Transreal Fiction

Scotland’s sf & fantasy bookstore

Sunday Opening

This summer the Shop will be open a bit more than usual.

Starting on Sunday 5th July – tomorrow!

Then probably Sunday 26th July, and through until the 6th September.

Tomorrow, the 2nd August  and the 6th September are all days when there’s a Sunday Market in the Grassmarket with stalls, live music, storytelling, etc.
The 26th July is the same day as the big Homecoming event on the Royal Mile
The other August Sundays are during the Fringe and Festival, as usual.

July 4, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Announcements, Shop News & Chat | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 4th July 2009

in hardback:

Glen Cook - An Empire Unaquainted with Defeat a collection which pulls together all the Dread Empire short fiction…

Charles Stross – Wireless new short story collection, covering his whole career. 9 stories including Missile Gap and Rogue Farm

Alan CampbellGod of Clocks the latest volume in his Deepgate Codex, which began with Scar Night and Iron Angel
Carrie RyanThe Forest of Hands and Teeth Mary lives safely in the village, behind the fence… Sounds a bit like M. Night Shyamalan’s film, but it isn’t! More like Kim Wilkins, I think…

Steven EriksonThe Lees of Laughter’s End ‘a tale of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach‘; this is the new Night Shade Books edition

in large format:

Markus Heitz - The Dwarves part 1 of a top-selling german fantasy series, translated by Sally-Ann Spencer

Christopher MillerThe Cardboard Universe subtitled ‘a guide to the world of Phoebus K. Dank’ and is definitely not a tongue-in-cheek look at the life and work of Philip K. Dick!

David GunnDay of the Damned the 3rd Death’s Head adventure

in ‘B’ format:

Richard MorganThe Steel Remains his first fantasy novel…

Ian McDonald - River of Gods back in after being unavailable for a while…

Jacqueline Carey – Santa Olivia near-future sf, featuring a genetically modified woman who is effectively a superhero…
Charmed Destinies anthology consisting of 3 novellas by Mercedes Lackey (Counting Crows), Rachel Lee (Drusilla’s Dream) & Catherine Asaro (Moonglow)

Mark WernhamMartin Martin’s on the Other Side a new government spy called Jensen Interceptor* infiltrates a group called the Martin Martinists, named after a tv psychic…

* one of the coolest looking cars of the 60s!

in paperback:

Charles StrossSaturn’s Children a fembot has to make her way in the world…
Jane LindskoldThirteen Orphans 1st in the Breaking the Wall series, where refugees and their children must battle the forces pursuing them. I liked this when I read the hardback.
Eric Flint & Virginia DeMarce1634: The Bavarian Crisis the latset in the ongoing 1632/Ring of Fire series
Ben BovaMars Life the investigation of ancient Martian sites is in danger of having it’s funding cancelled…
David RobbinsThe Fox Run the first in the Endworld post-apocalypse series… (although there was a #0 a month or two ago!)
Robert A. HeinleinFarmer in the Sky reprint of the 1950 classic…
Georgia EvansBloody Awful the sequel to Bloody Good, about vampires in WW2
Rachel VincentPrey the 4th in the series that began with Stray
J. F. LewisStaked a vampire with memory problems runs a strip club…
Patrice SarathRed Gold Bridge over it lies a magic kingdom…
Kristin LandonThe Dark Reaches sequel to The Hidden Worlds and The Cold Minds
Marjorie M. LiuDarkness Calls sequel to The Iron Hunt
Linda RobertsonVicious Circle featuring the witch Persephone Alcmedi and her werewolf friend, Johnny
Chris Marie Green – Midnight Reign a Vampire Babylon novel, the sequel to Night Rising…
Ed Gorman – The Midnight Room a serial killer is burgled, and it soon turns to blackmail…
Robert Dunbar - The Shore an ancient evil is abroad in winter…

Joel ShepherdCrossover & Breakaway the 1st two books featuring Cassandra Kresov. The 3rd came in last week…
Howard L. MyersA Sense of Infinity a collection mainly from the late 60s and early 70s; divided into 3 main sections, one of which includes a 230+ page novel. The other 8 stories also include  and another couple of  lengthy stories… This is a companion volume to The Creatures of Man and together thay gather all his fiction in to 2 volumes totalling around 1200 pages!

