Category Archives: Best Fantasy Novels

NPR's Best Science Fiction And Fantasy Of 2011

Be sure to check out NPR’s list for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2011, as decided by Lev Grossman, who I swear has been a contributor to every genre “best of” list this year (other than being the author of this year’s ‘The Magician King‘, Grossman also happens to be the book reviewer for Time magazine).

NPR’s list, which of course features this year’s fantasy darling ‘A Dance With Dragons,’ also highlights lesser known entries like Catherynne Valente’s ‘The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making‘ and ‘Rule 34‘ from Charles Stross. I have read a grand total of zero books off this list, which bums me out, but they’re all getting added to the que and pegged for late January reading.

Check out the full list on their site.

 

Monday's Writing Links

This week’s links highlight George R. R. Martin’s return to his ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series after an extended hiatus. As a result, we’re doing a George R. R. Martin/fantasy heavy set of links to celebrate.

Martin, whose last entry into the series was almost six years ago, finally returns with ‘A Dance With Dragons‘ at the opportune moment with his books back on the bestseller list and interest in his work at an all time high coming off the runaway success of HBO’s adaptation of his please-don’t-read-these-books-to-your-children fantasy series.

In ‘Dragons,’ Martin’s fifth entry into the series, he provides a whole new set of perspectives for the events that occurred in the previous book, ‘A Feast for Crows.’ So far, the word on ‘Dragons’ has been a resoundingly positive one and it seems that the wait was worth it. So, if you’re a fan of the series, make sure to pick it up tomorrow.

– George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Dance With Dragons’ Releases Tuesday (salon.com)

– Interview With George R. R. Martin’s Editor Anne Groell (sf-fantasy)

– George R. R. Martin: Reading Guide For Beginners (avclub)

– Steve Rogerson Lists The Ten Best Fantasy Novels (suite101)

– Theresa Walsh: Can Editing Be Fun? (writerunboxed)

– Amanda Flower’s 7 Things I’ve Learned So Far (guidetoliteraryagents)

– The Value Of Toxic Feedback (theurbanmuse)

– Baltimore: The Wire, Locations Part One (avclub)