Altered Fluid on Hour of the Wolf

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Once again, the Altered Fluid writing group will be on WBAI’s radio program Hour of the Wolf tomorrow morning, bright and early at 5 a.m. If you happen to be awake then, and thinking, “Gosh, I wonder how a good writing group works,” then tune in to hear Paul Berger read from his just-now-draft version of “Damp Spam”. It’s a hilarious tale of quantum physics and dinosaurs, which we will cheerfully critique on live radio. Those of you who are off at Arisia this weekend, which I am unfortunately not attending — if you happen to be awake after some

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Fourfecta! Library Journal too!

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OK, so I’d already mentioned the reviews by Romantic Times and Kirkus, and that the Publishers’ Weekly review was starred. Yesterday, however, brought a fresh surprise: Library Journal gave The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms a starred review too! Here’s the relevant bit: Debut author Jemisin creates a mesmerizingly exotic world where fallen gods serve as slaves to the ruling class and murder and ambition go hand in hand. VERDICT: An engaging heroine and a fresh take on traditional dynastic fantasy make this trilogy opener a delight for the fantasy reader and introduce a strong new voice to the genre. And since

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Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review!

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OK, I heard about this a few weeks ago and hinted at it a few posts back. Have been gleefully sitting on the news, waiting for the folks at PW to post the review themselves before I unveiled it. It’s still not up there, so you can’t see the actual text yet. But the folks at Orbit have already spilled the beans, so that means I get to squee too — The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms has gotten a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly! Like I said, I’ve seen the actual text of the review, and it’s phenomenal; can’t wait to

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And now, a moment of shameless fangirlery

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Via Stomping on Yeti, just saw the cover of the latest Temeraire novel! Go here to view it and read an excerpt. Oooh, is that Iskierka entwined with Temeraire? Probably not, given the coloring and lack of steam/flame. Plus he can’t stand her, the fussbudget; can’t imagine him happily tangling up with her like that. I hope she manages to win him over. But then what dragon is it? They’re in Australia for this one — will we see marsupial dragons at last?? Aaaaaaagh I can’t believe I have to wait ’til July…!!! And how long before the Temeraire movie?!

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“The Narcomancer” Live at Podcastle

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This week’s Podcastle is my novelette “The Narcomancer”, which was first published a few years ago in the now-defunct Helix (and is currently archived at Transcriptase). It’s read by fellow Altered Fluidian Rajan Khanna, whose voice I always love. Also features an illustration by artist Shaun Lindow. “The Narcomancer” is based on a couple of unpublished novels of mine, if you’re wondering: “the Tales of the Dreaming Moon” duet, which is more traditional epic fantasy than “the Inheritance Trilogy” except in that it’s set in a secondary world that consciously evokes ancient Egypt and Nubia. And the Jungian collective unconscious.

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Et tu, Kirkus?

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Except this “et tu” is a good thing, because Kirkus’ review of 100K is fantastic: Debut fantasy features an intriguing, well-drawn mythology. At first glance, the basic plot may seem standard: A young woman, narrator/protagonist Yeine Darr, is named heir to the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, which plunges her into a power struggle with two rival cousins. But Jemisin’s world-building and attention to detail raise this story to another level. In the novel’s complex but well-defined universe, a war between the gods took place in the distant past. The losing divinities were punished severely and forced to become the slaves of

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More on Romantic Times

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I’ve now seen the full ratings list (PDF) for the February issue. My book got the only “Gold” rating in the whole issue. ::dies again:: While I’m on the subject of RT, they interviewed me! It will show up in their March issue, paired with the interview of another Brooklyn-based author; RT is giving the borough a little love. A sample from the interview: 3. Why didn’t you set your books in the borough? Because I mostly write secondary-world (i.e., “not Earth”) fantasy and science fiction! And really, I have a nasty habit of destroying the worlds in which I

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Power and Privilege in Fantasy over at Orbit Blog

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Posted some general thoughts on power and privilege in fantasy over at Orbit, though framing it with the discussion of science fiction and horror film trailers. Which is not as much of a contradiction as it sounds like! Go lookee. (Closing comments here; if you want to say something, say it there. Note that the comments are moderated so it may take a bit for your comment to show.)

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ROMANTIC TIMES WHOA YEAH BABY

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Have heard about two phenomenal reviews from major outlets in the last few days, which have constituted the BEST CHRISTMAS GIFTS EVAR. One of them I can’t tell you about until it’s official. The other, though, my agent sent to me tonight (yes, on a Saturday, day after Christmas, is she amazing or what?), from Romantic Times Book Reviews re The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: Top Pick! This is an astounding debut novel. The worldbuilding is solid, the characterization superb, the plot complicated yet clear. Yeine is a fantastic protagonist, and her journey toward her destiny is compelling and memorable. The

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