Looking forward to 2009

[hawkwind]

Malice is a more YA-oriented work, apparently, and is the first in a duology, to be followed by Havoc a year later. His other new book is apparently a slightly more lighthearted story about airships. Sounds like it has a bit of a Crimson Skies feel to it.

Thats too bad. I really enjoyed Fade and its world. Looked like there was a lot more to explore there. Maybe he will return there in the future.


Good news about Shadows of the Apt series.

 

[Luke_B]

Lamentation by Ken Scholes looks like it might be worth checking out.

 

[Mithfânion]

Couple more interesting releases I found now that Locus list is out and the Orbit list has been extended to September.

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart- Jesse Bullington-September

In the plague-wracked and devil-haunted darkness of Medieval Europe, an elite few enjoy opulent lives while the majority ekes out a miserable existence in abject poverty. Hungry creatures stalk the deep woods and desolate mountains, and both sea and sky teem with unspeakable horrors. For those ill-fated masses not born into wealth, life is but a vicious trial to be endured before the end of days. Hegel and Mengele Grossbart could give a toss. Being of low birth means little, after all, when the riches of the mighty wait just inside the next crypt. The graverobbing twins know enough about crusading to realize that if one is to make a living from the dead, what better destination than the fabled tomb-cities of Egypt? But the Brothers Grossbart are about to discover that all legends have their truths, and worse fates than death await those who would take the red road of villainy...

A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin, April

When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford ? Samuel Johnson In fact, Dr Johnson was only half right. There is in London much more than life - there is power. It ebbs and flows with the rhythms of the city, makes runes from the alignments of ancient streets and hums with the rattle of trains and buses; it waxes and wanes with the patterns of the business day. It is a new kind of magic: urban magic. Enter a London where magicians ride the Last Train, implore favours of The Beggar King and interpret the insane wisdom of The Bag Lady. Enter a London where beings of power soar with the pigeons and scrabble with the rats, and seek insight in the half-whispered madness of the blue electric angels. Enter the London of Matthew Swift, where rival sorcerers, hidden in plain sight, do battle for the very soul of the city ...

Also Jay Lake's new book, a standalone called "Green" , which looks awesome, partially due to a fantastic cover that he has up on his Livejournal. Due in June.

Also, Greg van Eekhout's novel debut called "Norse Code". Due in June, he says it's about the following:

Norse Code takes place in Los Angeles and a bunch of locations from Norse mythology. You’ve got your Ragnarok, the end of the world. And you’ve got your Norse gods, most of whom know they’re going to die, but some of whom know they’re set to inherit a new, green world after everything else is destroyed. So, this latter group of gods gets tired of waiting around for Ragnarok and decides to be proactive and get the end of the world underway. That’s the situation that one of the minor Norse gods, Hermod, and his companions, a modern-day valkyrie and her Viking thug, find themselves in.

 

[Rob B]

Also Jay Lake's new book, a standalone called "Green" , which looks awesome, partially due to a fantastic cover that he has up on his Livejournal. Due in June.

That is an awesome cover, Mithf. Here's the link: http://jaylake.livejournal.com/1522375.html

Eekhout's novel sounds pretty cool, too.

 

[Mithfânion]

Lamentation by Ken Scholes looks like it might be worth checking out.

I actually have an ARC of that one, only read a bit of it as a sampler and liked it a great deal. Very cool also that TOR really wants to push this new epic Fantasy series and has book II, Canticle, due in October/November ( and it's already been written as mentioned by Scholes on his Livejournal. Though of course Rothfuss said that as well...).

Rob,

I really like the sound of the Kate Griffin book as well. Somewhat like Jim Butcher. Plus the second book comes out soon after. And I'm always up for more Norse Mythology fiction.

Jay Lake has the short story "Green" up on his livejournal, it is the inspiration for the novel. I read it today, it's a great story.

I also heard on another board that TOR has Watcher of the Dead by JV Jones scheduled for a May/June release.

 

[benh]

Is there any actual hard information on the next Robin Hobb book? I think I read an excerpt from the start of a chapter somewhere... or something.

 

[Werthead]

It's called Dragon Keeper, it's a standalone set in the Rain Wilds and it's due late next year I believe. Pat has some news about it here.

 

[Nepenthe13]

I am not looking forward to 2009, because as far as I know, none of my favorite authors have anything coming out in paperback.

