YetiStomper Picks for May

As winter enters its eight month, I'm buried in yet another a blizzard of books. Come back summer!

Embassytown - China Mieville

Standalone SF Novel - Mieville continues his trend of literary eclecticism with Embassytown, a high concept SF thriller set in a wondrous far future where humanity has encountered beings so strange the word "alien" can't do them justice. As Avice Benner Cho (alphabet pun anyone?) returns to Embassytown she finds she has become a figure of speech in the universally unique language of the Ariekei - a language she can't even comprehend. From their... Ok, I give up...  Like any Mieville novel, it's hard to summarize the book in just a few non-nonsensical lines. Just know that Embassytown is a thought-provoking meditation on language, conflict, and incomprehensible otherness executed in mind-melting fashion like only Mieville can. (May 17 from Del Rey)

The Quantum Thief - Hannu Rajaniemi

The Quantum Thief Trilogy, Book 1 - Finnish author Hannu Rajaniemi bursts onto the genre scene with the biggest SF debut of the year. Genre giant Charles Stross not only called The Quantum Thief "the best first SF novel I've read in many years," he went so far as to say "I think Hannu's going to revolutionize hard SF when he hits his stride. Hard to admit, but I think he's better at this stuff than I am." And it's hard not to agree; The Quantum Thief is pure idea concentrate. Rajaniemi packs so many intriguing thoughts into his work that he's forced to throw away concepts that lesser SF authors would frame entire books around. (May 10 from Tor)

Fuzzy Nation - John Scalzi

Standalone SF Novel - A compulsively readable collision of tightly plotted legal thriller and idea-centric science fiction, Fuzzy Nation evokes fond memories of a simpler era of storytelling. Fuzzy Nation is a reimagining of H. Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy updated for 21st century audiences by fan-favorite SF author John Scalzi. Followers of his popular blog will undoubtedly be drawn to snarktacular protagonist Jack Holloway as he battles corporate douchebaggery in all its forms. Read my full review for more on Scalzi's unputdownable summer blockbuster. (May 10 from Tor)

Eclipse Four - Jonathan Strahan, ed.

Original Short Fiction Anthology, Volume 4 - It's about time. Eclipse Four was pushed from last year's publishing slate for unknown reasons and I feared we might have seen the last of Strahan's excellent anthology series. But things got back on track, the ToC looks great, and Strahan is already hinting at a fifth volume. With strong stories from top to bottom, the only recurring theme is the lack thereof. If you are looking for quality genre authors outside your typical reading patterns, the Eclipse anthology series is one of the best ways to discover some spectacular authors you might not have encountered before. (May 3 from Night Shade Books)

Camera Obscura - Lavie Tidhar

World of The Bookman, Book 2 - While not a sequel per se, Tidhar returns to the world of 2009's much lauded The Bookman for yet another Steampunk story. Camera Obscura moves the action from London to Paris, where Quiet Council agent Lady De Winter is tasked with solving a gruesome murder in the Rue Morgue. May looks to be a Steampunk heavy month and Camera Obscura may be the best of the bunch. (April 26 from Angry Robot)

Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti - Genevieve Valentine

Tales of the Circus Tresaulti, Book 1 - Or maybe it's not. I'll let Genevieve Valentine take this one herself: "The Mechanical Circus Tresaulti travels the landscape of a ruined country under the spectre of war, but when two of its performers become locked in a battle of wills, the circus's own past may be the biggest threat of all." Is there anything more bizarre than a fantastical circus? Yes, a steampunk one. After three years of promising shorts, Valentine delivers a debut novel as strange as it is fascinating. Grab your seats now, the show is about to begin. (May 10 from Prime Books)

Degrees of Freedom - Simon Morden

Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy, Book 3 - If things weren't complicated when we left Samuil Petrovitch after April's Theories of Flight, they certainly are now. Artificial intelligence is running amok, Neo-Armageddeonists are determined to blow up the world (again), and Petrovitch has not one but two love interests, both of which may or may not want him dead. It's pretty much par for the course as Orbit wraps up Simon Morden's action packed trilogy with the third paperback volume in three months. (May 31 from Orbit)

Hounded - Kevin Hearne

The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1 - Somehow, someway, authors keep breathing life into the all but played out Urban Fantasy scene. The most recent resuscitator is Kevin Hearne whose first novel, Hounded, combines Celtic mythology with the more typical tropes of werewolves and vampires. Twenty-one-hundred-year-old Atticus O' Sullivan has been on the run for centuries, fleeing a Celtic god who for whatever reason suspects that O' Sullivan might have a magic sword that doesn't belong to him. Spoiler Alert: He does. When that vengeful deity finally tracks down Atticus in modern-day Arizona, it will take every thing he's learned in his 766,500 days on this planet just to be sure he lives to see one more. Diverse and dynamic, Hounded is our introduction to the Iron Druid Chronicles, the first three of which will be published back-to-back-to-back in May/June/July. (May 3 from Del Rey)

America Pacifica - Anna North

Standalone - Alternatively, if you've grown tired of vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures, Anna North's America Pacifica may be the May book for you. Skewing more toward the literary end of the genre spectrum, her dystopic coming of age tale combines pop culture and politics in a futuristic story with its roots firmly in the present. North draws from Lord of the Flies, 1984, TV's Lost, and half a dozen other stories in a dark but expertly crafted debut that should appeal to readers between 15 and 25.

Infernal Devices - K.W. Jeter

Standalone - Angry Robot is republishing Jeter's classic tale of clockwork chaos with a beautiful new cover. If you're a fan of the copper and brass books that have been rolling off production lines recently, you owe it to yourself to read one of the Steampunk stories that started it all. (April 26 from Angry Robot)

Morlock Night - K.W. Jeter

Standalone - Ever wonder what happened to the temporal travelers of The Time Machine after they escaped the clutches of the manical Morlocks? K.W. Jeter did too which was what led him to author Morlock Nights, a continuation of the story started in H.G. Wells' timeless (no pun intended) classic. In what might be the first ever home and home SF series, the far future Morlocks invade 19th century Victorian England and it's up to an intrepid band of English adventurers to save the day. Like Infernal Devices, Morlock Night is being republished and recovered by Angry Robot. (April 26 from Angry Robot)

The Falling Machine - Andrew P. Mayer

The Society of Steam, Book 1 - The steampunk deluge contiues with The Falling Machine, a debut novel from long time video game consultant, Andrew P. Mayer. Mayer reimagines a version of late 19th century New York in which superheroes exist, their extraordinary abilities sustained by a mysterious substance coveted by all. Before long, 20-year-old protagonist Sarah Stanton finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that runs deeper than anyone expects. When are people going to learn not to ask questions in abstract societies that appear to good to be true? (May 24 from Pyr)

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YetiStomper Pick Of The Month: Like most months, the YetiStomper Pick for May comes down to a pair of worthy contenders. A few other authors might be challengers someday but for now the title card is set - Embassytown vs. Fuzzy Nation.

