Hardcovers
1) Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
2) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
3) Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel by Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett
4) The Crippled God by Steven Erikson
5) Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
6) The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle by Pat Rothfuss
7) Scratch Monkey by Charles Stross
8) The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
9) Daybreak Zero by John Barnes
10) Pale Demon by Kim Harrison
Paperbacks
1) Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
2) Soulless by Gail Carriger
3) Blameless by Gail Carriger
4) Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
5) Feed by Mira Grant
6) Changeless by Gail Carriger
7) An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
8) Dead Waters by Anton Strout
9) Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
10) Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie tie with License to Ensorcell by Katharine Kerr
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2) Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
3) Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
4) The Crippled God by Steven Erikson
5) Kraken by China Mievielle tie with Soft Apocalypse by Will McIntosh
April 01, 2011
Overheard at Potlatch
This is a feature that appears periodically, as we attend conventions and overhear things. The tradition of keeping track of anonymous overheard bits and bobs started for us at the 2002 ConJose in San Jose, where trying (or trying not to) fill in the blanks on overheard conversations made us laugh so much that we made it a tradition. Since we attended three conventions in March, we're going to spread out the "overheards" over a couple of months so we don't overwhelm you. These are the things we overheard at Potlatch, the first weekend of March.
"So he's sitting there, tremendously urbane, and there's this...wombat!"
"You head for the sign that says 'Sporty's Bikini Bar' & you'll find the cheese paratha."
"I am a writer; I like to lie!"
"Check out this masive steampunk breastpump we had at the hospital!"
"Can that be their war cry? 'Greek Fire, Yo!'?"
"So he's sitting there, tremendously urbane, and there's this...wombat!"
"You head for the sign that says 'Sporty's Bikini Bar' & you'll find the cheese paratha."
"I am a writer; I like to lie!"
"Check out this masive steampunk breastpump we had at the hospital!"
"Can that be their war cry? 'Greek Fire, Yo!'?"
April News Roundup
*You may have noticed a silence from Borderlands over the last few months. Don't worry, we're still here! We were in the process of doing some major computer and service provider changes, and now everything is (cross fingers!) running smoothly again.
*It is also possible that you're getting this newsletter for the first time in a long time. Some of the changes we've made should allow folks to get this newsletter who have been blocked by their service providers in the past. As it always has been, this is an opt-in list. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this email and put "remove" in the subject line. We'll take you off the list immediatly.
*March was really crazy, with three conventions, two gigantic author events, lots of other events, and a partridge in a pear tree -- okay, not really. April and May are chock-full of authors too, and the summer promises even more fun, with the likes of Jaqueline Carey and Steve Englehart.
* This is mostly of interest to writers and publishers, but regular folks might be curious, too -- this website lets you see Amazon sales numbers for books: <http://www.novelrank.com/>
* Thanks to Pat Murphy of the Tiptree Motherboard for alerting us: "The James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award Council is pleased to announce that the 2010 Tiptree Award is being given to BABA YAGA LAID AN EGG, by Dubravka Ugresic." What is the Tiptree Award, you ask? See here for more info <http://tiptree.org/>.
* We are very sorry to report the death of author Diana Wynne Jones at the age of 76. She was a tremendous talent and the genre is poorer for her loss.
* We are also very sorry to report the death of April Derleth, daughter of August Derleth and co-owner of Arkham House publishers, at the age of 56. We all liked April very much and she will be greatly missed.
*It is also possible that you're getting this newsletter for the first time in a long time. Some of the changes we've made should allow folks to get this newsletter who have been blocked by their service providers in the past. As it always has been, this is an opt-in list. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this email and put "remove" in the subject line. We'll take you off the list immediatly.
*March was really crazy, with three conventions, two gigantic author events, lots of other events, and a partridge in a pear tree -- okay, not really. April and May are chock-full of authors too, and the summer promises even more fun, with the likes of Jaqueline Carey and Steve Englehart.
* This is mostly of interest to writers and publishers, but regular folks might be curious, too -- this website lets you see Amazon sales numbers for books: <http://www.novelrank.com/>
* Thanks to Pat Murphy of the Tiptree Motherboard for alerting us: "The James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award Council is pleased to announce that the 2010 Tiptree Award is being given to BABA YAGA LAID AN EGG, by Dubravka Ugresic." What is the Tiptree Award, you ask? See here for more info <http://tiptree.org/>.
* We are very sorry to report the death of author Diana Wynne Jones at the age of 76. She was a tremendous talent and the genre is poorer for her loss.