Star TrekLosing the Peace the latest Next Generation novel by William Leisner

Forgotten RealmsThe Crystal Mountain the final part of The Empyrean Odyssey trilogy by Thomas M. Reid

StarcraftTwilight the 3rd and last in the Dark Templar Saga, by Christie Golden

June 30, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 27th June 2009

in hardback:

Robin HobbThe Dragon Keeper the first part in The Rain Wild Chronicles, revisiting the world of her ‘trilogy of trilogies’  i.e. The Farseer, The Live Ships and The Tawny Man sets.

C. J. CherryhConspirator the first in the 4th Foreigner trilogy – the 10th volume overall…
Robert Charles WilsonJulian Comstock subtitled ‘a story of 22nd Century America’ and set in a post-Climate Change world…
Jacqueline CareyNaamah’s Kiss Moirin has inherited the remnants of the magics once wielded by the people of the Brown Bear, of Alba…
James RollinsThe Doomsday Key the latest adventure featuring the Sigma Force

TorchwoodInto the Silence the latest tie-in budget hardback, written by Sarah Pinborough

in large format:

Gardner Dozois (editor) – The Year’s Best Science Fiction, 26th Annual Collection just what it says! The premier annual short stoty collection…

Rochelle Kronzek (editor) – The Vampyre, The Werewolf and other gothic tales of horror 7 horror stories from the 19th Century

in ‘B’ format:

David WellingtonVampire Zero a gruesome vampire tale, so it says!
Sergei LukyanenkoThe Last Watch the 4th of the Watch novels, which began with The Nightwatch, followed by The Daywatch and The Twilight Watch
Toby FrostWrath of the Lemming Men the 3rd in the series that began with Space Captain Smith.  Another adventure in the far reaches of the British Space Empire!
Kate ForsythThe Puzzle Ring her latest fantasy, set mainly in 16th C Scotland! Aimed at the YA audience…

WarhammerGotrek & Felix: The Third Omnibus which consists of Giantslayer, Orcslayer and Manslayer

Twilight of KerberosThe Crucible of the Dragon God by Mike Wild
Tomes of the DeadTide of Souls by Simon Bestwick

in paperback:

K. E. MillsWitches Incorporated the 2nd Rogue Agent novel by Karen Miller, the sequel to The Accidental Sorcerer

James MaxeyDragonseed the third in his novels of the Dragon Age, which began with Bitterwood
Mark ChadbournLord of Silence
Chris EvansA Darkness Forged in Fire part 1 of The Iron Elves, in a regular paperback size

Stephen BaxterFlood near future sf in which the world is faced with a catastrophe of Biblical proportions
C. C. FinlayThe Demon Redcoat the 3rd in the Traitor to the Crown trilogy…
David GunnMaximum Offense the 1st in the Death’s Head military sf series…
Joel ShepherdKillswitch a Cassandra Kresov novel, in the slightly taller ‘premium edition’
Scott MarianiThe Heretic’s Treasure the 4th in the ‘ancient artifact’ series featuring ex-SAS man, Ben Hope

Max Allan CollinsThe Rise of Cobra the film tie-in for the imminent G.I.Joe movie…

James PattersonThe Dangerous Days of Daniel X the 1st in a new series, about a man who can conjure objects out of thin air…
Diana RowlandMark of the Demon Kara Gillian has to track down a shape-changing serial killer…
Laurell K. HamiltonBlood Noir the 13th UK volume featuring Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter!

