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Fantasy Book of the Month - Nicholas Jubber: The Fairy Tellers
Published 20th January 2022
'Like
a child after the Pied Piper I pursued Jubber into a world both human
and full of magic. A carnival of a book, rigorously researched and
jostling with life.' Amy Jeffs, author of Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain
'Magical
tales about magical tales and tellers. Jubber, congenially and
fascinatingly, explores the land from which the great fairy stories
seeped, making the stories more resonant, powerful and important than
ever.' Charles Foster, author of Being a Human and Being a Beast
Fairy-Tales
are not just fairy-tales: they are records of historical phenomena,
telling us something about how Western civilisation was formed. In The Fairy Tellers,
award-winning travel-writer Nick Jubber explores the secret history of
fairy-tales: the people who told them, the landscapes that forged them,
and the cultures that formed them.
While
there are certain names inextricably entwined with the concept of a
fairy-tale, such as the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, the
most significant tellers are long buried under the more celebrated
figures who have taken the credit for their stories - people like the
Syrian storyteller Youhenna Diab and the Wild Sisters of Cassel.
Without them we would never have heard of Aladdin, his Magic Lamp or
the adventures of Hansel and Gretel.
Tracking
these stories to their sources carries us through the steaming cities
of Southern Italy and across the Mediterranean to the dust-clogged
alleys of the Maghreb, under the fretting leaves of the Black Forest,
deep into the tundra of Siberia and across the snowy hills of Lapland.
From
North Africa and Siberia, this book illuminates the complicated
relationship between Western civilisation and the 'Eastern' cultures it
borrowed from, and the strange lives of our long lost fairy-tellers.
If
you thought you knew, even at the back of your mind, the true origin of
the fairy tales we've all grown up with for the past two hundred years
or so, think again; if you thought you knew that Cinderella was
originally created by Charles Perrault, or even, years after him, by
the BrothersGrimm, you're mistaken. Fairy tales, or folk tales, have
been told to children for centuries, although most people assume that
the giants of the genre, the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian
Andersen, were also creating these stories for the first time. The
author of The Fairy Tellers, Nicholas Jubber, takes us on a
mind-bending, time travelling investigation into the true origins of
such tales, and comes up with a story that's as incredible as any of
the fairy tales he's unearthed in their original form. His detective
work is both fascinating and engaging - his explanations of how these
stories invariably began in the East and made their way to western
civilisation centuries before the Grimms and Andersen were born makes
for a compelling and thrilling read as he uncovers the secret histories
of Diab and the Cassel sisters, among others. This is both scholarly
and readable, and will delight anyone with even a passing interest in
the history of folk tales and their origins. I was privileged to
receive a proof copy of this remarkable book, which will be published
early in the new year. I cannot recommend this book highly enough - it
is a treasure trove of information on a subject that must surely be
close to everyone's hearts. Absolutely terrific!
Diana Gabaldon: Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone
Published
23rd November 2021
The author of the Sunday Times bestselling Outlander series returns with the newest novel in the epic tale.
Jamie
Fraser and Claire Randall were torn apart by the Jacobite Rising of
1745, and it took them twenty years to find each other again. Now the
American Revolution threatens to do the same.
It
is 1779 and Claire and Jamie are at last reunited with their daughter,
Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children on Fraser's Ridge.
Having the family together is a dream the Frasers had thought
impossible.
Yet
even in the North Carolina backcountry, the effects of war are being
felt. Tensions in the Colonies are great and local feelings run hot
enough to boil Hell's tea-kettle. Jamie knows loyalties among his own
tenants are split and the war is on his doorstep. It's only a matter of
time before the shooting starts.
Not
so far away, young William Ransom is still coming to terms with the
discovery of his true father's identity - and thus his own. Lord John
Grey also has reconciliations to make and dangers to meet . . . on his
son's behalf, and his own.
Meanwhile,
the Southern Colonies blaze, and the Revolution creeps ever closer to
Fraser's Ridge. And Claire, the physician, wonders how much of the
blood to be spilt will belong to those she loves.
