Cast Your Vote for the 2010 Clive Staples Award

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The Clive Staples Award (named in honor of C.S. Lewis) was created to bring attention to Christian speculative fiction and the wonderful books in this genre that never get recognized. The first award was granted in 2009 to Donita K. Paul. Now it’s time to vote for the 2010 nominees. Because this is a reader’s choice award, we need you!

Readers or authors may make nominations provided the books contain overt Christian content or a Christian worldview and are published in English by a royalty paying publisher between January 2009 and December 2009. Sub-genres included are: science fiction, fantasy, allegory, futuristic, supernatural, and supernatural suspense. Voters will be eligible if they have read two or more of the books nominated.

For more details, to cast your vote, or to nominate an author, click here:
Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Voyage of the Dawn Treader Trailer Released

Well, the title of this post says it all. The movie based on C.S. Lewis‘ Voyage of the Dawn Treader is scheduled to be released December 2010. Here’s the official movie trailer.

YouTube Preview Image

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov

Shadow Prowler is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a while. It is written first-person, something that seems to be hard for some authors to pull off. However, I think Alexey Pehov did it very well. His main character, a thief named Shadow Harold, was delightfully sarcastic and witty, something that only we (the readers) get to see on occasion as Shadow Harold doesn’t always voice his thoughts or opinions. Between that and the non-stop action, I found this book a lot of fun and was sorry to have it end. I am very much looking forward to the second book in this series, Shadow Chaser, but it is not scheduled to be released (in English) until April 2011.

Shadow Prowler was first published in Russia in 2002 as Stealth in the Shadows. Apparently it was a huge hit in that country, with international book rights being subsequently snapped up by Tor Books for six figures (U.S. rights), Simon & Schuster (U.K. rights, pre-empting the trilogy with a six-figure deal), and Piper (Germany). Shadow Prowler is Book 1 in “The Chronicles of Siala” series. Here’s the official blurb:

After centuries of calm, the Nameless One is stirring.

An army is gathering; thousands of giants, ogres, and other creatures are joining forces from all across the Desolate Lands, united, for the first time in history, under one black banner. By the spring, or perhaps sooner, the Nameless One and his forces will be at the walls of the great city of Avendoom.

Unless Shadow Harold, master thief, can find some way to stop them.

Shadow Prowler is the first in a trilogy that follows Shadow Harold on his quest for a magic Horn that will restore peace to the Kingdom of Siala. Harold will be accompanied on his quest by an Elfin princess, Miralissa, her elfin escort, and ten Wild Hearts, the most experienced and dangerous fighters in their world…and by the king’s court jester (who may be more than he seems…or less).

Reminiscent of Moorcock’s Elric series, Shadow Prowler is the first work to be published in English by the bestselling Russian fantasy author Alexey Pehov. The book was translated by Andrew Bromfield, best known for his work on the highly successful Night Watch series.

Hardcover published in the U.S. by Tor Books
Release date: February 2010, 400 pages

Alexey Pehov’s website: http://www.alexeypehov.com

For more info, here’s my affiliate link to Amazon. (If you place an order through this link, I do get a small commission.)

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Free E-book: Naomi Novik’s “His Majesty’s Dragon”

Here’s another good summer read. And the price is right! You can get a free e-book copy for Kindle, Nook, iPad (with the Kindle app), Sony Reader, and PDF. Here are the links:

Kindle (includes iPad and iPhone using the Kindle app)
Sony Reader
Nook

Happy reading!

Note added Aug. 28, 2010: These limited time offers for free downloads of His Majesty’s Dragon have expired. The links above will take you to each respective website where the book is available for purchase.

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Summer Giveaway: Psalms of Isaak (Books 1 and 2) by Ken Scholes

Summer has officially begun at our house. My kids’ last day of school for this year was Friday and so summer vacation really, truly is upon us. It seems one of the questions for summer always is, “What are you going to read this summer?” I have to work (although I thank God that I can and have a job), but I can always make time for another book or two.

I was thinking about this and looking through my bookshelf at the books I haven’t read yet and decided I really need to make some space on my shelf. In fact, my husband heartily agrees. He he.

And so…to celebrate the beginning of summer, I am giving away two books from my personal collection, the first two books in the Psalms of Isaak series by Ken Scholes: Lamentation (Book 1) and Canticle (Book 2). Here are the official blurbs from the publisher (Tor):

Lamentation: An ancient weapon has completely destroyed the city of Windwir. From many miles away, Rudolfo, Lord of the Nine Forest Houses, sees the horrifying column of smoke rising.  He knows that war is coming to the Named Lands.

Nearer to the Devastation, a young apprentice is the only survivor of the city – he sat waiting for his father outside the walls, and was transformed as he watched everyone he knew die in an instant.

Soon all the Kingdoms of the Named Lands will be at each others’ throats, as alliances are challenged and hidden plots are uncovered.

This first novel from an award-winning short fiction writer will take readers away to a new world – an Earth so far in the distant future that our time is not even a memory; a world where magick is commonplace and great areas of the planet are impassable wastes. But human nature hasn’t changed through the ages: War and faith and love still move princes and nations.

Canticle: Come back to the Named Lands in this sequel to Ken Scholes novel Lamentation.

It is nine months after the end of the previous book.  Many noble allies have come to the Ninefold Forest for a Feast in honor of General Rudolfo’s  first-born child.  Jin Li Tam, his wife and mother of his heir, lies in childbed.

As the feast begins, the doors of the hall fly open and invisible assassins begin attacking.   All of Rudolfo’s noble guests are slain, including Hanric, the Marsh Queen’s Shadow.  And on the Keeper’s Gate, which guards the Named Lands from the Churning Waste, a strange figure appears, with a message for Petronus, the Hidden Pope.

To enter the drawing, send a email to: contests@(no-spam)fantasyandfaith.com. Make sure to remove “(no-spam)” before you send the email. Please include your physical address so I know where to send the books if you win. (U.S. addresses only, please.)

One more thing. If you want more than one chance to win, tell a friend. If they enter the contest, have them include your name in their email and you will be entered again–another entry for every friend who signs up. You must enter by midnight, Sunday, June 27. Good luck!

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”