last reads

Shadow and Claw by Gene Wolfe Publishing information: Paperback; 419pgs Publisher: Orb Books; 15 Oct 1994 ISBN: 9780312890179 Series: The Book of the New Sun 1 & 2 Copy: Out of Pocket Reviewer: Tyson Amazon Synopsis: "The Book of the New Sun is unanimously acclaimed as Gene Wolfe's most remarkable work, hailed as "a masterpiece of science fantasy comparable in importance to the major works of Tolkien and Lewis" by Publishers Weekly, and "one of the most ambitious works of speculative fiction in the twentieth century" by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Shadow & Claw brings together the first two books of the tetralogy in one volume: The Shadow of the Torturer is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession -- showing mercy toward his victim. The Claw of the Conciliator continues the saga of Severian, banished from his home, as he und...

Thou Shalt Do No Murder by Kenn Harper Iqaluit, NU: Nunavut Arctic College Media, 2017. ISBN 978-1-879568-49-1 Reviewed by Jonathan Dore For more than thirty years Kenn Harper has been writing historical books and journalism that skilfully combine the archival sources available in southern Canada with the rich oral histories of the Inuit, among whom he has lived for half a century. In doing so he’s shown the journalist’s unerring instinct for finding compelling human stories that are emblematic of the cultural exchange, and often cultural collision, between the two. But he’s also shown the historian’s ability to step back from his immediate subject, seeking its roots in the longer term and the broader view, with an impressively unpartisan sympathy for all the characters, Inuit and European, who fall within his view. In 1986 he first told the story of Minik, the Inuit boy swept along in the wake of Robert Peary’s polar monomania ( Give Me My Father’s Body, republished in a new and much...

A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden Publishing information: Hardback; 320pgs Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 20 June 2017 ISBN: 9780312372941 Possible series Copy: Provided by publisher Reviewer: Tyson Amazon Synopsis: "To the Danes, he is skraelingr; to the English, he is orcneas; to the Irish, he is fomoraig. He is Corpse-maker and Life-quencher, the Bringer of Night, the Son of the Wolf and Brother of the Serpent. He is Grimnir, and he is the last of his kind--the last in a long line of monsters who have plagued humanity since the Elder Days. Drawn from his lair by a thirst for vengeance against the Dane who slew his brother, Grimnir emerges into a world that's changed. A new faith has arisen. The Old Ways are dying, and their followers retreating into the shadows; even still, Grimnir's vengeance cannot be denied. Taking a young Christian hostage to be his guide, Grimnir embarks on a journey that takes him from the hinterlands of Denmark, where the wisdom of the ancient ...

The stellar debut of Nicholas Eames, Kings of the Wyld,  has been very popular since its publication earlier this year. Tyson and I loved it ( here's Tyson's review , and here's mine ). Orbit recently revealed the cover of the much anticipated follow up, Bloody Rose . It is another great cover by the amazing  Richard Anderson :  Live fast, die young.   Tam Hashford has always dreamed of living through glory days of her own. With a renowned mercenary for a mother and an illustrious bard for a father, battles and adventure seem the only way to really live.   So when she learns that the most revered mercenary crew in Grandual is in need of a bard, she grabs her lute and goes on tour. Led by the infamous Bloody Rose, Tam and her new band embark on a mission that will earn them everlasting fame — or certain death.   It’s time to take a walk on the wyld side.   Bloody Rose will be released on July 10, 2018 . 

Luna: New Moon by Ian McDonald Publishing information: Paperback; 398pgs Publisher: Tor Books; 22 Sept 2015 ISBN: 9780765375513 Series: Luna #1 Copy: Out of Pocket Reviewer: Tyson Synopsis: "The Moon wants to kill you. Maybe it will kill you when the per diem for your allotted food, water, and air runs out, just before you hit paydirt. Maybe it will kill you when you are trapped between the reigning corporations-the Five Dragons-in a foolish gamble against a futuristic feudal society. On the Moon, you must fight for every inch you want to gain. And that is just what Adriana Corta did. As the leader of the Moon's newest "dragon," Adriana has wrested control of the Moon's Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family's new status. Now, in the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation-Corta Helio-confronted by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana's five...

The Death of Dulgath by Michael J Sullivan Publishing Information: Paperback; 448 pgs Publisher: Riyria Enterprises; 1 Dec 2015 ISBN: 9781943363001 Series: Riyria Chronicles #3 Copy: Kickstarter out of pocket Reviewer: Tyson Synopsis: "Three times they tried to kill her. Then a professional was hired. So was Riyria. When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria is hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and the cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start life as rogues-for-hire. Things have gone well enough until they're asked to help prevent a murder. Now they must venture into an ancient corner of the world to save a mysterious woman who knows more about Royce than is safe and cares less about herself than is sane. From the best-selling author of The Riyria Revelations comes the third installment of The Riyria Chronicles. Although part of a series, it's designed to thrill ...