New Books and ARCs, 5/18/15
Posted on May 18, 2015 Posted by John Scalzi 52 Comments
I’m guessing you will find something to like in this stack of new books and ARCs. Am I right? Let me know in the comments!
Posted on May 18, 2015 Posted by John Scalzi 52 Comments
I’m guessing you will find something to like in this stack of new books and ARCs. Am I right? Let me know in the comments!
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John Scalzi, proprietor – JS
Athena Scalzi, editor – AMS
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Hey what’s Game Of Thrones about?
ARMADA!
I’m not saying I’d descend from your office ceiling ninja-like to snatch Armada and that Game of Thrones set, but I’m not NOT saying it, either.
I’ve heard good things about “The Traitor Baru Cormorant”, and I read an excerpt from it once (very good book, well-written and all), but it seemed a little dark for me. I prefer happy endings where the good guys win–I know, old-fashioned, and I admit that a “classic” happy ending where everything’s perfect can get boring, but I just don’t like seeing racists, homophobes, or other bigots winning in fiction.
And, well, the excerpt I read had the title character being basically broken by a bigoted evil empire, and I don’t like that. Good book, undeniably well-written, just not my taste.
Last Song Before Night!
Seems George listened to Paul & Storm!
Armada
I just added to my calendar the purchase date of Armada so I could get it day 1. But now seeing this. I need to become a reviewer. Normally I see books here and add them to my list but that book. I needs it now. I have cravings!
Armada is in your house and you are taking pictures and posting on your blog! – I hate you just a little bit right now.
Oooh, A Long Time Until Now would be what I would grab if I had to share. Otherwise I’d take them all!
I’m reading The Shadow Revolution right now and enjoying it quite a bit. And ARMADA and BARSK were the ones highest up on my wishlist, until I looked up the premise of Last Song Before Night. Oooh.
Pathfinder Unchained you say? Oh my!
_Armada_! Definitely looking forward to that one. And I’ve read a few snippets of _A Long Time Until Now_, it’s looking interesting…
Armada! Is there a raffle or something? I want the number 42.
Armada!!! Have had it on preorder for a while now, so not jealous. Not jealous at all of seeing it in that stack already
Looking forward to Zero World which sounds like James Bond with robots and also looking towards Shadow Revolution for a fun summer read.
I’d be more tempted by Game of Thrones if I didn’t have a digital copy. (Book 3 was part of the reason I got an ereader. The paperback was physically painful to read at times.) But they would look nice on a shelf.
I’d probably grab Armada too. I’ve meaning to check out something else by him.
Ooo… Armada! I’m patiently waiting for it to come in at the library (I’m already on the hold list). BUT, I would welcome the chance to read it early.
Changterhune, don’t worry about what ‘Game Of Thrones’ is about. Just don’t hire the author as a wedding planner…
Ernest Cline!
I’ve read the Weber and Martins, and I’ve heard of Michael Z. Williamson, though I don’t think I’ve read anything by him. The rest, as usual, I’ve never heard of.
Armada (I need something to read after End of All Things)
I just finished reading my copy of “Perdito,” – there is only so long you can make 70 pages last. I’d read it years ago in a multi-author anthology but couldn’t remember the title of the collection. It haunted me all this time, and I was so excited to see it. I know that it’s a long shot, but I keep hoping that, one day, Peter Straub will decide to dust it off and see what remarkable thing he can make of it.
Nice List!
I enjoyed the heck out of David Weber’s “Shadow of Freedom”. It’s a great continuation of the “Shadow…” series part of his Honorverse. I continue to anxiously await for more, as the Honorverse is one of my favorite sci-fi universes and some of the best military sci-fi I’ve read. :)
Wrong! Not that I’m looking at this stack like “eww”, just not having my interest super piqued by any of them (authors, titles, spine designs). TBF some of the books I’m intensely looking forward to recently had cover reveals, and I was neutral about them as well. Can’t have everything I guess!
Though, isn’t Pathfinder a tabletop RPG? It has a novelization? Or is it that you receive rulebooks or whatnot as well?
Whichever is shortest!
Armada! I’m so excited!
Nobody told me there was new Ernest Cline coming … PRE-ORDER!!!
Wait, I thought these were new books. Shadow of Freedom came out in 2013. Is this a special edition, or do I totally misunderstand how these posts work?
It’s a good book, by the way, but I would go back to On Basilisk Station (free) and do the Honor Harrington series properly. I too am waiting for more from the Honorverse, so for a second there I thought this heralded the arrival of a new entrant. Alas, no, I am just confused.
Definitely Armada. Ready Player One was a LOT of fun.
What, exactly, is that Game of Thrones two book set? I suspect strongly that it is NOT Book 6. :-)
Is it an illustrated set? A foreign edition?
Pathfinder Unchained! Fixed the Monk, corrected the disturbing habit of the Barbarian to die just for using his core class ability, and introduces a ton of the designers “house rules” for use in your campaign. Only spend a few minutes wit ha friends copy so far, but this is on my list to acquire.
Must have Armada
More in the Harrington universe!
I wonder what will happen the day “Winds of Winter” appear in your “ARCs” picture
Armada. Enough said.
New Ernie Cline? Sign me up!
Armada! I’m very much jealous.
I want them all! Lol, just kidding. Or am I? I’ve been on a killer reading stint ever since Mother’s day weekend and have devoured 7 books that have crossed my path. I’m dying for more! :-) I fear my Kindle is going to spontaneously combust any moment now in hateful spite for me ignoring it for the last month and suddenly paying it so much attention lately. That’s what the library is for though, am I right!
Yay, Last Song Before Night! I’d be jealous but we have our own ARC waiting in the wings somewhere. :)
Armada’s synopsis at Amazon sounds a lot like the plot to 1984’s The Last Starfighter.
Armada, definitely. Ready Player One was a blast, and it’s been 5 years. Seems a long time for a follow up, but given how detailed/plotted RP1 was I can guess why.
@TW George:
That’s the Subterranean Press limited edition of A Game of Thrones (split into 2 volumes because of size).
A Straub vignette is better than 90% of the novels I’ve read.
Armada. I can no longer wait.
My Mailbag this week included Zero World and The Shadow Revolution, and I’m expecting Armada in this week’s. I already got Traitor Baru electronically. Nice haul overall.
Last Song Before Night!!!
Just curious, do you actually read ALL of the books that are sent to you? My father and daughter are exceptionally fast readers (their retention is amazing as well) so why not you? I can read fairly quickly, but not that fast. I wish!
Armada!
I got a fright, thought I had missed publication of Last Song before Night!
I’ve been looking forward to Armada for so long that I keep re-reading Ready Player One. It is interesting how much buzz Cline created with that novel. I hope that when I get my first novel finished, it creates a tenth of that amount of excitement. I also saw Williamson’s newest A long Time Until Now as a “You might like” advert on Amazon and I must say that I am intrigued by the story. I’m a big fan of alternate history/sci-fi. Kind of makes me think of Stirling’s Nantucket series. I am definitely looking forward to reading those two books.
Got my copy of Armada this week too, and oh man, did that ever live up to expectations. Now the hard part – waiting until I can actually TALK ABOUT IT with other humans.