These are two extremely different novels linked only by their exquisite execution. Scalzi's reboot is the quicker book, a leaner, faster, meaner adaptation of Piper's original. Hit the bathroom now, grab a fresh beer and let the anthropomorphic dog out - once that bell rings, you won't be able to tear yourself away. So don't be surprised if Scalzi turns out to be the fan favorite in this one. He knows what you bought that ticket to see and makes sure Fuzzy Nation is more than worth the price of admission.

But in the other corner lurks the genre giant, China Mieville, a man who reinvents his fighting style with every bout. Balancing a heavyweight's power with a featherweight's touch, Mieville's prose will come at you in ways you'd never expect and inevitably leave you reeling on the floor. It's only a matter of time before he lands a haymaker of unrivaled imaginative ferocity, one that will resonate deep inside and leave a mark that might never heal.

Scalzi will come out quick, drawing on the cheers of his loyal fanbase to win an early round or two. But as impressive as it may be, Scalzi's technique is one we've seen before whereas Mieville's unpredictable approach is yet another enigma. Surprising but never faltering, Embassytown only adds to the impressive record that Mieville has earned while redefining how to play the game. The YetiStomper Pick for May goes to Embassytown via split decision, rewarding Mieville's tireless reinvention over Scalzi's effortless appeal.

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YetiStomper Debut Of The Month: While not the same slugfest as the title fight, the May undercard is not a match to be missed. In true Battle Royale fashion, it's The Falling Machine vs. America Pacifica vs. Hounded vs. Mechanique vs. The Quantum Thief. In the end, I think Mechanique and The Quantum Thief manage to eliminate the other contenders before facing off for Rookie of the Month. From there all bets are off.  While something might be rotten in the state of Denmark, Finland is fresh as can be as The Quantum Thief injects life into the not-exactly-flourishing SF scene. On the other hand, Mechanique is less interested in saving a genre than defining it's own. Valentine's story is more of a circus act than the carnival it describes, managing to amaze with skillful prose and to delight with curious yet playful presentation. As much as I'm tempted to go with the tie, I'm giving this one to Mechanique. You can't go wrong with either book but Mechanique doesn't possess the same support structure The Quantum Thief does with it's small but passionate SF readership. But either book (or any of these debuts) is definitely worth giving another look.

YetiStomper Cover Of The Month: Hmmmm.... Where did this go? Stay tuned to find out!

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Anyway, as always, if you are interested in more details regarding any of the above books, just click on through the Amazon links. And don't worry, thanks to new state legislation, I don't get a single penny, nickel, or dime from it. It's been hard restructuring my budget without that extra $10 a year but I think I'll survive. Be sure to let me know if there is anything I may have missed in the comments.

You can view previous installments of YetiStomper Picks here.

YetiStomper Picks for April

So I sat down to start selecting my YetiStomper Picks for May and realized that the April selections were still in draft status. Better late than never right?

Soft Apocalypse - Will McIntosh

Sci-Fi Stand Alone - McIntosh looks to follow up on last year's Hugo win with Soft Apocalypse, his debut novel, which paints a picture of a post-apocalyptic America teeming with rebel scientists, designer diseases, and anarchist gangs. We've got a lot of work to do to destroy the world by 2023 as McIntosh speculates but I'd say humanity is clearly on the right track. (April 1 from Night Shade Books)

Retribution Falls - Chris Wooding

Tales of the Ketty Jay, Book 1 - Firefly. That's the word that I hear time and time again in reference to Chris Wooding's SF series. Chonicling the misadventures of the motley crew of the Ketty Jay, Wooding's work has been out in the UK for a couple of years and based on the strong word of mouth it received, it was only a matter of time before it made the leap accross the pond.. Sky-pirates ahoy! (April 26 from Del Rey Spectra)

The Winds of Khalakovo - Bradley P. Beaulieu

The Lays of Anuskaya, Book 1 - While The Winds of Khalakovo isn't the most hyped fantasy debut on this list (That honor belongs to The Unremembered), it might be the best reviewed. Don't ignore this promising new talent whose detailed approach to worldbuilding has already garnered comparisons to GRRM. Word of mouth always beats hype in my book, so I plan to visit Beaulieu's Russian-inspired archipelago sooner rather than later. (April 1 from Night Shade Books)

The Alchemist in the Shadows - Pierre Pevel

The Cardinal's Blades, Book 2 - Pyr provides US audiences with an English edition of Pierre Pevel's second Cardinal's Blades adventure. Pevel, an award winning French writer, re-imagines a 17th century France where Cardinal Richelieu defends the realm against foreign powers, secret societies, and more than a handful of dragons with his specialized team of swashbucklers. If you thought The Three Musketeers was decent but needed a few more fire-breathers, this book might be for you. (April 26 from Pyr)

The Unremembered - Peter Orullian

The Vault of Heaven, Book 1 - Arguably the most hyped debut this year, The Unremembered is getting an absolutely massive push from Tor. Someone over there is convinced Orullian is the next master fantasist and considering the glut of interviews, excerpts, and short stories on Tor.com, they're trying to convert you too. And The Vault of Heaven appears up to the task, promising a complex world with a sprawling history to rival even the most epic of epic fantasies. But the past few "Next Big Things" have failed to live up to the high expectations bestowed upon them - will Orullian be able to break the streak with his Tolkien inspired tales? Read some of the free companion stories (Sacrifice of the First Sheason / The Great Defense of Layosah / The Battle of the Round) and decide for yourself. (April 12 from Tor)

Deathless - Catherynne M. Valente

Fantasy / Folklore Stand Alone - When you think about immortal Russians, you typically think Rasputin or possibly even Ivan Drago. But the original Slavic survivor is Korschei the Deathless, an antagonist whose legend dates back to traditional Russian folklore. Valente modernizes his story somewhat, setting it against the tumultuous history of the Soviet Union and telling it through the eyes of one of his abducted victims. Based on Valente's prior work, I'd expecting nothing less than an utterly enchanting tale teeming with lyrical prose and magical moments. (April 1 from Tor)

The Dragon's Path - Daniel Abraham

The Dagger and the Coin, Book 1 - With his critically acclaimed but criminally underread Long Price Quartet, Damiel Abraham proved that fantasy can be so much more than Tolkien 2.0. Now Abraham brings his appreciable talent to Orbit where he begins a brand new, more traditional saga in The Dagger and The Coin. The combination of powerful banks, post-medieval economics, ancient dragons, designer races, warrior priests, and dread elder gods might seem like a strange blend but it goes down smooth when sipped through Abraham's deceptively simple prose. AND if you order the eBook edition from certain retailers, you also receive a free advance copy of Leviathan Wakes, a highly anticipated space opera due out this summer from Abraham and co-conspirator Ty Franks. (April 7 from Orbit)

