Fantasy Minute for Decembrer 27, 2005: Episode 119

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope the holidays are treating everyone well and the children (and those with the hearts of children) had an especially happy Christmas.

JK Rowling has announced that there is a few very interesting updates to her website: the Rumour section, kaboshes some theories on Petunia and Lupin , a few tidbits in the About Me section, while over in her Rubbish section, it addresses that absurd claim that she is group of writers all working under the pen name of JKR, as well as her hating Harry and a New FAQ Poll to vote on (Book Six spoilers)

For any fans of the insanely addictive game Sudoku…here is a Narnia Sudoku game for you.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 24, 2005: Episode 118

According to Box Office Mojo, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has passed the 200 Million US$ worldwide mark today with a total of more than 212 million dollars. It is important to note that the movie has only been released in 13 nations. Many countries will get it later this month and some even in January. The tentative release date for the DVD of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has been set for Easter 2006.

Jeff VanderMeer has posted a short story from THE BOOK OF WINTER: entitled THE CROC AND YOU. You can find the story at his blog.

Science Fiction and Fantasy World has posted its rules for their reader’s top 5 books of the year. So if you’ve read some books you really liked this past year, get over there and place your vote.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 23, 2005: Episode 117

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman have written Aziraphale and Crowley's New Year's resolutions. They're expected to be up somewhere at http://www.harpercollins.com/ just after Christmas in time for your own resolutions.

Robert Sheckley, a short-story and novel writer who was among the first to fuse satire with science fiction, creating a sub-genre called "galactic humor," has died. He was 77.

Sheckley, who had been fighting emphysema, died from complications of a brain aneurysm Dec. 9 at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said Ziva Kwitney, his former wife.

Considered a master of satire and irony, Sheckley also was one of the first science-fiction writers to give mechanical devices the ability to think for humans, according to a 2003 feature in Locus, a magazine that covers science fiction news.

"Ringers: Lord of the Fans" is here. First shown earlier this year on the big screen at Slamdance Film Festival and at the Newport Beach Film Festival, this documentary was quietly released on DVD at the end of November. It claims to be "by, about and for the fans" of professor J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginary world. Ringers is available on DVD at most major outlets and on amazon.com.

Fantasy Minute for December 22, 2005: Episode 116

The Jim Henson Company has selected JK Rowling as one of the honorees of the newly established Jim Henson Honors, an annual program that acknowledges organizations, individuals or products that reflect the core values and philosophy of Jim Henson and the company he founded in 1955.  

Time magazine has listed there top books of the year. Included in the fiction category are Kelly Link’s Magic for Beginners and EL Doctorow’s The March.

You can help chose what will be included in the Eldest Special Edition due out in the fall 2006. Alagaesia.com is running a poll.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 21, 2005: Episode 115

If you miss a favorite author when they appear at Denver's Tattered Cover Book Store, you’re no longer completely out of luck. Thanks to a new partnership between BurstMarketing, podcasts called Authors On Tour — Live!, will generate free weekly downloads featuring recently published authors reading from and discussing their works while at the Tattered Cover. The first of these 30-45 minute shows is available now.

In coming weeks, the program will be expanded to include podcasts with Susanna Clarke, Robert Hicks, Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, Clive Barker, Andrew Weil, Monty Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Dan Savage, Zadie Smith, Michael Connelly, and others.

Emerald City, a genre website offering reviews, news, and analysis, has posted surprise announcement: Well, this blog might be drawing readers to the site, but over the past month or so the main effect it seems to have had is to get me into more and more trouble. Therefore, apart from any important announcements regarding Emerald City that might arise, I’m going to stop posting to it for a while. Hope Cheryl gets everyone off her back and she begins posting again.

F. Brett Cox (The Serpent and the Hatchet Gang) KGB Bar, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Jack Womack (Lying to Children) KGB Bar New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 20, 2005: Episode 114

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has been named by the magazine "TIME for Kids" as their Person of the Year. Readers of this children's magazine selected our favorite author for this award over others such as Lance Armstrong, disaster relief volunteers, and even the Chicago White Sox baseball team.

Salon.com has posted it’s Top 10 books of the year including titles by Kelly Link, Kazuo Ishiguro, Haruki Murakami.

Sharp’s Books has a signed copy of K.G. Childs' "The Fortress City" to give away. Answer the following question and you will be entered into a drawing for it.

Q. What is the name of the Dragon in J.R. Tolkein’s ‘The Hobbit’?

Send your answers to us at admin@sharpsbooks.co.uk

The winner will be informed January 31, 2005.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 17, 2005: Episode 113

It’s now time for SF Site’s annual readers’ choice survey: best read of 2005. The guidelines are quite simple: it must be defined as a book, must in some way be related to speculative fiction, and it must have been released in 2005. Official rules are available at SFSite.

Cemetery Dance Publications, artist Glenn Chadbourne, and author Stephen King announce The Secretary of Dreams, Stephen King’s first unabridged graphic short story collection! Information can be found at http://www.cemeterydance.com/.

