Steampunk Weekly - 3.22.10

Virtuoso
Written by: Jon Munger
Art by: Krist Brennan
Description from comic site:

Virtuoso is an alternate history of an Africa that never existed, one run by steel and springs, commanded by vast matriarchies and past the height of its culture.

Virtuoso is the story of Jnembi Osse, a professional weapons manufacturer for the most powerful empire in the world, and how her private rebellion becomes a full scale international incident.



This is being described in the blogosphere as steampunk Africa. You can check out some of the first few pages at the comic site. You'll see some cool-looking steam sentries.

Interesting, eh? I'm planning on featuring this during SteamPink week, June 4-12, 2010.

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Just found this:
The Nubian Queen
By Paul Genesse
Release date: 2011
steampunk short story coming out from DAW Books

excerpt:
Lower Nubia, 1854 A.D.

Queen Sahdi gave the command to destroy the tracks ahead of the armored train as it steamed through the savannah beside Lake Nubia. She stood behind the thick ramparts of Gebel Adda, an ancient fortress situated in the hills that marked the border, wondering how many of her brave soldiers, and how many of the Egyptian emperor’s, were about to die.
read more of the first scene here

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*my weekly post on things steampunk (Victorian sci-fi/fantasy)

*totally inspired by steampunk posts written by Celia of adventures of cecelia bedelia

Lisa's Great Dessert-Off Contest

Mini Victorian Tea Cookies
at Decorative Sugar
Found just the right treat for Lisa's fairies!

These mini cookies are approximately 1" in diameter and are made from organic cinnamon snap dough. There are miniature hats, miniature assorted flowers cookies along with tiny teapots and teacups.

Just darling for fairies and humans ;-D

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This is a contest entry for Lisa Mantchev's The Great Dessert-Off (PtD ARC Contest) details here -ends March 22, 2010.

The winner gets an ARC of Lisa's latest book, Perchance to Dream (Théâtre Illuminata Book 2).

You can pre-order Perchance to Dream at Indiebound here.

This is book 1...



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* first spotted ARC contest at Lizzy of Cornucopia of Reviews - go check out her fairy dessert.

* on my want list ;-D

In My Mailbox - 3.21.10

Bought:

Getting ready for my SteamPink week, June 4-12, 2010.

SteamPink = female heroine stories with romance, adventure or mystery in a steampunk world (sample books here)


Crimson & Steam
by Liz Maverick

New Blood
by Gail Dayton
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For review and giveaway:

Alice in Verse
by J.T. Holden - my review
Courtesy of Candleshoe Books
Thanks Derek!
my giveaway here

The Jane Austen Handbook:
A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World
by Margaret C. Sullivan
Courtesy of Quirk
Thanks Tiffany!
my giveaway for this will be in June for Jane in June

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* check out my sidebar for the latest book giveaways

* image from Leafcutter Designs - world's smallest postal service

* In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via mailbox, library, store, etc.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings
by Aprilynne Pike

Published: 2009
Genre: Fairies, YA
Hardback: 294 pages
Rating: 4

Description from author's site:
Laurel discovers she is a faerie, sent among humans to protect the gateway to Avalon. Thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls, she's torn between a human and a faerie love, as well as her loyalties to each world. In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My two-bits:
In-a-word: blossom

Such a lovely fairy story. Lovely because of the kind of fairies described. I hadn't heard of this type of fairy before. Believable. But then not too hard to if you already believe in the fae ;-D (you'll have to read this to find out or shoot me an email if you really must know).

There's the discovery of being part of the fae and learning about its existence along with some romance (love triangle) and troll action.

Of course, it's just the beginning and the sequel will be out soon enough.

Series:
Wings
Spells - to be released May 4, 2010

Zombie sighting:
The next day, Laurel felt like a Zombie.
(page 87, chapter 9)

*** Giveaway ***

If you haven't already the signup is here and it ends March 27, 2010.

* part of Mr Knightley's Picnic event

Zombies in September

I'm starting to gather books to highlight for September Zombies week for later this year.

Save the month:
(OK - Fishmuffins of Doom has convinced me)

September Zombies will last the whole month!
September 1-30, 2010
The recent announcement of this latest zombie book mashup has got me excited to say that it will most definitely be part of the line-up...


Night of the Living Trekkies
by Kevin David Anderson

Release date: September 4, 2010
The book cover is not yet available but these images of zombie Spock and zombie Kirk created by Art of Molitorious are awesome and maybe should be considered???

Description from article post on Trek Today excerpt:
“It’s a zombie apocalypse and only one thing matters: What would Captain Kirk do?” Fans will find out this September when Night of the Living Trekkies is released.

“Just as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies blended monster mayhem with the world of regency romance, Night of the Living Trekkies mixes a zombie apocalypse with the enduring mythology of Star Trek.”

The story follows a group of “Trekkies,” dressed in homemade uniforms, who are en route to an annual convention. “These fanboys know more than any rational adult should know about Kirk, Spock, Next Generation, particle physics, and black holes,” writes Anderson.

“But when aliens release a zombie plague upon the Earth, all of this “Starfleet training” suddenly becomes a lot more relevant. Our fanboys find themselves trapped in the Botany Bay Hotel and Convention Center—and desperate to escape.

And one reluctant fan will discover his inner Trekkie, rise up, and take command of the crew. Fast, funny, and loaded with countless references to Star Trek, geek culture, and science fiction conventions, Night of the Living Trekkies will appeal to anyone who enjoys science fiction, horror, and the comic scene.”

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PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls book trailer from Quirk
--Just as entertaining as the Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters trailer
--Captures the story well (my review of book)!



Did you know that Quirk is offering free e-chapters of this book here.

If you haven't already, sign up for the giveaway of this book here (two copies up for grabs).

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* first spotted Night of the Living Trekkies announcement and Art of Molitorious at Babbling About Books and More

* image source zombie Kevin Anderson teaser

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Save the month: September 1-30, 2010

September Zombies are ambling this way

there will be zombies

there will be unicorns

there will be a battle of the most epic...

which team will you be on?

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* image source for September Zombies sidebar button is the cover of As The World Dies: Siege by Rhiannon Frater

=|== September Zombies schedule of events ==|=