[Werthead]

The UK is getting its first editions of the Wild Cards series in many, many years. The first two books are out in November and December, with Book 3 following in March. The reprints will then jump forwards to the newer books (starting with Inside Straight) in June. The series will also feature new cover art:

This post has been edited by Werthead: 12 September 2012 - 10:37 PM

[D'rek]

Is it really that important that it is "EDITED BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN" or is that just for sales?

[Werthead]

Fairly important. GRRM created the setting, quite a few of the characters and several of the overall story arcs for the series. These early books also have 1-2 stories by him per book (some of the more recent ones don't have any at all). Putting his name on them is fairly justified, at least moreso than anyone else's. Hopefully all the individual authors are credited on the back as well.

The UK edition of A Game of Thrones is also the brand new 2011 edition from Tor Books, with several new stories added.

[D'rek]

Werthead, on 13 September 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:

Fairly important. GRRM created the setting, quite a few of the characters and several of the overall story arcs for the series. These early books also have 1-2 stories by him per book (some of the more recent ones don't have any at all). Putting his name on them is fairly justified, at least moreso than anyone else's. Hopefully all the individual authors are credited on the back as well.

The UK edition of A Game of Thrones is also the brand new 2011 edition from Tor Books, with several new stories added.

I just like that the "EDITED BY" is a third the font size of the "GEORGE R. R. MARTIN" and the font is almost the exact same as on the newer aSoIaF prints. I think they're really trying to grab people's attention from the shelves and fearing that the "edited by" is going to turn people off

[Tapper]

Having read 1-3: these are a massive amount of fun. Can't vouch for the later ones as they weren't available in sequence (just 10 and 13 or so) in my local bookstore, but the alternate history is succulent.

THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TURTLE SUGGESTS YOU READ THESE.

[Use Of Weapons]

The later ones are just as good. I love the Wild Cards sequence. The later ones have a lot of fun with the 'reality talent show' angle too

[QuickTidal]

D, on 13 September 2012 - 11:52 PM, said:

Werthead, on 13 September 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:

Fairly important. GRRM created the setting, quite a few of the characters and several of the overall story arcs for the series. These early books also have 1-2 stories by him per book (some of the more recent ones don't have any at all). Putting his name on them is fairly justified, at least moreso than anyone else's. Hopefully all the individual authors are credited on the back as well.

The UK edition of A Game of Thrones is also the brand new 2011 edition from Tor Books, with several new stories added.

I just like that the "EDITED BY" is a third the font size of the "GEORGE R. R. MARTIN" and the font is almost the exact same as on the newer aSoIaF prints. I think they're really trying to grab people's attention from the shelves and fearing that the "edited by" is going to turn people off

This has been normal practice for big author names and book design since the 1980's....I fail to see why you are surprised by it.

[D'rek]

QuickTidal, on 14 September 2012 - 02:30 PM, said:

D, on 13 September 2012 - 11:52 PM, said:

Werthead, on 13 September 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:

Fairly important. GRRM created the setting, quite a few of the characters and several of the overall story arcs for the series. These early books also have 1-2 stories by him per book (some of the more recent ones don't have any at all). Putting his name on them is fairly justified, at least moreso than anyone else's. Hopefully all the individual authors are credited on the back as well.

The UK edition of A Game of Thrones is also the brand new 2011 edition from Tor Books, with several new stories added.

I just like that the "EDITED BY" is a third the font size of the "GEORGE R. R. MARTIN" and the font is almost the exact same as on the newer aSoIaF prints. I think they're really trying to grab people's attention from the shelves and fearing that the "edited by" is going to turn people off

This has been normal practice for big author names and book design since the 1980's....I fail to see why you are surprised by it.

Where did I say I was surprised?

[QuickTidal]

I'm just finishing up the first trade WILD CARDS...and I'm gonna use this thread cause there isn't another one.

Also because I should apologize to D'rek for being kind of a jerk for whatever reason about her above comment. Sorry D'rek, dunno what was up my butt that day.

Anyways, on topic. I'm absolutely loving this setting, and nearly every story in this first anthology has been spot on perfect so far. I think the only ones that canted sideways on me a bit were the Fortunato one...

