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

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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: ANGRY OPTIMIST by Lisa Rogak (St. Martin’s Griffin)

September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Angry Optimist, Biography, Comedian, Daily Show, Entertainment, Griffin, Humour, Jon Stewart, Lisa Rogak, Non-Fiction, St Martin's Press

Disappointing, NYT-bestselling bio of Jon Stewart

Since his arrival at The Daily Show, Jon Stewart has become one of the major players in comedy as well as one of the most significant liberal voices in the media. In Angry Optimist, Lisa Rogak follows his unlikely rise to stardom, from his early days growing up in New Jersey, through his years as a struggling stand-up comic in New York, and on to the short-lived but acclaimed The Jon Stewart Show, before at last landing a job as host of a half-hour comedy show that at the time was still finding its footing amidst roiling internal drama.

Once there, Stewart transformed The Daily Show into one of the most influential news programs on television today. Drawing on interviews with current and former colleagues and with new material on his departure from The Daily Show, Angry Optimist reveals how Jon Stewart has come to wield incredible power in American politics and changed how the news is reported along the way.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is one of the most influential television series of the past couple of decades. Like many people, I first took notice when segments from Indecision 2000 went viral: the blend of hilarious satire and sharp observation was a winning combination. Despite the host’s denials, The Daily Show was a real force in American politics, often providing more news and media analysis than actual, professional news channels. Jon Stewart, however, has remained something of an enigma, however – fiercely private, most of us have only had the occasional magazine profile to inform us of what might make the host tick.

It was with great interest, therefore, that I started reading Angry Optimist. A quick read that, while entertaining, left me disappointed. Continue reading →

New Books! (August)

September 5, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Adam Roberts, Alison Littlewood, Andrew Michael Hurley, Andy Weir, Anna Waterhouse, Barry Lyga, Ben Bova, Ben Tripp, Black Library, Bradley Beaulieu, Broadway Books, Charlie Fletcher, Da Capo Press, David de Sola, Derek Haas, Gav Thorpe, Gerrard Cowan, Ian McDonald, Ian Winwood, Jo Fletcher Books, Julia Knight, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kieran Shea, Kyle Mills, Lila Bowen, Lilith Saintcrow, Matthew de Abaitua, Max Wirestone, Mike Lawson, Orbit, Peter Facinelli, Pyr Books, Rajan Khanna, Robert DeFranco, Sam Hawken, Seth Dickinson, Seth Patrick, Simon and Schuster, St Martin's Press, Stephen Aryan, T.R. Richmond, Titan, Tom Doyle, Vince Flynn, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Zen Cho

Featuring: Matthew de Abaitua, Stephen Aryan, Bradley Beaulieu, Ben Bova, Lila Bowen, Zen Cho, Robert DeFranco, Seth Dickinson, Tom Doyle, Peter Facinelli, Charlie Fletcher, Vince Flynn, Ryan Gattis, Derek Haas, Sam Hawken, Andrew Michael Hurley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rajan Khanna, Andrew Klavan, Julia Knight, Mike Lawson, Alison Littlewood, Barry Lyga, Ian McDonald, Kyle Mills, Seth Patrick, T.R. Richmond, Adam Roberts, Lilith Saintcrow, Kieran Shea, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, David de Sola, Gav Thorpe, Ben Tripp, Anna Waterhouse, Andy Weir, Ian Winwood, Max Wirestone Continue reading →

Review: ALICE IN CHAINS by David de Sola (Thomas Dunne)

August 12, 2015August 11, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Alice in Chains, Biography, David de Sola, Grunge, Music, Non-Fiction, Rock, St Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books

The tragic tale of one of America’s most influential bands of the 1990s

Alice in Chains were one of the loudest voices out of Seattle, iconic pioneers who mixed grunge and metal in ways that continue to influence today’s artists. Theirs is a story of hard work, self-destruction, rising from the ashes and carrying on a lasting legacy.

Four years after their first meeting at a warehouse under Seattle’s Ballard Bridge, Alice in Chains became the first of grunge’s big four — ahead of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden — to get a gold record and achieve national recognition. With the charismatic Layne Staley behind the microphone, they became one of the most influential and successful bands to come out of the Seattle music scene. But as the band got bigger, so did its problems.

