Dylan Likes His Books

Haven't done this in a while so I thought I'd have some fun. My little guy is getting big. Dylan is now just over 8 months old and tons of fun. He loves his books, he giggles at the pictures and I think I've already convinced him that fantasy is the best there is:


He's already farther along than I am.


Now he's just trying to show off that it's signed, if he can only get to that page. Cheeky monkey.

Some Books in the Mail

Here's another couple in the mail from the nice people at Tor. I mentioned last week that I'm copying (somewhat) The Speculative Scotsman's form in rating each book as his review priority.

Note: All blurbs from Goodreads unless otherwise specified.

Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time Book 13)
by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson [US] [UK]

3 out of 5
(There's a few in between I haven't read yet)

The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight.

The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age.

Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel’aran’rhiod and find a way—at long last—to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever.

Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways—the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn—have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men’s lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost.

Songs of the Dying Earth
Edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois [US] [UK]

3 out of 5
(Looks cool, but never read Vance)

Today, in order to honor the magnificent career of Jack Vance, one unparalleled in achievement and impact, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN and GARDNER DOZOIS, with the full cooperation of Jack Vance, his family, and his agents, suggest a Jack Vance tribute anthology called Songs of the Dying Earth, to encourage the best of today's fantasy writers to return to the unique and evocative milieu of The Dying Earth, from which they and so many others have drawn so much inspiration, to create their own brand-new adventures in the world of Jack Vance s greatest novel.

Half a century ago, Jack Vance created the world of the Dying Earth, and fantasy has never been the same. Now, for the first time ever, Jack has agreed to open this bizarre and darkly beautiful world to other fantasists, to play in as their very own. To say that other fantasy writers are excited by this prospect is a gross understatement; one has told us that he'd crawl through broken glass for the chance to write for the anthology, another that he'd gladly give up his right arm for the privilege that's the kind of regard in which Jack Vance and The Dying Earth are held by generations of his peers.

Passion Play
by Beth Bernobich [US] [UK]

4 out of 5
(Promising)

The daughter of one of Melnek’s more prominent merchants, Ilse Zhalina has lived most of her life surrounded by the trappings of wealth and privilege. She has wanted for nothing and many would consider her lot a most happy one. But there are dark secrets even in the best of families and Isle and the women in her family have learned that to be beautiful and silent is the best way to survive.

However, when Ilse fianlly meets the colleague of her father’s selected to marry her, she realizes that this man would lock in her a gilded cage. In her soul, she knows he is far crueler and more deadly than her father could ever be.

Ilse chooses to run from this life. Her choice will have devastating consequences and she will never be the same.

But she will meet Raul Kosenmark, a man of mystery who is the master of one of the land’s most notorious pleasure houses…and who is, as Ilse discovers, a puppetmaster of a different sort altogether. Together they will embark on a journey that will reshape their world.

Lush fantasy. Wild magic. Political intrigue and the games of seduction and treachery to gain control of a kingdom. PASSION PLAY is all of these and more. It is the journey of a woman who must conquer her passions in order to win all that she desires.

Towers of Midnight, 1 Star Reviews, eBooks, and Price Discrimination

While there are a few blogs that have mentioned this fun situation, most notably Pat, James, and Jeff, I have been silently fuming and therefore need to put pen to paper...or...fingers to keys.

Brandon Sanderson's Tweets from a few weeks back deal with, in large majority, the fact that the eBook for Towers of Midnight comes out much later than the Hardback version that just came out this week. He concedes that it's coming out too late, talks to the right people, and gets the date moved up a bit.

Then we see a slew (13 out of 63) of one star reviews coming in for Towers of Midnight solely because people are mad that it's not coming out right away electronically.

I admit, I have yet to jump on the eReader bandwagon and I probably will soon enough (I think I've mentioned the lack of funds before). I don't have an ebook and therefore I have no passion for ebooks yet. That's my warning.

What this really comes down to is Price Discrimination. The Publishing market has been the prime example of Price Discrimination for just about every economics professor known to man. In order to decrease the amount of consumer surplus (and therefore increase revenues), the publishing market takes advantage of the fact that many people are very excited about the newest book coming out. So much so that they are willing to pay extra for that opportunity to read the book immediately.

I know there are other reasons for people wanting to buy hardback books. They're nice to have, they look good, they're more durable for multiple readings...but they also represent the opportunity for the publisher to make some extra money on those people who do not want to wait. Hence why the mass market paperback doesn't come out for another year or so after the hardback. Why aren't we complaining that the mmpb isn't coming out now?

Now there are eBooks. And even with the increased price (which I think is the only part where complaints are legitimate), they still take away quite a bit from the hardback sales. A publisher is not going to do this. That's their bread and butter.

Coming to my point. I think it's really sad that people have gone to Amazon to post 1 star reviews about the book. I know we're in the age of instant gratification. We need cell phones that let us check email because we can't be out of touch for more than a second.

But, if you want to read a book, you still have to pay the premium, just like we always have. If you want the discount, you have to wait a bit.

Towers of Midnight First Chapter - Apples First

Tor's got the first chapter of the newest book in The Wheel of Time, Towers of Midnight. One of these days I'll be able to actually read these things once I catch up. Next year mayhap.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose above the misty peaks of Imfaral. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

What? That's how it begins? :D

Towers of Midnight Book Trailer

I can't watch this yet, but for those of you who've actually read through book 12, which I've heard there are a few, here ya go. Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, book 13 in the Wheel of Time, which means it's almost time for me to be able to start this series again.

Towers of Midnight Full Cover

Not that this means it's final, but here's what's out so far. From Twitter updates, Brandon Sanderson says he's still on schedule to get in by August, which is the latest he can get it in to meet the release date October 26, 2010.

Towers of Midnight and Excuses

I have to apologize, but it's been a busy week this week. Finals are coming up and I'm finally done with my end of the semester Oral Argument, which was a lot of unnecessary stress.

Now the stress is gone in some ways and multiplied in others as I have a long way to go to get ready for finals. That's just a warning that I may be a little slow in posting over the next couple weeks.

In more important news and snatched from The Wertzone, The Towers of Midnight release is just around the corner (hopefully) and the cover art is soon to be released. Here's a teaser that's been floating around the interwebs already:


Book 13 in The Wheel of Time, Towers of Midnight should be the second to last in a great (long) series.