Friday, November 30, 2018

Book Blogger Hop No. 153: Time Travel for a First Edition!!



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @


For more information, and 
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.


This Week's Question

If you could travel back in time
to purchase the first printing
of a specific novel, what
book would that be?

(Submitted  by Billy  @ 





My Answer


This one is a total no-brainer for me, as my FAVORITE CLASSIC OF ALL TIME is Jane Eyre, that immortal novel by Charlotte Brontë!!

This first edition, first printing is available in our time, but for the hefty price of $45,000!! It's actually for sale on Ebay, too! You can view the listing right HERE! The photo you see above is of the actual book, or rather, books, as this edition was printed in three volumes, in the year 1847. If you look closely (you can also zoom in when you view this photo in the listing), you will notice that the binding is a dark green, and not a dark brown, as it appears to be at a short distance.

This edition was published by Smith, Elder, and Company. I had not expected the three volumes; I had always thought that this novel had been published as one book, even from the time it was first released. Well, live and learn, lol.


The three books look new, but that's because they've actually been "rebound in 20th-century, dark green, crushed morocco, by Bayntun (Riviere)". This is an actual quote from this Ebay listing. 


The original title of this novel is Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, edited by Currer Bell in Three Volumes. (The author was using a masculine pen name to hide her gender, as women were "not supposed" to be novelists in her time. That, of course, is VERY laughable now!!)

This listing probably won't be available for very long, as Ebay listings are temporary. I'm sure some wealthy collector will come along pretty soon, and pick up these books!

I know there must be more of these scattered throughout the Internet. However, they must all be extremely expensive, due to the age of this first edition.

This novel totally captivated me when I first read it in high school, in a small, paperback edition. It captivated me again, when I read it for the second time, in 2014. That was during a read-along co-hosted by Brian @ Babbling Books and myself. We GREATLY enjoyed it!! We asked each other questions, and answered them, as well. Although it was supposed to be a read-along, by the end of it, there was only one other blogger also answering the questions -- Jim @ The Frugal Chariot. Nevertheless, I think this was a truly memorable experience! You can read my review, as well as access the read-along links, HERE.

This novel details the unforgettable story of Jane Eyre, an English orphan whose passionate love for her wealthy employer is just as passionate as her struggle to remain true to herself, even at the cost of great sacrifice. This is a novel to treasure and re-read again and again, especially for women, as it is a true feminist novel. 

Naturally, I would MUCH prefer to be able to travel back in Time, so that I could buy this edition without paying so much money! Lol. I might also possibly be able to purchase a copy signed by the author herself!! Alas, if only I had a Time Machine..... Hey, H.G., where did you hide those blueprints?


What are your thoughts on
this topic?
Please leave a comment! 
If you're participating in this meme,
I'll go comment on your 
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one 
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!! 






Thursday, November 29, 2018

S.J. Higbee, SF Author!!



This is my final post for this exciting event, hosted by 
Lisa @ Dear Geek Place 
and imyril @ onemore.org!!

For more information, please refer 
to my Announcement Post
for this event!!





As my final post for SCIFI MONTH, I'd like to feature my blogging buddy and SF/fantasy writer, S. J. Higbee! 

Those of you who have participated in SCIFI MONTH have no doubt seen her own posts for this event, if you have visited the Master Schedule, which, by the way, you can find HERE. For those who have yet to do so, however, I am contributing this informative post, as I do think her work is worth delving into, from what I know of it.

S.J., or Sarah Jane, lives in the UK. She was born in the historic market town of Ringwood, in Hampshire, England. According to the Wikipedia article on this town, ".....it is located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and northeast of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages." (Source: Wikipedia) Sigh....I've always wanted to visit England....





Fridays Cross, Ringwood, England
Photo: Peter Facey 


I met Sarah through her fascinating book blog, Brainfluff (see link below), on which she posts reviews of great SF and fantasy books, and participates in memes such as "Teaser Tuesday", which features quotes, or teasers, from current reads, and "The Friday Face-Off", in which several different covers for the same books are discussed and compared. 

It was fateful that Sarah became a science fiction writer; after all, she was born on the very same day that the Russians launched "Sputnik"! And I think that Ringwood has had an influence on her fantasy side. It's the sort of quaint town that's probably hiding mythological creatures around every corner.

She is the author of the Sunblinded Trilogy, and I LOVE the covers of all three books! I have them all on my Android phone's Kindle app, but I DEFINITELY want to get the printed books! In fact, the first one in the trilogy, Running Out of Space, is also available in a trade paperback edition. I'm crossing my fingers that the other two books will soon be released as trade paperbacks, too!

This trilogy follows the exploits of one Lizzy Wright, who has wanted to be a member of the crew of the merchant ship "Shooting Star" for the longest time....and finally gets her wish. Of course, this book contains a feminist theme, as does the rest of the trilogy. Women should be, and should ALWAYS have been, in space, and it looks like Higbee has envisioned a future in which women fully participate in space adventures just as much as men do.

