Wanted Dispatch July 27....

Impossible Monsters edited by Kasey Lansdale

This collection from Subterranean Press called nightmare fodder by Publishers Weekly is curated by the daughter of one of my longtime favorite writers of suspense and horror Joe Lansdale. The table of contents is an impressive list including other favorites of mine I've not read in a number of years including Joe himself, Neal Barrett JR. And Neil Gaimen to name just a couple. You can click the above link to look at the summary on Subterranean's web site and check out the table of contents I'll post right here.

David J. Schow—Blue Amber

Neil Gaiman—Click-Clack the Rattlelebag

Cody Goodfellow—Cavity Creeps

Charlaine Harris—The Glitter of the Crowns

Tim Bryant—Doll’s Eyes

Neal Barrett, Jr.—Bloaters

Chet Williamson—Detritus

Anne Perry—Monster

Al Sarrantonio—Orange Lake

Selina Rosen—Nathan

Bradley Denton—Blood Moccasins

Joe R. Lansdale—The Case of the Angry Traveler (A Dana Roberts Novella)

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz Three Adventures by Garth Nix

One of the best sword and sorcery short stories I read in the last few years was Garth Nix's contribution to Swords and Dark Magic edited by Lou Anders and Johnathan Strahan and is part of this collection. I was quite happy when I found that there were more tales about Sir Hereward, pistol wielding mercenary swordsman and his delightfully wyr sorcerous puppet partner. This is another limited edition from Subterranean Press so it may be in short supply but hopefully there will be an electronic version later or a reprint.

The story of the three in this volume that I have read has much in common with the writing of Fritz Leiber, Terry Pratchett and Patrick Rothfuss and though its expensive at 35 dollars I do not think it would be money wasted. I have yet to read anything else Garth Nix has writer but this one tale won me over with its charm, wry wit and the bits of weird fiction feel it had.

 

Kitty in the Underworld by CarrieVaughn

This is one of the longer running urban fantasy series and it does not star a private eye, a police person or a usual suspect kind of protagonist. Kitty is a late night radio host that talks about things that go bump in the night and talks to them on her show. I have yet to do more the just read a bit of preview chapters but that is something I must rectify soonish. You may ask why and I'll point you to the Pinterest page Carrie set up with images that hint at this story; that collection definitely got my attention on Friday (here is the link).

Here is the synopsis I'd say check out the link above first then read it ... (Here is a link to an excerpt)

As Denver adjusts to a new master vampire, Kitty gets word of an intruder in the Denver werewolf pack’s territory, and she investigates the challenge to her authority. She follows the scent of the lycanthrope through the mountains where she is lured into a trap, tranquilized, and captured. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a defunct silver mine: the perfect cage for a werewolf. Her captors are a mysterious cult seeking to induct Kitty into their ranks in a ritual they hope will put an end to Dux Bellorum. Though skeptical of their power, even Kitty finds herself struggling to resist joining their cause. Whatever she decides, they expect Kitty to join them in their plot . . . willingly or otherwise.

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Hey here is another series that is on my to read list. If you know nothing about it here is what I know; its written by a woman and her husband under the name Ilona Andrews and follows the adventures of a woman mercenary, Kate Daniels, in a world where magic and magical creatures sometimes exists and sometimes does not. I could add more comments about my assumptions but ill leave you with the synopsis and a link to their site (here) where you can check out their writing with a free project written there....

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

 

Kill City Blues by Richard Kadrey

This is the fifth in the Sandman Slim series that belongs squarely in the darker grimmer and grittier corner of the urban fantasy shelves along with City of the Lost by Stephen Blackmoore and the books by Chuck Wendig like Blackbirds and Blue Blazes. Actually Richards books kind of blazed the trail to this profane Tarrentino-esque area first and his novels are a lot a good ol pulp fiction fuled noir fun.

Here is a link to Harpers site where US readers can take a peek at this novel, think Jim Thompson with magic and demons....

 

 

 

 

 

Darwin Elevator by Jason M Hough

Yes I do like Science Fiction, I like it a lot and yes I know I don't often mention any here so, well here is something I am looking forward to. I have a net galley eARC that I am reading right now and I have to say that the crazy of the image of the space elevator on the opening pages hooked my from the get go and I had yet to read a word. So here is my attempt to hook you... Tor.com put up an excerpt here... Go and take a look

Here's another bit, like the publishing scheme sometimes at Orbit this series will be coming out fairly rapidly....

 

 

So that is the last and the extra shipping day in July this year... If your in the Portland area and like Jay Lake think about going to his living Wake tonight... due to other commitments i will miss it but I'd like to raise an e-toast to him and send wishes for his continued health...

 

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