We’re quickly closing in on our one year anniversary and thought it’d be kinda fun to take a look back at our most popular posts during that time.

1. The Top 10 Horror Movies of 2008

We’re starting to get used to the fact that this page will just be the most popular thing on this site (save for the library and homepage). Matt Schwartz counts down 10 of the best horror flicks to debut on the silver screen in 2008. By the looks of things, this has become your default list as well. If you’re one of the few who haven’t found this one, give it a look and get ready to leave the lights on for a while - there are some really scary stuff here.

2. In Defense of George R. R. Martin

If you’re a fan of Martin’s then you surely have an opinion on the time between his books. Shawn Speakman weighed in with this well-thought out article about writing, fandom, and if a contract exists between writer and reader.

3. The Real Fantastic Stuff, an essay by Richard K. Morgan

Here’s one that really got the blood boiling in some of our readers. Richard K. Morgan wrote a short essay on one of the forces that interested him in writing a work of fantasy. That force? The belief that Tolkien, considered a master of the genre, could have done even more with his writings. Then the conversation erupted. Check out the article and the comments in one of our most controversial posts to date.

4. Our George R. R. Martin April Fool’s Day Post

Hoo-boy, here’s a post that was meant as a convincing April Fool’s Day joke that might have been a little too convincing for some people. Most readers picked up on the trick, but even so, this is the first (and only, to my knowledge) that we decided to slap a disclaimer on. Remember, this one is only a joke.

5. The Temeraire series: Looking forward to Book 6

If you ask me, one of the coolest things about Suvudu is the chance to get sneak peeks into upcoming books, behind-the-scenes stuff, or other access that’s otherwise a little more difficult to come across. Here’s on example, Betsy Mitchell wrote about the upcoming Temeraire book (#6) with a short look at what sets the book up and a little bit about Naomi’s research in Australia. Some really cool pictures from Naomi’s trip also feature in the article. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Ahh, I love the repetition of these types of posts!

It is the first of the month! Again!

And like the previous four months—again—Suvudu and its Free Library are bringing you free eBooks to try and get hooked on!

Here are the new additions:

• Manifold: Time by Stephen Baxter – Once upon a time I used to work with an employee named Graham at a Barnes & Noble. He had his PhD. He had the driest of wits that tend to accompany such men. Along with Steven Erikson and Robert V.S. Redick, he was one of the smartest people I’ve met. And he was also exceptionally well read in science fiction literature. He swore by Stephen Baxter and loved the Manifold series, repeatedly saying Baxter was one of the best at interweaving hard science with great storytelling that is pertinent to our world’s cultural, economic and scientific problems. I have not yet read Manifold: Time but it’s nice to know I can now for free! And so can you!
• Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning – Here is another book I haven’t read yet will soon thanks to the Free Library! Urban fantasy and paranormal romance have been so huge as of the last few years and it sounds like Darkfever sits right between them. When MacKayla Lane’s sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death, Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed—a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae…

There you go! Two new additions to the Free Library!

Yes, make sure you pay your rent and mortgage on time. It is the first of the month, after all, no matter how much it pains you. Then feel good about yourself by saving money and downloading one of these free eBooks!

And be sure to tell your friends about these free books! I’m sure they are fans as well!

Until next month…

I was perusing the internet(s) this morning when I ran across a thought-provoking blog post by author Robert V.S. Redick.

Robert is the author of the widely-acclaimed debut novel, The Red Wolf Conspiracy. We met at the 2009 NY Comic Con and after only talking to him for a few moments I was struck by how thoughtful and balanced he approached the conversation. Later that night at the Random House con party, I realized Robert is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.

So when he decided to write a blog post about Star Trek and how the series has progressed over the last 40 years, I was curious what he had to say.

After the huge success of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, what Robert had to say shocked me a bit.

Read the post HERE! And definitely comment on it.

After reading it twice, I think Robert is daring people to comment!

While waiting for the last installment in the Twilight Saga to come out, I happened across the first in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments trilogy, CITY OF BONES. I’d seen the books around and been attracted to the flashy covers (I like shiny objects, what can I say? It’s an elemental thing.) so I finally sat down and read it.

And proceeded not to get up for the next three hours (I’m a fast reader and I do not skim, no matter what any of my friends tell you!). Clare has a way of never letting the action stop so that you HAVE to keep reading. At one point, I was literally trying to read it while brushing my teeth. This was not a successful venture, as you may have guessed.

The books revolve around Clary, a teenager living in a New York City where demon hunters exist. She’s pulled into the world when her mother is kidnapped and it turns out Clary has a much closer connection to the Shadowhunter (those who kill demons) world than she previously thought.

Suffice to say that you will enjoy this entire trilogy if you liked Twilight. There’s some forbidden romance with vampires and werewolves and other supernatural beings thrown in the mix as well.

