A while back, I posted a quick “Upcoming” blog about Richard Ford’s new gritty fantasy, Herald of the Storm. It sounded pretty cool. So, naturally, I wanted to interview Richard. He was kind enough to say yes, and so, in advance of my review of the novel (coming soon), here are Richard’s answers…
I’m incredibly indecisive when it comes to picking my next read. Usually. There are times, of course, when nothing is going to stop me reading a particular book. (Most recently, that was the case with Peter V. Brett’s The Daylight War, despite my intended wish to mix things up a bit more… I loved it, so it worked out in the end. Later in the year, it’ll be Scott Lynch’s Republic of Thieves.)
I currently find myself in one of these moments of indecisiveness. Here are the options (followed, after the break, but synopses):
I’ve recently got back to Britain for a short spell. Jet-lag has finally struck, so I’m afraid there won’t be a particularly involved post for a couple of days. I hope to get some more reviews up this week, but please bear with me…
In the meantime, here are some books that were waiting for me upon my return (you can count of at least a few of them featuring more on the blog in the future):
It’s a nice little haul, actually – four of the five are really interesting, two are must-reads (no prize if you can guess which two), and only one hasn’t completely fired my interest.
I haven’t heard much about this novel, but I caught a brief mention of it on Fantasy Faction’s run-down of their most-anticipated novels of 2013. (It was an honorable mention.) I did some digging, and found… not a whole lot more, actually. I did managed to get the synopsis, though, and it’s piqued my interest:
Welcome to Steelhaven... Under the reign of King Cael the Uniter, this vast cityport on the southern coast has for years been a symbol of strength, maintaining an uneasy peace throughout the Free States. But now a long shadow hangs over the city, in the form of the dread Elharim warlord, Amon Tugha. When his herald infiltrates the city, looking to exploit its dangerous criminal underworld, and a terrible dark magick that has long been buried once again begins to rise, it could be the beginning of the end.
Described as “A new epic fantasy for fans of Joe Abercrombie and George R.R. Martin” (there’s an original tag-line…), Herald of the Storm will be published in the UK in April 2013.
I’ve been trying to figure out if the author is the same Richard Ford who wrote Canada and The Sportswriter. Very different novels, but it would make this an even more interesting proposition.
Update/Correction: I managed to find out that it is not the Canada/Sportswriter Richard Ford. Rather, it’s the Richard Ford who wrote the well-received Kultus. More information can be found on the author’s Website and Twitter.
