Djenn, ghuls, and a struggle for power

SF&F Literati meet 1/23/17

The SF&F Literati selection brings desert warmth to the January selection 

Title: Throne of the Crescent Moon

Author: Saladin Ahmed

Available from: Barnes & Noble and other fine booksellers; library copies are also available.

Meeting: Kansas City SF&F Literati

When: 7:00 p.m.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Where: Barnes & Noble #2352, 2^nd Floor

11323 W. 95^th Street 

Overland Park, KS 66214

Barnes & Noble Overview: 

From Saladin Ahmed, finalist for the Nebula and Campbell Awards, comes one of the year's most anticipated fantasy debuts: THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, a fantasy adventure with all the magic of The Arabian Nights.

The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, home to djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, are at the boiling point of a power struggle between the iron- fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince. In the midst of this brewing rebellion a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. It is up to a handful of heroes to learn the truth behind these killings.

Doctor Adoulla Makhslood, "the last real ghul hunter in the great city of Dhamsawaat," just wants a quiet cup of tea. Three score and more years old, he has grown weary of hunting monsters and saving lives, and is more than ready to retire from his dangerous and demanding vocation. But when an old flame's family is murdered, Adoulla is drawn back to the hunter's path.

Raseed bas Raseed, Adoulla's young assistant, is a hidebound holy warrior whose prowess is matched only by his piety. But even as Raseed's sword is tested by ghuls and manjackals, his soul is tested when he and Adoulla cross paths with the tribeswoman Zamia.

Zamia Badawi, Protector of the Band, has been gifted with the near- mythical power of the lion-shape, but shunned by her people for daring to take up a man's title. She lives only to avenge her father's death. Until she learns that Adoulla and his allies also hunt her father's killer. Until she meets Raseed.

When they learn that the murders and the Falcon Prince's brewing revolution are connected, the companions must race against time-and struggle against their own misgivings-to save the life of a vicious despot. In so doing they discover a plot for the Throne of the Crescent Moon that threatens to turn Dhamsawaat, and the world itself, into a blood-soaked ruin.

IMAGE: the cover image for Throne of the Crescent Moon is courtesy of Goodreads. The monster illustration is by Adri Fitri, posted by Saladin Ahmed on Twitter.

NO SF&F Literati in December--do you have January's selection?

Djenn, ghuls, and a struggle for power

The SF&F Literati selection brings desert warmth to the January selection 

Title: Throne of the Crescent Moon

Author: Saladin Ahmed

Available from: Barnes & Noble and other fine booksellers; library copies are also available.

Meeting: Kansas City SF&F Literati

When: 7:00 p.m.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Where: Barnes & Noble #2352, 2^nd Floor

       11323 W. 95^th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214

Barnes & Noble Overview: 

From Saladin Ahmed, finalist for the Nebula and Campbell Awards, comes one of the year's most anticipated fantasy debuts: THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, a fantasy adventure with all the magic of The Arabian Nights.

The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, home to djenn and ghuls, holy warriors and heretics, are at the boiling point of a power struggle between the iron- fisted Khalif and the mysterious master thief known as the Falcon Prince. In the midst of this brewing rebellion a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. It is up to a handful of heroes to learn the truth behind these killings.

Doctor Adoulla Makhslood, "the last real ghul hunter in the great city of Dhamsawaat," just wants a quiet cup of tea. Three score and more years old, he has grown weary of hunting monsters and saving lives, and is more than ready to retire from his dangerous and demanding vocation. But when an old flame's family is murdered, Adoulla is drawn back to the hunter's path.

Raseed bas Raseed, Adoulla's young assistant, is a hidebound holy warrior whose prowess is matched only by his piety. But even as Raseed's sword is tested by ghuls and manjackals, his soul is tested when he and Adoulla cross paths with the tribeswoman Zamia.

Zamia Badawi, Protector of the Band, has been gifted with the near- mythical power of the lion-shape, but shunned by her people for daring to take up a man's title. She lives only to avenge her father's death. Until she learns that Adoulla and his allies also hunt her father's killer. Until she meets Raseed.

When they learn that the murders and the Falcon Prince's brewing revolution are connected, the companions must race against time-and struggle against their own misgivings-to save the life of a vicious despot. In so doing they discover a plot for the Throne of the Crescent Moon that threatens to turn Dhamsawaat, and the world itself, into a blood-soaked ruin.

IMAGE: the cover image for Throne of the Crescent Moon is courtesy of Goodreads. The monster illustration is by Adri Fitri, posted by Saladin Ahmed on Twitter.

SF&F Literati Meet October 26!

Time-Travel Fuels Steampunk Mystery

Date: October 27,2014-7:00 p.m.

