SF Signal: SF Tidbits for 1/17/08

SF Tidbits for 1/17/08

The third book in Christopher Paolini's bestselling Inheritance Cycle (following the fun Eragon and the not-so-much-fun Eldest) will be called Brisingr and features another awesome cover by John Jude Palencar. The book will be released on September 20th, three days earlier than originally planned in response to booksellers hoping to have book launch parties.

SFX reviews Halting State by Charles Stross.

Newsarama offers a first look the six-issue comic book mini-series set in George R. R. Martin's shared world Wild Cards. The issue "The Hard Call" is written by novelist Daniel Abraham (A Shadow in Summer and A Betrayal in Winter ). [via Fantasy Book Critic]

Steven Gould shares the final cover of Jumpscars, the prequel graphic novel to his book Jumpers.

Eos is giving away free e-books in honor of its 10th anniversary, starting with with Robin Hobbs' Shaman's Crossing. [via Locus Online]

Recently free fiction at ManyBooks.net: "The Highest Treason" by Randall Garrett.

SF Site lists The Best Books of 2007.

On Feruary 20th, The Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series, hosted by Ellen Datlow and Gavin J. Grant, presents a reading from Datlow's Inferno with John Grant, Jeffrey Ford, Elizabeth Bear, and Nathan Ballingrud.

The SciFI Channel has a new president: Dave Howe. Old president Bonnie Hammer is quoted saying "I've had my shot, and our team was able to take Sci Fi from basic obscurity to a No. 6 channel." Says new prez: "This brand has so much more untapped potential...In five years' time, I'd love to be able to say that Sci Fi is no longer just a cable network but a category killer in videogames, mobile and the youth market." JP offers his take...

John C. Wright is reiterating his call for The New Space Princess Movement.

Worth1000's latest Photoshopping contest is movie posters altered with science fiction themes. Yoda and Gromit made me giggle. [via Core Dump]

While I cannot diminish what Paolini did with Eragon, I just feel there are better authors out there writing for the younger set. Eoin Colfer is one that I feel does not get enough coverage since I have read a number of his books and feel they are much better for kids, but alas he apparently does not fit with the fantasy book movement...

Posted by Tim on Thursday January 17, 2008 at 9:43 AM

Aside from being an unfortunately ugly and tongue twisty title "Brisingr", is apparently "is an Old Norse word for 'fire'". How did Old Norse enter into the world of Eregon? Is there a magic tunnel from Eregon's world to ours filled with angry Vikings or is it just the lack of imagination/world building skills that has the author searching a Old Norse dictionary for something that sounds cool?

Posted by David on Thursday January 17, 2008 at 6:26 PM