First Words (31/8/2012)

Posted in News

The Black Mausoleum came out a couple of weeks ago. Here are the opening words of what’s coming two books further down the line. This is the first draft, unedited, so excuse the typos, and it’s also a prologue so there’s a very good chance it won’t ever appear in any published version. There are many rewrites to come and for these few paragraphs, each is an opportunity to die. But hey, why not…

I don’t even have a title or this book yet. But if you read this and then read The King’s Assassin in October, and have a bit of a hang on a minute moment, then come back here and tell me about it because there is an Easter Egg.

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The Soap-Maker emerged from the gloom. He beckoned at the shadows in the corner of the room and a bronze stand shaped like the limb of some terrible lizard and covered in carved scales slid across the wooden floor towards him. The air filled with a grinding sound. It stopped obediently beside him. On its top the metal began to writhe and squirm and then flowed like liquid as a silver claw rose through it with a clear glass globe nestled within its talons.

“Sometimes we guide them,” he said. “Sometimes we place obstacles before them. Sometimes their own fates guide them and we merely watch and crackle our fingers with gleeful smiles. Listen and you will learn. And then you will listen and learn again, and you will do this over and over and over, every day for the rest of your short life. When your eyes fail, then you will see the shaping I have made. These will play out without us for a time. A path shall be made, pick-pocked with signposts that cannot be missed, for the one who will come, to take him to the end that we desire. Now!” The Soap-Maker clasped his hands together. “Potions and herbs and silly tricks. All I have shown you, you could have learned from a hedge-witch. I dismiss them. We walk the true path to power, not some fancy dance of spirals with no meaning. You will understand this. Not be told, but feel it in your bones.” The words that marked the start of that path were as familiar to both of them as the dark stains on the Soap-Maker’s fingers: The first basic principle of knowledge is to understand that the animating force that brings life to all creatures differs. . .

“Above all else, I will teach you one thing. I will teach you how to hide.” The Soap-Maker snapped his fingers and a box made of old black wood slid into the air hovered between them. It opened, lined with a deep red velvet like fresh blood. Inside was a knife. They both stared at it.

The Soap-Maker reached in and took it, and then held it as though it was something more precious than life itself. “I will how you how it feels to have a piece of your soul cut out,” he said. “I will show you how to makes yourself into scattered pieces so that nothing can ever find you.” The box shut itself and drifted away, and the Soap-Maker came closer. “From such journeys come enlightenment, and from enlightenment comes understanding. Are you ready Skyrie?”

Book Giveaway: War In Heaven (28/8/2012)

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Having to let go the good stuff now… This week’s offering is War In Heaven by the uniquely… unique Gavin Smith. Gavin bears a particular contempt for The Smiths and it’s best not to get into a conversation about them anywhere within about five miles; despite this, hasn’t yet seen fit to change his name. I haven’t read War in Heaven but its predecessor was fast and furious and very messy. Rarely have so few been shot by so many and the bit where someone gets clubbed to death with their own cybernetic arm is… well, OK, I made that up, they only get clubbed unconscious.

It’ll be a paperback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book.After last week’s sordid giveaway action, this week only comments will be accepted beginning with the following will be accepted:

“If I absolutely had to be clubbed into unconsciousness by my own cybernetic arm, it would be worth it if…”

You can be as rude as you like as long as you’re not libelous. The gods of random don’t care. But as before, if you make me laugh I might send an exciting bonus goody your way[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well,so far.

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting. But I have T-shirts if you really make me laugh.

Book Giveaway: The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice (22/8/2012)

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I have a bit of a problem. I’m looking at my shelf of books to give away and there’s Altered Carbon up there, which I haven’t read, and Sharps, which I haven’t read, and I’m NOT giving either of those away, and then there’s a couple more but my editor is holiday and so is the other Gollancz editor and I CAN’T RESUPPLY!

So you get one of mind again. A choice this time: The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice or, if you’ve already read that, The Warlock’s Shadow.

warlocks shadow cover - shrunkthieftakers apprentice cover

It’ll probably be a trade paperback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. The thing with the Hyperion giveaway made me laugh and was far too much fun not to do again. So, inspired by a truly god-awful carnal scene from a best-selling author that I recent had to listen to being read allowed (if you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know what I’m talking about), only comments will be accepted beginning:

“The absolute worst euphemism for sex/something related to sex that I ever came across was…”

You can be as rude as you like as long as you’re not libelous. The gods of random don’t care. But if you make me laugh I might send an exciting bonus goody your way[1]. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well,so far.

