I arrived home yesterday to find a number of packages from one of my favorite publishing companies Tor Books. They are not a favorite because they send me stuff–that is a very recent phenomenon–but because they publish books by a number of authors that I enjoy, I have a great admiration for their Art Director, Irene Gallo, and some of my very favorite artists produce work to grace the covers of Tor Books. So, I decided to share these arrivals plus a few more books that I received from them over the past month.
1. Pirate Freedom ~Gene Wolfe
Despite not having read his “major” works, I consider myself a fan. David Grove’s cover art is fantastic. Although pirate/ship literature isn’t something I read regularly, I do sample it occasionally and am certainly interested in seeing what magic Wolfe can work with the subject matter.
2. The Currents of Space ~Isaac Asimov
I, Robot followed by the Foundation trilogy firmly established my attachment to Isaac Asimov. Over the last few years I have collected a few more short story collections and novels and look forward to experiencing more of the legacy that Asimov left to the science fiction community.
3. Our Lady of Darkness ~Fritz Leiber
Perhaps not surprisingly it was the graphic novel work of Mike Mignola that first convinced me that I needed to check out the work of Fritz Leiber. I have since read a few of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser novels as well as the science fiction novel, The Big Time. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is another author I am a fan of. Seeing what he does in the horror genre.
4. Stars and Gods ~Larry Niven
Blah, blah….I’m a fan, Larry Niven was one of my earliest science fiction influences, yadda, yadda. 🙂 Seriously, the guy has a special place in my heart. This is a strange hodge-podge book, containing excerpts from novels, short stories, essays, book introductions, interviews… While I’m thrilled to have a chance to read it, I have to wonder about the market for this sort of book. I will be keeping an eye out on the net to see if other people are reading it and I certainly hope with this, and with the new short story collection, Larry Niven finds his way into the hands and hearts of fans old and new.
5. He is Legend ~Richard Matheson
By and large I would imagine that the majority of people who have experienced the work of Richard Matheson have done so, knowingly or unknowingly, through film and television. Many of his work have been adapted. I have only read I am Legend, which was great, and a few shorter stories. This anthology sounds really exciting. It contains all new original stories set in the fictional worlds that Matheson has created. The contributor list is top notch and the book opens with the first ever collaboration between famous father and son Stephen King and Joe Hill. I’m mid-way through that story and am enjoying it. This arrived in perfect time for the R.I.P. Challenge as I’ll be dipping into it for my short story urges.
6. More Stories from the Twilight Zone ~edited by Carol Serling
19 original short stories inspired by the classic television series. I have checked out several Twilight Zone dvd’s from the library for viewing over the next couple of months and hope to combine viewing and reading for a surreal, suspenseful experience.
7. The Stainless Steel Rat Returns ~Harry Harrison
I’m not sure I’ve dreaded and anticipated anything as much since the release of the film version of Stardust. I have read and re-read the first 5 or 6 Stainless Steel Rat stories for almost three quarters of my life. I am a BIG FAN, in case my website name hadn’t clued you in. The very last Stainless Steel Rat book was a disaster, in my opinion, and I have not been too excited about the synopsis of this one, despite wanting desperately to travel new roads with my old friend Jim DiGriz. At the very least you can expect an honest assessment of the book. If I don’t like it, I won’t hold back. If I love it, I’ll be honest about my own prejudices towards the stories. I haven’t dropped everything to start reading it, I need to wait a bit and then come at it with fewer expectations/fears.
In the interest of disclosure, not long after I began blogging I decided to get out of the ‘free books for review’ game. Being a whim reader I am unlikely to choose to read something that I feel an obligation to read. Long ago I established a relationship with Night Shade Books, and now have a similar one with Tor, in that I am only sent books that I specifically request for review. I am extremely grateful to both companies for honoring that arrangement and for trusting me to give honest reviews. If I stop getting free books from these companies tomorrow, that is just fine. I’ll be honest no matter what.
I’ve been pretty good about purchasing books of late. The library has been my source for supplying “new” books. How about you, have any new or borrowed books come into your life lately?
What are you reading?
I am less than 70 pages away from finishing The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant. Great so far. I have almost reached the halfway mark (on disc 9 out of 18) of the audio presentation of Tana French’s novel, In the Woods. Excellent! I have already ordered the next two novels on audio from my library. And I am enjoying some short stories and screen perils which I will share shortly.
