It’s 2007 and I thought I’d start a new feature at FBS with the New Year, as perhaps after having a couple years under our belts maybe people might actually care what we – as individuals - think may be lucrative reading experiences or at very least what we look forward to wagering our own time on. I think with the choices you will see the charming aspect at Fantasybookspot.com – there is no shared platform, there is no loud adopted stance, there is no common cause or sense – we revel in unfamiliarity, we choose our own posse - one of less poses - and we don’t really like each other. It’s the world as it should be.

I’m going to go through some titles I’m looking forward to this year, and while not nearly as comprehensive of my undertaking last year, I dare say with some added new voices at FBS, you won’t find yourself lacking; less volume, but more angles, which means more targets to throw stuff at if led astray. In some cases I asked some of the authors of these books - walking the plank style - why they think they should even be on this list, and despite finding out who was asking, I got some replies back. Enjoy…

My defacto ‘obsession’ book every year is whatever book is scheduled to be forthcoming from George R.R. Martin. I came up epic minded, and although a form rightfully beaten down for the crimes against the literary establishment, Martin is the proud torch of what is still the publishing flagship sub-genre from a SF/F point of view. While coming off what is without doubt his weakest effort in his continuing A Song of Ice and Fire sequence in A Feast for Crows, A Dance of Dragons features the return to some of his more popular characters, including a personal favorite of mine, Tyrion Lannister, who for me already resides in the pantheon with the likes of Jerry Cornelius, Steerpike, Corwin, Severian etc. If somebody can find an author that has an understanding of POV’s and juggles them with the diversity and consistency that Martin does give that guy a Hugo – wait a minute - how about giving Martin one first, the one Harry stole will do. I’m still hopeful for a 2007 publishing date, but not optimistic.

There were two e-controversial books last year in terms of being subjects of how readers viewed them. Both have sequels this year, and both are appearing on my list. The first, I’m reading now, Hal Duncan’s Ink, the sequel to his 2005 debut, Vellum. While a mixture of two great drinks doesn’t necessitate great taste, I have come to the conclusion that one-part Moorcock, and one-part Finnegan’s Wake, taken with trepidation or not will still get you bent. Some prefer the bubbly, others a six-pack, - but instead of showing a lack of vision Neo, take both the blue and red books – and get high on The Book of All Hours. If anybody is familiar with Hal’s blog you know him to be a bit shy, understated, and reserved in what he shares with us. I figured this piece needed those qualities so I asked Hal, “Why Ink?”…

“If you thought Vellum was fucked-up, Ink kicks off from that and ramps themadness up to eleven, with a Harlequin play retelling of The Bacchae, zeppelins over Sodom, and more weird shit like that. If Vellum hurt your head, this’ll crack it wide open and dance on the pieces.” - Hal Duncan

The SF/F community loves Michael Chabon because he has achieved great success and is actually a writer who possesses a skill-set doesn’t make us cringe – and we know these two characteristics don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand in our community. We love claiming him, and I’m no different and thus his The Yiddish Policeman’s Union makes a repeat appearance from last year’s list. The Jewish permanent home in the great white north, not Israel? Someone call Mel. The rest of us can’t wait for the next book from the guy that won a Pulitzer off a book based on comic books Punktown represent! Jeffrey Thomas has quietly (yet loudly) put together one of my favorite fictional locales in previous efforts like Punktown, Monstrocity, and Everybody Scream, and under the newly formed Solaris Book, 2007 will bring us his latest, Deadstock. All fans of SF or Horror should not hesitate – a trip to Paxton is as conversational as one to Ambergris or Bas-Lag.

Right when I’m putting the finishing touches on my manuscript Un Jap An, and here comes the wen on arse bloke stealing my thunder. It’s not Bas-Lag, it’s Un Lun Dun and has the look of a mievillesque-neverwhere, either way hide the looking glass – scary reflections seem likely even when China writes one for the kiddies – and start treating your umbrellas with respect people. Some how,while it still may not be cool to be a SF/F it is in fact cool to be a China fan - and that’s a mean trick.