I
first discovered Tarzan of the Apes at the cinema courtesy of a
performance by Lex Barker, who I have since discovered in the pages of
my YOURS RETRO magazine was a misogynist and not a nice person at all;
in around 1956, shortly before I was due to go up to grammar school, I
watched a Lex Barker Tarzan film and the following morning, went down
to the post office at the end of our road, where I was due to start
work as a newspaper delivery boy shortly, and found a copy of ERB's
world-changing book, Tarzan of the Apes. The edition I purchased that
day was a Four Square paperback with a front cover by Mortelmans, and
it changed my life. All of a sudden, my life was filled with Tarzan
(and Jane), because my sister Jean and I began to walk to the next
village, Hucclecote, where my Uncle Les lived with his wife Grace and
their seven children.
Ken Follett: Never
Published 9th November 2021
Expertly
researched, visionary in scale and the first contemporary novel in over
a decade from international number one bestseller Ken Follett, Never is
more than a thriller. It imagines a scenario we all hope never comes
true, one which will keep you transfixed until the final page . . .
A stolen US army drone.
A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert.
A secret stash of deadly chemicals.
Each
is a threat to the stability of the world but individually are problems
that can be overcome. In the diplomatic arena though, everyone will
have a different way of dealing with such a threat. And when those in
charge disagree and refuse to back down, it will kick off an
international chain reaction with potentially catastrophic
consequences: a world edging closer to war . . .
Now three people must work tirelessly and with the utmost skill to stop that from happening:
A spy working undercover with jihadists.
A brilliant Chinese spymaster.
A US president beleaguered by a populist rival for the next election.
The only question is, in a game of brinksmanship can the inevitable ever be stopped?
I
have always been a fan of Ken Follett, having read The Pillars of the
Earth several years ago, and a couple of major titles in between, and I
have always been a fan of alternative histories. This isn't an
alternative history, it is an alternative future, but it's a thriller,
not SciFi, and reads more like an extended episode of Spooks, which for
me is a really good thing. It involves a small number of individuals
and their familes, their lovers, their children etc., as they move
through various truly realistic and terrifying scenarios towards an
outcome that is unthinkable, and one we hope will never ever happen.
The writing is superior, the dialogue is absolutely realistic, and I
can't help but think how much better this book and story are than
anything written by other blockbuster authors that I won't name, but
whose books contain cast swathes of prose and intermittent action. Over
eight hundred pages of superior fiction that will sweep you along with
it and give you pause fo thought as you realise that many of the
scenarios contained herein are being played out all over the world
right now. A remarkable and hugely enjoyable book.
James S A Corey: Leviathan Falls
Published 16th November 2021
The
biggest SF series of the decade comes to an incredible conclusion in
the ninth and final novel in James S. A. Corey's Hugo Award-winning
Expanse series.
NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES FROM AMAZON PRIME
HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST SERIES
'Interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written' George R. R. Martin
The Expanse series:
Leviathan Wakes
Caliban's War
Abaddon's Gate
Cibola Burn
Nemesis Games
Babylon's Ashes
Persepolis Rising
Tiamat's Wrath
Leviathan Falls
Timothy Zahn: Thrawn Ascendancy - Lesser Evil
Published 16th November 2021
 The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
For
thousands of years The Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a
center of power, and a beacon of integrity. Led by the Nine Ruling
Families, their leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the
Chaos of the Unknown Regions.
But
that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe that winnows away trust
and loyalty in equal measure. Bonds of fidelity have given way to lines
of division among the families. Despite the efforts of the Expansionary
Defense Fleet, the Ascendancy slips closer and closer toward civil war.
The
Chiss are no strangers to war. Their mythic status in the Chaos was
earned through conflict and terrible deeds, some long buried. Until
now. To ensure the Ascendancy's future, Thrawn will delve deep into its
past, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding the ascension of the
First Ruling Family. But the truth of a family's legacy is only as
strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to
be a lie.
To secure the salvation of the Ascendancy, is Thrawn willing to sacrifice everything? Including the only home he has ever known?
