Grab Your Colored Pencils - The Buntline Special gets extra points for presentation.

The Little Red Reviewer makes my day with this:

"Fast paced plot, and addictive characters and witty dialogue aside, can I tell you how much I’m in love with the presentation of  The Buntline Special? A handful of illustrations that gave me a giddy urge to grab my colored pencils, fictional and actual newspaper articles headed in a font I’ve only dreamed about, along with a few other artistic touches here and there. The publisher, Pyr, was under no obligation to make this book physically alluring, they made a stylistic choice to do so. If this was Iron Chef, I’d be awarding extra points for presentation."

The interior illustrations, as well as the cover art, is by the wonderful J. Seamus Gallagher.  The cover layout is by Nicole Sommer-Lecht. Interior layout by Bruce Carle.

More praise for The Buntline Special

“Whee, that was a fun read! ….It was an absolutely original read that neither slowed down nor felt incomplete. Resnick obviously knew exactly what he wanted to tell for a story and did so…So how great is The Buntline Special -- A Weird West Tale? Let's just say that I look forward to adding it to my library and will definitely reread it again, as it's that good.” -Green Man Review

“Mike Resnick has written a highly entertaining Steampunk Western… I loved how characters that we know were placed in an alternate version of the American West and how the author incorporated paranormal elements into the story giving it additional depth and some humor…The author did a fantastic job with character development and did a good job of keeping a large number of characters involved, moving the plot at a brisk pace, and at the same time giving depth to the different threads in the storyline. The dialogue is witty and sharp and the sections dealing with 'Doc' and 'Johnny Ringo'…were simply inspired. The end of the story is well done and very interesting. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Resnick's work. For a tale of the Wild West like you've never seen before, give The Buntline Special a ride. 5.00 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick.” -Night Owl Reviews

 

Reviews Roundup, or Even More Reasons to Deplete Your Wallet

Pierre Pevel's The Cardinal's Blades is "a truly ripping yarn with atmosphere to spar," says Rick Kleffel of The Agony Column. "Pevel has a great sense of the set-piece, which he uses in a somewhat overwhelming manner to introduce all the characters. But his sense of creating a historical background is superb, and Clegg's translation seems fully up to the task. Even though most of the book is plot, running here, fighting there, Pevel manages to convey a dark, dank and detailed backdrop. Here's a novel where the art direction in the prose plays a major part in the pleasure of reading" 

"If anyone doubts there is a major renaissance in pulp fiction going on today, then pick up this old fashion thriller," writes the New York Journal of Books about George Mann's Ghosts of Manhattan, adding that the book adds many "cleverly written layers of suspense to an action packed adventure."

"The Buntline Special is fantastically steampunk, as one might expect in an 1881 Tombstone where Edison and Ned Buntline are free to experiment with electricity and weaponry," so says The Steampunk Librarian.  They write, "There are even mechanical prostitutes in town, to the interest of several of the menfolk in town. Readers familiar with the story of the Earp brothers, the Clanton gang, and Doc Holliday will find a fresh new angle with Resnick's storytelling, while those new to the Wild (and/or Weird) West can jump in with no worries. The Buntline Special is a real treat."

The Library Journal raves about James Barclay's Shadowheart. They say, "The sequel to Elfsorrow delivers more action-packed fantasy adventure with a deeper focus on the characters’ interpersonal relations. Barclay’s talent for depicting the carnage and frenzy of war gives his battle scenes a realism that brings home both the horrors experienced and the courage of its participants. Shadowheart. They say, "The sequel to Elfsorrow delivers more action-packed fantasy adventure with a deeper focus on the characters’ interpersonal relations. Barclay’s talent for depicting the carnage and frenzy of war gives his battle scenes a realism that brings home both the horrors experienced and the courage of its participants. VERDICT Military fantasy of the highest quality informs this powerful novel, which will appeal to fans of Glen Cook’s classic 'Black Company' novels."

Preternatural Reviews just published their Best of 2010 list and Clay and Susan Griffith's The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire Book One) tops their list of Honorable Mentions. They write, "The Greyfriar is the first book in Susan and Clay Griffin's Vampire Empire (Am I the only one who finds that fun to say? Vampire Empire?) series and it's a fun ride.  Vampires and steampunk? More like Chocolate and peanut butter. Plus, through in the Greyfriar who escaped from the 1930's pulps and you've got yourself a helluva ride."

Meanwhile, Manga Maniac Cafe says,"The Greyfriar is a very fun book, and once I picked it up, it was very difficult to put it back down again.... For a rollicking read, look no further than The Greyfriar.  It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it flies by. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. And, oh, that cover is to die for!"  

