Archive for Reviews
Giant Thief – it just gets better and better
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Plenty of love rolling in for David Tallerman’s energetic debut novel, Giant Thief:
SFX Magazine says:
Breathless pace… Damasco resembles a landlocked version of Jack Sparrow… The atypical backdrop,self-aware style and downplaying of magics bring to mind the contemporary fantasies of Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie.
Meanwhile, Starburst had this to say:
I’m finding it hard to dislike anything about this book. It’s a fun, entertaining read, everything a good story should be… David Tallerman’s first novel is a gripping yarn, one that is difficult to put down once started, and this reviewer is eagerly awaiting the next tale of Easie Damasco.
Over at A Fantastical Librarian, they confidently state that
If you’re up for a fun, fast-paced adventure featuring rogues, giants and lots of fighting, you won’t want to miss it!
and Publishers Weekly tells us:
“Best known for an eclectic variety of short stories, Tallerman debuts with a breezy novel of a man with his eye on the prize … Tallerman’s charming, devil-may-care hero has plenty of swashbuckling roguishness to carry him through the planned sequels.”
And Fantasy Nibbles was impressed, too:
This really is a fun read. Saltlick is adorable, I want one! It’s straightforward, linear, smack down the middle fast-paced goodness.
Giant Thief is released in mass market paperback in the US and Canada on January 31st, and in the UK on February 2nd. The eBook is released worldwide on January 31st in ePub and Kindle formats.
Guardian and Financial Times reviews
Posted by: | CommentsA couple of excellent reviews in the papers, today.
First up – City of Light and Shadow by Ian Whates, reviewed by Eric Brown in the Guardian:
Whates has developed an intriguing metropolis every bit as fascinating as his varied cast of characters… Compulsively readable.
And Empire State by Adam Christopher reviewed by James Lovegrove for the Financial Times:
Suffused with a love for noir fiction and the golden age of American comic books, Christopher’s Empire State is something of a tour de force. If, somehow, Raymond Chandler and Philip K Dick had collaborated on a Superman story, they might well have produced this novel.
Click on the links to read the full reviews, then go buy/order from your favourite indie, chain, or online retailer (including the Angry Robot eBook Store).
14 reasons you should read Debris and Darkness Falling
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Both books out now in paperback and eBook formats.
“Debris is a strong, exciting debut that took me by surprise with its unique setting, interesting main character, and powerful “fight your way back to the top” narrative.”
- Tor.com
“The world building is spectacular with a concept that’s amazingly simple yet wonderfully constructed and when added to some decent characterisation it’s a title that really does make you think… this debut is pretty impressive.”
- Falcata Times
““Debris is a fast read, and very well put together. I was immersed in its world at every stage, and fascinated by its characters. Tanyana may be too proud for her own good, but Jo Anderton has written a novel she deserves to take pride in.”
- Warpcore SF
“Jo Anderton combines elements of steampunk with her own unique vision to create something striking. Debris is a first novel NOT to be missed.”
– Marianne de Pierres, award winning author of the Parish Plessis and Sentients of Orion series.
“Anderton demonstrates a mastery of storytelling and world building in this series opener that is reminiscent of the visionary works of China Miéville. This accomplished debut novel should enjoy a wide readership.”
- Library journal
“I did enjoy living within this very richly crafted world that the author presents in Debris and the magical system is not only pretty unique but such a great idea too.”
- SF Books Review
“If you want a novel that will sweep you up and take you to another world where a kick-ass heroine will do battle to right wrongs and save her planet, then you are going to thoroughly enjoy Debris! I know I did!”
- Popcorn Reads
“Crowther’s twisted rapture is a fast-paced, character-driven, funny, gruesome apocalypse.”
- Stephen Baxter, author of Flood and Stone Spring
“I was reminded of the best of Stephen King. It’s the smartest and most compelling end-of-the-world alien-zombie story I have ever read.”
- Adam Roberts, author of By Light Alone and Yellow Blue Tibia
“This book is told with a sure hand and careful attention to detail; it’s frightening where it should be, sensitive where it should be, and enthralling throughout.”
- Mike Resnick, author of the Starship series, and the John Justin Mallory Mysteries
“Peter Crowther is crafting the first great post-apocalyptic saga of the new century, one that may dwarf even such a benchmark work as The Stand.”
- Lucius Shepard, author of The Golden and Life During Wartime
“Anything that has Pete Crowther’s fingerprints on it is evidence of quality. Snap it up.”
- Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Drive-In series and Bubba Ho-Tep
“As intensely menacing and gruesome as any George Romero film. A virtuoso ‘tour de force’ by Pete Crowther.”
- Ramsey Campbell, author of The Grin of the Dark and Thieving Fear
“His writing is master storytelling at its finest — gripping, chilling and beautifully told.”
- Sarah Pinborough, author of the Dog-Faced Gods trilogy and The Language of Dying
Angry Robot Week at The Secret Lair
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The Secret Lair is a bit of a misnomer – it’s actually really easy to find – here, for example. Not much of a secret, really, but we don’t mind – we’d prefer you to be able to actually find it. Partly because it’s a great blog, and partly because this week they’re running an Angry Robot Week.
Every day this week you’ll find reviews, interviews and commentary on some of the things Angry Robot are up to. For example:
There’s a Haiku Contest, where you can win five cool Angry Robot books.
There’s a review of the classic Morlock Night (recently reprinted by Angry Robot).
There’s an overview of our Nano Editions (short stories by our authors).
And today there’s an interview with Empire State author, Adam Christopher.
Go visit them every day this week for further goodies.
First Review of Reality 36
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Reality 36 by Guy Haley is definitely one of our favourite science fiction titles of the year, and the first reviewer agrees with us!