Theories of Flight - Simon Morden

Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy, Book 2 - It seems like it was just last month that Orbit published Equations of Life, the first entry in Morden's Samuil Petrovitch trilogy. Oh wait, it was. Theories of Flight delivers a blend of intelligent science fiction and relentless action adventure that Hollywood wishes they capable of.  (March 29 from Orbit)

WWW: Wonder - Robert J. Sawyer

WWW Trilogy, Book 3 - OMG!!! The Internetz is alive! If Webmind, your AI BFF, was in danger of being shut down by the US government, wouldn't you want to save it? Hugo and Nebula Award winning author Robert J. Sawyer continues his exploration of conscious thought, morality, and artificial intelligence in the final entry in his WWW Trilogy. (April 5 from Ace)

The Company Man - Robert Jackson Bennett

Alternate History Steampunk Noir Stand Alone - It's 1919 in an alternate America where a single company controls enough power to stop the Great War before it even begins. But deep underneath Evesden, something strange is killing the employees of the McNaughton Corporation. It's up to Cyril Hayes to figure out what in Robert Jackson Bennett's sophomore effort. His debut, Mr. Shivers was one of the best books of 2010, and Bennett's is a name to watch. (April 11 from Orbit)

Among Thieves - Douglas Hulick

A Tale of the Kin, Book 1 - This book wasn't even on my radar until the Mad Hatter blurbed that Douglas Hulick was "undoubtedly the best debuting author [Ace/Roc] has premiered since Jim Butcher." That's some high praise from a blogger who doesn't proffer it lightly. Among Thieves appears to be your typical artifact caper (think Maltese Falcon meets Lord of the Rings) but a brilliantly executed one. (April 5 from Roc)

After the Golden Age - Carrie Vaughn

Super Hero Stand Alone - For whatever reason, superhero prose novels always seem to be in short supply. Which is hard to fathom considering how much fun they usually are. Carrie Vaughn continues the tradition of reverent parody with After the Golden Age in which Celia West, daughter of Captain Olympus and Spark, struggles to take down the evil Destructor. But she's a forensic accountant, not a superhero and Destructor is battling tax evasion, not some over-powered boy scout. As events get super-er, tensions rise and West soon finds herself in the middle of a mystery that threatens to change everything she thought she knew about her family. So basically, par for the course. This is a book that should be fun for everyone but especially enjoyable for those familiar with the superhero subgenre. (April 12 from Tor)

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YetiStomper Pick Of The Month: As much as I'm looking forward to each of these books, particularly After the Golden Age and The Winds of Khalakovo, I'd be lying if I selected anything but The Dragon's Path for my Pick of the Month. Abraham is a soul-crusher type talent, the kind whose work convinces you that no matter how long or hard you try, you'll never be that good. For whatever reason, as brilliant and inventive as The Long Price Quartet was, it never found it's audience. The Dagger and The Coin will and not just because Abraham has created something familiar yet challenging - more so because if you ignore it now, you're going to be hearing about it for years to come.
 
YetiStomper Debut Of The Month: April is another strong month for debut authors with Among Thieves, The Unremembered, The Winds of Khalakovo, and Soft Apocalypse all hitting shelves within a few weeks of each other. If you had asked me three months ago, The Unremembered would have been my clear pick. But since then, I've seen nothing but strong reviews for Beaulieu's intricate work and while I haven't finished it, the chapters I have read have been impressive. The Grand Duchy of Anuskaya is a harsh environment full of bitter cold and wasting disease and Beaulieu populates it with hardy individuals who may have emigrated from Westeros. I've got a ton on my plate at the moment but I'm really looking forward to getting back into The Winds of Khalakovo when I get a chance. Therefore, I knight it the YetiStomper Debut of the Month.

YetiStomper Cover Of The Month: While I've managed to reduce the number of recommended books by 25% since March's record-setting slate of 16, it's still a struggle to determine which cover is king. Some quick thoughts -

• Rarely will you see a better executed pair of fantasy covers than The Unremembered and The Winds of Khalakovo.
• Theories of Flight is eye-catching if abstract. Morden's ecclectic plot doesn't lend itself to a single image, so Orbit is banking that a lot of people will pick it up and read the cover summary.
• Who made the cover for After the Golden Age? They'd be my first pick if we were playing cover art at recess.
• The implied texture really works for The Company Man, lending it a gritty noir feel which is echoed by the Sam Spade silhouette.
• I wonder if there's a link between serif fonts and fantasy novels. All 4 traditional fantasy novels showcase the same style of lettering.
• I can't help but think of mass produced serials when I look at the cover of Deathless. The lithographic style has an old-fashioned quality that seems to pair nicely with the novel.
• Arrrrrrgggghhhhh. That's a bad Johnny Depp lookalike on Among Thieves.
• What's with the kerning on Soft Apocalypse? Too many I's and L's, too similar, too far apart.
• WWW: Wonder would be a great cover without the girl. With her? Meh.
• As much as I love Daniel Abraham's work, that cover doesn't do much for me. It's not bad but Orbit isn't exactly doing Abraham any favors. Luckily, his work will speak for itself.

So we've got a variety of covers almost as diverse as they stories they promote. Per usual, I'm having a tough time deciding. Fortunately, I've got a graphic designer for a wife and she is willing to help me break the tie by looking at these covers from a technical perspective and as a genre outsider, someone who isn't going to be seduced by a streamlined spaceship or distracted by a dragon's cold stare. Her votes goes to After the Golden Age for it's well-balanced color palette and the way that the uniquely diagonal presentation of the text conveys a feeling of motion.  I can't help but agree, Vaughn really lucked out on this one. It's not too often that a book cover manages to be both modern and playful.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Among Others (with the assistance of Admiral Jak Sperrow) earns my vote for Worst Cover of the Month, an honor typically given out to a book that I'd like to read just not in public.

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Anyway, as always, if you are interested in more details regarding any of the above books, just click on through the Amazon links. Yeah, I get a little bit of money out of it. In a few more years I'm hoping to earn enough to purchase a single book. It's also the best way to learn more about these books and others. Be sure to let me know if there is anything I may have missed in the comments.

You can view previous installments of YetiStomper Picks here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Surprisingly few green books in the library

A late night at work precluded any attempt toward extensive posting today. In lieu of something substantive, here's a list of notable Irish SF & Fantasy Authors that @irishhatgirl posted over on the newly refurbished Tor forums.

The one name that everyone seems to agree on is Celine Kieran (author of The Poison Throne and subsequent books). I might have to give the The Moorehawke Trilogy a try.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

YetiStomper Picks for March

Didn't realize how many good books came out this month until I sat down to write this post and it took me a few extra days. Happy Birthday to me, I guess.

