SFFWorld Best Reads 2007 (Part II)

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7. Personal Highlights of the year 2007?

Robert: Sadly, I lead a pretty uneventful life, so I guess any highlights would probably have to do with my son Zane. It’s an amazing thing watching your child grow and anytime they learn how to do something new, it’s pretty special. (grins.)

Adam: Getting more immersed in SF fandom and meeting a plethora of authors was great, especially Joe Abercrombie, David Devereaux, Adam Roberts and Alex Bell. Hopefully this will continue next year (I’m aiming to be at Denver Worldcon but may just miss it for financial reasons; in which case I may get to World Fantasy instead).

Aidan: As a lot of people know, I spent an afternoon and an evening with Steven Erikson earlier this year. This was easily one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my life and I learned more about writing from those few hours than I could ever hope for. Steve was a terrifically generous guy and just listening to him talk about writing and The Malazan Book of the Fallen really made me appreciate what he’s doing for the industry.

On equal terms with that was finally starting a blog, A Dribble of Ink, and actually having it find an audience and success. When I first started putting together the idea for the blog, I had no idea what to expect. Would people actually give a damn about what I had to say?

With the help of so many other generous people (other bloggers, authors, publishers) I’ve been able to bring something to life that I never knew for sure would see the light of day. Every day I’m proud of A Dribble of Ink and what I’m able to bring to the SFF world, even if it is only a little blog.

Graeme: My little brother managed to find me copies of the Lexx TV movies, I’m pretty sure I’m the only fan of the series left so it was great to finally get my greedy little hands on them (grins.) I also got to meet Mike Carey and chat with him about his latest Felix Castor book which was a great way to spend an afternoon!

Rob Bedford: Rothfuss, Lynch, Ford.  Heck, see my top fives for each. (I may come back to this)

Mark: It’s been a great year for me personally. Met lots of authors and publishers, who have all been charming and very polite. I guess the highlight for me was the Guest of Honour interview with Terry Brooks at the UK’s FantasyCon, which was a little unexpected but thoroughly enjoyable.

8. What would you like Santa to bring you this year?

Robert: Well, I can’t make up my mind regarding the next generation videogame consoles (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) so the best thing would be to give me all three, plus all the good games (Halo, Mass Effect, Zelda, etc.) ! Truthfully though, I wish my son would wake up on Christmas morning and be fully potty trained. (grins.)

Adam: Dance with Dragons, obviously,

but that’s not going to happen. I’d settle for Joe Abercrombie’s Last Argument of Kings, which I have a feeling is sitting in the Galway post office right now. Damnit.

Aidan: More time. Seriously, you should see the pile of books beside my bed! It’s three feet high! I need more time to read!

Rob Bedford: Shadowplay by Tad Williams, Martin’s Dreamsongs.

Graeme: I stopped buying a TV licence this year, and I know I’ve missed out on a lot of TV as a result, so a sack of sci-fi DVDs would go down a treat!

Mark: Time to read more…. Santa has delivered a lot of goodies early. But The Metatemporal Detective by Michael Moorcock would be nice too.

9. 2008…. What are you most looking forward to?

Robert: Well, I’m going to keep this strictly book related:

Renegade’s Magic by Robin Hobb (January 8, 2008-US Debut)

The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick (February 1, 2008-UK)

The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes. (February 5, 2008-US Debut)

The Domino Men by Jonathan Barnes (February 21, 2008-UK)

Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (March 20, 2008-UK)

Dark Wraith of Shannara by Terry Brooks (March 25, 2008)

The Born Queen by Greg Keyes (March 25, 2008)

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie (March 25, 2008-US Debut)

Infected by Scott Sigler (April 1, 2008)

The Line War by Neal Asher (April 4, 2008)

The Sharing Knife: Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold (April 22, 2008)

Iron Angel by Alan Campbell (April 29, 2008)

The Kingdom Beyond the Waves by Stephen Hunt (May 6, 2008-UK)

Mind the Gap by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon (May 20, 2008)

Kushiel’s Mercy by Jacqueline Carey (June 12, 2008)

Tigerheart: A Tale of the Anyplace by Peter David (June 17, 2008)

In Odd We Trust by Dean Koontz (June 24, 2008)

