martes, 31 de marzo de 2015

Novedad: Perfect State, de Brandon Sanderson

Hoy se pone a la venta Perfect State, una novela corta de Brandon Sanderson. Ésta es su sinopsis:

From the author of Legion and the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive comes an action-filled novella about privilege, culture clash, and expectations. 
God-Emperor Kairominas is lord of all he surveys. He has defeated all foes, has united the entire world beneath his rule, and has mastered the arcane arts. He spends his time sparring with his nemesis, who keeps trying to invade Kai's world. 
Except for today. Today, Kai has to go on a date. 
Forces have conspired to require him to meet with his equal--a woman from another world who has achieved just as much as he has. What happens when the most important man in the world is forced to have dinner with the most important woman in the world?

lunes, 30 de marzo de 2015

Harrison Squared, de Daryl Gregory


Banda sonora de la reseña: Sugiero leer esta reseña escuchando Monster de Scrimshander (Spotify).

Harrison Squared, la más reciente novela de Daryl Gregory, es una especie de precuela de We Are All Completely Fine (my review), su novela corta de 2014. Y digo "especie de" porque los sucesos narrados en Harrison Squared son ficción en el mundo We Are All Completely Fine (¿o quizá no?), tan solo una novela acerca de un joven llamado Harrison Harrison que no es el mismo Harrison Harrison de la novela corta (¿o quizá sí?). 

Así que tenemos dos libros conectados (o quizá no) por algunos personajes y ciertos hechos inusuales, y que es mejor leer y apreciar en conjunto, pero que son muy diferentes en bastantes aspectos. Mientras que We Are All Completely Fine tiene un tono oscuro y pesimista e incluso roza lo experimental en su forma, Harrison Squared es una narración mucho más convencional, más ligera en su tono y que incluso podría ser clasificada como novela juvenil.

De hecho, una de las cosas que más me han gustado de Harrison Squared es que está llena de sentido del humor. Los diálogos son inteligentes y agudos y la novela tiene muchas escenas realmente divertidas. Considerad, por ejemplo, el siguiente párrafo:
Aunt Selena was unmarried, with no children of her own. Like I said, people on Dad's put off spawning as long as possible, and I figured she'd probably never swim upstream. When I was little I saw her at a few holidays, up until Infamous Last Christmas. That morning, while Mom had fought with Grandpa, Aunt Sel had asked me to bring her a glass of wine - it was nine in the morning - and when I'd delivered it she'd handed me a ten dollar bill and said, "I dislike children, but I do appreciate decent service."
La tía Sel es sólo uno de los muchos y fascinantes personajes secundarios de Harrison Squared, y probablemente el único "normal". Tenemos al anfibio Lub, a la Toadmother, al Scrimshander, al profesor Waughm (go threshers!), a la enfermera Mandi... A pesar de que algunos de ellos aparecen en sólo un par de escenas, son todos de carne y hueso (de escamas y espinas, en ciertos casos) y tienen una voz única y perfectamente distinguible. Gregory tiene un notable talento para escribir personajes inusuales pero adorables (una de las cosas que más me gustó de la maravillosa Raising Stony Mayhall) y aquí se vuelve a poner de manifiesto.

Otro punto destacable de Harrison Squared es la misteriosa población de Dunnsmouth, claro homenaje a la obra de Lovecraft (la novela está repleta de referencia meta-literarias). Con apenas unas pocas frases, Gregory consigue crear una atmósfera enigmática, especialmente en lo que se refiere al extraño instituto al que Harrison se ve obligado a asistir:
"Hello, Harrison", the students said in unison. Not just generally at the same time, but in perfect synchrony, like a choir. A choir that had been rehearsing.
I lifted a hand in greeting. They stared at me. They were dressed in blacks and grays, not quite a uniform, but definitely a look, as if hey all did their shopping at ClinicalDepression.com. My tie-dye shirt was like a loud laugh at a  funeral.  
Como es habitual, la prosa de Gregory es engañosamente simple, haciendo parecer sencillo lo que es muy difícil de conseguir, y estableciendo el tono para el resto del libro a través de un puñado de estupendas escenas. Además, consigue mezclar esa sensación de misterio con los diálogos divertidos e inteligentes que mencionaba más arriba de un modo natural y sin fisuras en el que nada está forzado. Pocos autores son capaces de hacer funcionar este tipo de combinación, pero en Harrison Squared Gregory lo hace a las mil maravillas.

A pesar de todas sus virtudes, también encuentro algunos aspectos problemáticos en el libro. Por un lado, puede que por el tono juvenil de la trama, creo que la novela no consigue transmitir la sensación de apocalipsis inminente que uno esperaría de las amenazas a las que se enfrenta el protagonista. La atmósfera es misteriosa y enigmática, sí, pero nunca terrorífica y la violencia y las vísceras están muy suavizadas, al menos en comparación con We Are All Completely Fine. Por otro lado, Harrison Harrison me ha decepcionado un poco como protagonista principal, especialmente en comparación con la excelente caracterización del resto de personajes. Harrison es, en exceso, el típico héroe juvenil, y las características que podrían distinguirlo (su falta de autocontrol y su pierna prostética) no están, en mi humilde opinión, tan bien integradas en su personalidad como sería deseable.

A pesar de estos problemas, Harrison Squared es un buen libro y recomiendo su lectura (en combinación con We Are All Completely Fine, si es posible, para una experiencia más completa). Puede que no sea tan bueno como Raising Stony Mayhall, pero si echamos las cuentas, muy pocos libros lo son. El epílogo deja las cosas preparadas para una secuela y no pienso perdérmela si finalmente se publica.

(You can also read this review in English/También puedes leer esta reseña en inglés)  

Harrison Squared, by Daryl Gregory


(Disclaimer: English is my second language, so I want to apologize in advance for there may be mistakes in the text below. If you find any, please let me know so that I can correct it. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.)

Review Soundtrack: I suggest reading this review while listening to Monster by Scrimshander (Spotify).