Every year I have my share of debuts on my list. It’s the past comic book speculator in me and last year proved to be a pretty promising year for debuts from the likes of Daniel Abraham, Scott Lynch, Tobias Buckell, and Tamar Yellin, among others and my early rookie of the year candidate is Chris Barzak’s One for Sorrow. Quidam no more - the Tomio has an eye for things like this, and just in case you don’t believe me I asked Chris to explain to you why I’m right:

“For every copy of One for Sorrow that is bought, another angel gets its wings. For every copy left gathering dust on its bookstore shelf, another writer gets thrown back into a bar (probably not one of his own choice unfortunately) or, thinking positively, back into a karaoke parlor (if he does have a choice in the matter at all). On top of this highly moral imperative, the novel has ghosts that eat words and others that kill their own parents every morning. There’s also an abandoned Amish logging camp in the book. Come on. How often do you see one of those in fiction?” - Chris Barzak

As I wrap up Orphan Tales: In The Night Garden, it becomes increasingly apparent that Catherynne M. Valente’s follow up In the Cities of Coin and Spice had a destined spot on my shelf. There is something oddly familiar about a girl who makes us want to sustain her for telling us stories. There is indeed truth in tall tales – at the same time hideous and beautiful, and always honest, except when lying. Well, I found another reason to bother Catherynne and she hit me back with:

“Fairy tales for those tired of endless maidens in endless towers and endless heroes battling endless dragons, In the Cities of Coin and Spice is the completion of The Orphan’s Tales cycle–all questions answered, all tales told. Now with 80% more harpies, ghost-cities, mutilations, psychopomps, automatons, hedgehogs, chemical warfare, djinn, leprosy, turtle-geniuses, lizard-calculus, unicorns, poisoners, eunuchs, manticore, sirens, lost little girls, and yes, explosions. This is the book of fire and storms–don’t miss it.” - Catherynne M. Valente

Turtle Geniuses? Talk to me Cat!

More Locke Lamora. Scott Lynch’s Red Seas Under Red Skies follows up his Lies of Locke Lamora which finally illuminated us to this odd occurrence quirk of the SF/F community. If a book causes Non-committee sanctioned excitement in the greater online fandom – it must be a conspiracy. Rarely does a new series or author inspire this type of loyalty. Criticism is often accepted of even bellowed book, but detractors of Lynch’s debut drew the quickest FU and middle finger I have ever seen – and I love them for it.

That’s the Lynch Mob, baby – now that you heard, next time at least act like you know.

Throughout middle school and high school a group of my friends within a greater circle were half-Asian (as am I) and we had the rights to the term O.C. before some lames decided tarnish the name forever by making it the brand for a dumbass television show. The real O.C. – the Oriental Connection – was known from playground blacktops, to the head of the class, to smoke-filled corners at parties, and whispered about for there proficiency in Tecmo Bowl and 007, and thus it’s only justice that the Japanese get some mention and Haruki Murakami’s After Dark looks to offer some of that introspective zaniness that we enjoy in previous efforts like The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Witching Hour in Tokyo!

Ever since reading of the siblings Shriek, The Zamillion File has been on my mental hit list as more is divulged that makes it possible (according to that Jeff Vandermeer guy) that even I could be in Ambergris! Me! Well, I guess you as well - but more importantly me!. So, I’m all excited but I find out we won’t see this in 2007, but dude is excited about his contribution to an anthology he is a part of which features those types who crowd my bookshelves like Moorcock, Theodora Goss, Hal Duncan, Tim Pratt, Jay Lake, Anna Tambour, and Daniel Abraham + more with John Klima’s Logorrhea. I contacted Jeff to get the inside scoop on why we need this book, and I got back the type of info about his contribution - Appoggiatura - that shows why I’m one of SF/F’s leading journalists:

“Because you get 26 stories in one. Because you’ll have 26 adventures in the space of only about 40 pages. Because if you don’t enjoy it I will cry like a little baby.” - Jeff VanderMeer or perhaps the Evil Monkey, but I don’t believe it cries

Just give me the Pulitzer already. Forget about it.