Wotmania is running their contest for the best of as well. Their’s is a little different than others, but seems to have some interesting categories. http://www.wotmania.com/fantasymessageboardshowmessage.asp?MessageID=144599

Scot R. Stone (The Ice Shadows of Arna) Border’s, Northglenn, CO, 11 AM

Fantasy Minute for December 16, 2005: Episode 112

The Aurealis Awards announce their 2005 finalists and honourable mentions in the Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult and Children's novel and short story divisions. Aurealis Award is an Australian Award and will presented in February 2006. Finalists are:

Fantasy Novel Finalists

Sara Douglass, Darkwitch Rising: The Troy Game Book 3

Anthony Eaton, Nightpeople

Sonya Hartnett, Surrender

Juliet Marillier, Blade of Fortriu: Book II The Bridei Chronicles

Karen Miller, The Innocent Mage: Kingmaker Kingbreaker Book I

Fantasy Short Story Finalists

Adam Browne, “Heart of Saturday Night”

Terry Dartnall, “Ones and Zeros”

Dirk Flinthart, “The Red Priest's Homecoming”

Richard Harland, “The Greater Death of Saito Saku”

Rosaleen Love, “Once Giants Roamed the Earth”

Ottakar's, the British book chain, has revealed that it is unable to compete with discount chains and supermarkets for a share in the book market. These rivals aggressively discount books and Ottakar’s says it can’t compete. This relights the takeover discussions that have been going on the last 6 months.

Fantasy Minute for December 15, 2005: Episode 111

Philip Pullman, author of The Scarecrow and His Servant, has been edged out in the race for the Nestle prize. Instead, an author with severe dyslexia, who did not learn to read until she was 14, has beaten Philip Pullman to this year's Nestle children's book prize. Sally Gardner's fantasy adventure, I, Coriander, was chosen by a panel of schoolchildren as the best book in the nine-to-11 years category. Pullman received the silver medal.

Japan's Studio Ghibli, announced that it will adapt Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea fantasy novel series in an animated movie called Gedo Senki (Tales From Earthsea) and will be released in July 2006.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 14, 2005: Episode 110

Prince Caspian, the second story in the Chronicles of Narnia, has been greenlit for a December 2007 theatrical release. Disney was hoping for a $60 million opening weekend for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and since the film’s opening exceeded their expectation they are moving forward.

Graham Joyce has completed Do The Creepy Thing to his publisher and it should be out summer 2006. He has also begun an as yet untitled novel.

Michael Chabon, Tim Pratt A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 13, 2005: Episode 109

Dragonmount is running a special feature entitled “The 13 Days of Christmas.” This year, Dabel Brother productions, the company responsible for producing the New Spring graphic novel, is releasing color images of all 13 of the original Forsaken. The images are sized to fit common desktop sizes. One will be released each day until Christmas.

Retail group Whitbread is to stop sponsoring its annual book awards because it no longer considers the association to be commercially viable. The Whitbread Award offers a prize of 25000 pounds to the winner of each of 5 categories. They are actively seeking a different sponsor for the award.

David Marusek (Counting Heads) Waldenbooks, Fairbanks AK, 1-3 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 10, 2005: Episode 107

Greg Benford and Darrel Schweitzer have written interesting pieces on the state of science fiction and why they believe fantasy has risen in popularity. The essays talk about what science fiction is doing wrong and offers possible solutions.

There is a transcript as well as the link to an MP3 of author J.K. Rowling’s BBC interview with Stephen Fry. This interview aired yesterday on the BBC 4.

Noted fantasy writer and longtime Portland, OR resident Robert Sheckley died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, in a Poughkeepsie, N.Y., hospital, 28 days after he was stricken with a brain aneurysm. In recent days, he went into a coma from which he never awakened. He was 77. Among his works were such collections as "Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?" "Citizen in Space" and "Is That What People Do?" He wrote dozens of novels, including "The Game of X," "Dimension of Miracles" and "Mindswap," which he said he thought was one of his best works. His book "Immortality Inc." was adapted for a film called "Freejack”. He will be missed.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 9, 2005: Episode 106

After a long delay, Greg Keyes has finally finished The Blood Knight, Book Three of The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone. Excerpts will be forthcoming on his website and the book should be out in April 2006.

Martha Wells has added a sample chapter for Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary on her website which will be released in February 2006.

Today is the official release date for the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe. This weekend, the Fantasy Times Podcast will have a review of the movie along with the Narnia Special Podcast. Keep your eyes and ears on your aggregator for this podcast.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 8, 2005: Episode 105

The Official Podcast for The Chronicles of Narnia is now available on iTunes. To download the 11-minute podcast which is available only to iTunes users, read the show notes. The podcast includes interviews with the actors and audio clips from the film. Beware of spoilers! Click here There are several news updates about Narnia on NarniaWeb.com.

Maybe it's just the impossibly cozy nature of the 'hood, but for 80 years there has been no change in the resident line-up of the Hundred Acre Wood. As part of a barrel-full of Winnie the Pooh anniversary events, Disney is working on a new animated series that will replace Christopher Robin with a 6-year-old girl.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 7, 2005: Episode 104

A portion of the transcript from this weekend’s BBC interview with J.K. Rowling has been posted. Ms. Rowling speaks about book six and how closely it relates with book seven and about her writing after the Harry Potter series is concluded.

The finalists for the 2005 Story Prize have been announced. They are:

The Summer He Didn’t Die by Jim Harrison (Atlantic Monthly Press)
Mothers & Other Monsters by Maureen F. McHugh (Small Beer Press)
The Hill Road by Patrick O'Keeffe (Viking)

The Story Prize is an annual book award honoring the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction with a $20,000 cash award. Each of two runners-up will receive $5,000.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 6, 2005: Episode 103

Preview artwork has been posted of the May 2006 adaptation of best selling fantasy author Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Saga. The comic book series starts with the adaptation of the first novel in the series, Magician: Apprentice, by writers Michael Avon Oeming and Bryan J. L. Glass, and artists Brett Booth and Jess Ruffner-Booth.

