Fantasy Blogosphere

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 28, 2011

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

A fairly calm week in the fantasy blogosphere, but anticipation for the Game of Thrones HBO series continues to ramp up as we get closer to the premier in April. This week, HBO released the longest video yet containing clips from the series, overlayed with some of the ‘artisans’ videos they’ve released, and tied together with commentary by the man himself.

Review: Shadowheart by James Barclay @ Bella Online
Review: The Once and Future King by T.H. White @ BuffaloNews.com
Review: The Queen’s Command by Michael A. Stackpole @ SF Signal
Review: The Desert of Souls by Howard Andrew Jones @ Grasping for the Wind
Interview: Patrick Rothfuss @ Crossed Genres
Interview: Brent Weeks with Peter Orullian @ TOR
TV: Top fantasy book series not named Game of Thrones that deserve a tv series @ …ology.

Game of Thrones HBO Series Compilation Video

Inside Game of Thrones

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: Brent Weeks, fantasy books, Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin, Howard Andrew Jones, James Barclay, Michael A. Stackpole, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter Orullian, Shadowheart, T.H. White, The Desert of Souls, The Once and Future King, The Queen's Command | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 21, 2011

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

George R.R. Martin news galore this week; everything from new photos from the HBO Game of Thrones series, and first shots of the Game of Thrones: Genesis video game, to a pronunciation guide for ASOIAF characters and word that the big man himself tied the knot this past week. More tv news with Felicia Day starring in a Dragon Age web series, and a few interviews with great authors like Robin Hobb, James Barclay and more.

Review: Brayan’s Gold by Peter V. Brett @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: Garro – Legion of One by James Swallow @ Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ News & Reviews
Interview: Robin Hobb @ ActuSF
Interview: L.E. Modesitt, Jr. @ BSC
Interview(s): James Barclay and Mark Chadbourn @ Pyr-o-maina
Television: Felicia Day to star in live-action Dragon Age web series @ Geeks of Doom
Television: New Game of Thrones HBO series photos @ Daemon’s TV
Language: Game of Thrones pronunciation guide @ ology
Video Games: Game of Thrones Genesis strategy game stills @ GameSpy
Author Blogs: George R.R. Martin got married @ GRRM’s blog

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: Brayan's Gold, Dragon Age, Felicia Day, Game of Thrones, Garro - Legion of One, George R.R. Martin, James Barclay, James Swallow, L.E. Modesitt Jr., Mark Chadbourn, Peter V. Brett, Robin Hobb | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 14, 2011

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

Reviews of A Game of Thrones, Gauntlgrym and The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack this week, along with interviews of Mercedes Lackey, Cherie Priest and Mark Charan Newton. Check out the best moments from Red Dwarf, the passing of Brian Jacques, and Joe Abercrombie appearing in TIME magazine.

Review: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin @ Daemen’s Books
Review: Gauntlgrym by R.A. Salvatore @ Curled Up
Review: The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Interview: Mercedes Lackey @ The Dragon Page
Interview: Cherie Priest @ The Functional Nerds
Interview: Mark Charan Newton @ The Ranting Dragon
TV: Game of Thrones HBO series press, collectible novels @ Fine Books & Collections
TV: Gaiman & Pratchett’s Good Omens to be adapted for tv @ Examiner National
TV: The Best 5 Moments from each of the Red Dwarf crew @ Topless Robot
Movies: First interviews with the cast of The Hobbit @ Stuff.co.nz
Video Games: First Elder Scrolls V screen shots @ Geeks of Doom
Author News: Brian Jacques, Author of Redwall books, has died @ NPR
Author News: Joe Abercrombie appears in TIME magazine @ Orbit
Author Blogs: China Mieville on fantasy, science fiction and politics @ ISR
Author Blogs: Joe Abercrombie on the ingredients of good fantasy @ Orbit
Funny: Everything I learned about marketing, I learned from D&D @ Community Marketing

