Star Wars, Dark Tower & Wheel of Time News!
Man, what a day for news!
Let’s get right into it; first off, I’ll show you the cover to Sean William’s Star Wars: The Old Republic novel, Fatal Alliance:
Awesome, right? Check out the details for the novel at this post on the official site.
Sean is not only an awesome guy but knows what makes Star Wars so great and brings it in droves to the novels he writes in the Expanded Universe, so I’m definitely looking forward to this!
Next up, the long-awaited naming and cover-reveal of The Old Republic novel by Paul Kemp; I’ll let the cover do the talking! 
Awesome, right? 
And yes, that is the kickass Sith Lord who we saw in action in the cinematic of The Old Republic. Check out the details of the novel at this post at the official site; if you want to have another look at the cinematic, check out this post at Paul’s blog, and here’s his announcement.
Very, very chuffed for Paul that he got the chance to write a novel focusing on such a badass character! Here’s hoping that the story behind the cinematic is also included in the novel! He’s already sent in the first draft of the novel, so everything looks a-okay for the December release date!
Paul’s Crosscurrent (reviewed here) showed that he has an awesome understanding of Star Wars, so this will, most probably, be awesome.
Now for Wheel of Time news!
Check out this post over at A Dribble of Ink; Aidan gives us an extended blurb of Book Thirteen of The Wheel of Time, Towers of Midnight. If you haven’t read it yet, I’ll say this: Perrin and Mat.
And lastly, news of the Dark Tower movies!
Thanks to my buddy Lood, I can tell you that Ron Howard has been tapped to direct a trilogy that’ll bring Stephen King’s absolutely massive and brilliant series to the big screen. Just how he’s planning to cram 7 novels-worth of plot into three movies I have no idea, but this is Ron Howard, and I’m sure he’ll do movies that’ll be as true as possible to the King’s epic. Check out the info here.
That’s it for now,
Have an awesome weekend!
Be EPIC!
P.S. Oh, and here’s something you all have been drooling for – the first pic of Thor.
John Jarrold’s Corner: Two Client Deals with Solaris
Hey everyone, hope your Thursday has been awesome so far!
I’ve got two lots of great news from John Jarrold, both new deals with Solaris Books!
Here’s the first:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SOLARIS ACQUIRES ERIC BROWN’S NEW SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL
28th April 2010
Oxford, UK:
Jonathan Oliver, commissioning editor of Solaris Books, has acquired a new Science-Fiction (SF) novel from Eric Brown, KINGS OF ETERNITY. The agent is John Jarrold, and the deal is for UK/US rights. The book is due for publication in the spring of 2011.
“Eric has been one of the world’s most consistent – and consistently enjoyable – SF novelists for over two decades,” said John Jarrold. “He has a very happy home with Solaris and this marks his eighth book with them.”
Jonathan Oliver said: “It’s a great pleasure to be continuing to work with Eric, who is one of the shining stars of science-fiction. I’m very excited about Kings of Eternity, as it is just one of the best SF novels I’ve read in the past ten years. A truly extraordinary book.”
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I’ve yet to read Eric Brown’s work, but he is highly recommended by plenty of readers, so hopefully I get time to get caught up. Great news for SF, Eric and Solaris!
Next up, get ready to meet Desdaemona:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SOLARIS ACQUIRE NEW URBAN FANTASY
28th April 2010
Oxford, UK:
Jonathan Oliver, commissioning editor of Solaris Books, has acquired the opening volume -Desdaemona- of a fascinating urban fantasy series from pseudonymous author ‘Ben Macallan’.
Jay finds people – runaways. He looks like a teenager, but he’s not. He treads the line between mundane reality and the world of the supernatural, including the awesome Powers That Be. Desdaemona, who also knows the non-human world far too well, comes to him, searching for her lost sister Fay who did a Very Bad Thing involving an immortal before disappearing. This may be a mistake – for both of them. Not least because of those whose attention is drawn to them…
“Ben’s urban fantasy novel is wise, witty and terrific fun,” Jonathan Oliver said. “It’s great to find a work that does something different with the genre while still managing to be a ripping good yarn.”
