Tor.com Blog Content

Download Free Wallpaper from The Eye of the World Ebook

Management Services — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

As part of the run up to the final book in the Wheel of Time series, Tor.com will be releasing free wallpapers of all available ebook art! First up is the initial book in the series: The Eye of the World, illustrated by David Grove.

Check out this short process post on how the ebook art was created, or just get straight to downloading!

[Available sizes]

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Get Caught Up on Cat Adams’ Blood Singer Series for $2.99

Management Services — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Cat Adams’ Isis Collar, the latest in the Blood Singer series, is due out on March 13th. This month, Tor Books is making it easy to get acquainted with the series by releasing the ebooks for only $2.99 each.

The first part of the story consists of the three novels:

Blood Song
Siren Song
Demon Song

All three of which are now discounted and available for Kindle, Nook, and through the iBookstore (U.S. only) from now until March 9th.

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Check Out the Locus Recommending Reading List of 2011

Management Services — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Need some recommendations? The Locus Recommended Reading List for 2011 has just been released. This list covers everything from SFF novels to short fiction to art books, and can help you get caught up on anything you might have missed in the last calendar year. Congratulations to everyone and a great big thank you to Locus Online for including some Tor.com stories in the mix!

Macmillan titles in general have a great showing amongst the recommendations. Full list below the cut.

[Titles below]

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Coming Soon: Some of the Best of Tor.com, a Free Mini Ebook Anthology

Management Services — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:30:00 +0000

We have collected a few of our favorite stories from 2011 and put them together in a mini free ebook, free for downloading. Of course, you can always read the stories for free right here, whenever you’d like, but for those that like to move about Some of the Best of Tor.com 2011 will be available Feb 14th. Kindle readers can pre-order now, it will be available at other retailers on the 14th.

[The list of included stories]

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Barnes and Noble Bookseller’s Picks for February

Management Services — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

For over a decade, Barnes & Noble buyer Jim Killen has been a driving force behind Barnes & Noble’s science fiction and fantasy sections. Each month on Tor.com, Mr. Killen curates a list of science fiction & fantasy titles, sometimes focused on upcoming titles and sometimes focused on a theme.

We just finished exploring Military Science Fiction in January. Now check out the Barnes & Noble science fiction and fantasy picks for February.

[The lists below]

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Introduce Yourself to The Wheel of Time for Only 99 Cents

Management Services — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

The Wheel of Time is a truly epic fantasy series, spanning three decades and fourteen books, and representing many lifetimes’ worth of creativity both on and off the page. Its world is staggeringly detailed and full of mystery and the rewards for those who delve into it are immense.

With the promised final volume of the series well underway, now is a perfect time for fans of epic fantasy to see what all the fuss is about. To that end, Tor Books is making From the Two Rivers, the beginning of The Wheel of Time, available as an ebook for only 99 cents.

From the Two Rivers is available from all ebook retailers and for all devices, including Nook, Kindle, and iPad.

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The Wheel of Time to Be Re-Released With New Art

Management Services — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:22:00 +0000

“Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten . . .”

In honor of the Year of the Dragon, Tor Books is excited to announce that the first three novels in Robert Jordan’s beloved internationally bestselling The Wheel of Time® fantasy series will be published for the first time in trade paperback with sensational new cover art. The Eye of the World is scheduled for May 2012, The Great Hunt for June 2012, and The Dragon Reborn for July 2012.

As Harriet MacDougal and Brandon Sanderson work to complete A Memory of Light, the final volume in the series, the timing is perfect for millions of Wheel of Time fans to go back to the very beginning, when five kids from Emond’s Field had little idea of what lay ahead. Whether you’ve read the series once, a dozen times, lapsed after book eight, or are just coming to it fresh for the first time, these new editions are a perfect jumping off point for a fresh readthrough.

[The new art below the cut]

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Tor.com Salutes Military Science Fiction

Management Services — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Over the last several days we’ve explored various aspects of Military Science Fiction in the form of articles, book appreciations, and excerpts. (You can see it all collected in the Military SF index.) Thank you to all the contributors and readers who have all provided us with insight into this venerable sub-genre.