Actor Jim Dale, the voice of Harry Potter on US audio books, suggests Harry Potter will die at the end of the series. Mr. Dale met with author J.K. Rowling to discuss characterization of the parts, emerging from the meeting stating "She's lived with Harry Potter so long she really wants to kill him off."

Terry McGarry (Triad) and Kris Saknussemm (Zanesville) South Street Seaport Museum, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 6, 2005: Episode 103

Preview artwork has been posted of the May 2006 adaptation of best selling fantasy author Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Saga. The comic book series starts with the adaptation of the first novel in the series, Magician: Apprentice, by writers Michael Avon Oeming and Bryan J. L. Glass, and artists Brett Booth and Jess Ruffner-Booth.

Actor Jim Dale, the voice of Harry Potter on US audio books, suggests Harry Potter will die at the end of the series. Mr. Dale met with author J.K. Rowling to discuss characterization of the parts, emerging from the meeting stating "She's lived with Harry Potter so long she really wants to kill him off."

Terry McGarry (Triad) and Kris Saknussemm (Zanesville) South Street Seaport Museum, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 5, 2005: Episode 102

Nalo Hopkinson is in need of a new computer. Therefore, she is having a book sale. Head on over to her website and order something. Finally, anyone who spends more than $200 Cdn exclusive of shipping costs can be Tuckerized; she will name a character or thing after you.

This Friday, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe opens in theaters everywhere. This week, the Fantasy Times Podcast will have a Narnia special with some biographies, history, stories about the author, movie stuff, and an in depth look at the debate over the possible Christian allegory that some see/or don’t see/ in the novels.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 4, 2005: Episode 101

Scott Nicholson discusses the inevitable bubble burst of the collectable book market and the demise of investment buying. This only serves as good news for those of us who collect the books for the words and not the value.

There has been a debate raging for the last week or so about the distinction between Science Fiction and Fantasy. Some of the discussion has been typically pointed and opinions very greatly. A couple of places to keep up with the debate are Jay Tomio’s The Bodhisattva and Elizabeth Bear’s They Must Need Bears.

Marc Goodrich, Gris Grimly, Dave Pressler, Robb Ruppel, William Stout, Joe Vauz, Oleg Zatler Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, US, 2 p.m

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 3, 2005: Episode 100

J.K. Rowling reveals that she is going to write further children's books under a pseudonym. During the upcoming interview with BBC Radio, she stated she is still looking for a suitable pseudonym and the books will be aimed at a younger audience than the Harry Potter series.

Stephen King and Marvel have decided to push back the launch of the Dark Tower comic books to 2007. The 1st issue of the yet-to-be-named first arc of the Dark Tower comic series will be shipping in February 2007. The last issue of this six-issue series will be shipping in July 2007. The first hardcover collection will be shipping in October 2007.

Vince Churchill & Eric Shapiro (The Undead) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
John Frankow (The Splintered Damned) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
Ray Morton (King Kong: The History of a Movie from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
Michael Slade (Swastika) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
Brandon Sanderson (Elantris) signs at Media Play, Midvale UT, 3-5 p.m.
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Mesquite Library, Phoenix, AZ, 3 pm

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Dreamhaven Books, Minneapolis, MN, 3 PM

Fantasy Minute for December 2, 2005: Episode 99

Mark Kelly has expounded on his thread regarding the Hugo “Fantasy” Awards. Lots of great links over there, but this is of interest:

In 2005, there were two fantasy and three SF nominees; fantasy won. [For purposes of this survey I'm counting China Miéville's books as fantasy.]

In 2004, there was one fantasy and four SF nominees; fantasy won.

In 2003, there was one fantasy (China) and four SF nominees; SF won.

In 2002, there were three fantasy and three SF nominees; fantasy won.

In 2001, there were two fantasy and three SF nominees; fantasy won.

Lone Star Stories #12 is now online with new fiction and poetry.

With the demise of SciFiction at the SciFi channel, this interesting story outlines SciFi Channel’s 10 million dollar ad campaign for “The Triangle”. I wonder what Ellen Datlow’s salary was?

David Marusek (Counting Heads) Third Place Books, Lake Forest WA, 6:30 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for December 1, 2005: Episode 98

The BBC told SCI FI Wire that it will release the complete first season of the new British SF TV series Doctor Who on DVD in the United States on Feb. 14, 2006, offering Americans their first official look at the hit U.K. show.

In a story that ran in January, SCI FI Wire quoted SF author Karen Traviss, whose book City of Pearl was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, as saying that she's amazed she can't get published in her native England. Traviss never said that she was amazed that she couldn't get published in England. SCI FI Wire regrets the error. The author of the piece had admitted that they made up some of the article to create more controversy. Yes that was in January and it’s now November.

On Sara Douglass’ site, you can see the working map for DarkGlass Mountain - showing the lands of Tencendor, Escator, Ashdod, Viland and Coroleas all shown in relation to the world on which they exist.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 30, 2005: Episode 97

A newly-revealed letter by author CS Lewis has shown he opposed the idea of a screen version of his Narnia books, now adapted for a major film. Lewis said TV versions of the animals in his books would result in either "buffoonery or nightmare" and criticised Walt Disney for "vulgarity". The letter, written in 1959, has been published on a literary website.