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: A Game of Thrones, Brian Jacques, Cherie Priest, China Meiville, D&D, Elder Scrolls V, fantasy books, Gauntlgrym, George R.R. Martin, Good Omens, Joe Abercrombie, Mark Charan Newton, Mark Hodder, Mercedes Lackey, Neil Gaiman, R.A. Salvatore, Red Dwarf, Redwall, Terry Pratchett, The Hobbit, The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 7, 2011

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

The fantasy blogosphere onslaught continues this week, with reviews of books new and old alike, from The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin to A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. Interviews with Brandon Sanderson and Ursula K. Le Guin crossed this week, and we see releases from top authors Tad Williams, Joe Abercrombie and more. More buildup for the Game of Thrones HBO series with a spotlight at the L.A. Times and a new “artisans” video hitting the web. Even further GRRM news with Bantam purchasing the comic book rights for A Song of Ice and Fire, and cap the week off with a trailer for the new Lord of the Rings video game!

Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin @ Jawas Read Too!
Review: Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie @ SF Signal
Review: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin @ Best Fantasy Stories
Review: The Age of Odin by James Lovegrove @ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
Review: Kraken by China Mieville @ Escape Pod
Review: The Dervish House by Ian McDonald @ Escape Pod
Review: Wild Cards edited by George R.R. Martin @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Interview: Brandon Sanderson @ Adventures in Sci-Fi
Interview: Ursula K. Le Guin @ BBC
Book Release: Buy the ePub version of The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie in the US @ Genre Reader
Book Release: Shadowheart by Tad Williams @ Orbit
Book Release: Bloodshot by Cherie Priest @ Suvudu
TV: Game of Thrones spotlight @ Lost Angeles Times
Comics: A Song of Ice and Fire graphic novel/comic book rights bought by Bantam @ Entertainment Weekly
Comics: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle graphic novel @ The New York Times

Game of Thrones HBO Series The Artisans: Sword Training

Lord of the Rings: War in the North Trailer

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: A Clash of Kings, A Song of Ice and Fire, Best Served Cold, Bloodshow, Brandon Sanderson, Cherie Priest, China Mieville, fantasy books, Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin, Ian McDonald, James Lovegrove, Joe Abercrombie, Kraken, Lord of the Rings, N.K. Jemisin, Peter S. Beagle, Shadowheart, Tad Williams, The Age of Odin, The Dervish House, The Heroes, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Last Unicorn, Ursdula K. Le Guin, Wild Cards | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 31, 2011

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

Let the fantasy onslaught begin! Everyone seems to have finally returned from their New Year’s hangover/vacation, because the fantasy blogosphere was hectic this past week, to say the least. Kick it off with reviews of the most recent novels by Joe Abercrombie, Jim Butcher and Steven Erikson, skip on over to interviews with George R.R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie and James Enge, and round out the week with news about the Dark Tower tv series, D&D appearing on tv, and Orbit acquiring three new Dresden novels.

Review: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ Fantasy Book Critic
Review: Side Jobs by Jim Butcher @ Daemon’s Books
Review: The Crippled God by Steven Erikson @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson @ SF Signal
Review: A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony @ Fyrefly’s Book Blog
Review: Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card @ Stattle PI Books
Review: Blackveil by Kristen Britain @ Fantasy Book Critic
Interview: George R.R. Martin @ MTV
Interview: Joe Abercrombie @ Kindle Daily Post
Interview: Orson Scott Card @ Light Speed
Interview: James Enge @ Civilian Reader
Interview: John Brown @ Nancy Fulda
Interview: Michael Stackpole @ Adventures in Sci-Fi
Interview: Cherie Priest on Bloodshot @ Suvudu
TV: Javier Bardem offered lead in Ron Howard’s Dark Tower adaptation @ The Flick Cast
TV: Dungeons & Dragons to be focus of entire episode of Community @ Fanboy
Author News: Orbit acquires 3 new Dresden books @ Orbit
Author Tools: Fantasy novel checklist @ Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ News & Reviews