Most of all, we’d like to take a moment and thank all of those for whom military service is not limited to discussion, but action, as well. To those that have made real sacrifices in service to their countries: We thank you.

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Game Over, Man! Tor.com Appreciates Military Science Fiction

Management Services — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:20:00 +0000

For the month of January, Jim Killen, the buyer in charge of Barnes & Noble’s SFF selection and curator of the Barnes & Noble Bookseller’s Picks, has chosen a military science fiction theme! In conjuction with the appreciations and excerpts, we’ll be exploring this subgenre with original articles from our own contributors along with some of the biggest name authors of military science fiction.

Some highlights include: Jo Walton on Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga, John Scalzi’s thoughts on the film version of Starship Troopers, and Liz Bourke on women in military science fiction. We’ll also hear from Myke Cole, David Drake, Tim Maughan, Ron Hogan, Rajan Khanna, Emily Asher-Perrin, Ryan Britt, and more.

Below are the 15 titles we’ll be covering as this month’s B&N picks:

[Read more]

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Wham! Bam! Thank you ma’am: Goodbye to Bowie Week!

Management Services — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Well, Bowie Week has been awful nice—really quite out of sight, you might say—and we want to thank you all for coming along for the wild ride through all the glittery highlights of David Bowie’s spectacular, iconic career. Thanks especially to our bloggers for sharing some of their favorite musical moments, memories and performances: all of these (inter)stellar posts have been collected in our handy Bowie Week index. We’d also like to give a special shout-out to artist Scott Brundage for giving Stubby a fabulous, Ziggy Stardust-inspired makeover this week—Stubby, of course, is a huge glam rock fan from way back (but don’t get Stubby started about life on Mars…) To close out the week, we’d like to leave you with a post full of some of our favorite photos of the man himself, along with a couple of his SFF-esque music videos!

Finally, happy birthday once again to the starman of the hour, whose creativity, fearlessness, and willingness to push boundaries have inspired so many of us, and will undoubtedly continue to inspire fans far into the future.

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Vote in the Tor.com 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards

Management Services — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

What were the best science fiction/fantasy stories you read this past year? Or the best comics? Or the best covers?

Forget about “the best,” really, what new releases in 2011 did you enjoy the most?

Whatever those selections may be, now is your chance to vote for them in the Tor.com 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards! From now until 11:59 PM Friday, January 20th, we’re encouraging Tor.com readers (and SFF fans in general) to vote for their favorites in the following four categories.

Best Novel
Best Short Fiction
Best Comic
Best Book Cover

How to Vote: All votes are write-ins. You can vote for as many titles, stories, and covers released as you want in the comment thread of this post.

[Click for more information on eligible titles and a reminder of what came out in 2011]

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Happy Birthday from the Spiders From Mars!: Announcing Bowie Week on Tor.com

Management Services — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Happy birthday to rock demigod David Bowie, who turns 65 today…although somehow, we can’t quite believe it. One of the most versatile, innovative performers of the last century, Bowie’s shifting musical personas— from psychedelic spaceman to androgynous Messianic alien to trippy Orwellian antihero to retro-futuristic cabaret act—have put him in a completely different class from most mortals. He hasn’t simply evolved over the years: he practically regenerates. We’re not saying that he’s a secret Time Lord...but if he was, would anyone really be surprised?

[Freak out in a Moonage Daydream with us]

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Kristen Simmons Article 5 Tour!

Management Services — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Kristen Simmons, author of Article 5 will be going on tour next month and in March, and you don’t want to miss it! For those of you in need of a primer, here’s an excerpt from the book — and we have ARCs to give away if you just can’t wait for your copy. Check out the tour dates and locations below!

[Read more]

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2012 Hugo Nomination Voting Is Open

Management Services — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:30:00 +0000

The Hugo Awards, one of the most prestigious awards for science fiction and fantasy works, has opened voting for this year’s nominees. Voting for nominees requires a supporting membership for Chicon 7, which is hosting the Hugo Awards this year. Supporting memberships are only available for purchase until January 31st. Any person who was or is a member of the 2011, 2012, or 2013 Worldcons as of January 31, 2012, is already eligible to nominate for the 2012 Hugo Awards. The voting itself closes at midnight (Pacific time) on March 11. Check out the full rules here. If you’re already a supporting member, you can download nomination forms here.

