FREE/BARGAIN — Science Fiction & Fantasy

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ $2.99 in the US only for today only (March 27th) from Open Road Media as one of their daily newsletter deals (couponable/VIP discount-eligible at Kobo, and matched at all the other usual retailers):

The Damiano Trilogy by Locus Award-winning author R. A. MacAvoy (ISFDB, Wikipedia), who was also the 1984 John W. Campbell Best New Writer Award recipient, her fantasy trilogy set during a Renaissance Italy with overtly-appearing angels and witches, originally published by Bantam in the 1980s. I got these from Fictionwise years ago while they were still out from e-Reads (later acquired from ORM), and found them a charming coming-of-age tale (though hopefully they've fixed the typos since then).

Omitting the blurbs for #2 & #3, since they contain significant character/plot outcome spoilers.

An alternate-history fantasy of faith and wizardry set during the Italian Renaissance from the author of Tea with the Black Dragon.

Discover three novels of magic—light and dark—from a winner of the John W. Campbell and Philip K. Dick awards.

In Damiano, our hero is Damiano Dalstrego, a wizard’s son, an alchemist, and the heir to dark magics. But he is also an innocent, a young scholar and musician befriended by the Archangel Raphael, who instructs him in the lute. To save his beloved city from war, Damiano leaves his cloistered life and sets out on a pilgrimage, seeking the aid of a powerful sorceress as he walks the narrow path between light and shadow, accompanied only by his talking dog. But his road is filled with betrayal, disillusionment, and death . . .

MacAvoy also has another ORM sale book for $1.99 which is available in Canada and has no definite end date (probably just until the end of the month):

The Book of Kells originally out from Bantam Spectra 1985 and placed 2nd on the Locus Awards for Best Fantasy Novel. This is a standalone time-travel fantasy bringing two modern characters to Viking invasion-era Ireland (approx 9th or 10th century Dublin, IIRC), and it's another one I bought and read way back when and quite enjoyed and would recommend.

A contemporary couple journeys back in time to ancient Ireland in this delightful fantasy by the author of Tea with the Black Dragon.

John Thornburn is an artist, mild-mannered and nonviolent. To make ends meet, he teaches some courses in Celtic design. And although his background is half Micmac Indian, he lives in Ireland for two reasons: his far more confrontational and warrior-like girlfriend, Derval O’Keane, and his fascination with the beautiful illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kells.

But he’s about to take a journey to a far more distant place, one that he could not have imagined. Along with Derval, John will find himself in an ancient Celtic realm, where a Viking attack begs to be avenged and a fantastic—and sometimes terrifying—adventure awaits . . .

From a master of magical fantasy, the author of the Damiano Trilogy and a winner of the John W. Campbell Award, this is a tale of warriors, love, danger, and Irish history that will cast a spell on anyone who dreams of discovering treasures in long-lost worlds.

[maddz]

Pamela Belle The Wolf Within (The Silver City Trilogy bk 2) is currently a 99p countdown deal on Amazon.co.uk:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Within...674559&sr=1-69

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ $1.99 from assorted HarperCollins & Penguin imprints in Canada & presumably also the US (linkage goes to Kobo, should be the same price at other retailers):

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, a contemporary fantasy set in the same world as American Gods. His The Ocean at the End of the Lane is also still $1.99.
Shadow of a Dark Queen by Raymond E. Feist (Wikipedia), 1st in his Serpentwar Saga subseries of epic fantasy within his long-running popular Riftwar Cycle.
The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker (ISFDB), a standalone urban portal fantasy which ISFDB says placed 4th for Locus Award for Best First Novel.

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ $1.99 from HarperCollins' HarperVoyager imprint in Canada & presumably also the US (linkage goes to Kobo, should be the same price at all the other retailers):

The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (Wikipedia), 1st in her Queens of Renthia series of epic fantasy set in a tree-dwelling humans amidst elemental nature magic world. I read this just a couple of days ago from the library's copy, and really liked it (and it was $11.99 CAD when I went to put it on my wishlist), so I'm pleased to see it drop so quickly.

Despite what the one Kobo reviewer says, it's not actually a YA, though it is YA-compatible. More of a New Adult with some mature themes, but non-explicit levels of sexuality and carnage. Wikipedia says that the American Library Association gave this their 2017 Alex Award for “ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18”.

A Tor.com Best of 2016 pick!

Set in the magical world of Renthia, The Queen of Blood is Sarah Beth Durst’s ambitious entry into adult epic fantasy. With the danger of Peter Brett’s The Warded Man, heart of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, and lyricism of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind, this is the first chapter in a series destined to be a classic.

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

Also @ $1.99 from HarperCollins' decidedly YA HarperTeen imprint:

Sabriel by Garth Nix (Wikipedia), 1st in his excellent Old Kingdom series. This is pretty cheap for the 1st one, but I've never seen #2-4 drop from the $10-$12 asking price and there's an omnibus edition of #1-4 which sometimes goes to $15.99 CAD on sale. IIRC the UK editions from a different publisher are couponable, though, and sometimes go fairly cheap on sale.

[Keslynn]

The Fireman by Joe Hill is only $1.99. Excellent book.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013C5M08O/

[maddz]

Peter Morwood: The Golden Horde (Tales of Old Russia bk3) is currently free on Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Hord...=peter+morwood

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by maddz

Peter Morwood: The Golden Horde (Tales of Old Russia bk3) is currently free on Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Hord...=peter+morwood

and...

