In The BoSS this week, in ascending order: a dog... a dragon... not one but two MAUSES... and three - count 'em! - three Michaels.
What are the odds?
Wait, no, never mind the odds. What are the books?
What are the odds?
Wait, no, never mind the odds. What are the books?
***
MetaMAUS
Vital Statistics
Published in the UK
on 03/11/11
by Viking
Review Priority
5 (A Sure Thing)
The Blurb: Widely renowned as one of the greatest pieces of art and literature ever written about the holocaust, MAUS is adored by readers and studied in colleges and universities all over the world. But what led Art Spiegelman to tell his father's story in the first place? Why did he choose to depict the Jews as mice? How could a comic book confront the terror and brutality of the worst atrocity of the twentieth century?
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the book's first publication, MetaMAUS, prepared by the author, is a vital companion to the classic text and includes never-before-seen sketches, rough and alternate drafts, family and reference photos, notebook and diary entries and the transcript of his interviews with his father Vladek as well as a long interview with Art, in which he discusses the book's extraordinary history and origins. The book includes a brand new DVD packed with extra images, video and commentary.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the book's first publication, MetaMAUS, prepared by the author, is a vital companion to the classic text and includes never-before-seen sketches, rough and alternate drafts, family and reference photos, notebook and diary entries and the transcript of his interviews with his father Vladek as well as a long interview with Art, in which he discusses the book's extraordinary history and origins. The book includes a brand new DVD packed with extra images, video and commentary.
My Thoughts: Years and years ago, I went on a kick of important comics, reading, in the space of a single week, all of Watchmen, V for Vendetta and MAUS. I'm sure there were others, but I've forgotten them, and that surely speaks for itself. Of the three, I enjoyed MAUS the least; in the decade or so since, though, it's remained with me in a way neither of Alan Moore's graphic novels have.
This beautiful volume, which goes (if you will) behind the scenes of the conception and creation of Art Spiegelman's Nazi mouse masterpiece, arrived part and parcel with a copy of the astonishingly substantial 25th anniversary edition of MAUS, the better for me to refresh my recollection of the thing. Of course, strictly speaking I need no refresher course, and MetaMAUS is for its part perhaps a ways away from my comfort zone as a reviewer, but any old excuse.
This beautiful volume, which goes (if you will) behind the scenes of the conception and creation of Art Spiegelman's Nazi mouse masterpiece, arrived part and parcel with a copy of the astonishingly substantial 25th anniversary edition of MAUS, the better for me to refresh my recollection of the thing. Of course, strictly speaking I need no refresher course, and MetaMAUS is for its part perhaps a ways away from my comfort zone as a reviewer, but any old excuse.
The Dragons of Babel
Vital Statistics
Published in the US
on 11/10/11
by Tor
Review Priority
3 (We'll See)
The Blurb: A fantasy masterpiece from a five-time Hugo Award winner!
A war-dragon of Babel crashes in the idyllic fields of a post-industrialized Faerie and, dragging himself into the nearest village, declares himself king and makes young Will his lieutenant. Nightly, he crawls inside the young fey's brain to get a measure of what his subjects think. Forced out of his village, Will travels with female centaur soldiers, witnesses the violent clash of giants, and acquires a surrogate daughter, Esme, who has no knowledge of the past and may be immortal.
A war-dragon of Babel crashes in the idyllic fields of a post-industrialized Faerie and, dragging himself into the nearest village, declares himself king and makes young Will his lieutenant. Nightly, he crawls inside the young fey's brain to get a measure of what his subjects think. Forced out of his village, Will travels with female centaur soldiers, witnesses the violent clash of giants, and acquires a surrogate daughter, Esme, who has no knowledge of the past and may be immortal.
Evacuated to the Tower of Babel -- infinitely high, infinitely vulgar, very much like New York City -- Will meets the confidence trickster Nat Whilk. Inside the Dread Tower, Will becomes a hero to the homeless living in the tunnels under the city, rises as an underling to a haint politician, meets his one true love–a high-elven woman he dare not aspire to.