The agent is John Jarrold, and the deal is for UK/US rights. The book is due for publication in the summer of 2011.
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I’m definitely curious about the book, and about just who this ‘Ben Macallan’ is… James Frey? 
Great news for all of us – more books to keep and eye out for and read!
Be EPIC!
Book Trailer: House of Night – Book 7 – Burned
Hey everyone, here’s the book trailer for the lastest incoming House of Night novel from PC and Kristin Cast, Burned:
I’m sure there are plenty of readers looking forward to this (even here in South Africa!), so here’s the blurb to whet your appetites!
“Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampire High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left… “
And here’s the US cover:
as well as the UK cover:
Click here to order your copies if you’re in the UK and here if you’re in the US.
And here’s a awesome extra for you: you can download the song you heard in the book trailer here! You can also read the first chapter of Burned here, and you can visit the House of Night website here.
Be EPIC!
Spotlight: Black Hawks from a Blue Sun by F. Allen Farnham (May 2010)
Here’s some great news – Black Hawks from a Blue Sun will be available from the 31st of May, and is the sequel to the excellent Angry Ghosts (reviewed here) – I’m definitely looking forward to this!
Here’s the info:
(New cover: thanks to Allen for sending it through!)
Old cover:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Black Hawks From a Blue Sun – Survival Science Fiction
Over a thousand years have passed since humans breathed terrestrial air. Burned from Earth and the colonies by a ruthless enemy, mankind is believed extinct. Yet two pockets of humanity still cling to life. One is a colonist expedition, plodding through space with the thinnest hope of finding a new world to settle. The other is the remnant of a black budget genetic research facility — a Cadre of stoic and fanatical soldiers preying upon the blue-skinned enemy which decimated them.
Wearied by endless travel, the Colonists dream of returning home. The Cadre, its entire history lost, is eager to reclaim its legacy and deliver a shocking blow to the enemy. Therein, the two groups find their unifying purpose: resettling Earth. But first, they must know — are the Blueskins still there? Cadre soldiers Argo, Beckert, and Thompson are rigorously trained and dispatched on a one way reconnaissance mission to Earth. Their arrival triggers a planetary storm — the falling leaf which seeds the hurricane.
Written for the Post-Apocalyptic, Hard Military Sci-Fi enthusiast, Black Hawks From a Blue Sun is the action-filled sequel to Angry Ghosts. An inside look at the blood-soaked lines between survival, resistance, and terrorism.
About the Author
After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, F. Allen Farnham continued his studies of politics and economics through an internship with US Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). He has remained active politically, specifically in his advocacy of renewable energy technologies and local recycling efforts. His first novel, Angry Ghosts, was acquired by Eirelander Publishing in 2009 and re-released on e-book under the title Wraiths of Earth, in May 2010.
Black Hawks From a Blue Sun * by F. Allen Farnham
Publication Date: May 31, 2010 Trade Paperback; $13.99; 316 pages; ISBN 978-0-982-71160-6
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If you’d like more info, check out the Cadre One website here.
Be EPIC!
Spotlight: Returner’s Wealth – Book 1 of the Wyrmeweald Trilogy
Thanks to Random House Children’s Books (UK), I’ve got some info about an exciting new series coming our way, something that I’m interested in, too: the new project coming from Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell! I’ll be receiving a review copy of Returner’s Wealth soon and will definitely review it.
Here’s the info:
Press Release:
RETURNER’S WEALTH is the first book in a new, gripping series, from
award-winning duo, Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
The WYRMEWEALD trilogy is set in a Wild-West world where dragon-like beasts roam supreme and danger is a way of life. It is an ambitious offering; an epic fantasy, a compelling romance, a tale of revenge, all mixed up with dragons.
It is the Wild West like setting which makes WYRMEWEALD feel so different from the relative claustrophobia of the Edgelands. Inspired by landscapes in Arizona and more recently the remote Scottish highlands (on a tour with the Scottish Booktrust) Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell wanted to create a threatening, expansive landscape; “I love old cowboy films which are about real life, hardship, toil, survival and then there are moments of true adventure, life-threatening situations; it’s Man Vs environment or Man Vs beast. We love that elemental danger. And of course there’s always a good love story!”
