Help us select the next book that the Mobile Read book club will read for July 2011.
The nominations will run through Jun 28 or until 10 books have made the list.
Voting (new poll thread) will run for 5 days starting Jun 28.
Book selection category for July per the "official" club opening thread is:
July 2011
Fantasy (trees/magic)
In order for a book to be included in the poll it needs THREE NOMINATIONS (original nomination, a second and a third).
How Does This Work?
The Mobile Read Book Club (MRBC) is an informal club that requires nothing of you. Each month a book is selected by polling. On the last week of that month a discussion thread is started for the book. If you want to participate feel free. There is no need to "join" or sign up. All are welcome.
How Does a Book Get Selected?
Each book that is nominated will be listed in a pool at the end of the nomination period. The book that polls the most votes will be the official selection.
How Many Nominations Can I Make?
Each participant has 3 nominations. You can nominate a new book for consideration or nominate (second, third) one that has already been nominated by another person.
How Do I Nominate a Book?
Please just post a message with your nomination. If you are the FIRST to nominate a book, please try to provide an abstract to the book so others may consider their level of interest.
How Do I Know What Has Been Nominated?
Just follow the thread. This message will be updated with the status of the nominations as often as I can. If one is missed, please just post a message with a multi-quote of the 3 nominations and it will be added to the list ASAP.
When is the Poll?
The poll thread will open at the end of the nomination period, or once there have been 10 books with 3 nominations each. At that time a link to the poll thread will be posted here and this thread will be closed.
Subjects: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction And Fantasy
Description: Born with green skin and huge teeth, like a dragon, the free-spirited Elphaba grows up to be an anti-totalitarian agitator, an animal-rights activist, a nun, then a nurse who tends the dying?and, ultimately, the headstrong Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. Maguire's strange and imaginative postmodernist fable uses L. Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a springboard to create a … more »tense realm inhabited by humans, talking animals (a rhino librarian, a goat physician), Munchkinlanders, dwarves and various tribes. The Wizard of Oz, emperor of this dystopian dictatorship, promotes Industrial Modern architecture and restricts animals' right to freedom of travel; his holy book is an ancient manuscript of magic that was clairvoyantly located by Madam Blavatsky 40 years earlier. Much of the narrative concerns Elphaba's troubled youth (she is raised by a giddy alcoholic mother and a hermitlike minister father who transmits to her his habits of loathing and self-hatred) and with her student years. Dorothy appears only near novel's end, as her house crash-lands on Elphaba's sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, in an accident that sets Elphaba on the trail of the girl from Kansas?as well as the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Lion?and her fabulous new shoes. Maguire combines puckish humor and bracing pessimism in this fantastical meditation on good and evil, God and free will, which should, despite being far removed in spirit from the Baum books, captivate devotees of fantasy. 50,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo; first serial to Word; author tour. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. YA?Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, has gotten a bum rap. Her mother is embarrassed and repulsed by her bright-green baby with shark's teeth and an aversion to water. At college, the coed experiences disapproval and rejection by her roommate, Glinda, a silly girl interested only in clothes, money, and popularity. Elphaba is a serious and inquisitive student. When she learns that the Wizard of Oz is politically corrupt and causing economic ruin, Elphaba finds a sense of purpose to her life?to stop him and to restore harmony and prosperity to the land. A Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and an unknown species called a "Dorothy" appear in very small roles... The story presents Elphaba in a sympathetic and empathetic manner-readers will want her to triumph! The conclusion, however, is the same as L. Frank Baum's. The book has both idealism and cynicism in its discussion of social, religious, educational, and political issues present in Oz, and, more pointedly, present in our day and time. The idealism is whimsical and engaging; the cynicism is biting. Sometimes the earthy language seems appropriate and adds to the sense of place; sometimes the four-letter words and sexual explicitness distract from the charm of the tale. The multiple threads to the plot proceed unevenly, so that the pace of the story jumps rather than moves steadily forward. Wicked is not an easy rereading of The Wizard of Oz. It is for good readers who like satire, and love exceedingly imaginative and clever fantasy.?Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. (from Amazon.com)
A Discovery of Witches: A Novel by Deborah Harkness [Hamlet53, John F, RiverY, maianhvk] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fiction, General Fantasy