Black Halo - Sam Sykes

The Aeons' Gate, Book 2 - Sam Sykes's band of less-than-amiable adventurers continues their fantastic exploits in Black Halo. Lenk and his five compatriots return to cause more chaos with the unique blend of action and hilarity that only Sykes can deliver. (March 22 from Pyr)

Star Wars: The Old : Deceived - Paul S. Kemp

Star Wars Novel, The Old Republic Era - I've been somewhat hard on the Star Wars universe lately, particularly after the disappointment that was Red Harvest. Fortunately, the next Star Wars novel scheduled to hit shelves is penned by Paul S. Kemp, one of the few Star Wars authors still capable of recreating the magic of the Original Trilogy. Deceived is set in the same era as Bioware's new MMORPG, and further explains the situation highlighted in this cinematic short. (March 22 from Del Rey/Lucasbooks)

The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss

The Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2 - I almost didn't include The Wise Man's Fear on this list. Rothfuss is a genuine genre superstar and his inclusion here won't add a single sale to the total of this year's most anticipated novel (barring A Memory of Life or A Dance With Dragons [damn you GRRM!]). Rothfuss originally delayed The Wise Man's Fear due to the colossal expectations built upon the foundations of his stellar debut. He's finally satisfied with his sophomore effort and the early word is that everyone else is too. Go get it, if you haven't already. (March 1 from DAW)

King's Justice - Maurice Broaddus

The Knights of Breton Court, Book 2 - The Knights of Breton Court is a retelling of the traditional Arthurian Legend, albeit with a few minor changes. Broaddus moves the action from Medieval England to modern day Indianapolis where King James White tries to bring order to the drug dealers and gang members of the Breton Court Projects. So it's really not that different from the original.  (March 1 from Angry Robot)

Up Against It - M.J. Locke

Stand Alone - A promising SF debut, Up Against It came out of nowhere to quickly become one of my most anticipated books of early 2011. It's already garnered a starred review from Publisher's Weekly who called it "compulsively readable" and "smart, satisfying hard SF" that "celebrates human resilience."  Up Against It blends space opera, cyberpunk, and post-humanist concerns into a mixture of ideas that ignites like rocket fuel. But that's par for the course where alien crime syndicates and rogue AIs are concerned, right? (March 15 from Tor)

Locke & Key Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom - Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez

Locke & Key, Book 4 - Over the past few months, I've sampled some of the best graphic novels the industry has to offer. Fables, The Walking Dead, Y: The Last Man, Atomic Robo. All great, but none as good as Locke & Key. At a high level, the setup sounds like a generic "house with a history" tale, but Hill's oddly gripping tale is anything but. As the Locke family attempts to escape their tragic history, they find secrets hidden behind the ancient locks of Keyhouse and a set of magic keys that do so much more than open doors. I'm a sucker for object based magic (anyone remember The Lost Room?) and Hill displays talent beyond his years as each collection builds to another game changer. Locke and Key is without a doubt the most captivating comic I've ever read and Rodriguez's gorgeous art refuses to let Hill take all the credit. (March 29 from IDW Publishing)

Moon Over Soho - Ben Aaronovitch

Peter Grant, Book 2 - Del Rey is quick to follow up on the success of last month's Midnight Riot with the second book in Aaronovitch's Urban Fantasy series. Musicians are mysteriously dying and it's up to supernatural detective Peter Grant to find out why. If you're a Dresdenfiliac craving your next hit of paranormal adventure, Aaronovitch might just scratch that itch. (March 1 from Del Rey)

Equations of Life - Simon Morden

Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy, Book 1 - The lovechild of near-future thrillers and theoretical physics, Equations of Life is the first volume of The Samuil Petrovitch Trilogy. With Books 2 and 3 coming in May and June, fans won't have to wait long for the conclusion of Morden's unique blend of science fiction tropes and it's hard to deny the appeal of yet another rapid fire publishing plan from Orbit. When the Russian Mafia, the Yakuza, and the New Machine Jihad all share an interest in your (lack of) well being, things are bound to get interesting.(March 29 from Orbit)

Wolfsangel - M.D. Lachlan

Claw Trilogy, Book 1 - Wolfsangel received rave reviews from the UK blogosphere last fall. If your version of a werewolf doesn't include shirtless teenage boys, you'll be happy to know that Lachlan agrees, taking the werewolf mythos and redefining it from scratch. Wolfsangel is the first book in a sprawling epic that chronicles the lunar intolerant throughout history. (March 22 from Pyr)

Enigmatic Pilot - Kris Saknussemm

Stand Alone, Book - I don't know too much about this one other than I like the cover and Del Rey has a tendency to put out some extremely solid literary cross-over novels (think China Mieville or Daryl Gregory). Apparently part Twain and part Pychon, Enigmatic Pilot is a "puzzle packed yarn" chronicling a young genius's journey across Civil War era America.  (March 22 from Del Rey)

The Crippled God - Steven Erikson

Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 10 - Like A Memory of Light, this is one of those books where maybe isn't an option. Either you've read the 9 doorstops in Erikson's epic history or you need to back up and start from scratch. If you are interested in this weighty fantasy series, I'd recommend starting with the first volume, Gardens of the Moon. If you don't have time to read 10K pages of intricate worldbuilding, you might want to read something else. Tor.com is also featuring an extensive re-read so you might want to head over there to see if it's up your alley or even just to refresh your memory. (March 1 from Tor)

Late Eclipses - Seanan McGuire

October Daye, Book 4 - Seanan McGuire won last year's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Find out why with the latest entry in her faerie based Urban Fantasy series. It's often hard to find the diamonds behind the rough covers of the Urban Fantasy marketing but make no mistake, McGuire is one gem of a storyteller. (March 1 from DAW)

Revolution World - Katy Stauber

Stand Alone - Why choose between economic collapse and ecological disaster when you can have both? In Revolution World, Stauber hypothesizes that everything the pundits predict will go wrong, does, and sooner rather than later. The end result is a crazy cultural mash-up that needs to be read to fully understood. Don't believe me? Here's the first line from the back cover - "Revolution World is an over-the-top bio-punk adventure novel featuring fire-breathing cows, ninja Pomeranians, marijuana bombs, hovercars, laser guns, and vampires. I think "over-the-top" is putting it mildly. (March 1 from Night Shade Books)

The Gravity Pilot - M.M. Buckner

Stand Alone - Probably the least speculative of all the books on this list, The Gravity Pilot tells the story of Orr Sitka, stratospheric skydiver whose high altitude exploits earn him a sort of celebrity in an all-to-plausible future.  (March 15 from Tor) 

Engines of Desire: Tales of Love & Other Horrors - Livia Llewellyn

Short Story Collection - I've only read a few stories in Livia Llewellyn's debut collection so far but it's easy to see why Laird Barron speaks so highly of her. Her work is simultaneously erotic and grotesque, titillating and terrifying. With an effortless complexity that consciously confuses predator and prey, Llewellyn's stories touch on the dark side of sexuality with a fearless voice. And if you couldn't figure it out from that description, be forewarned - this collection does contain explicit sexual content. (March 15 from Lethe Press)

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 5 - Jonathan Strahan

"Best of" Short Story Anthology, 5th Edition - Strahan returns to catalog the best genre shorts of the year in what I believe to be the preeminent genre "Best Of" anthology. Strahan selects fewer stories from a larger pool (both SF & F) than Dozios and typically produces a better book top-to-bottom. This year's edition includes stories from a lot of great new writers including Hannu Rajaniemi, Theodora Goss, Ian Tregillis, and Rachel Swisky. Gaiman and Abercrombie also make an appearance. You can see the full ToC here. (Febuary 22, 2011 from Night Shade Books)

YetiStomper Pick Of The Month: His debut novel came in third on Tor.com's Best of the Decade list. His second book is rumored to be better than the first. Ten years from now, chances are high that more people will be reading The Kingkiller Chronicles than any other book on this list.  And that's not taking anything away from the other books on this list - Rothfuss's work is simply nothing short of must read fantasy. Which is why (surprise, surprise) The Wise Man's Fear is my YetiStomper Pick for March.