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: A Spell for Chameleon, Blackveil, Bloodshot, Brandon Sanderson, Cherie Priest, Dark Tower, Dresden Files, Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy books, George R.R. Martin, James Enge, Javier Barden, Jim Butcher, Joe Abercrombie, John Brown, Kristen Britain, Lost Gate, Michael Stackpole, Orson Scott Card, Piers Anthony, Robert Jordan, Ron Howard, Side Jobs, Steven Erikson, The Crippled God, The Heroes, Towers of Midnight | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 24, 2011

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

This week kicks off with the first review I’ve seen yet of the unreleased The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, and follows it up with reviews of two other kings in the genre, namely Neil Gaiman and Brandon Sanderson. Peter S. Beagle celebrates 40 years of The Last Unicorn, we get more than the usual dose of fantasy comic reviews, and even a fantasy magazine review to boot. Its all capped with Sean Bean talking about what its like to portray Eddard Stark in the Game of Thrones HBO series, a new Game of Thrones trailer, and a new Game of Thrones video on the battle tactics used in the series. Sweet.

Review: The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: Stardust by Neil Gaiman @ Seattle PI
Review: Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson @ Great Books I Liked
Review: Never Knew Another by J.M. McDermott @ Fantasy Book Critic
Review: The Buntline Special by Mike Resnik @ SFSignal
Interview: Peter S. Beagle discusses The Last Unicorn @ CBR
TV: Sean Bean talks about playing Eddard Stark @ MTV
Comic: D&D #1 @ Playback
Comic: Orc Stain #1 @ CBR
Magazine: Kobold Quarterly @ Suvudu
Author Blogs: Scott Westerfield on Why Monkeys are Better than Robots @ Borders
Author Blogs: Gail Z. Martin on My Name is Asher Lev @ Suvudu
News: Most Anticipated books of 2011 @ Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’ News & Reviews

New Game of Thrones Trailer

New Game of Thrones Artisans Video

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crustallia, Brandon Sanderson, D&D, Eddard Stark, fantasy books, Gail Z. Martin, Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin, J.M. McDermott, Kobold Quarterly, Mike Resnik, My Name is Asher Lev, Neil Gaiman, Never Knew Another, Orc Stain, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter S. Beagle, Scott Westerfield, Sean Bean, Stardust, The Buntline Special, The Last Unicorn, The Wise Man's Fear | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 17, 2011

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

Reviews from a wide variety of fantasy literature this week; everything from Joe Abercrombie to Paolo Bacigalupi and more. Top-notch interviews from Ian McKellen, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss and Lev Grossman, and last but certainly not least, HBO announces the Game of Thrones premier date as April 17. Let the countdown begin!

Review: The Sentinel Mage by Emily Gee @ Fantasy Book Critic
Review: Helion Rain by George Mann @ Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’ News & Reviews
Review: The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ The Guardian
Review: Firedrake by Nick Kyme @ SFReview
Review: Kell’s Legend by Andy Remic @ SFSignal
Review: The Warlord’s Legacy by Ari Marmell @ Grasping for the Wind
Interview: Ian McKellen on The Hobbit @ Hollywood Reporter
Interview: Joe Abercrombie on The Heroes @ Fantasy Faction
Interview: Patrick Rothfus on The Wise Man’s Fear @ Suvudu
Interview: Lev Grossman on D&D in The Magicians @ Wizards of the Coast
HBO Game of Thrones premier date & new photos @ Comic Book Movie

The Lost Gate Book Trailer

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: Andy Remic, Ari Marmell, Emily Gee, fantasy books, Firedrake, Game of Thrones, George Mann, Helion Rain, Ian McKellen, Joe Abercrombie, Kell's Legend, Lev Grossman, Nick Kyme, Orson Scott Card, Paolo Bacigalupi, Patrick Rothfus, The Alchemist, The Heroes, The Lost Gate, The Sentinel Mage, The Warlord's Legacy | Leave a comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: January 10, 2011

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Jeff Pelletier

A great week in fantasy literature, with an impending update from GRRM on A Dance with Dragons, Amazon emailing clients who have previously purchased Scott Lynch works (me) announcing the launch date of The Republic of Thieves, reviews of The Heroes and Shadowheart, interviews with Ursula K. Le Guin and Tracy Hickman, and it seems LOTR has gone Beatles. Whew!

