On the Radar

On the Smugglers’ Radar

“On The Smugglers’ Radar” is a new feature for books that have caught our eye: books we heard of via other bloggers, directly from publishers, and/or from our regular incursions into the Amazon jungle. This is how the Smugglers’ Radar was born, and because there are far too many books that we want than we can possibly buy or review (what else is new?) we thought we could make it into a weekly feature – so YOU can tell us which books you have on your radar as well!

On Thea’s Radar:

*rubs hands together* I cannot freaking wait for this upcoming anthology, that includes the likes of Diana Peterfreund, and is edited by the formidable duo of Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier. Can we say, AWESOME?

Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier, this teen anthology asks the question: which is better and badder, the zombie or the unicorn?

Saw this cover over at Aidan’s blog, A Dribble of Ink, and am intrigued. I have The Adamantine Palace on my TBR (and will be reviewing it in the next two weeks), so I’m excited to see more form Stephen Deas!

When Berren makes the mistake of stealing a purse from a thief-taker, it should have condemned him to a short and brutal life in the slave-mines. So when the thief-taker offers to train him as an apprentice instead, he can’t believe his luck. The thief-taker has secrets of his own, though, and Berren is soon sucked into a faraway war, filled with mercenary soldiers, necromancers who brew potions that can change your destiny, and a psychotic girl-princess with a penchant for cutting pieces out of her lovers’ souls.

It’s no secret that I am an unabashed Rachel Caine fangirl – her Weather Warden series is amongst my top 3 favorite currently running UF series’ PERIOD. New cover art is out, and I. Am. Stoked.

Did you know Dan Simmons has a new novel coming out this year? Hmm? I am a sucker for anything this man writes. He, like Neil Gaiman, is a Writing God in my mind. I cannot wait for Black Hills.

When Paha Sapa, a young Sioux warrior, “counts coup” on General George Armstrong Custer as Custer lies dying on the battlefield at the Little Bighorn, the legendary general’s ghost enters him – and his voice will speak to him for the rest of his event-filled life.

Seamlessly weaving together the stories of Paha Sapa, Custer, and the American West, Dan Simmons depicts a tumultuous time in the history of both Native and white Americans. Haunted by Custer’s ghost, and also by his ability to see into the memories and futures of legendary men like Sioux war-chief Crazy Horse, Paha Sapa’s long life is driven by a dramatic vision he experienced as a boy in his people’s sacred Black Hills. In August of 1936, a dynamite worker on the massive Mount Rushmore project, Paha Sapa plans to silence his ghost forever and reclaim his people’s legacy-on the very day FDR comes to Mount Rushmore to dedicate the Jefferson face.

Also, as the release date draws ever closer, I am really getting excited for the next installment in Claudia Gray’s Evermore books. And I really like this cover for Hourglass.

Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—hiding is no longer an option.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can’t escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything . . . but can it survive what’s to come?

I just recently saw the formidable Danielle of Opinionated, Me? review this older YA book, and immediately thought: MUST HAVE.

Since the war and the bombs, Hatfork, Wyoming, is a broken-down, mutant-ridden town. Young Chaos lives in the projection booth of the abandoned multiplex, trying to blot out his present unable to remember his past. Then the local tyrant, Kellogg, reveals to him to over a can of dog food that the bombs never fell. The truth is a little more complicated. With a fur-covered girl and an automobile, Chaos sets out on journey, following the empty highway to the edge of the American nightmare, ins search of a missing identity and a stolen love. The truth he finds,is indeed a little more complicated. or a lot . . .

And finally, saw this over at Angie’s blog, Angieville. Now, I am a huge fan of Moira J. Moore’s Hero books. I *love* Taro and Lee. But seriously, these covers blow chunks. Instead, compare the lovely art from Chris McGrath and imagine if THIS was the art for Ms. Moore’s wonderful books.

On Ana’s Radar:

I am currently madly, unhealthly in love with Angry Robot’s entire catalogue. They have what appears to be, some crazy shiz coming out. Evidence #1:

On the streets of Indianapolis, the ancient Arthurian cycle is replaying in the lives of rival street gangs. Told through the eyes of King, as he gathers like-minded friends and warriors around him to venture into the fastness of Dred, the notorious crime lord, this is a stunning mix of myth and harsh reality. A truly remarkable novel.

Evidence #2:

There is a box. Inside that box is a door. And beyond that door is a whole world.

In some rooms, forests grow. In others, animals and objects come to life. Elsewhere, secrets and treasures wait for the brave and foolhardy.

And at the very top of the house, a prisoner sits behind a locked door waiting for a key to turn. The day that happens, the world will end…

and I know that this is way more like Thea’s cup of tea, but I liking the sound it so..evidence # 3:

Botanica is an island, but almost all of the island is taken up by the Tree.

Little knowing how they came to be here, small communities live around the coast line. The Tree provides them shelter, kindling, medicine – and a place of legends, for there are ghosts within the trees who snatch children and the dying.

Lillah has come of age and is now ready to leave her community and walk the tree for five years, learning all Botanica has to teach her. Before setting off, Lillah is asked by the dying mother of a young boy to take him with her. In a country where a plague killed half the population, Morace will otherwise be killed in case he has the same disease. But can Lillah keep the boy’s secret, or will she have to resort to breaking the oldest taboo on Botanica?

I mean, don’t these sound fa-bu-lous?

Earlier this week, Thea sent me the link to this YA book. I have never read any of Carrie Vaughn’s books, but her new series may be a good place to start:

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity’s deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she’s breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she’d rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, a secret friendship grows between them—even though the fragile truce that has maintained peace between their two species is unraveling around them. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?