YetiStomper Debut Of The Month: March's slate of debuts is another strong one, including Revolution World, Engines of Desire, Wolfsangel, Equations of Life and Up Against It among others. All of these books are intriguing for one reason or another but none more so than Up Against It. Science Fiction needs more Scalzi-, Stross- or Reynolds- caliber authors to remind readers that it's not dead yet (it can dance and it can sing!). With a few more novels as strong as Up Against It, Locke has a chance to join them.

YetiStomper Cover Of The Month: With 16 books to choose from, this one is almost impossible. The optical illusion on Equations of Life is eye-catching even if I can't look at it for long. The photograph on Engines of Desire is pitch perfect for the tone of the collection. I also really like the cool tones and perspective that DAW used to strength the typical fantasy cover of The Wise Man's Fear. Then, I can't deny that Enigmatic Pilot's graphical collage is what drew me to it in the first place. But despite all these strong covers, The Gravity Pilot takes the cake this month (Note: The cake is a lie.) Looking at it makes me feel like I'm sitting at a Space Station viewport as the lonely figure drifts across the silent vacuum of space. Almost as if it's not a still image but instead a video lacking a velocity defining reference point.

And sorry Sam, Black Halo's cover is better than the travesty that graced the front of Tome of the Undergates but it's still not enough to prevent it from being my choice for Worst Cover of the Month.

Anyway, as always, if you are interested in more details regarding any of the above books, just click on through the Amazon links. I'm more interested in telling you why I recommended them rather than simply what the books are about. Let me know if there is anything I may have missed in the comments.

You can view previous installments of YetiStomper Picks here.

YetiStomper Picks for February

Yeah, yeah, it's late, I know. I blame it on the epic Thundersnowpocalypsageddon that ravaged my city last week. You better get reading, it's almost March.

King of the Crags - Stephen Deas

A Memory of Flames, Book 2 - Deas returns to his dragon centric world with the gorgeously covered King of the Crags. If you haven't read the first volume, The Adamantine Palace, imagine a stirfry of flying reptiles, political intrigue, and legendary prophecy covered in treacherously dark chocolate sauce. (February 1 from Roc)

The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore - Benjamin Hale

Stand Alone Novel - This is one of the 2011 Debuts that I am most interested in. Now, I don't know a lot about the author but I do know that I rarely see a premise as intriguing (or as weird) as Mr. Hale's debut novel. Essentially, Bruno Littlemore is a fictional memoir written by the world's first chimpanzee to develop the capacity for speech. To make matters more bizarre, it's also a love story. (February 2 from Twelve)

Thirteen Years Later - Jasper Kent

The Danilov Quintet, Book 2 - It's 1825 and thirteen years (obviously) after the climactic events of Twelve, trouble has found Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov once again. For whatever reason, Russian history and blood-thirsty monsters seem to work well together - a fact that Jasper Kent takes full advantage of as he continues to expand the scope of his planned quintet. Kent is crafting an outstanding tale of epic proportion and I can't wait to see where this goes. (February 8 from Pyr)

The Heroes - Joe Abercrombie

Realm of The First Law, Book 5 - This is must read fantasy. Abercrombie's first trilogy challenged all preconceptions about what a fantasy trilogy should be. His follow up, Best Served Cold, returned to the same world with a vengeance, wreaking havoc on the idea of revenge. In his latest, Abercrombie takes on war itself, redefining what it really means to be a hero. While Abercrombie works within the boundaries instead of expanding them, his execution is flawless and I have never read a better action writer. Abercrombie is the reigning king of blood soaked fantasy - don't miss out.  (February 7 from Orbit)

Desert of Souls - Howard A. Jones

Dabir and Asim, Book 1 - After years of Western European overload, don't be surprised to see other cultural elements creep into your fantasy novels. While I don't have the numbers to back it up, I would posit that manuscripts featuring Arabic and Islamic influences probably didn't sell like Twilight rip-offs over the last decade. But just because publishers weren't buying them doesn't mean they weren't being written. As irrational avoidance gives way to acceptance again, a lot of these overlooked books are going to reemerge. One such book is Howard A. Jones's Desert of Souls. The first in a series of novels further expanding Dunne's shorter work, Desert of Souls features a pair of 8th century Arabic adventurers as they attempt to determine the fate of a lost city said to be destroyed by God himself. Think Arabian Nights as written by Arthur Conan Doyle. (February 15 from Thomas Dunne)

Midnight Riot - Ben Aaronovitch

Peter Grant, Book 1 - Ben Aaronovitch has done something which I didn't think possible - replaced Joe Abercrombie. Not as the reigning king of fantasy mind you, but as the alphabetical alpha (or double alpha as the case may be) of the science fiction and fantasy department. As such, Aaronovitch will likely be the first name greeting hungry eyes in search of new books and I wouldn't be suprised if the former Doctor Who becomes a fast favorite, particularly for fans of Harry Dresden or Felix Castor. Peter Grant, Aaronovitch's protagonist appears to be a melding of the two, combining the paranormal police portion of Dresden with the British flair and necrocommunication skills of Castor. Midnight Riot was also just published in the UK as Rivers of London and will soon be followed up by a sequel, Moon Over Soho. (February 1 from Del Rey)

YetiStomper Pick Of The Month: Normally a hard decision, this month's pick is simple - The Heroes. I don't mean to take anything away from any of the other titles; Joe Abercrombie's fifth book is just that good, not to mention the fact that the chapter entitled "Casualties" is the Platonic Ideal of how to write an action sequence. With memorable characters, tight plotting, and more than the recommended daily dose of witty banter, The Heroes is flawlessly executed fantasy.

YetiStomper Debut Of The Month: Despite only picking six books this month, three are actually debut novels. While the alternate history and Arab inspiration behind The Desert of Souls is intriguing and I'm always a sucker for paranormal procedurals like Midnight Riot, the premise behind The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore is simply to unique to pass up. Add in Hale's literary accolades and you have a debut that is hard to pass up.