Harrison Squared, Daryl Gregory's newest novel, is a prequel of sorts to We Are All Completely Fine (my review), his novella from 2014. And I say "of sorts" because the events told in Harrison Squared are just fiction in We Are All Completely Fine (or are they not?), just a novel about a teenager called Harrison Harrison who is not the same Harrison Harrison of the novella (or is he?). 

So, we have two books that might be linked (or not) by several characters and some unusual events and that are better read and appreciated together, but that are quite different in a lot of respects. While We Are All Completely Fine has a dark, pessimistic tone and is even a bit experimental in its form, Harrison Squared is a much more straightforward narration, lighter in mood and might be classified as YA fiction. 

In fact, one of the things I enjoyed the most about Harrison Squared is that it is full of humor. The dialog is intelligent and witty and the novel has many scenes that are really funny. Consider, for instance, the following paragraph:
Aunt Selena was unmarried, with no children of her own. Like I said, people on Dad's put off spawning as long as possible, and I figured she'd probably never swim upstream. When I was little I saw her at a few holidays, up until Infamous Last Christmas. That morning, while Mom had fought with Grandpa, Aunt Sel had asked me to bring her a glass of wine - it was nine in the morning - and when I'd delivered it she'd handed me a ten dollar bill and said, "I dislike children, but I do appreciate decent service."
Aunt Sel is just one of the many amazing secondary characters in Harrison Squared, and probably the only "normal" one. We have the amphibian Lub, the Toadmother, the Scrimshander, Prof. Waughm (go threshers!), Nurse Mandi... Despite some of them appear only a couple of times, all of them are fully fleshed (fish-fleshed, in some cases) and have a distinct and unique voice. Gregory obviously has a talent for writing unusual but lovely characters (one of the things I loved the most about the amazing Raising Stony Mayhall) and it shows. 

Another strong point of Harrison Squared is the mysterious village of Dunnsmouth, a clear homage to Lovecraft's work (the novel is full of meta-literary references). With just a few sentences, Gregory is able to set an enigmatic atmosphere, especially about the strange High School Harrison is forced to attend:
"Hello, Harrison", the students said in unison. Not just generally at the same time, but in perfect synchrony, like a choir. A choir that had been rehearsing.
I lifted a hand in greeting. They stared at me. They were dressed in blacks and grays, not quite a uniform, but definitely a look, as if hey all did their shopping at ClinicalDepression.com. My tie-dye shirt was like a loud laugh at a  funeral.  
As always, Gregory's prose is deceptively simple, making look easy what is really difficult to achieve, and setting the tone for the rest of the book with just a few, wonderful scenes. Also, he manages to mix that sense of mystery with the funny and clever dialog I mentioned above, in a seamless, natural way in which nothing is forced. Few authors are capable of sustaining that kind of combination, changing from the sinister to the humorous in a sentence, but Gregory excels at it in Harrison Squared.

For all its virtues, I also found some problematic aspects in the book. On the one hand, maybe because of the YA feel of the plot, I think that the novel fails to convey the sense of impeding doom that one might expect from the threats that main protagonist has to face. The atmosphere is mysterious and enigmatic, yes, but never horrifying and the violence and gore are toned down a lot, at least when compared to We Are All Completely Fine. On the other hand, I found Harrison Harrison a bit disappointing as a main protagonist, especially since the rest of the characters are so well-developed. He is too much the typical teenage hero, and the traits that could make him unique (his anger issues and his prosthetic limb) are not, in my humble opinion, as well integrated in his personality as could be desirable.

Despite these problems, Harrison Squared is a good book and one that I recommend reading (together with We Are All Completely Fine, if possible, for a more complete experience). It may not be as good as Raising Stony Mayhall, but at the end of the day, very few novels are. The epilogue sets everything in place for a sequel, and I won't be missing it if it finally happens.

(You can also read this review in Spanish/También puedes leer esta reseña en español)  

domingo, 29 de marzo de 2015

Ebook en oferta: Antes de que los cuelguen, de Joe Abercrombie

Durante el día de hoy se puede adquirir en Amazon España el ebook Antes de que los cuelguen, de Joe Abercrombie, por 1,42€ (mi reseña).

Ésta es la sinopsis de la novela:

El Superior Glokta tiene la misión de defender una ciudad sitiada por el ejército gurko y minada por la traición, además de descubrir qué ocurrió con su sucesor. 
Por su parte, los hombres del Norte han cruzado la frontera y han entrado a sangre y fuego en el territorio de la Unión; para detenerlos no bastará con el ejército del Rey. 
A su vez, Bayaz, el Primero de los Magos, conduce a un heterogéneo grupo de aventureros en una peligrosa misión por las ruinas del pasado...

Novedad: The Lost Boys Symphony, de Mark Andrew Ferguson

Esta semana se ha puesto a la venta The Lost Boys Symphony, una novela de viajes en el tiempo de Mark Andrew Ferguson que está recibiendo estupendas críticas.

Ésta es su sinopsis:
A STARTLINGLY ORIGINAL, GENRE-BENDING LITERARY DEBUT IN WHICH A LOVESICK COLLEGE STUDENT IS ABDUCTED BY HIS FUTURE SELVES. 
After Henry's girlfriend Val leaves him and transfers to another school, his grief begins to manifest itself in bizarre and horrifying ways. Cause and effect, once so reliable, no longer appear to be related in any recognizable manner. Either he's hallucinating, or the strength of his heartbreak over Val has unhinged reality itself. 
After weeks of sleepless nights and sick delusions, Henry decides to run away. If he can only find Val, he thinks, everything will make sense again. So he leaves his mother's home in the suburbs and marches toward the city and the woman who he thinks will save him. Once on the George Washington Bridge, however, a powerful hallucination knocks him out cold. When he awakens, he finds himself kidnapped by two strangers--one old, one middle-aged--who claim to be future versions of Henry himself. Val is the love of your life, they tell him. We've lost her, but you don't have to. 
In the meantime, Henry's best friend Gabe is on the verge of breakdown of his own. Convinced he is somehow to blame for Henry's deterioration and eventual disappearance, Gabe is consumed by a potent mix of guilt and sadness. When he is approached by an enigmatic stranger who bears a striking resemblance to his lost friend, Gabe begins to fear for his own sanity. With nowhere else to turn, he reaches out to the only person who can possibly help him make sense of it all: Val. 
The Lost Boys Symphony is a beautiful reminder of what it's like to be young, lost, and in and out of love for the very first time. By turns heartfelt and heartbreaking, Ferguson's debut novel boldly announces the arrival of a spellbinding new talent on the literary stage, in a master feat of empathy and multilayered storytelling that takes adventurous literary fiction to dizzying new heights.