While Robopocalypse is this year’s hottest robot release… Reality 36 is a superior novel in almost every way.
But why?
[The application of technology] just makes sense… This reality (so far as science fiction goes) is what makes the book so compelling. It’s an actual glimpse into the future as much as it’s a mystery yarn and an action thriller. Isn’t that what Science Fiction is all about?
He won’t get any arguments from us…
When bullets aren’t flying I felt like I was having a discussion with the author about the implications the Singularity will have on humanity. And that’s cool.
As I was reading the novel I was comparing it favorably to another debut from earlier this year – Hannu Rajaniemi’s The Quantum Thief. They really aren’t similar in any way other than they read with a similar pace and absence of information dumping (a pet peeve of mine).
Guy Haley has really produced a first rate robot novel. Angry Robot Books keeps churning out great additions in speculative fiction.
Awww, shucks!
You can read the full review at Staffer’s Musings.
Five reasons why you *must* read Hard Spell
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1) “My name’s Markowski. I carry a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.” I mean, come on!
2) “it’s an exemplary example of an urban fantasy story and I can’t wait to read more in the series.” (S F Book, 5***** review)
3) “Whoa. Justin Gustainis has given us a fast-paced, brutal and bloody urban fantasy that kept the hits coming.” (Reading the Paranormal, review)
4) “this has to be one of the must read new releases this Summer.” (Amberkatze, review)
5) “I enjoyed every page of Hard Spell. If Sam Spade and Jack Fleming were somehow melted together, you’d get Stan Markowski. I can’t wait to see what Gustainis does next.” (Lilith Saintcrow, author of Night Shift and Working for the Devil)
SAMPLE CHAPTER
Click for full-screen. You can embed the free samples in your own site – just copy the code (by clicking on the “menu” button in the bottom right corner of the sample, and selecting “Copy embed code”) into your site.
The first in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigation series:
Hard Spell is available in the UK (and worldwide as an eBook) from July 7th, and in the US/Canada from the 26th. Pre-order now, or we’ll sulk.
The World House: Restoration – The first review (hint: 10 out of 10)
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In a classic example of premature exhilaration, The Traveler has posted the very first review of Restoration by our very own Guy Adams at The Traveler’s Steampunk Blog (note: Restoration isn’t steampunk, though):
I cannot help but wonder what is going on in Guy’s mind… The storyline of Restoration interlocks with The World House on several occasions and the revelations you get from it are frightning.
fast-paced, gripping and terrifying
Restoration is one frightningly good book. I was enthralled by it from the first page… I actually briefly considered skipping work because I could not put it down
10 out of 10
Restoration is published in the UK on July 7th and in the US and Canada on July 26th.
If you haven’t yet read The World House, then now’s a great time to grab yourself a copy before Restoration hits the shelves!
Embedded and The Damned Busters – reviewed
Posted by: | CommentsDan Abnett’s superior military SF novel Embedded continues to garner praise, as does Matthew Hughes’ wonderfully funny The Damned Busters.
First up, Embedded, reviewed at Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review:
I don’t know anyone who does military sci-fi better… When the ‘military’ part of this military sci-fi kicks in, Dan Abnett really brings his ‘A Game’ to the table and you are immediately caught up in a rush of fire fights, espionage and explosions… Abnett delivers the kind of pulsating military sci-fi that we all know he can. Fans of Abnett will lap this one up and fans of military sci-fi in general should check it out anyway.
Eight and a Quarter out of Ten
Next, The Damned Busters reviewed at Ginger Nuts of Horror (no, really):
A good six hours later I realised I still had all the house work to do, and I really should go and pick up the boy child from school. Yes the book is that good… Hughes writing is both funny and clever, with some great descriptive passages. he has a style that instantly hooks the reader, that manages to balance the fine line between being a funny novel, and novel that is just full of jokes…
I will be picking up the next instalment of this series without a doubt. A highly recommended read.
‘Nuff said.
The Damned Busters – Guardian review
Posted by: | CommentsMatthew Hughes has a gem of a book on his hands with The Damned Busters – and the Guardian newspaper agrees:
This is a funny and surprisingly endearing book with some interesting discussions about the role of sin and our reactions to it.
And it’s out now in the UK and at the end of this month in the US and Canada. You can read a sample, here.
Four Star Reviews in SFX for Embedded and Camera Obscura
Posted by: | CommentsGreat reviews for Embedded (Dan Abnett) and Camera Obscura (Lavie Tidhar) in this month’s SFX magazine. Both get four stars!
Embedded:
Abnett gives the story an effectively dark, noir-ish tone, building up an intruiging backstory as well as adding in some genuinely surprising plot twists… a smart and savvy military thriller to be reckoned with.
and Camera Obscura:
The plot careers breathlessly through locations, characters and fascinating concepts. There are genuine shocks along the way and the lucid, compelling prose pulls you through.
At Karissa’s Reading Review, there’s also great write-up of Lavie’s steampunk romp:
The characters are interesting and unique… and the mystery and action absolutely spot on… If you like dark stories, with a little amibiguity, and a lot of strange this is definitely the book for you. 4.5 / 5
Embedded is available in the US and Canada now. The limited edition hardback is available Forbidden Planet in the UK, and the trade paperback is released in the UK on April 28th.
Camera Obscura is available in the UK now, and in the US and Canada on April 26th.
EasterCon
Dan and Lavie will both be at EasterCon the weekend after next, and part of a mass Angry Robot launch and signing event. If you’re there, pop along (4.00pm) and get your books signed. If you’re in the Birmingham area but not at the convention, Dan and Lavie will be at Waterstones in the High Street from 12.30 until 2.00 (along with a whole host of other Angry Robot authors).