The Original Theatrical Epic THE LORD OF THE RINGS arrives on stage in Toronto on February 2, 2006. At Playbill.com, there is a FREE sneak-peek at exclusive video footage highlighting how the most massive theatrical production ever mounted was developed for the stage. The documentary tracks the three years that were spent in research and development of the production including interviews and comments from Director Matthew Warchus and Designer Rob Howell.

Firefly costume designer Shawna Trpcic is auctioning off her private collection of original Firefly costumes The costumes will be on display at her website until the auction begins, then they'll be going up for auction on eBay on December 1, 2005. Up for auction include Mal’s browncoat and Inara’s ball gown.

Allen Steele (Coyote Frontier) Amherst Books, Amherst MA, 8 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) Powells, Portland OR, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 29, 2005: Episode 96

Stephen King’s picks:

• Stephen is reading My Antonia, by Willa Cather (Very good), The Rainbow, by D.H. Lawrence (Difficult but awesomely romantic)

• Stephen is listening to All Jacked Up by Gretchen Wilson (still), Who the Hell is John Eddie (John Eddie), Gold (Ryan Adams)

• On DVD Stephen is watching The Beavis and Butthead DVD Collection (Really cool, heh-heh-heh)

• In theaters, Stephen saw Walk The Line (Great)

Sarah Douglass has announced that Book One of DarkGlass Mountain now has a title: "The Serpent Bride"

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Page One Books, Albuquerque NM, 7 p.m.

David Marusek (Counting Heads) Park Place Books, Kirkwood WA, 7 p.m.

Kim Stanley Robinson (Fifty Degrees Below) SF Museum, Seattle WA, 7-9 p.m.

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Northern Arizona University
Biological Sciences Bldg. Flagstaff, AZ, 5-7 pm

Fantasy Minute for November 28, 2005: Episode 95

In Great Britain, the Office of Fair Trading is due to decide whether to refer Waterstone's planned takeover of Ottakar's bookshops to the Competition Commission. If the £96.4 million deal is given the go-ahead, Waterstone's parent company, HMV, will control at least 23.6 per cent of the British book trade. Leading publishers and authors are making a last-ditch attempt this weekend to head off the deal, which some fear will mean too much power being concentrated in the hands of Pack and Alan Giles, chief executive of HMV.

Ultra-rare JRR Tolkien booklet Songs for the Philologists up for auction on eBay UK. There is only 14 copies thought to be in existence.

The Library of Congress has posted webcasts of author events from this year’s National Book Festival. Authors involved include Diana Gabaldon, Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin, EL Doctorow and John Irving.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 27, 2005: Episode 94

A YOUNGSTER who begged JK Rowling to help her raise cash for charity has received a signed first edition of the latest Harry Potter book. Breeze Gardner, 12, was sent the rare copy of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince after emailing the famous author about her mother who is seriously ill. The book is expected to fetch more than £6000 when it is auctioned off next month.

Mark Kelly’s blog has an interesting comment about the current state of the Hugo Awards and SF fandom in general. It is pointed out that four of the last five Hugo Awards for novel have gone to fantasy novels. That would be the fourth Harry Potter novel... then American Gods... then Paladin of Souls last year... and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell this year.

Tamora Pierce (The Circle of Magic) Darkovercon, Timonium, MD, 2:00 pm

Michael Moorcock (Silverheart) Dark Carnival, Berkeley CA, 3 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for November 26, 2005: Episode 93

Tamora Pierce, author of the recently released The Circle of Magic has updated the “Ultimate Ever Fantasy List”. This time of year is wrought with lists, but this list is strictly a teen fantasy list and is quite complete and impressive.

Sara Douglass states on her website that the planning for DarkGlass Mountain is now complete and writing has started.

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) The Well Red Coyote, Sedona, Arizona, 2:00 pm

Ursula K. Le Guin Audubon Wild Arts Festival book signing, Portland, Oregon, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 24, 2005: Episode 92

The New York Times has published its list of the 100 most notable books of the past year. Some that jumped out at me were:

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. By J. K. Rowling. Illustrated by Mary GrandPré. (Arthur A. Levine/ Scholastic, $29.99.) In this sixth volume of the epic series, the Dark Lord, Voldemort, is wreaking havoc throughout England and Harry, now 16, is more isolated than ever.

KAFKA ON THE SHORE. By Haruki Murakami. (Knopf, $25.95.) Two characters alternate in this dreamish novel: a boy fleeing an Oedipal prophecy and a witless old man who can talk to cats.

NEVER LET ME GO. By Kazuo Ishiguro. (Knopf, $24.) This bold novel imagines a school where clones are trained for a terrible destiny.

Richard K. Morgan has just signed a five-book deal with Del Rey which will include a sword-and-sorcery trilogy. Morgan said in an interview Sci Fi Wire . "I just fancied having a crack at old-school sword and sorcery, using some of the technique and tone I've been deploying in my Kovacs novels. ... I'd been talking a good fight about fantasy noir for a while now, about the idea of ripping apart the Tolkienesque decor to focus on the ugly cracks and stains behind, and it just finally seemed time to put my pen where my mouth is."