RETURNER’S WEALTH is set in a world populated by wyrmes (the medieval word for dragons). With its violent and morally complex elements, it will appeal to adult fantasy readers too. The compelling hero and heroine, Micah and Thrace, will attract readers older than those who normally read Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.
WYRMEWEALD represents a new direction for the pair, as Paul Stewart explains, “The Edge has dominated our lives for ten years and we’ve loved every moment of it, and we wanted to do something new, something which is familiar enough to appeal to our fans but different enough to bring a freshness and element of surprise.”
Stewart and Riddell, renowned for the bestselling Edge Chronicles series, have sold over two million books in the UK alone and stand as one of the most recognised and applauded creative partnerships working today.
And here’s the cover:
To pre-order your copies, click here for Amazon UK. Returner’s Wealth will be available on the 29th of April.
Be EPIC!
Peter V Brett at Forbidden Planet’s London Megastore Tonight!
That’s right, Peat‘s probably getting ready or even signing right now, so get your butt over to the store to get your copy of The Desert Spear and have it signed, too!
Here are the details on the Forbidden Planet site.
The Desert Spear
Be EPIC!
Jasper Kent to Run for CancerUK
Jasper has awesomely attached himself to Cancer Research UK – he’ll be running a marathon on the 18th of April and is asking for donations towards Cancer research. He’ll be running 26 miles 385 yards!
So if you’d like to see the author of Twelve and Thirteen Years Later (no actors or UN ambassadors or sportsmen here) running and panting and sweating, and for e very good cause, follow this link for more info.
Be EPIC!
New Release Day: The Emerald Storm – Book 4 in The Riyria Revelations by Michael J Sullivan
It’s available!
Here’s some info about the book:
“A MESSAGE IS INTERCEPTED.
A SINISTER PLAN LAUNCHED.
TWO THIEVES STAND IN THE WAY.
Ex-mercenary Hadrian Blackwater sets course on a high seas adventure to find the lost Heir of Novron. His only hope lies in confronting the ruthless and cunning Merrick Marius. Fearing his friend is not up to the challenge, Royce Melborn joins his old partner for one last mission. Their journey finds them adrift amid treachery and betrayals forcing Hadrian to face a past he hoped never to see again.”
Michael announced that Amazon has The Emerald Storm In Stock in this post, and will be appearing at RavenCon, so for those who’ll be in the area, be sure to get your copies and get Michael to sign them.
Haven’t read the first three books in The Riyria Revelations? You’re missing out! Here are links to my reviews: Book 1 The Crown Conspiracy, Book 2 Avempartha. I’m reading Book 3 Nyphron Rising at the moment, so that review will be up shortly.
I think it’s also time that I mention that I’ve been working on something, with Michael’s help and blessing, that will hopefully get the word out even more about his excellent series – I should be ready to reveal it next week, so keep an eye out.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Be EPIC!
The Desert Spear – In SA in May!
This is, without a doubt, a novel I’ve been eagerly awaiting since I read the last line of The Painted Man by Peter V Brett! It’ll be hitting the shelves in South Africa in May, so make sure you get to Exclusive Books and order your copy – based on the sales The Painted Man enjoyed, The Desert Spear is sure to sell out very fast! Click here to order your copy from Exclusive Books online.
To get you excited about The Desert Spear, have a look at this book trailer I put together a couple of months ago.
To order your copies in-store, give the book-shop staff this info: Jonathan Ball are the SA Publishers, and here’s the ISBN: 9780007276165
For the rest of the world, here are the ordering links:
Amazon US, available on the 13th of April, and
Amazon UK, available right now.
Cannot wait to read this! I seriously hope that Arlen kicks Jardir’s ass!
Be EPIC!
Review: Absorption by John Meaney
Mark Chitty (the blogger behind the excellent SF-Blog, Walker of Worlds) asked me if I wouldn’t mind contributing something to his pioneering Science Fiction Appreciation Month (happening right now – check the banner on the right) and I chose to review John Meaney’s new Space Opera, Absorption.
Head on over to to the guest-review at Walker of Worlds, and then bookmark the site so that you can get all the SF-related news you can handle.
Be EPIC!