sábado, 28 de marzo de 2015

Novedad: A Quantum Mythology, de Gavin Smith

Ya está a la venta A Quantum Mythology, una nueva novela de space opera de Gavin Smith. Ésta es su sinopsis:
Praised by Stephen Baxter and Adam Roberts, reviewed ecstatically by SFX magazine, Gavin Smith is one of the brightest stars of space opera.

In the far future, many years after the loss of earth, humanity has changed. Strength is the only way to survive. And the most vicious man alive has a new con in mind...

Here and now, a man with unnatural powers hunts down a killer with impossible abilities. Infused with a barely-understood alien technology, the two are merely pawns in a bigger game...

A long time ago, the last tribes of Northern Britain face an unimaginable enemy. Demons risen from the sea, absorbing and twisting everything they touch. But there are some among the tribes who have power, who will fight...

And all of these times are connected...

Gavin Smith's new epic space opera is a wide-ranging exploration of the past, present and future of mankind.

viernes, 27 de marzo de 2015

Portada y contenidos de The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, de Ken Liu

Se acaban de revelar la portada y contenidos de The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, la colección de relatos de Ken Liu que Saga Press publicará en noviembre de este año.

Los cuentos escogidos, entre los que se encuentran muchas de las mejores obras de Liu así como una historia nueva, son (he enlazado aquellos que están disponibles online de forma gratuita):

Contenidos de The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2015, de Rich Horton

Se han anunciado los contenidos de la antología The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2015, de Rich Horton. Los relatos incluidos, con enlaces a versiones gratuitas cuando están disponibles, son los siguientes:

jueves, 26 de marzo de 2015

Ebook gratuito: The Egg Said Nothing, de Caris O'Malley

En estos momentos se puede descargar gratuitamente de Amazon España el ebook The Egg Said Nothing, de Caris O'Malley, publicado por Eraserhead Press en su colección New Bizarro.

Ésta es la sinopsis del libro:
Meet Manny. He's your average shut-in with a penchant for late night television and looting local fountains for coins. With eight locks on his door and newspapers covering his windows, he's more than a bit paranoid, too. 
His wasn't a great life, but it was comfortable--at least it was until the morning he awoke with an egg between his legs. But what might have been a curse becomes a charm as this unlikely event leads him to an all night diner, where he finds inedible pie, undrinkable coffee, and the girl of his dreams. 
But can this unexpected chance at love survive after the egg cracks and time itself turns against him, dead-set on rerouting history and putting a shovel to the face of the one person who could bring real and lasting change to Manny's world?

Tres cómics: Henshin, Criminal y Trees

Banda sonora de la reseña: Sugiero leer esta reseña escuchando The Trees They Do Grow High, en la versión de Joan Baez (Spotify, YouTube).

Ya estoy de vuelta con otras tres reseñas cortas de cómics. En esta ocasión, la tres novelas gráficas de las que quiero hablar (Henshin, Criminal Vol. 1 y Trees Vol. 1) han sido, todas ellas, publicadas por Image Comics, la favorita de Sense of Wonder. Pero, a pesar de compartir editorial, los libros no podrían ser más diferentes entre sí.

Henshin, escrito e ilustrado por Ken Niimura, es un cómic muy extraño. Muy extraño de verdad. De hecho, si no hubiera sido por la recomendación de mi buen amigo Alexander Páez, nunca me habría interesado en él. He leído muy pocos mangas y ninguno me ha gustado demasiado, ya que me resulta difícil entender las referencias culturales japonesas (especialmente su humor) y, por tanto, no soy capaz de entrar en las historias. En este caso, ha sido incluso peor. El libro está compuesto de trece historietas independientes pero ligeramente relacionadas que tratan temas tan poco habituales como la caca de gato.

Algunas de las historias me han gustado más que otras. Por ejemplo, disfruté bastante la del padre y el hijo que tienen poderes telequinéticos. Además, hay algunas metáforas que realmente llaman la atención. La alienación de vivir en un país extranjero, con un idioma diferente y una cultura extraña, por ejemplo, está representada de varias e interesantes formas. Pero debo confesar que fui incapaz (y esto bien puede ser debido a mis limitaciones como lector) de apreciar el significado del cómic en su conjunto. Me sentí totalmente desconcertado mientras lo leía y me sigo sintiendo desconcertado días después de haberlo leído.

Criminal, escrito por Ed Brubaker con dibujo de Sean Phillips, es una obra completamente diferente. Aquí nos encontramos a Brubaker haciendo aquello que Brubaker hace mejor: escribir historias policiacas. Este volumen, que recoge los números del 1 al 5, tiene todos los clichés del género negro. Policías corruptos, grandes robos, drogadictos, crueles mafiosos, asesinatos, secuestros... todo lo que se os pueda ocurrir. La trama es muy sólida (aunque no especialmente original) y los personajes están bien desarrollados (aunque no son especialmente agradables). Si os gustan las novelas negras, necesitáis leer este cómic (además, es auto-contenido, lo que siempre es un plus al hablar de cómics). Lo recomiendo, aunque no estoy seguro de que vaya a leer los siguientes volúmenes ya que prefiero las historias con un carácter mucho más especulativo.

