Special Edition Inside Game of Thrones

November 13, 2012 at 2:42 pm

Is selling on Amazon right now for $90 off the list price. Looks like it’s available at that price for about ten more hours.

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-HBOs-Game-Thrones-Collectors/dp/1612185738/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352842549&sr=1-3&keywords=bryan+cogman

Amazon description: “This spectacular collector’s edition includes a lavishly illustrated book on the making of the show, scrolled maps, plus an artist’s portfolio featuring never-before-seen storyboards, all housed in a handsome gold-stamped case.

The book reveals how the best-selling fantasy series was translated into a series that has captivated millions of viewers. It includes hundreds of unpublished set photos, production and costume designs, plus family trees, a dissection of the Dothraki language, and histories of the realms. Interviews with actors and crew members, as well as a foreword by George R.R. Martin, make this an exclusive window into the show.

The storyboards portfolio shows how comic book artist Will Simpson singlehandedly storyboarded seasons one and two and features deleted scenes and alternate scenes. Storyboards are seldom made public, so this collection is as rare as it is fascinating.

Completing the package are maps of Westeros and Esos. Fans will recognize the maps from the HBO Go bonus material for Season 2. Printed on archival, acid-free paper, and ready for framing, these maps bring the world of Game of Thrones to life.”

We have one here at the office, and it’s beautiful. Bryan Cogman did a fabulous job putting together this insider’s look at the production of the show, and the extras that come with this special edition are top notch.

If you’ve been coveting one of these but the price tag scared you off, then this is your chance to pick it up for less than half the sticker price.

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I Hate Football

November 11, 2012 at 9:25 pm

The Giants were awful.

The Jets were worse.

Life is meaningless and filled with pain.

’nuff said.

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Tags: nfl

A Great Night for the USA

November 7, 2012 at 12:38 am

A long night. I must admit, I was worried. The polls all said Obama would be reelected, but I’ve never been able to put my faith in polls. (They looked pretty good for Al Gore and John Kerry too). Maybe the pollsters are getting better. My hat’s off to Nate Silver and his team at 538.

It was a great night for Obama, for the Democrats… and, in the long run, for the country. Yes, even for all you folks who hate Obama (which I will never understand), and voted against him. All of the accomplishments of his first term would have been endangered if he had lost… economic recovery, peace in Iraq, gay rights, Wall Street regulation, tax reform, women’s reproductive freedoms, and… especially… health care. Now we know that “Obamacare” will finally be able to kick in fully, and the United States will finally have a health care system worthy of a country as great and rich as ours.

Besides Obama’s victory, I was especially glad to see the worst of the far right candidates go down to defeat. I am looking at you, Akin and Mourdock. I just hope the GOP takes the right lesson from these defeats, and moves away from the Tea Party and the far right, to become once more the party of Dwight Eisenhower, Nelson Rockefeller, Everett Dirksen, and Theodore Roosevelt.

After his first election, Obama made huge efforts to reach across the aisle and work with the “loyal opposition” on some bipartisan solutions to our country’s problems, but met only with obstructionism, attack, and a record number of filibusters. This time, I can only hope he will find a few Republicans of good conscience willing to work with him. It takes two to tango… and bridges are best built from both sides.

But there will be time enough for that later. This is a night for celebration.

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Tomorrow, back to work…

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“Show Us Your Papers,” the Sequel

November 6, 2012 at 3:19 pm

It’s election day, and millions are lined up and voting from coast to coast.

And even now, the radical right is doing its best to deny the vote to folks they think might vote the wrong way. Reports of voter harassment are coming in from Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Florida and other swing states of self-appointed “poll watchers” lurking outside polling places and demanding to see the ID cards of people waiting to vote. A disproportionate number of those that they are targeting, of course, are black and Latino voters.

The folks doing this are from a Tea Party linked organization that calls itself “True the Vote.” If truth in advertising laws applied, they should more properly call themselves “Suppress the Vote.”