YetiStomper Cover Of The Month: Cover art for genre fiction is all too often riddled with stereotypes. Cloaked warriors wielding swords against fantastic beasts. Spaceships streaking across a strangely hued planet. Whatever the hell Baen is trying to do. And then there are the dragons, king of all cliched cover creatures. But even as traditional as they are, it's hard to pass up a cover as well executed as that of King of the Crags. I love the blue tones, the detail of the dragons, and the clean lines of the text treatment. Who says you can't reach the target audience and still stand out from the pack?

Anyway, as always, if you are interested in more details regarding any of the above books, just click on through the Amazon links. I'm more interested in telling you why I recommended them rather than simply what the books are about. Let me know if there is anything I may have missed in the comments. I'm guessing there is something I'm forgetting with only two books on the radar.

You can view previous installments of YetiStomper Picks here.

YetiStomper Picks for January

Happy New Year! Time to ring in a brand new year with some brand new books. Here is what I'm recommending for January.

Bloodshot - Cherie Priest

The Chesire Red Reports, Book 1 - Call it paranormal romance, call it urban fantasy. Whatever you call it, Cherie Priest hasn't written it before. Bloodshot is the first book in a planned series from Priest who is better known for her fantastic Clockwork Century Steampunk novels. Bloodshot stars Rayene Pendle, a vampire/thief who is tasked with finding some missing government files. Sounds straightforward right? I steer clear of most Urban Fantasy but their are just some authors who can make anything work. Priest is one of those authors. (January 25 from Spectra)

Harbinger of the Storm - Aliette de Bodard

Obsidian & Blood Trilogy, Book 2 - Only a few months after de Bodard's debut finally arrived in the US, she returns with the follow-up. Harbinger of the Storm will be out in early January in the UK and late January (maybe early Feb) in the US. Set in a 15th century Central America where the Aztecs reign, this is fantasy for anyone tired of bad medieval Europe rip-offs.  (January 25 from Angry Robot)

Brave New Worlds - John Joseph Adams

Short Fiction Anthology - Are there several John Joseph Adams(es)? It seems like he's got a new anthology coming every month. He continues his series of excellent hybrids with Brave New World, an compilation of dystopic science fiction. Like all of Adams's collections, Brave New Worlds is a combination of classic reprints from genre greats and original stories from some of the top new writing talent. Check out the full table of contents and some samples at the dedicated website. (January 25 from Night Shade Books)

Cowboy Angels - Paul McAuley

Stand Alone Novel - Pyr continues their Paul McAuley import business with Cowboy Angels. An America has discovered the ability to access alternate universes. With it, they infiltrate worlds with different histories, "fixing" other Americas and bringing them into an unified multiversal empire. But does Manifest Destiny extend across realities? It's a premise I can hardly describe but one I wish I had thought of first. Maybe in some version of reality, I did... (January 18 from Pyr)

Zoo City - Lauren Beukes

Stand Alone Novel - Speaking of authors I wish I could steal from, Beukes is back with her sophomore effort. I loved her debut novel, Moxyland, and with Zoo City, she proves it wasn't an accident. Beukes's (why do all authors' names end in s?) speculation has a depth to it that makes it feel real. The story moves naturally through the world rather than coming across as a shallow construct. In Zoo City, Beukes combines African spammers, the music industry, tabloid journalism, magic powers, guilt animals, murder mysteries, and just about anything you can think of. It's crazy and crazy good.  (December 28 from Angry Robot)

The Warlord's Legacy - Ari Marmell

Corvis Rebaine, Book 2 - Marmell continues his inventive fantasy series with The Warlord's Legacy. Corvis Rebaine quit the world domination game after the death of his family. Now he has to live with the sins of his past. Or try to anyway - they just won't seem to leave him alone. In terms of innovative protagonists, using The Dark Lord himself is about as anti-hero as you can get. Plus, there is a rather sexy exotic looking woman on the cover. Who doesn't want to know what she's up to? (January 25 from Spectra)

Among Others - Jo Walton

Stand Alone - I've heard nothing but good things about the latest novel from the World Fantasy Award winning Walton. Part coming of age fantasy, part love letter to the genre, Among Others is a book that should speak to the heart of any bibliophile. (January 18 from Tor)

Knight Errant - John Jackson Miller

Stand Alone Star Wars Novel, The Old Republic Era - If you've read the Knight of the Old Republic comic books (which wrapped up with Issue #50 last spring), you know that John Jackson Miller has the ability to recapture the magic of the original Star Wars trilogy. If you've seen the Prequel Trilogy, you know that's not as easy as it should be. Lucas and Co. are gearing up for the launch of the new MMORPG, The Old Republic, with a bevy of new titles intended to flesh out the state of galaxy a millennium before Luke faced his father. Miller will provide both a novel and comic series under the Knight Errant title. Knight Errant stars Kerra Holt, a young Jedi trying to find her place in a galaxy at war. The fact that Miller is writing both (a first for the Star Wars universe) suggests the faith that LucasBooks has in his abilities. (January 25 from Del Rey / LucasBooks)

The Lost Gate - Orson Scott Card

Mither Mages, Book 1 - Orson Scott Card returns to fantasy with The Lost Gate! Card writes young protagonists well so it will be interesting to see what he does with Danny North as he discovers his ability to open gateways into strange worlds. I haven't had the opportunity to read The Lost Gate yet but a few early reviews have been cautiously optimistic about Card's new series. (January 4 from Tor)

YetiStomper Pick Of The Month: Normally I would be all over a new Orson Scott Card book. However, after phoning in his last few books with converted movie scripts (Invasive Procedures) and video game tie-ins (Empire, Hidden Empire), The Last Gate doesn't have me quite as excited as I once would have been. Instead, my pick goes to Lauren Beukes's Zoo City. I was fortunate enough to read Zoo City after it came out in the UK last year and Beukes avoided the sophomore slump in spectacular fashion. Like Moxyland, Zoo City is a whirlwind of ideas that somehow works. Realistic but likable characters, deep and engaging setting, and a driving plot with an ending you won't see coming - Zoo City has it all. Beukes has cemented her place on my list of must-read authors.  

YetiStomper Debut Of The Month: Based on how much I enjoyed the original Knights of the Old Republic comic series, I can help but be excited for John Jackson Miller's return to the Star Wars universe with Knight Errant. Miller gets "Star Wars" in a way that few authors do and he has never had a problem capturing the mixture of adventure, humor, and action that made the Original Trilogy into the phenomena it is today. Miller does a great job of foreshadowing and weaves characters in and out of tight situations so I expect big things given an entire novel's worth of prose to work with. I wouldn't be surprised to see more novels from Miller in the future. 