* We are also very sorry to report the death of April Derleth, daughter of August Derleth and co-owner of Arkham House publishers, at the age of 56. We all liked April very much and she will be greatly missed.
January 01, 2011
December Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Stonewielder by Ian Cameron Esslemont
2) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
3) The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia McKillip
4) All Clear by Connie Willis
5) Shadowheart by Tad Williams
6) Kraken by China Mieville
7) Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
8) Surrender to the Will of the Night by Glen Cook
9) The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan tie with The Passage by Justin Cronin
10) Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
Paperbacks
1) Soulless by Gail Carriger
2) Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
3) Feed by Mira Grant
4) Blameless by Gail Carriger tie with Changeless by Gail Carriger
5) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
6) Steampunk'd edited by Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenberg
7) Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
8) Gilded Latten Bones by Glen Cook
9) First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
10) Geist by Philippa Ballantine
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2) Flaming Zeppelins by Joe R. Lansdale
3) Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
4) Wildcards vol. I edited by George R.R. Martin
5) Blackout by Connie Willis
1) Stonewielder by Ian Cameron Esslemont
2) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
3) The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia McKillip
4) All Clear by Connie Willis
5) Shadowheart by Tad Williams
6) Kraken by China Mieville
7) Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
8) Surrender to the Will of the Night by Glen Cook
9) The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan tie with The Passage by Justin Cronin
10) Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
Paperbacks
1) Soulless by Gail Carriger
2) Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
3) Feed by Mira Grant
4) Blameless by Gail Carriger tie with Changeless by Gail Carriger
5) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
6) Steampunk'd edited by Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenberg
7) Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
8) Gilded Latten Bones by Glen Cook
9) First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
10) Geist by Philippa Ballantine
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2) Flaming Zeppelins by Joe R. Lansdale
3) Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
4) Wildcards vol. I edited by George R.R. Martin
5) Blackout by Connie Willis
Quite a Year
by Alan Beatts
Hi. I'm back.
It's been almost a year since I've written anything for this newsletter, which coincides with the opening of Borderlands Cafe. As I suspect many of you know, 2010 was a very busy year and one that, despite a number of nice things occurring, I'm not sad at all to see the backside of. During the year I had to cut most of the non-vital frills off of my work and personal life, in some cases with a chainsaw. One of the casualties was this monthly column. But, things are better now and, though I'm not promising to have time every month to write here, I'm going to try to do so. But I make no promises about the quality or cleverness of what I'll produce.
Speaking of 2010, some of the high points, both personally and professionally, were very nice indeed. In no particular order:
I was asked to serve on the board of the Locus Foundation (which, after the death of Locus' founder, Charles Brown, was created to continue to publish Locus Magazine as well as act as an educational organization within our field). I was pleased and flattered that they were interested in getting me involved. I'm very much looking forward to working with such a fine group of people.
Our new business, Borderlands Cafe, has been going for just over a year and is moving along very smoothly for a new business. Though not profitable yet, I have high hopes that we might turn that corner this year -- which is damn fast for a new business. Much of the credit for that goes to the phenomenal staff that work there. They are, in their own way, as hard-working and talented a group of people as the staff at the bookstore, which is high praise indeed. We've received some very nice coverage from the press, most notably a lovely mention in the travel section of the New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/travel/05SanFran.html?pagewanted=all>.
Business at the bookstore was steady throughout 2010 and we managed to beat the national average for bookstore sales for both the holiday season and the year as a whole. I'm still looking at the growing popularity of ebooks with great concern but, at least for now, we're doing fine.
One of the worst lows of last year also led to one of the highs. In the spring Ripley, Borderlands well known store cat, passed away from cancer. Losing her was extremely painful for everyone at Borderlands as well as many of our customers but it was especially agonizing for Jude and me.
After some of the shock had worn off, Jude and I noticed that Ash, our other cat, was acting a bit strangely. Since Ash had never been an only cat, we decided to get her some company in the form of Frost, the newest addition to Borderlands. Frost is also a sphinx (i.e. hairless) and is Ash's niece. She's also quite the kitten, even though she's heading well towards adulthood now. Not only has she been a great companion to Ash but having her around has made losing Ripley less acutely painful.
That's about all I have time for in terms of a sketch of last year. It was a hard one but the seeds planted then are showing all the signs of bearing a good harvest this year.
Hi. I'm back.
