Book Giveaway: The Incorruptibles (25/5/2014)
The last major reworking of The Silver Kings is done and I have what feels like a finished book ready now. The spit-and-polish and editing and so forth will now begin. I both love and hate this time in a book’s life. It comes with a great sense of achievement that it’s basically done and with a sense of loss, because now I say goodbye to some characters I’ve grown very fond of, and a (stupid) sense of fear that I’ll never be able to write again.
This week’s giveaway is The Incorruptibles by John Hornor Jacobs. It’s not out yet, so you might have to wait a but, but I’ve read an unproofed ARC and it’s a marvelous. Somewhere across between Deadwood and Rome with demon-powered six-shooters. Here’s the blurb:
“In the contested and unexplored territories at the edge of the Empire, a boat is making its laborious way up stream. Riding along the banks are the mercenaries hired to protect it – from raiders, bandits and, most of all, the stretchers, elf-like natives who kill any intruders into their territory. The mercenaries know this is dangerous, deadly work. But it is what they do.
In the boat the drunk governor of the territories and his sons and daughters make merry. They believe that their status makes them untouchable. They are wrong. And with them is a mysterious, beautiful young woman, who is the key to peace between warring nations and survival for the Empire. When a callow mercenary saves the life of the Governor on an ill-fated hunting party, the two groups are thrown together.
For Fisk and Shoe – two tough, honourable mercenaries surrounded by corruption, who know they can always and only rely on each other – their young companion appears to be playing with fire. The nobles have the power, and crossing them is always risky. And although love is a wonderful thing, sometimes the best decision is to walk away. Because no matter how untouchable or deadly you may be, the stretchers have other plans.”
It’s short and sharp and I liked it. It’s officially out in August, but if you’re lucky you might get an early copy – depends whether our mutual editor is feeling in a good mood or not. Also, if the Gods of Random don’t happen to favour you this time, it’s ridiculously cheap (£1.99) as a pre-order e-book for a limited period.
Usual deal – comment on this post before the end of June and I’ll randomly select a lucky victim.This week you have to help me out, and if you don’t then I’ll know you didn’t read to the bottom of the post and your comment won’t count :-p
I have proposals to submit for something new. Tell me which one most grabs your attention. My editor and agent will probably choose something entirely different and we’ll all fail to agree, but you never know. Am curious to see if a strong favourite emerges:
1: Fantasy. City-based. A misfit gang of thieves accidentally get themselves caught up in an empire-spanning conspiracy and really wish they hadn’t. With occasional zombies and silly hats.
2: A handful of secret and not-so-secret magicians find themselves pulled into the first world war. With arcane tanks, sentient bears, djinn and Rasputin.
3. San Francisco. 1972. Surfers. Hippies. Dope. Aliens. A surreal cold-war conspiracy thriller with an extra-terrestrial prize.
4. A misfit bunch of space-cops in a backwater future world find themselves investigating odd crimes which aren’t as unrelated as they first appear.
5. Baroque Space Opera I struggle to describe better than “Dune meets Game of Thrones”
Comment to tell me which one you like best and you’re in. 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. I am currently a couple of weeks behind.
May 25th, 2014 at 8: 06 pm
I got a review copy from the author himself, and can confirm what Stephen says about it. Short, sharp, tasty. (and without a US publisher, which annoys me no end)
WWII gets a lot more play in mil-SF than WWI. The San Francisco and the space cops don’t appear as much. The city fantasy, might be getting oversaturated, but you could still bring something to it, I think. Baroque Space Opera–now that would be new and different for you.
So, to rank interest (high to low)
2
5
1
4
3
May 25th, 2014 at 8: 52 pm
I must say that I would read all of these, but I believe I would prob pick number 1, but just narrowly beating out numbers 2 and 3.
The Jacob’s book sounds like something I would definitely love to read. Really think the cover looks amazing.
May 25th, 2014 at 8: 59 pm
I would have an interest in reading 1 or 2. 5 is a maybe. 3 and 4 would be no way.
May 26th, 2014 at 12: 46 pm
Gotta go with one. Well drawn thieves and miscreants will allow for a lot of fun and interesting characters.
3 sounds like the worst option to me.
May 27th, 2014 at 9: 11 am
I like zombies and silly hats, so gotta go with one.
Which is most likely to contain strange facial hair and moustaches? Because that would definitely be a first choice too.
May 27th, 2014 at 11: 58 am
Number 2 sounds the most intriguing. I agree that thieves and conspiracies have been done, but that’s not to say there’s room in the market. 3 also sounds interesting, as does 4 and 5. Hell, I’d read them all!
May 27th, 2014 at 5: 51 pm
Love the sound of number 5 BUT you can never go wrong with something as Monty Pythonesqe as “silly hats” (number 1).
May 27th, 2014 at 9: 09 pm
I’m interested in The Incorruptibles, even moreso now that I see that cover.
As for your options, I’m most interested in #2 right now, but largely because I feel there’s a growing trend in historical fantasy and alternate historical fantasy. Or maybe there’s always been those book, but at least now, with Peter Higgins writing Soviet-tinged secondary world fantasy and Mary Robinette Kowal writing Regency fantasy, I think there’s some interesting work going in there, and I’m curious to see how another author tackles the issues.
May 27th, 2014 at 9: 48 pm
I think I like #2 the best, closely followed by number 4 – both have something about them I’d read! Looking forward to either of them!
May 27th, 2014 at 9: 59 pm
Number 2 gets my first vote. But number 3 is a close second. Number 3 sounds more original but 2 seems more along the lines of something I’d read.
May 29th, 2014 at 11: 06 am
I like #2. Sounds reminiscent of some aspects of Alan Moore and that’s never a bad thing. I also like the sound of #5. Space opera, game of thrones, dune?! I can only dream that such a thing will come to pass.
May 29th, 2014 at 5: 05 pm
The dune + game of thrones would be cool….
May 29th, 2014 at 10: 48 pm
2 but maybe avoid ww1 and 2 they were done in this way (sort of) by turtledove. Maybe go further back? Armada? Or peninsula war? Or India?
June 1st, 2014 at 12: 58 pm
Gods of Random have gone for Nick. By my arbitrary methods, WW1 magicians have come out a clear favorite with the more traditional fantasy and space opera doing OK. No love at all for my mis-fit space cop and actual negative love for a cold war thriller. I rather like number two as well, so I shall take the results of this poll and claim they are statistically valid and scientific