[COVER ART] Marjorie M. Liu’s DARKNESS CALLS & A WILD LIGHT (UK)

UK cover art for Marjorie M. Liu’s Darkness Calls and A Wild Light.

Darkness Calls Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
A Wild Light Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

[REVIEW] Better Off Alone – Yolanda Sfetsos

Yolanda Sfetsos
Better Off Alone (eBook)
Damnation Books (1st December 2009)
Buy (Worldwide)

The zombies have taken over. With her mother now gone, the only friend Nell still has is Todd, and though he’s only a suburb over, battling zombies in order to rescue Todd may not be worth it. Then again, staying with her new-found group of survivors isn’t ideal, either – particularly because of the way they’ve kept themselves alive.

The plot is a cracker, but because the story is so short it only skims the surface of this post-apocalyptic zombie world. The survivors’ tactics are both depraved yet understandable, but Better Off Alone doesn’t supply much in the way of characterisation. However, should Yolanda Sfetsos craft a full-length zombie novel, that would be a real treat.

Thanks to Kat!

Thanks to Kat at Book Thingo, who taught me how to restore a previous version of a post, you can now read Books I Found via Goldfrapp

Books I Found via Goldfrapp

Normally I don’t bother to tell you how certain books end up on my wishlist, because chances are they’re from the same sources that you learn about books new to you. Today’s finds call for special attention.

It’s no secret that Goldfrapp is one of my most favourite bands. Whether sounding futuristic or totally at one with nature, all four of their albums are strong and evocative. At first, I didn’t quite connect with Felt Mountain, but it grew on me with each listen.

In Alison’s December 23 blog entry, she discusses the lyrics in “Utopia” (from Felt Mountain), and mentions The Faber Book of Utopias, edited by John Carey.

Then whilst searching for the name of the director for the “Utopia” filmclip (Dylan Kendle), Goldfrapp’s Wikipedia page mentioned the ’70s British horror film, The Wicker Man. I don’t have the attention spam to watch films in my own home (the cinema or bust), so I looked for books. Robin Hardy and Anthony Shaffer’s The Wicker Man was first published in 1978, based on the film Anthony Shaffer wrote loosely based on David Pinner’s 1967 novel The Ritual. In 2006, Robin Hardy also published Cowboys for Christ, a connected novel, though not necessarily a sequel.

Americans remade The Wicker Man film in the ’00s, but Robin Hardy wisely distanced himself from it.

Triple J Hottest 100 – My Votes

These are the ten songs I’ve voted for in the Triple J Hottest 100, in no particular order. Some of the links may not work for certain countries – legal reasons or whatever. Enjoy!

Calvin Harris – Ready for the Weekend
Daniel Merriweather – Change (feat. Wale)
Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls
Grinspoon – Comeback
Jet – She’s a Genius
Kasabian – Fire
Kasabian – Underdog
Little Boots – New in Town
Peaches – Talk to Me
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll

[COVER ART] Jes Battis’s INHUMAN RESOURCES & Rachel Caine’s KISS OF DEATH (UK)

US cover for Jes Battis’s Inhuman Resources. Think Timothy Lantz made the art. I see an angel, and Tess’s outfit coordinates rather well with the background. Good times! Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

The second image is the UK cover for Rachel Caine’s Kiss of Death. Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

January 2010 Releases

Done with December 2009 Releases? Then get ordering these January 2010 Releases. For titles even further into the future, check my Reading Wishlist. As always, this list doesn’t include everything, release dates may change, etc. US, Canada, UK and Australia represented.

[REVIEW] Bleed – Laurie Faria Stolarz

Laurie Faria Stolarz
Bleed
Disney Hyperion (US: 22nd April 2008)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

Nicole tries to snare her longtime crush, who’s also the boyfriend of one of her best friends. Maria’s desperate to connect with others on a very intimate level, but her psyche needs help the most. Kelly starts a relationship over a handful of years, but now it’s too real. Sadie’s mother may insist that she’s trying to help the eleven-year-old, but she’s pushed her daughter too far. Robby loves too much, bringing about another downfall. Ginger wants revenge, but that doesn’t guarantee inner peace. Joy wants to make her own happy ending, even at the expense of someone else’s.

These depressing related vignettes or short stories, as well as three others, explore friendship, family, identity and sex via very effed-up people in Salem and California. Each messed in their own way, Kelly Pickerel disturbs me most because of the particular relationship she initiates and continues. She comes to her senses at last, but her story is still a scary journey. Sadie Dubinski’s is the most affecting, though there’s blood in every tale.

[COVER ART] Black Magic Sanction (UK) – Kim Harrison

Forgot to post this with the batch. UK cover of Kim Harrison’s Black Magic Sanction. Remember, kids, strapless tops aren’t suitable for wearing whilst running.

10 New Covers

10 new covers behind the cut. Here are the details:

Kylie Chan: Red Phoenix (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Sara Creasy: Song of Scarabaeus Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Vicki Pettersson: Cheat the Grave Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Kim Harrison: Black Magic Sanction (US) Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Susan Beth Pfeffer: Life As We Knew It (UK) Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Susan Beth Pfeffer: The Dead and the Gone (UK) Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Jennifer Armintrout: Possession (UK) Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Kelley Armstrong: Bitten (UK) Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
Kelley Armstrong: Stolen (UK) Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)
M. J. Rose: The Hypnotist Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA)