More April book arrivals

More books arrived in the mail. Most of these are new. I'll mention the two reprints first. (Click to enlarge.)

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs features a reproduction of the original first edition (1917) cover artwork by  Frank E. Schoonover. Schoonover's interior illustrations are also reproduced in this Library of America edition. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold, is a hardback reprint from NESFA Press of a novel originally published in 1991. It went on to win the Hugo Award for best novel, presented in 1992.

Two novels marketed as Young Adult: The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi is the second in his series begun with Ship Breaker, which won the Michael L. Printz Award. Black Heart by Holly Black concludes her Curse Workers trilogy. Prior volumes in the series were White Cat and Red Glove.

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal is the sequel to her first novel, Shades of Milk and Honey. The Killing Moon by N. K. Jemisin is the first in her new Dreamblood series.

Radiant Days by Elizabeth Hand follows prior book Illyria. The Troupe by Robert Jackson Bennett is a supernatural take on vaudeville.

Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders by Samuel R. Delany is an 800 page novel written between 2004 and 2011, surely his most massive novel since Dhalgren. Lost Everything by Brian Francis Slattery is a post-apocalytic story and it features a striking sepia cover.

Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore, set in fin de siècle Paris, features a cast of historical figures that includes Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. The cover is shown here with and without the discreet wrap. 

Four from PS Publishing

Four new books arrived from PS Publishing in England.

The Ghostwriter by Zoran Zivkovic
Mare Ultima by Alex Irvine
The Architect by Brendan Connell
Starship Winter by Eric Brown

Related link:
PS Publishing

More book arrivals

More books arrived in the mail. Hmm, which one should I read first? Chrysanthe by Yves Meynard? Sensation by Nick Mamatas? Ted Kosmatka's first novel? Catch up with Nancy Kress or Elizabeth Bear?

Recent book arrivals

Night Shade Books, click to enlarge.

A shelf-full of Night Shade Books arrived in the mail. It's an interesting assortment, representing everything they've published from December 2011 through April 2012. I'll name check a few of the books in the photo here:

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 6, edited by Jonathan Strahan
And Blue Skies from Pain by Stina Leicht (the author's second novel)
Hitchers by Will McIntosh (the author's second novel)
A Path to Coldness of Heart by Glen Cook (a previously unpublished Dread Empire novel)
When We Were Executioners by J.M. McDermott (second in the author's Dogsland Trilogy)
The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells (second in the author's Raksura series)

The other Glen Cook title is a reprint and the Clark Ashton Smith is a collection of material for completists. Many of the remaining titles appear to be first novels, with which Night Shade has done very well.

Related link:
Night Shade Books

Any Day Now

Gary K. Wolfe reviews Terry Bisson’s Any Day Now in the just available April 2012 issue of Locus Magazine.

"... Bisson’s novel is less an alternate history than a kind of shadow history, explored in a way that only SF can explore it. On his website, Bisson modestly says the novel is 'not exactly science fiction; and not exactly not.' In fact, it’s both – and neither aspect would be nearly as compelling without the other. What it is, I think
it’s fair to say, is the major work of one of our most talented and underappreciated writers, in or out of the SF fold."

Terry Bisson read an excerpt of Any Day Now, followed by
Karen Joy Fowler interviewing Bisson at Capitola Book Café, which was recorded by Rick Kleffel and made available through his Agony Column Podcast. (follow here)

I recommend Rick Kleffel's podcast. He provides a steady stream of author readings and interviews both within and without the science fiction genre. Just in the past 30 days these included Rudy Rucker, K. W. Jeter, Jay Lake, Ayize Jama-Everett, and Matt Ruff.

A trilogy is like playing Angry Birds

An excerpt from The Coode Street Podcast, which touched on The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:

Gary K. Wolfe: "I think we can agree that Suzanne Collins knew what she was doing putting a story together. Because I did read the first one, but that's all. Sometimes what I do with trilogies is I figure out, okay, I can see the arc. Reading a trilogy is like playing Angry Birds, because once you've figured out the arc you know whether you're going to hit the damn pigs or not."

Ellen Klages: "Oh, that's going to go on a t-shirt."

Related link:
The Coode Street Podcast with guests Ellen Klages, Karen Lord, and Nalo Hopkinson.