Warriors Phenomenon Keeps Building

Today is a banner day for author Erin Hunter as she launches the third six-book series in her incredibly successful Warriors series. Today is the release date for The Sight, book one in her Power of Three series.

Actually, Erin Hunter is the pen name of two English writers, Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry, and if you have a child anywhere between the ages of 8 and 18, they have surely read one or more of the previous 12 books. Around here, it's one of those series that we have a standing order for each new release. We try to keep all of the titles on hand, too, so that as children reach a certain age they can begin the adventure at the beginning.

Those of you who pre-ordered will have already been called about the new book, but you may be unaware that HarperCollins Children's Books has extended the brand even further into manga...that's the Asian-influenced graphic novel style with all original stories, and book one of a planned three-book series also comes out today: The Lost Warrior.

If you're still puzzled about the whole Warriors phenomenon, just ask the child in your life, or read the annotation below:

There will be three, kin of your kin . . .

The wild cats have flourished in their new home on the banks of the lake for several seasons, and the Clans are growing strong and healthy with new kits. The time has come for three kits of ThunderClan to become apprentices.

Hollypaw, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw spring from a strong legacy: children of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, two of the noblest ThunderClan warriors, and grandchildren of the great leader Firestar himself. All three young cats possess unusual power and talent and seem certain to provide strength to the Clan for the next generation.

But there are dark secrets around the three, and a mysterious prophecy hints at trouble to come. An undercurrent of rage is rising against those who are not Clanborn, and the warrior code is in danger of being washed away by a river of blood. All the young cats' strength will be needed if the Clans are to survive.

. . . who hold the power of the stars in their paws.

Wow, Was I Surprised!

While perusing today's list of upcoming titles, I was startled to see the book at the right. Tolkien? Wouldn't they have emptied out that particular filing cabinet by now?

Guess not. The family of the legendary creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy has edited the remaining manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien and they will be released in less than two weeks. All I can find out about the book is that it is a narrative of an earlier Middle Earth where we discover many of the origins of the orcs, sorcerers, fairies, dwarves, and elves who inhabit the world created by this most fertile imagination.

If you are a fiend for the Rings, you'll want to be the first to read this one. Give us a call or drop us a line to reserve your copy.

The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
ISBN 9780618894642 Houghton Mifflin, 17 April 2007 (Hardcover) $26

The title is also available in a deluxe edition for $75.

Joe Hill Hits It

A compelling character and exquisite storytelling combine to make Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box one of the best books I've read. Comparison to authors living or dead is inevitable, but I'm certain that Hill is destined for long-term success.

A novel rarely thrives on good writing alone. In Judas Coyne, Hill has created a character of depth who is, in so many ways, unlike anyone you've ever known. And yet, before the novel ends, you'll be completely involved in his story.

Coyne is the last surviving member of an iconic death-metal band. As he ages, his fan-base stays the same age, and thus he finds himself a god among a certain breed of disaffected youth. He collects death memorabilia - a snuff film, a cookbook for cannibals, a hangman's noose - and his fans are constantly sending him things related that they believe he will appreciate.

Then one day his assistant alerts him to an online auction site offering for sale "one ghost." Something about the offering attracts Judas, and before you know it, he's the owner of a "heart-shaped box," containing a spirit out for very specific revenge.

Truly, to tell any more will ruin the story. Let me just say it is grounded in reality and where it departs, the psychological thrills are so believable you'll find it hard to sleep.

Click on the graphic to browse inside this book.



Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
ISBN 9780061147937 William Morrow (HarperCollins) March 2007 (Hardcover) $24.95 376 pp.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

Isabel "Izzy" Spellman is good at her job. She might be a disaster at love and other pursuits you and I would call "normal," but she genuinely likes her job and shows great talent for it.

But then, why wouldn't she? It runs in the family.

The Spellman Files, by Lisa Lutz, is the first in a hilarious series about Spellman Investigations - mom, dad, brother, sis - they spend more time spying on each other than on their clients' jobs. The chaos wends from case to case, and Lutz has organized the book thusly.

The author, who wrote the screenplay for the 2000 film Plan B (which, by coincidence, features friend Ruthanne Wolfe's niece Traci Ann Wolfe, previously mentioned on this blog), shows great skill at quick character development. In fact, this seems more like a tryout for a weekly TV series along the lines of Monk or House.

Here's an excerpt from The Snow Case:

As Uncle Ray bit his tongue and entered the Wax Museum, I knocked on the door of Joseph and Abigail snow's house on Myrtle Avenue in Marin County. When Mrs. Snow opened the door, I was blasted by an overwhelming fragrance that emanated from the home. I would later learn that the scent was potpourri, but there were too many other effects offending my sensibilities at that moment for me to investigate the odor.

Abigail Snow, now in her early sixties, was wearing an outdated floral dress that looked like it came from the wardrobe of a 1950s sitcom star. Her hair, as well, was trapped in the past and in half a can of hairspray. She was probably about five foot six, but her stocky build, which was more sturdy than plump, made her seem taller and oddly intimidating. While her attire was (in my estimation) unflattering, it was kept in immaculate condition. When I entered the house, I would discover that this was a theme for Mrs. Snow - tasteless, but immaculate.

Back in November when I put my order in for this book, I knew it would appeal to fans of Stephanie Plum, although it's hard to see Izzy having much of a successful romantic life.