Christine Feehan: Dark Tarot
Published 9th November 2021
 A
new sexy, action-filled, intoxicating pageturner set in the Dark
Carpathians world, from the bestselling author that J R WARD called
'the queen of paranormal romance'
Light and dark combine as the cards reveal hidden truths ...
Sandu
Berdardi continues to exist only to protect his people. An ancient
Carpathian, his entire long life has been dedicated to honor above all
else. He knows his time has passed, especially since he has not been
able to find his lifemate - the anchor to keep him sane in a world he
no longer understands. But just as he truly starts to give up hope, a
voice reaches out to him in the night and his world explodes into
colour.
Adalasia
enters Sandu's mind seamlessly, as if she has been a part of him
forever. While she can see the shape of things to come in her deck of
cards, her gift is both a blessing and a curse. The true course of
Sandu's quest remains unclear, with danger waiting at every turn. She
cannot see everything the future holds, but she does know it is a
journey they will take together.
By joining him, she will start them down a dangerous, seductive path from which there is no coming back...
Stjepan Sejic: Fine Print
Published 30th November 2021
How
do you deal with a broken heart? Junk food? Excessive drinks? Dubious
contracts with ancient gods? When it comes to Lauren Thomas, the queen
of bad decisions, the answer is always the worst possible choice. She
finds herself in a rare opportunity to have her broken heart patched up
by the highest rated god of desire. The problem is, it’s a contested
title. Join us in this tale of gods and mortals, love lust and death
and one woman's bad choice that starts it all with a simple bite on a
golden apple.
Ken Macleod: Beyond The Hallowed Sky
Published 25th November 2021
 'An exceptional blend of international politics, hard science, and first contact' Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series
When
a brilliant scientist gets a letter from herself about
faster-than-light travel, she doesn't know what to believe. The
equations work, but her paper is discredited - and soon the criticism
is more than scientific. Exiled by the establishment, she gets an offer
to build her starship from an unlikely source. But in the heights of
Venus and on a planet of another star, a secret is already being
uncovered that will shake humanity to its foundations.
Science
fiction legend Ken MacLeod begins a new space opera trilogy by
imagining humankind on the precipice of discovery - the invention of
faster-than-light travel unlocks a universe of new possibilities, and
new dangers.
David Mack: Star Trek Coda - Oblivion's Gate
Published 25th November 2021
 The
crews of Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko, Ezri Dax, and William Riker
unite to prevent a cosmic-level apocalypse—only to find that some fates
really are inevitable.
THEIR MOST DAUNTING MISSION WILL BE THEIR FINEST HOUR.
The
epic Star Trek: Coda trilogy comes to a shattering conclusion as the
Temporal Apocalypse forces Starfleet’s greatest heroes to make the
greatest sacrifices of their lives.
Alice Hoffman: The Book of Magic
Published 6th January 2022
 ‘Full of Hoffman’s bewitching and lucid prose and vivid characters, The Book of Magic is ultimately about the very human magic of family and love and actions that echo through generations… it casts a spell’ —Matt Haig
THE STUNNING, UNFORGETTABLE CONCLUSION TO THE BELOVED PRACTICAL MAGIC SERIES
For
centuries, the Owens family has been cursed in matters of love. When
beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the sound of the deathwatch beetle, she
knows that it is a signal. She has finally discovered the secret to
breaking the curse, but time is running out. She has only seven days to
live.
Unaware
of the family’s witchcraft lineage and all it entails, one of the young
sisters of the new Owens generation has fallen in love. As the curse
strikes once again, her love’s fate hangs in the balance, spurring
three generations of Owens to venture back to where it all began and
use their gifts to break the spell that has marked all their lives.
But
doing so threatens to destroy everything the family has fought so hard
to protect. How much will they give up for the greatest gift of all?
The
small print: Books
Monthly, now well into its 24th
year on the web,
is published on or slightly before the first day of each month by Paul
Norman. You can contact me here.
If you wish to submit something for publication in the magazine, let me
remind you there is no payment as I don't make any money from this
publication. If you want to send me something to review, contact me via
email at paulenorman1@gmail.com and I'll let you know where to send it.
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