Fantasy Books

The Alloy of Law reviews are pouring in, but sadly the biggest news is the passing of Anne McCaffrey. We have lost one of the greats. Her craft will be continued by the current crop of talented fantasy authors, and you can check out interviews with a few current greats like R.A. Salvatore, Patrick Rothfuss, Lev Grossman, Terry Brooks and Daniel Abraham below. Also, Brandon Sanderson talks about writing the Infinity Blade novella. Cool stuff.

• Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson @ Fantasy Book Review
• Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson @ Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ News & Reviews
• Review: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie @ The Rocky Mountain Collegian
• Review: The Gunslinger by Stephen King @ BestFantasyBooks
• Review: The Prodigal Mage by Karen Miller @ Fantasy Book Review
• Review: Neverwinter by R.A. Salvatore @ Grasping for the Wind
• Interview: R.A. Salvatore @ Geeks of Doom
• Interview: Patrick Rothfuss @ Gollancz
• Interview: Daniel Abraham @ Black Gate
• Interview: Lev Grossman @ MTV
• Interview: Paolo Bacigalupi @ Grasping for the Wind
• Interview: Lev Grossman @ i09
• Interview: Terry Brooks @ Suvudu
• Interview: Felicia Day @ Los Angeles Times
• Interview: David Anthony Durham @ If You’re Just Joining Us
• Authors: Anne McCaffrey dies at 85 @ NY Times
• TV: First look at Game of Thrones: Season 2 @ Fanboy
• Video Games: Brandon Sanderson on Infinity Blade novella @ IGN
• Video Games: Game of Thrones: Genesis review @ EuroGamer
• Video Games: Game of Thrones: Genesis review @ Video Game Writers

Best Fantasy Books with an onslaught of reviews of some of my favorite books: The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Blade Itself, A Game of Thrones, and more. The reviews don’t stop there though, with reviews of books by Brent Weeks, China Mieville, Stephen King, R. Scott Bakker, Peter Orullian and more. Pat of Fantasy Hotlist posts part one of an interview of R. Scott Bakker. Rockin’.

• Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch @ Best Fantasy Books
• Review: The Black Prism by Brent Weeks @ Geeks of Doom
• Review: Embassytown by China Mieville @ Escape Pod
• Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin @ Escape Pod
• Review: The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett @ Best Fantasy Books
• Review: The Dark Tower by Stephen King @ Best Fantasy Books
• Review: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie @ Best Fantasy Books
• Review: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin @ Best Fantasy Books
• Review: The Alchemist in the Shadows by Pierre Pevel @ Fantasy Book Review
• Review: The White Luck Warrior by R. Scott Bakker @ Fantasy Book Review
• Review: The Warrior Prophet by R. Scott Bakker @ Fantasy Book Review
• Review: The Unremembered by Peter Orullian @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Interview: R. Scott Bakker @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Critique: Magic System in Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker @ Grasping for the Wind

Interviews galore this week, with Joe Abercrombie interviewing George R.R. Martin, Peter Orullian interviewing Patrick Rothfuss and Jeff VanderMeer interviewing Mark Hodder. Check out the Game of Thrones infographic, really cool stuff.

• Review: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin @ T.N. Tobias
• Review: The Quantum Thief by by Hannu Rajaniemi @ Grasping for the Wind
• Interview: Mark Hodder @ Omnivoracious
• Comics: Manga Game of Thrones covers @ io9
• Art: Game of Thrones infographic @ hauteslides

Joe Abercrombie interviews George R.R. Martin: Part 1

Joe Abercrombie interviews George R.R. Martin: Part 2

Peter Orullian interviews Patrick Rothfuss: Part 3

Game of Thrones: Episode 5 Preview

Great reviews this week including A Feast for Crows, more Game of Thrones HBO series previews, and a preview of the Game of Thrones: Genesis video game. Interviews with Joe Abercrombie and Guy Gavriel Kay, and don’t forget to check out the history behind popular fairy tales post.

