In the coming weeks, if you find something interesting you think everyone should read, drop me a line via the contact form and let me know, or just post it below. Let’s get started:
Ray Bradbury 1920-2012
1) Ray Bradbury dies at 91: From Bradbury’s website: Ray Bradbury, recipient of the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, died on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91 after a long illness. He lived in Los Angeles.
2) Free ebook for June: Phoenix Pick’s free ebook for June is Paul Cook‘s Tintagel. The coupon code, which you’re free to distribute, is 9991527.
3) Free audiobooks for summer: Each summer, when school’s out, SYNC offers two free audiobooks per week that are suitable for teen readers. The schedule for 2012 includes two of our favorite YA fantasies: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.
4) Some History of SF Poetry: Robert Frazier provides some historical perspective on speculative poetry.
5) Crossed Genres Magazine on Kickstarter: A kickstarter for what appears to be a very cool SFF magazine.
6) Leo Dillon dies at 79: Dillon was a multiple Caldecott winning illustrator. Best known for his work in children’s books, but has also done covers for Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Peter S. Beagle, and many more.
I’ve been really impressed with the Markhat series by Frank Tuttle. The first two or so are kind of short, so while they are excellent stories, I don’t think I realized just how much I was going to enjoy the series. The more I read, the more I liked them. They’re urban fantasy…but a lot of just old time fantasy too. The characters are often unique and each one is done so well. As a reader, I’m very into character driven stories and the wit, charm and characterization is just great. The plots are danged good too. I started with Dead Man’s Rain, although I think Cadaver Client may actually be the first. Good stories. They grow on you and before you know it, you want to invite Markhat over for dinner to hear what he’s been up to lately.