Chicon 7 will be held in Chicago, IL from August 30th through September 3rd 2012. Details on their site here.

Additionally, voting for the Nebula Award nominees is still open. The Nebula Awards are voted on by active members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA for short). Nebula nominations are open through Wednesday, February 15, and the form is here; you must be a SFWA member, and logged in, to nominate. Here is a detailed description of how the voting works.

Several Tor.com stories are eligible for nomination for both the Hugo and the Nebula Awards this year. Click here for a full list.

Go forth and nominate!

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Read a Preview of the New Halo Forerunner Book, Out Today

Management Services — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Halo: Primordium, the second book in Greg Bear’s Forerunner trilogy, is out in stores today. Primordium continues the story of the enigmatic creators and builders of the Halos that began in Halo: Cryptum. In the wake of the apparent self-destruction of the Forerunner empire, two humans — Chakas and Riser — end up on a strange inverted world where horizons rise into the sky. Their epic journey across this damaged Halo takes them into the domain of a powerful and monstrous intelligence who claims to be the Last Precursor. Called the Captive by Forerunners, and the Primordial by ancient humans, this intelligence has taken charge of, and perverted, the Master Builder’s already horrifying research into the Flood. Chakas and Riser unwittingly become trapped in an ancient game of vengeance between the powers who seeded the galaxy with life and the Forerunners, who have taken up the sacred Mantle of duty to protect all living things.

“As we head into the launch year for Halo 4, more and more fans are begging for answers to a lot of questions,” says Frank O’Connor, Franchise Development Director at 343 Industries. “In Primordium, Greg answers those, and a bunch you never even thought to ask and introduces some new mysteries that will have a resounding and lasting effect on the Halo universe.”

Fans of Halo can read the first chapter right here on Tor.com.

Read the full article

Download Free Wallpaper for A Memory of Light

Management Services — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

We’ve got a special treat for Wheel of Time fans: free downloadable desktop wallpaper from A Memory of Light! The wallpaper features the newly designed snake wheel from the series, crafted by artist Sam Weber (artist on the ebook edition of The Shadow Rising.)

A note for those wondering, this is not the decided-upon cover for the final book. We thought it would be fun to give fans a chance to wear their colors while a decision is being made in regards to the final cover.

[Wallpapers below]

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Congratulations to Tor/Forge Books on 30 Bestsellers in 2011

Management Services — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to our namesake, Tor/Forge Books, for achieving 30 New York Times bestselling books this year! This annihilates their 2010 release list of 20 bestsellers, which in itself was a new record for the publisher!

As of the end of this week, those 30 books are.

[Read more]

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Brandon Sanderson Has Finished A Memory of Light

Management Services — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:11:23 +0000

Quite a night for epic fantasy fans, first The Hobbit trailer goes live, then Brandon Sanderson (studiously avoiding watching any trailers, we imagine) finishes the first draft of the final Wheel of Time novel, A Memory of Light.

Sanderson announced topping this particular summit around 8:30 AM this morning, having written through the night. According to his Twitter account, the first half of 2012 will involve careful revision so that the final installment can stand as a shining example of the best that the series has to offer.

[More on A Memory of Light]

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Tor/Forge Monthly Twitter Chat Series! 2011 in Review

Management Services — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

The Tor/Forge blog is hosting the monthly twitter chat tomorrow, and this one is a holiday special! It goes from 4-5pm (EST) Wednesday, December 21 under the hashtag #torchat.

This month the chat will focus on a fun-filled 2011 Year Review. Tor Books (@torbooks) and other SFF folks (including Tor.com’s very own Ryan Britt!) will be talking about their favorite books of the year and giving recommendations for last-minute gift giving — or for a few gifts you may want to give yourself. They’d love to hear your picks as well, so drop in and talk about what a great year it’s been!

#Torchat happens in the middle of each month and you can check here on on the Tor/Forge blog for info, authors, and times.

