New York Times bestsellers for June 1st

Hardcover:
Dean Koontz’s fourth book in the Odd Thomas series, Odd Hours debuts on the New York Times bestseller list at number 1. United States, Europe, Canada.

Stephanie Meyer’s The Host loses its top ranking and slips one position to number 2 in its third on the charts. United States, Europe, Canada.

Last week I somehow missed the latest Star Wars novel, Troy Denning’s Invincible, which falls six points in its second week to number 11. United States, Europe, Canada.

James Rollins’ Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull rides the hype of the movie release to a debut at number 20. United States, Europe, Canada.

Charlaine Harris’ From Dead to Worse is down eight spots to number 21 at the end of its third week. United States, Europe, Canada.

Newt Gingrich’s and William R. Forstchen’s Days of Infamy holds on for a fourth week tumbling eleven points to number 28. United States, Europe, Canada.

Paperback:
Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is back up another point to number 8 in week four on the list. United States, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road rounds out its 60th week overall on the New York Times bestseller list, inching up one rank to number 19. United States, Europe, Canada.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s The Harlequin is down ten spots in its fourth week to number 30. United States, Europe, Canada.

Sword and Citadel

Sword and Citadel picks up after the events of Shadow and Claw with Severian as the justice of the city of Thrax. Soon however, he is not capable of doing his job and becomes an outlaw. He heads North to the war front to set the stage for his final confrontation with the Autarch and his destiny.

I kept putting off this review, not because I didn’t think the book was good, but because I found it hard to articulate my thoughts on it. It’s very much like the first two books in the Book of the New Sun where Severian chronicles more of his journey toward his destiny. I didn’t have too much trouble figuring out the main plot elements of the story though I don’t fully understand what it all means.

Wolfe’s take on destiny in this story is certainly an interesting one. Someone noted to me how interesting it is that just about everything that happens in the story happens to Severian. The character is very passive and almost exclusively reacts to events rather than taking an active role himself. Frankly, I am uncertain if either the unreliability of the narrator or the cosmological angle revealed towards the end is intended to have any part in this or not. I guess I’ll have to read the sequel, The Urth of the New Sun. 

It’s extremely hard for me to explain this book. It’s certainly a lot more cerebral than other science fiction and fantasy. It tries to make you think. I liked this well-written book, but I found I don’t enjoy it the same way as I would others. Recommended, but not for everyone. 

Rating: 8/10.
 

New releases for the week of May 27th

Spotlight:

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Synopsis:
A tall, yellow-haired, young European traveler calling himself “Mogor dell’Amore,” the Mughal of Love, arrives at the court of the Emperor Akbar, lord of the great Mughal empire, with a tale to tell that begins to obsess the imperial capital, a tale about a mysterious woman, a great beauty believed to possess powers of enchantment and sorcery, and her impossible journey to the far-off city of Florence.

The Enchantress of Florence is the story of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in a man’s world. It is the story of two cities, unknown to each other, at the height of their powers–the hedonistic Mughal capital, in which the brilliant Akbar the Great wrestles daily with questions of belief, desire, and the treachery of his sons, and the equally sensual city of Florence during the High Renaissance, where Niccolò Machiavelli takes a starring role as he learns, the hard way, about the true brutality of power.

Hardcover:
> The Twisted Citadel, Sara Douglass
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Incandescence, Greg Egan
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Blood Noir, Laurell Hamilton
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Well Witched, Frances Hardinge
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Nano Comes to Clifford Falls, Nancy Kress
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> The Shadow Pavilion, Liz Williams
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Paperback:
> Shadow of the Scorpion, Neal Asher
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Ginger Star, Leigh Brackett
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Swordbearer, Glen Cook (Reissue)
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Fortress on the Sun, Paul Cook
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> She, H. Rider Haggard
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Year’s Best SF 13, David G. Hartwell
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> The Hounds of Ash, Greg Keyes
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Goddess, Fiona McIntosh
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Galactic North, Alastair Reynolds
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> A Deeper Blue, John Ringo
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Last and First Men, Olaf Stapledon
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Europe:
> Machine, Peter Adolphsen
(Amazon.co.uk, Book Depository)

The Shadow Pavilion, Liz Williams

New York Times bestsellers for May 25th

Hardcover:
Stephanie Meyer’s alien body-snatcher story The Host maintains its number 1 ranking at the end of its second week on the charts. United States, Europe, Canada.

Charlaine Harris’ From Dead to Worse falls seven spots in its second week to number 13. United States, Europe, Canada.

