Author: Ruth Arnell

Kenny & the Dragon: A great read-aloud book

Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi is a charming tribute to Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic The Reluctant Dragon, which most people are familiar with through the Disney short film adaptation. In this beautifully illustrated volume, DiTerlizzi tells the story of a small, bookish rabbit named Kenny who learns that a dragon has been spotted on his family farm. Armed with a bestiary, he goes to investigate, and instead of a fearsome fire-spouting dragon,

WWWednesday: November 28, 2012

Locus Online is hosting a poll to determine the best novels and short fiction of the 20th and 21st century. You have until the 30th to nominate your choices.

SF Signal hosts a great video from N.K. Jemisin talking about the significance of Octavia E. Butler’s Dawn, the first book in the Xenogenesis trilogy.

Sword and Laser’s Author’s Guide and Interview with Patrick Rothfuss.

Book recommendations to help you get over the pain of losing a favorite cancelled sci-fi TV show.

November 28th, 2012. Ruth Arnell | World Wide Wednesday | 1 comment |

Renegade: Will scratch your Hunger Games itch

Renegade by J.A. Souders

Tolstoy wrote “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” I find that with dystopian literature, every unhappy society is alike. There is a good argument to be made that modern literature has two main strands of dystopian literature, what we could refer to as the Orwellian strand and the Huxley strand, and YA dyslit follows that same trend. Renegade falls into the Orwellian/HUNGER GAMES camp with an authoritarian central government that controls every aspect of the citizens’ lives.

WWWednesday: Happy Thanksgiving

Lots of links today to give you plenty of reading for when you’ve had just about as much family togetherness as you can take.

First, three free e-books from Nightshade Press. Two of these have been on my need to read list, and the third one looks interesting. Go here for details. (And yes, I checked it and it works!)

It’s like a slot machine for the literary set.

Sword and Laser’s Author Guide to Jim Butcher, with interview.

If you’re planning to re-read The Hobbit before the movie,

November 21st, 2012. Ruth Arnell | World Wide Wednesday | 7 comments |

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

I picked up Castle Waiting by Linda Medley at the recommendation of The Book Smugglers who described a charming take on classic fairy tales with a twist. When I checked it out from the library, it felt like a vintage volume of fairy tales with a beautiful full-color illustrated cover, rough cut pages, and a silk ribbon bookmark. However, there is a very modern sensibility to these stories. Castle Waiting is a hardback omnibus collection of the first several issues of Medley’s comics about an abandoned castle that has become a refuge for the abandoned,

November 16th, 2012. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |

WWWednesday: November 14, 2012

In case you are looking for gift ideas for your favorite bibliophile, artist cedarMyna has a collection of beautiful travel posters for literary locations. Who wouldn’t want one of these?

Sword and Laser’s latest introduction to authors and interview featured Robin Hobb.

Alan Baxter wrote a guest post over at SF Signal on what urban fantasy means.

How much of a nerd am I that I am considering taking one of these master’s level courses on The Hobbit?

November 14th, 2012. Ruth Arnell | World Wide Wednesday | 3 comments |

The Dead of Winter: A setting in search of characters to care about

The Dead of Winter by Lee Collins

In this urban fantasy with a twist — set in the Wild West in wintery Colorado — monster hunters Cora and Ben are hired to deal with an unknown beast that slaughtered some wolf hunters in the mountains. As they investigate, they realize that they are looking for a beast neither of them is familiar with. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the evil beasties lurking in them thar hills.

I don’t read a lot of urban fantasy these days for a few reasons.

November 14th, 2012. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 0.1 | Lee Collins | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |

The Emperor’s Soul: Good intro to Sanderson

The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson

Set in the same world as Elantris, The Emperor’s Soul tells the story of a Forger named Shai who is called upon by the ranking bureaucrats of the Empire. The Emperor has suffered a traumatic brain injury in an assassination attempt, and rather than have him step down, which would mean a demotion in their own power, the Guardians decide that they will call on the power of a Forger, someone who can magically imprint upon objects a new identity with their magically carved seals,

WWWednesday: November 7, 2012

From Baen Books: The new “I Read Baen’d Books” bumperstickers are in, and they look amazing! To celebrate, we’re giving away signed books and prizes. Place your “I Read Baen’d Books” bumpersticker in the most interesting, intriguing, amazing, amusing, and not-more-than-PG-13 spot, and win! Details here.

It’s also Lois McMaster Bujold Month at Baen Books: Planet Baen celebrates the release of Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, a new entry in the Vorkosigan Saga with special gifts, whacks, and a contest. Plus, as always: play the game, Planet Baen here.

November 7th, 2012. Ruth Arnell | World Wide Wednesday | 4 comments |

Flora Segunda: Did Not Finish

Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce

Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce is just odd. For one thing, the book is fully titled as Flora Segunda: Being the Magickal Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), a House with Eleven Thousand Rooms, and a Red Dog, and while I don’t have a problem with long titles in general — see my love for Catherynne Valente’s Fairyland books, or Caroline Stevermer and Patricia Wrede’s collaborations — the problem with this title is the same problem I had with the book.

Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

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