RAYGUNS OVER TEXAS reviewed at GeorgeKelly.org

Cover by Rocky Kelley

Cover by Rocky Kelley

Under the banner of FORGOTTEN BOOKS #243: RAYGUNS OVER TEXAS Edited by Richard Klaw, George Kelley wrote:

Scott Cupp generously sent me a copy of Rayguns Over Texas, a collection of Science Fiction short stories written by Texas writers. I love the cover by Rocky Kelley (no relation)! Bruce Sterling provides a wonderful Introduction. Scott Cupp’s essay on his SF reading is masterful. Neal Barrett, Jr., Joe R. Lansdale, and Michael Moorcock wrote my favorite stories in this collection, but there are plenty of other enjoyable stories here. Pick up a copy soon before they’re all gone!

Nice review but isn’t Rayguns a little new to be considered a “forgotten title?” Only been out for two months!

For more on Rayguns Over Texas, visit the FACT site.

Stuff received 10/20/13

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The God Tattoo
Untold Tales from the Twilight Reign

by Tom Lloyd
Cover by Larry Rostant

Promo copy:

A short story collection fleshing out the world of the critically-acclaimed Twilight Reign series, a tremendous work of mature epic fantasy. 

The history of the Land may remember the slaughter at Moorview or the horror of Scree’s fall, but there were other casualties of the secret war against Azaer–more tales surrounding those bloody years that went unrecorded. In the shadow of memorials to the glorious dead, these ghosts lie quiet and forgotten by all but a few.

A companion collection to the Twilight Reign quintet, these eleven stories shine a rather different light on the Land. Look past the armies and politics of the Seven Tribes and you will find smaller moments that shaped the course of history in their own way. But even forgotten secrets can kill. Even shadows can have claws.

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Books received 10/12/2013

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

A Dance with Dragons
A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five

by George R.R. Martin
Cover by Larry Rostant

Promo copy:

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, Daenerys Targaryen rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way east—with new allies who may not be the ragtag band they seem. And in the frozen north, Jon Snow confronts creatures from beyond the Wall of ice and stone, and powerful foes from within the Night’s Watch. In a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics lead a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, to the greatest dance of all.

Don’t miss the thrilling sneak peek of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Six, The Winds of Winter.

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Books received 10/4/2013

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Twist front

A Twist in the Lines

by Michael Moorcock

Promo copy:

Piece of Paper Press is delighted to present the first publication – in a limited, numbered edition of 150 copies – of ‘A Twist in the Lines’, a new Jerry Cornelius story by Michael Moorcock that is in part also a tribute to Moorcock’s late friend and former New Worlds collaborator Eduardo Paolozzi. When commuters board the tube at Tottenham Court Road  but alight at Chatelet – Les Halles or Pelham Bay Park it is obvious that something in the multiverse is going very wrong. In Paris, Jerry’s old friend Professor Hira points out that ‘Art is science. Science is art’, and furthermore reveals that since 1984 ‘the whole of radiant time, version upon version of constructed reality, has depended for its survival on a certain artistic pattern, an essential mechanism for order.’ There is nothing else for it, Jerry must get to the Time Centre on Eel Pie Island pronto, and – armed only with a tube map and Paolozzi’s original designs – find a way back to Soho in 1982, for  the central artistic pattern upon which the multiverse depends is of course Paolozzi’s iconic mosaic at Tottenham Court Road London Underground station.

In an unexpected, real-world twist, since the story was written some substantial portions of Eduardo Paolozzi’s stunning artwork for Tottenham Court Road have been destroyed or removed as part of the Cross Rail building programme.

“I’m sort of cautious about using ‘alternate history’ as a description of the Cornelius stories since they were not conceived as that. Jerry is meant to inhabit the world we know. I describe him as an urban adventurer, using the description Edmond Hamilton created for ‘noir’ thrillers — urban adventure stories. The stories are parables but nothing else, I think.
“I’ve recently come up with the fun notion of ‘Radiant Time’ as an image to suggest a universe of limitless possibilities — the human brain, in fact — situationalist strategies for the 21st century — a means of understanding the modern psyche and society. It’s balanced by the notion of Linear Time and its proponents. Pretty evident where my sympathies lie, of course! Space is a dimension of Time!”

–Michael Moorcock interviewed by Jerome Winter in the L.A. Review of Books, 20 January 2013

The edition is limited to 150 copies, which are usually distributed free by post.

Course most of the free copies don’t include a signature and inscription from both Mike and Linda.

Twist back

 

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Books received 9/17/2013

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Explorer: The Lost Islands

Edited by Kazu Kibuishi
Cover by Kibuishi

Promo copy:

The highly anticipated second volume to the critically acclaimed Explorer series, The Lost Islands is a collection of seven all-new stories written and illustrated by an award-winning roster of comics artists, with each story centered around the theme of hidden places. Edited by the New York Times bestselling comics creator Kazu Kibuishi, this graphic anthology includes well-written, beautifully illustrated stories by Kazu (the Amulet series), Jason Caffoe (the Flight series), Raina Telgemeier (Drama and Smile), Dave Roman (the Astronaut Academy series), Jake Parker (the Missile Mouse series), Michel Gagné (The Saga of Rex), Katie and Steven Shanahan (the Flight series), and up-and-coming new artist Chrystin Garland.

The previous volume Explorer: The Mystery Boxes ranked among my top ten graphic novels of 2012.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet)
Kazu Kibuishi’s follow-up anthology to the award-winning Flight series, Explorer: The Mystery Boxes continues in much the same vein with an eclectic mix of beautiful stories geared toward readers of all ages. While the seven shorts, all centered around mysterious boxes, feature excellent art and superior storytelling, several of the tales excel. The creepy opening contribution “Under the Floorboards” by Emily Carroll, the clever “The Keeper’s Treasure” by Jason Caffoe, Rad Sechrist’s charming “The Butter Thief,” and Kibuishi’s foreboding “The Escape Option” showcase some of the best of the form.

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Rayguns Over Texas Is a Reality!

Look what I just got!

rayguns cover actual med

 

You can get your copy through FACT or better yet tomorrow.

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Reception & Readings: Rayguns Over Texas
Offsite (Offsite)
Rick Klaw, Chris N. Brown, Jessica Reisman, Joe Lansdale, Josh Rountree, Lawrence Person, Stina Leicht, Mark Finn, Scott A. Cupp, Derek Johnson, Rhonda Eudaly, Sanford Allen, Matthew Bey and others.

This reception is the launch of Rayguns Over Texas, a new anthology edited by Rick Klaw and published by the Fan Association of Central Texas. Note: This event will be held at the central branch of San Antonio Public Library and is FREE to the public.

Complete Rayguns Over Texas preview

 

Cover by Rocky Kelley

Cover by Rocky Kelley

After months of rumors and innuendo, Rayguns Over Texas, the new anthology of science fiction by Texas authors, will finally premiere in just 2 days on August 29 at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio.

Over the past 21 days, I shared previews of every story in the book. In case you missed any of these fine excerpts, below is a list of the stories, complete with links to every preview.

Unable to make it the convention? Books can be ordered from FACT.