Y por eso por lo que Trees, con guión de Warren Ellis y dibujos de Jason Howard, es el cómic que más me gustado de esta tanda. La premisa es excelente: algunos años atrás, unas estructuras alienígenas gigantescas conocidas como árboles aparecieron en distintos lugares de nuestro planeta. Esto misteriosos artefactos tienen extrañas propiedades y desafían cualquier intento de explicación. Y, lo que es peor, a sus constructores no parecen interesarles nada los humanos y ni siquiera han intentado comunicarse con nosotros.


Trees explora, a través de varias subtramas paralelas, la naturaleza de estos objetos extraterrestres y cómo han afectado y cambiado la vida de la gente que vive a su alrededor. Este tipo de enfoque es más cercano a lo que solemos encontrar en la ciencia ficción literaria que a lo que es habitual en los cómics y, de hecho, me recordó a novelas como Los cronolitos, de Robert Charles Wilson. Mi única pega es que la relevancia de algunas de las subtramas, después de leer ocho números, aún no se ha revelado, pero he disfrutado mucho con este primer volumen y espero con ganas la oportunidad de leer el siguiente.

En resumen, recomiendo totalmente Criminal a los fans de la novela negra y Trees a los fans de la ciencia ficción. Henshin, por otro lado, es un libro tan extraño que sólo os lo puedo recomendar si estáis buscando algo completamente diferente a lo habitual y no os asusta terminar de leerlo sin saber por qué la caca de gato era tan importante después de todo. Luego no digáis que no os he avisado.

Three comic-books: Henshin, Criminal and Trees

(Disclaimer: English is my second language, so I want to apologize in advance for there may be mistakes in the text below. If you find any, please let me know so that I can correct it. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.)

Review Soundtrack: I suggest reading this review while listening to The Trees They Do Grow High, in the version performed by Joan Baez (Spotify, YouTube).

I'm back with three more short reviews of comic-books. In this occasion, the three graphic novels I want to talk about (Henshin, Criminal Vol. 1 and Trees Vol. 1) have all been published by Sense of Wonder favorite Image Comics. But, despite sharing publisher, the books couldn't be more different one from another. 

Henshin, written and illustrated by Ken Niimura, is a very strange comic-book. Very strange indeed. In fact, had not been for the recommendation of my good friend Alexander Páez, I wouldn't have been interested in it. I have read only a few mangas here and there, never enjoying them much since I find it very difficult to understand the Japanese cultural references (especially the humor) and to get into the stories. In this case, it was even worse. The book is composed of thirteen independent but loosely related vignettes that deal with topics so unusual as cat poop. 

Some of the stories interested me more than others. For instance, I quite enjoyed the one about the father and son with telekinetic powers. Also, there are various metaphors that really stand out. The alienation of living in a foreign country, with a different language and a strange culture, for example, is represented in a number of interesting ways. But I must confess that I was unable (and this may very well caused by my many limitations as a reader) to appreciate the meaning of the comic-book as a whole. I was completely baffled while reading it and I'm still baffled days after finishing it. 

Criminal, written by Ed Brubaker with art by Sean Phillips, is another beast entirely. Here, we find Brubaker doing what Brubaker does best: writing crime fiction. This volume, that collects issues 1 through 5, has all the clichés of the noir genre. Corrupt cops, heists, drug addicts, cruel mob bosses, murders, kidnapping - you name it. The plot is very solid (although not especially original) and the characters are well-developed (although not especially sympathetic). If you are into crime fiction, you really need to read this graphic novel (it is self-contained, something is always a plus with comic-books). I recommend it, although I'm not sure I'll be reading the next volumes since I'd rather read stories with a more speculative edge. 

And that is why Trees, written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Jason Howard, is the comic-book I've liked the most in this lot. Its premise is excellent: some years ago, gigantic alien structures know as trees appeared at different locations of our planet. These mysterious artifacts have strange properties and defy all explanations. And, what is worse, their builders seem to care nothing for us human beings and have not even tried to communicate with us. 

Trees explore, by means of several parallel subplots, the nature of these alien objects and how they have affected and changed the people that live near them. This approach is more akin to what we usually in literary science fiction than in comics, and in fact reminded me of novels such as The Chronoliths, by Robert Charles Wilson. My only complain is that the relevance of some of the subplots, after eight issues, remains yet to be revealed, but I really did enjoy this first volume and I am really looking forward to reading the next installment. 

All in all, I strongly recommend Criminal to crime fiction fans and Trees to science fiction fans. Henshin, on the other hand, is so weird a book that I would only recommend it if you're looking for something completely different and are not afraid of finishing the book without understanding why cat poop is so important after all. You've been warned.    

miércoles, 25 de marzo de 2015

Novedad: The Lazarus War, de Jamie Sawyer

Ayer se puso a la venta Artefact, de Jamie Sawyer, primera entrega de la serie The Lazarus War. Ésta es la sinopsis del libro:
Artefact is book one of The Lazarus War, an explosive new space adventure series from one of the brightest new stars in science fiction - perfect for fans of The Edge of Tomorrow, Alien and James S. A. Corey's Expanse series.

Jack Campbell, author of the Lost Fleet novels calls it 'a gripping read that moves at warp speed.'

Mankind has spread to the stars, only to become locked in warfare with an insidious alien race. All that stands against the alien menace are the soldiers of the Simulant Operation Programme, an elite military team remotely operating avatars in the most dangerous theatres of war.

Captain Conrad Harris has died hundreds of times - running suicide missions in simulant bodies. Known as Lazarus, he is a man addicted to death. So when a secret research station deep in alien territory suddenly goes dark, there is no other man who could possibly lead a rescue mission.

But Harris hasn't been trained for what he's about to find. And this time, he may not be coming back . . .

Artefact is an action-drenched tale of elite space marines, deep space exploration and galactic empires. Discover The Lazarus War - the thrilling new space opera series from one of the most exciting new voices in science fiction.

martes, 24 de marzo de 2015

Novedad: Harrison Squared, de Daryl Gregory

Hoy se pone a la venta Harrison Squared, la nueva novela de Daryl Gregory, que comparte personaje (o no) con We Are All Completely Fine. Estoy leyendo el libro en estos momentos, así que espero poder ofreceros pronto una reseña completa. 