You've heard of hard SF: this is hard fantasy from a master of the form.
My Thoughts: Hard fantasy, eh? Well... alright.
Actually, having been quietly impressed by the Michael Swanwick short fiction I'd happened upon before now - including a stonker from last year's Stories: All-New Tales - I really was keen to read The Dragons of Babel. At least I was till it came through the door and I realised, to my dismay: it's a sequel. To The Iron Dragon's Daughter, which needless to say I haven't read.
On closer inspection, though, I gather it may not be a sequential sequel so much as another narrative set in the same world as The Iron Dragon's Daughter, which would be fine. And if that's the case, this is the very sort of book I can imagine myself coming to love. Can anyone out there put my mind at ease?
Theft of Swords
Vital Statistics
Published in the UK
on 03/11/11
by Orbit
Review Priority
4 (Pretty Bloody Likely)
The Blurb: The killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They made a bad decision.
Royce Melborn is a superb thief, his partner, Hadrian Blackwater is a skilled mercenary. Together they make a profitable living as agents-for-hire to wealthy nobles until someone sets them up to take the blame for the murder of the king. Captured and sentenced to death the two are saved by an unlikely woman with a simple demand that will change the lives of the thieves, the course of a kingdom, and the foundation of an empire.
Royce Melborn is a superb thief, his partner, Hadrian Blackwater is a skilled mercenary. Together they make a profitable living as agents-for-hire to wealthy nobles until someone sets them up to take the blame for the murder of the king. Captured and sentenced to death the two are saved by an unlikely woman with a simple demand that will change the lives of the thieves, the course of a kingdom, and the foundation of an empire.
My Thoughts: With The Riryia Revelations, of which I think Theft of Swords contains the first two books, Orbit are doing that thing again. That thing I can't decide if I adore or despise, where they publish - or republish, as in this case - a complete series over several consecutive months. Never yet have I been enamored enough by one of the fantasy sagas they've given this treatment to as to invest the time required during each release window, and afterwards it's tended to feel like yesterday's news, so...
That said, going in, I'm markedly more interested in this one than I have been any other. It's certainly been the talk of the town of late, and perhaps it'll help fill that old Scott Lynch void; who knows? I'll certainly give Theft of Swords a shot to see, with my fingers firmly crossed.
The Ascendant Stars
by Michael Cobley
Vital Statistics
Published in the UK
on 03/11/11
by Orbit
Review Priority
2 (It Could Happen)
The Blurb: Battle-ready factions converge above Darien, all with the same objective. The goal is control over this newly-discovered planet and access to the powerful weapons at its heart. Despotic Hegemony forces dominate much of known space and they want this world too, but Darien's inhabitants will fight for their future.
However, certainly players in this conflict aren't completely in control. Hostile AIs have infiltrated key minds and have an agenda, requiring nothing less than the destruction or subversion of all organic life. And they are near to unleashing their cohorts, a host of twisted machine intelligences caged beneath Darien. Fighting to contain them are Darien's hidden guardians, and their ancient ally the Construct, on a millennia-long mission to protect sentient species.
As the war reaches its peak, the AI army is roaring to the surface, to freedom and an orgy of destruction. Darien is first in line in a machine vs. human war - for life or the sterile dusts of space.
Of three? Don't ask me.
But please, do tell, if you know one way or the other. Because if I just so happen to be in possession of a complete trilogy here, mayhap I'll dig out my copy of The Orphaned Worlds and have at it. Could be fun.
The Iron Jackal
by Chris Wooding
Vital Statistics
Published in the UK
on 20/10/11
by Gollancz
Review Priority
3 (We'll See)
The Blurb: Things are finally looking good for Captain Frey and his crew. The Ketty Jay has been fixed up good as new. They've got their first taste of fortune and fame. And, just for once, nobody is trying to kill them.