Warhammer 40,000Fallen Angels the latest volume in the Horus Heresy subseries, written by Mike Lee

magazines:

Locus – both May and June issues; I guess I’m up-to-date again at last
Heavy Metal – Summer cover date
Juxtapoz – July cover date

art, etc:

Victoria FrancesArlene’s Heart a heavily-illustrated short story…
Luis RoyoDead Moon his latest hardback, with a distinct Eastern feel to some of the art…
Luis RoyoDead Moon Portfolio 6 full colour illustrations on card, with a further 6 b&w drawings on lighter paper separating the prints…
Boris Vallejo & Julie BellThe Ultimate Illustrations softcover highlighting their work, in b&w
CirueloFairies and Dragons; Art is Magic a hardback of a story he’s written which is also fully illustrated by him. Looks very attractive!

JuxtapozIn the Land of Retinal Delights published in conjunction with the Laguna Art Museum. Softcover full of interesting art…

L. Frank Baum & Walt McDougall with W. W. DenslowQueer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz subtitled ‘the complete comic strip from 1904 – 1905‘. This is a very large, full colour hardback containing the original comic strips created near the beginning of the OZ publishing phenomenon. It looks great, and comes in it’s own protective cardboard box, measuring approx 42cm x 47cm. (16.5 x 18.5 inches, or so; very large)

gift:

Brian Sibley & John HoweThe Road Goes Ever On And On new pocket-sized book subtitled The Map of Tolkien’s Middle-earth. It includes a short essay, an index of the more important placenames, and a  copy of Howe’s illustrated map, folded into a pocket at the back of the book.

calendars:

H. R. Giger wall calendar
Star Trek (the original series) wall calendar

June 23, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 20th June 2009

in hardback:

David DrakeIn the Stormy Red Sky the 7th in the RCN series, featuring Lt. Leary
Warren FaheyFragment life on a remote Pacific island has been evolving separately for millions of years…

Jonathan L. HowardJohannes Cabal the Necromancer a graverobber gambles with the devil to regain his soul… the short extract on the back makes it sound a bit like Robert Rankin, or similar, although I had thought it was meant to be a bit more serious in tone…

TorchwoodBay of the Dead by Mark Morris and The House That Jack Built by Guy Adams. The latest 2 budget hardbacks of the Doctor Who spin-off show…

in large format:

Chris WoodingRetribution Halls his first novel since The Fade, which I enjoyed. This is a Tale of the Jetty Kay, which is the name of a rogue trading and occasional pirate ship of the skies, preying on other airships and evading the Coalition Navy vessels patroling the skyways…

David Wellington23 Hours his latest vampire novel

in ‘B’ format:

David BilsboroughA Fire in the North the 2nd of the Annals of Lindorman; the first was The Wanderer
Hal DuncanEscape From Hell short novel about 4 sinners and their attempt to break out of hell.
I should have had both these books a while ago. Minor hiccup somewhere in the ordering system, I’m afraid.

in paperback:

S. J. DayEve of Destruction the 2nd in the series that began with Eve of Darkness
Alex ArcherSacrifice the 18th Rogue Angel adventure

magazines:

Black Static #11 cover date June/July

June 15, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 13th June 2009

In hardback:

Mark L. Van NameOverthrowing Heaven the 3rd in his Jon & Lobo series, about a nanotech-enhanced orphan and his intelligent assault vehicle!

Laurell K. HamiltonSkin Trade the UK hardcover of the latest Anita Blake adventure…
Charlaine Harris – Dead and Gone the UK hardback of the latest Sookie Stackhouse adventure – now a tv series called Trueblood!

John CrowleyFour Freedoms novel set in and around a wartime aircraft factory; a bit of a change from the previous book!

in large format:

Kevin J. AndersonThe Edge of the World part 1 of Terra Incognita, his new series. It looks fun…

Poul AndersonRise of the Terran Empire book 1 of the collections gathering together all his Technic Civilization Saga stories…
Fred SaberhagenOf Berserkers, Swords & Vampires a collection giving an overview of his long career, with an introduction by his wife, Joan.