Description: Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2011 : It all begins with a lost manuscript, a reluctant witch, and 1,500-year-old vampire. Dr. Diana Bishop has a really good reason for refusing to do magic: she is a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch Trials, and her parents cautioned her be discreet about her talents before they were murdered, presumably for having "too … more »much power." So it is purely by accident that Diana unlocks an enchanted long-lost manuscript (a book that all manner of supernatural creatures believe to hold the story of all origins and the secret of immortality) at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war. A sparkling debut written by a historian and self-proclaimed oenophile, A Discovery of Witches is heady mix of history and magic, mythology, and love (cue the aforementioned vampire!), making for a luxurious, intoxicating, one-sitting read. -- Daphne Durham In Harkness's lively debut, witches, vampires, and demons outnumber humans at Oxford's Bodleian Library, where witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted manuscript, attracting the attention of 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. The orphaned daughter of two powerful witches, Bishop prefers intellect, but relies on magic when her discovery of a palimpsest documenting the origin of supernatural species releases an assortment of undead who threaten, stalk, and harass her. Against all occult social propriety, Bishop turns for protection to tall, dark, bloodsucking man-about-town Clairmont. Their research raises questions of evolution and extinction among the living dead, and their romance awakens centuries-old enmities. Harkness imagines a crowded universe where normal and paranormal creatures observe a tenuous peace. "Magic is desire made real," Bishop says after both her desire and magical prowess exceed her expectations. Harkness brings this world to vibrant life and makes the most of the growing popularity of gothic adventure with an ending that keeps the Old Lodge door wide open. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. (from Amazon.com)
The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One by Patrick Rothfuss [voodooblues, John F, ficbot, Anarel] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
The riveting first-person narrative of a young man who grows to be the most notorious magician his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime- ridden city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard. It is a high-action novel written with a poet's hand, a powerful coming-of-age story of a magically gifted young man, told through his eyes: to read this book is to be the hero.(from BooksonBoard.com)
Storm Front: Book one of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher [siraks, Nyssa, Format C:] Inkmesh search
A Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin [sun surfer, maianhvk, VioletVal] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Science Fiction And Fantasy, Epic, Fiction
Description: Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin's magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already … more »hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin's stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction. (from Borders)
The Fairy Godmother (book 1 in Five Hundred Kingdoms series) by Mercedes Lackey [JSWolf, Nyssa, VioletVal] Inkmesh search
The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu [caleb72, sun surfer, Gronk] Baen WebScriptions |
Spoiler:
Subject: Science Fiction
Description: Among inhospitable and unforgiving seas stands Khalakovo, a mountainous archipelago of seven islands, its prominent eyrie stretching a thousand feet into the sky. Serviced by windships bearing goods and dignitaries, Khalakovo's eyrie stands at the crossroads of world trade. But all is not well in Khalakovo. Conflict has erupted between the ruling Landed, the indigenous Aramahn, and the … more »fanatical Maharraht, and a wasting disease has grown rampant over the past decade. Now, Khalakovo is to play host to the Nine Dukes, a meeting which will weigh heavily upon Khalakovo's future. When an elemental spirit attacks an incoming windship, murdering the Grand Duke and his retinue, Prince Nikandr, heir to the scepter of Khalakovo, is tasked with finding the child prodigy believed to be behind the summoning. However, Nikandr discovers that the boy is an autistic savant who may hold the key to lifting the blight that has been sweeping the islands. Can the Dukes, thirsty for revenge, be held at bay? Can Khalakovo be saved? The elusive answer drifts upon the Winds of Khalakovo... (from Baen WebScriptions)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman [jabberwock_11, sun surfer, drofgnal] Inkmesh search
The Voyage of the Minotaur by Wesley Allison [John F, Hamlet53, Moe The Cat] Smashwords | Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Fantasy Historical, Fantasy, Science Fiction - Adventure
Description: In a world of steam power and rifles, where magic has not yet been forgotten, an expedition sets out to found a colony in a lost world. The Voyage of the Minotaur is a story of adventure and magic, religion and prejudice, steam engines and dinosaurs, angels and lizardmen, machine guns and wizards, sorceresses, bustles and corsets, steam-powered computers, hot air balloons, and dragons. … more » (from Amazon.com)
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 1 by Michael Scott [siraks, lila55, JSWolf] Inkmesh search
Device: Sony 505| K Fire | KK 3G+Wi-Fi | iPhone 3Gs |Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF
Please let me know if you see any errors. Updated to post 47. If you are listed as the fourth person on a book, that doesn't count toward your 3 available nominations.
