Results tagged “spectra”

So I’m supposed to be working throughout the day—and (if my bosses are reading) I am! But part of my job is to run our @bantamspectra Twitter account. Which I do—with perhaps too great a frequency.

The problem is, I get into some fascinating conversations with my followers (the fact that I consider them my followers is irrelevant for this discussion), and yesterday was a great example of starting with a small topic, and it exploding into something quite fascinating.

It all started with the rather (or so I thought) innocuous query:

Do you know and/or care about the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance?

The response was, while perhaps not overwhelming, surely whelming.

Two camps seemed to set up: those that did know the difference and didn’t care, and those who did know the difference and did.

As @Tupholos said: “Don’t care. I suppose people with strong pos or neg feelings for one or the other might care. I like ‘em both.”

@LynnAAR added: “I read both PR and UF, so no. However, I do like to know what genre I’m buying.” When I asked her if it was so she knew what she was getting into, she replied: “Exactly. If a book is well-written, I’ll like it regardless, but I still like to know what I’m picking up.”

So even those who don’t care actually do care to a degree, in that their immediate selections (what they decided to read) were made fully cognizant that they were holding either paranormal romance or urban fantasy.

For my followers, then, the difference was important, if only so that they were geared up (in the right frame of mind) for the book they were about to read.

(Getting into the meat of things, after the jump—including books that readers of both UF and PR should enjoy)

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Here’s the third free preview chapter of Greg van Eekhout’s debut novel, Norse Code, a Spectra mass market paperback which goes on sale May 19, 2009.

Again, if you haven’t read Chapter 1, go to Tor.com, here, and then come back to us to read Chapter 2, here. Believe me, you won’t necessarily miss anything by reading this first, but Greg went out of his way to write them in order for a reason, so why don’t you try it his way?

I’m really excited about this book, and I hope you will be, too.

Happy reading!

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Below is the second chapter of Greg van Eekhout’s debut novel, Norse Code, a Spectra title which goes on sale May 19, 2009 (if you haven’t read the first chapter, go to Tor.com, here, and then come back to us to read Chapter 2. Seriously, go ahead. We’ll wait).

I don’t want to give to much away, but Norse Code is about as fun as you’ll have reading about the end of the world. Granted, I’m biased (I like good books), but I think what makes this novel so enjoyable is how Greg balances the very “human” nature of these supernatural beings with the magical apocalypse going down all around them.

In other words: Hermod’s my boy.

Happy reading!

If you don’t know, the last Tuesday of every month is traditionally when new books are released (as opposed to the first Tuesday of the month for DVDs and CDs). Why Tuesday is anyone’s guess. I like to think it has something to do with the idea that books disclose the thoughts of the author, and since, when they are published, their “Voices Carry,” the day is appropriate.

(And you thought we couldn’t get a ‘Til Tuesday reference on Suvudu!)

Well, this past Tuesday was a big one for Spectra, as we had a number of authors with new releases, including some veterans to the game and some wonderful debuts.

This is what the Spectra booth looked like before the madness that is the New York Comic Convention finally wrapped up on Sunday. Didn’t it look rather pretty?

Perhaps I’m a bit biased, as I spent what feels like the better portion of my life in the confines of that booth, but I think we did a rather nice job.

Over the course of the three days, apparently over 77,000 people walked through the exhibition hall of the Javits Center.  I feel like I talked to most of them, and at least half of them, of course, asked about a certain upcoming George R.R. Martin book.

Okay, that could be a bit of an exaggeration.  But, seriously, by my tally, I personally fielded over 100 questions about the release date for A Dance For Dragons.While I think Shawn did a great job laying out why it’s late, I might have gotten a little aggressive with some of the Martin fans, and for that I apologize. I’m now re-energized, and I’m much more likely to be civil in telling you: I don’t know when it’s coming out. Sorry.

What I did find was that there was actually one good thing about the book being late, and that is we got a lot of questions about our other great authors and books (oh yeah, folks—we put out more than just Martin). Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series, Alan Campbell’s Deepgate Codex, not to mention Catherynne Valente, David Williams, Black and White (which someone stole my display copy from my table, that’s how popular it was), Baltimore, Thunderer, Keri Arthur, Kelley Armstrong…people were stopping by the booth and were interested in what we’re doing.

We do some decent work, in my humble opinion.