Review: Dogs in the Moonlight by Jay Lake

Dogs in the Moonlight

Jay Lake

Prime Books

2004

Fantasy Times Rating: 8.7

Although this came out last year, I just picked this collection up by chance and felt it was well worth reviewing.

Jay Lake’s collection of short stories, Dogs in the Moonlight is a compilation of reprints and new works drawn from Lake’s Texas roots. The stories are based on old myths and new ones from Texas which seems rich in legends and stories of aliens, ghosts and angels. The collection is organized by themes: Ghosts, Angels, Gods, Aliens. This works very well and offers a nice blend of thematic arcs that exemplifies Mr. Lake’s talents in story telling. Three stories, in particular, jumped off the pages, grabbed hold my brain and shook it mercilessly: Dogs in the Moonlight, The Goat Cutter, and Hitching to Aurora.

These three stories offer the perfect mix of eclectic myth and modern legend that will shock your system into an altered view of the world. During Dogs in the Moonlight, I thought over and over…no, freakin’ way….and, even though the ending was obvious, I didn’t WANT it to be obvious. I kept hoping the story would change even on the second reading. The Goat Cutter is an edgy, dark and almost lyrical in it’s remarkable prose. The story itself is almost too disturbing to consider in depth for my taste, although it is like viewing the macabre: you know you shouldn’t but you just have to. Hitching to Aurora is an enjoyable read that is a bit twisted in a funny sort of way.

Read this collection for the imagery and buy it for every time you think of the stories it tells.

Fantasy Times rating: 8.7

Fantasy Minute for November 23, 2005: Episode 91

Robert Jordan hints at a continuation of The Wheel of Time Series:

According to his blog..."There will be one more main sequence novel. At some point in the future I will do two more short prequel novels. I have signed the contracts for a trilogy -- the first of two planned -- entitled Infinity of Heaven. And Harriet and I will be doing an encyclopedia once Book 12 is complete. I've said frequently that I wouldn't write in this universe again once tWoT was done unless I had a really great idea. I may -- I say again, may -- have had such an idea. I have to poke at it for a year or two to see whether it's strong enough. If it is, I'll do two or three "outrigger" novels following some of the characters on another story arc. If it isn't strong enough, then I'll let it die a quiet death."

Juliet Marillier has stated on her website that she has a form of Hepatitus. We wish her a speedy recovery.

No signings to report.

Fantasy Minute for November 22, 2005: Episode 90

LibraryThing, an online repository that allows users to catalog their books, has a list of books on users shelves that have been marked unread. The top 10 are:

* The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
* Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
* Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
* Anansi boys : a novel by Neil Gaiman
* A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Vintage) by Dave Eggers
* Emma by Jane Austen
* Pride and prejudice : an authoritative text, backgrounds and… by Jane Austen
* Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
* Baudolino by Umberto Eco
* American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Moviefone has posted an exclusive clip of the upcoming fantasy movie, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Harlan Ellison is to be named a Grand Master at next year's Nebula Awards. William Nolan has been selected as the 2006 author emeritus.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Tattered Cover, Denver CO, 7:30 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 21, 2005: Episode 89

A Savage Messiah signed advanced reading copy contest has been posted at Robert Newcomb's website. The contest involves helping promote his new book due out the end of December. Get the details at his website. Also look for the Fantasy Times review for this book in the next couple of weeks.

For fans of The Legend of Drizzt series. It appears the cover art that was posted for The Legacy: The Legend of Drizzt, Book VII is only a temporary cover art that Wizards of the Coast is using. The new cover art is once again from Todd Lockwood.

The first volume of three of the limited edition hardcover of The Complete Hammer's Slammers by David Drake is due out from Night Shade Books in December 2005.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) University Bookstore, Seattle WA, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 20, 2005: Episode 88

Locus online has listed a few writer's workshops of note:

The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle is hosting an Online Writers Workshop in Science Fiction taught by James Gunn, to be held January 23 - March 19, 2006. (PDF registration form)

The Odyssey Summer Writing Workshop's 2006 session will be held at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire June 12 - July 21, 2006. This year's writer-in-residence is Robert J. Sawyer; guest lecturers are authors Melissa Scott, Jeff VanderMeer, Laurie J. Marks, and Christopher Golden, and editor and agent Shawna McCarthy.

The Clarion West Writers Workshop to be held in Seattle June 18 - July 28, 2006. Instructors will be Paul Park, Maureen McHugh, Ian R. MacLeod, Nalo Hopkinson, Ellen Datlow, and Vernor Vinge.

Mark vonSchlegell (Venusia) Borderlands Books, San Francisco CA, 3 p.m.

David Marusek (Counting Heads) Borders, Bloomington IN, 1 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, 1 p.m.

Terry Bisson (Numbers Don't Lie) The Other Change of Hobbit, Berkeley CA, 2 p.m.

Paul Park (A Princess of Roumania) The Other Change of Hobbit, Berkeley CA, 2 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 19, 2005: Episode 87

Top 20 geek novels of all time listed:

1. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Douglas Adams 85% (102)
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four -- George Orwell 79% (92)
3. Brave New World -- Aldous Huxley 69% (77)
4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- Philip Dick 64% (67)
5. Neuromancer -- William Gibson 59% (66)
9. The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 46% (46)
16. The Man in the High Castle -- Philip K Dick 34% (32)
17. American Gods -- Neil Gaiman 31% (29)

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Barnes & Noble, Huntington Beach CA, 2 p.m.