We are mid-way through the week, hope all is well with everyone.
I hope to one day receive books from Tor. Right now I review for three Christian publishing houses (Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, and WaterBrook Multnomah) and a few small-print publishers. Ideally, Tor and Del Rey would be nice, but I’m not sure if I ever see that happening. Anyway, nice intake you’ve got there. Good luck with the Harrison novel.
That is the perfect photo of mailboxes for your blog, of course.
And the Stainless Steel Rat book goes so well with your blog’s title (hope you do love it!).
Oh, I so hope The Stainless Steel Rat Returns turns out to be a huge success for you!!!! I’ve been looking forward to January already so I can read the third one for your Sci-Fi Experience. (Which I was supposed to read this past one, but sadly, didn’t get to.) Btw, Rich is sooooo excited about the Sci-Fi Experience–he’s just recently decided he’s in love and now always hits the sci-fi section at the bookstore immediately after hitting the science section. And you’ll be happy to know that is positively loving Dracula!!! Oh, and he’s also VERY excited to watch the LOTR movies in November, after having just read the books for the first time this spring! I swear, he’s turning into a little Carl-wannabe. And you know that is said with massive amounts of affection aimed at you both! 🙂
So that is where you get your unusual blog name from. I have never heard of this set of books, but you have me intrigued. I love the covers of your new books. I do hope you enjoy them. I don’t receive any free books and I am trying to be good and not buy anymore new ones until after Christmas. I picked up loads during the summer holidays and they will keep me in Monday Mail posts for a good few weeks. I am presently reading The Historian which is just so gothic!
hey Carl.. i am about half way thru The Somnambulist.. recently bought a book by Brom I posted about it. It may be my next read, not sure yet. It’s still to hot and humid here that reading it is NOT putting me in a fall mood at all.. sigh. oh well, .. I hope you keep enjoying your fall reads!!!
Since you ask, I’ll be starting THE VIRMILLION DRIFT by William Kent Krueger, which is the breand new Cork O’Connor mystery novel, the 10th in the series. This is one of my very, very favorite mystery series, and it is rumored to be the final book before a new series – or whatever – begins. I’ve already started re-reading these, but I can hardly wait to open this one, in about an hour.
Nice collection of books, Carl. I admit the Niven doesn’t sound like one I’ll read, it must be a placeholder until he writes an actual SF novel set in his Known Space. THAT would be nice.
Richard: Haven’t heard of the author or the series, which is great because it is always fun to hear about mystery series that I know nothing of. The wife is a big fan and I enjoy the occasional mystery myself.
The Niven book is a bit of an enigma to me. Not sure how something like that gets published in this day and age. I know for sure that I have no interest in reading snippets of novels. I will definitely read the short stories, introductions, etc. as that has the potential to be interesting, but if I’m going to read a novel I want to read a novel, not a sample chapter.
Desily: I’ll check out the post. I like Brom. The Somnabulist has always looked like an interesting book so I’ll be curious to see your impressions when you are done. It is rainy and cool here today so it has been perfect for reading and listening to mystery fiction.
Vivienne: Yep, that was my inspiration. I picked up The Historian from the library the other day and am at least tentatively planning on reading it with those who will do so for the readalong. We’ll see.
Debi: I can’t apologize enough for my bad influence on Rich. I weep for you. 😉 Seriously though, I’m excited he has joined the LOTR and Dracula fanatics club. We are always looking for new members. I’m seriously thinking of having my LOTR Extended Edition watch party for my birthday again this year. It has been a couple of years and I’m finding myself nostalgic for the experience again. While cleaning the basement I found the invitations I made up for Mary, Tori and I the first time I did it. Good memories. And the affection is returned. 🙂
Susan: It is, I need to go find the link so I can give the photographer credit.
Logankstewart: I hope it happens for you. And of course I hope you are enjoying the books you are getting from the other publishers. Thanks for the well wishes for the Harrison novel. 🙂
Hi Carl, I had a treat in the mail last week…. two lovely little journals came winging my way. Thank you!! Such a nice surprise to come home to – made my day!