It's been almost a year since I've written anything for this newsletter, which coincides with the opening of Borderlands Cafe. As I suspect many of you know, 2010 was a very busy year and one that, despite a number of nice things occurring, I'm not sad at all to see the backside of. During the year I had to cut most of the non-vital frills off of my work and personal life, in some cases with a chainsaw. One of the casualties was this monthly column. But, things are better now and, though I'm not promising to have time every month to write here, I'm going to try to do so. But I make no promises about the quality or cleverness of what I'll produce.
Speaking of 2010, some of the high points, both personally and professionally, were very nice indeed. In no particular order:
I was asked to serve on the board of the Locus Foundation (which, after the death of Locus' founder, Charles Brown, was created to continue to publish Locus Magazine as well as act as an educational organization within our field). I was pleased and flattered that they were interested in getting me involved. I'm very much looking forward to working with such a fine group of people.
Our new business, Borderlands Cafe, has been going for just over a year and is moving along very smoothly for a new business. Though not profitable yet, I have high hopes that we might turn that corner this year -- which is damn fast for a new business. Much of the credit for that goes to the phenomenal staff that work there. They are, in their own way, as hard-working and talented a group of people as the staff at the bookstore, which is high praise indeed. We've received some very nice coverage from the press, most notably a lovely mention in the travel section of the New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/travel/05SanFran.html?pagewanted=all>.
Business at the bookstore was steady throughout 2010 and we managed to beat the national average for bookstore sales for both the holiday season and the year as a whole. I'm still looking at the growing popularity of ebooks with great concern but, at least for now, we're doing fine.
One of the worst lows of last year also led to one of the highs. In the spring Ripley, Borderlands well known store cat, passed away from cancer. Losing her was extremely painful for everyone at Borderlands as well as many of our customers but it was especially agonizing for Jude and me.
After some of the shock had worn off, Jude and I noticed that Ash, our other cat, was acting a bit strangely. Since Ash had never been an only cat, we decided to get her some company in the form of Frost, the newest addition to Borderlands. Frost is also a sphinx (i.e. hairless) and is Ash's niece. She's also quite the kitten, even though she's heading well towards adulthood now. Not only has she been a great companion to Ash but having her around has made losing Ripley less acutely painful.
That's about all I have time for in terms of a sketch of last year. It was a hard one but the seeds planted then are showing all the signs of bearing a good harvest this year.
January News Roundup
* Our friends at io9 have put together a list of 55 SF and fantasy films to look out for this year <http://io9.com/5723075/55-science-fictionfantasy-movies-to-watch-out-for-in-2011>. Based on some of the titles, it looks like the list combines "look out for" as in "avoid like the plague" and "look out for" as in "this is gonna be cool" but anyway you slice it, this year is going to be big for genre film.
* Cory Doctorow has a nice article at Publisher's Weekly about the saga of self-publishing his recent novel. It's amusing, enlightening, and perhaps a cautionary story for authors considering self-publishing <http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/cory-doctorow/article/45565-zen-and-the-art-of-self-publishing.html>.
* Cory Doctorow has a nice article at Publisher's Weekly about the saga of self-publishing his recent novel. It's amusing, enlightening, and perhaps a cautionary story for authors considering self-publishing <http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/cory-doctorow/article/45565-zen-and-the-art-of-self-publishing.html>.
December 01, 2010
November Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
2) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
3) Zero History by William Gibson
4) Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey
5) All Clear by Connie Willis
6)The Starter by Scott Sigler
7) Pegasus by Robin McKinley
8) Painted Boy by Charles de Lint
9) Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
10) Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paperbacks
1) Soulless by Gail Carriger
2) Gilded Latten Bones by Glen Cook
3) An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
4) Echo City by Tim Lebbon
5) Elegy Beach by Steven R. Boyett
6) Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs
7) Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
8) Live Free or Die by John Ringo
9) Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
10) Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
Trade Paperbacks
1) Fated by S.G. Browne
2) Tearing the Sky by Jamil Moledina
3) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
4) Yarn by Jon Armstrong
5) Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
1) Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
2) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
3) Zero History by William Gibson
4) Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey
5) All Clear by Connie Willis
6)The Starter by Scott Sigler
7) Pegasus by Robin McKinley
8) Painted Boy by Charles de Lint
9) Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
10) Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paperbacks
1) Soulless by Gail Carriger
2) Gilded Latten Bones by Glen Cook
3) An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
4) Echo City by Tim Lebbon
5) Elegy Beach by Steven R. Boyett
6) Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs
7) Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
8) Live Free or Die by John Ringo
9) Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
10) Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
Trade Paperbacks
1) Fated by S.G. Browne
2) Tearing the Sky by Jamil Moledina
3) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
4) Yarn by Jon Armstrong
5) Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
The 2010 Gift Guide
Ah, December! A chill in the air, spiced cider at Borderlands Cafe, and cranky hairless cats who refuse to leave their comfy heating pads. The time of year when one's thoughts often turn, somewhat frantically, to presents. Well, we're here to help. It's no secret that the economy's kind of, well, crappy, and so we'd like to mention that books are by far the very best entertainment value for your dollar. Especially if your friends read sorta slowly.
