus Heresy, John French, Military Sci-Fi, Nick Kyme, Sci-Fi, Sons of Horus, Twisted, WH40k, Wolf Mother

The latest Horus Heresy anthology from Black Library

Across the war-torn galaxy, those sworn to Horus’s cause shake the Imperium to its very foundations. Before the traitors’ relentless onslaught, the wisdom of ages past is lost and forgotten, daemons hide amongst the common people and the warp’s corrupting influence can be seen in almost every facet of the Heresy. For those who would become champions of the new order, there can surely be no redemption – only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods…

This book collects five short stories set in the Horus Heresy age. Two of them I’ve already read and reviewed: the excellent Daemonology by Chris Wraight, and the very-short-but-also-very-good Black Oculus by John French. These three new stories are excellent. While not the longest anthology BL has done, this may be their best in terms of quality in a long while. Very highly recommended for fans of the series. The collection probably has more to offer fans who have read the novels that sowed the seeds for these stories, but they are also five examples of excellent, dark science fiction. Continue reading →

Upcoming: LUNA – NEW MOON by Ian McDonald (Tor)

February 9, 2015February 10, 2015 Civilian Reader Upcoming Gollancz, Ian McDonald, Luna, Most Anticipated 2015, New Moon, Sci-Fi, Tor Books

I haven’t read as much of Ian McDonald‘s work as I think I should have. After spotting the cover reveal for this on Twitter, though, I think I’ll be making sure to read at least one of his novels this year. Luna: New Moon is the first in a duology from multi-award-winning British author. I’ve spoken to someone who’s read it, and they say it’s amazing. Here’s the synopsis:

The scions of a falling house must navigate a world of corporate warfare to maintain their family’s status in the Moon’s vicious political atmosphere

The Moon wants to kill you. Whether it’s being unable to pay your per diem for your allotted food, water, and air, or you just get caught up in a fight between the Moon’s ruling corporations, the Five Dragons. You must fight for every inch you want to gain in the Moon’s near feudal society. And that is just what Adriana Corta did.

As the leader of the Moon’s newest “dragon,” Adriana has wrested control of the Moon’s Helium3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family’s new status. Now, at the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation, Corta Helio, surrounded by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana’s five children must defend their mother’s empire from her many enemies… and each other.

Luna: New Moon is published in the US by Tor Books, and in the UK by Gollancz.

UPDATE (2/10): This morning, Gollancz unveiled their cover for Luna. It’s a wonderfully sharp image (I hope it comes through in the image below). I also really like that the letters in “Luna” have their own moons:

Excerpt: TAMARUQ by E.J. Swift (Del Rey)

February 3, 2015January 27, 2015 Civilian Reader Excerpt Blog Tour, Del Rey UK, E.J. Swift, Osiris Project, Sci-Fi, Tamaruq

Tamaruq is the final volume in E.J. Swift‘s well-received Osiris Project science fiction trilogy. As part of the blog tour to celebrate it’s release, Del Rey UK have given me this excerpt to share with you. But first, the novel’s synopsis:

Fleeing from her family and the elitist oppression of the Osiris government, Adelaide Rechnov has become the thing she once feared, a revolutionary.

But with the discovery of a radio signal comes the stark realization that there is life outside their small island existence. Adelaide’s worries are about to become much bigger.

Meanwhile, as rumour spreads on the mainland, many head to the lost city of Osiris with their own devious objectives. But in a world where war is king and only the most powerful survive, there can only be one victor…

Tamaruq is out now in the UK. The first two novels in the series, Osiris and Cataveiro are also published in the UK by Del Rey.

Also on CR: Interview with E.J. Swift; Inspiration in Translation Guest Post Continue reading →

Quick Chat with DAVE BARA

January 26, 2015January 7, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Dave Bara, DAW Books, Defiant, Del Rey UK, Impulse, Lightship, Penguin, Sci-Fi, Space Opera, Starbound

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Dave Bara?

Honestly, I’m a just guy who was pretty much born to write science fiction. My earliest memories are of watching the Gemini and Apollo missions on TV, plus Star Trek, Lost In Space, Outer Limits, Twilight Zone. I was always fascinated with space and science fiction, so it seems like it was my destiny to write it.

