SF-LOVERS Digest Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993 Volume 18 : Issue 92 Today's Topics: Books - Del Rey Internet Newsletter --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 6 Feb 93 17:03:48 GMT From: ekh@panix.com (Ellen Key Harris) Reply-to: sf-lovers-written@Rutgers.Edu Subject: Del Rey Internet Newsletter (long) |DEL| NAME GOES HERE |REY| The DEL REY BOOKS On-Line Newsletter Number 1 (February 1993) IMHO (or, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?) Welcome to the new Del Rey Internet newsletter! We're going to be posting an issue every month to let you know about the books that are coming out soon, tell you what authors you're interested in are up to, and explain a little of what goes on behind the scenes in the halls of Del Rey. (That shouldn't be too hard, because our combined hall space is only about 23 feet.) Since this is our first issue, I thought I'd run through the sections we're starting out with: WHAT'S NEW IN THE STORES: Descriptions of our latest titles. Since bookstores receive our books about a month before the official publication date, the February issue's latest titles are March books but, they're out there now (or they will be very soon - stockroom speed varies from store to store). DEL REY DATA: Our most recent and soon-to-come titles, with page lengths and cover artists. Intermittently, we'll let you know here about books we've acquired, projects we've just begun, and manuscripts that have just been turned in. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE MONTH: Most months we'll be including a bibliography/biography of one of our authors, either one who has been being discussed on the Net, or one whose books are relevant to a currently popular discussion subject. This month's author is Canadian Dave Duncan, author of THE CUTTING EDGE and the _A Man of His Word_ series - the kind of fantasy writer I like best: one with a sense of humor! (Unfortunately, this asset doesn't really show very well in a bibliography.) IN DEPTH: This is our authors' chance to show you what goes on _behind_ the books you read: why they wrote them, how they wrote them, and what they think about science fiction, fantasy, the writing life, publishing, and almost anything else of interest. This month Nicola Griffith, author of February's Del Rey Discovery title AMMONITE, explains how her first novel flies in the face of the stereotypes she sees, and despairs of, in a lot of sf and fantasy. Q & A: Obviously, a question-and-answer section. Send questions to me, ekh@panix.com; questions of general interest will be addressed each month. IMHO: The Del Rey newsletter's version of an editorial. Despite its title, though, I don't intend to use this space to put forth my opinions (humble or not) as if they're newsworthy - I'd rather keep my opinions incidental and spend my time explaining some "insider" details of the publishing world. Have you ever wondered how a manuscript becomes a finished book? Who writes the copy on the front and back covers, and how? What really goes on in the slushpile? And cover art is chosen and developed? If so, this is the space to watch. Usually, you'll find IMHO at the end of the newsletter, not the beginning; but for this inaugural issue, I wanted to start off by explaining what we're doing and how we'll be doing it. And _why_ we're doing it: we're doing it because of you. The Internet is a great way to make contact with readers like you - people who read sf and fantasy and think about it, too. Sure, we want you to know about our books and our authors, but we also we want to give you a way to ask questions about publishing and get the real story. If all we wanted was to sell more books, it would be easy to post a message every once in a while about when the next David Eddings, Terry Brooks, or Anne McCaffrey hardcover was coming out. But what we're trying to do, and this may be too ambitious, but you never know until you try, is open up a channel of easy, inexpensive communication between you, the readers, and us, the publisher. We know from experience that it's frustrating to be a reader if you don't know what's going on. Why aren't books in a series published all at once? Why do book prices keep going up? Why do books become unavailable a year or two after they're published? So we'll do our best to answer questions like these and give you a real look behind the scenes. Let us know what you think. Especially if you have any good ideas for a name... Ellen Key Harris Associate Editor Del Rey Books ekh@panix.com WHAT'S NEW IN THE STORES THE TALISMANS OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks. Hardcover. The descendants of the Elven house of Shannara had all completed their quests. Walker Boh, using the power of the Black Elfstone, had restored the lost Druid's keep, Paranor, and had become the last Druid himself. Wren had found the missing Elves and brought them back from the island of Morrowindl to the Four Lands. Now she was Queen of the Elves. And Par had found what quite possibly was the legendary Sword of Shannara. But their work was not yet done - the Shadowen still swarmed over the Four Lands, poisoning all with their dark magic. And the leader of the Shadowen, Rimmer Dall, was determined that the scions of Shannara would not share with each other the knowledge that would end the sickness. Against Walker Boh, then, he would dispatch the Four Horsemen. To Wren Elessedil, he would send a friend who would betray her. And for Par Ohmsford, whose wishsong was growing steadily more uncontrollable, he had the most evil plan of all . . . The charges