David Gemmell Awards 2009

Live on-stage re-enactments of some of the sword fights from the books? Whoever wins gets the award? Could be interesting ;)



I'd say the closest example I can think of is maybe Jack Vance. Sapkowski is a fair bit different to the 'average' Western epic fantasy, slightly more whimsical with some elements of fairy tales creeping into the narrative.

Am I correct in thinking Sapkowski is the author behind The Witcher PC rpg?
 
I've just finished The Night Angel books by Weeks and so I might try Sapkowski next.

Sounds like it was a quality night, I want to write a book now just to win a full sized Snaga!
 
Am I correct in thinking Sapkowski is the author behind The Witcher PC rpg?

The game (and its own sequel, apparently due in 2010 or 2011) follows on from the five-novel series, but is a stand-alone story with no pre-existing knowledge of the books needed.
 
No. It's a single-player RPG, made with some help from BioWare (the people who created Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect, Jade Empire and Knights of the Old Republic).

Thank you, sir. Since I've been so good, I probably deserve some PC RPG goodness. There, there, good Pedro.
 
The books are translated.
They were written and released in polish in the 90s and I assume it's the major success of the game that has lead to the english publishing.
 
The books are translated.
They were written and released in polish in the 90s and I assume it's the major success of the game that has lead to the english publishing.

No, the publication of the first book and the release of the game occurred simultaneously. There was some cross-genre publicity going on, but it was more of a coincidence they took advantage of than anything else.
 
And more photos HERE.

Evidently this is me at about 2am.... I was listening very carefully to something... though that demonic redeye somewhat reflects the effects of a 20 hour day! ;)

Mark
 
Thanks for the pics, Hobbit.

I recognise Simon Spanton, Jo Fletcher, Joe Abercrombie and Tom Lloyd, are you able to confirm who the others are?
 
Thanks PW.

I recognise Simon Spanton, Jo Fletcher, Joe Abercrombie and Tom Lloyd, are you able to confirm who the others are?

Jamie, not all, and it depends what photos you're looking at! But there should be Debbie Miller in there (writer and organiser), Stan Nicholls (also writer and organiser), David's daughter (Kate), Robert Holdstock, Brian Ruckley, Stephen Deas... authors all.

On the publishing front, there's Danie Ware from Forbidden Planet, Bella Pagan from Orbit, Gillian Redfern from Gollancz is around somewhere.

Mark
 
Thanks - that's most of the great and the good of the UK Fantasy publishing biz1
 
From The website:

Here's the Top 20, in vote order:


BLOOD OF ELVES - Andrzej Sapkowski
THE HERO OF AGES – Brandon Sanderson
THE WAY OF SHADOWS - Brent Weeks
THE LAST ARGUMENT OF KINGS - Joe Abercrombie
HEIR TO SEVENWATERS - Juliet Marillier

THE TWO PEARLS OF WISDOM - Alison Goodman
THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE WAVES - Stephen Hunt
HAVEMERCY - Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett
THE PAINTED MAN - Peter V. Brett
TOLL THE HOUNDS - Steven Erikson

GLADIATRIX - Russell Whitfield
EMPIRE IN BLACK AND GOLD - Adrian Tchaikovsky
GRACELING - Kristin Cashore
KING'S SHIELD - Sherwood Smith
HELDENHAMMER -Graham McNeill

THE STEEL REMAINS - Richard Morgan
WRATH OF A MAD GOD - Raymond E. Feist
WOLFBLADE - Jennifer Fallon
THE SOLDIER KING - Violette Malan
MAGIC BURNS - Ilona Andrews


Interesting list.

Mark
 
There are a few surprises there. I thought The Painted Man would have finished slightly higher (in fact, I'm still surprised that it didn't made the final shortlist). It's good to see Adrian Tchaikovsky's Empire in Black and Gold putting in a strong showing (that finished higher than I expected). Graceling by Kristin Cashore did really well for a debut novel that didn't seem to generate that much online buzz. The main absentee is Paul Kearney's The Ten Thousand - I wasn't the only blogger to think that this would have been a very suitable winner, and its absence from the above list is a little disappointing, not to mention surprising as it sold pretty well on both sides of the Atlantic. Then again, since most of the votes came from outside the UK and the US, maybe it's not that much of a surprise after all.
 
I like how it's really diverse top 20 list. You could actually find some books on there that you haven't already checked out.
 

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