Jaine FennConsorts of Heaven sequel, or companion volume to Principles of Angels, just out in ‘B’ format…

in ‘B’ format:

Tim StrettonThe Dog of the North book 1 of the Annals of Mondia. The Lady Isola is kidnapped as part of a plan by a brigand determined to take the city of Croad…
Ian C. EsslemontReturn of the Crimson Guard a 2nd book by the co-creator of the world of the Mazalan Empire, probably better known through Steven Erikson’s novels…
Charlaine HarrisDead Until Dark now with a tv series tie-in cover. (Her Sookie Stackhouse books are being adapted as the series Trueblood)
Jaine FennPrinciples of Angels set on the floating city of Kersh

in paperback:

David WeberBy Schism Rent Asunder the sequel to Armageddon Reef, about a lost colony
Larry Niven & Edward M. LernerJuggler of Worlds the sequel to Fleet of Worlds, set some time before Ringworld
Melinda SnodgrassThe Edge of Reason an ages-long secret war between the Old Ones and the Lumina sweeps up policeman Richard Oort in it’s fighting…
Holly LisleHawkspar a sequel to Talyn, in her series set in the world of Korre
Caitlin KittridgeStreet Magic the 1st in her new Black London series of urban fantasies…

Star Trek - Open Secrets the latest adventure by Dayton Ward, featuring the USS Vanguard. Here at last, it sould have been out a month ago…

DeathlandsEden’s Twilight the 68th (I think) in the post-apocalyptic series by James Axler

art, etc:

Neil Gaiman & Dave McKeanCrazy Hair children’s picture book about a girl’s attempt to tame her dad’s hair!

Juxtapoz – June cover date

Heavy MetalRequiem Resurrection #1 by (Kevin?) Mills & Ledroit

Zombie Tales #4 – This Bites the latest collection from Boom!
Supernatural
Rising Son a prequel to the Supernatural tv series; but why have they sent me a graphic novel from Wildstorm at all?

magazines:

SFX – #104
Newtype – March and April issues

audio:

Doctor WhoEnemy of the Daleks full cast audio drama; Big Finish #121

Stargate SG1First Prime episode 2.1 from Big Finish

June 9, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet

David Eddings

Apparently David Eddings died yesterday, aged 77.

I wasn’t a fan of his, but at his peak he was certainly the top selling fantasy author of the 1980s. Sales of the Mallorean and the Belgariad were immense, and (rarely for a 10 book cycle) sales grew with every volume published.

A lot of fans will miss him.

June 3, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Author News | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 6th June 2009

in hardback:

Tanya HuffThe Enchantment Emporium the first in a new urban fantasy series, set in Calgary. Looks interesting
Clive Cussler & Paul KemprecosMedusa the 8th Kurt Austin (agent of NUMA) adventure,

in large format:

Charles DeLintMedicine Road Two bluegrass musicians and their magical adventures as they tour the South West. With b&w iIllustrations by Charles Vess

Sean Williams – all 3 books of The Books of the Cataclysm trilogy, consisting of The Crooked Letter, The Blood Debt and The Hanging Mountains they look good!
Peter F. HamiltonThe Temporal Void should have been in a little bit earlier…

in ‘B’ format:

Mark ChadbournThe Burning Man book 2 of Kingdom of the Serpent

Margaret ElphinstoneHy Brasil restock of a great alternate history book!

in small format!

Ben MoorMore Trees to Climb 3 short stories based on his sell-out fringe perfomances; the title story, Not Everything is Significant & A Supercollider for the Family.

in paperback:

Ian DouglasSemper Human the final volume of the Inheritance Trilogy
Tanya HuffValor’s Trial the 3rd Confederation novel
Elizabeth BearInk and Steel the first of the 2-book Stratford Man pair, themselves part of the Promethean Age
Jenna RhodesThe Dark Ferryman the 2nd of the Elven Ways series, and the sequel to The Four Forges
John G. Wright - Null-A Continuum a sequel to the classic novels by A. E. VanVogt!