Terry Bisson (Numbers Don't Lie) Borderlands Books, San Francisco CA, 3 p.m.

Paul Park (A Princess of Roumania) Borderlands Books, San Francisco CA, 3 p.m.

Amber Benson & Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Accursed) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 18, 2005: Episode 86

Award winning fantasy author Peter Beagle will write story content for the MMORPG Horizons: Empire of Istaria. Beagle will provide quests for the games as well as working to enrich the world’s backstory.

Radio Rivendell is a fantasy music radio station. "This is the ultimate background music channel for fantasy roleplaying game sessions as well as other events. It holds not just music from fantasy films or games, but also scores from films that feature other kinds of music. The theme however is instrumental and orchestrated music."

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Bay Book Co., Half Moon Bay CA, 7 p.m.

Amber Benson & Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Accursed) Brentano's Century City, Los Angeles CA, 7 p.m.

Fiona McIntosh (Odalisque) Town Hall, Ashfield, Australia, 11:00 am

Guy Gavriel Kay Salon du Livre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 7:00 pm

Link to today’s show

Fantasy Minute for November 17, 2005: Episode 85

The Tsunami Relief anthology, Elemental is available for order at Amazon. It is edited by Steven Savile and Alethea Kontis and features an introduction by Arthur C. Clarke and stories by Brian Aldiss, Jacqueline Carey, David Drake, Joe Haldeman, Larry Niven and Martha Wells and a Dune story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

According to Zedd at Prophet's Inc., the release of Terry Goodkind's newest book, Phantom, has been delayed again. The new "tentative" release date has been moved from March to June.

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Foothills Public Library, Glendale, AZ, 7:00 pm

David Marusek (Counting Heads) Borders, Oak Brook IL, 7:30 p.m.

John Grant Library of Congress, Pickford Theater, Washington DC, US, 12:10 p.m. · Amber Benson & Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Accursed) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Pyramid Books, Boynton Beach FL,

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Stacy's, San Francisco CA, 12:30 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Fiona McIntosh (Odalisque) Galaxy Bookshop, Sydney, Australia, Noon

Fantasy Minute for November 16, 2005: episode 84

Carl Brandon Society has a blog. The Carl Brandon Society, dedicated to improving the visibility of people of colour in the speculative genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror, magical realism has finally succumbed and started an internet journal.

Elizabeth Hand Amherst Books, Amherst MA, 8 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Copperfields, Petaluma CA, 7 p.m.

Ron Goulart, Marvin Kaye Greenpoint Library, Brooklyn NY, 6:30-8 p.m.

Judith Berman (Bear Daughter) KGB Bar, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Joe Hill (Twentieth Century Ghosts) KGB Bar, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for November 15, 2005: Episode 83

Devil's Due, the next novel by R.A. Salvatore, will be released as a trade paper back graphic novel. The graphic novel will feature the complete Exile story in one compilation and will be available this Spring.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Barnes & Noble, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

Daniel Wilson (How to Survive a Robot Uprising) Cody's, Berkeley CA, 7:30 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford NH, 7 p.m.

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress) Books of Wonder, New York, New York, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Sunrise Mountain Branch Library, Peoria, AZ, 7:00 pm

Fantasy Minute for November 14, 2005: Episode 82

Time magazine calls George R.R. Martin the "American Tolkien". Lev Grossman writes that Martin's "a master of dark epic fantasy, but with George R.R. Martin, we're not in Middle-earth anymore".

Only five days are remaining to get your Apex short story contest submitted. The contest requires a Science Fiction Ghost Story that is less than 2,000 words and closes November 18^th.

Jason Lethcoe (Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy) Barnes & Noble, Huntington Beach CA, 7 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Borders, Madison WI, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Pandemonium Books, Cambridge MA, 7 p.m.

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Waterstone’s, Bristol, UK, 12.30pm

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Waterstone’s, Bath,UK, 6.30pm

Fantasy Minute for November 13, 2005: Episode 81

Demon's Touch, a short story based in Balaia, the home of The Raven and written by James Barclay, is going to appear in an anthology called 'Army of the Fantastic' and is the brainchild of John Helfers and John Marco. Due out in 2006.

Jeff Vandermeer, author of Shriek: An Afterword, will be releasing a short film based on a part of this book. The film is scheduled to be released next summer and the original soundtrack will be by The Church.

The cover for Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars: Volume Seven, Crown of Stars is posted at her website.

Benjamin Rosenbaum Stacy's Coffee Parlor, Falls Church VA, 4 p.m.

Steven Erikson (Memories of Ice) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego, CA, 2:00 pm

Sarah Monette (Melusine) A Room of One's Own , Madison, Wisconsin, 2 pm

Fantasy Minute for November 12, 2005: Episode 80

SciFiction to close down. SciFi channels fiction section is closing down at the end of the year. Hugo and Locus ward winner Ellen Datlow, editor, has posted a farewell message.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Barnes & Noble, Carmel, Indianapolis IN, 7 p.m.

Steven Erikson (Memories of Ice) Borderlands Books, San Francisco CA, 3 p.m.

Steve & Nikki Niles (The Lonely Tombstone) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.

Richard Valley (Kolchak: The Night Stalker Chronicles) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.

Ellen Datlow appears at Monmouth County Library, Manalapan NJ, 12 noon

Martha Wells (The Gate of Gods) Murder by the Book, Houston TX, 4:30 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park WA, 6 p.m.