In her young adult debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn presents a modern tale of myths and machines and an alliance that crosses a seemingly unbridgeable divide.

And finally, this one, by my new author crush, John Green. Apparently there is no blurb and all we know is: it’s out in April and it is about two guys named…Will Grayson.

What about you? Any books on your radar?

18 Comments

  • Cindy
    February 6, 2010 at 5:28 am

    I can perfectly understand you are interested in Angry Robot books! I’m currently reading “the servant of the underworld” by Aliette de Bodardby the same publisher, a supernatural thriller set in the golden age of south American civilization. And it’s so thrilling ! A real page-turner !
    The anthology “Zombies VS Unicorns” looks really interesting too ^^
    Good smuggling, ladies!

  • hagelrat
    February 6, 2010 at 7:52 am

    Good choices. I have just started The World House. 😀

  • Hazel
    February 6, 2010 at 8:46 am

    My radar is casting a pretty wide net these days. Other than books by authors I’m already familiar with (yes to more Jacqueline Carey and Robin Hobb in paperback, come summertime), there’s Rampant, the “killer unicorn” book that I think you reviewed, Acacia the political epic fantasy, a whole bunch of Marjorie Liu paranormal romances (she’s hugely prolific! I am jealous), Silver Phoenix, Guardian of the Dead, The Blue Place, a manga fantasy series that I started and never finished called Apothecarius Argentum…. My reading dance card is full, so to speak.

  • Jo
    February 6, 2010 at 11:19 am

    I’m so happy to see a shout-out to Angry Robot – their stuff is SO cool! 🙂

  • Marie
    February 6, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    I’ve never heard of Angry Robots! If these are just a sample… 😀 !!!!

  • Marie
    February 6, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    I forgot to say that I totally agree with you, Thea, about the covers for Moira Moore’s Hero books; they are so fugly.

  • Joanne
    February 6, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    I’m absolutely dying to read Zombies vs Unicorns!! And I too am in love with the Angry Robot catalogue, so many great-looking titles to look forward from them 😀

  • Estara
    February 6, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    I’m waiting for Angry Robot to re-release (or rather, release in the US) Kylie Chan’s Australian-in-Hong-Kong-Chinese-Folklore-Romance series so I can squee to all my friends about them – I think they’re starting in April… – I had to import from Australia… which reminds me that the fourth book and start of a new trilogy came out in January… have to see where I can get that…

    And of course I keep waiting for the March release of P.C. Hodgell’s Bound in Blood.

    Thea, have you decided on whether you’ll have a look at the Godstalker Chronicles? That’d be fairly cheap at webscriptions.net if you don’t mind an ebook…
    I’d sponsor your purchase, if you’d like. I would so love if a few more book bloggers would discover this overlooked treasure. The only recent reviews of hers I’ve seen are Jennie’s at UK bookgeeks *sigh*

  • Rhiannon Hart
    February 6, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    I am so stoked about Zombies Vs Unicorns. It almost feels like a title that was born out of lots of excitable twitter conversations between YA authors and readers. So awesome that the suits are giving it life in form of a book.

    By the way, Thea, The Dead Tossed Waves? Sheer magnificence. Even better than The Forest. Creepier, and more vivid and mysterious. I haven’t been so excited by a book since The Ask. (Ooh, and only a month til I get to meet Mr Ness!!)

  • Thea
    February 6, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    Dear Rhiannon –

    I hate you. Go suck an egg with your awesome ARCs and your plans to meet Patrick Ness. 👿

    LOL. Seriously, dude, AWESOME! I cannot freaking WAIT for DTW and already have my MONSTERS OF MEN preordered from the UK! Come on MARCH!

  • Thea
    February 6, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    Estara – Yes! I am totally going to buy the Godstalker Chronicles – your emphatic praise has totally sold me 🙂 I am buying the first book now, thank you!

    Joanne and Jo – Angry Robot totally rocks. The books I have read from them are just fantastic. Ana and I will definitely try to get more Angry Robot titles reviewed in the coming weeks and months!

    Hazel – This is me nodding my head along with ALL of the books on your radar! I’ve got a lot of the same authors and titles on my TBR…it’s just finding the time to fit everything in!

    Hagelrat – Awesome! Let us know what you think of it when you’re done!

    Cindy – I have UNDERWORLD on my TBR, languishing…I really should get crackin’ on it. Let me know what you think of it :mrgreen:

  • Thea
    February 6, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Marie – Check out Angry Robot’s awesome website and catalogue HERE. You can sign up as an official member of the Robot Army, etc 😉 Enjoy!

  • Estara
    February 6, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    @Thea: BANZAI!!! *does snoopy dance* I hope you enjoy it as much as Jennie, Kalen Hughes (yes, I mean the romance author – she likes Jamethiel Dreamweaver, too, – which I found out when I commented in a recommendation post on DearAuthor.com a while back) and me ^^.

  • MaryK
    February 6, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    It’s a tribute to Moira Moore’s writing that her Hero books have survived the covers, though none of the recent covers can compare with the hideousness of the first one. 😕

  • Veronica F.
    February 6, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    Hadn’t yet heard of the others but I’m with yall on Hourglass & Will Grayson, Will Grayson for sure!

  • Hazel
    February 7, 2010 at 12:51 am

    That Angry Robot line-up looks pretty awesome. How did I not know about them until now?

  • Cindy
    February 7, 2010 at 1:49 am

    Thea, I will certainly let you know ! 😉

  • Sarah Rees Brennan
    February 7, 2010 at 3:22 am

    I love Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty books, so I am awfully excited over her YA.

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