James RollinsThe Last Oracle the 5th adventure featuring the Sigma Force
Gabriel HuntHunt; At the Well of Eternity the 1st in a new a action series, which seems to be a bit like an updated Doc Savage adventuring around the world!

Kat RichardsonGreywalker 1st in a new series featuring Harper Blaine; a ‘greywalker’ who can see much more than normal people!
Jeffrey J. MariotteCold Black Hearts horror in new Mexico!
Cheyenne McCrayDemons not Included the first Night Tracker novel, feraturing a half-human private eye (by day) who is also a demon tracker by night!

David G. Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer (editors) – Year’s best SF 14 their annual collection covering the year 2008
Denise Little (editor) – Swordplay fantasy anthology…

DragonlanceThe Forest King the 4th in The Anvil of Time series, by Paul B. Thompson
Forgotten RealmsCity of the Dead the 4th in the new series of Waterdeep, written by Rosemary Jones
Warhammer 40,000The Killing Ground an Ultramarine adventure by Graham McNeill

art, etc:

David MacauleyMotel of the Mysteries illustrated book about a future archeologist excavating the America of 1985 (when the book first appeared). He gets it completely wrong and the b&w art illustrates his misconceptions!

Jay StrongmanTiki Mugs: Cult Artifacts of Polynesian Pop heavily illustrated look at the subject!

June 2, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet

Easter Island Desktop Heads

Newly in!
Every desk or mantle piece should have a set!

June 1, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Uncategorized | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 30th May 2009

in hardback:

Joe AbercrombieBest Served Cold Springtime in Siyria means war…
Carlos Ruiz ZafonThe Angels Game a sequel to The Shadow of the Wind, translated by Lucia Graves
Laurell K. HamiltonSkin Trade the 17th UK Anita Blake novel…

Lillian Stewart Carl & John Helfers (editors) – The Vorkosigan Companion all about The Universe of Lois Mcmaster Bujold, as it’s subtitled…

in large format:

Kenneth RobesonThe Avenger #1 Two novels from the creator of Doc Savage; Justice, Inc. (which is the collective name of his vigilante sidekicks) and The Yellow Horde

in ‘B’ format:

Ray BradburyWe’ll Always Have Paris his latest short story collection
John DrakeFlint and Silver set before the events of Robert Luis Stevenson’s Treasure Island

in paperback:

Liz WilliamsWinterstrike Martian adventure!
Kevin J. AndersonThe Ashes of Worlds the 7th and final book of The Sago of Seven Suns
R. A. SalvatoreThe Highwayman reprint from 2004; the 1st volume of The Saga of the First King. Not a Forgotten Realms novel.

Robert BuettnerOrphan’s Triumph the 5th and final book in the series that began with Orphanage
Eric BrownXenopath the 2nd of his Bengal Station novels, the sequel to Necropath
Wen SpencerEndless Blue where had the long-lost spaceship been? Why was it’s drive covered in coral!?

A. J. MendenTekgrrl Mindy returns to Earth and joins the Elite Hands of Justice superhero team…
Chris EvansA Darkness Forged in Fire the 1st in the Iron Elves series…

Lori DevotiAmazon Ink an Amazon warrior and her grandmother are living quietly, running a tattoo shop in Madison, WI…
Laurell K. HamiltonBlood Noir using the US numbering, this is the 16th Anita Blake adventure…
Georgia EvansBloody Good the 1st in a new series; duringWW2, the Nazi agents infiltrating England aren’t just fascists, they’re vampires!
Jacqueline CareyKushiel’s Mercy the 3rd in the Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy; the 6th overall…
Kelly McCulloughMythos the 4th in the series that began with Webmage
Jes BattisA Flash of Hex the sequel to Night Child andf the 2nd OSI novel…
Phaedra WeldonWraith the 1st Zoe Martinique Investigation. She can control her out-of-body experiences enough to hire herself out as a spy…
Jim ButcherFuries of Calderon the 1st in his Codex Alara series, now out in the UK…

