Deborah's Journal

Here's the gorgeous cover by Matt Stawicki for my December DAW release, the second volume of The Seven-Petaled Shield. Be still, my heart!

SF Signal has posted a selection of January 2012 releases, complete with covers. I read the list, and then read it again, this time paying attention to my reactions, whether I want to run out and buy the book, whether I might pick it up and look at it in a bookstore, whether I'd give it a try at the library, or whether I'd pass and why. I found the results fascinating -- and a bit disturbing, as they reveal underlying prejudices, how easily I'm turned off by the cover art or blurb, how important the publisher is.

See what you think of the pattern of my responses.

A Million Suns: An Across the Universe Novel by Beth Revis (Razorbill) -- would look at. Cover says yes, but I don't know the author or the publisher.

A Path to Coldness of Heart (Dread Empire 3) by Glen Cook (Night Shade Books) -- would definitely look at. Very cool title, ditto cover, author whose work I like, but it's book 3 and I don't like starting in the middle.

Against the Light by Dave Duncan (47North) -- would get from library and then decide whether to buy. Author is always a good read.

Age of Legend (Time of Legends) by Christian Dunn (Warhammer) -- no, looks like generic war-games stuff.

All That Bleeds (A Novel of the Etherlin) by Kimberly Frost (Berkley) -- would look at, could be too Romantic for me.

Archon Intl by Sabrina Benulis (Harper Collins USA) -- another "take a look/library." Could be too generic UF, and I don't know the author, but I'm willing to give it a try, based on the publisher.

Babylon Steel by Gaie Sebold (Solaris) -- would look at, a little turned off by "cute chicks with swords" cover.

Between Their Worlds: A Novel of the Noble Dead by Barb Hendee & J.C. Hendee (Roc Hardcover) -- want to read, not sure I want to buy. Solid authors, cover okay esp. the wolf.

Blood Angels: The Second Omnibus by James Swallow (Games Workshop) -- absolutely not. Warporn and games, bleh.

Blueprints of the Afterlife by Ryan Boudinot (Grove Press, Black Cat) -- cover unappealing, might take a look if it got strong reviews.

Boneyards by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Pyr) -- definitely want to read; great author, publisher doing interesting things.

Born of Ashes by Caris Roane (St. Martin’s Paperbacks) -- curious. Cover's not appealing, don't know the author, but publisher is strong.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Complete Newspaper Sundays Volume Two 1933-1937 by John F. Dille & Rick Yager (Hermes Press) -- not my thing.

Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends) -- might look at it if I see it in store, but am leery of the name of the publisher, sounds self-published.

City of the Lost by Stephen Blackmore (DAW Trade) -- would take a look based on cover blurb, but suspect it's not my thing.

Cobra Gamble: Cobra War, Book III by Timothy Zahn (Baen) -- Dave has a bunch of these, but they've never interested me.

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson (Subterranean) -- might buy, definitely want to read, based solely on author.

Dark Victory by Michele Lang (Tor Books) -- would take a look if convenient.

Deliverance Lost (Horus Heresy) by Gav Thorpe (Black Library) -- military crap.

Distrust That Particular Flavor by William Gibson (Putnam Adult) -- don't care for author's work.

EVE: Templar One by Tony Gonzales (Tor Books) -- cover is turnoff but might take a look if convenient.

Everything is Broken by John Shirley (Prime Books) -- didn't care for author's earlier work, but met him in person so might give this a try.

Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon (Burton & Swinburne in) by Mark Hodder (Pyr) -- looks cool, would seek out to take a look.

Faith by John Love (Night Shade Books) -- ditto.

Family Portrait by Graham Masterton (Hammer) -- cover is a bit of a turnoff.

Fire Logic: An Elemental Logic Novel by Laurie J. Marks (Small Beer Press) -- would seek out to take a look or get from library, based on author, also publisher does interesting things.

Flashfire: A Dragonfire Novel by Deborah Cooke (Signet) -- would pick up to look at if I see it at store, based on slightly intriguing cover. Not sure what about it is a plus, maybe the stylized dragon.

Galaxy in Flames (Horus Heresy) by Ben Counter (Black Library) -- no way.

Giant Thief by David Tallerman (Angry Robot) -- would look at based on cover art, don't know author.

Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland (Berkley Trade) -- might look at if it comes my way, just to see what this well-known Romance writer is up to.

