7 New Covers (Armstrong, Arthur, Caine, Cooper, Cross, Edwards, Ryan)

Penguin Books Australia – BTL Live

Marie Lu
Legend
Penguin (AU: 28th November 2011; US & CA: 29th November 2011; UK: 2nd February 2012)
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Once known as the western coast of the United States, the Republic is now a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors, the Colonies. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a military prodigy. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country, she is being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest circles. Born into the slums of the Republic’s Lake Sector, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered, and Day becomes the prime suspect. Now, caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June tries desperately to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets.

Gabrielle Williams
The Reluctant Hallelujah
Penguin (AU: 22nd February 2012)
When Dodie’s parents go missing just as final year exams are about to start, she convinces herself they’re fine. But when the least likely boy in class holds the key – quite literally – to the huge secret her parents have been hiding all these years, it’s up to Dodie, her sister, the guy from school, and two guys she’s never met before, to take on the challenge of a lifetime. So now Dodie’s driving – unlicensed – to Sydney, and being chased by bad guys, the police, and one very handsome good guy.

Sunday 11th December 2011
Penguin Books Australia – BTL Live

According to Legend author Marie Lu, her second novel will share what’s going on in the world outside her dystopian US. Sea levels have risen, so does that put Australia underwater? Well, the country’s separated into East and West. Makes sense – sometimes in history, Western Australia was considering forming their own country.

Gabrielle Williams‘s The Reluctant Hallelujah features SPOILERS:

Dear Book Biz Santa

Dear Book Biz Santa,

I don’t officially work in the biz; I’m just a reader, reviewer, and blogger. My wish is simple but will make a massive, positive change, should you choose to grant it – and you bloody well should.

I simply want to use PayPal to buy eBooks in PDF format, with no geographical restrictions.

I don’t have a credit card, and my debit card is just for ATM withdrawals. Can’t use cash on the Internet, so PayPal is ideal. I already use it for eBay and Book Depository purchases; now I want to use it for eBooks.

And yes, PDF format, because the other formats involve having to download software. (Do you remember dial-up Internet? I certainly do. Dark days, Santa.) TXT, HTM, DOC, RTF – these are also excellent. Reluctantly, I’ll also be okay with Adobe Digital Editions, though it’s a pain in the arse because I do all my reading on a laptop, but the Internet only works on it if I physically plug it into the main PC. Yeah, our wi-fi isn’t working. Also, PDFs and whatnot have no expiry dates. Adobe Digital Editions often do (well, the ones I download via NetGalley do).

Thing is, Book Biz Santa, I live in Australia. Not exactly a third-world country, but some eBooks have geographical restrictions so we Aussies can’t download them. It probably means that foreign rights (Australian/Commonwealth/whatnot) haven’t been sold, so we can’t access these eBooks. This is one of many reasons why print books are ideal – I can easily buy a copy from Book Depository, and get free worldwide postage. (By the way, Santa, I’m worried that now Amazon has bought Book Depository, they might take away that free worldwide postage and ability to pay with PayPal. And thus they’ll lose my business.)

There are so many people who’d love to buy eBooks, but can’t. The progression of technology has created a greater divide between the “haves” and the “have nots”. So many of us can’t afford eReaders and tablets and phones. But a simple format with a simple way to pay available to as many countries as possible will attract more customers, and more money going into the book biz can only be a good thing. We want to help you, but you have to help us help you.

You know it makes sense, Book Biz Santa.

All the best,

Tez Miller
Melbourne, Australia

http://tezmilleroz.wordpress.com

Lars von Trier’s MELANCHOLIA (2011)

Written & directed by Lars von Trier
Melancholia
DVD (UK: 23rd January 2012; US & CA: 13th March 2012)
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I like the astrophysics in Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Glow, and Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It is spookily atmospheric. The universe may be deadly but it is beautiful, as Melancholia confirms. Lars von Trier wrote and directed the 2011 film, which combines two of my big interests: mental illness and science.

In the super slow-motion prologue, visual representations of the characters’ emotions precede a space-perspective of a giant planet colliding with, and thus destroying, Earth.

Part 1 of the film proper focuses on Justine, mostly during her wedding reception at her sister’s mansion. Claire makes Justine promise not to make a scene, so we know the bride’s depression is ongoing.

The reception is tedious, so Justine often escapes: Tucking her nephew into bed, working (images in the books also appear in the prologue), bathing, shagging a new employee, bitching about her boss to his face. Her bridegroom leaves.

