Posts Tagged ‘epic fantasy’

Epic Fantasy Revitalised: The King’s Blood by Daniel Abraham

An axe against a blood-red sky‘I’m trying to write a series that does what epic fantasy does best,’ Daniel Abraham explained in January 2011. ‘I want to play to the genre’s strengths. And that means I want that sense of fantasy. I want the reader to come into this magical goblin market full of grotesques and exotics.’

The result of Daniel’s endeavours was THE DRAGON’S PATH [UK | US | ANZ] – the first book in The Dagger and the Coin series. It’s a novel that veers away from many of the stale tropes of the genre – there are no farmboys destined for greatness, no dark lords or flashy magic. Yet at the same time it’s an epic fantasy in every sense of the term, full of deadly politics, battles and ancient secrets – all delivered with Daniel’s accomplished characterisation and subtle worldbuilding.

The critics more than agreed; there were many glowing reviews, but perhaps the one that offers the best summary is Aidan’s from A Dribble of Ink.  ‘A tremendous novel,’ Aidan announced, going on to say, ‘Abraham deftly mixes the classic foundations of the genre with a sophistication expected of him and rarely found in the work of his compatriots.’

The story that began in THE DRAGON’S PATH is now continued in THE KING’S BLOOD [UK | US | ANZ], out now in trade paperback – and the great news for fans is that you’ve seen nothing yet. In this second book of The Dagger and the Coin series, Daniel wastes no time in cranking up the tension and suspense. The result is an exciting, unpredictable tale of a kingdom in crisis. The power games still continue, but players who thought they were safe now find themselves in trouble. Enemies become friends and friends become enemies. Battles are fought, blood is spilled, and heads roll.

Yet at the same time we’re allowed a deeper look at this fascinating world that Daniel has created: a world where the jade roads of the long-gone Dragon Empire still crisscross the land, where the thirteen races of humanity share a common history but remain divided, and where economics can be just as effective as warfare. A world where something that has been forgotten won’t remain hidden for much longer.

As before, the critical reaction has been hugely positive.

The King’s Blood is the real deal, and cements The Dagger and the Coin as one of the best new Fantasy series in recent years. If you’re looking for something to read while you wait for the next George R. R. Martin book, Abraham’s series is sure to satisfy” – A Dribble of Ink

A very fine epic fantasy novel . . . a fast, addictive read that elevates The Dagger and the Coin into the position of one of the finest in-progress fantasy series around at the moment” – The Wertzone (5* review)

I would happily read a couple of dozen volumes of this one if Abraham keeps the quality as phenomenally high as he has done so far. Absolutely massive recommendation as my favourite adult book of the year so far, my favourite fantasy book for many years, and the best adult series I’m currently reading by a long way” – The Bookbag (5* review)

You can find an excerpt of THE KING’S BLOOD here. For a look behind the scenes at the cover design process – warning: involves an exciting amount of weaponry – check out our recent video.

Daniel Abraham is the author of the critically-acclaimed Long Price Quartet. He also writes urban fantasy under the guise of M. L. N. Hanover, and is the James half of James S. A. Corey, author of the Hugo-nominated LEVIATHAN WAKES [UK | US | ANZ]. He can be found online both at his website and on Twitter.

Cover launch: The new-look Terry Brooks

Wards of Faerie - the new title from bestselling master of fantasy Terry Brooks - endorsed by Christopher PaoliniToday we’re very excited to unveil a brand new cover look for one of the biggest and best-selling names in epic fantasy. In the words of Christopher Paolini:

‘If you haven’t read Terry Brooks, you haven’t read fantasy.’

And if you haven’t read  Terry Brooks yet – this is the perfect place to start! He’s writing at the top of his game, and I was just bowled over by this manuscript when it came in.

Set in Terry’s original and most popular core Shannara world (the one which fans have been begging him to return to for years) the new Dark Legacy of Shannara series is perfect both for steadfast Terry Brooks readers, and those discovering the world of Shannara for the first time.

Book 1, Wards of Faerie is released in just a few months’ time on 23rd August.

We hope you’ll agree that the fantasy illustrator Stephen Youll has done an awesome job on this dragon skull (who wants one on their wall? I do!!).

Don’t forget that you can also get hold of the paperback edition of Terry’s previous novel, The Measure of the Magic (UK / ANZ), on 2nd Aug 2012.

Check out a cover close-up and more information on Wards of Faerie below. (more…)

Cover Story: THE KING’S BLOOD by DANIEL ABRAHAM

WEAPONS! Where might one go to procure something if  …  say… you wanted to reenact the Knights of the Round Table, or Edward James Olmos in Miami Vice*, or find an axe for the cover of Daniel Abrahan’s THE KING’S BLOOD? You go to Weapons Specialists in downtown (or downton if you want to be chi chi) Manhattan. Which is what I did one blistering hot day last summer. Check out the video of my visit and revel in the fact that the folks who work there have THE BEST JOB in the world. I would like to apologize in advance for the rather large sweat stains I’m sporting in the video. It’s like my armpits had a pool party the rest of the body wasn’t invited to. So… yea.

I had very specific details for the axe and the final weapon needed to scream warrior. In other words, the axe needed to look used. Obviously this combination of elements isn’t something that you just find off the interwebs, so I needed to create the final image from composites of multiple weapons.

After leaving Weapon’s Specialists with a rifle case full of medieval cutlery, which by the way is really surreal carrying through Grand Central, I needed to photograph everything and start working on what you see on the final book. Here are the weapons I got to play with.

 
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THE HEIR OF NIGHT on Gemmell Awards Shortlist – Vote Now!

The cover for Helen Lowe's Gemmell Awards shortlisted Heir of NightWe’re all so pleased to announce that Helen Lowe’s THE HEIR OF NIGHT has been shortlisted for a David Gemmell Award! Our biggest congratulations to Helen, and we’re keeping everything crossed for the final awards announcement on 15th June, even though it’s pretty hard to type on the blog with crossed fingers!

If you liked THE HEIR OF NIGHT then please do go and vote for Helen at the Gemmell Awards website. It’s as easy as just one click! There’s no need to sign up, although if you’d like to be a Gemmell Awards member then you can get a free account and become part of the discussion.

There are five books on the shortlist, and voting closes on 31st May 2012, 12 Noon GMT. 

Which Daniel Abraham book is best for you?

Whether it’s writing urban fantasy as M. L. N. Hanover, epic fantasy under his ‘real’ name, or space opera as one half of James S. A. Corey (the ‘James’ part, apparently), there’s no doubt that Daniel Abraham is a man of many talents – and many guises.

This invariably leads to two questions: why the various names, and where should you begin your Daniel Abraham experience?

We can help you with the second question, but first let’s have Daniel himself answer the first:

I recognize that my take on working with a different name for each different project is a little idiosyncratic, but it’s not exactly unprecedented.  Richard Stark and Donald Westlake, for instance, were openly the same guy writing very different kinds of books.  The name on the cover is one of the best ways to let people know what kind of ride they’re signing on for, and that can avoid a lot of disappointment later.  There’s a price to pay in that folks who like the things I do under one name might have to dig a little to find all the other stuff, but in the age of the Internet, it’s a pretty low investigative bar to clear.  I think the tradeoff’s worth it.

 There are also writers I know, like, and admire who don’t like the idea of putting a name on their work that isn’t the one they go by in the world.  Now, I know all writers are egoists, myself very much included, but that particular kink isn’t one I have.  I don’t care what name we put on the cover as long as I can be proud the work that went into it.

 There is another idea that if you know you like Stephen King (or Jeanette Winterson or Sebastian Junger — the model holds true for everyone), you’re already better primed to like one of their books when you pick them up.  I think that if the name of the author is what makes a book good, it isn’t a good book.

Many thanks to Daniel for the explanation! Now to the second question: which Daniel Abraham book is best for you? Read on and find out. (more…)

Epic Fantasy Interview Swap – Helen Lowe interviews Ian Irvine

April’s such a great month for epic fantasy fans, with the release of both Ian Irvine’s VENGEANCE and Helen Lowe’s THE GATHERING OF THE LOST! We wanted to celebrate by doing something a bit different on the blog –  and we thought: ‘Who better to interview a fantasy author than another fantasy author?’

This is the first part of that interview, in which Helen interviews Ian about his new series The Tainted Realm. Look out for the second part, when Ian interviews Helen, this time next week!

