2011: The “Women of Fantasy” & “Women of Science Fiction” Book Clubs!
via Peta at Bookling
I’ve (already!) signed up for participation in two book clubs next year that I would like to mention here in case anyone else want to join in the fun too.
Firstly, Erika from Jawas Read, Too! is running the “Women of Fantasy” book club where each month we’ll be reading a book published by a female author in the Fantasy genre. The perfect accompaniment to this is that TJ, from Dreams & Speculations, is hosting “The Women of Science Fiction” book club. I think that both the reading lists look fantastic and I am really struggling to resist the temptation to dive in to the selection right now.
Read More here
Local author finds success in the vampire vein
By Jenna Pelletier at Providence Journal
In the last three years, much has changed for East Greenwich-based author Rebecca Maizel.
Back in 2007, she was studying for her master’s degree in creative writing at Rhode Island College by day and slinging drinks at the Mews Tavern by night. Now she’s publicizing her recently released first novel, “Infinite Days,” and has a contract with St. Martin’s Press to write two more.
“Infinite Days,” which had an impressive 100,000-copy first print run and will ultimately be published in more than 10 languages including Polish and Thai, is a young adult novel that follows Lenah Beaudonte as she transforms from vampire to human. In a nod to her home state, Maizel named another main character Rhode (and also because it “sounded regal”).
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The Steampunk Renaissance: Read Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate Saga and Become a Believer
by paulgoatallen at Barnes and Noble
When I posted a blog last year entitled “Gentlemen, Start Your Dirigibles! The Return of Steampunk,” the responses that I received were shockingly varied. Some readers had never even heard of the term before and were fascinated by the premise—postmodernistic fantasy, SF, and/or alternate history stories set largely in the 19th century that fuse scientific romanticism with Victorian aesthetics—while other intransigent steampunk aficionados refused to believe that the movement had ever faded away at all and had no qualms about letting me know about it!
But the last year or so has been a glorious time to be a fan of steampunk. The number of stellar—and innovative—steampunk releases has been nothing short of phenomenal, especially compared to the output over the last few decades: titles like Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (2009) and its sequel, the upcoming Dreadnought (2010); The Affinity Bridge by George Mann (2009); Whitechapel Gods by S.M. Peters (2008); and Gail Carriger’s utterly addictive Parasol Protectorate saga (Soulless, Changeless, and the recently released Blameless) have placed steampunk firmly in the consciousness of mainstream fantasy and science fiction readers.
Read More here
Oh, those bookclubs look fantastic! I think I might have to join the Sci Fi one. I’ll probably read the ones from the fantasy list as well. And to anybody who hasn’t checked out The Parasol Protectorate definitely should. They’re so good, and really funny. I’m halfway through the second one now.
Are you a fan of steampunk? What did you think of the bookclubs?