Ésta es la sinopsis de la novela:
From award winning author Daryl Gregory, a thrilling and colorful Lovecraftian adventure of a teenage boy searching for his mother, and the macabre creatures he encounters.Harrison Harrison--H2 to his mom--is a lonely teenager who's been terrified of the water ever since he was a toddler in California, when a huge sea creature capsized their boat, and his father vanished. One of the "sensitives" who are attuned to the supernatural world, Harrison and his mother have just moved to the worst possible place for a boy like him: Dunnsmouth, a Lovecraftian town perched on rocks above the Atlantic, where strange things go on by night, monsters lurk under the waves, and creepy teachers run the local high school. On Harrison's first day at school, his mother, a marine biologist, disappears at sea. Harrison must attempt to solve the mystery of her accident, which puts him in conflict with a strange church, a knife-wielding killer, and the Deep Ones, fish-human hybrids that live in the bay. It will take all his resources--and an unusual host of allies--to defeat the danger and find his mother.

lunes, 23 de marzo de 2015

Clarke's Third Law, un cortometraje de Javier Valenzuela

Banda sonora de la reseña: Sugiero leer esta reseña escuchando Time & Space, compuesta por Alan Hawkshaw para la serie de televisión Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe (Spotify).

Arthur C. Clarke es, sin duda alguna, uno de los escritores de ciencia ficción más conocidos, tanto dentro como fuera del fandom. Novelas como Cita con Rama, El fin de la infancia o La ciudad y las estrellas y, por supuesto, la película 2001: Una odisea del espacio, han hecho del autor británico una de las figuras más importantes de la ciencia ficción del siglo XX. 

Clarke, además, nos dejó una de las máximas más citadas y parafraseadas en las conversaciones sobre literatura especulativa: Cualquier tecnología suficientemente avanzada es indistinguible de la magia, la famosa Tercera Ley de Clarke. Esta frase ha inspirado a numerosos autores, que han llegado incluso a utilizarla como título de sus libros. Es el caso, por ejemplo, de Robert L. Forward, Stephen Euin Cobb y Catherynne M. Valente.  

Ahora, la acertadísima observación de Clarke llega también al cine de la mano del director Javier Valenzuela y de la productora Valen Arts, que nos ofrecen Clarke's Third Law, un interesante cortometraje de ciencia ficción que he tenido la oportunidad de ver antes de su estreno. 

Clarke's Third Law, cuyo trailer podéis ver bajo estas líneas, se inspira en la vida y la obra de Arthur C. Clarke y en la búsqueda de civilizaciones extraterrestres. No quiero desvelar demasiados detalles de la trama (ni, por supuesto, de la sorpresa final), pero sí diré que los conocedores de la producción de Clarke podrán disfrutar de un buen número de guiños, algunos muy evidentes y otros no tanto, y que el amor por la ciencia y por los misterios del universo impregna cada uno de los casi siete minutos de este cortometraje. 



El corto está narrado en inglés, una decisión muy acertada de cara a su proyección internacional, y cuenta con guión de Salvador Rubio y con efectos especiales de Virtual Art. Me gustaría destacar especialmente la excelente banda sonora, compuesta por Sergio González-Román específicamente para esta obra, que contribuye sobremanera a envolver al espectador en una atmósfera de sentido de la maravilla y admiración ante el Cosmos. 

Podéis encontrar más información sobre esta obra en la página web del cortometraje, así como en el blog de su director, Javier Valenzuela, que incluye, entre otras muchas cosas, una serie de vídeos con el making of de Clarke's Third Law.

Quiero agradecer a Valen Arts que me haya brindado la oportunidad de ver y reseñar este cortometraje, y les deseo mucha suerte con esta interesante obra. Es un tipo de producción que, lamentablemente, es muy escaso en nuestro país y espero que sea sólo la primera de muchas otras obras cinematográficas en el campo de la ciencia ficción.       

domingo, 22 de marzo de 2015

Ebook en oferta: The Emperor's Blades, de Brian Staveley

Hasta final de mes se puede adquirir en Amazon España el ebook The Emperor's Blades, de Brian Staveley, al precio promocional de 1,29€ (cuidado, porque hay dos ediciones y sólo una está en oferta). 

Ésta es la sinopsis de la novela:
The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again . . . 
The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must prepare to unmask a conspiracy. His son Valyn, training for the empire's deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. And after several 'accidents' and a dying soldier's warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can act, he must survive the mercenaries' brutal final initiation. 
The Emperor's daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father's murderer in the capital. Court politics can be fatal, but she needs justice. Lastly Kaden, heir to the empire, studies in a remote monastery. Here, the Blank God's disciples teach their harsh ways, which Kaden must master to unlock ancient powers. But when an imperial delegation arrives, has he learnt enough to keep him alive, as long-hidden powers make their move?

sábado, 21 de marzo de 2015

Novedad en Fantascy: El ojo fragmentado, de Brent Weeks

Ya está a la venta en la colección Fantascy la novela El ojo fragmentado, de Brent Weeks. El libro tiene 992 páginas y cuesta 22,90€ en edición impresa y 9,99€ en ebook. 

Ésta es la sinopsis del libro:
Tras cautivar a legiones de lectores de todo el mundo con la trilogía «El Ángel de la Noche», Brent Weeks «cimentó su puesto entre los grandes escritores de fantasía épica de nuestro tiempo» (British Fantasy Society) con la publicación de El Prisma negro y La Daga de la Ceguera, los dos primeros tomos de «El Portador de Luz». Ahora, por fin, llega el esperadísimo tercer volumen de esta saga espectacular, en el que se dan cita aventuras, magia, intriga, complots, traiciones, amores contrariados, un villano formidable y acción a raudales.

Mientras los viejos dioses empiezan a desperezarse y las satrapías se fracturan, la Cromería lucha a contrarreloj por encontrar al Prisma perdido, el único hombre capaz de detener la catástrofe. Pero Gavin Guile ha sido apresado por un viejo enemigo y ahora es esclavo en una galera pirata. Y lo que es todavía peor, ya no cuenta con la única cosa que lo definía como Prisma: la capacidad mágica de trazar.