Hardcovers are too expensive and take up too much shelf space.

 

[algernoninc]

That is an awesome cover, Mithf.

yeah, very cool, but those thin branches can hold a lot of weight without bending. or maybe she has bones filled with air, like birds.
anyway it looks promising, and i'll write it down on the "watch out for ..."

 

[Luke_B]

That is an awesome cover, Mithf. Here's the link: http://jaylake.livejournal.com/1522375.html

Any info on what it's about? Rocket Science is the only one of his I've read and it was a bit meh. His Mainspring books do look interesting thoug.

 

[Mithfânion]

Two new 2009 Fantasies that I could find from TOR UK that I've not seen mentioned anywhere:

The Motley Man- Daniel Duguay- February- Dance of Bones vol. 1

http://www.panmacmillan.com/assets/Macmillan - Translation Rights Guide - Spring 2008.pdf

Scroll to page 21. I like the cover and synopsis for this one quite a bit. I've always been looking for a good Golem story.

Hyddenworld: Spring Bk. 1 - William Horwood- May

Even though we cannot survive without each other, humankind has long lost its ability to perceive the Hydden, the little people with whom we share our world. For they are the holders of natural lore and guardians of our link with the Earth, and now our joint habitat is in terrible danger. This magnificent quest involves characters from both these interweaving worlds, whose task is to find a 'Shield Maiden' and a 'Giant' able to save both worlds from themselves and the coming destruction of the Earth.If humans are to save their planet, they must learn how to tap back into the reservoirs of natural and spiritual wisdom, with these two alienated 'races' coming together again at last. At the start of this eventful story, Kate and Jack are five years old, but already no strangers to tragedy. In a powerful narrative we then follow their lives along both real and spiritual journeys as they come to realize what destiny expects of them. It is a story full of conflict, treachery, heartache and joy, set in the world we know and the one we have forgotten.

Horwood's return to Fantasy, must say I'm really looking forward to that. Wolves of Time, Skallagrigg and The Duncton Wood series is what he is famous for.

 

[Jaqhama]

What I do is that I go to Amazon's advanced search page here:

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sv_b_0/103-9020730-0558267?ie=UTF8&node=241582011

I enter the name of the publisher I want the schedule from, then under "sort results by" I select publication date.

Thanks Mith.

 

[mjolnir]

Anthorn:
Regarding the Irvine book, I've never read one of his and don't know anything about it, but I'd imagine that Orbit UK will publish when they said they'd publish. Even with a fully finished book, I believe four months is still a very brisk turn-around, and it's not unusual for dates to vary a bit between the UK and elsewhere.

I'm at least potentially looking forward to a lot in 2009, most of which has already been mentioned:

A Dance with Dragons, GRRM: I hate to be the guy bringing this up, but I'll believe it when I see it, [or rather hear Martin say it.] Sure, I know it'll probably happen this time, but we've sung to that tune before.

A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson: I'm a WoT stalwart, and this is probably my most anticipated book of the year. I'm not quite sure what my thoughts are on the rigorous release schedule they seem to be keeping, though. I hope they have time to do a full edit and really get it how they want it.

The Republic of Thieves, Scot Lynch: Again I'm going to be the nay-sayer: I really want to read this book, but the release date just did another little dance into July and we've been given no reason to believe that it won't do so again. Still, here's hoping we get to watch Locke steal things and be clever again next summer.

The Judging Eye, R. Scott Bakker: I think this could be where he really pulls out the stops and shows us how awesome he is as a writer and story-teller.

Corambis, Sarah Monette: Like someone else said, I worry about Felix and Mildmay, although the word from on high that the third point of view character won't appear again saddens me.

The Price of Spring, Daniel Abraham: Great stuff so far. Let's see if he can finish in style. I like the idea of a sort of aftermath novel, and I'm guessing, [and just guessing, mind you], that that's what this is.

The Ace of Skulls, Chris Wooding: I've been pretty vocal about how rockin' good I thought The Fade was. More Wooding. Boo yeah!

Above the Snowline, Steph Swainston: Usually allergic to prequels, but the nature of this series seems to make them a viable option and I've found Swainston's initially spotty writing and storytelling has improved rather a lot with each book.

Dragon Keeper, Robin Hobb: More Hobb. Always good. Though I probably won't get there for a while as her books exhaust me and I'm still a good ways behind.