Even Trinica Dracken, Frey's ex-fiancee and long-time nemesis, has given up her quest for revenge. In fact, she's offered them a job - one that will take them deep into the desert heart of Samarla, the land of their ancient enemies. To a place where the secrets of the past lie in wait for the unwary. Secrets that might very well cost Frey everything.
Join the crew of the Ketty Jay on their greatest adventure yet: a story of mayhem and mischief, roof-top chases and death-defying races, murderous daemons, psychopathic golems and a particularly cranky cat. The first time was to clear his name. The second time was for money. This time, Frey's in a race against the clock for the ultimate prize: to save his own life.
Even Trinica Dracken, Frey's ex-fiancee and long-time nemesis, has given up her quest for revenge. In fact, she's offered them a job - one that will take them deep into the desert heart of Samarla, the land of their ancient enemies. To a place where the secrets of the past lie in wait for the unwary. Secrets that might very well cost Frey everything.
Join the crew of the Ketty Jay on their greatest adventure yet: a story of mayhem and mischief, roof-top chases and death-defying races, murderous daemons, psychopathic golems and a particularly cranky cat. The first time was to clear his name. The second time was for money. This time, Frey's in a race against the clock for the ultimate prize: to save his own life.
My Thoughts: Crikey! Along comes The Iron Jackal, the third of Chris Wooding's Tales of the Ketty Jay, and I still have read The Black-Lung Captain, despite have huge amounts of fun with Retribution Falls in ye olden days (which is to say before I started the blog).
And here I am thinking I might commit to three books in three months by way of the Riryia Revelations, when clearly I can't even keep up with an annual schedule. Talk about setting myself up for a fall...
But fallen or not, I'm going to grab my copy of The Black-Lung Captain forthwith, and see if I still have an appetite for Captain Frey and the Ketty Jay. Can't see why I wouldn't! Should be good times.
And here I am thinking I might commit to three books in three months by way of the Riryia Revelations, when clearly I can't even keep up with an annual schedule. Talk about setting myself up for a fall...
But fallen or not, I'm going to grab my copy of The Black-Lung Captain forthwith, and see if I still have an appetite for Captain Frey and the Ketty Jay. Can't see why I wouldn't! Should be good times.
***
It's been quite a quiet week in the books received biz, so I'm thinking now might be a fine time to get caught up on my Chris Wooding, and maybe refamiliarise myself with MAUS, the better to appreciate what MetaMAUS has to offer, or not.
Beyond that? Well, Theft of Swords sounds good, but if someone can reassure me as to the status of The Dragons of Babel as a standalone fantasy, there's every chance I end up plumping for it instead. What can I say? Someone somewhere compared Michael Swanwick to China Mieville, and I am exactly that easy.
Beyond that? Well, Theft of Swords sounds good, but if someone can reassure me as to the status of The Dragons of Babel as a standalone fantasy, there's every chance I end up plumping for it instead. What can I say? Someone somewhere compared Michael Swanwick to China Mieville, and I am exactly that easy.
The Dragons of Babel isn't quite a sequel--it's set in the same world, but as far as I could tell none of the main characters had a role to play in the plot. I read Babel without having read the Iron Dragon's Daughter, and I found it totally comprehensible! As much as a world in which mechanical dragons, Vespas, cockatrices and any number of ridiculous ideas that exist in the same place can be comprehensible.
ReplyDeleteI actually really loved the Dragons of Babel, so you should definitely read it! It's pretty much the definition of an unappreciated classic.
@wescotta - That's pretty much exactly what I'd been hoping to hear! Thank you, sir. :)
ReplyDeleteSo The Dragons of Babel should be next on the agenda, just as soon as I'm through with these poor, poor rodents and one particularly exciting new arrival. Maus has left me a bit down in the dumps, truth be told, but a mechanical dragon sounds like the perfect medicine.