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Win All 14 Wheel of Time Audiobooks

Management Services — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Macmillan Audio is giving away two collections of all 14 audiobooks of the Wheel of Time series.

Go here to register for the sweepstakes, which ends on 11:59 PM on December 24. Two entrants will be randomly chosen to receive the audiobook versions of all 14 published Wheel of Time books, from New Spring to Towers of Midnight.

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Captain America Creator Joe Simon, 1913-2011

Management Services — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:25:00 +0000

The Beat is reporting that legendary Golden Age comic creator Joe Simon passed away yesterday, Tuesday, December 14. Simon was the creator of Captain America and a myriad of other heroes and rogues in the Marvel Universe and beyond, including the 1940s version of Sandman. He was also the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would eventually turn into Marvel.

The news was broken by his son through Facebook. Simon was an active presence in the comics field throughout his entire life and made regular appearances at conventions even into his late 90s. He will be missed, although we continue to enjoy the fruits of his legacy to this day.

[Photo of Joe Simon at Comic Con 2010 via Duck Show]

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Tor Books Announces Arctic Rising Tour!

Management Services — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

In March, Tobias S. Buckell will be going on tour to promote his new book, Arctic Rising. Here are his west coast tour dates!

Friday, March 2
7:00 PM
Powell’s Books
Beaverton, OR

Saturday, March 3
5:00 PM
Borderlands Books
San Francisco, CA

Monday, March 5
7:00 PM
Mysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA

Read the full article

Tor Books Announces Among Others Tour!

Management Services — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +0000

In January, Jo Walton will be touring to promote the paperback release of her novel, Among Others. Here are the tour dates!

Sunday, January 8
1:00 PM
Uncle Hugo’s
Minneapolis, MN

Friday, January 13
7:00 PM
University Book Store
Seattle, WA

Wednesday, January 18
7:00 PM
Powell’s Books
Beaverton, OR

Saturday, January 21
3:00 PM
Borderlands Books
San Francisco, CA

Read the full article

Jerry Robinson 1922-2011

Management Services — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Legendary comic book artist Jerry Robinson, who had a profound impact on the mythos of Batman, passed away on Wednesday evening. Robinson’s contributions to comic books and Batman in particular are innumerable, but he most notably created the original look for the Joker, suggested the name “Robin,” and was a force behind the character of Alfred.

[Remembering Jerry]

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Tor.com’s Hugo and Nebula Eligible Stories!

Management Services — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Nominations are open for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards and Tor.com has had the honor of publishing some eligible works from fantastic creators in 2011.

The Hugo and Nebula Awards are presented each year to outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or related fiction genre published during the previous year.

Hugo winners are selected by the members of Worldcon, but the list of nominees is voted on by Worldcon members. Voting for nominees requires a supporting membership for Chicon 7, although members from last year’s Worldcon are also eligible to nominate. You can download nomination forms here.

The deadlines for Hugo nominations is March 11, while the deadline to purchase a nominating membership is January 31. The rules are here and you may nominate up to five works in each category.

The Nebula Awards are voted on by active members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA for short). Nebula nominations are open through Wednesday, February 15, and the form is here; you must be a SFWA member, and logged in, to nominate. Here is a detailed description of how the voting works.

[See our eligible novelettes, short stories, graphic stories, and editors below the fold]

Read the full article

First 5 Chapters of Cinder Now Available for Free Download!

Management Services — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Marissa Meyer’s debut novel Cinder will release on January 3rd (check out an introductory story here on the site!), but the first five chapters are available for free download right now! Here’s more on the book:

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Grab these free chapters from your favorite e-book retailer!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Macmillan

Read the full article

Tor Books Announces Sisterhood of Dune Tour!

Management Services — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Coming up next month, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson will be touring to promote their new Dune novel, Sisterhood of Dune! Don’t miss out on a chance to see one of the authors in a bookstore near you.

The tour goes coast to coast — dates, locations, and which author is appearing where below the cut!

[Read more]

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Barnes and Noble Bookseller’s Picks for December

Management Services — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Last month, we talked about new releases for the months of November. This month, a collection of releases from December will be highlighted through interviews, appreciations, excerpts, and more.