Sin la protección de su padre, Kip Guile se tendrá que enfrentar él solo a un maestro de las sombras, al tiempo que su maquiavélico abuelo empieza a ponerlo todo en marcha para escoger a un nuevo Prisma e instaurarse a sí mismo en el poder. Con la ayuda de Teia y Karris, Kip deberá emplear todo su ingenio para sobrevivir a una guerra secreta entre casas nobles, facciones religiosas, rebeldes y una orden de asesinos ocultos en auge, el Ojo Fragmentado.

viernes, 20 de marzo de 2015

Novedad en Sportula: Infierno nevado, de Ismael Martínez Biurrun

Sportula ha puesto a la venta Infierno nevado, de Ismael Martínez Biurrun. El libro tiene 274 páginas y cuesta 16€ en edición impresa y 4€ en ebook (sin DRM). Ésta es su sinopsis:
Celio Rufo es un veterano de la Legión, antiguo escribano en las tropas de Pompeyo el Grande. Pero Celio es sombra de lo que una vez fue: vive en un estado de terror permanente y la locura se agazapa a pocos pasos de él. Atrapado entre el deseo de olvidar y la necesidad de contar lo que pasó en Hispania, su vida es un laberinto sin salida... hasta que encuentra a otro veterano de la Legión, otro superviviente de los hechos atroces que presenció y empieza por fin a recordar y narrar lo que recuerda.

Así es como sabremos lo que ocurrió en el invierno del año 75 antes de Cristo en Hispania en un descanso en la lucha contra el rebelde Sertorio y conoceremos la historia del tribuno Arranes, un hombre atrapado entre su lealtad a Roma y su origen vascón. A través de la memoria de Celio asistiremos a la misión que emprende Arranes a lo más recóndito de las montañas, donde él y sus hombres encontrarán un terror ancestral y primigenio que se agazapa en lo más profundo del bosque nevado.

jueves, 19 de marzo de 2015

Ebook gratis: The Book of the Dead, antología de Jared Shurin

Durante el día de hoy se puede descargar gratuitamente en Amazon España la antología The Book of the Dead, editada por Jared Shurin. El libro recoge relatos sobre momias de autores como Gail Carriger, Paul Cornell, Adam Roberts y Maria Dahvana Headley.

Ésta es su sinopsis:
The Book of the Dead addresses the most fascinating of all the undead: the mummy. This anthology includes nineteen original stories of revenge, romance, monsters and mayhem; ranging freely across time periods, genres and styles. 
Includes new stories by Gail Carriger, Will Hill, Jesse Bullington, Paul Cornell, Maria Dahvana Headley, Jonathan Green, Molly Tanzer, David Bryher, Den Patrick, Lou Morgan, Sarah Newton, Maurice Broaddus, Glen Mehn, Louis Greenberg, Michael West, Jenni Hill, David Thomas Moore, Roger Luckhurst and Adam Roberts. 
The stories are illustrated by Garen Ewing, award-winning creator of The Adventures of Julius Chancer, and introduced by John J. Johnston, Vice Chair of the Egypt Exploration Society. 
The anthology is published in collaboration with the Egypt Exploration Society, the UK's oldest independent funder of archaeological fieldwork and research in Egypt, dedicated to the promotion and understanding of ancient Egyptian history and culture. 
"Be prepared, therefore, to shudder, smile, shed a tear, and even lose some sleep..."

Dulces dieciséis y otros relatos, de Eduardo Vaquerizo

Banda sonora de la reseña: Sugiero leer esta reseña escuchando Sweet Sixteen, en la versión de B.B. King (Spotify, YouTube).

La colección Cyberdark, recientemente creada por Luis G. Prado, parece haber sido concebida para satisfacer uno de mis deseos más recientes. Hace unos pocos meses, leyendo la antología Los Premios Ignotus 1991-2000 y, sobre todo, Historia y antología de la ciencia ficción española, me daba cuenta de mis enormes carencias en cuanto a conocimiento de los relatos de ciencia ficción de autores españoles. El problema es que intentar solucionar estas carencias implica intentar conseguir muchos libros, revistas y fanzines que hoy en día son casi inencontrables. 

Pocos días después de terminar de leer esos libros y de que se despertara en mí el deseo de leer más ficción breve escrita en español, se anunció el primer título de la colección Cyberdark: este Dulces dieciséis y otros relatos, al que hoy quiero dedicar algunas líneas. El libro recoge once relatos publicados por Eduardo Vaquerizo entre los años 1997 y 2003, muchos de ellos finalistas o ganadores de premios como el Ignotus, el Pablo Rido, o el Domingo Santos, y que se editan por primera vez de forma conjunta. Además, los cuentos se complementan con interesantes notas del autor en las que relata su proceso de creación y publicación.

Los relatos destacan tanto por su calidad como por su variedad. Desde la ciencia ficción ambientada en Marte ("Dulces dieciséis") a la distopía ("Quercarrán"); del relato vampírico ("Seda y plata") al gótico ("No bebía otra cosa que agua"); de la ucronía ("Águilas negras") a la ciencia ficción dura ("Los caminos del sueño"). Una buena muestra de la versatilidad de Vaquerizo, que cambia no sólo de tema sino de registro (y hasta de voz) en casi cada relato.

Aunque hay algunos relatos que no me han convencido completamente ("El obrador", por ejemplo), la mayoría de ellos son, cuando menos, notables. Me han gustado mucho, por supuesto, aquellos que se acercan más a mis temáticas preferidas: la distopía cargada de mala leche de "Quercarrán";"Los caminos del sueño", con ese claro homenaje a la obra de Juan Miguel Aguilera; o "Habítame y que el tiempo me hiele", puesto que la ciencia ficción "religiosa" siempre me ha interesado especialmente. Pero, sorprendentemente, también he disfrutado un montón con cuentos que se alejan mucho de mis géneros favoritos. Por ejemplo, los coqueteos con el terror y el folklore de "No bebía otra cosa que agua" y el enfoque poco habitual de "Seda y plata" sobre el tema de los vampiros, me han parecido de lo más destacable de la antología. 