Grantville Gazette VI by (Baen) -- nope. Should have stopped at 1632 (which I liked, but none of the sequels or spinoffs).

Greatshadow: The Dragon Apocalypse by James Maxey (Solaris) -- title is a turnoff, not sure why the cover isn't, but might glance at first pages if convenient.

Halo: Primordium: Book Two of the Forerunner Saga by Greg Bear (Tor Books) -- would definitely read at library, based on author, but it being book 2 is a minus.

Haven’s Blight (Deathlands) by James Axler (Gold Eagle) -- you've got to be kidding.

Heir of Novron (Riyria Revelations) by Michael J. Sullivan (Orbit) -- no, based on cover blurb.

High Bloods by John Farris (Tor Books) -- no, based on cover image, looks like it vilifies wolves.

In the Lion’s Mouth by Michael Flynn (Tor Books) -- would buy, based on author, loved The Wreck of the River of Stars

In the Mouth of the Whale by Paul McAuley (Gollancz) -- would give it a read at library.

It Came From Beneath the Sea… Again by Susan Griffith & Clay Griffith & Todd Tennant (Bluewater Productions) -- would look at if I saw it at store. Cool title and appealing cover.

Jack: Secret Vengeance (Repairman Jack) by F. Paul Wilson (Tor Teen) -- would look at, don't know this series but recognize author's name, title is slight turnoff, but this is for teens so that might not mean anything.

John Carter of Mars: Vol. 1: A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, The Warlord of Mars (John Carter of Mars Series) by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Fall River) -- no, have them.

Judith Merril: A Critical Study by Dianne Newell & Victoria Lamont (Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub) -- no, based on scholarly work.

Labyrinth (Rogue Angel) by Alex Archer (Gold Eagle) -- looks a bit generic, but would read the first few pages; strong women characters are a plus.

Labyrinth of Sarrows by George Mann (Black Library) -- no way, military porn.

Leaves of Flame by Benjamin Tate (DAW) -- would check this out or buy in pb, curious about author.

Luthor Huss (Warhammer Heroes) by Chris Wraight (Games Workshop) -- no way.

MM9 by Hiroshi Yamamoto (VIZ Media LLC) -- probably not, based on grim cover, but might read a review.

Mass Effect: Deception by William C. Dietz (Del Rey) -- want to read, based on author.

Percepliquis by Michael J. Sullivan (Ridan Publishing) -- curious, based on very cool title and mysterious cover art, but would not buy without reading, based on unknown publisher.

Postcolonialism and Science Fiction by Jessica Langer (Palgrave Mcmillan) -- no, scholarly.

Power Play by Ben Bova (Tor Books) -- don't care for author's work, although it's solidly professional.

Powers by James A. Burton (Prime Books) -- no, based on shoot-'em'up cover.

Raven Cursed: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter (Roc) -- would take a look based on cover, and always looking for new-to-me women writers.

Run: A Subject Seven Novel by James A. Moore (Razorbill) -- probably not, based on too-generic cover art.

Sadie Walker Is Stranded: A Zombie Novel by Madeleine Roux (St. Martin’s Griffin) -- want to see, although I don't care for zombie novels, based on cool title and publisher reputation.

Seven Princes (Books of the Shaper) by John R. Fultz (Orbit) -- probably not, title is too generic, could be anything, cover doesn't appeal to me and don't know author.

Sex and Violence in Zero-G: The Complete “Near Space” Stories, Expanded Edition by Allen Steele (Fantastic Books) -- title is turnoff, although I have enjoyed some but not all of author's work and suspect this is the part I don't like.

Shadow Ops: Control Point by Myke Cole (Ace) -- no, based on shoot-'em-up cover and title.

Shadows in Flight (The Shadow) by Orson Scott Card (Tor Books) -- probably not, as author's political/religious bias is offensive.

Silver-Tongued Devil (Sabina Kane) by Jaye Wells (Orbit) -- might look at if I see it in store, otherwise looks too generic UF.

Sins of the Demon by Diana Rowland (DAW) -- would read from library, tentacles on cover are cool.

Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson (Tor Books) -- no, stopped reading Dune novels a long time ago.

Skirmish: The House War: Book Four by Michelle West (DAW Hardcover) -- looking forward to, based on previous books in series and author.

Star Trek: The Original Series: The Rings of Time by Greg Cox (Pocket Books/Star Trek) -- if I have nothing better to do.

Star Wars: Darth Plagueis by James Luceno (LucasBooks) -- ditto.