given by the shade of the Druid Allanon were doomed to fail unless the Shannara children could escape the traps being laid for them, and Par could find a way to use the Sword of Shannara... ELF QUEEN OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks. Paperback. "Find the Elves and return them to the lands of men!" the shade of the Druid Allanon had ordered Wren. It was clearly an impossible task. The Elves had been gone from the Westlands for more than a hundred years. There was not even a trace of their former city of Arborlon left to mark their passing. No one in the Westlands knew of them - except, finally, the Addershag. The blind old woman had given instructions to find a place on the coast of the Blue Divide, build a fire, and keep it burning for three days. "One will come for you." Tiger Ty, the Wing Rider, had come on his giant Roc to carry her and her friend Garth to the only clear landing site on the island of Morrowindl, where, he said, the Elves _might_ still exist, somewhere in the demon-haunted jungle. Now she stood within that jungle, remembering the warning of the Addershag: "Beware, Elf-girl! I see danger ahead for you...and evil beyond imagining." It had proved all too true. Wren stood with her single weapon of magic, listening as demons evil beyond all imagining gathered for attack. How long could she resist? And if, by some miracle, she reached the Elves and could convince them to return, how could they possibly retrace her perilous path to reach the one safe place on the coast? EMPIRE'S END by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch. Paperback. AT LAST! THE EXPLOSIVE FINALE OF STEN'S ADVENTURES AS THE ETERNAL EMPEROR'S MOST TRUSTED FRIEND, BODYGUARD, TROUBLESHOOTER...AND ASSASSIN! SEE Sten undertake the ultimate treasure hunt, as he and his comrades seek out the source of the Eternal Emperor's power: Anti- Matter Two. LEARN the secret of the Eternal Emperor's past: Who is he? Where did he come from? And how did he become immortal? WATCH as the loyal Sten turns traitor at last, turning on the Eternal Emperor to save his own skin...and the Empire itself! ETERNITY IS DOOMED TO END. AND IF STEN HAS HIS WAY, IT WILL END SOONER THAN LATER! DANCER OF THE SIXTH by Michelle Shirey Crean. Paperback. Dancer, second in command of the military intelligence unit called the Sixth Service, was a hotshot fighter pilot known for her utter fearlessness. But there were things in Dancer's past she could not face, and much she could not even remember. For her own good, or for their purposes, the Sixth Service had long ago conditioned her to forget. But then Dancer came face-to-face with her past. A military stunt fighter crashed on an outpost planet where the Sixth was stationed, and the rescued pilot, a member of the crack Aerial Demonstration Team, claimed Dancer's own name and wore the same face. The woman was flying drugged - unheard of for a member of the Team. And the Team had been flying where it had no reason to be, especially during peacetime. Something was definitely not right. So when the Team demanded its pilot back, the Sixth kept her. In her place went Dancer, disguised as herself unaware that her past was to play a crucial role in her immediate future... DEL REY DISCOVERY Experience the wonder of discovery with Del Rey's newest authors! TAKING FLIGHT by Lawrence Watt-Evans. Paperback. Kelder had always dreamed of a life more exciting than what waited for him on the family farm. So when a fortune teller predicted a glorious future, that he'd roam free and unfettered and be a champion of the lost and forlorn, he immediately set out on the fabled Great Highway to Shan in search of adventure. But once he was on the road, life was hardly as exciting as he'd hoped, until he met Irith. She was the most beautiful girl, and the only girl with wings, that Kelder had ever seen. They teamed up to see the world, and then Kelder found adventures aplenty: There were bandits and demons and there were curses to lift, wizards to seek spells from, orphans to champion, and legendary cities to visit. For the young and carefree, life on the Great Highway was filled with fun, action, and magic. But Kelder began to wonder about his beautiful companion. Irith certainly had seen a lot of the world for one so young and everyone along the highway seemed to know her... Soon discovering Irith's secrets became Kelder's greatest adventure of all ... DEL REY DATA February books: THE OATHBOUND WIZARD by Christopher Stasheff (F) Hardcover, 400 pp; cover art by Darrell K. Sweet DARK PRINCE by David Gemmell (F) Trade paperback, 576 pp; cover art by Tom Stimpson THE CALIFORNIA VOODOO GAME by Larry Niven & Steven Barnes (SF) A _Dream Park_ Novel Paperback, 352 pp; cover art by Dorian Vallejo DOG WIZARD by Barbara Hambly (F) Paperback, 448 pp; cover art by Michael Herring DEL REY DISCOVERY: AMMONITE by Nicola Griffith (SF) Paperback, 368 pp; cover art by Bruce Jensen SKY ROAD by Ann Tonsor Zeddies (SF) Paperback, 448 pp; cover art by David Mattingly March books: THE TALISMANS OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks (F) Hardcover, 464 pp; cover art by Keith Parkinson THE ELF QUEEN OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks (F) Paperback, 368 pp; cover art by Keith Parkinson EMPIRE'S END by Allan Cole and Chris Bunch (SF) Paperback, 448 pp; cover art by Bruce Jensen DEL REY DISCOVERY: DANCER OF THE SIXTH by Michelle Crean (SF) Paperback, 320 pp; cover art by Michael Hescox TAKING FLIGHT by Lawrence Watt-Evans (F) Paperback, 288 pp; cover art by Tim Hildebrandt THE STAR WARS TRILOGY by Lucas, Glut, & Kahn (SF) Paperback, 480 pp; cover art from the Star Wars movie poster April books: THE SPOILS OF WAR by Alan Dean Foster (SF) Book Three of _The Damned_ Hardcover, 288 pp; cover art by Barclay Shaw THE CUTTING EDGE by Dave Duncan (F) Book One of _A Handful of Men_ Paperback, 320 pp; cover art by Jim Burns TRANSCENDENCE by Charles Sheffield (SF) _The Heritage Universe,_ Book Three Paperback, 304 pp; cover art by Bruce Jensen THE NAPOLEON WAGER by William R. Forstchen (SF) _The Gamester Wars,_ Book Three Paperback, 320 pp; cover art by David Mattingly DEL REY DISCOVERY: THE DRYLANDS by Mary Rosenblum (SF) Paperback, 288 pp; cover art by Peter Peebles BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE MONTH: Dave Duncan People have been wondering about Duncan's latest hardcover, THE CUTTING EDGE, whether it's related to his _A Man of His Word_ series (it is - the new series takes up with the same characters many years down the road),and what else he's written, so... Books are listed in chronological order, and are fantasy unless noted (SF). A ROSE-RED CITY SHADOW (SF) The Seventh Sword: THE RELUCTANT SWORDSMAN THE COMING OF WISDOM THE DESTINY OF THE SWORD WEST OF JANUARY (SF) STRINGS (SF) HERO! (SF) THE REAVER ROAD A Man of His Word: MAGIC CASEMENT FAERY LANDS FORLORN PERILOUS SEAS EMPEROR AND CLOWN A Handful of Men: THE CUTTING EDGE UPLAND OUTLAWS (forthcoming) THE STRICKEN FIELD (forthcoming) THE LIVING GOD (forthcoming) Dave Duncan was born in Scotland in 1933 and educated at Dundee High School and the University of St. Andrews. He moved to Canada in 1955 and has lived in Calgary ever since. He is married and has three grown children. After a thirty-year career as a petroleum geologist, he discovered that it was much easier (and more fun) to invent his own worlds than try to make sense of the real one. IN DEPTH Ursula K. Le Guin called AMMONITE, February's Del Rey Discovery, "a knockout first novel, with strong, likeable characters, a compelling story, and a very interesting take on gender." A fiercely humane first novel by Nicola Griffith, AMMONITE propels the reader on a parallel journey of internal and external exploration into a world of challenge, ritual, and confrontation both with the self and the alien without. It is the story of Marguerite Angelica Taishan, Marghe, a woman who has lost everything once before and who now, by going to the planet Jeep at the behest of the Durallium Company, may be about to lose everything once again. Here Nicola Griffith talks about writing AMMONITE: "Are women human?" That question forms the subtext of more speculative fiction novels - fantasy, SF, horror, utopia and dystopia - than I can count. I intended AMMONITE as a body blow to those who feel the question has any relevance in today's world. I am tired of token women being strong in a man's world by taking on male attributes: strutting around in black leather, spike heels and wraparound shades, killing people; or riding a horse, swearing a lot, carrying a big sword, and killing people; or piloting a ship through hyperspace, drinking whatever pours, slapping boys on the back, and killing people. I am equally tired of women-only worlds where all the characters are wise, kind, beautiful, stern seven-feet-tall vegetarian amazons who would never dream of killing anyone. I am tired or reading about aliens who are really women, or women who are really aliens. Women are not aliens. Take away men and we do not automatically lose our fire and intelligence and sex drive; we do not form hierarchical, static, insect-like societies that are dreadfully inefficient. We do not turn into a homogenous Thought Police culture where meat-eating is banned and men are burned in effigy every full moon. Women are not inherently passive or dominant, maternal or vicious. We are all different. We are all people. A women-only world, it seems to me, would shine with the entire spectrum of human behavior: there would be capitalists and collectivists, hermits and clan members, sailors and cooks, idealists and tyrants; they would be generous and mean, smart and stupid, strong and weak; they would approach life bravely, fearfully, and thoughtlessly. Some might still engage in fights, wars, and territorial squabbles; individuals and cultures would still display insanity and greed and indifference. And they would change and grow, just like anyone else. Because women are anyone else. We are more than half humanity. We are not imitation people, or chameleons taking on protective male coloration, longing for the day when men go away and we can return to being our true, insect-like, static, vacuous selves. We are here, now. We are just like you. But AMMONITE is more than an attempt to redress the balance. It's a novel. One about people - how they look at the world and how the world makes them change; one that attempts to look at biology and wonder "what if..."; one that shows readers different ways to be; one that takes them to other places, where the air and the temperature and the myths are not the same. If, a week after reading AMMONITE, you pause over lunch, fork halfway to your mouth, and remember the scent of Jeep's night air, or on your way to work daydream about the endless snow of Tehuantepec, or wonder for a moment as you climb into bed whether or not a virus _could_ enhance our senses, then I've done my job. Nicola Griffith Q & A No questions this month. For "why are we doing this?" see IMHO. Ellen Key Harris Associate Editor Del Rey Books 201 E. 50th St., NY, NY 10022 ekh@panix.com ------------------------------ End of SF-LOVERS Digest ***********************