I will post the Inkmesh search link just for doing a quick availability check. You will need to check the site to make sure of the posted price & availability in your area.
We now have the 10 fully nominated books.
*A Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin [sun surfer, maianhvk, VioletVal] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Science Fiction And Fantasy, Epic, Fiction
Description: Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin's magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already … more »hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin's stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction. (from Borders)
Subjects: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction And Fantasy
Description: Born with green skin and huge teeth, like a dragon, the free-spirited Elphaba grows up to be an anti-totalitarian agitator, an animal-rights activist, a nun, then a nurse who tends the dying?and, ultimately, the headstrong Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. Maguire's strange and imaginative postmodernist fable uses L. Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a springboard to create a … more »tense realm inhabited by humans, talking animals (a rhino librarian, a goat physician), Munchkinlanders, dwarves and various tribes. The Wizard of Oz, emperor of this dystopian dictatorship, promotes Industrial Modern architecture and restricts animals' right to freedom of travel; his holy book is an ancient manuscript of magic that was clairvoyantly located by Madam Blavatsky 40 years earlier. Much of the narrative concerns Elphaba's troubled youth (she is raised by a giddy alcoholic mother and a hermitlike minister father who transmits to her his habits of loathing and self-hatred) and with her student years. Dorothy appears only near novel's end, as her house crash-lands on Elphaba's sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, in an accident that sets Elphaba on the trail of the girl from Kansas?as well as the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Lion?and her fabulous new shoes. Maguire combines puckish humor and bracing pessimism in this fantastical meditation on good and evil, God and free will, which should, despite being far removed in spirit from the Baum books, captivate devotees of fantasy. 50,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo; first serial to Word; author tour. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. YA?Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, has gotten a bum rap. Her mother is embarrassed and repulsed by her bright-green baby with shark's teeth and an aversion to water. At college, the coed experiences disapproval and rejection by her roommate, Glinda, a silly girl interested only in clothes, money, and popularity. Elphaba is a serious and inquisitive student. When she learns that the Wizard of Oz is politically corrupt and causing economic ruin, Elphaba finds a sense of purpose to her life?to stop him and to restore harmony and prosperity to the land. A Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and an unknown species called a "Dorothy" appear in very small roles... The story presents Elphaba in a sympathetic and empathetic manner-readers will want her to triumph! The conclusion, however, is the same as L. Frank Baum's. The book has both idealism and cynicism in its discussion of social, religious, educational, and political issues present in Oz, and, more pointedly, present in our day and time. The idealism is whimsical and engaging; the cynicism is biting. Sometimes the earthy language seems appropriate and adds to the sense of place; sometimes the four-letter words and sexual explicitness distract from the charm of the tale. The multiple threads to the plot proceed unevenly, so that the pace of the story jumps rather than moves steadily forward. Wicked is not an easy rereading of The Wizard of Oz. It is for good readers who like satire, and love exceedingly imaginative and clever fantasy.?Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. (from Amazon.com)
[2] Return to Wonderland by Raven Gregory [WT Sharpe, lila55]
paperback @ amazon | The comiXology edition (Return to Wonderland TPB) is at http://www.comixology.com/digital/87...Wonderland-TPB for "iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and on the Web" (160 pages, $5.99 U.S.), so I imagine you can read it online. It's rated for folks 17 and older. (thanks for extra information, Tom.)
Spoiler:
From comiXology : Alice is no longer the little girl you once knew; years have passed since she took her trip down the rabbit hole. Now a grown woman with a family of her own, Alice has everything a person could want, everything except for her sanity...
Calie Liddle was once a normal high school student with a loving family and a great boyfriend. But in the shadows of her picture perfect life something was always watching and waiting. She never knew what it was, but somehow she always knew it was there, and it holds the answers to the questions that have defined her life.