And, as exhausting as it was (and that’s where the title comes in; who knew my hamstrings would be sore after a Comic Convention?), I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I might do away with the feeding frenzies that accompany the ends of every convention I work at (“Yes, you can have a free display copy, but let’s pretend that this isn’t the last loaf of bread in the supermarket on the eve before the storm of the century”), but overall, I was really glad to meet all those people interested in science fiction and fantasy, interested in reading, perhaps just interested in the great art on the covers (or the pretty girls who helped me staff my booth throughout the weekend—okay, I have a feeling I’ve got the winner there).

Of course, this is what the booth looked like at the end of the day…

Mark Hamil!  Alf!  And otherrrrrrs!

I always wanted to know who the others were.  I also think we should have bi-monthly science fiction conventions.

If you’ve been living in a cave (and kudos to you for getting a wi-fi connection in your cave!), then you might not realize the New York Comic Con is today.  Having just gotten back from setting up the Spectra booth yesterday, I am very, very aware that it is today. 

I don’t think it’s a good sign that I’m already tired.

Regardless, the plan is for everyone who comes to our booth—and, I’ll deign to mention that a large portion of the Random House family will also be in the general vicinity, so I should say aisle—is going to come away with at least a smile, and quite possibly a little something extra.  Between authors signing free copies of their books, assorted swag and other sundry items, and even some contests, I have a feeling we’re going to be one of the more happening areas in Javits Center.*

As this is the “before,” post, I can maintain that optimism to a high degree.  Hopefully the “during” post will continue in a similar fashion, and even more hopefully, the “after” will feature the writing of someone who is still able to think in coherent English and type with any sort of skill.

So please, cave-dwellers and those who have ascribed to The Republic, stop on by: the whole lot of us (including the fine people from Suvudu) will be in the 1900 aisle, booths 1940 and 1941.  Say hello—chances are, I’ll be there pretty much all day, every day.

Alas, I don’t think either Mr. Hamill nor Alf will be there (they might; you never know).  Oddly, I’m not exactly sure whose absence I’m more disappointed about: no Luke Skywalker, or no cat-eating alien muppet.  I’ll throw that open to the public to decide.  Think of it as a Choose David’s Emotions.

All right, enough whimsy.  See you there! 

*Note: Any claims of “happening-ness” are solely the opinions of this one humble blogger, and should not be construed as being a guarantee of any sort of “happening,” “shindiggery,”  “awesomocity,” or “fantabulousness.”**

**Note note: I find it amazing that spell-check has let the following words go:  “shindiggery,” “awesomocity,” and “fantabulousness.”  Please contact your local lexicographer to make sure your next dictionary is up-to-date.

The finalists for the World Fantasy Awards for 2008 have been announced and Logorrhea, an anthology of short stories edited by John Klima and released by Bantam Spectra, racked up three nominations. Two stories from the anthology — “The Cambist and Lord Iron: A Fairy Tale of Economics” by Daniel Abraham and “Singing of Mount Abora” by Theodora Goss — were nominated in the Short Story category. In addition, Logorrhea was selected as one of five finalists in the Anthology category.

Also of note, John Klima received a nomination in the Special Award—Non-professional category for his magazine Electric Velocipede. Bantam Spectra author Tim Pratt (The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl) who also has a short story in Logorrhea, received a nomination for his collection Hart & Boot & Other Stories.

Earlier this year, Bantam Spectra made the full text of “The Cambist and Lord Iron: A Fairy Tale of Economics” available for free via Issuu. Click on the book image below to read the story.

You can now read the first three chapters of Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett.

This stunning epic fantasy debut introduces two exciting new authors—and a world brimming with natural and man-made wonders, extraordinary events, and a crisis that will test the mettle of men, the boundaries of magic, and the heart and soul of a kingdom. Thanks to its elite Dragon Corps, the capital city of Volstov has all but won the hundred years’ war with its neighboring enemy, the Ke-Han. The renegade airmen who fly the corps’s mechanical, magic-fueled dragons are Volstov’s greatest weapon. But with Volstov immersed in a scandal that may have international repercussions, the Ke-Han devise an ingenious plan of attack. To counter the threat, four ill-assorted heroes must converge to save the kingdom they love: an exiled magician, a naive country boy, a young student—and the unpredictable ace airman who flies the city’s fiercest dragon, Havemercy.

And be sure to add Havemercy to your online book shelf.
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