But don’t take my word for it. Here are some news stories:

http://www.inquisitr.com/389496/true-the-vote-barred-from-harassing-voters-in-key-ohio-county-as-election-forges-ahead/

http://www.thenation.com/blog/171066/sheriff-deputies-poll-worker-harass-latinos-swing-state-colorado

http://crooksandliars.com/mugsy/true-vote-virtually-nonexistent-voter-fraud-

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/opinion/voter-harassment-circa-2012.html?_r=0

These folks, FWIW, have no right whatsover to demand anyone’s ID. They are just trying to intimidate people, to scare them away from exercising their franchise. The Voter ID laws I wrote about in my earlier “Show Us Your Papers” post (below) have largely been struck down by the courts. If you’re a registered voter, you have the right to cast your ballot.

If ANYONE tries to stop you from voting, call 866-OUR-VOTE for help. They’re a nonpartisan voting rights organization dedicated to making sure no one is denied their rights.

I guess we will find out tonight how well voter suppression works… “not at all well” would be my hope, in the country I love.

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Tags: politics

One Day to Go

November 5, 2012 at 10:02 am

The presidential election is one day away, and both campaigns are going all out.

Must admit, I am nervous about this one. All the polls say that Obama will win, but I never trust polls. I was born the year that Dewey defeated Truman, after all. And the Washington Redskins lost yesterday, an unfortunate omen. Yes, I know, it’s a silly superstition, but as a predictor, the Redskins have a better record than Gallup does.

The voting in Florida is already a mess. Despite having lost several court cases since I made my “voter suppression” post a few months back, Republicans in Florida, Ohio, and several other key states keep coming up with nasty new ways to try to keep black people, brown people, college kids, and retirees from voting. “If you can’t win their support, just disenfranchise them” seems to have become the new GOP slogan in the swing states.

The election may very well turn on the success or failure of Romney’s Big Lie push in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Yes, I am talking about the Jeep ad. It still boggles me that the Republicans are continuing to run that ad, even after both GM and Chrysler have come out to say how false it is. “When caught lying, lie LOUDER,” seems to be the philosophy.

Well, there’s lots more I can say… but nothing that those of you who are paying attention have not heard before.

Whenever I make one of these political posts, I always get a rush of emails. Lots of “right on, you said it, I agree” mails from those who share my views, a couple of reasoned and thoughtful dissents (which I value), and a handful of “I am never going to read your books again” screeds. (Those last just make me sad. Not because I have lost a reader, but because such people seem deliberately intent on closing their eyes and shutting down their minds. I grew up reading Robert A. Heinlein, after all, and still have been known to read works by Orson Scott Card, Dan Simmons, Larry Niven, and others whose political views are worlds away from my own. It’s GOOD to read things that challenge your own opinions and preconceptions… or so I have always believed…. ) All of which has become fairly predictable, I fear. But supposedly there are still some undecided voters vote there, and if my posts here can sway even one or two of them into voting for the president, then it’s worth the vitriol.

Anyway… be sure and vote tomorrow… and if anyone tries to stop you or obstruct you, scream long and loud.

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Tags: politics

Life is Meaningless…

November 4, 2012 at 6:09 pm

… and full of pain.

The Jets avoided losing this week by the clever strategy of not playing.

The Giants, alas, had no such reprieve. They managed to blow a 10-point fourth quarter lead and lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-20. The Giants D crumpled when the game was on the line, sadly, but played stoutly for the first three quarters. This loss is on the offense, and especially on Eli and his wide receivers, who seemed listless and out of sync all game. That was especially true in that all-important fourth quarter, when all the Gmen could manage was three and out, three and out, and three and out.

Truth be told, I don’t think the game was even as close as the final score appeared. The Steelers dominated Big Blue throughout, and Eli never did get anything going. The longest Giant plays downfield were a couple of pass interference penalties against Pittsburgh, at least one of which was very questionable. And in the red zone, when we need TDs, we settled for field goals.

