Trip to the Market 9/24/07

After just a few of these trip to the market posts I'm sure it's become quite obvious I buy more books than I can possibly sit and read right now. Someday I hope to get to them all but I know that's probably not possible until I'm independently wealthy and can retire. (This is not likely to happen soon considering my current age and line of work). At worst I hope someday my collection will be part of the library's collection so even if I don't read them all someday someone will. So what was added this week?

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Destiny by Paul B Thompson and Tanya C. Cook
Voyage of Jerle Shannara Boxed Set by Terry Brooks

So why these three (5)?

Assassin's Apprentice because I meant to buy it two weeks ago.
Jerle Shannara because I own two Brooks novels so I might as well own all of them.
Destiny just to keep my collection current.

You can see from the above statements that I'm an unrepentant collector of stuff. It can can be a bit obsessive but once I have one part of a set of things, assuming I enjoy them, I want the complete set. I think it all started with baseball cards when I was a kid but it has grown into other things as I've gotten older. Now before you start to worry about me, I'm not crazy pack rat guy who has no clean floor space and an entire room dedicated to newspapers and pocket lint. In fact I'd wager my house is as neat as any house inhabited by a two year old boy can be. Besides fantasy novels I also have a growing collection of toy soldiers, specifically medieval knights. Perhaps if you ask nice I'll show you all some pictures some day. Well until next installment of "This Week in Impulse Buying"

Cheers

(I promise honey we can buy groceries next week)

Review: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Warning this is not your father's fantasy novel.

In "The Blade Itself" Joe Abercrombie has created a cast of characters so flawed that it's hardly possible to like them. And yet you'll love them. A crippled torturer, an arrogant nobleman , and a runaway slave whose only thought is vengeance, are just a sampling of what you'll get. The setting is as gritty and violent as the characters and that's saying something.

A word of advice for future readers. Before you pick this book up make sure you find a clear a weekend when you will have time to read in large chunks. The book moves very fast and has a lot of points of view and can be a little tough to follow if read in very small chunks. Well that and you won't want to stop reading once you get rolling so find a quiet spot and enjoy.

The end of the story while climactic definitely comes too soon. I'd really have liked some of the threads to have been woven just a little longer before stopping, but that might just be jealousy for having to wait for the next installment.

Great characters, good setting, some good (and some spectacular) fight scenes, fast paced and sarcastically funny. I recommend it highly.

Rating: 8.8/10

You can find out more about Joe Abercrombie and his First Law Trilogy at his website.

Shopping List 9/23/07 - 9/29/07

Here's this weeks list of SFF books and audiobooks as taken from Barnes & Noble's coming soon list.

Making Money Terry Pratchett / Compact Disc / HarperCollins Publishers / September 25, 2007

Lyra's Oxford Philip Pullman / Paperback / Random House Children's Books / September 25, 2007

Making Money Terry Pratchett / Paperback / HarperCollins Publishers / September 25, 2007

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West Gregory Maguire / Mass Market Paperback / HarperCollins Publishers / September 25, 2007

The Horror in the Museum H. P. Lovecraft / Paperback / Random House Publishing Group / September 25, 2007

Blood Engines T. A. Pratt / Mass Market Paperback / Bantam Books / September 25, 2007

The Diamond Isle: Book Three of The Dreamtime Stan Nicholls / Mass Market Paperback / HarperCollins Publishers / September 25, 2007

Beowulf Caitlin Kiernan / Mass Market Paperback / HarperCollins Publishers / September 25, 2007

Metal Swarm Kevin J. Anderson / Compact Disc / Brilliance Audio / September 28, 2007

Metal Swarm Kevin J. Anderson / Compact Disc / Brilliance Audio / September 28, 2007

Incredible Aberration? Robert E. Bonson / Paperback / Xlibris Corporation / September 28, 2007

Incredible Aberration? Robert E. Bonson / Hardcover / Xlibris Corporation / September 28, 2007

Predator: Flesh and Blood Michael Friedman / Paperback / Dark Horse Comics / September 28, 2007

Metal Swarm, Vol. 2 Kevin J. Anderson / MP3 on CD / Brilliance Audio / September 28, 2007

Richard Matheson Companion Richard Matheson / Hardcover / Gauntlet, Incorporated PA / September 28, 2007

Wysard Carolyn Kephart / Paperback / Cambrian House / September 28, 2007

Strange Candy Laurell K. Hamilton / Compact Disc / Brilliance Audio / September 28, 2007

Del Ray to publish "Heroes" Novel

Del Ray books announced "officially" yesterday it plans to release a novel based on the hit television show Heroes. This old news to those who were at ComicCon in San Diego but here is an excerpt from Del Ray's press release.