• Review: A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Review: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi @ Escape Pod
• Review: The Orc King by R.A. Salvatore @ Fantasy Book Review
• Review: The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell @ Grasping for the Wind
• Interview: Joe Abercrombie @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• TV: HBO’s Game of Thrones gamble paying off @ Reading Eagle
• Video Game: Cyanide’s Game of Thrones: Genesis @ IGN
• History: Fascinating Histories Behind Popular Fairy Tales @ MatchACollege

Game of Thrones: Episode 4 Preview 1

Game of Thrones: Episode 4 Preview 2

Conan The Barbarian Trailer

Interview with Guy Gavriel Kay

Great reviews of great books by great authors, from The Heroes to The Long Price Quartet to Summer Knight and more. Interviews with George R.R. Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Daniel Abraham and more, and Game of Thrones gets renewed for a second season on HBO.

• Review: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ The West Australian
• Review: The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham @ Tor
• Review: Summer Knight by Jim Butcher @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Review: Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian C. Esslemont @ Fantasy Book Review
• Interview: George R.R. Martin: Part 2 @ Time
• Interview: Guy Gavriel Kay on May 3 @ Suvudu
• Interview: Daniel Abraham @ Orbit
• Interview: Paul Kearney @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• TV: Game of Thrones wins second season @ Monsters & Critics

Game of Thrones: Episode 2 Preview

Game of Thrones: Episode 3 Preview

Reviews of books by Joe Abercrombie, Daniel Abraham, Mark Hodder and Scott Westerfield this week, and interviews with Joe Abercrombie, Terry Brooks, Peter Orullian and Mark Lawrence. Production begins for The Hobbit movie, Gimli gives his take on portraying a dwarf in a film (advice for The Hobbit actors), and HBO releases a slew of shorts spotlighting individual characters.

• Review: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ The OF Blog
• Review: The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham @ Fantasy Book Critic
• Review: The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Review: Behemoth by Scott Westerfield @ Jawas Read, Too!
• Interview: Joe Abercrombie @ Omnivoracious
• Interview: Terry Brooks @ Suvudu
• Interview: Peter Orullian @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Interview: Mark Lawrence @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
• Movie: Production begins for Jackson’s The Hobbit @ Fanboy
• Movie: Gimli’s Guide to Dwarving Made Easy @ Empire

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Tyrion Lannister

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Robert Baratheon

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Jaime Lannister

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Daenerys Targaryen

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Khal Drogo

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Catelyn Stark

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Bran Stark

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Robb Stark

Game of Thrones Character Profile: Jon Snow

The Game of Thrones HBO series buzz continues to build, with a new poster, a new artisans video and an interactive audio experience all hitting this week. Reviews of The Heroes and The Runestaff, and interviews with Mark Charan Newton, Michael Stackpole, Peter V. Brett and Cherie Priest. Stephen King announces a new Dark Tower book to come next year, and fantasy as a genre is continuing to grow.

• Review: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie @ Pat’s Fantast Hotlist
• Review: The Runestaff by Michael Moorcock @ BSC
• Interview: Mark Charan Newton @ pornokitsch
• Interview: Michael Stackpole @ SF Signal
• Interview: Peter V. Brett @ Grasping for the Wind
• Interview: Cherie Priest @ i09
• Author News: New Dark Tower book by Stephen King coming next year @ Fantasy Book Review
• Events: Felicia Day answers questions on The Guild panel @ Comic Book Resources
• Events: Third ever Middle-Earth Conference in Westford, MA @ The Boston Phoenix
• Industry: Fantasy increases lead over Sci-Fi and other genres @ SFFWorld.com
• Industry: A Song of Ice & Fire in Guiness Book @ SFSite
• TV: Interactive Game of Thrones audio experience @ themaesterspath.com
• Art: The Design of Dungeons & Dragons @ Metal Bat
• Art: More Frazetta Family Feud Funtime @ The Comics Journal

Game of Thrones HBO Series Poster

New HBO Game of Thrones Artisans Video

First Conan the Barbarian Trailer

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

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

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