As Alice's mental health deteriorates, Calie will discover the truth behind her mother's illness as she is pulled into the same realm Alice traveled to many years before. Now Calie must survive in a world where terror runs rampant, a place where the adventures of Alice were only the beginning, as she discovers the shocking truth behind what Wonderland truly is. Will Calie find the strength to escape or will she succumb to the insanity that has already taken so much from her mother?
Discover for yourself the madness with no method and an evil with no motive...Discover for yourself the world that is Wonderland.
*The Voyage of the Minotaur by Wesley Allison [John F, Hamlet53, Moe The Cat] Smashwords | Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Fantasy Historical, Fantasy, Science Fiction - Adventure
Description: In a world of steam power and rifles, where magic has not yet been forgotten, an expedition sets out to found a colony in a lost world. The Voyage of the Minotaur is a story of adventure and magic, religion and prejudice, steam engines and dinosaurs, angels and lizardmen, machine guns and wizards, sorceresses, bustles and corsets, steam-powered computers, hot air balloons, and dragons. … more » (from Amazon.com)
*A Discovery of Witches: A Novel by Deborah Harkness [Hamlet53, John F, RiverY, maianhvk] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fiction, General Fantasy
Description: Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2011 : It all begins with a lost manuscript, a reluctant witch, and 1,500-year-old vampire. Dr. Diana Bishop has a really good reason for refusing to do magic: she is a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch Trials, and her parents cautioned her be discreet about her talents before they were murdered, presumably for having "too … more »much power." So it is purely by accident that Diana unlocks an enchanted long-lost manuscript (a book that all manner of supernatural creatures believe to hold the story of all origins and the secret of immortality) at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war. A sparkling debut written by a historian and self-proclaimed oenophile, A Discovery of Witches is heady mix of history and magic, mythology, and love (cue the aforementioned vampire!), making for a luxurious, intoxicating, one-sitting read. -- Daphne Durham In Harkness's lively debut, witches, vampires, and demons outnumber humans at Oxford's Bodleian Library, where witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted manuscript, attracting the attention of 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. The orphaned daughter of two powerful witches, Bishop prefers intellect, but relies on magic when her discovery of a palimpsest documenting the origin of supernatural species releases an assortment of undead who threaten, stalk, and harass her. Against all occult social propriety, Bishop turns for protection to tall, dark, bloodsucking man-about-town Clairmont. Their research raises questions of evolution and extinction among the living dead, and their romance awakens centuries-old enmities. Harkness imagines a crowded universe where normal and paranormal creatures observe a tenuous peace. "Magic is desire made real," Bishop says after both her desire and magical prowess exceed her expectations. Harkness brings this world to vibrant life and makes the most of the growing popularity of gothic adventure with an ending that keeps the Old Lodge door wide open. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. (from Amazon.com)
The Cornerstone - An Urban Fantasy By Nick Spalding [caleb72] Smashwords | also Amazon US/UK
Spoiler:
A great book will transport you to another world… literally, if you’re not careful.
On a gloomy Thursday afternoon, Max Bloom enters his local library in a last ditch attempt to stave off an epic case of teenage boredom.
Among the hushed stacks he discovers The Cornerstone - an ancient book tucked away on a dusty, forgotten shelf. Opening the cover, Max is torn from the library into an alternate dimension full of things intent on killing him – thus avoiding boredom with remarkable success.
He meets a beautiful girl called Merelie (brilliant), who tells him he’s the only one that can save both their worlds from the Dwellers - hideous mind sucking creatures from beyond the universe (not so brilliant).
Merelie thinks Max could be a Wordsmith, a sorcerer able to craft magic from the written word itself – one powerful enough to stop the Dwellers and their treacherous human allies.
This all sounds completely unbelievable, of course. The kind of thing you’d read in a fantasy novel… but The Cornerstone doesn’t lie - and the danger is very real.