At Borderlands we have presents for every budget and almost every taste. We're delighted to make suggestions, and we relish the challenges, so bring 'em on! Meanwhile, here are our opinions on great gift options to delight those close to you.
Caveat: All reviews by Jude unless otherwise stated.
Brandy-New Shiny Hardcovers:
SURFACE DETAIL by Iain M. Banks (Orbit, Hardcover, $25.99) - The new Culture novel raises some heavy questions -- do cultures need religions? Is the threat of punishment the only thing that keeps most people behaving in a societally acceptable fashion? If you lose the memories of your experiences and your suffering, are you still the same person? -- in the most wild, adventurous, lots-of-stuff-still-blows-up way possible. This book is packed to over-stuffed with likable (and thoroughly reprehensible) characters, witty dialogue and Big Ideas.
ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis (Spectra, Hardcover, $26.00) - The follow-up to last year's brilliant BLACKOUT, we finally get to find out what happens to several plucky 23rd century time-travelling graduate students stuck in London during the Blitz. Willis' ability to get under her characters' skin and inside their heads is one of her most endearing strengths, and really shines in these novels. Also the sheer esteem in which she holds the stoic civilians -- the everyday heroes of World War II -- is touching and breathtaking, and she communicates her respect with an incredibly effective but still light touch. Cary suggests getting both volumes and reading them straight through, since they were originally intended to be one novel.
FULL DARK, NO STARS by Stephen King (Scribner, Hardcover, $27.99) - From Alan: "King's newest collection contains four stories (two novellas and two short stories) with the thematic linkage of ordinary people in extra-ordinary situations. Moreover, the theme gains greater depth when one reads in the afterward, 'Bad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do -- to face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies across the street.' In this series of stories King presents us with people who don't act exactly the way we might _want_ them to but who do act the way this is consistent with their character -- be it making hard choices to avoid a horrible trap, as in 'A Good Marriage,' or by taking one inexorable step after another straight down into a personal hell, as in '1922'. He also manages to create an original 'deal with the Devil' story in 'Fair Extension,' despite the degree to which that particular patch of ground has been planted and harvested by authors over the past three hundred years. In short, FULL DARK, NO STARS is Stephen King is his more thoughtful form demonstrating a master's touch at pacing, voice and character. If you like King, buy it. If you're shopping for someone who likes King, buy it. And you might even consider it for someone who thinks that King is all about gore, ghouls, and ghosts."
TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (Tor, Hardcover, $29.99) - Blessings upon the talented (and happily incredibly nice) Brandon Sanderson for easing the cravings of Jordan junkies by delivering the penultimate WHEEL OF TIME novel in a timely fashion.
ZERO HISTORY by William Gibson (Putnam, Hardcover, $26.95) - I'm excited about the return of Hollis Henry and several characters from SPOOK COUNTRY in this impressive, smart new Gibson novel. This one, like SPOOK COUNTRY and PATTERN RECOGNITION, is more of a near-future thriller than a standard science fiction novel, but I love it for incorporating so many crazy elements, from high fashion to the military-industrial complex. Additionally, it's funny. Perfect for the Gibson fan in your life.
KRAKEN by China Mieville (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.00) - I've said a bunch of times that this is like a China Mieville novel by way of Neil Gaiman. I think it's the funniest thing that Mieville's written, despite the fact that it's about the impossible theft of a giant squid by a cult that wants to use it to end the world. It's thoroughly improbable and I adored it, right down to the Warren Ellis-style digressions about random cool things found on the Internet.
If you'd like to give a signed book to that special someone, we have signed copies of KILL THE DEAD (Eos, Hardcover, $22.99) by Richard Kadrey (the follow-up to the incredibly popular SANDMAN SLIM); signed copies of THE FALL (sequel to THE STRAIN) by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan (William Morrow, Hardcover, $26.99); signed copies of OUT OF THE DARK by David Weber (Tor, Hardcover, $25.99); signed copies of ANCESTOR by Scott Sigler (Crown, Hardcover, $24.95) and many, many more choices!