Spoiler

cause I just wasn't entirely sure how he was able to talk to the dead satanic killer guy by sodomizing his corpse.

and because of that the story kind of falls apart, other than introducing him and his power (which is one of the more bizarre risque powers in the series so far). It was good, but because that bit was fuzzy I wasn't sold on it. And the other I wasn't entirely sold on was Pupppetmaster one with the Succubus and Dwarf and whatnot. What it did right was showing the unrest in Jokertown...what I disliked was

Spoiler

The Puppetmaster revelation and the Senator being bad/manipulated ect. I know I was probably looking at the creation of a supervillain for later use...but it still was really disturbing!

...it was well written I just didn't care much for the subject matter.

Everything else in this book has been total, amazing, addicting GOLD. Especially the whole opening section with Jetboy, Dr., Tachyon, the Four Aces, The HUAC hearings, The Mcarthy era, and even up to the Turtle....man, I adored this book.

Alt history done right, and stays fresh because of the use of multiple authors and multiple characters and viewpoints. I think it especially shines between WITNESS (in which Golden Boy does his turncoat friendly witness thing cause he sees no other way out) and Tachyon's lament about Blythe in which we see a whole other side of the equation. The only thing missing from this volume (and I don't know if it shows up in the final story or not) would be the full-on Earl Sanderson (Black Eagle) POV of the HUAC stuff...I'd love to know whether he thought GB was a traitor or whether he understood their unwinnable position.

Oh and if there exists a story that fleshes out Golden Boy and Black Eagle taking out Peron in Argentina...I wanna read it!

Anyways, I've got ACES HIGH on my desk ready to start later today...the cover of which is apparently Water Lily...who I've yet to meet.

Oh and I LOVE the whole Jetboy's Tomb thing. It's such a historical touchstone.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 10 December 2013 - 03:40 PM

[Aptorian]

QuickTidal, on 10 December 2013 - 03:34 PM, said:

I think the only ones that canted sideways on me a bit were the Fortunato one...

Spoiler

cause I just wasn't entirely sure how he was able to talk to the dead satanic killer guy by sodomizing his corpse.

If you listen very carefully you can hear the pitter patter of Tiste Simeons feet, on the British Isles, as he rushes towards the nearest books store.

I should read these books. That sounds fucked up.

[QuickTidal]

Not Brent Weeks, on 10 December 2013 - 03:43 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 10 December 2013 - 03:34 PM, said:

I think the only ones that canted sideways on me a bit were the Fortunato one...

Spoiler

cause I just wasn't entirely sure how he was able to talk to the dead satanic killer guy by sodomizing his corpse.

If you listen very carefully you can hear the pitter patter of Tiste Simeons feet, on the British Isles, as he rushes towards the nearest books store.

I should read these books. That sounds fucked up.

You really should read them. But fair warning there are like 22 of them now. Still, it's a whole comic book universe that I was unaware of till recently.

And yeah, a lot of it can be really fucked up.

[QuickTidal]

Started Book 2, ACES HIGH, last night and read the first 60 pages or so.

More good stuff.

Spoiler

So we've moved on from governmental persecution to Alien Invasion plotline in the 1980's...where Jube (surprise, I didn't see coming) is actually an alien posing as a Joker and is a member of a network of observers...and some Swarm is on its way.

I'm glad to get a big fresh plotline like this to follow, and even the first section which is a Fortunato (read: sexytimes astral projection) tale...is much better than his first story was...for me anyways.

But I'd be lying if I said anyone interests me as much as Croyd....the guy's been around since the beginning, and has new powers all the time. It's great!

What I think is really great about this series, even in this new era, is the attention to detail to past events and people. I've heard that we revisit all kinds of things that happened on the sidelines of the series...the first of which is taking the Paperboy Joker (Jube) intro'ed way back in book 1 and flesh him out to give us some history. Layers man. These authors have the layers things nailed.

[Werthead]

Good news! More WILD CARDS books are being reprinted in the UK in 2014.



Aces Abroad (Wild Cards #4): 8 May
Down and Dirty (#5): 12 June
Ace in the Hole (#6): 10 July
Dead Man's Hand (#7): 14 August
Lowball (#22): 11 December

Wild Cards (#1), Aces High (#2), Jokers Wild (#3), Inside Straight (#18), Busted Flush (#19), Suicide Kings (#20) and Fort Freak (#21) are already available in the UK.

[fidge]

Anybody know who the old guy in the wheelchair is in Lowball?