Surfing the Gnarl (Outspoken Authors) by Rudy Rucker (PM Press) -- want to read, based on cool title and author.

Sword of the Apocalypse Illustrated Novel HC (Assassins) by David Liss & Meduzarts Digital Environment Studio & Various Artists (Radical Publishing) -- no, graphic novel.

Taft 2012: A Novel by Jason Heller (Quirk Books) -- curious, would pick up at store or library.

Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 10 by Gaylord DuBois & Jesse Marsh (Dark Horse) -- no, have read enough Tarzan, thank you.

Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years Volume 11 by Gaylord DuBois & Jesse Marsh (Dark Horse) -- ditto.

Tempest: A Novel (Tempest – Trilogy) by Julie Cross (St. Martin’s Griffin) -- would look for at library based on cover and curiosity about what's new in YA.

Tempting the Gods: The Selected Stories of Tanith Lee Volume 1 by Tanith Lee (Wildside Press) -- ooh, looks wonderful, but in past publisher has had poor production standards.

The Bride Wore Black Leather (Nightside) by Simon R. Green (Ace Hardcover) -- would give it a try at library.

The Brownie of Bodsbeck and Other Tales (Collected Works of James Hogg) by James Hogg (Edinburgh University Press) -- ditto, library, based on publisher might be too scholarly.

The Chalice of Death: Three Novels of Mystery in Space by Robert Silverberg (Paizo Publishing, LLC.) -- looks like early Silverberg; would look for at library, but we already have a lot of his old stuff.

The Daemon Prism: A Novel of the Collegia Magica by Carol Berg (Roc Trade) -- run out and buy, love this author!

The Desert of Souls by Howard Andrew Jones (St. Martin’s Griffin) -- definite buy, based on author and what I know about this particular book.

The Emperor’s Finest (Ciaphas Cain) by Sandy Mitchell (Games Workshop) -- no way.

The Fat Years: A Novel by Koonchung Chan (Nan A. Talese) -- no way, humor does not appeal.

The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton (Doubleday Canada) -- would look for this at store or library, curious about Canada branch of publisher, cover art is a plus.

The Great Game: The Bookman Histories, Book 3 by Lavie Tidhar (Angry Robot) -- looks like War of the Worlds, might take a look if convenient.

The Islanders by Christopher Priest (Gollancz) -- probably not, looks like 1960s reprint.

The Liminal People by Ayize Jama-Everett (Small Beer Press) -- would definitely take a look, might be too grim.

The Rook: A Novel by Daniel O’Malley (Little, Brown and Company) -- would look for, based on cover blurb and art, might be wonderful fun and something to buy.

The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells (Night Shade Books) -- likely to buy, but would look through first, based on author and buzz about this particular book.

The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss (Quirk Books) -- very likely buy, based on author -- she's wonderful!

The Voice from the Edge, Volume 1: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream (Library Edition) by Harlan Ellison -- (Blackstone Audio, Inc.) -- already have print edition.

The Wave: An Egyptian Aftermath by Alternon Blackwood (Wildside Press) -- would look for at library; cover and title are appealing, reservations about publishing quality.

The Word Bearers Omnibus by Anthony Reynolds (Games Workshop) -- almost certainly not, military plus games.

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones (St. Martin’s Press) -- would definitely take a look in store based on playful cover and title, also publisher.

Three Messages and a Warning: Contemporary Mexican Short Stories of the Fantastic by (Small Beer Press) -- cool cover but probably no, "contemporary" is turnoff.

Three Science Fiction Novellas: From Prehistory to the End of Mankind (Early Classics of Science Fiction) by J.-H. Rosny (Wesleyan) -- might look at if convenient, publisher might be too scholarly.

Touch of Power (Healer) by Maria V. Snyder (Mira) -- cover indicates might be too Romance for me.

Tribulations by Ken Shufeldt (Tor Books) -- would take a look at store or library, curious about author.

Truth by Julia Karr (Puffin) -- cover unappealing, but might look based on publisher.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (HarperCollins) -- might look based on cool title, but cover blah.

Undone Deeds (Connor Grey) by Mark Del Franco (Ace) -- would look at store or library, based on cool title and mildly interesting cover.

Voyage Across the Stars by David Drake (Baen) -- no, based on author.

Wrong Side of Dead by Kelly Meding (Bantam) -- would look at store or library, cover is a refreshing change from usual HF women characters.