 Archive for the 'Books' CategoryReminder: FiestaCon starts today in TempeJuly 2nd, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
Guests include sci-fi author Alan Dean Foster; fantasy artist Todd Lockwood; genre-bending novelist (and former Disney comic book writer) Diana Gabaldon; and Aprilynne Pike, author of the New York Times bestselling novel for young adults, “Wings.” For more details, read my earlier post. Have fun! ASU sued by blind groups over use of Amazon’s e-book deviceJune 30th, 2009, 2:15 pm by Jayson Peters Amazon Kindle DX Arizona State University is being sued by advocates for the blind, who say the school is discriminating against vision-impaired students by offering textbooks via Amazon’s Kindle DX electronic reading device, according to a story by Courthouse News Service. Darrell Shandrow, an ASU journalism student who is listed as a plaintiff along with the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind, tells ASU’s State Press that the Kindle DX’s lack of an audio menu interfacefeatures locks the blind out of the new technology and puts them at a competitive disadavantage. First chapter of Fables novel is onlineJune 13th, 2009, 7:20 pm by Chris "KeL" Adams
However, Vertigo has posted the first chapter on their new blog, Graphic Content. The novel tells the story of Peter Piper and his brother Max, the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The story references events and characters from the Fables comic book, but knowledge of the comic isn’t necessary to enjoy “Peter and Max.” Comic Book Resources also has an interview with Willingham, in which he discusses “Peter & Max” as well as “Fables”. Sci-fi/fantasy convention lands in Tempe for July 4 weekendJune 9th, 2009, 2:31 pm by Jayson Peters
Foster, who lives in Prescott, is a prolific writer whose credits include many original stories in addition to novelizations of films such as the first three Alien movies, Clash of the Titans, The Chronicles of Riddick, Transformers and this year’s Star Trek and Terminator Salvation. Lockwood worked as staff artist at Wizards of the Coast, where he illustrated cards for Magic: The Gathering and redefined the look of Dungeons & Dragons for the release of the game’s 3rd Edition in 2000. He lives in Washington state. Read the rest of this entry » RIP: Author Eddings, actor CarradineJune 4th, 2009, 12:43 pm by Jayson Peters
Wired is reporting that fantasy author David Eddings has died:
The news comes on the same day that actor David Carradine was found dead in a Bangkok hotel at the age of 72. Carradine, who is believed to have hanged himself, is best known for his starring role in the 1970s TV show Kung Fu and, later, as the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. DC Comics writer to sign novel at The Poisoned PenMay 7th, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
Rucka is the current writer on Action Comics, Superman: World of New Krypton and upcoming issues of Detective Comics. Rucka also wrote the screenplay for one segment of the direct-to-DVD anime Batman: Gotham Knight. Phone: (480) 947-2974 Weekend ReadingApril 26th, 2009, 10:03 pm by Jayson Peters
However, The Language of Bees briefly lost its grip on me when I heard about Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book. This children’s fantasy novel won the 2009 Newbery Medal from the American Library Association, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s the story of a very young boy, orphaned by his family’s murder, who wanders into a cemetery and is adopted by its spectral inhabitants. The prose is haunting, as are the illustrations by Dave McKean. Weekend Reading: ‘Star Wars’ and Sherlock’s wifeApril 19th, 2009, 12:35 am by Jayson PetersI’ve just finished one exciting read dived right into another.
Luke Skywalker, accused of dereliction of duty as leader of the Jedi Order after his nephew’s destructive fall to the dark side, accepts a plea deal that sends him into exile. Read the rest of this entry » ‘Frell,’ ‘Frak’ and beyond — the dirty words of other worldsMarch 20th, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
Frak! Battlestar Galactica’s much-hyped final episode airs tonight. To mark this bittersweet occasion, I give you a list of 10 fake swear words that have each, to some extent, bled into the fan vernacular from science fiction. Feel free to employ any or all as the show’s grand finale can’t possibly live up to your expectations. Warning! Fake profanity and the use of people’s imagination follow! Read on at your own risk. And they are:
2009 Hugo Award nominees announcedMarch 19th, 2009, 7:18 pm by Jayson PetersHere are the nominees for the 2009 Hugo Awards, science fiction’s most prestigious honor. The Hugos are voted on by the thousands of members of the annual World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), which is also responsible for administering the awards. Winners will be announced at Worldcon in Montreal this August. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!March 2nd, 2009, 10:09 am by Jayson PetersIt was March 2, 1904, that Theodore Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Mass. Today Wired’s GeekDad blog pays tribute to Dr. Seuss’ 105th birthday. ‘Star Wars’ horror novel, ‘Indiana Jones’ video gameJanuary 30th, 2009, 9:09 am by Jayson PetersWhat if someone wrote a Star Wars horror novel? It would probably look something like this:
Deathtroopers by Joe Schreiber will be out just before Halloween in paperback from Del Rey. Read the rest of this entry » I see ‘Wheel of Time’ video games in our future …January 16th, 2009, 10:35 pm by Jayson Peters
The first book in the series, The Eye of the World, quickly attracted a devoted following when it was published in 1991. Jordan, who also wrote many Conan novels, died in 2007 at the age of 58 before completing the final novel in the saga, A Memory of Light. A short time later, Jordan’s family chose novelist Brandon Sanderson to finish his work. Read on for the official announcement. Read the rest of this entry » Bargain: Graphic novels on sale through Jan. 11 at BordersJanuary 8th, 2009, 12:48 am by Jayson Peters
The less-expensive item is the one discounted, natch. The mailer makes no mention of whether this deal is cumulative. But you can always go back again and again wearing a different hat! Also noteworthy: recent-release DVDs including The Dark Knight, Kung Fu Panda, The Duchess and The Tudors: The Complete Second Season are advertised as 3 for the price of 2. (In-store only.) P.S. — I saw the above-mentioned Kung Fu Panda for $10 at Target this week. Skidoosh! Will Disney’s withdrawal from Narnia sink ‘Dawn Treader’?December 24th, 2008, 4:16 pm by Jayson Peters
The Mouse has turned against the mighty Aslan! Disney announced today it will not be involved in the production or financing of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Read the rest of this entry »
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FiestaCon, a gathering of sci-fi and fantasy fans, starts today at the Tempe Mission Palms and runs through the weekend.
Greg Rucka will be signing his new novel, Walking Dead, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Poisoned Pen, 4014 N Goldwater Blvd. Suite 101, Scottsdale
I’m still reading 
The first is Outcast, the opening volume of the new Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi series by Aaron Allston. The nine-book series picks up 40 years after the end of Return of the Jedi, when the galaxy is still recovering from the crippling Yuuzhan Vong invasion and the havoc wrought by Darth Caedus, the self-styled Sith Lord formerly known as Jacen Solo.
Missing that copy of Watchmen or Batman: The Long Halloween you should have picked up ages ago? Or is yours maybe in less-than-collectible condition due to frequent re-reading? Borders is advertising a buy-one-get-one half-off promotion for all graphic novels in stock. It’s good through Sunday, Jan. 11, at their brick-and-mortar stores only. It would appear that no coupon is needed.
