[MDP]

Hi Bren,
thanks for posting that. How is the writing going?

MDP

[Rocket Sheep]

All kicking off again after the great 2006 drought. Five short stories accepted in adult SF genre already this year.

Maybe my luck is tied to El Nino! :eek:

You're certainly doing well. :D

[suciul]

I hesitated abut ordering Dark Space due to some so-so reviews seen here and there, but finally I got it because it's my favourite genre space opera and I liked the few pages I read from Nylon Angel (never got to read it since I have not been in the mood for cybernoir for a few years now, but if I want such, that one, Hammered and Keeping it Real all wait on my bookshelf...).

I expected a pulpy space opera (like the recent Helix by E. Brown and Saturn Returns by S. Williams), and to some extent Dark Space is such, but I really was pleasantly surprised and found myself enjoying the book much more than either those two. The next book is on my buy on publication list since I really want to find out what happens next.

There is a lot of sense of wonder and hints at deeper mysteries, and the characters are interesting. There are the "godhead" characters including Jo-Jo and Tekton and their interaction is a hoot, but the ones that are developed the most are the Araldis ones Mira and Trin and while quite clicheic to a large extent -spoiled brat of the ruling family, and plucky girl with many talents- their encounters throughout the book are well done, and the one at the ending for once distinguishes Araldis from the run of the mill patriarchal on poor planet society of space opera.

One of the pleasant surprises of 2007 for me, Dark Space is the start of a very promising series.

[MDP]

Hi there suciul,

thanks for the positive feedback.

best
Marianne

[MDP]

p.s. there are links to some great reviews here if you are interested:

http://www.mariannedepierres.com/books.cfm?series=3&book=22


Shame the less attractive ones seem to be seen more :)

[suciul]

p.s. there are links to some great reviews here if you are interested:

http://www.mariannedepierres.com/books.cfm?series=3&book=22


Shame the less attractive ones seem to be seen more :)

Thank you for the link. I read the excerpt from Wither and loved it; just based on the first 2 lines and I would have decided to get the book when published even if I had not made my mind earlier:

"Thales prostrated for the last time that day. As he lifted his lips from the cool marble floor of the Jainist upashraya, he sent a message to his Moud: quesadillas for dinner with spiced ratafia and a side of hot-meat stuffed peppers.."

Also I think that the excerpt from Dark Space is great and should encourage people to get the book (were I to have read it earlier, again I would have ordered the book immediately).

I remember I saw a very good review in Hub, an online magazine I found out about recently, though I think I had already ordered the book from BD by then.

I also decided to start Nylon Angel and since Crash Deluxe is not available yet here in the US, I will use BD again to get the UK edition, with Code Noir from a bookstore around (all the 3 Borders around here carry it according to their site).

[MDP]

Well, I hope you enjoy them. Thanks.
Please bear in mind - the Parrish series is fun (most of the time) with dark undertones - whereas the Sentients series, though it has lighter moments, is deadly serious.

The Hub review is being re-published in much greater depth at the new Scalpel Magazine according to Paul Raven the reviewer. Should be out any moment - I'm looking forward to reading it.

best
MDP

[Rocket Sheep]

Another great review in AurealisXpress. :D

I grabbed a copy at the Dark Space launch. Looking forward to reading it. Great to see you again, Marianne.

[MDP]

Hi Bren,

great to see you again also.
Congratulations on all the sales you've been making especially being in the new issue of Orb.

Good luck with things for the rest of this year. Keep me posted.

MDP

[MDP]

This is a particularly in depth review of Dark Space. I don't suggest you read it if you haven't read the book. But it is a wonderfully astute analysis.

http://ttapress.com/148/book-review-dark-space-by-marianne-de-pierres/