Your debut, IMPULSE, will be published by DAW Books in February in the US. How would you introduce the novel to a potential reader? Is it part of a series?

It is part of a series, of which Starbound will be the second volume in early 2016 and Defiant will be the third. If I was introducing it I’d say it’s character-driven SF/action-adventure, the kind of thing I like to read. If you’re into space opera and military SF, you’ll probably love Impulse. Continue reading →

Guest Post: “Thinking Like A Monkey” by Gareth L. Powell

January 22, 2015January 24, 2024 Civilian Reader Guest Post Ack-Ack Macaque, Fantasy, Gareth L Powell, Hive Monkey, Macaque Attack, Sci-Fi, Solaris Books

One of the largest challenges I faced while writing my ‘Macaque’ trilogy (Ack-Ack Macaque, Hive Monkey and Macaque Attack – all published by Solaris Books) was in writing chapters and scenes from the point of view of my main character.

Ack-Ack Macaque really is a monkey. He’s not a guy in a rubber suit. So, I felt duty bound to make him act like one. I had to imagine how a monkey (even a monkey whose intelligence has been boosted to human-like levels by artificial implants) would react in given situations and interact with the other characters in the book.

For instance, early in the first book, he warns somebody he’s just met not to smile at him, as, to a monkey, baring one’s teeth can be a challenge, as can sustained eye contact.

“Don’t take it personally,” he says. “It’s a primate thing.” Continue reading →

Review: DEATH AND DEFIANCE by Various (Black Library)

January 19, 2015February 4, 2015 Civilian Reader Review A Safe and Shadowed Place, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Andy Smillie, Black Library, Death and Defiance, Gunsight, Guy Haley, Horus Heresy, Howl of the Hearthworld, Imperfect, James Swallow, Military Sci-Fi, Nick Kyme, Sci-Fi, Sins of the Father, Virtues of the Sons

A collection of Horus Heresy novellas

Words alone can no longer convey the horrors of the war that now grips the Imperium. In what should have been an age of enlightenment and glorious triumph, instead warriors on both sides reel from the twin agonies of betrayal and bloodshed. The hatred of a sworn foe, the ire of a primarch, or the unholy wrath of a daemon-lord – none but the mighty Space Marines can hope to weather such torments unscathed…

Death and Defiance is the latest anthology from Black Library – originally, it was only available as a hardcover (possibly at the Black Library Weekender?). The short stories it contained were recently made available through the publisher’s website as individual eBooks. Naturally, given my addiction to Horus Heresy fiction, I snapped them up right away. On the whole, it’s a very good collection. Surprisingly, though, my favourite author featured did not deliver the best story (in fact, it was by far the weakest). Continue reading →

UK Competition: STEELHEART and FIREFIGHT by Brandon Sanderson!

January 8, 2015January 7, 2015 Civilian Reader Giveaway Brandon Sanderson, Dystopia, Firefight, Gollancz, Reckoners, Sci-Fi, Steelheart, Super-Heroes, UK Competion

Those lovely folks at Gollancz have provided a copy of Brandon Sanderson‘s Steelheart and Firefight for me to give away to one lucky reader in the UK. (Sorry to those of you not from the UK… I’ll try to organise an international giveaway ASAP.) Not sure what the series is about? Well, here’s the synopsis for Steelheart:

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics… nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart – the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father. For years, like the Reckoners, David’s been studying, and planning – and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He’s seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

I enjoyed Steelheart, and also the short story set between the two novels, Mitosis. I’m really looking forward to reading Firefight.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this action-packed bundle is… leave a comment or email me, and I’ll pick the winner at random on Sunday night. The winner will be notified on Monday morning.

Interesting Open Road eBook Sale – “Growing Up Magical”

January 7, 2015 Civilian Reader Random Alan Dean Foster, Coming of Age, Dave Duncan, David Feintuch, eBook, Emily Gee, Fantasy, Growing Up Magical, Ian McDonald, Lee Goldstein, Mindy L Klasky, Nancy Willard, Open Road Media, Pat Murphy, Poul Anderson, RA MacAvoy, Sci-Fi, Timothy Zahn

I received the information about this sale from Open Road Media yesterday, and I thought it was an interesting selection of titles. So, I decided to share it here. Click on the image to go through to the publisher’s page: