Tag Archives: philip pullman

New on Kindle: Mid-January, Part 2

The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan

Buy: Kindle Store

Epic fantasy reinvented, i.e., more in the tradition of George R.R. Martin rather than J.R.R. Tolkien. Joe Abercrombie (The Blade Itself) comments, “Bold, brutal, and making no compromises–Morgan doesn’t so much twist the clichés of fantasy as take an axe to them. Then set them on fire.”

Which sounds like win to me.

You likely know Morgan better from his award-nominated science fiction, such as Thirteen, also available on the Kindle.

Them Bones by Carolyn Haines

Buy: Kindle Store

Here’s another mystery series with a fantastic element: in this case, our sleuth is advised by a ghost that haunts her plantation house. The Mississippi Delta paranormal mysteries are now complete on the Kindle with this first volume.

I’ll note that partway through the series, the cover art changed dramatically:

In order:

  1. Them Bones
  2. Buried Bones
  3. Splintered Bones
  4. Crossed Bones
  5. Hallowed Bones
  6. Bones to Pick
  7. Ham Bones
  8. Wishbones

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson

Buy: Kindle Store

Tír na n’Óg, the land of the faeries in Irish folklore, is a land of eternal youth. So naturally when your mother asks for more time as a gift, this is where your quest to locate the missing time of modern life eventually leads you.

Faeries are never a good thing to cross these days.

Rich in Irish mythology and music, The New Policeman and its sequel, The Last of the High Kings, is available on the Kindle.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Buy: Kindle Store

There is definitely a sub-genre of “Urban Faery” these days.

And unlike most, Wicked Lovely not only tells the story from the point of view of the human (in this case, teenager Aislinn) but also from the point of view of the faeries involved (Keenan, the Summer King, who must find the Summer Queen; and Donia, the unfortunate faerie girl who loves him).

The Switch by Anthony Horowitz

Buy: Kindle Store

Starting off sort of like It’s a Wonderful Life in reverse, Tad Spencer has it all (and I mean all. Way upper tax bracket all)—and then wishes he was somebody else. Unfortunately, his wish is granted, and his life is swapped for one in a gritty, criminal carnival world.

Bedeviled by Maureen Child

Buy: Kindle Store

“Saving Faerie! It’s your destiny. Trust my word as a delicious supernatural hunk who just happened to break into your apartment just after your fiance was devoured by a demon.”

Lyra’s Oxford by Philip Pullman

Buy: Kindle Store

This book is likely a far better experience in Real Paper form, since there are maps and many illustrations. But in particular the maps, since fold-out maps don’t work well on the Kindle.

This book also includes a short story set in the world of His Dark Materials.

Really, when a book is more Griffith & Sabine in its nature than not, go with the paper edition.

The novel series proper is entirely available on the Kindle:

  1. The Golden Compass
  2. The Subtle Knife
  3. The Amber Spyglass

I don’t know whether The Amber Spyglass Kindle edition is the censored version or not. Probably is.

Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine by Voronica Whitney-Robinson

Buy: Kindle Store

Oh Star Wars. What’s up with this? A spinoff of the online MMORPG, where the Rebel Alliance must keep a list of high-ranking rebel sympathizers out of the clutches of Darth Vader. In a time period when Han, Luke, and Leia may—or may not—be able to help a Jedi out, hopefully this plays out as more than cliche.