La edición, aunque tiene algunos fallos de corrección (especialmente en lo que se refiere a los acentos), está bastante cuidada y el diseño de la colección es atractivo. Por todo esto y por los motivos que apuntaba arriba, esta serie de libros me parecerían totalmente imprescindibles en mi biblioteca... si no fuera por un pequeño detalle. Por el momento Dulces dieciséis y otros relatos sólo está disponible en edición impresa y, parece ser, no se espera que se edite en formato electrónico. Personalmente, y aunque este tipo de recopilaciones me interesan sobremanera, creo que esto supondrá que tenga que prescindir completamente de estos títulos. Por desgracia, voy teniendo ya unos años y la lectura en papel castiga de tal manera mi cuello y mi espalda que me es imposible leer un libro impreso durante más de quince minutos sin tener serias molestias y hasta dolores que me pueden durar varias horas. Precisamente por ello tardé varios meses en terminar este libro. Muchas veces no era capaz ni siquiera de terminar un cuento de un tirón y eso me hacía posponer la lectura durante días en favor de libros que tenía en mi Kindle y que podía leer de forma mucho más confortable. 

En cualquier caso, si vuestra anatomía no es tan delicada como la mía, recomiendo que leáis Dulces dieciséis y otros relatos. Aunque el continente no es mi preferido, el contenido bien merece la pena. Y si Luis G. Prado se decide finalmente a editar esta colección Cyberdark en versión electrónica, tened por seguro que me tendrá como un fiel seguidor de la misma. La iniciativa, sin duda, es tan interesante como necesaria. 

miércoles, 18 de marzo de 2015

Novedad y oferta: Glorious Angels, de Justina Robson

Mañana se pone a la venta Glorious Angels, la nueva novela de Justina Robson. Además, el ebook se puede adquirir, desde este momento y durante los próximos siete días, al precio promocional de 2,49€ (Amazon ES, Kobo). 

Ésta es la sinopsis de la novela:
Justina Robson (acclaimed author of NATURAL HISTORY, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THE GOD OF LOVE and the Quantum Gravity series) is back with a cutting-edge novel of science, adventure and ideas.

On a world where science and magic are hard to tell apart, a stranger arrives in a remote town with news of political turmoil to come. And a young woman learns that she must free herself from the role she has accepted.

Always vivid, always full of stunning ideas and imagery, Justina Robson is the ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD shortlisted author of some of our most exciting, yet philosophical SF. A new novel from her is a major event in the SF calend

martes, 17 de marzo de 2015

Novedad: The Darkside War, de Zachary Brown

Hoy se pone a la venta The Darkside War, de Zachary Brown. Ésta es su sinopsis:

Aliens have conquered Earth, but they haven’t conquered humanity—yet. A young army conscript battles for survival in this action-packed futuristic thriller that will appeal to fans of Halo and Inglorious Bastards. 
People used to wonder if we were alone in the universe. Well, we’re not. Not by a long shot. Aliens come in all shapes and sizes, and even the good guys are likely to haunt your nightmares. And oh, you’ll have nightmares, even after you leave the service. If you leave the service. 
Devin is a reluctant conscript to an alien-run army: when the Accordance conquered Earth, they said it was to prepare against the incoming alien Conglomeration forces. But as Devin travels to the dark side of the moon for boot camp and better acquaints himself with his so-called allies, his loyalties are increasingly tested. Because the enemy of the enemy is not always a friend. Sometimes they’re a far, far worse threat.

lunes, 16 de marzo de 2015

Interview with E.J. Swift

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing, together with Leticia Lara from the wonderful Fantástica Ficción, E.J. Swift author of Osiris, Cataveiro and Tamaruq. You can also read a translation of the interview into Spanish at Fantástica Ficción. Hope you enjoy it! 


Leticia Lara & OdoWhen did you know you wanted to become a writer? Which other authors have influenced you? Is there any current writer that you admire?

E.J. Swift: I’ve written stories since I can remember, so it wasn’t a conscious decision to become a writer - just something I’ve always done, and I hope I always will do. 

There are so many writers I could list who have been influential. Margaret Atwood is a huge inspiration. The Blind Assassin is one of my favourite novels and one of the most affecting works I’ve read. I’m also a big fan of Jennifer Egan, who is one of those rare writers who can switch between tragedy and comedy within a sentence.

A few recent novels I loved were The Kills by Richard House (2013), The Race by Nina Allan (2014) and The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne (2014) - I seem to be drawn to fragmented narratives. 

LL&O: What is your process of writing? Do you have the plot in your mind and let yourself go or do you plan every little step of your characters? 

EJS: It’s different for every novel, but the process is more organic than structured. I don’t plot intensively in advance. I write scenes out of sequence, as they come to mind, and when I have enough material, I start working out how it all fits together.

With Osiris, the story grew from the concept of the place, this very hostile environment in the middle of the ocean, which believes itself cut off from the rest of the world. With Cataveiro, I had a strong sense of the characters of Ramona and Taeo, and wanted to explore the tension between them and how this is reflected with the broader themes of the novel, even though their paths intersect very briefly.

LL&OHow did it affect you the change of your publishing company from Night Shade Books to Del Rey UK?

EJS: I already had the contract with Del Rey UK when Night Shade Books changed hands, so that was very reassuring during a period of uncertainty, to know that the sequels would be published at least in the UK. On the US side, Night Shade Books continue to publish Osiris, and I’m hoping to have US ebooks available for Cataveiro and Tamaruq very soon. I commissioned new artwork for these from the wonderful artist Ben Baldwin, which I’m looking forward to sharing once the ebooks are ready.

LL&OWhat can you tell us about the current wave of clifi (climate change fiction)? Do you think it has come to stay?