This is the third week in a row the Giants O has looked anemic. Unless we can turn that around, and soon, I think Big Blue may be piling up a lot of losses in the weeks to come. That is, sadly, something we’ve seen before with Coughlin’s Giants — we streak off to a nice 6-2 start, then stumble badly in midseason.

I do wish we had done better, though. An lot of people back in New York and New Jersey could have used a lift, after the nightmarish week they’ve been through with Sandy. That includes family and friends of mine, of course… remember, I am an old (very old) Jersey boy. I hear that half of Bayonne is still without power, that Brady’s Dock (once owned by my mother’s family) is messed up, and that First Street (where I lived for many years) was hard hit. Here’s hoping recovery will be swift.

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Tags: nfl

World Fantasy Awards

November 4, 2012 at 5:55 pm

Just heard that OSAMA, by Lavie Tidhar, won this year’s World Fantasy Award (also known as the Howard and/or Howie, since the trophy is a bust of H.P. Lovecraft by Gahan Wilson).

I haven’t read the novel myself, but I hear good things about it. Congratulations to Lavie Tidhar.

The WFC did award me one of this year’s “Lifetime Achievement” awards.

My thanks to the jury. My editor, Anne Lesley Groell, was going to accept the award for me, but Sandy marooned in NYC. I did sent a few words to the conom; I trust that someone or other got and read them on my behalf.

Alan Garner was also given a Lifetime Achievement award. I was very pleased to see that. Garner, the author of THE OWL SERVICE and THE WEIRDSTONE OF BRISINGAMEN and many other fine, fine fantasies, is long overdue for some recognition. If you’re not familiar with his books, you have a treat coming. Go out, find them, read them.

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Tags: awards, dance with dragons, world fantasy convention

The Dragons Dance Again

November 1, 2012 at 1:48 pm

Subterranean Press is now shipping its long-awaited limited edition of A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, a two-volume set in slipcase, gorgeously and lavishly illustrated by Marc Fishman, and limited to 448 numbered and 52 lettered copies, all of them signed by both the artist and myself.

All the copies of this one have long ago been reserved… but inevitably, with these special editions, there are a few drop-outs who have “rights” to the book, by virtue of their purchase of the previous volume in the series, but fail to follow through. Which means that some number of copies will be made available to new purchasers. How many? That’s hard to say. SubPress does not keep a waiting list, no… but check the website frequently and look for an announcement… and do not hesitate when you see it. Maybe you can snag a copy.

The sites to watch are:
http://subterraneanpress.com/
http://subterraneanpress.com/store/product_detail/a_dance_with_dragons

And speaking of Subterranean… they do still have copies available of a couple of my other titles, including their trade hardcover of my first novel, DYING OF THE LIGHT, with great artwork by Tom Kidd.

To order that one, go to

http://subterraneanpress.com/store/product_detail/dying_of_the_light

And serious collectors might want to check out their listings for HUNTER’S RUN and STARLADY / FAST-FRIEND as well, before the remaining stocks are gone.

Happy reading.

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Tags: dance with dragons, signed books, subterranean

Maps! Maps!! Maps!!!

October 30, 2012 at 11:22 am

Hey, hey, hey, it’s PUBLICATION DAY.

My latest Ice & Fire book should be in the bookstores today. It’s not the usual sort of book, admittedly… not an actual book at all, but a book-shaped box containing a whole bunch of gorgeous, glossy, fold-out maps of Westeros, Essos, and the lands and seas from A Song of Ice and Fire.

It’s from Bantam, and it’s called THE LANDS OF ICE & FIRE.

This one is for the map geeks, I admit. Of which there seem to be a goodly number. I’ve had maps in all the novels, of course, but from the very first I’ve been getting emails from readers who wanted more maps, with more detail… and more… and more. What’s beyond that? What’s below that? What’s past that range of hills? Some… many… wanted a world map.