I am a big grunge fan. Ever since I took notice of music, and especially the guitar-driven genres, I have listened to Alice in Chains. Given my relative youth, though, I only discovered them shortly before Nothing Safe: Best of the Box came out (I picked it up in LA during my first visit to the city). This, naturally, led me to delve into their back catalogue of albums, and I quickly became hooked on Dirt and Facelift. Then, only a handful of years later, Layne Staley’s death was reported in the various music magazines I religiously read at the time. It is quite strange, as de Sola mentions in this book, that no proper biography of the band has been written until now. I’m happy to say, though, that de Sola’s book is a great tribute to Alice in Chains, and a must-read for any fan of their music and the scene they helped create and nurture. Continue reading →

New Books (June-July)

July 4, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Abaddon, Andy Abramowitz, Bennett R Coles, Caseen Gaines, Charles Stross, Ctein, Daniel H Wilson, DAW Books, Dead Assassin, Del Rey UK, Dennis Dunaway, Drew Karpy, Ed Greenwood, Edgar Cantero, Fran Wilde, Gollancz, GP Putnam's Sons, Janet Groth, Jo Fletcher Books, John Gilstrap, John Joseph Adams, John Niven, John Sandford, Jon Wallace, Joshua Cohen, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Matthew Dunn, Michael R Fletcher, Random House, Regan Arts, Ronda Rousey, St Martin's Press, Teresa Frohock, Thomas Dunne, Titan Books, Tom Pollock, Tor Books, Touchstone, Vaughn Entwhistle, Vintage, Voyager, Voyager Impulse, Witness Impulse

Featuring: John Joseph Adams, Andy Abramowitz, Edgar Cantero, Joshua Cohen, Bennett R. Coles, Ctein, Dennis Dunaway, Matthew Dunn, Vaughn Entwhistle, Michael R. Fletcher, Teresa Frohock, Caseen Gaines, John Gilstrap, Ed Greenwood, Janet Groth, Paul Kane, Marshall Ryan Maresca, John Niven, Tom Pollock, Ronda Rousey, John Sandford, Charles Stross, Neely Tucker, Jon Wallace, Fran Wilde, Daniel H. Wilson Continue reading →

New Books (May)

May 24, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Adrian Tchaikovsky, Andrew Michael Hurley, Angry Robot Books, Anthony Bozza, Back Bay Books, Bill Flippin, Bill Willingham, Bradley Somer, Chuck Klosterman, Cindy Dees, David Hair, David Mitchell, Django Wexler, Gayle Lynds, Harper, Hodder, James L. Cambias, James SA Corey, John Henry Clay, John Murray, Keith Richards, KM McKinley, Laurell K Hamilton, Michael Arnold, Mick Wall, Mike Brooks, Nalo Hopkinson, NK Jemisin, Orbit, Orion, Redhook, Rob Boffard, Sceptre, Slash, Solaris, St Martin's Press, Tachyon Publications, Tor UK, Vertigo, Wesley Chu

Featuring: Michael Arnold, Rob Boffard, Mike Brooks, James L. Cambias, Wesley Chu, John Henry Clay, James S.A. Corey, Cindy Dees, Bill Flippin, David Hair, Laurell K. Hamilton, Nalo Hopkinson, Andrew Michael Hurley, N.K. Jemisin, Chuck Klosterman, Gayle Lynds, K.M. McKinley, David Mitchell, Keith Richards, Slash, Bradley Somer, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Mick Wall, Django Wexler, Bill Willingham Continue reading →

New Books: March #1

March 16, 2015August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Alastair Reynolds, Angus Watson, Arianne Tex Thompson, Col Buchanan, Dave Gross, David Wingrove, Edan Lepucki, Faber & Faber, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Gardener Dozois, Genevieve Valentine, George RR Martin, Harvill Secker, John Connolly, John Joseph Adams, Joshua Gaylord, Kazuo Ishiguro, Kim Stanley Robinson, Knopf, Kristen Painter, Lavie Tidhar, Little Brown, Marc Turner, Mulholland, Orbit, Pathfinder, Patricia Briggs, Paul Beatty, Richard Beard, Rjurik Davidson, Robert Levy, St Martin's Press, Stephen Metcalfe, Tachyon Publications, Titan Books, Tom Lloyd, Tor Books, VE Schwab

Or, “Lordy, 2015 is shaping up to be an incredible year for books…”

Featuring: John Joseph Adams, Richard Beard, Paul Beatty, Patricia Briggs, Col Buchanan, John Connelly, Rjurik Davidson, Joshua Gaylord, Dave Gross, Kazuo Ishiguro, Edan Lepucki, Robert Levy, Tom Lloyd, George R.R. Martin & Gardener Dozois, Stephen Metcalfe, Kristen Painter, Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, V.E. Schwab, Lavie Tidhar, Marc Turner Continue reading →