Decorous Trade Paperbacks:
FLAMING ZEPPELINS by Joe R. Lansdale (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) FLAMING LONDON and ZEPPELINS WEST in one volume, or, the Adventures of Ned the Seal. Lansdale was writing Steampunk before the term was even capitalized, certainly long before silly hipsters with goggles & Really Unfortunate Facial Hair wandered Valencia Street. But to pigeonhole this volume as Steampunk is actually to do it a disservice, as cool as Steampunk is. . . because these books are completely wild, promiscuously multi-genre, over-the-top pulpy capers starring characters both real and fictional. (Wild Bill Hickock, Annie Oakley, the Tin Man, Frankenstein's monster, Mark Twain & Jules Verne fighting Wells' Martian invasion. . . plus the unforgettable Ned the Seal!) And there're zeppelins. What more could you possibly want?
Speaking of Steampunk, if you're concerned that the Steampunk fan you're trying to find a gift for has read _everything_, I'll bet you a cup of coffee they haven't yet discovered BURTON & SWINBURNE IN THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK by Mark Hodder. Set in London in 1861, it pairs a washed-up Sir Richard Francis Burton with Algernon Charles Swinburne, failed poet and worse. They investigate the leaping boogeyman known as Spring-Heeled Jack in a wild adventure that defies easy description. And since you can't have too much Steampunk, Tachyon's anthology STEAMPUNK II: STEAMPUNK RELOADED edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (Trade Paperback, $14.95) received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and will make the week of any fan.
Other fantastic anthologies abound this season as well: NightShade Books brings us THE LIVING DEAD 2 and BRAVE NEW WORLDS, both edited by John Joseph Adams (Trade Paperbacks, each $15.99). LIVING DEAD 2 is even more splatter-y than its predecessor, and BRAVE NEW WORLDS is a kick-ass, thoroughly disquieting anthology of dystopian fiction including stories by luminaries like J.G. Ballard, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, Kim Stanley Robinson and many, many more. In case you missed them, NightShade also recently published THE IMPROBABLE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (John Joseph Adams, ed, Trade Paperback, $15.95) WINGS OF FIRE, the ultimate dragon anthology, edited by Jonathan Strahan and Marianne S. Jablon (Trade Paperback, $15.95), and SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL edited by Tim Pratt (Trade Paperback, $15.95).
And more with the awesome: WILDCARDS VOL.1 edited by George R.R. Martin (Tor, Trade Paperback,$15.99) back in print after far, far too long, now with added original material (which I admittedly have not read yet, and about which I also admit to being a bit skeptical). WILD CARDS is a shared-world series telling the secret history in which an unpredictable alien virus (The Wild Card Virus) struck the Earth in the aftermath of WWII; killing a large percentage of the population, giving some (the Aces) fabulous powers, and cursing others (the Jokers) with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Deep characters & amazing inventiveness by a stunning array of authors.
For the science fiction fan in your life, there's VIRGA: CITIES OF THE AIR by Karl Schroeder (Tor, Trade Paperback, $17.99) which contains the first two Virga books, SUN OF SUNS and QUEEN OF CANDESCE, in one omnibus edition. Or you could offer DESOLATION ROAD and ARES EXPRESS, two mindblowing novels by Ian McDonald (Pyr, Trade Paperbacks, each $16.00).
Pocket-Sized Treasures:
BEST SERVED COLD by Joe Abercrombie (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - I've gone on at length about this novel, which is essentially a George R.R. Martin fantasy crossed with a Sergio Leone revenge Western. So good! So violent! So blackly comical!
SOULLESS by Gail Carriger (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - It's a Steampunk Victorian comedy of manners with vampires and werewolves. And tea and biscuits. Charming, quirky, and full of snark and regrettable head-wear. Beloved of all at Borderlands.
FEED by Mira Grant (Orbit, Mass Market, $9.99) - What do you get that friend who loved WORLD WAR Z? FEED by Mira Grant. FEED is a science fiction zombie story focused on the living: the group of bloggers following the would-be Republican Presidential candidate during the primaries. Character-driven, powerful, and unexpected, FEED is one of my favorite books of the last year.
HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by M.K. Jemisin (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - Extraordinarily complex and exciting fantasy, this is one of the strongest debuts of the year.
BOOK OF SECRETS by Chris Roberson (Angry Robot, Mass Market, $7.99) - BOOK OF SECRETS is like a Tim Powers novel crossed with THE DA VINCI CODE if the THE DA VINCI CODE were a better book. Twisty, unpredictable and lots of fun.
Other stuff:
We have a gorgeous selection of wooden boxes imported from India, pulp postcards of every stripe and level of outrageousness, and wow, A LOT of zombie calendars this year.
We're also overflowing with great used paperbacks right now, so for between $2 and $5 you can give the gift of a beloved, out-of-print favorite from your past.
The above list showcases some stuff that we're really excited about, but to reiterate, we're happy, nay, _delighted_ to make recommendations and suggestions. The hard part is getting us to shut up, really. Let us know if there's anything we can help you find.
Also, totally unrelated to the above gift suggestions: we know 2010 was a hard year for a lot of people. If the fancy strikes you, take 2 minutes during this build-up to the holiday craziness to just take deep breaths and reflect on the good things you have. Where there's life, there's hope, and likely even some good cheer. To that end, we wish you hope, peace and all the best in the New Year.
At Borderlands we have presents for every budget and almost every taste. We're delighted to make suggestions, and we relish the challenges, so bring 'em on! Meanwhile, here are our opinions on great gift options to delight those close to you.
Caveat: All reviews by Jude unless otherwise stated.
Brandy-New Shiny Hardcovers:
SURFACE DETAIL by Iain M. Banks (Orbit, Hardcover, $25.99) - The new Culture novel raises some heavy questions -- do cultures need religions? Is the threat of punishment the only thing that keeps most people behaving in a societally acceptable fashion? If you lose the memories of your experiences and your suffering, are you still the same person? -- in the most wild, adventurous, lots-of-stuff-still-blows-up way possible. This book is packed to over-stuffed with likable (and thoroughly reprehensible) characters, witty dialogue and Big Ideas.
ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis (Spectra, Hardcover, $26.00) - The follow-up to last year's brilliant BLACKOUT, we finally get to find out what happens to several plucky 23rd century time-travelling graduate students stuck in London during the Blitz. Willis' ability to get under her characters' skin and inside their heads is one of her most endearing strengths, and really shines in these novels. Also the sheer esteem in which she holds the stoic civilians -- the everyday heroes of World War II -- is touching and breathtaking, and she communicates her respect with an incredibly effective but still light touch. Cary suggests getting both volumes and reading them straight through, since they were originally intended to be one novel.
FULL DARK, NO STARS by Stephen King (Scribner, Hardcover, $27.99) - From Alan: "King's newest collection contains four stories (two novellas and two short stories) with the thematic linkage of ordinary people in extra-ordinary situations. Moreover, the theme gains greater depth when one reads in the afterward, 'Bad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do -- to face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies across the street.' In this series of stories King presents us with people who don't act exactly the way we might _want_ them to but who do act the way this is consistent with their character -- be it making hard choices to avoid a horrible trap, as in 'A Good Marriage,' or by taking one inexorable step after another straight down into a personal hell, as in '1922'. He also manages to create an original 'deal with the Devil' story in 'Fair Extension,' despite the degree to which that particular patch of ground has been planted and harvested by authors over the past three hundred years. In short, FULL DARK, NO STARS is Stephen King is his more thoughtful form demonstrating a master's touch at pacing, voice and character. If you like King, buy it. If you're shopping for someone who likes King, buy it. And you might even consider it for someone who thinks that King is all about gore, ghouls, and ghosts."
TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (Tor, Hardcover, $29.99) - Blessings upon the talented (and happily incredibly nice) Brandon Sanderson for easing the cravings of Jordan junkies by delivering the penultimate WHEEL OF TIME novel in a timely fashion.
ZERO HISTORY by William Gibson (Putnam, Hardcover, $26.95) - I'm excited about the return of Hollis Henry and several characters from SPOOK COUNTRY in this impressive, smart new Gibson novel. This one, like SPOOK COUNTRY and PATTERN RECOGNITION, is more of a near-future thriller than a standard science fiction novel, but I love it for incorporating so many crazy elements, from high fashion to the military-industrial complex. Additionally, it's funny. Perfect for the Gibson fan in your life.