Escapement by Jay Lake (June 2008)

Listener by Warren Ellis (August 5, 2008)

Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson (August 11, 2008-UK)

Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian Cameron Esslemont (August 11, 2008-UK)

The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan (August 21, 2008)

An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham” (TBA 2008)

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (TBA 2008)

…and the new ones by GRRM, Clive Barker and Scott Lynch if they come out (winks)

Adam: Robert VS Redick’s The Red Wolf Conspiracy looks like it’s going to be THE debut fantasy novel of 2008 (this year’s Lynch or Rothfuss), based on the first 50 pages. We’ll see how the rest goes. Keep an eye on Alex Bell’s debut novel, The Ninth Circle, as well. A Dance with Dragons – which I am assured will be out in 2008 by hell or high water – is obviously ‘the’ big novel of the year, but I’ll be keeping an eye on Morgan’s The Steel Remains as well.

David Brin finally giving us a new novel (especially an Uplift book) would be nice, but I won’t be holding my breath for it. I’d also be happy if Peter F. Hamilton delivered The Temporal Void in time for a 2008 release. Alastair Reynolds’ new novel, House of Suns, sounds intriguingly ‘different’ enough to be worth a look. The grand finale to Joe Abercrombie’s debut trilogy is also eagerly awaited. I’m intrigued to see what Steven Erikson delivers when he carries us back to Darujhistan for the first time in seven years in Toll the Hounds, and possibly am even more excited to see if Ian Cameron Esslemont can build on the promise of Night of Knives in Return of the Crimson Guard. And obviously Scott Lynch and Patrick Rothfuss’ next novels will be worth a look.

Aidan: Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie – Gimme! I can’t wait to find out what happens in the story of Glokta, Ninefingers and Lothar.

More new authors – I’m crossing my fingers that 2008 will be as strong as 2006 and 2007 in regards to debut authors. Will there be another Scott Lynch or Patrick Rothfuss? Only time will tell.

A Dance with Dragons – One can hope, right…?

The Born Queen by Greg Keyes – The best damn series that no one is reading. Keyes sits below only Martin in terms of pure-awesomeness. Seriously, go buy The Briar King right now and thank me later.

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch – I felt that Red Seas Under Red Skies was a bit of a disappointment coming off of The Lies of Locke Lamora, but that still didn’t stop it from being one of my favourite novels of the year. The third novel in the sequence promises to be just as good. In Lynch we trust!

Rob Bedford: The next novels by Lynch, Rothfuss, Abercrombie, Sean Williams, Jeffrey Ford (The Shadow Year), Neil Gaiman (Odd and the Frost Giants), Greg Keyes (The Born Queen), two new books by Peter F. Hamilton.  I could go on, really, but that will do for now.  Except for maybe A Dance with Dragons? A boy can hope, can’t he?

Movies: The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.

Graeme: Two of my favourite fantasy series will be featuring new instalments next year. Steven Erikson’s Toll the Hounds is taking the action back to Genabackis (my favourite setting) while I’ve already heard that The Born Queen is a fitting conclusion to Greg Keyes’ Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series. I can’t remember if the Dark Crystal sequel is planned for a 2008 or 2009 release, if it’s next year then that will be my number one film to go and see.

Mark: I think 2008 is going to be a fantastic year for Fantasy and SF (pun intended!) Even if Martins’ Dance with Dragons doesn’t appear, there’s a lot of good stuff due, from Iain M Banks’s Matter to Joe Abercrombie’s Last Argument of Kings – both sat ready to read at the moment!

What is most pleasing is that there seems to be a new group of young authors appearing, as well as the authors already with a reputation. Gary Gibson, Alan Campbell spring to mind (though Gary has been around a while, to be honest.)

Some of the older writers are mixing their genres, too: Peter F. Hamilton I’ve already mentioned, but Richard Morgan’s foray into Fantasy (A Land Fit for Heroes) also sounds great. And there’s new space opera from fantasy writer Mike Cobley due soon, which sounds like it might just gain my attention. Can’t wait!

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Thanks to all our contributors. It is very interesting reading the diverse views of those involved. Hopefully it may have given some ideas at what to try (or ask for) as presents!

Mark