YetiStomper Cover Of The Month: Another toughie. I like the stylistic approach of Brave New Worlds (although does anyone else see the innuendo?). I'm also strangely drawn to The Warlord's Legacy although I can probably guess why. But the real winners this month are Pyr's cover to Cowboy Angels (Sparth) and the UK cover (John Picacio?) to Zoo City. I really can't decide between the two. Tiebreak goes to my graphic designer/photographer wife, who picks Zoo City. I can't complain with that decision. It's unique, eye catching, and begs for a closer examination, like any good book cover should.

Anyway, as always, if you are interested in more details regarding any of the above books, just click on through the Amazon links. I'm more interested in telling you why I recommended them rather than simply what the books are about. Let me know if there is anything I may have missed in the comments. I'm guessing there is something I'm forgetting with only two books on the radar.

You can view previous installments of YetiStomper Picks here.

Recommended Reads for 2010

Disclaimer - This is not a "best of" list. My reading in 2010 was mainly directed toward short fiction and titles that weren't released in the past year. Taking that into account, I don't feel justified in calling anything the "best" of 2010. I can judge whether a book is worth reading or not (that doesn't really change) but ranking these titles against other 2010 releases I haven't read doesn't seem fair.

That being said, here are several books that I read in 2010 that I strongly recommend and would most likely have made a "best of" list if I felt I had read enough to make an informed decision.

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Novels

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

High fantasy at it's finest, Sanderson definitely delivers with arguably the most hyped new series of the year. Despite a kilo-class page count, Sanderson barely scratches the surface of his new world. While it's not terribly unique, there is seemingly no flaw in Sanderson's execution. He hits the fast paced action and adventure hard with scenes that stuck in my mind even after dozens of books. At the same time, Sanderson weaves a delicate tangle of foreshadowing, prophecy and intrigue that begs for dissection and additional rereads. The Stormlight Archives looks to hit many of the same notes (mysterious events, prophecy, the rediscovery of forgotten powers) as The Wheel of Time and I wouldn't be surprised to see the fanbase migrate once A Memory of Light concludes Jordan's classic series. (My Review)

Bitter Seeds - Ian Tregillis

Many authors will not attempt a project as ambitious as Ian Tregillis. Even fewer would try it in their first novel. And almost no one would hit it out of the park like Tregillis does. Bitter Seeds reimagines a version of World War Two where The Nazis have super powered soldiers and the British have to conspire with demons to combat them. Despite the pulpy premise, Tregillis transcends mere escapism with a complex work painted entirely in shades of grey. I won't give any spoilers but there is a reason why it's a triptych instead of a trilogy and I can't wait to see what happens in The Coldest War and Necessary Evil. (Review Forthcoming)


Zoo City - Lauren Beukes

I don't know how Beukes does it. She takes a blender and fills it with ideas - music, video games, technology, spammers, African history, corporations, and just a dash or two of magic. She crams it all in there, hits liquefy, and while the result should be brown sludge and borderline toxic, the output is absolutely delicious. I was blown away by her debut, Moxyland, back in 2009 and her sophomore effort is a repeat performance. Zoo City sees a ex-journalist/sometimes-spammer/finder-of-lost-things with a monkey on her back tries to track down a missing music tartlet. And it's not a literal monkey on her back. It's a sloth. Trying to accurately relate Beukes's fiction in a few words is almost impossible. But you should check her out, particularly if you are a fan of Stross or Doctorow's near future work. (Review Forthcoming)

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - N.K. Jemisin

The other contender for debut of the year, N.K. Jemisin kicks off a trilogy that at first glance looks to be another Twilight knock-off featuring a young girl attracted to a dangerous lover. Luckily, that's only one aspect of the book and where the Twilight similarities end. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a book of opposites - gods and mortals, night and day, life and death, love and logic - but at the same time one that demonstrates that the world is not limited to absolutes. With unreliable narration, a unique power structure, and a fast pace, Jemisin's debut has established her as a name to watch. I haven't be able to get to The Broken Kingdoms quite yet but it's at the top of my list to read. (Review Forthcoming)

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Short Fiction Collections

Scenting the Dark and Other Stories - Mary Robinette Kowal

I liken Kowal's first collection to a featherweight champion. It's quick and light but packs one hell of a punch. It shouldn't take longer than a few hours to read but the stories will stick with you for much longer, particularly "Death Comes But Twice", "Locked In", and the titular "Scenting the Dark." Kowal is another burgeoning writer who appears destined for greatness. She took home the 2009 Campbell Award and based on Scenting the Dark it's hard to argue with their decision. (My Review)

Occultation - Laird Barron

As the dark and dense as the forests that serve as his settings, the stories in Occultation are some of Laird Barron's finest. Barron continues the Lovecraftian tradition of incomprehensible horror with rich fiction that reward multiple re-readings. Of course, you'll have to wait until after you've finished the story the first time as Barron's suspenseful buildup carries you through the story at a relentless pace before plunging you into the abyss. It's intelligent "literary" horror that is a challenging as it is disturbing. Standout stories here are the linked trio of "The Forest", "Mysterium Tremendum", and "The Broadsword" as well as the seriously disturbing "Strappado." (Full Review)

Lesser Demons - Norman Partridge

The ying to Barron's yang, Norman Partridge's horror is less literary and more raw. If Barron is the football player who studies the finest QBs and demonstrates text book mechanics, Partridge is the pure gamer, the kind that learned the game in the vacant lot, the kid that beats the odds time after time. His fiction is pulpy and raw, full of overambitious simile and metaphor that shouldn't work but always does. He writes about sheriffs and soldiers, the kind of hard nosed men who do what needs to be done because, hell, someone has to do it. Lesser Demons is his latest collection from Subterranean Press and it features more strong work particularly "Lesser Demons", "Durston", and "The Iron Dead". In the afterword, Partridge promises us more of Chaney in the future and I for one can't wait. (Full Review)

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Young Adult Books

Behemoth - Scott Westerfeld

The sequel to last year's Leviathan, Behemoth is more of the same - alternate history World War I wrapped in a steampunk shell. Add in a liberal helping of Keith Thompson's absolutely gorgeous artwork and I just can't get enough of this series. Alek and Deryn arrives in Turkey only to find that the political situation has changed and they might be in the wrong place at exactly the right time. Westerfeld may be a YA writer but his work transcends age groups with pure unadulterated adventure. (Review Forthcoming)

Ship Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi

Bacigalupi is one of the genre's newest darlings. He has picked up a great deal of shiny hardware over the past twelve months, mostly for his stellar The Wind-Up Girl. Bacigalupi follows up that masterwork with Ship Breaker, a YA novel that continues his penchant for environmental themes albeit somewhat toned down. The bad stuff is only implied rather than shown. Mostly. Ship Breaker chronicles the fortunes (or misfortunes) of Nailer, a teenager working salvage on beached Gulf Coast freighters in a future America devastated by an energy crisis and corporate greed. Nailer discovers a treasure that may free him from his desperate life, if he can only keep his abusive father from stealing it first. It might be a little bit more adult than most YA but Ship Breaker is going to make you (or your teenager) think a lot more than whatever vampire suckfest is most popular at the moment. (Full Review)