Review: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ Grasping for the Wind
Review: Shadowheart by Tad Williams @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: Spellweaver by Lynn Kurland @ BSC
Interview: Ursula K. Le Guin @ Stage n’ Studio
Interview: Tracy Hickman @ Adventures in Sci-Fi
Releases: The Republic of Thieves release date is Feb 17 @ Amazon.com
Releases: A Dance with Dragons release news @ The Wertzone
2011 Preview: Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence @ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
Epic Recap: Top selling 100 books in the UK, 1998-2010 @ Fantasy Book Review

Come to Mordor music video

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: A Dance with Dragons, fantasy books, George R.R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Lord of the Rings, Lynn Kurland, Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns, Scott Lynch, Shadowheart, Spellwever, Tad Williams, The Beatles, The Heroes, The Republic of Thieves, Tracy Hickman, Ursula K. Le Guin | 1 Comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: December 27, 2010

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Jeff Pelletier

A few reviews to whet your appetite this holiday week, from established authors like R. Scott Bakker and Orson Scott Card, to more speculative authors like Alastair J. Archibald and Patrick Ness. Michael Moorcock is profiled at io9, and HBO releases a new video in the artisans series, this time interviewing Simon Brindle, the overseer of all things armor-related.

Review: The White Luck Warrior by R. Scott Bakker @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card @ Fantasy Book Critic
Review: A Mage in the Making by Alastair J. Archibald @ Genre Reader
Review: Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor by Chris Metzen @ Fantasy Book Review
Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness @ SF Signal
Author Profile: Michael Moorcock @ io9
Television: HBO Game of Thrones series coverage @ The Atlantic

Game of Thrones HBO Series: The Artisans

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: A Mage in the Making, Alastair J. Archibald, Chris Metzen, fantasy books, Game of Thrones, Michael Moorcock, Orson Scott Card, Patrick Ness, R. Scott Bakker, The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Lost Gate, The White Luck Warrior, Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor | 1 Comment

Fantasy Blogosphere: December 20, 2010

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Jeff Pelletier

A few good reviews this week, including Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb, but the real story is the number of quality interviews crossing this week. Patrick Rothfuss, Tracy Hickman, Brandon Sanderson, James Barclay, N.K. Jemisin and Peter V. Brett all offer their wisdom to the fantasy blogosphere this week. The cover for Tchaikovsky’s 7th novel in the Shadows of the Apt series, Heirs of the Blade was released this week, and its gorgeous. News on The Dark Tower movie, Moorcock’s Elric series, and the Frank Frazetta feud. A trailer for the forthcoming The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie dropped this week, check it out below.

Review: Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Review: Blood Royal by Jonathan Green @ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
Review: The Weight of Blood by David Dalglish @ Genre Reader
Interview: Patrick Rothfuss @ The Pointer
Interview: Tracy Hickman @ The Dragon Page
Interview: Brandon Sanderson @Peter Orullian
Interview: James Barclay @ Elitist Book Reviews
Interview: N.K. Jemisin @ Hour of the Wolf
Interview: Peter V. Brett @ Peter V. Brett’s Blog
Covers: Heirs of the Blade by Adrian Tchaikovsky @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
Film: Exclusive with Ron Howard on The Dark Tower @ Los Angeles Times
Authors: BOOM! Studios to publish Moorcock’s Elric @ CBR
Art: Frazetta Feud Renewed @ ABC News

Book Trailer: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

Caricature of J.R.R. Tolkien

Categories: Fantasy Blogosphere, News | Tags: Adrian Tchaikovsky, Blood Royal, Brandon Sanderson, David Dalglish, Dragon Haven, Elric, fantasy books, Frank Frazetta, Heirs of the Blade, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Barclay, Joe Abercrombie, Jonathan Green, Michael Moorcock, N.K. Jimisin, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter V. Brett, Robin Hobb, Ron Howard, Stephen King, The Dark Tower, The Heroes, The Weight of Blood, Tracy Hickman | Leave a comment