{"id":2942,"date":"2013-12-28T12:16:26","date_gmt":"2013-12-28T18:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/?p=2942"},"modified":"2013-12-28T12:16:26","modified_gmt":"2013-12-28T18:16:26","slug":"books-received-122813","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2013\/12\/28\/books-received-122813\/","title":{"rendered":"Books received 12\/28\/13"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s take a quick look to see what\u2019s arrived at the Geek Compound.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Leaving the Sea<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/h1>\n

by Ben Marcus
\nCover by Peter Mendelsund<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promo copy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

From one of the most innovative and vital writers of his generation, an extraordinary collection of stories that showcases his gifts\u2014and his range\u2014as never before.<\/p>\n

In the hilarious, lacerating \u201cI Can Say Many Nice Things,\u201d a washed-up writer toying with infidelity leads a creative writing workshop on board a cruise ship. In the dystopian \u201cRollingwood,\u201d a divorced father struggles to take care of his ill infant, as his ex-wife and colleagues try to render him irrelevant. In \u201cWatching Mysteries with My Mother,\u201d a son meditates on his mother\u2019s mortality, hoping to stave off her death for as long as he sits by her side. And in the title story, told in a single breathtaking sentence, we watch as the narrator\u2019s marriage and his sanity unravel, drawing him to the brink of suicide.<\/p>\n

As the collection progresses, we move from more traditional narratives into the experimental work that has made Ben Marcus a groundbreaking master of the short form. In these otherworldly landscapes, characters resort to extreme survival strategies to navigate the terrors of adulthood, one opting to live in a lightless cave and another methodically setting out to recover total childhood innocence; an automaton discovers love and has to reinvent language to accommodate it; filial loyalty is seen as a dangerous weakness that must be drilled away; and the distance from a cubicle to the office coffee cart is refigured as an existential wasteland, requiring heroic effort.<\/p>\n

In these piercing, brilliantly observed investigations into human vulnerability and failure, it is often the most absurd and alien predicaments that capture the deepest truths. Surreal and tender, terrifying and life-affirming,\u00a0Leaving the Sea<\/i>\u00a0is the work of an utterly unique writer at the height of his powers.<\/p>\n

Gorgeous\u00a0book!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Robot Uprisings<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/h1>\n

Edited by Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promo copy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Humans beware. As the robotic revolution continues to creep into our lives, it brings with it an impending sense of doom. What horrifying scenarios might unfold if our technology were to go awry? From self-aware robotic toys to intelligent machines violently malfunctioning, this anthology brings to life the half-formed questions and fears we all have about the increasing presence of robots in our lives. With contributions from a mix of bestselling, award-winning, and up-and-coming writers, and including a rare story by \u201cthe father of artificial intelligence,\u201d Dr. John McCarthy,\u00a0Robot Uprisings<\/i>\u00a0meticulously describes the exhilarating and terrifying near-future in which humans can only survive by being cleverer than the rebellious machines they have created.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

The Baskerville Affair:<\/strong>
\nBook One: <\/strong>A Study in Silks<\/a><\/strong><\/em>
\nBook Two: A Study in Darkness<\/em><\/a>
\nBook Three: A Study in Ashes<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h1>\n

by Emma Jane Holloway
\nCovers by Gene Mollica (and David Stevenson on Book One only)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promo copy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evelina Cooper, the niece of the great Sherlock Holmes, is poised to enjoy her first Season in London Society. But there\u2019s a murderer to deal with\u2014not to mention missing automatons, a sorcerer, and a talking mouse.<\/b><\/p>\n

In a Victorian era ruled by a council of ruthless steam barons, mechanical power is the real monarch and sorcery the demon enemy of the Empire. Nevertheless, the most coveted weapon is magic that can run machines\u2014something Evelina has secretly mastered. But rather than making her fortune, her special talents could mean death or an eternity as a guest of Her Majesty\u2019s secret laboratories. What\u2019s a polite young lady to do but mind her manners and pray she\u2019s never found out?<\/p>\n

But then there\u2019s that murder. As Sherlock Holmes\u2019s niece, Evelina should be able to find the answers, but she has a lot to learn. And the first decision she has to make is whether to trust the handsome, clever rake who makes her breath come faster, or the dashing trick rider who would dare anything for her if she would only just ask.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Kill Order<\/em><\/a>
\nMaze Runner Prequel\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

by James Dashner
\nCover by Philip Straub<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Promo copy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The prequel to the\u00a0New York Times<\/i>\u00a0bestselling Maze Runner series\u2014The Kill Order<\/i>\u00a0is a modern classic for fans of\u00a0The Hunger Games<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0Divergent<\/i>. It can be read alone or as a companion to the action-packed series.<\/p>\n

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.<\/p>\n

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next.<\/p>\n

Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there\u2019s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it\u2019s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.<\/p>\n

Mark and Trina are convinced there\u2019s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they\u2019re determined to find it\u2014if<\/span>\u00a0they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you\u2019re worth more dead than alive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Honor Among Thieves<\/em><\/a>
\nStar Wars<\/em> (Empire and Rebellion)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

by James S. A. Corey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promo copy:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nebula and Hugo Award nominees Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck\u2014writing as James S. A. Corey\u2014make their\u00a0Star Wars<\/i>\u00a0debut in this brand-new epic adventure featuring Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa. The action begins after the destruction of the Death Star in\u00a0Star Wars:\u00a0<\/i>Episode IV\u00a0A New Hope<\/i>.<\/b><\/p>\n

When the Empire threatens the galaxy\u2019s new hope, will Han, Luke, and Leia become its last chance?<\/i>
\n\u00a0<\/b>
\nWhen the mission is to extract a high-level rebel spy from the very heart of the Empire, Leia Organa knows the best man for the job is Han Solo\u2014something the princess and the smuggler can finally agree on. After all, for a guy who broke into an Imperial cell block and helped destroy the Death Star, the assignment sounds simple enough.<\/p>\n

But when Han locates the brash rebel agent, Scarlet Hark, she\u2019s determined to stay behind enemy lines. A pirate plans to sell a cache of stolen secrets that the Empire would destroy entire worlds to protect\u2014including the planet where Leia is currently meeting with rebel sympathizers. Scarlet wants to track down the thief and steal the bounty herself, and Han has no choice but to go along if he\u2019s to keep everyone involved from getting themselves killed. From teeming city streets to a lethal jungle to a trap-filled alien temple, Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and their daring new comrade confront one ambush, double cross, and firestorm after another as they try to keep crucial intel out of Imperial hands.<\/p>\n

But even with the crack support of Luke Skywalker\u2019s x-wing squadron, the Alliance heroes may be hopelessly outgunned in their final battle for the highest of stakes: the power to liberate the galaxy from tyranny or ensure the Empire\u2019s reign of darkness forever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s take a quick look to see what\u2019s arrived at the Geek Compound. Leaving the Sea by Ben Marcus Cover by Peter Mendelsund Promo copy: From one of the most innovative and vital writers of his generation, an extraordinary collection … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n