Kid Vs. Squid - Greg Van Eekhout

More middle-grade than YA, Kid vs. Squid is a quintessential summer novel. Van Eekhout manages to be infuse his work with humor and adventure without being cliche or immature. Kid vs. Squid depicts a smartmouth on summer vacation who happens to get involved in an ancient grudge between a Sea Witch and some cursed Atlanteans. Eekhout uses a fairly aggressive vocabulary for a middle-grade novel and his protagonists are good role models. This is a book I would have no qualms giving to my kids (if I had any) and one I would expect them to enjoy greatly. It's adventurous, original, and intelligent. (Review Forthcoming)

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Graphic Novels

Fables - Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, Matthew Sturges among others

If you thought you were too old or too good for Cinderella, Snow White, and the Big Bad Wolf, think again. In Fables, Bill Willingham reinvents the Fairy Tale with a cast of complex characters whose former exploits accross a number of linked worlds inspired the children's tales we've come to know and love. Now a mysterious Adversary has conquered all but a few of these far off lands and the Fables have come to reside in Fabletown, a magical neighborhood in New York City that hides many secrets behind its bricks. It may sound strange, but believe me, there is a reason why it's earned so many Eisner Awards (13 and counting). Fables (and the related Jack of Fables and Cinderella books) stands at over 20 graphic novels and counting and if anything it's only getting better. The first two books (Legends in Exile and Animal Farm) are solid but things don't really start to pick up until Storybook Love once the characters are fully established. Each TPB presents a mostly contained story but unlike most comics the overall plot continues to move forward and evolve at a rapid pace. It's an amazing blend of world building, complex characters, action, humor, and romance that always seems to surprise. Not to mention the gorgeous cover art. Each issue is worth collecting for the cover alone. If you think comics are nothing more than superheroes and movie tie-ins, give Fables a chance. You won't regret it.

Locke and Key - Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

After I caught up on the Fables graphic novels (about 120 issues in a month and a half), I thought that it couldn't be beat. Joe Hill proved me wrong. Locke and Key is the story of a family tragedy which returns a mom and her three kids back to her husband's childhood home of Keyhouse in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. Keyhouse is a mysterious mansion filled with locked doors and hidden keys. But some doors are locked for a reason, and as the keys are slowly discovered, life for the Locke family only continues to get weirder. I'm a sucker for magical artifact stories (The Lost Room anyone?) and the way the locks and keys work with each other is well thought out and compelling. Hill is a seriously talented writer, and anyone who has enjoyed Horns or Heart Shaped Box is doing themselves a serious disservice by skipping Locke and Key because it's "just a comic book." I read all three of the TPBs in the course of a day and I can't wait for the fourth volume, Keys to the Kingdom to come out this spring. The art is also impressive, and there are more than a few instances of visual foreshadowing that I can't wait to see pay off. Can I have more now?

Atomic Robo - Brian Clevinger, Scott Wegener

Less of a serious comic than the first two, Atomic Robo features a sarcastic automaton and the Action Scientists of Tesladyne as they battle the strangest foes science fiction can offer from Nazi robots to dimension hopping vampries to a time-independent Lovecraftian beastie. Part Hellboy and Part MST3K, Atomic Robo is absolutely hilarious as he questions the sheer logical voids in the world he inhabits. Throw in evil Thomas Edison on a quest for immortality and a sentient dinosaur whose backstory evolves more than those pesky mammals and you won't stop laughing. This may be the most severely underread and under-appreciated comic out there right now.

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And that's it. I'm not going to rank anything (it's too close to a best of list as it is) but I would expect you will enjoy anything I've recommended here. Sadly (or fortunately) I still have some catching up to do, namely The Dervish House, The Half-Made World, Who Fears Death, Kraken, Under Heaven, among many many more. Here's to some good reading in 2011!

YetiStomper Picks for December

For one reason or another, December is not a great month for new releases. Christmas shopping is done, publishing budgets are spent, authors don't want to leave their families for book tours and no one is paying attention anyways. A lot of the Year's Best Lists are already constructed and a book released in December isn't going to break any sales records. Ignoring the Tuesday after Christmas, there are very few books coming out and even fewer that I feel are worth talking about.

The Buntline Special - Mike Resnick

Weird West Tale, Book 1 - Resnick latest offering re-envisions the epic gunfight at the O.K. Corral through brass binoculars. Classic western characters Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday get a steampunk makeover and Resnick combines more than a few subgenre's in a tale that is quite aptly described as "weird." The Buntline Special is a must read for fans of Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century books and looks to be the start of a exciting new series. Plus, if you don't read it, cyborg Thomas Edison will get you. Seriously. Edison. Death by incandescence. (December 7 from Pyr)

Star Wars: Red Harvest - Joe Schreiber

Star Wars Horror - Schreiber returns to the Star Wars universe with another zombie mashup. His first attempt at Star Wars Horror was fun if flawed.  Red Harvest is an improvement on that formula, handing Schreiber the reins to a new cast of characters without the baggage that comes with the seemingly invincible movie characters. Part of a successful horror novel is being scared for protagonist and let's face it, Han Solo isn't getting taken down by zombies. Period. It took an entire moon to kill Chewie and he didn't even have a speaking role. Red Harvest is set over three millennia before Luke ever ignited a lightsaber so no one - Jedi or Sith - should be safe. Red Harvest focuses on a Jedi drop out who possesses a very coveted item. But will Sith Alchemy unleash a terror not even a Dark Lord can control?  (December 28 from Del Rey)

YetiStomper Pick Of The Month: I feel like picking one does a disservice to the other but out of the two I'm most interested in Red Harvest. Schreiber's prose reads hard and fast which is surprising considering the amount of blood loss chronicled within his words. What happened to no heavy lifting? Schreiber appears to have fixed the problems (character immortality) present in Death Troopers resulting in pure Sith Zombie goodness. Look for a review later this month.

YetiStomper Debut Of The Month: No rookies this month. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know.

YetiStomper Cover Of The Month: Ignoring the fact that the juxtaposition of the covers makes it look like Darth Dentalcare is checking out the ample cleavage on the cover of Buntline, choosing between these two is as hard as picking the better book. I feel both successfully reach their target audience. Red Harvest produces a feeling of primal rage (which probably leads to hate, fear, and/or suffering). The Buntline Special is a little bit more complex but it works to draw you in for a closer look (at the technology of course). I I'm going to call this one a tie although I'm not sold on the font treatment of Resnick's latest. Which one do you like most/least?

Anyway, as always, if you are interested in more details regarding any of the above books, just click on through the Amazon links. I'm more interested in telling you why I recommended them rather than simply what the books are about. Let me know if there is anything I may have missed in the comments. I'm guessing there is something I'm forgetting with only two books on the radar.

You can view previous installments of YetiStomper Picks here.