New Books (October)

October 30, 2014August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books 47 North, Anne Rice, Arrow, Ben Lerner, Brian Cox, Debbie Viguie, Del Rey, Doubleday, Edward St Aubyn, Genevieve Cogman, Gollancz, Jasper Kent, John Grisham, John Sandford, John Twelve Hawks, Justin Richards, Kate Griffin, Kazuaki Takano, Little Brown, Lynne Truss, Marie Brennan, Mark Charan Newton, Michele Cook, Mira Grant, Mulholland, Neal Asher, Nicholas Kaufmann, Paolo Bacigalupi, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter F. Hamilton, Peyton Marshall, Putnam, Random House, Sam Sykes, Sebastian Rotella, Simon Unsworth, SJ Watson, St Martin's Press, Stephen King, Tor, Transworld, Wilbur Smith, William Gibson

Featuring: Neal Asher, Paolo Bacigalupi, Marie Brennan, Genevieve Cogman, Brian Cox, William Gibson, Mira Grant, Kate Griffin, John Grisham, Nicholas Kaufmann, Jasper Kent, Stephen King, Ben Lerner, Peyton Marshall, Mark Charan Newton, Anne Rice, Justin Richards, Sebastian Rotella, Patrick Rothfuss, John Sandford & Michele Cook, Wilbur Smith, Edward St. Aubyn, Sam Sykes, Kazuaki Takano, Lynne Truss, John Twelve Hawks, Simon Unsworth, Debbie Viguie, SJ Watson

Continue reading →

An Interview with BEN PEEK

June 11, 2014November 3, 2015 Civilian Reader Interview Ben Peek, Children Trilogy, ChiZine, Dead Americans and Other Stories, Fantasy, Godless, Leviathan’s Blood, Macmillan, St Martin's Press, Tor UK

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Ben Peek?

I’m an author who lives in Sydney, Australia with my partner, Nikilyn Nevins, who is a photographer.

THE GODLESS – the first book in my Children Trilogy – is my fifth book. My previous books are Black Sheep, Twenty-Six Lies/One Truth, and Above/Below, with Stephanie Campisi. My collection, Dead Americans and Other Stories, was released earlier this year. In addition to that, I’ve done a few other things, such as a psychogeography pamphlet, an autobiographical comic, and lectured and taught at various places.

I also may, or may not, be listening to the Velvet Underground as I reply to this.

Your next novel, The Godless, is published in July by Tor UK and St. Martin’s Press in the US. How would you introduce the novel to a new reader?

The book is the first in a fantasy trilogy, and takes place in a world where, fifteen thousand years ago, a war between the gods took place. In its aftermath, the sun was broken into three, the ocean turned black with blood and rose, and the bodies of the gods fell to the ground, where they lay in a state best described as both dead and dying. In the centuries that followed, their powers seeped into the world, altering it, and altering some of the people who lived there. Continue reading →

Upcoming US Edition: THE VIOLENT CENTURY by Lavie Tidhar (Thomas Dunne/St Martin’s Press)

June 4, 2014 Civilian Reader Uncategorized Lavie Tidhar, St Martin's Press, Upcoming, Violent Century

I am a big fan of Lavie Tidhar’s The Violent Century. Unusual and gripping, it is one of my favourite novels from last year. [Review.] Until recently, though, it was only available in the UK, published by Hodder and PS Publishing (limited edition). Now, though, Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press will be releasing it in the US! It will be published in late February 2015. Mark your calendars!

There is that rather nice new cover, too – I like the way they kept the core elements of the UK cover (Brandenburg Gate, silhouetted fellow in trench-coat and hat, rubble in foreground), but also made it distinct.

Here’s the synopsis…

They’d never meant to be heroes.

For seventy years they guarded the British Empire. Oblivion and Fogg, inseparable friends, bound together by a shared fate. Until one night in Berlin, in the aftermath of the Second World War, and a secret that tore them apart.

But there must always be an account… and the past has a habit of catching up to the present.

Now, recalled to the Retirement Bureau from which no one can retire, Fogg and Oblivion must face up to a past of terrible war and unacknowledged heroism – a life of dusty corridors and secret rooms, of furtive meetings and blood-stained fields – to answer one last, impossible question: What makes a hero?