C. E. MurphyUrban Shaman, Thunderbird Falls & Coyote Dreams the first 3 of the Walker Papers, about a novice Skinwalker and the Wild Hunt

Andre NortonStar Flight omnibus containing the two 50s novels The Stars are Ours and Star Born
Esther Friesner (editor) – Witch Way to the Mall the latest Chicks in Chainmail fantasy collection…

Greg LoomisCoptic Secret the 4th of his ancient artifact horror novels…
Jack KetchumCover horror
James BarringtonTimebomb thriller

Star TrekTroublesome Minds the latest adventure featuring the original (Classic) crew, written by Dave Galanter

art, etc:

Jim SilkeThe Art of Robert A. Maguire the art of one of the classic pulp illustrators…
Phillipe Bouchet (AKA ‘Manchu‘ ) – Manchu Sketchbook mainly sf sketches in b&w and colour…
Olivier VatineVatine Sketchbook mainly girls and monsters!

magazines:

Heavy Metal – July cover date
Juxtapoz – issue 100! May cover date
Illustration – issue 26

Locus – April cover date, issue 579

toys, etc:

The Desktop Heads of Easter Island These are great! A box with four little stone heads in it, shaped like the classic Easter Island heads!


May 27, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet

New Titles – w/e 23rd May 2009

in hardback:

Dubravka Ugresik - Baba Yaga Laid an Egg intriguing-looking new take on the old legend, translated from Croatian by Ellen Elias-Bursac, Celia Hawkesworth & Mark Thompson

in large format:

Greg EganDark Integers and other stories
Tim LebbonThe Island a dark fantasy novel of Noreela
Kirsten Imani KasaiIce Song 2 separate personalities alternately share a body; this makes the quest they’re on very awkward! Interesting-looking fantasy

Ursula K. LeGuinCheek by Jowl 8 essays or talks giving her views on the importance of fantasy literature.

in ‘B’ format:

Scott AndrewsOperation Motherland the latest of The Afterblight Chronicles!

Karel CapekThe Gardener’s Year back in after a lapse of several years; Capek’s look at gardening over the course of the year. Very readable, even by non-gardeners!

in paperback:

Kim HarrisonWhite Witch, Black Curse the 7th Rachel Morgan adventure…

C. C. FinlayA Spell for the Revolution the sequel to The Patriot Witch, and part 2 of the Traitor to the Crown trilogy
Greg van EekhoutNorse Code a genome project identifies Kathy as a descendent of Odin… but she’s already been recruited by the Norse Gods
Rachel CaineCarpe Corpus the 6th Morganville Vampires book, set on a minor college campus in Texas
Kendra Leigh CastleWild Highland Magic 3 American werewolves return to their homeland (it is the Year of Homecoming, after all) and go to rejoin the Clan MacInnes werewolves…
Andy McDermottThe Secret of Excalibur the 3rd ancient artifact adventure featuring Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase

Star WarsOrder 66 the latest Republic Commando novel, by Karen Traviss

art, etc:

Hi-Fructose Collected Edition hardback book of the best of the early issues; this is the book that was issues with extra material in a box a couple of months ago… more copies of the boxed edition is on backorder, but unlikely to be supplied, I’m afraid.

magazines:

Interzone #222 includes fiction by Sean McMullen and an interview with Jim Woodring! Pity the mail failed to deliver it for two days and then, despite my being open, delivered it next door anyway!

May 19, 2009 Posted by transrealfiction | Transreal New Titles | | No Comments Yet