Title: Infernal Devices

Author: K.W. Jeter

Publisher: Osprey Publishing Ltd.

Available from: Fine booksellers, including Barnes & Noble

Meeting Location: Barnes & Noble #2352
11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

“He inherited a watchmaker’s store—and a whole heap of trouble. But idle sometime-musician George has little talent for clockwork. And when a shadowy figure tries to steal an old device from the premises, George finds himself embroiled in a mystery of time travel, music and sexual intrigue. A genuine lost classic, a Steampunk original whose time has come.” 

Please note that K.W. Jeter does not seem to have an official author website. If you would like to know more about him, you may enjoy looking at the biographical information from Wikipedia, Amazon, GoodReads, and Facebook.

Start reading now for November!  

Implacable Strangeness in the Universe

Date: November 24, 2014-7:00 p.m.

Title: Burning Paradise

Author: Robert Charles Wilson

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates 

Available from: Fine booksellers, including Barnes & Noble

Meeting Location: Barnes & Noble #2352, 2^nd Floor
11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

“From Robert Charles Wilson, the author of the Hugo-winning Spin, comes Burning Paradise, a new tale of humans coming to grips with a universe of implacable strangeness.

“Cassie Klyne, nineteen years old, lives in the United States in the year 2015—but it’s not our United States, and it’s not our 2015.

“Cassie’s world has been at peace since the Great Armistice of 1918. There was no World War II, no Great Depression. Poverty is declining, prosperity is increasing everywhere; social instability is rare. But Cassie knows the world isn’t what it seems. Her parents were part of a group who gradually discovered the awful truth: that for decades—back to the dawn of radio communications—human progress has been interfered with, made more peaceful and benign, by an extraterrestrial entity. That by interfering with our communications, this entity has tweaked history in massive and subtle ways. That humanity is, for purposes unknown, being farmed.

“Cassie’s parents were killed for this knowledge, along with most of the other members of their group. Since then, the survivors have scattered and gone into hiding. Cassie and her younger brother Thomas now live with her aunt Nerissa, who shares these dangerous secrets. Others live nearby. For eight years they have attempted to lead unexceptional lives in order to escape detection. The tactic has worked.

“Until now. Because the killers are back. And they’re not human.”

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to the blog, "Solar Bridge" for the cover image of Infernal Devices, and to GoodReads for the cover of Burning Paradise.

SF &F Literati Meet September 22, 2014

The Grace of Killing
TITLE: Graceling
AUTHOR: Kristin Cashore
WHERE:  
Barnes & Noble #2352 at Oak Park Mall
11393 W. 95th St., Overland Park, KS 66214
On 2nd floor by the windows.
WHEN:  
Monday, September 22, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
AVAILABLE FROM: Barnes & Nobles and other fine booksellers. 

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.

Awards: Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, winner of the SIBA Book Award/YA, Indies Choice Book Award Honor Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2008 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Amazon.com’s Best Books of 2008, 2008 Booklist Editors’ Choice, Booklist’s 2008 Top Ten First Novels for Youth, 2009 Amelia Bloomer List, BCCB 2009 Blue Ribbon List

Don’t miss the sequel Fire, also a New York Times bestseller and ALA Best Book for Young Adults, winner of the 2010 Cybil for YA Fantasy/Sci Fi and the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award.

You may enjoy a trailer for this book: 

Come with ideas for new books to read!

This is Decision Month, when the selections for October, November, January, and February will be chosen!  Let your opinions be heard! 

IMAGE CREDITS: The cover image for Existence came from MacMillan, the book's publisher. The image for Graceling came from GoodReads.

SF&F Literati Meet August 25, 2014

Alien Artifact
TITLE: Existence
AUTHOR: David Brin
WHERE:  
Barnes & Noble #2352 at Oak Park Mall
11393 W. 95th St., Overland Park, KS 66214
On 2nd floor by the windows.
WHEN:  
Monday, August 25, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
AVAILABLE FROM: Barnes & Nobles and other fine booksellers. 

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Bestselling, award-winning futurist David Brin returns to globe-spanning, high concept SF with Existence.

Gerald Livingston is an orbital garbage collector. For a hundred years, people have been abandoning things in space, and someone has to clean it up. But there’ something spinning a little bit higher than he expects, something that isn’t on the decades’ old orbital maps. An hour after he grabs it and brings it in, rumors fill Earth’s infomesh about an “alien artifact.”

Thrown into the maelstrom of worldwide shared experience, the Artifact is a game-changer. A message in a bottle; an alien capsule that wants to communicate. The world reacts as humans always do: with fear and hope and selfishness and love and violence. And insatiable curiosity. 