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Forbidden Planet, London, UK, 10.00 am

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress) Bank Street Bookstore, New York, NY 3:00 pm

Scot R. Stone (Ice Shadows of Arna) Media Play, Littleton, Colorado, Noon

Fantasy Minute for November 11, 2005: Episode 79

Next week begins Children's Book Week which encourages children to read. The Lincoln Journal Star has a list of recommended books by age including books by Ursula K. LeGuin, Cornelia Funke, J.K. Rowling, Erin Hunter.

Amber Benson & Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Accursed) Barnes & Noble, Brooklyn NY, 6:30 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Borders, Ann Arbor MI, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Borders, Cleveland Heights OH, 7 p.m.

Martha Wells (The Gate of Gods) Carousel Paperbacks, College Station TX, 6:30-8 p.m.

Steven Erikson (Memories of Ice) Dark Carnival, Berkeley CA, 5 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) University Bookstore, Seattle WA, 7 p.m.

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Forbidden Planet, Birmingham, UK, 1.00pm

Fantasy Minute for November 10, 2005: Episode 78

In this month's edition of TerryBrooks.net's Ask Terry, Terry writes: "Anyway, graphic novels are enjoying a new resurgence these days, and for the first time in memory I am giving some serious consideration to doing something in that medium. More when I know more."

The screenplay for the World Fantasy Award Winner, Jonathon Strange and Mr Morrell by Susanna Clarke, is finished. The screenplay was adapted by Christopher Hampton, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 'Dangerous Liaisons'. Production is expected to begin next year by New Line but no director or actors have been announced.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Books & Co., Dayton OH, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington KY, 7 p.m.

David Marusek (Counting Heads) Title Wave, Anchorage AK, 7:30 p.m.

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Forbidden Planet, Newcastle, UK, 1.00pm

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Barnes and Noble,
Scottsdale, AZ, 7:00 pm

Fantasy Minute for November 9, 2005: Episode 77

Amazon has picked it's top ten of 2005 in Science Fiction and Fantasy: Amazon top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy:

1. The Algebraist by Iain Banks

2. Accelerando by Charles Stross

3. Looking for Jake: Stories by China Mieville

4. Olympos by Dan Simmons

5. Magic Street by Orson Scott Card

6. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

7. Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

8. A Feast for Crows by George RR Martin

9. The Narrows by Alexander Irvine

10. Woken Furies by Richard Morgan

Canadian band Wyrd Sisters lose court case against Warner Brothers. Harry Potter will open on time in Canada.

Amber Benson & Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Accursed) Barnes & Noble, Framingham MA, 7:30 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington KY, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati OH, 7 p.m

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Borders, Glasgow, Scotland 1:00 pm

Ursula K. LeGuin PEN USA Awards Dinner, Los Angeles, CA, 7:30 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for November 8, 2005: Episode 76

A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin is finally out.

Winner of the 2005 Endeavor Award is The Child Goddess by Louise Marley. The Endeavor Award is given to a science fiction or fantasy author from the Pacific Northwest.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Barnes & Noble, Louisville KY, 7 p.m.

Amber Benson & Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Accursed) Barnes & Noble, Boston University, Boston MA, 7 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Davis Kidd, Nashville TN, 6 p.m.

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Institute of Education, Bedford Way, London, 7.00pm

Fantasy Minute for November 7, 2005: Episode 75

Winners of the World Fantasy Awards were announced this afternoon at the awards banquet to close out World Fantasy Convention. Winners include:

Novel:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Novella: "The Growlimb", Michael Shea

Short Fiction: "Singing My Sister Down", Margo Lanaga

Artist: John Picacio

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Barnes & Noble, Ladue MO, 7 p.m.

Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 12) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) University Bookstore, Seattle WA

Fantasy Minute for November 6, 2005: Episode 74

The World Fantasy Convention wraps up today with the World Fantasy Awards Banquet so look for the winners later today at www.thefantasytimes.com.

Numerous authors and websites are blogging the World Fantasy Convention in Madison, WI. Some I’m reading are Emerald City, DarkEcho, Matt Forbeck, Tobias Buckell, Jeff Vandermeer, Mark Kelly from LocusMag, and Jay Lake.

Brom (The Plucker) Dragon's Lair, Austin TX, 2 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for November 5, 2005: Episode 73

The International Horror Guild announced their awards at the World Fantasy Convention in Madison, Wisconsin. They are:

NOVEL: Ramsey Campbell. THE OVERNIGHT

FIRST NOVEL: John Harwood. THE GHOST WRITER

LONG FICTION: Lucius Shepard. VIATOR

MID-LENGTH FICTION:Daniel Abraham. "Flat Diane"

SHORT FICTION: Don Tumasonis. "A Pace of Change"

COLLECTION: Brian Evenson. THE WAVERING KNIFE

ANTHOLOGY: ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT

ART: [Tie] Darrel Anderson and Rick Berry

FILM: SHAUN OF THE DEAD

TELEVISION: LOST

PERIODICAL: The Third Alternative

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Barnes & Noble, Charleston SC, 3 p.m.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Book People, Austin TX, 5 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) Borders, Austin TX, 3 p.m.