In a world threatened by monsters, where books are worshipped and magic exists, Max Bloom must make a choice: close The Cornerstone and run home - or trust Merelie, become a Wordsmith, and save two worlds from certain destruction…
*The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu [caleb72, sun surfer, Gronk] Baen WebScriptions |
Spoiler:
Subject: Science Fiction
Description: Among inhospitable and unforgiving seas stands Khalakovo, a mountainous archipelago of seven islands, its prominent eyrie stretching a thousand feet into the sky. Serviced by windships bearing goods and dignitaries, Khalakovo's eyrie stands at the crossroads of world trade. But all is not well in Khalakovo. Conflict has erupted between the ruling Landed, the indigenous Aramahn, and the … more »fanatical Maharraht, and a wasting disease has grown rampant over the past decade. Now, Khalakovo is to play host to the Nine Dukes, a meeting which will weigh heavily upon Khalakovo's future. When an elemental spirit attacks an incoming windship, murdering the Grand Duke and his retinue, Prince Nikandr, heir to the scepter of Khalakovo, is tasked with finding the child prodigy believed to be behind the summoning. However, Nikandr discovers that the boy is an autistic savant who may hold the key to lifting the blight that has been sweeping the islands. Can the Dukes, thirsty for revenge, be held at bay? Can Khalakovo be saved? The elusive answer drifts upon the Winds of Khalakovo... (from Baen WebScriptions)
[2] The Burning Sky (Halcyon #1) by Joseph Robert Lewis [caleb72, Nyssa] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Fantasy, Kindle Ebooks, Action & Adventure
Description: Taziri just wants a quiet evening at home with her family, but when the entire Northern Air Corps is assassinated, Taziri is the only pilot left to help the marshals chase the killers across the skies of Marrakesh. Together they uncover a vast conspiracy of deposed aristocrats, wealthy industrialists, and xenophobic warmongers plotting against the Queen. The case becomes terrifyingly personal … more »when Taziri finds that the killers have turned her own inventions into weapons and her family's survival may hang in the balance. Assassins stalk the streets as the city erupts into a riotous inferno and the country's only hope for salvation may be an exiled Incan princess, her swashbuckling lover, and a crippled airship plummeting out of the burning sky. Readers are introduced to The Other Earth through this stunning vision of an alternate world where fantastical machines sail the seas and the skies, enormous prehistoric beasts still roam the earth, and the restless dead walk among the living. Genre: actionadventure | thriller | steampunk | historical fantasy | Morocco | Spain A note about the text This is a work of historical fantasy. Some of this world may be familiar to you. But in this world, Europe never emerged from the last Ice Age and only the southern areas are habitable. North Africa is cool, wet, and fertile. Ancient nations such as the Persian Empire have persisted, though others, such as the Romans, never rose to power. Some of the countries in this world reflect the cultures and attitudes of the Renaissance while others reflect the Industrial Age. Historical figures appear, though they too may be different from the ones you have known. Don't expect this world to conform to the history that you know. The people and places are different. The climate and wildlife are different. Even death is different here. (from Diesel eBook Store)
*The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One by Patrick Rothfuss [voodooblues, John F, ficbot, Anarel] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
The riveting first-person narrative of a young man who grows to be the most notorious magician his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime- ridden city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard. It is a high-action novel written with a poet's hand, a powerful coming-of-age story of a magically gifted young man, told through his eyes: to read this book is to be the hero.(from BooksonBoard.com)
*Stardust by Neil Gaiman [jabberwock_11, sun surfer, drofgnal] Inkmesh search
[2] The Eye of the World (Book 1 of the Wheel of of Time) by Robert Jordan [voodooblues, bookwormat] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: General, Epic, Kindle Ebooks
Description: The peaceful villagers of Emond's Field pay little heed to rumors of war in the western lands until a savage attack by troll-like minions of the Dark One forces three young men to confront a destiny which has its origins in the time known as The Breaking of the World. This richly detailed fantasy presents a fully realized, complex adventure which will appeal to fans of classic quests. … more »Recommended. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. "Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal."-- The New York Times "Jordan is able to take...familiar elements and make them his own, in a powerful novel of wide and complex scope. Open religious and political conflicts add a gritty realism, while the cities and courts provide plenty of drama and splendor. Women have a stronger role than in Tolkien...Each character in this large cast remains distinct....Their adventures are varied, and exciting.... The Eye of the World stands alone as a fantasy epic."-- Locus "Robert Jordan has created a fantasy world as tangible and credible as history. He has a fine eye for detail and a vivid sense of drama."--Morgan Llewelyn (from Amazon.com)