It looks like Lucius Shepard – author of the very useful standard Shannara opinion – has a new book entitled Softspoken. Shepard is one of those authors that offers the book-buying consumer and prospective writers a chance to emulate authors, because I swear to you Shepard is one of those writers whose books get jumped on by other writers to see what they could be doing to refine their game or are ignored by others over guilt of their inadequacy. The description of the book includes world like peyote, baroque puzzles, madness, and ghostly – that has to be a potentially quality read or a Dean Koontz book and since I have told you it’s a Shepard book, you need not fear the latter.

There are a couple more books that I’m not sure about in regards to release, but I feel need to be mentioned. Neuropath by R. Scott Bakker – I have read some of it, it’s the surest thing of whatever year it comes out. I’m not sure how much I can really say about it, but this is just as gangster a SF effort as his Prince of Nothing was in Fantasy – which is basically the epic sub-genre’s greatest accomplishment * dodges Aiglos *. If Scott went up a mountain and scribbled some shit on tablets I’d worship the guy (a Canadian!). Caine Black Knife – this was on my list last year as well – from Matthew Stover who wrote the definitive Anakin and the criminally under appreciated Blade of Tyshalle, featuring the exploits of Hari Michaelson, the character other SF/F characters are both scared of and have been scared to be.

Now that I’m done rambling - I’m Jay Tomio and I talk to much - back to the fortress of solitude for me – and here are some choices by the FBS la Familia:

Damon - My choice for the book I am looking forward to in 2007 is The Wanderer’s Tale by David Bilsborough. This is a going out on a limb pick for me since this is a debut for Bilsborough. The book looks to have a lot of pieces to the puzzle that usually make up an enjoyable book for me. A large group of heroes in a dark lands with the fate of the world in the balance. Some of the more recent epic fantasy tales have not had enough magic to make me happy and it seems The Wanderer’s Tale will change that. Mage-Priests, Giants, Sorcerers, swords of strange design, you can sign me up.

Steve – I’m looking forward to Saturn Returns by Sean Williams. I’ve read an excerpt and it looks very promising. He’s a writer who’s getting better and better, plus he’s an Australian. It’s the first in the Astropolis series, and includes themes that I love - like ancient artefacts.

Paul - Ragamuffin by Tobias Buckell because it seems to be a total flip from his debut, Crystal Rain, this novel focuses more on a sci-fi spin rather than a living, cultural world filled with Aztec-like warriors. Plus, well, the title has the word muffin in it, and if you don’t like muffins well there’s something wrong with you

Patrick - The book that I am most looking forward to in 2007 is Shadowstorm by Paul S. Kemp.

The second piece of Kemp’s Twilight War Trilogy is set to be released in August of 2007, but that does not deter fans from fantasizing about what Kemp has in store for Sembia as it toils with civil war. Erevis Cale, who was first introduced in The Erevis Cale Trilogy, is rising on my list of “Most Readable Characters”. Cale is easy to empathize with as we saw his inner struggles consume him, and watching him use his shade (one of the most underrated classification types) abilities is simply awesome. The anticipation grows only stronger as one of Kemp’s greatest strength’s lies in his writing prowess. There were scenes in Shadowbred, first portion of the Twilight War Trilogy, where the tension was portrayed so well that the hairs on the back of my hands gleefully vibrated in anticipation of turning the page to see what was going to happen next. It is like he puts the reader in the room and they are watching the scene unfold like a movie.

I feel Paul S. Kemp’s books may unfortunately be passed over due to being tagged with Forgotten Realms, but through Shadowstorm – and the continuation of the Twilight War Trilogy – I fully expect his name to be brought up more often as one of the truly talented writers in fantasy today.