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Ottakar’s, Norwich, UK 11.00am

Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys) Waterstone’s, Canterbury, UK, 6.30pm

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged) Whale of A Tale Children's Bookshoppe, Irvine, CA, NOON - 1:30 PM

Guy Gavriel Kay (The Lions of Al-Rassan ) gritLIT festival in Hamilton, Ontario, 3:30 pm

Scot R. Stone (The Snowtear Wars: The Ice Shadows of Arna) Barnes and Noble, Fort Collins, Colorado 4:00 pm

Fantasy Minute for November 4, 2005: Episode 72

Google print is now online. Only out of copyright books appear to be available. The Washington Times has an article that some in Congress question Google's intentions and rights to put copyrighted materials up.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Barnes & Noble, Seattle WA, 6:30 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) Borders, Atlanta GA, 7 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Charlotte NC, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Marcus Books, Oakland CA, 6:30 p.m.

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged) Adventures for Kids, Ventura, CA, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged) Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Fantasy Minute for November 3, 2005: Episode 71

Stephen King's Picks:

Stephen is reading Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman (Excellent)

He is also reading This Book Will Save Your Life, by A.M. Homes (Excellent)

On television, Stephen is watching Veronica Mars (Very Good)

SFSite: Baen Books will begin publishing an on-line magazine, edited by Eric Flint, entitled Baen's Astounding Stories. "The emphasis will be on adventure stories—either science fiction or fantasy," according to Flint. The magazine will debut in June 2006 and publish on a quarterly schedule. Issues will be available individually or as part of a three issue packages. Individual stories may also be available

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) City Lights Bookstore, 261 San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Media Play, Colorado Springs CO, 7 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) Oxford Comics, Atlanta GA, 7:30 p.m.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) SF Museum, Seattle WA, 7 p.m.

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged) Book Passage Bookstore, Corte Madera, CA ,10:00 AM

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged) Copperfield's Books, Sebastopol, CA, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Fantasy Minute for November 2, 2005 Episode #70

Chapter 6 of Savage Messiah by Robert Newcomb has been posted at his website www.robertnewcomb.com/news.

Terry Brooks has posted photos of Kenliworth Castle which is the basis of Morgawr Castle. Check them out at www.terrybrooks.net.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Borderlands Books, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Brom (The Plucker) DreamHaven, Minneapolis MN, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles CA,

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Sam Weller's Books, Salt Lake City UT, 7 p.m.

Cory Doctorow The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill NC, 10-11 a.m.

Tamora Pierce (The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged) Books Inc., Burlingame, CA 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Fantasy Minute for November 1, 2005 Episode #69

The latest Fantasy Times Review is available on the reviews page of thefantasytimes.com. This weeks review is of Adam Stemple’s first solo work, Singer of Soul. FT Rating was 8.3.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Borders, Murray UT, 7 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Brentano's, Century City, Los Angeles CA, 7 p.m.

Sarah Ash, Chaz Brenchley, Mark Chadbourn, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Colin Greenland, Peter F. Hamilton, Juliet E. McKenna, China Mieville, Stan Nicholls, Susan Price, Mike Scott Rohan, Jessica Rydill , S F Said, David Lee Stone Heffers, Grafton Center, Cambridge, UK, 6:30 p.m. (Science Fiction and Fantasy Evening)

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena CA,

Fantasy Minute for October 31, 2005

E-Signing has begun for Halfling's Gem: The Legend of Drizzt VI at RASalvatore.com. He has also posted a sample chapter over there.

Preparations are about complete for the World Fantasy Convention held this weekend in Madison, WI. Most authors have their panels set and have posted them on their respective websites. There is also a full programming schedule at worldfantasy.org/2005.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) University Bookstore, Bellevue WA, 7 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena CA, 7 p.m.

George RR Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire) Lucca Comics and Game Show, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) The Centurion Conference Centre, Nepean, ON, 7:30 PM

Fantasy Minute for October 30, 2005

Keith Parkinson, world renowned fantasy author, has peacefully passed away. Keith had been battling Leukemia for the past 16 months. Keith fought the good fight every step of the way and at one point he had it beat. At that point, we all thought he was in the clear and we were even talking about him attending Gen Con Indy 2006 to build up his immune system with all the lovely sights and smells that tend to rear up at Gen Con. But it came back hard and in the end it was more than his body could handle.

Good news for fans of The Hedge Knight comic and graphic novel. George RR Martin has just signed an agreement with the DB Pro for a follow-up series, a full-color comics adaption of the second Dunk and Egg novella, "The Sworn Sword."

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Borders, Cincinnati OH, 2 p.m.

Alan Lee (Lord of the Rings Sketchbook) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 2 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for October 29, 2005

Marvel Comics to publish Dark Tower Comic Books:

Stephen is working with Marvel to produce a series of comic books inspired by and adapted from his Dark Tower novels. The first six issues will appear monthly starting in April 2006 and then will be collected in a hardcover volume published by Marvel in time for the 2006 holidays. The comics will integrate scenes from the novels with new material, creating a linear history of Roland Deschain as a young man.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Borders, Santa Cruz CA, 4 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Borders, Tigard OR, 7 p.m.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Borders, Madison WI, 2 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Powell's, Beaverton OR, 1 p.m.

Alan Cole and Kate Elliot appear at Autumncon, Salt Lake City UT

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Books and Breakfast, London, ON 9:00 am

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Book Express, Cambridge, ON 1:30 pm

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Chapters, Kitchener, ON 4:00 pm