Newt Gingrich’s and William R. Forstchen’s Days of Infamy is back up another four points to number 17 in week three. United States, Europe, Canada.

Paperback:
Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is still popular although down three ranks in week three and comes in at number 9. United States, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road falls another point to number 20 in its 37th week on the paperback list. Is the juggernaut's strength beginning to fade? United States, Europe, Canada.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s lusty The Harlequin rounds out its third week down one spot to number 20. United States, Europe, Canada.

Jeaniene Frost’s One Foot in the Grave is down a staggering thirteen positions, coming in at number 33 in week three. United States, Europe, Canada.

New releases for the week of May 20th

Spotlight:

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Synopsis:
After grappling with the very essence of reality itself, after finding the veil that separates him from his soul mate, Stormy Llewellyn, tantalizingly thin yet impenetrable, Odd longed only to return to a life of quiet anonymity with his two otherworldly sidekicks—his dog Boo and a new companion, one of the few who might rival his old pal Elvis. But a true hero, however humble, must persevere. Haunted by dreams of an all-encompassing red tide, Odd is pulled inexorably to the sea, to a small California coastal town where nothing is as it seems. Now the forces arrayed against him have bothofficial sanction and an infinitely more sinister authority…and in this dark night of the soul dawn will come only after the most shattering revelations of all.

Hardcover:
> The Sugar Queen, Sarah Addison Allen
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, James Rollins
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Paperback:
> Grantville Gazette III, Eric Flint
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Best New Romantic Fantasy 3, Paula Guran
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, George Lucas
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi, Rob MacGregor
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Storm of Iron, Graham McNeill
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> The Velvet Chair, Jennifer Stevenson
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> One Jump Ahead, Mark L. Van Name
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

New York Times bestsellers for May 18th

Hardcover:
Stephanie Meyer’s The Host, about aliens who take over human minds and bodies, makes it's debut on the New York Times bestseller list at number 1. United States, Europe, Canada.

Charlaine Harris’ eighth Southern Vampire book, From Dead to Worse, also makes it's debut on the charts and comes in at number 6. United States, Europe, Canada.

Newt Gingrich’s and William R. Forstchen’s alternative history novel, Days of Infamy, falls ten points to number 21 at the end of its second week. United States, Europe, Canada.

Paperback:
Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is the second alternative history book on the bestseller list. It inches up one notch in its second week to number 6. United States, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is still going strong in its 58th week and is back down two spots to number 19. United States, Europe, Canada.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s The Harlequin is down four ranks to number 19 in its second week on the charts. United States, Europe, Canada.

Jeaniene Frost’s One Foot in the Grave tumbles to number 21, down eleven at the end of week two. United States, Europe, Canada.

Shadow and Claw

Shadow and Claw is the first half of the Book of the New Sun series, featuring the books Shadow of the Torturer and Claw of the Conciliator. On the world of Urth, the boy Severian is raised in the ways of the Guild of Torturers. One day he makes the cardinal sin of his order by showing mercy to his victim. Severian is cast out into a fantastic world to discover his own destiny in a struggle as old as the world itself. 

The Book of the New Sun was written in the early 1980s but it’s managed to age pretty well. Part of that is due to the fact that the series has elements of both science fiction and fantasy. Wolfe takes the old saying, “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” to heart and creates a “science fantasy” consisting of a society largely at the medieval level but with many of the trappings of technology. You get the impression that this world is extremely old. There are even hints in the world’s name. 

The world building is quite impressive. Obviously, Wolfe has put a lot of thought into the culture, history, and technology. The first book was a little slow in places because he was exploring some aspects of his world at the expense of the plot, although the book is short enough that it wasn’t too much of a problem. Wolfe uses a lot of unique words, names, and phrases in the series that give it an interesting flavor even if it does make things a little confusing. 

Fair warning: the names are not the only thing confusing about the books. My main complaint was the confusion surrounding the main character. Most of the time you get a fair idea of his thoughts and motivations, but other times he does things that make no sense because he doesn’t explain. Since the story is “written” by the character in the future it stands to reason that there is something of unreliability to the narrative. It doesn’t happen often enough that it’s annoying but I hope there’s a reason behind it. I don’t mind if there is some confusion or that not all questions are answered, however confusion for it’s own sake is not exactly my cup of tea. There’s certainly enough to keep me interested. 

Recommended for fans in speculative fiction although may not be for everyone. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books. 

Rating: 7.5/10.
 