Click through to hear all about Ian’s pet hates in fantasy, how his background as a marine scientist affects his writing, and also just what’s wrong with magic in Harry Potter…

This image shows both the cover of Vengeance and the cover of The Gathering of the Lost (more…)

Cover Launch: RED COUNTRY by JOE ABERCROMBIE

 

So, yesterday I got about a bajillion tweets and emails after the cover leak saying in general, “WTF NO ABERCROMBIE?!” Nothing I like more than enthusiastic fans. I’m sorry, we just weren’t ready in time for the cover leak. But what a difference a day makes! So here, feast your ravenous curiosity on the cover for RED COUNTRY. I know there’s been heated speculation over the cast of characters to be expected, and I have to admit, I think our cover lets a very serious cat out of the bag. Whew, glad to release that, the security around this has been intense.

Here’s a bit of teaser to get you guys even more excited:

Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell, her brother and sister stolen, and knows she’ll have to go back to her bad old ways if she’s ever to see them again. She sets off in pursuit with only her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out he’s hiding a bloody past of his own. None bloodier.

Their journey will take them across the lawless plains, to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feuds, duels, and massacres, high into unmapped mountains to a reckoning with ancient enemies, and force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, a man no one should ever have to trust . . . .

Red Country is out in hardcover November 2012!

And here’s all the covers together, click to see them biggified:

  

I’m super excited to be able to continue our new US cover style from the trade paperbacks of The Heroes and Best Served Cold into the hardcover of Red Country. These have been the most epic photo shoots I’ve ever participated in, and Michael Frost and Gene Mollica have done an excellent job casting, styling, and producing fantastic images. The model for this shoot was particularly into the shoot, having been Pierce Brosnan’s Bond stunt double! Extra credit.

We were so focused on getting the cover exactly right (moar blood! moar dirt! big pointy sword!) that I couldn’t do a video of the shoot, but I do have some fun behind-the-scenes pictures I can share…some days, my job is unbelievably awesome, I can’t deny.

Breakfast (and Weaponry) of Champions
Tricks of the Epic Fantasy Trade
Arming Up
Live Capture as we're shooting helps me envision covers

 

New Epic Fantasy – THE GATHERING OF THE LOST – Out Today!

The cover for Helen Lowe's fantasy novel Gathering of the Lost

THE GATHERING OF THE LOST comes out today! 

It’s the second installment in Helen Lowe’s epic fantasy series The Wall of Night, and it’s out now in ebook and print.

 You can read the first chapter here on orbitbooks.net.

It’s the day you’ve been waiting for ever since finishing THE HEIR OF NIGHT (UK|ANZ) – and if you haven’t read that yet, what’s stopping you? There are no excuses for not reading this fantastic series, that Robin Hobb called: ‘A richly told tale of strange magic, dark treachery and conflicting loyalties, set in a well-realised world.’

To celebrate the release, Helen’s got lots of giveaways on her website today – you could win signed books, signed posters and even have a character named after you in the next book, DAUGHTOR OF BLOOD!

THE GATHERING OF THE LOST (UK|ANZ)

SHE WILL NOT STAND ALONE

Five years after the Darkswarm assault on her stronghold home, Malian of Night remains missing, believed dead in the wilds of Jaransor.

But not all accept her death and now her enemies are on the hunt. Suspicion falls on the heralds Terathan and Jehane, who find themselves caught in a web of intrigue and murder during the Ijiri Festival of Masks. They flee bearing word of a death on the wall – and a call to duty and honour that Malian must answer or be foresworn . . .

Introducing THE RED KNIGHT …

THE RED KNIGHT is a book that any hot-blooded fantasy fan will find pretty hard to resist. You’ll be hearing a lot more about Miles Cameron’s amazing debut over the coming months, but to whet your appetite here’s a little something about the story and an exclusive – yes, exclusive – first look at the US cover.  Read on for all the gritty details.

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Glenda Larke on Aurealis Awards Shortlist

The cover for Glenda Larke's fantasy novel Stormlord's ExileCongratulations to Glenda Larke, whose STORMLORD’S EXILE has been shortlisted for Best Fantasy Novel by the Aurealis Awards – the awards for excellence in Australian speculative fiction.

This is the third novel in Glenda’s Stormlord trilogy to make the list!

Trent Jamieson’s THE BUSINESS OF DEATH also receives an ‘honourable mention’ for Best Horror Novel, although as yet there’s no shortlist for this category.

The awards will be announced on the 12th of May . . .