Reviews Roundup, or Reasons to Deplete Your Wallet

“The Greyfriar is pulp adventure at its best. Think Zorro with vampires. Add to the mix the conflicting but equally Byzantine politics of multiple human and vampire nations, and a crew of mysterious mystics. Season with appealing protagonists, a full measure of steam-driven gears and rocket-powered pacing, and you’ve got the recipe for my favorite kind of mind candy… a story crafted to keep you compulsively turning pages until the wee hours. But like all satisfying adventures, The Greyfriar addresses bigger issues… This is a tale of imperialism, 'manifest destiny', global conflict and power plays seen from both vampire and human eyes.” -Buzzy Multimedia: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books, November 3, 2010

“Twelve is an intelligent, lucid and exciting novel—feel free to put that on the back cover—and is satisfying as a stand-alone story while holding promise for further adventure.” ​-Tor.com, November 1, 2010

“Enge writes enjoyable adventures. With The Wolf Age, he has taken a step up. One cares about the characters, and we see as much of the werewolves as we do of Morlock…Recommended.” -Kobold Quarterly, Issue 15, 2010

“[The Cardinal’s Blades] is a promising start to a series... There’s plenty of enjoyable material, the narrative moves at a quick pace…Throw in the swordfights, the double- and triple-crosses, and above all, the looming presence of Cardinal Richelieu, and the end result is a more than acceptable piece of light reading…” -Bull Spec, Issue 3, 2010

“Grimly characterized, and highly imaginative, if somewhat self-indulgent, Tome of the Undergates is an intriguing, original take on the classic fantasy band-of-adventurers tale. Sykes takes gleeful aim at the tired tropes of fantasy and turns them on their head, warping them to suit his sense of humour and dark mind… I have no problem seeing Sykes becoming and enduring and successful voice in fantasy.”​-Civilian Reader blog, November 1, 2010

“The Dervish House is simultaneously a love letter to a city that just might be someday, and a paean to things ancient and honorable. Never heavy-handed, always light on its feet as it skips from narrative to narrative and voice to voice, it manages to weave in impressive amounts of exposition and a double handful of major characters without slowing down or moralizing. Its characters remain distinct, their ultimate fates certain and true, and the book itself is a marvelous, enthralling read.”​-Bull Spec, Issue 3, October 2010

“[Empire in Black and Gold] ought not to work. The book should fall of its own weight. But somehow, everything comes together in one great big comfortable mess and captures the reader. The real key, I think, is that the characters are so vividly drawn that the reader falls in love with them.”​-Reading the Leaves blog, October 26, 2010

“If anything I'd call The Horns of Ruin Swords & Science. Fans of hack and slash Fantasy just may have found the steampunky read they've been looking for. The Horns of Ruin is an energetic rollercoaster ride in a well-accentuated world that needs to be further explored. I give The Horns of Ruin 7.5 out 10 hats.” ​-The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review, October 26, 2010

“LOTR fans take note! James Barclay's newest addition [Elfsorrow]…has all you could possibly want in a tantalizing epic adventure…Mr. Barclay's characterization is above the norm, with countless different peoples and races, heroes and bad guys that will all remain in the reader's mind for a long time after. And his creative, technical magic is part fantasy, part Sci-Fi mix, bringing his world-rules to vivid life. If you're looking for a unique, hard action, deeply plotted Sci-Fi/Fantasy epic then you owe it to yourself to read the first in this new series. You will cheer right along with the Raven heroes, find yourself caught up in the battles, and not want to put the book down until you're finished!” ​-Night Owl Reviews, October 28, 2010

“Mike Resnick has written a highly entertaining Steampunk Western… I loved how characters that we know were placed in an alternate version of the American West and how the author incorporated paranormal elements into the story giving it additional depth and some humor…The author did a fantastic job with character development and did a good job of keeping a large number of characters involved, moving the plot at a brisk pace, and at the same time giving depth to the different threads in the storyline. The dialogue is witty and sharp and the sections dealing with "Doc" and "Johnny Ringo"…were simply inspired. The end of the story is well done and very interesting. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Resnick's work. For a tale of the Wild West like you've never seen before, give The Buntline Special a ride. 5.00 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick.” ​-Night Owl Reviews, December 1, 2010

"Lloyd's Twilight Reign contains all the things we feel are lacking in the Wheel of Time. Danger. Death. Consequences. This series even touches on some similar themes--the long dead king that was living in Isak's head for example. Sound familiar? Only the handling of it in Lloyd's series is so much better, and the purposes behind it feel much more immediate. Where the WoT gets bloated, repetitive and passive, The Twilight Reign is focused, dark, aggressive and active. THE RAGGED MAN really hammered home this sense of fulfilled literary promises that have been withheld by WoT and many other stagnant, epic fantasy series. Another comparison? OK. A few years ago we were at a convention where Lloyd was said to be in a similar vein as Steven Erikson. This is 100% accurate. That's all you need to know."