Don't miss next month:
TITLE: Graceling
AUTHOR: Kristin Cashore
WHERE:  
Barnes & Noble #2352 at Oak Park Mall
11393 W. 95th St., Overland Park, KS 66214
On 2nd floor by the windows.
WHEN:  
Monday, September 22, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
AVAILABLE FROM: Barnes & Nobles and other fine booksellers. 

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.

Awards: Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, winner of the SIBA Book Award/YA, Indies Choice Book Award Honor Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2008 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Amazon.com’s Best Books of 2008, 2008 Booklist Editors’ Choice, Booklist’s 2008 Top Ten First Novels for Youth, 2009 Amelia Bloomer List, BCCB 2009 Blue Ribbon List

Don’t miss the sequel Fire, also a New York Times bestseller and ALA Best Book for Young Adults, winner of the 2010 Cybil for YA Fantasy/Sci Fi and the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award.

IMAGE CREDITS: The cover image for Existence came from MacMillan, the book's publisher. The image for Graceling came from GoodReads.

Jon Moss Reviews The Sound of Rebellion

Taking the 50-Word Review Challenge!

The book: The Sound of Rebellion
The author:  John Scalzi
The reviewer: Jon Moss
Available from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

-->The eighth episode of Scalzi's Human Division delivered a bit more action and suspense, and a return of Lt. Lee (first appeared in the third episode, We Only Need the Heads). My only quibble came from the ending and the rather abrupt silence of Lee's thoughts.
Readers, Please Comment: Did you enjoy this review? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree? Please share what you think!
More reviews coming soon!
COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of GoodReads.

Jon Moss Reviews "Among Thieves"

Taking the 50-Word Review Challenge!

The book: Among Thieves (Tales of the Kin #1)
The author: Douglas Hulick
The reviewer: Jon Moss
Available from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

-->

Probably closer to a 3.5 (mostly because I didn't completely connect with the characters) but I'll balance that with a 4.5 for excellent sword fight scenes and nearly non-stop action and intrigue. Reminded me of watching the series 24 sort of mashed up with the mini-series Pillars of the Earth through the lens of underworld organized crime and a dash of dark magic. Hard to put down and stayed up late to finish.

Readers, Please Comment: Did you enjoy this review? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree? Please share what you think!
More reviews coming soon!
COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of GoodReads.

Jon Moss Reviews "Hounded"

Taking the 50-Word Review Challenge!

The book: Hounded (Iron Druid Chronicles #1)
The author: Kevin Hearne
The reviewer: Jon Moss
Available from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

3.5 stars

This type of urban fantasy could easily grow on me. Absolutely no zombies and only one token cameo vampire. I didn't mind the pack of werewolves. All the rest of the 'paranormals' hailed from Celtic mythology. Oberon the Irish wolfhound got the best lines, often at the expense of our hero, the Iron Druid. A fun fast read.

Readers, Please Comment: Did you enjoy this review? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree? Please share what you think!
More reviews coming soon!
COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of GoodReads.

Jon Moss Reviews "The Memory Coder"

Taking the 50-Word Review Challenge!

The short fiction e-pub: The Memory Coder
The author: Jessica Brody
The reviewer: Jon Moss
Available from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Extremely concise short story. I would guess it's dystopia but not enough world building or back story to confirm that theory. Not convinced of guys obsession with violet eyes or why said behavior would necessitate a complete memory excision. Quick but somewhat disappointing read.

Readers, Please Comment: Did you enjoy this review? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree? Please share what you think!
More reviews coming soon!
COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of Goodreads.

Jon Moss Reviews "The Dog King" by John Scalzi

Taking the 50-Word Review Challenge!

The book: The Dog King
The author: John Scalzi
The reviewer: Jon Moss
Available from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

This one is really short, but then so is the 7th episode of The Human Division by John Scalzi:

7th episode of The Human Division delivered the laughs and the goods.  Wilson rescues Tuffy, a Lhasa apso, who in turn saves the day and the diplomatic mission in true canine selfless fashion.  

Readers, Please Comment: Did you enjoy this review? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree? Please share what you think!
More reviews coming soon!


COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of GoodReads.

Jon Moss Reviews "Transformation" by Carol Berg

Taking the 50-Word Review Challenge!

The book: Transformation
The author: Carol Berg
The reviewer: Jon Moss
Available from Barnes & Noble Booksellers
 
I gave it five stars at GoodReads, where it was the February selection for the Fantasy Book Club: 

An absolute five star masterpiece. I read the first half in one sitting and would have finished the second half sooner had work and sleep not gotten in the way. Looking forward to reading the other two books later this year.

Readers, Please Comment: Did you enjoy this review? Dislike it? Agree? Disagree? Please share what you think!
More reviews coming soon!

COVER IMAGE: Courtesy of GoodReads.