Humans need books like zombie need brains

[pbray]

I took Friday off and headed over to the lakes, where sightseeing included mandatory stops at independent bookstores. Then yesterday I hit a couple of local bookstores for the sake of variety. In two days I've purchased more books than I've managed to read so far in 2013. Optimism, it's the new black.

Though in my defense, several of the books were debut novels by first time authors, and I'll generally buy any first book that looks at all interesting, as a gesture of support.

I love books. I love discovering new authors. I love reading science fiction and fantasy and mysteries and cold war spy thrillers and nautical fiction and books that are pretentiously shelved under Litfic. I'll wander over into horror and romance and westerns and read YA as much for my own enjoyment as I do to pickup recs for my nieces. The only thing better than discovering a great story is getting to share that story with others. ("You must read X! It's fabulous!")

Putting together an anthology combines so many of my favorite things. It's getting the chance to read great stories and to share them with others. It's the opportunity to work with a fantastic partner-in-crime jpsorrow and an outstanding group of authors. It's the battle of Team!Patricia versus Team!Joshua as we each strive to bring the very best stories to the table.

Now, with your help, we're getting to do it again. The CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: Steampunk vs Aliens anthology will have fourteen original stories by Bradley Beaulieu, Caitlin Kittredge, Gini Koch, Scott Lynch, Gail Z. Martin, Seanan McGuire, Ian Tregillis and others, brought to you by the newly launched small press Zombies Need Brains LLC. Team human versus team alien, dirigibles against spaceships, steam power versus lasers. Can't wait to read it? Then follow the kickstarter link above and help make this project a reality.

Comments

[jmward14.livejournal.com]

And let's not forget Daniel Craig...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, fine. *pauses to wipe off drool*

Joshua and I saw him on Broadway, when he and Hugh Jackman were in A Steady Rain. To this day Joshua is still mad that I didn't bid the $10K+ donation to Broadway Cares that would have secured us a backstage meeting and photo op.

[alexvdl.livejournal.com]

Hey I backed that! I was super stoked when jpsorrow sent me a personal reply, so I picked up his book. Then I saw you were a Compton Crook winner, and picked up your Devlin's series, I'm about halfway through the first one and I'm really enjoying it. I'm hoping there is more smithing stuff in it. I really enjoyed those parts of Wheel of TIme, and other fantasy novels I've read.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks for backing the project! And glad to hear that you're enjoying the Devlin series, it's still one of my favorites.

In book two (DEVLIN'S HONOR) he returns to his homeland, and there is a subplot that deals with his past as a master metalsmith, which should appeal to you.

One of the character details about Devlin that I really enjoyed writing is in how he sees a place-- he doesn't walk into a banquet hall and focus on the powerful nobles in attendance or the lavish spread of food, instead his attention is on the wrought iron decorations and calculating how much time and skill it took to create them. The core of him is a craftsman.

[alexvdl.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

I finished book 1 last night (Yeah... I read a lot.) I too enjoy Devlin's worldview. He sees problems and he goes to fix them. He doesn't care if it's his job, or if it's "hard". He does it because it needs to be done. That's the attitude that I wish more people had, especially in terms of my fellow soldiers. As to the core of him being a craftsman, I was very impressed with the quick aside about the chandeliers and what the chains holding them up were made of.