Links:
The Mortal Instruments website

HARDCOVER BOOKS

• The Women of Nell Gwynne’s by Kage Baker
• Hazards by Mike Resnick

PAPERBACK BOOKS

• An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham
• The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe
• Mars Life by Ben Bova
• Jhegaala by Steven Brust
• A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
• Balefires by David Drake
• 1634: The Bavarian Crisis by Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce
• Farmer in the Sky by Robert A Heinlein
• The Dark Reaches by Kristin Landon
• Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold
• Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu
• The Stars Down Under by Sandra McDonald
• Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross

DVDS

• Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Fifth Season

IN THEATERS FRIDAY

• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Author Jacqueline Carey came to my home office yesterday to sign hundreds of copies of her new books, Naamah’s Kiss and Santa Olivia, to be sent to people all over the world.

It was the sixth or seventh time we’ve conducted an online signing together.

What is an online signing, you ask?

It’s simple. For the author it is like any number of drop-by bookstore signings they may do while on tour.

For fans, however, it is an opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have.

I began The Signed Page almost ten years ago to bridge a gap that exists between the touring author and the fan who is unable to attend a bookstore event. In my youth I was that fan. I grew up near the base of Mt. St. Helens, far from any city an author might tour through and getting a signed book from a favorite writer was like pulling teeth. When I could get a signed copy it left my wallet coughing moths.

Once I moved to Seattle and was knee-deep in writers, I saw an opportunity for fans all over the world who had been like me. I devoted The Signed Page to bringing signed and personalized books to those fans who are unable to meet with their favorite touring writers. An author can only visit so many cities per book release, leaving many fans worldwide unable to attain a reasonably-priced signed or personalized copy of their favorite author’s new book for their collection.

I can’t count the thousands of books I have shipped all over the world—purchased at cover price.

And in the almost ten years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never really showed the steps I go through for the writers who sign books for their fans. So I photo documented the process with Jacqueline Carey and her newest books!

Packing 500+ lbs. of books up three flights of stairs is fun!

Continue on to see another 15 pictures with captions of the steps I go through getting signed books to those who love them!

For a quarter of a century, the DRAGONLANCE setting has been engaging millions of readers in a world of magic and adventure. If you’re one of those special readers, now’s your chance to show the world that you’re the Ultimate DRAGONLANCE Fan!

One grand-prize winner will receive two (2) round-trip tickets to Gen Con Indy in August 2009, lodging for 3 nights, and two (2) four-day badges, as well as an autographed copy of the forthcoming Dragons of the Hourglass Mage by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. What’s more, the winning essay will be posted on the Wizards of the Coast website.

Read all about it here!

Japanese actor Eiji Okuda and director Sion Sono will be making an appearance at Kinokuniya Bookstore (1073 Avenue of the Americas) on July 3 at 4:30 PM. Both Okuda and Sono will be in NYC as guests of the New York Asian Film Festival, and they’ll be at Kinokuniya to speak about their careers and their work together on their newest film, BE SURE TO SHARE, which will receive its World Premiere on Sunday, July 5 at 8:15 PM at Japan Society. The film is being co-presented as part of Japan’s Society’s JAPAN CUTS Festival of New Japanese Film.

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” -Benjamin Franklin, Nov. 13, 1789 (from a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy)

Credit Benjamin Franklin for attempting to warn us about the zombie threat. As with anything else Franklin-ian, you have to read between the lines a bit: if death is a certainty, then rising from the grave to nosh on noggins is soon to follow. If only we’d listened sooner, perhaps we would be rid of the walking undead by now. Of course, Franklin could have been a little clearer on the matter. That would have helped too.

And that’s where Max Brooks steps in. Max has dedicated himself to speaking plainly about the zombie menace and preparing us to deal with their attacks. So, with so many of us preparing to make the arduous journey to San Diego for Comic-Con International, we here at Suvudu felt it was our duty to keep you safe. At least one of you, anyway. But the rest of you will be well prepared!

We’re giving away a Max Brooks prize bundle containing the audio editions of World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide to some lucky contest entrant who will be picked at random. To enter, you need email us your answer to the question below:

What household items (limit of 3) would you pack to be ready for zombie encounters on your road trip to Comic-Con?

When we announce the winner, we’ll also list the items that everyone mentioned they’d be packing; that way the rest of you have a fighting chance. You have until July 3 to enter, so get emailing! As always, you should read over the official rules carefully.

Good luck! And, if you want a taste of the books on offer, you can sample them below:

It is Saturday! Drink that coffee! Eat the croissant! And sit back and relax while reading some of the interesting posts made by fans of fantasy and science fiction this last week!

In unordered intention:

• Review: Jacqueline Carey’s Naamah’s Kiss by Fantasy Book Critic
• Review: James Enge’s Blood of Ambrose by A Dribble of Ink
• Review: Judith Tarr’s Bring Down the Sun by Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
• Comment: Terry Goodkind’s Fantasy Retirement by The Wertzone
• Review: C.E. Murphy’s The Pretender’s Crown by SF Site
• Comment: Pathetic… by Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist

There are a great many fans out there who put in a a lot of time and effort helping others find the most enjoyable books, reviews and interviews the internet(s) have to offer. Every week this will be a shout-out to those people if they have contributed something interesting in sci-fi and fantasy! Know of a fan-run blog that deserves to be read but it isn’t featured here? Let me know!