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WIN A GREAT BOOK!

I love small presses that publish really interesting science fiction, fantasy and horror. These days, it seems that I find all the most interesting books as such presses.

Underland Press is one of the coolest new kids on the block, with some of the best new books released in 2009. Now, thanks to its generosity, I can share two of them with two lucky winners.

The first is Last Days by Brian Evenson. This horror novel is one in which dismemberment plays a key role: it is about a religious cult that takes literally the words of Jesus about cutting off your hand if it offends you. Status in the cult is based on how many dismemberments you've suffered. A very far out sort of horror novel indeed, accompanied by a very thoughtful introduction by one of horror's all-time masters, Peter Straub.

The second is Finch by Jeff VanderMeer. This copy is an uncorrected proof, so you're as close to the author's mind as you can get, unless you read VanderMeer's blog, Ecstatic Days, where he has talked at length about the process of writing the book. Finch is a noir detective in Ambergris, VanderMeer's New Weird city, searching for the elusive spymaster Ethan Bliss. Fungus plays a key role here: you may never look at a mushroom the same way again.

So how do you win one of these books? Aw, this is so easy. Just send me a recommendation of a fantasy or horror novel you read in the past five years that you think I'd really enjoy. It must be a novel not mentioned on this blog; I'm looking for books that are new to me. Mention in your email which of these two books most appeals to you (I'm giving them away separately). I'll need your name and address (United States only, please). The email address is "Reading the Leaves at gmail.com" (with spaces eliminated and the proper symbol substituted for the word "at"). The contest closes on February 28, 2010.

Free copies of small press books aren't lying thick on the ground, so I hope you'll all jump in to this contest with both feet. I'm looking forward to hearing about some great new books.

By Terry Weyna at 2010-02-07 11:46 | | | Terry Weyna's blog | login or register to post comments

A challenge

It's a tough prospect to bring a new book to your attention. I shall have to put on my thinking cap.

By Chad Hull at 2010-02-07 17:05 | login or register to post comments

win a prize?

Have you read The Thief by Megan Turner Whalen?

Regina

By reginac at 2010-02-08 16:13 | login or register to post comments

Nope!

Regina, I've not only not read that book, I've never heard of it. What's it about? (Did you email me to tell me about it with your address and choice of book?)

By Terry Weyna at 2010-02-08 18:31 | login or register to post comments

"The Sleep of the Gods"

An end-of-the-world story from James Sperl, an author I'd never heard of, from a publisher I'd also never heard of, "Createspace" which is really a self-publish outfit. I took a chance on "The Sleep of the Gods" on my Kindle, because it was reasonably priced and I was ticked off because the big name authors have started to bump up their prices, in the wake of the Ipad announcement, to almost $14. So I looked at a few online reviews and gave it a shot.

The upshot is the big publishing houses still have value to offer, as "The Sleep of the Gods" could have used some polishing and framing. But it moves along, despite its implausibility, and it also is unusual and holds interest because a few of the main characters are women, portrayed without the usual romantic or condescending or contrived overlay. The hero of the story is a mother of two teenagers and a preteen trying to get her kids and herself to what remains as safety. Its been fun to follow the author's attempt to work with a character who is a super mom, but not necessarily a superhero.

By mmcpher at 2010-02-19 16:16 | login or register to post comments

A Horror Classic

Marion

I'm sure you've read it, but I don't think you've reviewed it: I recommend the Shirley Jackson classic We've Always Lived in the Castle. This is Jackson's masterpiece.

By Marion at 2010-02-23 07:13 | login or register to post comments

Shirley Jackson

I've not read that one, Marion. I'm woefully deficient in the classics of any genre. Thanks for the recommendation!

By Terry Weyna at 2010-02-23 14:21 | login or register to post comments

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