Janet Evanovich, look out!

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
ISBN 9781416532392 March 2007 Simon & Schuster (Hardcover) $25

Remember This Name...

Remember this name…

Ethan Gage is the Great American Hero, the creation of author William Dietrich.

Paris, 1798. The Revolution and the terror of its aftermath have passed. Not yet dictator, Napoleon sets out to conquer Egypt, accompanied by scores of savants, the scientific elite of France, intending not only to thwart the British Empire’s designs on India, but to explore the mysteries of the Nile.

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

Enter Gage. Former aide to Ambassador Benjamin Franklin. Crack shot with a long rifle. Gambler and ladies’ man. A good night at the card tables ends with our American hero the new owner of a mysterious medallion coveted by nefarious forces. Before daylight, he is accused of the murder of a prostitute and, without alternatives, he turns to his Masonic brothers for refuge. Instead, they offer him the chance to explore the pyramids of the pharaohs as part of the French invasion force.

I hesitate to even compare this to The DaVinci Code, but that’s going to be the natural comparison. Dan Brown’s phenomenon doesn’t even come close to this one. Dietrich has created a character for which you will want to root. The mysteries unravel in a way that is completely surprising. Robert Langdon’s riddles were so predictable it wasn’t funny. As for love interests, Ethan’s mysterious slavegirl/priestess is far more capable, more alluring, and, eventually, more devoted.

The historical pastiche, especially the psychological profile of Bonaparte and the battle strategy, makes Napoleon’s Pyramids a far superior book. And though one mystery is solved, the ending promises further Middle Eastern adventures for young Ethan Gage.

Napoleon’s Pyramids by William Dietrich
ISBN 9780060848323, Feb. 2007 HarperCollins (Hardcover) $24.95

Other books by William Dietrich:
Hadrian’s Wall: A Novel of Roman England (I loved it!) ISBN 9780060563721 (2004)
The Scourge of God: A Novel of the Roman Empire ISBN 9780060735081 (2005)

PBS Scheduling Documentary on American Novel

I've been invited, through the American Booksellers Association, to contribute my thoughts toward an upcoming PBS documentary on the American novel. For now, my participation is only as a survey participant, but it could become more.

I may decline the opportunity, but it does present us with a wonderful opportunity to work collegially to answer the following questions:

What do you think are the five (5) best American novels?
Who do you think are the five (5) best heroes or heroines in American novels?
Who do you think are the five (5) best villains or villainesses in American novels?
What do you think are the best lines in American novels?

Don't feel obligated to answer every question, and don't feel obligated to come up with five in each category. Remember, you can comment below with or without identifying yourself. Next Sunday, I'll report on your comments and e-mails in response.

And remember that we're now on daylight saving time!

"Tom Trueheart" is Uniquely Magical

Thanks to patron Rebecca G., who offers us this bite-size book review of The Secret History of Tom Trueheart, by Ian Beck.

The Secret History of Tom Trueheart is a riveting fairy tale that is well-written and very exciting. This book is entertaining throughout and one of the best this year. Fans of fairytales will love this book with delightful characters and a great setting. Beck has written it with sharply drawn characters and a unique portrayal of drama, magic, and intrigue.

This is a wonderful story about a boy who must find courage to go and rescue his brothers before it is too late. He must go to a land where fairy tales are true and full of mischief. A colorful and fast-paced adventure with great characters full of talking crows, princesses in distress, giants, and apprentice sprites.

Recommended for ages 9-11.

The Secret History of Tom Trueheart by Ian Beck
ISBN 9780061152108, Feb. 2007 Greenwillow/HarperCollins (Hardcover) $16.99

Also available for younger children by Beck:
Digory the Dragon Slayer
Hansel and Gretel
Cinderella
The Teddy Robber

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"Lost Constitution" Satisfies

My guilty pleasure reading includes thrillers, though I don't get to read them as much nowadays. Robert Ludlum, David Morrell, John Maxim, and now Barry Eisler are among my favorites.

I've discovered a new (for me) writer who's better than Grisham, to name a popular novelist. William Martin's his name, and "The Lost Constitution" is his latest. I have thoroughly enjoyed this one. Here's a little blurb:

"Rare-book expert Peter Fallon and his girlfriend, Evangeline Carrington...are back for another treasure hunt through time. They have learned of an early, annotated draft of the Constitution, stolen and smuggled out of Philadelphia. The draft's marginal notes spell out, in shocking detail, the Founders' unequivocal intentions - the unmistakable meaning of the Bill of Rights. Peddled and purloined, trafficked and concealed for over two centuries, the lost Constitution could forever change America's history - and its future."

All of New England becomes a character in this gripping novel, in which the author alternates between the present-day hunt for the lost document, and the actual history of its journey from 1786 to now. The protagonist is a dogged researcher in following the path of a legend and along the way he and his love escape killers while sussing out the clues to the Constitution's present location. I give it a high B+, and highly recommend it for your entertainment. You might just learn a few things along the way, too.

Read about the author.

The Lost Constitution by William Martin
ISBN 9780765315380, May 2007 Forge/Tor (Hardcover) $24.95 (Fiction)

Previous books in the series: Back Bay (1979) and Harvard Yard (2003). We have both of these titles in mass-market format ($7.99)

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