* Storm Front: Book one of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher [siraks, Nyssa, Format C:] Inkmesh search
Magic Kingdom for Sale -- Sold by Terry Brooks [voodooblues] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Subjects: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic
Description: Brooks bestselling Shannara trilogy may have been at heart a formulaic fantasy but its vigorous storytelling and intriguing characters won many readers. In his first non-Shannara novel, he takes on another well-worn premise: the contemporary Earthling transported to a fantasy world. Ben Holiday is a lawyer who finds little satisfaction in his work. His yearning for a simpler life seems … more »thwarted when he finds the magic kinddom of Landover, a close analogy of Earth, with precariously balanced powers threatening each other, massive pollution, and general discontent centering on a lack of faith in leaders. This first volume in the new series is mainly introductory as Ben meets the locals and dashes off a few impossible tasks to assert his right to the throne. While still inventive, Brooks fails badly in his lackluster, unbelievable protagonist, his preachy moral tags and the adolescent, daydream quality of Ben's triumphs. Shannarafans are in for a disappointment. 150,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. A marvellous fantasy trip' Frank Herbert 'If Harry Potter has given you a thirst for fantasy and you have not discovered the magic of Terry Brooks, you are in for a treat' ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS 'Confirms Terry's place at the head of the fantasy world' Philip Pullman (from Amazon.com)
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder [VioletVal] Inkmesh search
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper [Latinandgreek] Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
{Latinandgreek - It is the second in a series, but it is supposed to be a stand-alone and seems to be better liked than the first in the series.}
Subjects: Children's, Action & Adventure, Childrens Fiction
Description: "When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back, Three from the circle, three from the track; Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; Five will return, and one go alone." With these mysterious words, Will Stanton discovers on his 11th birthday that he is no mere boy. He is the Sign-Seeker, last of the immortal Old Ones, destined to battle the powers of evil that trouble the land. His task … more »is monumental: he must find and guard the six great Signs of the Light, which, when joined, will create a force strong enough to match and perhaps overcome that of the Dark. Embarking on this endeavor is dangerous as well as deeply rewarding; Will must work within a continuum of time and space much broader than he ever imagined. Susan Cooper, in her five-title Dark Is Rising sequence , creates a world where the conflict between good and evil reaches epic proportions. She ranks with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in her ability to deliver a moral vision in the context of breathtaking adventure. No one can stop at just one of her thrilling fantasy novels. Among many other prestigious awards, The Dark Is Rising is a Newbery Honor Book and a Carnegie Medal Honor Book. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter "Susan Cooper is one of the few contemporary writers who has the vivid imagination, the narrative power, and the moral vision that permit her to create the kind of sweeping conflict between good and evil that lies at the heart of all great fantasy. Tolkien had it. So did C. S. Lewis. And Cooper writes in the same tradition." -- Psychology Today (from Amazon.com)
[2] Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling [lila55, issybird]
Uploaded on MR by carmenchu ePub | Inkmesh search
Spoiler:
Dan and Una, brother and sister, living in the English country, had the good fortune to meet with Puck, alias Robin Goodfellow, alias Nick o’ Lincoln, alias Lob-lie-by-the-Fire, the last survivor in England of those whom mortals call Fairies. Their proper name, of course, is ‘The People of the Hills’. This Puck, by means of the magic of Oak, Ash, and Thorn, gave the children power
To see what they should see and hear what they should hear,
Though it should have happened three thousand year.
The result was that from time to time, and in different places on the farm and in the fields and in the country about, they saw and talked to some rather interesting people. One of these, for instance, was a Knight of the Norman Conquest, another a young Centurion of a Roman Legion stationed in England, another a builder and decorator of King Henry VII’s time; and so on and so forth...
Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.
I'd like to nominate the graphic novel Return to Wonderland by Raven Gregory. I'm not sure if it's available in an ebook edition for other readers, but it is available for the iPad and any reader that supports comiXology.
Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dreams
Tom is this the one for the paperback?
Could you give me other links, please?