KRAKEN by China Mieville (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.00) - I've said a bunch of times that this is like a China Mieville novel by way of Neil Gaiman. I think it's the funniest thing that Mieville's written, despite the fact that it's about the impossible theft of a giant squid by a cult that wants to use it to end the world. It's thoroughly improbable and I adored it, right down to the Warren Ellis-style digressions about random cool things found on the Internet.
If you'd like to give a signed book to that special someone, we have signed copies of KILL THE DEAD (Eos, Hardcover, $22.99) by Richard Kadrey (the follow-up to the incredibly popular SANDMAN SLIM); signed copies of THE FALL (sequel to THE STRAIN) by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan (William Morrow, Hardcover, $26.99); signed copies of OUT OF THE DARK by David Weber (Tor, Hardcover, $25.99); signed copies of ANCESTOR by Scott Sigler (Crown, Hardcover, $24.95) and many, many more choices!
Decorous Trade Paperbacks:
FLAMING ZEPPELINS by Joe R. Lansdale (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) FLAMING LONDON and ZEPPELINS WEST in one volume, or, the Adventures of Ned the Seal. Lansdale was writing Steampunk before the term was even capitalized, certainly long before silly hipsters with goggles & Really Unfortunate Facial Hair wandered Valencia Street. But to pigeonhole this volume as Steampunk is actually to do it a disservice, as cool as Steampunk is. . . because these books are completely wild, promiscuously multi-genre, over-the-top pulpy capers starring characters both real and fictional. (Wild Bill Hickock, Annie Oakley, the Tin Man, Frankenstein's monster, Mark Twain & Jules Verne fighting Wells' Martian invasion. . . plus the unforgettable Ned the Seal!) And there're zeppelins. What more could you possibly want?
Speaking of Steampunk, if you're concerned that the Steampunk fan you're trying to find a gift for has read _everything_, I'll bet you a cup of coffee they haven't yet discovered BURTON & SWINBURNE IN THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK by Mark Hodder. Set in London in 1861, it pairs a washed-up Sir Richard Francis Burton with Algernon Charles Swinburne, failed poet and worse. They investigate the leaping boogeyman known as Spring-Heeled Jack in a wild adventure that defies easy description. And since you can't have too much Steampunk, Tachyon's anthology STEAMPUNK II: STEAMPUNK RELOADED edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (Trade Paperback, $14.95) received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and will make the week of any fan.
Other fantastic anthologies abound this season as well: NightShade Books brings us THE LIVING DEAD 2 and BRAVE NEW WORLDS, both edited by John Joseph Adams (Trade Paperbacks, each $15.99). LIVING DEAD 2 is even more splatter-y than its predecessor, and BRAVE NEW WORLDS is a kick-ass, thoroughly disquieting anthology of dystopian fiction including stories by luminaries like J.G. Ballard, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, Kim Stanley Robinson and many, many more. In case you missed them, NightShade also recently published THE IMPROBABLE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (John Joseph Adams, ed, Trade Paperback, $15.95) WINGS OF FIRE, the ultimate dragon anthology, edited by Jonathan Strahan and Marianne S. Jablon (Trade Paperback, $15.95), and SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL edited by Tim Pratt (Trade Paperback, $15.95).
And more with the awesome: WILDCARDS VOL.1 edited by George R.R. Martin (Tor, Trade Paperback,$15.99) back in print after far, far too long, now with added original material (which I admittedly have not read yet, and about which I also admit to being a bit skeptical). WILD CARDS is a shared-world series telling the secret history in which an unpredictable alien virus (The Wild Card Virus) struck the Earth in the aftermath of WWII; killing a large percentage of the population, giving some (the Aces) fabulous powers, and cursing others (the Jokers) with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Deep characters & amazing inventiveness by a stunning array of authors.
For the science fiction fan in your life, there's VIRGA: CITIES OF THE AIR by Karl Schroeder (Tor, Trade Paperback, $17.99) which contains the first two Virga books, SUN OF SUNS and QUEEN OF CANDESCE, in one omnibus edition. Or you could offer DESOLATION ROAD and ARES EXPRESS, two mindblowing novels by Ian McDonald (Pyr, Trade Paperbacks, each $16.00).
Pocket-Sized Treasures:
BEST SERVED COLD by Joe Abercrombie (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - I've gone on at length about this novel, which is essentially a George R.R. Martin fantasy crossed with a Sergio Leone revenge Western. So good! So violent! So blackly comical!
