Swancon haul
Apr. 10th, 2010 09:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stephbgI bought quite a few books at Swancon this year. A couple from the GoH, and a total of four from local small press. All the local publications were beautifully produced and I am inclined to be influenced by cover design. I'm not generally inclined to buy or even read books just because people I know wrote, edited, or designed them. I'm certainly not inclined to be gratuitously complimentary, which puts a dent in my social skill level, but at least I'm honest.
Scott Sigler, Ancestor. Read and reviewed (insofar as I review anything) here. Science Gone Bad: I was always going to buy this.
Scott Sigler, The Rookie. I got a bit carried away by GoHitis on this one, for I am no fan of American Football and yet I coughed up an alarming amount of cash for a limited edition hardcover I probably wouldn't have bothered with otherwise (#2159/3000 and autographed for those keeping score at home). I'm looking forward to finding out if I acquire both an understanding and an appreciation for the sport as promised by the author.
From Twelfth Planet Press:
Robert Shearman, Roadkill / Tansy Rayner Roberts, Siren Beat
Roadkill. Thanks to a detailed introduction I now understand why a minor Doctor Who scriptwriter came to publish a novella with a local Perth press. I'd assumed some deal-doing during the 2008 Swancon (the one I missed for sundry unpleasant reasons), but was way off the mark. The story itself wasn't especially genre-ish, but it was a wrenching emotional study and a well-constructed piece of drama. I can only take this sort of thing in small doses, so the scale was just right.
Siren Beat. I luff Hobart; a neat trick since I've only been there once, but it called to me and I was looking forward to reading a story set there. Fortunately I was not called with a siren's song :-). This is a story in the same urban fantasy noir vein as Horn, but much more to my taste in voice and humour. Sure it had tentacle porn, but it wasn't nearly as unpleasant as the unicorn snuff, and the characters were generally much more likeable. Less bitterness and alcohol. Plus, ponies! Kinda ;-)
Deborah Biancotti, A Book of Endings.
As yet unread, but it looks nice. To be frank I have no idea what to expect from this, but I like to surprise myself now and then. OK, I almost certainly wouldn't have bought this had I not had some contact with the editor, but a sale is a sale is a sale, neh?
From Ticonderoga Press:
Belong, Russell B. Farr (ed).
An interesting selection of short stories on the subject of Home, all of which I read to the end which puts this collection at way above average in my view. A few oddities for variety, but an interesting and nicely paced collection of SF and thought pieces.
Scary Kisses, Liz Grzyb (ed).
My exposure to the supernatural romance genre is limited, but this anthology seemed like a useful place to expand my horizons. Also, awesomely pretty.
Other
In other Swancon shopping news I did not acquire either a Dalek or an Enterprise, nor any new t-shirts or plushy things. I neglected to check on my art show bid, so I am artless. I did acquire a belated Swncon 2009 committee present in the form of a personalised Contact mug which is ten kinds of awesome. Didn't have to buy a membership for 2011, for I earned one with the sweat of my brow at the masquerade.
Scott Sigler, Ancestor. Read and reviewed (insofar as I review anything) here. Science Gone Bad: I was always going to buy this.
Scott Sigler, The Rookie. I got a bit carried away by GoHitis on this one, for I am no fan of American Football and yet I coughed up an alarming amount of cash for a limited edition hardcover I probably wouldn't have bothered with otherwise (#2159/3000 and autographed for those keeping score at home). I'm looking forward to finding out if I acquire both an understanding and an appreciation for the sport as promised by the author.
From Twelfth Planet Press:
Robert Shearman, Roadkill / Tansy Rayner Roberts, Siren Beat
Roadkill. Thanks to a detailed introduction I now understand why a minor Doctor Who scriptwriter came to publish a novella with a local Perth press. I'd assumed some deal-doing during the 2008 Swancon (the one I missed for sundry unpleasant reasons), but was way off the mark. The story itself wasn't especially genre-ish, but it was a wrenching emotional study and a well-constructed piece of drama. I can only take this sort of thing in small doses, so the scale was just right.
Siren Beat. I luff Hobart; a neat trick since I've only been there once, but it called to me and I was looking forward to reading a story set there. Fortunately I was not called with a siren's song :-). This is a story in the same urban fantasy noir vein as Horn, but much more to my taste in voice and humour. Sure it had tentacle porn, but it wasn't nearly as unpleasant as the unicorn snuff, and the characters were generally much more likeable. Less bitterness and alcohol. Plus, ponies! Kinda ;-)
Deborah Biancotti, A Book of Endings.
As yet unread, but it looks nice. To be frank I have no idea what to expect from this, but I like to surprise myself now and then. OK, I almost certainly wouldn't have bought this had I not had some contact with the editor, but a sale is a sale is a sale, neh?
From Ticonderoga Press:
Belong, Russell B. Farr (ed).
An interesting selection of short stories on the subject of Home, all of which I read to the end which puts this collection at way above average in my view. A few oddities for variety, but an interesting and nicely paced collection of SF and thought pieces.
Scary Kisses, Liz Grzyb (ed).
My exposure to the supernatural romance genre is limited, but this anthology seemed like a useful place to expand my horizons. Also, awesomely pretty.
Other
In other Swancon shopping news I did not acquire either a Dalek or an Enterprise, nor any new t-shirts or plushy things. I neglected to check on my art show bid, so I am artless. I did acquire a belated Swncon 2009 committee present in the form of a personalised Contact mug which is ten kinds of awesome. Didn't have to buy a membership for 2011, for I earned one with the sweat of my brow at the masquerade.