That's the one. The comiXology edition (Return to Wonderland TPB) is at http://www.comixology.com/digital/87...Wonderland-TPB. That edition is for "iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and on the Web" (160 pages, $5.99 U.S.), so I imagine you can read it online. It's rated for folks 17 and older.
In a world of steam power and rifles, where magic has not yet been forgotten, an expedition sets out to establish a colony in a lost world. The Voyage of the Minotaur is a story of adventure and magic, religion and prejudice, steam engines and dinosaurs, angels and lizardmen, machine guns and wizards, sorceresses, bustles and corsets, steam-powered computers, hot air balloons, and dragons.
So I'll nominate Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. It's sort of a Twilight for adults.
Spoiler:
It all begins with a lost manuscript, a reluctant witch, and 1,500-year-old vampire. Dr. Diana Bishop has a really good reason for refusing to do magic: she is a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch Trials, and her parents cautioned her be discreet about her talents before they were murdered, presumably for having "too much power." So it is purely by accident that Diana unlocks an enchanted long-lost manuscript (a book that all manner of supernatural creatures believe to hold the story of all origins and the secret of immortality) at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war. A sparkling debut written by a historian and self-proclaimed oenophile, A Discovery of Witches is heady mix of history and magic, mythology and love (cue the aforementioned vampire!), making for a luxurious, intoxicating, one-sitting read -from Amazon
I will third Wicked and second The Voyage of the Minotaur.
I'm just going to nominate 3 books this time around and if any of them float to the top - awesome.
The Cornerstone - Nick Spalding ($2.49US at Smashwords)
Spoiler:
A great book will transport you to another world… literally, if you’re not careful. On a gloomy Thursday afternoon, Max Bloom enters his local library in a last ditch attempt to stave off an epic case of teenage boredom. Among the hushed stacks he discovers The Cornerstone - an ancient book tucked away on a dusty, forgotten shelf.
The Winds of Khalakovo - Bradley P. Beaulieu (Free at the moment at [pirate site])
Spoiler:
Among inhospitable and unforgiving seas stands Khalakovo, a mountainous archipelago of seven islands, its prominent eyrie stretching a thousand feet into the sky. Serviced by windships bearing goods and dignitaries, Khalakovo's eyrie stands at the crossroads of world trade. But all is not well in Khalakovo. Conflict has erupted between the ruling Landed, the indigenous Aramahn, and the fanatical Maharraht, and a wasting disease has grown rampant over the past decade. Now, Khalakovo is to play host to the Nine Dukes, a meeting which will weigh heavily upon Khalakovo's future. When an elemental spirit attacks an incoming windship, murdering the Grand Duke and his retinue, Prince Nikandr, heir to the scepter of Khalakovo, is tasked with finding the child prodigy believed to be behind the summoning. However, Nikandr discovers that the boy is an autistic savant who may hold the key to lifting the blight that has been sweeping the islands. Can the Dukes, thirsty for revenge, be held at bay? Can Khalakovo be saved? The elusive answer drifts upon the Winds of Khalakovo...
The Burning Sky (Halcyon Book 1) - J R Lewis ($0.99US at Smashwords)
Spoiler:
A massive explosion destroys the airfield, leaving Taziri Ohana as the only surviving pilot to help the marshals track down the criminals responsible. Flying the length and breadth of Marrakesh, she and Major Syfax Zidane discover a vast conspiracy of corrupt police officers, diplomats, industrialists, and politicians plotting to destroy the government.
Last edited by pdurrant; 10-25-2011 at 03:09 PM.
Reason: Deleted links to a pirate ebook site
Device: iPad(3 or HD or whatever), iPad Mini, Kindle 7" hdx, Samsung 7 tab 3
I would like to nominate a book that i have had on my reader for some time. It came to me highly recommended.
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
Quote:
The riveting first-person narrative of a young man who grows to be the most notorious magician his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime- ridden city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard. It is a high-action novel written with a poet's hand, a powerful coming-of-age story of a magically gifted young man, told through his eyes: to read this book is to be the hero.
I would like to nominate Stardust, by Neil Gaiman. It's one of my favorites and it is a stand alone too, so no having to get sucked into yet another series...I am already trying to get through three different fantasy or sci-fi serieseseseses so this would be a nice break.