Amazon US
Amazon CA

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free thread for some new bundles:

StoryBundle's The A. I . Bundle is curated by author Lisa Mason, and contains backlist novels by Mason, Linda Nagata, Walter Jon Williams, as well as few newer works by additional contributors and two anthologies.

The Humble Book Bundle The Horus Heresy presented by Black Library contains mostly tie-in novels for the popular Warhammer sci-fantasy RPG setting, plus a few audio dramas, and some other things.

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ $1.99 for today only (March 29th) from Tachyon Publications at Amazon only (from experience, they don't run these price-drop promos in other stores, although Kobo has been pretty good about price-matching them upon request) as one of the Kindle Daily Deals in Canada & US:

The Very Best of Tad Williams by popular epic fantasy author Tad Williams (ISFDB, Wikipedia), his 2014 retrospective collection of short stories. Kobo linkage for price-match if you want ePub.

Within these pages you will find such delightful and curious things as a strange storytelling vampire, two woefully-overmatched angels, a dragon in cahoots with a knight and a witch, an ineptly duplicitous fish, the loyal robot butler of Werner Von Secondstage Booster, and the Greatest Wizard of All (disputed).

From his epic fantasy series, including Memory Sorrow and Thorn—which George R. R. Martin cited as an inspiration for Game of Thrones—to the classic novel Tailchaser’s Song, Tad Williams has mastered every genre he has set his pen to. Here are the stories that showcase the exhilarating breadth of Williams’ imagination, hearkening back to such classic fantasists as J. R. R. Tolkien, Ray Bradbury, Peter S. Beagle, and beyond. Whether you are a devoted reader of his longer works, already a devotee of his short fiction, or even new to his writing entirely, The Very Best of Tad Williams is the perfect place to discover one of the most talented and versatile authors writing at any length today.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by maddz

Peter Morwood: The Golden Horde (Tales of Old Russia bk3) is currently free on Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Hord...=peter+morwood

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

and...

Amazon US
Amazon CA

Does anybody know if one has to read the first 2 before reading this 3rd one? It looks interesting, but I'd rather start with a free one, to see if I like it!

[maddz]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Does anybody know if one has to read the first 2 before reading this 3rd one? It looks interesting, but I'd rather start with a free one, to see if I like it!

No idea, sorry. I have a vague memory of reading them in DTE when they were in print but can't remember if you ought to read the others first.

The other 2 have been previous freebies - Venture Press are slowly digitising OOP titles from the 80s and 90s and often releasing them as a freebie initially. Their offerings seem to feature in the countdown deals quite often as well (I picked up Robert Don Hughes, Juanita Coulson and am waiting for the 3rd Pamela Belle). It's worth signing up for the newsletter.

[ZodWallop]

The first three books in Bob Mayer's military sci-fi series Area 51: The Nightstalkers is on sale. A buck a piece, or $2.70 if you buy all three: Amazon US

[gbm]

Decisively Engaged (Warp Marine Corps Book 1) by C.J. Carella Amazon
I have read this book and enjoyed it----military space opera.

(Book Four Debut Sale: To celebrate the debut of In Dread Silence, the fourth book of the Warp Marine Corps series, Decisively Engaged will be on sale for $0.99 until April 3rd!)

Spoiler:

(WARNING: Contains violence, strong language and adult content)

They picked a fight with the wrong species.

A NATION AT WAR: The United Stars of America. Born in the conflagration of unprovoked alien attack, the newest entrant to galactic politics took the few crumbs of hypertech gifted to it and ran with them, soon expanding over dozens of star systems and establishing a wide trade network, protected by its powerful Navy and the dreaded Warp Marines.

A FIGHT TO THE DEATH: A single Marine platoon, tasked with protecting an embassy on a hostile alien planet. An embassy – and the human enclave around it – that soon finds itself surrounded by armed mobs. Can the Marines and a ragtag band of civilian and Navy personnel survive long enough to be rescued?

In Dread Silence (Warp Marine Corps Book 4) by C.J. Carella Amazon

On sale until on sale for $0.99 until April 3rd.

I have read and enjoyed the first three books in this series--military space opera.

Spoiler:

(WARNING: Contains violence, strong language and adult content)

A mission to a forgotten planet. A disgraced admiral facing an implacable foe. And on the forefront of battle, the dread Warp Marines.

As the greatest power in the galaxy launches a major offensive into human space, a small expedition ventures into the unknown, searching for a weapon that may turn the tide for the beleaguered United Stars of America. But will digging around the lost ruins of an ancient - and evil - civilization provide the answers the US needs, or bring destruction to the entire galaxy?

Books two No Price Too High and book three Advance to Contact are on sale for $2.99 until April 3rd.

If you liked the Starfist series or The Sten Chronicles series give this one a look.

bernie

[ATDrake]

X-link to the Non-Fiction megathread for Tolkien fans:

The authorized biography J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter, and the reading companion guide Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" by Corey Olsen are both on sale for $2.99 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, if you're interested. Also, there's a C. S. Lewis religious title.

[Dngrsone]

Darn it, stop giving me excuses to buy ebooks! ;p