Sarah has also written short stories and some poetry. She has contributed to two short story collections: While the Morning Stars Sing: An Anthology of Spiritually Infused Speculative Fiction, and Eve of War

I'm really looking forward to starting the Sunblinded Trilogy as soon as the new year kicks off! Right now, I'm getting ready for the Christmas season, during which I enjoy reading Christmas-themed books, especially contemporary and historical romance novels.  


I also want to read Sarah's  short stories in both volumes mentioned above. Thankfully, these are indeed available in trade paperback editions.

These are S.J. Higbee's books!



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39821340-running-out-of-space


 




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40726227-breathing-space


Anthologies S.J. Higbee has contributed to:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12356067-while-the-morning-stars-sing





https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31177586-eve-of-war




S.J. Higbee: Online Links










Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Can't Wait Wednesday/Sci-FiMonth!! Agency, by William Gibson





Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!


This is a weekly event hosted by
Tressa @ Wishful Endings!
This is also where we excited book bloggers showcase future releases we're eagerly anticipating! 
For more information, 
please click HERE.


There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up! 




Today I'm also linking up to 
Sci-Fi Month!!  
This is an exciting event, hosted by 
Lisa @ Dear Geek Place 
and imyril @ onemore.org!!

For more information, and to 
join in, please refer 
to my Announcement Post
for this event!!


Here's my choice for this week!



 Agency
 William Gibson
Hardcover, 496  pages
Berkley Books
    April 2, 2019    
Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Science Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35019996-agency






"One of the most visionary, original, and quietly influential writers currently working" (The Boston Globe) returns with a brand-new novel.

In William Gibson's first novel since 2014's New York Times bestselling The Peripheral, a gifted "app-whisperer," hired to beta test a mysterious new product, finds her life endangered by her relationship with her surprisingly street-smart and combat-savvy "digital assistant."


 
 Why I can't wait for this one!

I've been wanting to read this writer's work for quite some time now. Two of his books that are very well-known are Neuromancer (1984) and Mono Lisa Overdrive (1988). From what I know of him, he's a very inventive creator, so I really should get to his books! Before I read this new one, though, I'd like to get Neuromancer under my belt, at least!





William Ford Gibson is an American-Canadian writer who has been called the father of the cyberpunk subgenre of science fiction, having coined the term cyberspace in 1982 and popularized it in his first novel, Neuromancer(1984), which has sold more than 6.5 million copies worldwide.

While his early writing took the form of short stories, Gibson has since written nine critically acclaimed novels (one in collaboration), contributed articles to several major publications, and has collaborated extensively with performance artists, filmmakers and musicians. His thought has been cited as an influence on science fiction authors, academia, cyberculture, and technology.

What do you think of my
choice this week? 
Please leave a comment and
let me know!






Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Book Blitz/Giveaway/Sci-Fi Month!! Neron Rising, by Keary Taylor



Welcome to the Neron Rising Blitz,
sponsored by 
XPresso Book Tours!! 

For my stop, I'm featuring an 
excerpt with mini-review!

There's also a blitz-wide giveaway!!!!




Today I'm also linking up to 
Sci-Fi Month!!  
This is an exciting event, hosted by 
Lisa @ Dear Geek Place 
and imyril @ onemore.org!!

For more information, and to 
join in, please refer 
to my Announcement Post
for this event!!




Neron Rising
(The Neron Rising Saga, Book 1)
Keary Taylor
Trade Paperback, 141 pages
Independently Published
November 20, 2018
Kindle Edition, 112 pages
Keary Taylor Book, Inc.
November 27, 2018
Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, 
Science Fiction, Suspense

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42089819-neron-rising?ac=1&from_search=true




“I…am nothing.”
He takes a step forward, shaking his head twice, with absolute conviction. “You’re not nothing, Nova.”


In the Eon galaxy, Dominion controls any planet with solid Neron deposits, and Nova just found out they’re coming for hers. Korpillion isn’t supposed to have any Neron—the galaxy’s purest form of energy—but Nova Ainsley has been working with the owner of a secret mine for months, building highly illegal weapons that can wield Neron. She wants off Korpillion, and selling these weapons will buy her and her father a ticket to another planet in the galaxy.

Neron is incredible on its own, but there are those who can wield it to their will, granting them the ability to read minds, see the future, and destroy worlds—the Nero. But this is a galaxy where they are ceasing to exist, and Dominion owns the last one in the known universe, using him to take over and destroy billions of lives.

An encounter with the last Nero shows Nova her future: it’s with him. She will stand by his side one day, her fingers laced through his, love and adoration in both their eyes, a dark queen to his evil, pawn king.

Fate or destiny, Nova will do whatever it takes to change their future, and that of the galaxy.

The Neron Rising Saga is a series of episodes. Episode One is 30,000 words. Neron Rising is a slow-burn space-fantasy romance.




Note
This mini-review is of the excerpt below, and not the entire book. I only do this when I'm REALLY interested in reading a book being promoted either in a blitz or blog tour!

This excerpt has a rather poignant tone to it.... It's also a nice slice of book presented to readers, to whet their appetite for more! I certainly want to find out more. I can see that the female protagonist is a strong one. And I like her telepathic interaction with the guy who's most likely the male protagonist. In addition to the romance, of which there's a hint here, we also have the philosophical aspects of the novel, and it's very clear that this is dystopian fiction, as well. 
I love it when an author combines a variety of different genres into one book! I think I'm going to DEVOUR this one!!








“What’s wrong?”
I look out over the city, and I can see everything that’s wrong.  All these people.  Suddenly I feel responsible for all of them.  “Have you ever had a secret?” I ask.
“I don’t know a single person who doesn’t have secrets,” he answers.  His voice is so calm.  There’s this low, deep timbre to it.  There’s something about it that’s unique.  I’ve never heard a voice that sounds like his.
“Well, have you ever had a secret that would affect billions of people?”
My stomach twists in knots just at the thought of it. 
“I can’t say that I ever have had a secret of that scale,” he confesses.  “Surely, you don’t actually mean billions.”
I huff one short laugh and nod my head.  “Actually, I do.  And the thing that sucks about it is that I could tell people, but it would create so much chaos, I might actually make things worse.  I hate that.  I hate it so much, because it makes me feel responsible.”
“One person can’t be held accountable for billions,” he says.  His words are like a soft touch, like a hand on my back, rubbing for comfort and support.
“Sure they can,” I argue, even though I want to accept his words.  I’m in a self-depreciating spiral right now, and I have no intent to get myself out of it at the moment.  “Look at Cyrillius.  He’s destroyed trillions of lives.  And he doesn’t even feel guilty about it.”
Just saying his name makes my mouth taste bitter.  As the heir and owner of Dominion, he makes all the calls that affect every single solar system.  He could make the galaxy a better place.  He could stop the centuries of greed and money.  But he’s only taken things twenty steps further than his father and his grandfather before him.
“Seems like a little bit of a jump, comparing yourself to him,” he says quietly.  “Just a few days ago you were complaining about your boring life, and now you’re hiding a secret that could affect everyone on your planet?”
“Pretty insane how quickly life can change,” I muse.  Though, really, nothing has changed at all.  Other than now I have to figure out how to get me and my dad, and Zayne, off-planet.  “Know of anywhere good left in the galaxy?”
“Suddenly you’re also ready to move planet?” he asks.  There’s a thoughtful probe to his tone.
I shrug, even though he can’t see it.  “Know of any place?”
This is where I hate this part of our connection.  I hear his voice.  But that’s it.  I can’t read his body language.  I get impressions sometimes, but I don’t know if those are real, or my brain filling them in.
I want to read his face right now.  I want to have something to fill these longer pauses, to decipher what he’s thinking.
But I have nothing but his voice, echoing in my brain.
“Do you really think there’s any such thing as a good place, anymore?” he finally asks.
I consider his question as I look out at Korpillion.
This is supposed to be a good place.  But, as I look at it, I see the race for credits.  I see advertisements flashing bright in my face.  I see businessmen talking to prostitutes who are only interested in their connect-link accounts.  I see jobs, so many of them, that no one takes pride in, they just do it because it allows them to survive.
I think of Reena, whose goal isn’t to save anyone but herself and her crew.
I even think of my dad, who has no joy in life.  He just puts his head down and survives.
“I don’t know, anymore,” I say.  I hate the confession, but I am honestly not sure.
“I’ve been to a lot of places, and all I’ve seen everywhere is the innate drive to survive,” he says into my head.  “People will do whatever it takes to survive.”
“I wonder when we lost everything else,” I say.  “The few books that were stored before all of that was lost talk about all these other things, these principles.  Honor, glory, love.  When did we become a galaxy full of survivors?”
He doesn’t answer, because really there isn’t an answer.  These are just the deep thoughts spoken out loud between two strangers connected by a power neither of us understands.
“I wish I was there with you,” he surprises me with his honest words.
I straighten a little, and a smile creeps onto my face.  “I wish you were here, too.”  I pause, letting that confession fill me.  “Do you think we could ever meet in real life?”
He takes a considering pause.  “I think we have to be careful what we wish for, sometimes.”









Keary Taylor is the USA TODAY bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now splits her time between a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest and Utah, with her husband and their two children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night.

Website/Goodreads/Twitter
Facebook
Amazon Author Page



This exciting blitz is sponsored by

http://xpressobooktours.com/2018/10/17/blitz-sign-up-neron-rising-by-keary-taylor/