[1] Exciting bonus goody not guaranteed to be exciting

Book Giveaway: Hyperion (20/8/2012)

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Yes, yes, there’s been a gap in the usual service and it’s not like I was really trying to get the bidding going on The Twelve (sorry to all those who weren’t the lucky winner).

Today’s offering is Hyperion by Dan Simmons, hard SF meets the Canterbury Tales. I’ve read and rate very highly both this and it’s sequel (quite a different book). Didn’t get on with the third one in the series so much.

This is the hardback Gollancz 50th anniversary edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Slight difference this week is that only comments that complete one of the following sentences will  be accepted:

“I ran out and bought The Black Mausoleum when it came out last week because…” OR

“I totally didn’t run out and buy The Black Mausoleum AT ALL when it came out last week because…” OR

“What is this Black Mausoleum of which you speak? Do I look like I care? Just shut up about it and gimme…”

You can be as rude as you like. The gods of random don’t care. But if you make me laugh I might send a bonus goody your way. Although, though no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well,so far.

Book Giveaway: The Twelve (ARC) (9/8/2012)

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Continuing the theme of the undead, I have an ARC of Justin Cronin’s The Twelve to give away. Given the trumpets and fanfares that heralded its predecessor, The Passage, I’m guessing this is going to be a major release when it comes out in October, with possibly even slightly more attention, shelf-space, bloggage and window displays than my own The King’s Assassin that comes out at much the same time [1]

This is an ARC – that’s an advance uncorrected review copy for anyone who didn’t know that, so it hasn’t been proofread. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Surprisingly no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, but it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. The record stands t two and a half months…

[1] I’m tempted to offer a sweetie to anyone who actually manages to find a physical copy of it for sale in an actual bookshop, but never mind…[2]

[2] The King’s Assassin, that is. Not The Twelve. I haven’t got that many sweeties.

Book Giveaway: I Am Scrooge (6/8/2012)

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Adam Roberts. Dickens. Zombies. What’s not to like?

This is the hardback edition. Usual deal – comment on this post and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim for a free copy of the book. Surprisingly no one has yet complained about how long it takes me to get to the post office and post things, but it can take a while and if you live abroad then it can take even longer. Sorry about that, but they do get there eventually. Well, mostly.

Next up will be an ARC for The Twelve by Justin Cronin. I’ll put that up some time on Wednesday.

The Black Mausoleum – Chapter One: Kataros

Posted in Excerpts

True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason.

The Black Mausoleum (August 2012 UK)

Posted in Books

There’s Karatos, the alchemist sentenced to death for being what she is. There’s Siff in the next cell. His death sentence is for killing four soldiers with his bare hands even though he has no memory of how he did it. There’s Skjorl, the Adamantine Man whose job it is to watch over them.

Thing is, though, Siff knows something. He knows something that might just change the fate of the world and right now, any change at all is looking like a good thing. So Kataros has to get him out, so he can show her what he’s found, and never mind that he’s likely going to stab her in the back the first chance he gets. To get him out, she needs Skjorl, even if the Adamantine Man would rather stab himself than help someone like Siff, and that’s only the start of what he’d do to her.

And then there’s the dragon. The dragon doesn’t hate any of them. It’s a dragon. It simply wants to eat them.

The Black Mausoleum. Someone’s going to die.

Chapters 1 and 2 are available online

TBM Cover de-rezzed

Actually, it’s probably that guy on the cover, isn’t it.

Review from the British Fantasy Society: “a cracking pace throughout … Well told, nippy, and chock full of twists and turns.”

Review from the Falcatta Times: “characters that step from the page into the readers mind with such a vivid presence that you’ll form attachments with them all whether you love or loath them”

Review from A Fantasy Reader: “…if you like action and character driven plot with scorching fire around the corner, you’ll be satisfied.”

Review from Pauline’s Fantasy Reviews: “…a tautly-plotted action-packed story, with perfect pacing and a terrific blend of character-driven incident and convincing world-building, a totally enjoyable read that I raced through in a couple of days because I just didn’t want to put it down. A good four stars.”

Review from the Ranting Dragon: “Deas has a knack for writing dark and morally ambiguous characters that even George R.R. Martin should envy. Most of all, though, his novels are pure, high-speed whirls of action, suspense, and drama, written with formidable, horrifyingly vivid prose.”