"NEW YORK, NY - September 18, 2007 - Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced plans to publish a novel based on NBC's Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated Heroes. HEROES: SAVING CHARLIE (Del Rey Hardcover; $23.95; on sale December 26, 2007) by Aury Wallington will be an original novel based on the characters Hiro Nakamura (Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated Masi Oka) and Charlie (Jayma Mays), created by executive producer/creator Tim Kring. It is developed through a licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.

"One of the more memorable relationships in Season One was Hiro's first love, the waitress Charlie. We were as smitten as Hiro by that story and seized the chance to tell the full adventure of Hiro's six months in the past. Aury Wallington was hand picked by the writers of the show for her brilliant voice for these characters. The novel is a welcome addition to the Heroes family," said Tim Kring, creator-executive producer, "Heroes."

The novel--written with the full cooperation and consultation of the show's creators--will tell the story of Japanese office worker Hiro, who, through the use of his ability to pierce the space-time continuum and manipulate time, bravely catapults himself into the past to save Charlie, a small-town Texas waitress with an extraordinary memory, from being brutally murdered by super-powered serial killer Sylar (Zachary Quinto). Fans of the television series were given only a brief glimpse into Hiro and Charlie's relationship as it grew into love over six time-changing months, but their history is told here with the depth and insight that only a novel will allow."

Trip to the Market 9/17/07

I made the mistake of carrying more cash than usual to my local Barnes and Nobles. The proverbial hole was burned through my pocket and I left with quite a number more books than I had planned. I suspect if my wife ever reads this she'll not be as happy as I am with my purchases. So tonight's additions to the library.

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The Elves of Cintra by Terry Brooks
His Majesty's Dragons by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Sinner by Sara Douglass
Banewreaker by Jacqueline Carey

I'm listening to Sword of Shannara in my car right now so that was an obvious add and since Elves of Cintra was just released I figure it was a good time to pick it up as well. I've wanted to read Naomi Novik's Temeraire series for a while so I picked it up in a paperback boxed set. Sinner and Banewreaker I know nothing about really but they we're hardcover books that seemed to fit the genre and were only $2 in a super bargain bin. You'll notice I completely forgot to pick up the Robin Hobb book I wanted from last week. Oh well there is always next Monday.

Robert Jordan 1948-2007

I'm sad to report that esteemed author Robert Jordan passed away yesterday after an extended illness. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

Additional details can be found on his blog. Be forewarned that his server is having trouble handling all the traffic today as one would expect.

The Last Battle has been fought, rest easy now. You were a dragon amongst men.

Shopping List - 9/16/07 - 9/22/07

Another feature I'd like to bring you is a list of what's hitting stores each week. It will probably not be an exhaustive list but I'll do my best to hit the highlights. I thought of doing a "What's Hot" list as well but Pat's Fantasy Hotlist does a great job of that already so why duplicate. So what can you spend your money on this week.

Natural Ordermage (Recluce Series #14) L. E. Modesitt, Jr. / Hardcover / Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC / September 18, 2007

Making Money Terry Pratchett / Hardcover / HarperCollins Publishers / September 18, 2007

Tales of H. P. Lovecraft H. P. Lovecraft / Paperback / HarperCollins Publishers / September 18, 2007

Axis Robert Charles Wilson / Hardcover / Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC / September 18, 2007

The Cymry Ring Michael Allen Dymmoch / Paperback / Thomson Gale / September 19, 2007

Seven Songs of Merlin T. A. Barron / Hardcover / Penguin Young Readers Group / September 2007

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll / Hardcover / Penguin Young Readers Group / September 20, 2007

Mirror of Merlin T. A. Barron / Hardcover / Penguin Young Readers Group / September 20, 2007

Lost Years of Merlin T. A. Barron / Hardcover / Penguin Young Readers Group / September 20, 2007

Fires of Merlin T. A. Barron / Hardcover / Penguin Young Readers Group / September 20, 2007

Wings of Merlin T. A. Barron / Hardcover / Penguin Young Readers Group / September 20, 2007