For Your Viewing Pleasure: The Buntline Special (Full Cover Spread)

The Buntline Special © Mike Resnick
Cover Illustration © J. Seamus Gallagher
Design by Nicole Sommer-Lecht

Coming in December!

"Brilliant. Scary, funny, often very moving. Left me wishing I could have shared a couple of whiskeys with Wyatt and Doc." --Jack McDevitt, Nebula Award-winning author of Echo

The year is 1881. The United States of America ends at the Mississippi River. Beyond lies the Indian nations, where the magic of powerful Medicine Men has halted the advance of the Americans east of the river.

An American government desperate to expand its territory sends Thomas Alva Edison out West to the town of Tombstone, Arizona, on a mission to discover a scientific means of counteracting magic. Hired to protect this great genius, Wyatt Earp and his brothers.

But there are plenty who would like to see the Earps and Edison dead. Riding to their aid are old friends Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson. Against them stand the Apache wizard Geronimo and the Clanton gang. Battle lines are drawn, and the Clanton gang, which has its own reasons for wanting Edison dead, sends for Johnny Ringo, the one man who might be Doc Holliday's equal in a gunfight. But what shows up instead is The Thing That Was Once Johnny Ringo, returned from the dead and come to Tombstone looking for a fight.

Welcome to a West like you've never seen before, where "Bat Masterson" hails from the ranks of the undead, where electric lights shine down on the streets of Tombstone, while horseless stagecoaches carry passengers to and fro, and where death is no obstacle to The Thing That Was Once Johnny Ringo. Think you know the story of the O.K. Corral? Think again, as five-time Hugo winner Mike Resnick takes on his first steampunk western tale, and the West will never be the same.

Mike Resnick: World Con Guest of Honor

2012 WorldCon

The 70th World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in 2012 in Chicago, Illinois, has just announced their guest list. We are proud as peaches to tell you that Mike Resnick will be the Author Guest of Honor! Mike is, of course, the author of numerous novels, including 11 novels for Pyr, the latest of which is the forthcoming The Buntline Special. The 70th WorldCon will be the seventh held in Chicago, and will be based at the Hyatt Regency from 30 August to 3 September 2012. Congratulations, Mike!

From SFScope:

Mike Resnick has published more than 60 speculative fiction novels and 250 short stories. Resnick's novels include Santiago, The Outpost, the Widowmaker series, and the Starship series. He has edited more than forty anthologies, often supporting new authors, and served as the Executive Editor of Jim Baen's Universe and the science fiction editor for Benbella Books. He has written multiple columns dealing with the business of writing, with his dialogues with Barry Malzberg recently collected in The Business of Science Fiction, one of many non-fiction books he has published. Resnick has won five Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award as well as Japanese, French, Spanish, Polish, and Croatian science fiction awards.

Steampunk Autumn

Art by Jon Sullivan

Reflecting on our forthcoming books, I just realized that we have four steampunk titles out between now and December.

Out in about a week is Mark Hodder presents Burton & Swinburne in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.  Booklist just gave it a starred review,  saying, "The usual superlatives for really clever fantasy (imaginative, mind-bending, phantasmagorical) aren’t nearly big enough for this debut novel" and Moorcock calls it "Steam opera at its finest"

November has two titles.

Art by Chris McGrath

Clay & Susan Griffith's The Greyfrair: Vampire Empire Book One, which mixes steampunk, vampires, pulp fiction, and paranormal romance. NYT bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu, says, "I love this book. It's epic and lovely, heartbreakingly romantic (in every sense of the word), and an incredibly satisfying read, both for the characters and the richness of the world."

Cover by Benjamin Carre

And we also have Tim Akers' The Horns of Ruin, which mixes steampunk, urban fantasy, Final Fantasy, and what China Mieville has started calling "Noird" into something that has to be read to be believed. The first line of the book description: "Eva Forge is the last paladin of a dead god." With a jetpack!

Art by J Seamus Gallagher

And then in December we have Mike Resnick's first ever steampunk/weird west, The Buntline Special: A Weird West Tale, which sees Doc Holiday vs Zombie John Ringo at a steampunk OK Corral. Yes, I just wrote that.

I think that qualifies as a genuinely plethora of steampunk.