Not a lot of reading going on in these here parts. Finished another Dr. Siri novel by Colin Cotterill last week but not much else. Too busy, if you can believe that. Hopefully business and craziness and bad luck and sad stuff will take a nose dive by the end of this month. October is such a crunchy, crispy, R.I.P. caramel apple kinda month, and I am sooooo looking forward to it!
Thanks again for the prize – they are prized!
Wow!! You have some fantastic stuff there!!! I can’t wait to hear about these. I’m super excited to see what you think of The Stainless Steel Rat Returns..no surprise there..and no pressure 😉
Chris: I would agree, I was certainly pleased with the selections. 🙂
Qugrainne: Oh, I can certainly believe the ‘too busy’ part. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that things do indeed take an upward turn now and for the rest of the year. I can’t tell you how happy I am that the journals arrived and that you liked them.
Mmmm…caramel apples. Just one of the many treats I look forward to in late Sept and October.
That’s an awesome bunch of books! I had always hoped to get books from Tor, but I don’t think they do much with Canada. 🙁
Kailana: I’m not exactly sure how I started getting their catalog, but I’m glad that I did.
Richard: Just got an email from Tor that there is a new Ringworld prequel co-written by Niven and Lerner coming out next month:
http://www.amazon.com/Betrayer-Worlds-Larry-Niven/dp/0765326086
I’ve never tried to get into the “books for review” game, mainly because I don’t blog them much, except on Goodreads.com (occasionally,) and as a fellow whim-reader, don’t want the obligation hanging over my head. That being said, I’ve entered a few ARC giveaways on Goodreads here and there, and have received a few books that turned out to be quite good. Louise Penny, writer of the Inspector Gamache series, was a pleasant surprise.
Gene Wolfe’s Pirate story is definitely on my TBR list, and I’m excited to hear what you think of The Stainless Steel Rat Returns, if for no other reason than I always liked the idea of a stainless steel rat. Ha!
Right now, I’m up to my eyeballs in Ken Scholes’ Psalms of Isaak series, which is far better than I anticipated. There are some background congruences between the author’s life and mine, but I hadn’t anticipated the fantastic and creative way he weaves those lessons and philosophies into a story.
I might have to pick up the Niven book for my nephew, who is a HUGE fan. I was soooo proud yesterday when he posted on FB that he has started to read Dune – which is my favorite novel ever and the 2nd most influential story (to me) I’ve ever read. *sob* 🙂
/ramble
oops, Asimov, I meant my nephew is a huge Asimov fan. I myself am a huge Niven fan, so let’s just chalk that up to a little slip of the id.
Stacey: Ramble on!
I’ve heard really good things about Ken Scholes and he has more than one book whose cover has made me think about purchasing it.
Yet another summer has come and gone without me having read Dune, despite my best intentions. Perhaps this winter when I fall back into sci fi gorging mode I will get to it. Dune always seems like a summer read to me though, all that sand and no water. 🙂
And thanks for the correction. Asimov and Niven are both great!
Ah yes, but the story opens on a water planet. 😉 But maybe you’re right, you’ll need the summer to balance all of the darkness in the story. It’s not exactly a happy one.
Stacey: I don’t mind an unhappy story if it is a good one. I just need to get past this summer thing, because my reading kind of tanks in the summer anyway and the chances of me picking up a chunkster like Dune in the summer is very minimal.
Fantastic mailbox madness…how fun!
The covers all look intriguing, some more than others.
Our Lady Of Darkness looks creepy, but is also the one that most intrigues me.
Loving a series can also set you up for disappointment, I sure do hope the Stainless Steel book lives up to your expectations.
So, when I first saw the cover for the Twilight Zone book, instantly a Golden Earring song came to mind, Twilight Zone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1sf2CzEq0w
Don’t why this song except that the “Help I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone” is very prominent in my mind.
You already know what book I am most looking forward to reading on its release date. Beyond, The Exile, I did recieve 3 books in the mail…all the same title, Dracula In Love, from the publisher. I won a giveaway, but am not understanding the multiple mailings. Trying to decide how I can contact them to correct their mistake.
Anyway, I do hope you enjoy all the reads.
Ibeeg: Its possible they meant to send you multiple copies for you to be able to do a blog giveaway. Hard telling, but I’ve had that happen before.
I think of that song often when I think of the Twilight Zone.