New releases for the week of May 13th

Spotlight:

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Synopsis:
Since the dawn of consciousness, a secret war has been fought between the forces of magic and religious fanaticism, and the cause of reason, understanding, and technology.

On one side are the Old Ones, malign entities that feed on the suffering of mankind. On the other are the Lumina, an ancient order dedicated the liberation of the human spirit.

Officer Richard Oort of the Albuquerque Police Department is caught in the middle of this primal battle when he rescues a mysterious teenage girl from a trio of inhuman hunters. Recruited by the Lumina to serve as their latest paladin, Richard ends up fighting beside a handful of unlikely allies, including an adolescent sorceress, an enigmatic philanthropist, a sexy coroner, and a homeless god with multiple personalities.

The Old Ones and their mortal pawns are determined to destroy Richard–or subvert him to their cause. And they have all powers of magic and organized religion at their disposal. As the gates between the universes shred apart, it may be up to Richard to save humanity from the endless horror of a new Dark Age.

Hardcover:
> Nick of Time, Ted Bell
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Reunion, David Daniel
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Invincible, Troy Denning
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> Null-A Continuum, John Wright
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

Paperback:
> Wicked Game, Jeri Smith-Ready
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

> The Digital Plague, Jeff Somers
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

New York Times bestsellers for May 11th

Hardcover:
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s and William R. Forstchen’s Days of Infamy makes it debut on the New York Times bestseller list at number 11. United States, Europe, Canada.

Jim Butcher’s Small Favor falls seven to number 24 in its fifth week on the charts. Will Harry's dogged persistence keep him on the list for a sixth week? United States, Europe, Canada.

Paperback:
The paperback of Michael Chabon’s Hugo-nominated The Yiddish Policemen’s Union makes its debut on the bestseller list at number 7. United States, Europe, Canada.

Jeaniene Frost’s One Foot in the Grave also makes its debut on the paperback list at number 9. United States, Europe, Canada.

The fourth debut for this week is Laurell K. Hamilton’s The Harlequin at number 15. United States, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s unstoppable juggernaut The Road inches up another spot to number 17 in its 57th week. United States, Europe, Canada.

Karen Traviss’ Sacrifice is the final debut for this week coming in at number 20 on the charts. United States, Europe, Canada.

Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind tumbles a whopping 21 points to number 31 in its fifth week. United States, Europe, Canada.

New releases for the week of May 6th

Spotlight:

Tides from the New Worlds, Tobias Buckell
(Wyrm Publishing)

Technically, this book will not be released until later this year, however, being a signed limited edition it will only be available while supplies last. So if you're a fan of Tobias Buckell now is your chance to get a hold of a collection of short stories with an absolutely beautiful cover.

Synopsis:
Caribbean born novelist Tobias Buckell established himself as a gifted new voice in science fiction with his stunning first novel Crystal Rain. Now, in his first collection of shorter work, Buckell demonstrates his strengths in the short form, offering readers a collection of stories that are compelling, smart, wonderfully imagined, and entertaining.

Tides from the New Worlds contains 19 stories that range from multicultural science fiction to magical realism, some in print for the first time.

Hardcover:
> Time Spike, Eric Flint, Marilyn Kosmatka
(Amazon, B&N)

> The Shadow Isle, Katherine Kerr
(Amazon, B&N)

> The Host, Stephanie Meyer
(Amazon, B&N)

> The Tau Ceti Agenda, Travis Taylor
(Amazon, B&N)

> Dragonlance: Amber and Blood, Margaret Weis
(Amazon, B&N)

Paperback:
> Kethani, Eric Brown
(Amazon, B&N)

> Pesthouse, Jim Crace
(Amazon, B&N)

> Farmer in the Sky, Robert Heinlein (Reprint)
(Amazon, B&N)

> Blood Bank, Tanya Huff
(Amazon, B&N)

> The Spirit Stone, Katherine Kerr
(Amazon, B&N)

> Front Lines, Denise Little
(Amazon, B&N)

> Forgotten Realms: Starless Night, R.A. Salvatore
(Amazon, B&N)

> Storm Dragon, James Wyatt
(Amazon, B&N)

Europe:
> The Kingdom Beyond the Waves, Stephen Hunt
(Amazon.co.uk, Book Depository)

New York Times bestsellers for May 4th

Hardcover:
Jim Butcher’s Small Favor is down eight positions in its fourth week on the list to number 17. United States, Europe, Canada.

Paperback:
Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind inches up a point to number 11 in its fourth week on the charts. United States, Europe, Canada.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is also up a spot in week 56 to number 18. United States, Europe, Canada.