In Part 2, she barely makes it to the mansion to stay with Claire. Justine doesn’t leave her bed unless physically forced. She can’t bathe or feed herself. Then her nephew Leo brings her a laptop showing Melancholia, the planet due to “fly by” – but not collide with – Earth. Scientists publicly claim that; so does astronomer John to his fearful, unconvinced wife Claire.

Melancholia interests unafraid Justine. Everything’s eventual, and if the world’s end is due within days, so be it. She spends more time outside, in the rogue planet’s blue light – she is calm.

Claire panics as Melancholia approaches, until it retreats. The collision hasn’t occurred…but then the planet nears again. John and the other scientists lied, or “miscalculated”. He ends his life before the planetary collision can. Claire’s anxiety worsens, and soon the roles reverse – she is mentally fragile and desperately needs help, so Justine takes charge, building with Leo a “magic cave”. They hold hands inside the improvised tepee; Claire and Leo shut-eyed, but Justine watches the world end. Despite Earth’s obliteration, it’s a kind of happy ending.

The Earth-set Armageddon concept is perfect for me. In speculative fiction, the non-spec elements must be real and relatable enough to hurt: the mental illness and sisterhood themes strike hard. Lars von Trier has mastered the craft of showing rather than telling. Melancholia is an enviable work of art, an unforgettable winner.

January 2012 Releases

Done with December 2011 Releases? Here are January 2012 Releases. To see future titles, check Reading Wishlist.

[REVIEW] Saint Valentine’s Day – Michele Lang

Michele Lang
Saint Valentine’s Day (short story) [eBook only]
(UK: 3rd December 2011; US: 4th December 2011)
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It’s Saint Valentine’s Day in futuristic New York, and all commuter Amy wants is to get to Long Island, where her three-year-old daughter waits at home. A friend warns her of a massacre going on at Penn Station, but then Amy’s train stops, and technology shuts down. Next, the carriage is invaded…

As the handful of surviving passengers make their way on foot out of the subway, they try to figure out what’s happened and why.

There are no concrete answers, which may frustrate readers demanding closure, but it’s a beautiful tale set in a dark world. Amy is easily relatable, trying to make the best out of a bad situation. Ronnie is world-weary, a feeling we all get. I liked Michele Lang’s time-travel story, The Walled Garden, but I love Saint Valentine’s Day more. She may be a novelist, but the author’s short stories are brilliant.

4 New Covers (Cremer, Dane, Revis, Smith-Ready)

Wolf Strap – Naomi Clark

Naomi Clark
Wolf Strap (short story in Queer Wolf anthology, edited by James E. M. Rasmussen)
Queered Fiction (US: 7th June 2009)
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Naomi Clark’s Wolf Strap is an absolute cracker of a short story, definitely one of the finest shorts I’ve read. The world-building is logical, and the titular crime committed is something I’ve never read about before. An unmissable, unique story. You can find it in Queered Fiction’s Queer Wolf anthology, edited by James E. M. Rasmussen.

[REVIEW] The Check Your Luck Agency – Cara d’Bastian

Cara d’Bastian
The Check Your Luck Agency (The Check Your Luck Agency, Book 1)
Sandal Press (US & UK: 6th October 2011)
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As the narrator tells us, the Check Your Luck Agency is a business that could only exist in Asia. Its agents investigate what’s causing clients’ bad or good luck.

Structurally, the novel is more like two stories instead of a whole. Early on, Ursula Formosa investigates a house that the client believes is haunted by her dead husband. In the latter, Ursula joins a television production about hauntings, whilst coming to terms with being able to see and communicate with ghosts.

And the structure is the book’s major problem. It would’ve worked better separated into two stories. As it is, they’re presented as one – though the investigations don’t intertwine. Also, there are back-stories presented as scenes, but they don’t connect with the storyline – see Deepak’s origin (to the agency) story. There are also unnecessary scenes wherein Ursula eats by herself. She goes off on tangents, too.

All that said, Ursula’s voice is likeable, but the novel’s highlight is clearly the setting. I’ve never been to any Asian country, but I could imagine Singapore and Malaysia quite easily, thanks to the author’s helpful descriptions. I’d love to read more set in the cities.

An alternative to Nury Vittachi’s The Feng Shui Detective and Alexander McCall Smith’s The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency, Cara d’Bastian’s The Check Your Luck Agency is a cosy mystery that’s the first in a series. Return of the Hantu is coming soon.

10 New Covers (Armstrong, Brewer, Elrod, Guran, Hart, Pettersson, Rose, Tentler, Vincent)