Best Served Cold, Joe Abercrombie: Who in this house can stand against The 'Crombie?! Hopefully this book will further inflate his bulbous reputation. What do you become once you leave the title of "Big Mac of the Genre" behind you in the dust?

Drood, Dan Simmons: Never read Simmons before but this sounds fascinating. I must have it.

Turn Coat, Jim Butcher: Mooooooore!...

The Wise Man's Fear, Patrick Rothfuss: I'm a pretty big fan of The Name of the Wind, and look very much forward to finding what Rothfuss has in store for Kvothe. Hopefully this second novel shall deliver on the promise of the first.

Rides a Dread Legion, Raymond Feist: I await, downcast, knowing that it shall come and I shall read it. Yay, even sure in the knowledge that it shall disappoint me. Like am artial artist who knows he's going to get punched in the face, I do not look forward eagerly, but merely expect.

Chill, Elizabeth Bear: Dust was a mighty interesting book and I'm looking forward to seeing where Bear takes the story of the good ship Jacob's Ladder. [I'm sure this won't be her only book next year, as the author is something of a book machine gun, but Dust is the only one of her's I've read.]

Julian, Robert Charles Wilson: Loved Spin. Thought it was masterful. Interested to see a different future imagined by Wilson.

Cyberabad Days, Ian Macdonald: ... Yunno? Nothing need be said.

City Without End, Kay Kenyon: Kenyon's The Entire and the Rose is one of my favourite on-going series at the moment, and this volume, [the third of four], could well catapolt it to new heights.

The City and the City, China Mieville: I admit that, despite its many sterling qualities, Un Lun Dun never really grabbed me, but anything by Mieville is worth a look at the very least.

Traitor's Gate, Kate Elliot: Looking forward to this releasing so I can read the whole trilogy. Likewise the Williams, though personally I think 2010 is more likely for Shadowrise.

Wild Cards: Suicide Kings, edited by GRRM: I really really really dug Inside Straight, and expect to enjoy Busted Flush later this year. Some great superhero fiction to be found here, [both celebrating the genre and deconstructing it].

Warriors, edited by GRRM and Gardner Dozois: This cross-genre anthology looks mighty interesting. And it's supposed to have stories by Gaiman, Hobb, and Haldeman in it. And the next GRRM novella.
Songs of the Dying Earth, edited by GRRM and Gardner Dozois: I've never read Vance's Dying Earth, [a fact that covers me with shame], but I've heard a lot about it and I've certainly read some of the authors in this anthology. Sign me up.

This Is Not A Game, Walter John Williams: I thought Implied Spaces had really cool ideas and some pretty fine writing but only decent characters. I'm really interested to see what Williams can do with something that might be called a little more grounded and nearer home.

There are also some interesting looking books coming out from authors I've heard are good, and expect to like, but that I haven't tried yet: Green by Lake, Avillion by Holdstock, The Angel's Game by Zaffon, Hyddenworld by Horwood [thanks, Mith], Finch by VanderMeer, etc.

And the debuts: Seem to be rather a lot of these this time round, [mostly written by dudes for some reason]: I anticipate trying: Lamentation by Scholes, The Adamantine Palace by Deahs, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Gemisin [big new fantasy from Orbit, September I believe], The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Bullington, Nights of Villjamur by Newton: This is his large press debut; he had a novel out from Pendragon Press earlier this year that I admit I haven't read. Nights is high on my list, since it seems to be billed as literary fantasy but in the epic style. Tor UK was responsible for the hideous blot on our field that is The Wanderer's Tale last year, but they seem to have found some good stuff to do penance and restore the karmic balance of the universe and I'm willing to Give them another go. Pyr also has a couple of interesting looking debuts in their fantasy heavy 2009 line up, about which they seem fairly excited. Oh, and there's Norse Code by Van Eekhout. Norse, you say? I am there.
________
MONTANA MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

 

[Luke_B]

Drood, Dan Simmons: Never read Simmons before but this sounds fascinating. I must have it.

Dear Gods, man. That's like saying you've never felt the warmth of the sun on your skin. Go, now. In all seriousness, after The Terror I think Simmons has to now rank as my favourite author, maybe next to Iain M. Banks. Please don't tell me you've never read Banks.

Also, thanks for the info on the Swainston. Had no idea it was a prequel.

 

[suciul]

Anthorn:
Drood, Dan Simmons: Never read Simmons before but this sounds fascinating. I must have it.

Julian, Robert Charles Wilson: Loved Spin. Thought it was masterful. Interested to see a different future imagined by Wilson.

Drood is a masterpiece in my opinion and it's going to be in my top 09 novels though I've read it earlier this month and is a must for anyone interested in Victoriana, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, the author as a celebrity, the beginning of detective novels and much more - however it's not a genre novel, more of mainstream with associational elements - The Gargoyle or The Enchantress of Florence are similar novels published this year in relation to genre fantasy though quite different in content. Mr. Simmons is not eligible for the Booker prize - Drood is just the kind of novel to compete for that - but this one may compete for US literary prizes like Pulitzer...

Julian is based on the novella that was nominated for the Hugo - it was available for free online at some point and I liked it though it clearly was just an excerpt. It is set in a post-apocalyptic future somewhat similar with Theodore Judson Fizpatrick's War

 

[Mithfânion]

Mjolnir:

Re; Julian

I read a bit of that and thought it was really interesting. I then heard it was the first part of what was to be a brand new and quite expansive novel by Wilson, one of the best SF writers IMO, and I stopped reading, wanting to get it all in one. He's written this even though he was writing the Spin series, but he put that on hold for this one, so I suspect it will be good.

Butcher and Rothfuss: I'm looking forward to reading more of these guys. Both books have tantalizing synopses.

Agreed on GRRM and Lynch: there is no reason why the date might not be delayed again. But I think the Lynch date is actually correct though, because Pat was saying a while ago that Bantam had good hope they could make the February date. They won't make that, most likely, so Summer seems right. Plus this is the first time Gollancz has actually scheduled it.

The Swainston has been delayed till December btw.

Nights of Viljamur, supposed to come out in early 2009 but I still see no listing for it. I'd like to know when it comes out.

Mieville: I'm not a fan but still, I check out each new book of his to see if this time it might be something for me.

Finch by Vandermeer is another one with shifting release dates. I heard May/June from the author a while back, but I also heard Fall on the Underland Press release. Same goes for Avilion which shifts ever further back. Originally out in November this year.

Zafon: Angel's Game is out in June, but I saw there is another Zafon listed already for 2010 called Prince of Mists, with a great synopsis. I'm also really curious about the new Keith Donohue.

What PYR fantasy books were you thinking about?

 

[Rob B]

I think Stormcaller is the only major fantasy title on Pyr's 2009 list as of this post. I konw that will change because they are still holding the 4th book in Sean Williams's Books of the Cataclysm.

Matthew Sturges (Co-writer of Vertigo's Jack of Fables and House of Mystery) has what I'm guessing to be a fantasy signed up for a 2009 release in Midwinter.

Sticking with Pyr, I'm looking forward to Mark Chadbourn's Age of Misrule sequence coming out next year. I know it's been available for a while in the UK. He also has a new series The Swords of Albion publishing with Pyr in the US and Transworld in the UK.

 

[suciul]

Zafon: Angel's Game is out in June, but I saw there is another Zafon listed already for 2010 called Prince of Mists, with a great synopsis.

I read Zafon's Angel's Game and it's darker than Shadow of the Wind. It has also definite fantastic elements - no ifs, buts or interpretations of the reader here like in the other books I mentioned earlier. Also there are recurring characters from Shadow, younger this time since Angel takes place earlier.

Same structure with Shadow - dual similar story, present/past -

Overall I think this one will appeal a lot to fantasy fans, but I am not sure it will recreate the success of Shadow with the general public. Personally I liked it more that Shadow of the Wind, but I tend to like darker stories more overall

The other one is probably #1 of his early fantasy series that has not been published yet in English

 

[Warewolf]

Sticking with Pyr, I'm looking forward to Mark Chadbourn's Age of Misrule sequence coming out next year. I know it's been available for a while in the UK. He also has a new series The Swords of Albion publishing with Pyr in the US and Transworld in the UK.

Awesome! I've been wanting to read Age of Misrule...

 

[Lfex]

Drood is a masterpiece in my opinion however it's not a genre novel, more of mainstream with associational elements .

But then so was The Terror and I liked it a lot, so Drood looks like a must buy to me.