KCF - 2007 will bring us the seventh installment in Steven Erikson’s epic Malazan series - Reaper’s Gale. Book 6, The Bonehunters, is a book of transition - moving people from point A to C (with a stop at point B) - Reaper’s Gale will be the convergence of plots and characters. It’s arguably the best fantasy series being written right now and I’m foaming at the mouth to read the next installment.

Vellum by Hal Duncan is the best debut novel I’ve probably ever read and was hands down the best book I’ve read in the last several years. The skill, talent, and cynical humor apparent in Duncan’s prose combined with the stylistic construction are something new to me. I eagerly anticipate that the follow-up, Ink, will meet and exceed this.

Matt Denault - Beagle has called 1993’s The Innkeeper’s Song his first “grown-up novel” and 2007’s Summerlong will, 14 years later, be his second. No other author integrates real, authentic characters with fundamentally human concerns into thoroughly fantastic plots and settings the way that Beagle does; no other author is as adept at creating their own symbols and archetypes, rather than reusing those of others. It should be a treat to read Beagle working his magic now in this more practiced, “grown-up” context.

Brian Lindenmuth - Dennis Lehane’s as of yet unnamed novel about the Boston Police Strike of 1919. This is the book that I’m most looking forward to in 2007, assuming it actually comes out. It is scheduled for a fall 07 release but everyone, including Lehane, is tight lipped on this. Not much is known about Lehane’s newest book except to say that it is taking him a long time to write. In mystery circles this is probably the most highly anticipated book because here we are at the end of another year and it still hasn’t appeared. But outside of genre circles this is a hotly anticipated title also given Lehane’s mainstream popularity with the success of Mystic River, both book and movie.

Discounting the short story collection that was released last year and has been met with mediocre reviews at best it has been 3+ years since his last novel. Previously he had published 7 novels in a 10-year period of time, with the longest gaps in between novels being two years.

Dropping the occasional vague hint in an almost top secret way it has been talked about by Lehane in interviews and elsewhere for years at this point, but he won’t give anything up except name, rank and serial number. The size and scope of the book seem to grow exponentially over the years in direct correlation to the rumors and speculation. At last count the rumored text was 800 pages and the number has grown over the years. The scope of the book originally started out as just a few years but is now speculated to encompass 80 years and two families.

The kicker though is that NOBODY but God and Lehane knows at this point.

The release date has been pushed back a few times at this point but the fall 2007 date seems to be sticking so far. So, I and many others wait with bated breath as we tiptoe closer to next fall in hopes that we won’t spook Lehane and send him and his 800 page monkey shuffling away deep into 2008.

and…

2) Priest, Cross, Ammunition and Once Were Cops - all by Ken Bruen

Bruen is an Irish author and as a part of his conquering of America there is a literal explosion of releases by him here as we catch up to the UK releases. Priest & Cross are books 5 & 6 of the Jack Taylor series. Ammunition is the final book in the Brant series. Once Were Cops, will be his second non series book following American Skin. Like I have said elsewhere, it is a great time right now for the reader who discovers Bruen because so much is readily available and there are multiple titles released each year as we in the U.S. play catch-up.

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Well there you are folks, some expert, blind recommendations from people you don’t know - and definitely the best you will find…maybe. If not, I leave you an offering by the aforementioned Matt D. who put it all in perspective, speaking on one of life’s truly great gifts, the unforeseen novel:

People are creatures of expectations. The “good” that we didn’t expect thrills us in a way that “good” where we expected greatness does not. How much better, then, the “great” that we didn’t expect? For that reason the book I’m most looking forward to in 2007 is the one that I didn’t see coming. Maybe it’ll be a new author, maybe it’ll be someone already published who does something more, different, than their existing works had led me to expect. Maybe the story will be something new and special, maybe it will be a product of ground that proves the old masters knew where the best crops could be grown. Either is a risk, and this book will acknowledge and embrace that risk, using the written word to present character, plot, theme and setting with assurance and style, in a manner self-contained and yet relevant. It’ll be one of the best books of the year, and I love the fact that right now I have no idea what it is.

Amen, my brother in protoculture.

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