SOULLESS by Gail Carriger (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - It's a Steampunk Victorian comedy of manners with vampires and werewolves. And tea and biscuits. Charming, quirky, and full of snark and regrettable head-wear. Beloved of all at Borderlands.
FEED by Mira Grant (Orbit, Mass Market, $9.99) - What do you get that friend who loved WORLD WAR Z? FEED by Mira Grant. FEED is a science fiction zombie story focused on the living: the group of bloggers following the would-be Republican Presidential candidate during the primaries. Character-driven, powerful, and unexpected, FEED is one of my favorite books of the last year.
HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by M.K. Jemisin (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - Extraordinarily complex and exciting fantasy, this is one of the strongest debuts of the year.
BOOK OF SECRETS by Chris Roberson (Angry Robot, Mass Market, $7.99) - BOOK OF SECRETS is like a Tim Powers novel crossed with THE DA VINCI CODE if the THE DA VINCI CODE were a better book. Twisty, unpredictable and lots of fun.
Other stuff:
We have a gorgeous selection of wooden boxes imported from India, pulp postcards of every stripe and level of outrageousness, and wow, A LOT of zombie calendars this year.
We're also overflowing with great used paperbacks right now, so for between $2 and $5 you can give the gift of a beloved, out-of-print favorite from your past.
The above list showcases some stuff that we're really excited about, but to reiterate, we're happy, nay, _delighted_ to make recommendations and suggestions. The hard part is getting us to shut up, really. Let us know if there's anything we can help you find.
Also, totally unrelated to the above gift suggestions: we know 2010 was a hard year for a lot of people. If the fancy strikes you, take 2 minutes during this build-up to the holiday craziness to just take deep breaths and reflect on the good things you have. Where there's life, there's hope, and likely even some good cheer. To that end, we wish you hope, peace and all the best in the New Year.
November 01, 2010
October Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
2) Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey
3) Out of the Dark by David Weber
4) Fatal Error by F. Paul Wilson
5) Zero History by William Gibson
6) All Clear by Connie Willis
7) Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
8) I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
9) What I Didn't See by Karen Joy Fowler
10) Antiphon by Ken Scholes tie with
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Paperbacks
1) Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
2) Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
3) Blameless by Gail Carriger
4) Soulless by Gail Carriger
5) Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
6) Sword of the Lady by S.M. Stirling
7) Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
8) Canticle by Ken Scholes
9) Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan
10) Engineman by Eric Brown
Trade Paperbacks
1) Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
2) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
3) Blackout by Connie Willis
4) I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
5) Mind Games by Richard Thieme
1) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
2) Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey
3) Out of the Dark by David Weber
4) Fatal Error by F. Paul Wilson
5) Zero History by William Gibson
6) All Clear by Connie Willis
7) Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
8) I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
9) What I Didn't See by Karen Joy Fowler
10) Antiphon by Ken Scholes tie with
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Paperbacks
1) Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
2) Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
3) Blameless by Gail Carriger
4) Soulless by Gail Carriger
5) Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
6) Sword of the Lady by S.M. Stirling
7) Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
8) Canticle by Ken Scholes
9) Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan
10) Engineman by Eric Brown
Trade Paperbacks
1) Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
2) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
3) Blackout by Connie Willis
4) I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
5) Mind Games by Richard Thieme
October 01, 2010
September Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1. Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
2. Zero History by William Gibson
3. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
4. High King of Montival by S.M. Stirling
5. The Technician by Neal Asher
6. Kraken by China Mieville
7. I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
9. Children No More by Mark Van Name
10. Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
2. Blameless by Gail Carriger
3. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
4. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
5. Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks
6. Changeless by Gail Carriger
7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
8. Sword of the Lady by S.M. Stirling
9. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
10. Feed by Mira Grant
Trade Paperbacks
1. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2. Loving Dead by Amelia Beamer
3. A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan
4. Pump Six by Paolo Bacigalupi
5. Transition by Iain M. Banks
1. Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
2. Zero History by William Gibson
3. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
4. High King of Montival by S.M. Stirling
5. The Technician by Neal Asher
6. Kraken by China Mieville
7. I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
9. Children No More by Mark Van Name
10. Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
2. Blameless by Gail Carriger
3. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
4. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
5. Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks
6. Changeless by Gail Carriger
7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
8. Sword of the Lady by S.M. Stirling
9. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
10. Feed by Mira Grant
Trade Paperbacks
1. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2. Loving Dead by Amelia Beamer
3. A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan
4. Pump Six by Paolo Bacigalupi
5. Transition by Iain M. Banks
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