Which I was reluctant to do. I like my readers to see my world as my characters see it. And the truth is, medieval maps were not very good, by modern standards. A map drawn by an Englishman in 1300 might be fairly accurate for England and maybe France, but distortions and errors would start creeping in when you got to Italy and Germany, the Russias and the Holy Land would be more distorted still, Africa was largely unknown below the Sahara (even the coasts), and further east you started getting “the realm of Prester John” and “land of the two-headed men” and “here there be dragons.”

Which I said, more or less, in numerous interviews, and which did nothing to curb the demand for maps, maps, maps… especially that world map. I try to oblige. You will find a map of the “known world” in THE LANDS OF ICE AND FIRE… one that includes lands and seas you have never seen on any of my maps before… the plains and mountains east of Vaes Dothrak and Qarth for a start. (Remember that tapestry Xaro Xhoan Daxos gives Dany in DANCE OF THE DRAGONS?) Even so, it’s not a COMPLETE world map, no. The idea was to do something representing the lands and seas of which, say, a maester of the Citadel might be aware… and while the maesters know more about Asshai and the lands beyond than a medieval monk knew about Cathay, distance remains a factor, and past a certain point legends and myths will creep here. Here there be winged men, and such.

But one picture is worth a thousand words (who said that? must have been an artist, certainly not a writer), so here’s a little taste:

These are very nice maps, I hope you will agree. Huge and beautiful, and while they DON’T show the whole world (sorry, no, you’re not going to get the Westerosi equivilent of the Americas or Antarctica or Australia, assuming such places exist), you will get a glimpse of distant lands where my characters (and thus the novels) will likely never go.

Of course, all of the more familiar lands and places are covered too. Westeros north and south, the Free Cities, Slaver’s Bay, the narrow sea… we’ve included some great city maps for both King’s Landing and Braavos.

Got to admit, I am kind of a map geek myself. This one was more work than I anticipated, but I had a lot of fun doing it, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as well. Go order your copy from Amazon or your favorite online bookstore, or pick one up at the local brick ‘n mortar, and know the lands of ice and fire as you never have before.

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Tags: bantam spectra, song of ice and fire

Love Them Heifers

October 29, 2012 at 3:38 pm

Who says that Cersei Lannister is a cold, calculating, uncaring sort of queen?

Far from it. Her Grace loves the simple folk, and to prove it, here’s a swell new picture of her getting all nekkid just to help them buy some cows, sheeps, and goats…

The art is by Lee Moyer, a lover of the classic pin-up girl and doer of good deeds. It’s part of his soon-to-be-released 2013 Literary Pin-Up calendar, all of the proceeds of which will go to Worldbuilders on behalf of Heifer International.

Cersei will be in good company. This year’s calendar also features brand new, never before pin-ups of characters created by Peter S. Beagle, Ray Bradbury, Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Jacqueline Carey, Neil Gaiman, Charlaine Harris, Robin Hobb, N.K. Jemisin, Terry Pratchett, and Patrick Rothfuss. All guaranteed saucy. So if you’re a lover of fantasy, of “good girl” art, literature, the female form, or feeding the world’s poor… actually, helping them feed themselves… this is a calendar you need to have.

Best of all, you can pre-order NOW. Just go to:

http://thetinkerspacks.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-2013-pin-up-calendar

My hat is off to Lee Moyer, and to the tireless and talented Patrick Rothfuss, who put this whole thing together. “If we can get the word out,” Rothfuss writes, “I know it will raise a lot of money for Heifer International.” Let’s make it so, boys and (yes) girls.

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Tags: calendar, charity

Not a Blog

Special Edition Inside Game of Thrones

I Hate Football

A Great Night for the USA

“Show Us Your Papers,” the Sequel

One Day to Go

Life is Meaningless…

World Fantasy Awards

The Dragons Dance Again

Maps! Maps!! Maps!!!

Love Them Heifers

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