EJS: I think it’s almost impossible to write anything set in the near future without addressing it, at least as background detail. And in a lot of science fiction set further into the future, there’s reference to some kind of environmental restoration, before progress can begin again - Paul McAuley’s The Quiet War, for example. I mentioned The Race earlier - one of the themes it explores is the devastating environmental consequences of fracking, which is a recurring threat in the UK at the moment. 

LL&OWho is your favorite character from your books? 

EJS: I would have to say the Alaskan, who appears first in Cataveiro. She’s an outcast, exiled from her own country, fiercely intelligent, and first appears as a rather Machiavellian villain. I loved gradually filling in her backstory, and developing the relationship between her and her employee, the street kid Mig. It would be great to write some of her earlier life story one day.

LL&OReading Osiris and Cataveiro I feel amazed by the background of the stories, the world as a desert place. Do you see it as a possible (and terrible) future? Are your books a warning?

EJS: I first read about the threat of climate change in-depth when I came across Mark Lynas’s Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet. And it was terrifying, reading that. Since then I’ve tried to keep myself updated on developments, and it’s obviously gained increasing media attention.

Certainly the destruction of the natural world is something I feel very passionate about. I read an article recently which talked about the media frenzy that would be generated if evidence were found of even the most primitive life on Mars. The writer made the point that by contrast, we are happy to watch hundreds of species go extinct every year on Earth, some of which we won’t even have a chance to discover. So I suppose the books are in part my reaction to what is happening here and now - and what we could lose if we don’t do something to stop it. In Cataveiro, especially, I felt there was an opportunity to explore some of those ideas - through the story of the last jaguar, for example.

LL&OHow do you feel about "The Spiders of Stockholm" being included in Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award longlist?

EJS: That was amazing! Jared Shurin, who edited the story, had submitted it back in July, and I had completely forgotten about it. So it was a massive surprise to find out it had been longlisted. I hope it might bring some attention to Irregularity, which is a gorgeous anthology. Jurassic always publish great collections.

LL&OIn Osiris there is growing tension because people from the west are not allowed to enter the richest part of the city. What do you think about the current conflicts caused by illegal immigration both in America and in Europe? How can Science Fiction help overcome this kind of problems?

EJS: Science fiction, and literature in general, can give a face and a voice to the unfamiliar, and remind us to empathize, to be compassionate. In particular, I think science fiction has a unique power to explore real-world situations through allegory. Setting a novel in a futuristic sea city gave me the freedom to examine some of these conflicts without the anxiety of misrepresenting a community. I wanted Osiris to be a failed utopia - in the beginning, the city was open to everyone, but when resources are stretched as a result of environmental catastrophe, the walls come down. It’s a classic reaction.

LL&OAlso in Osiris, the menace of terrorism is used as a political weapon in order to advance certain agendas. Did you find inspiration for this in some real-world politics? 

EJS: I think real-world politics have inevitably influenced my work. I was definitely interested to explore the rhetoric of war, particularly when it came to writing Tamaruq, the third book, where the city of Osiris becomes a pawn in the ambitions of north and south. I’m fascinated by the way that language frames, justifies or warps our perspective on aggressor and victim, from media to politics to the way history is recorded.

Two writers I admire greatly who write about some of these tensions are Kamila Shamsie (Burnt Shadows is a great example) and Aminatta Forna, who has explored civil war in Sierra Leone and Croatia in her work.

LL&OWhat is your opinion on the situation of women in genre fiction?

EJS: We have a long way to go towards gender equality, and not just in genre fiction. When I was writing Osiris, I wasn’t thinking about what genre I was writing or how it would be marketed, I was focussed on the story. It was only after being published that I became aware of the discussions around gender within science fiction.

It was around that time I started cataloguing my reading, and was horrified to realize I was reading far more male writers than female. Since then I’ve had a strict 50-50 or bias-towards-women-writers rule for myself, and I’ve discovered some brilliant writers I’d never heard of. It’s quite alarming when you identify as a feminist, and realize that unconsciously you’ve been contributing to the problem yourself. I’m not a reviewer, but I make more of a conscious effort now to write about books I’ve enjoyed on my website, particularly by women.

LL&OIn Osiris suicide is like the ultimate taboo. Do you think that our will to live is strong enough to guide us even through the direst of futures? 

EJS: Yes, I think we’ll endure, the question is how (and I really hope it’s not like the far future section of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, which is one of the darkest futures I’ve ever read), and whether we can maintain a society that is truly humane. Because it’s always the most vulnerable sections of society who suffer first. In Emily St John Mandel’s Station Eleven, one of the scenes that really stuck with me was a girl in the airport desperately asking if anyone had the anti-depressants she needed, because she had run out of medication, and nobody did. But I loved that book because it also highlighted the capacity of art to endure. So if the apocalypse comes, hopefully it will be more Station Eleven than Cloud Atlas!

LL&OHave you ever been contacted by Spanish publishers to translate your books?

EJS: Sadly not, though I would love to see my books translated. I’d love to see more non-Anglophone work translated into English too.

LL&OAre social networks important for your relationships with other authors and with your readers?

EJS: Yes, but I have something of a love-hate relationship with Twitter. Of course it’s useful as a professional network, and more importantly it’s lovely to connect with other readers and writers, to talk about books, to find recommendations for books you might never have heard of. I find so much of my reading through recommendations online. On the other hand, it can also feel like a total time sink, and all too often any nuance or reason is lost in a sea of people shouting.

LL&OWhat are you working on right now? Can you give us a sneak peek of your future projects?

EJS: I’m working on something a bit different from The Osiris Project - and not quite so dark! I can’t say too much about it yet but it’s a standalone novel, a contemporary setting with speculative elements.

LL&OWhere can our readers learn more about you and your work?

EJS: You can find out more via my website - www.ejswift.co.uk

I’m also on twitter (@catamaroon) and on Facebook facebook.com/ejswiftauthor so please do say hello.

LL&OAny other thing you would like to add?

EJS: Thank you for having me on the blog, and for asking some really interesting questions!