[Read more]

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Tor.com Mobile Goes Live

Management Services — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

We have streamlined the mobile edition of Tor.com. Now you can more easily read and enjoy all blog posts, series artricles, and stories while on the go... or while stuck on a train, waiting in line, toughing out dull moments in movies.... (Although try not to be That Guy at the cinema...) Carry us around in your pocket — it’s fun, we promise.

You can log in and comment, sort through stories to read, or excerpts to help find your next read. If there is anything on the full site you want to see, just click on the “full site” button in the footer.

We are new on mobile so there will invariably be some bugs. You can help us and your fellow Tor.com readers by reporting bugs in the comment section of this post.

Happy reading... wherever you are!

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Cyber Monday Reminder: Wild Cards eBooks at $2.99!

Management Services — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0000

In honor of Cyber Monday deals, we want to remind everyone that Tor Books is running a special Wild Cards promotion. In anticipation of the impending release of Wild Cards: Aces High (Dec. 20th) and the exciting news that Wild Cards is in development to become a movie; from November 16th until December 14th the following four Wild Cards titles will be available in the U.S. for $2.99 each wherever eBooks are sold! (Choose your favorite provider!)

Wild Cards I
Suicide Kings
Busted Flush
Inside Straight

The Wild Cards shared-universe series, created and edited since 1987 by New York Times #1 bestseller George R. R. Martin along with Melinda Snodgrass, is an alternate history tale in which human DNA was rewritten in 1946 creating superheroes among 1% of the population. The “Wild Cards” are those heroes endowed with various powers.

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Anne McCaffrey, 1926-2011

Management Services — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:07:00 +0000

Anne McCaffrey, legendary SF and fantasy author best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series, has passed away. Random House has confirmed on Tuesday that McCaffrey died of a stroke at her home in Ireland on Monday, November 21.

McCaffrey was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction, the first woman to win a Nebula Award, and the first author to hit the New York Times bestseller list with an SF title (The White Dragon).

McCaffrey leaves behind a tremendous legacy. She was active in the science fiction and fantasy fields right up to her passing and will be greatly missed.

[McCaffrey’s family responds]

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Download Free Wallpaper for Halo: Primordium

Management Services — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Fans of Halo and Greg Bear’s Halo Forerunner Saga can now download the cover and art from the upcoming second book in the trilogy: Halo: Primordium.

Halo: Cryptum began a three-book arc set in the era of the Forerunners, the ancient and enigmatic creators and builders of the Halos, that continues in Halo: Primordium. In Halo: Cryptum, a young, rebellious Manipular began a dangerous search for artifacts of the Precursors — long-vanished superbeings of unknowable power and intent — setting off a devastating chain of events that nearly ended the Forerunner empire. Now two humans, former companions of the Manipular, find themselves captives and strategic pawns in a cosmic game whose madness knows no end — a game of ancient vengeance between the powers who seeded the galaxy with life, and the Forerunners who expect to take up their sacred Mantle of duty to protect all living things.

[Wallpapers below the cut]

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Brandon Sanderson Alloy of Law U.K. Tour Schedule

Management Services — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:40:00 +0000

The Brandon Sanderson Alloy of Law tour is currently running strong here in the States. But for those of you who live in the U.K., get ready! He’s heading your way soon.

You’ll get a chance to see Brandon and get your book signed while he’s overseas, but that’s not all! All throughout the Alloy of Law tour, secret codes have been dropped off in various locations. Secret codes that unlock new Wheel of Time content!

Check the list below for U.K. tour dates. You can also go to Brandon’s site for his full touring schedule throughout the year.

[Tour dates]

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Wild Cards eBooks Now $2.99!

Management Services — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Tor Books is pleased to announce a special Wild Cards promotion in anticipation of the impending release of Wild Cards: Aces High (Dec. 20th) and the exciting news that Wild Cards is in development to become a movie. From November 16th until December 14th the following four Wild Cards titles will be available in the U.S. for $2.99 each wherever eBooks are sold!

Wild Cards I
Suicide Kings
Busted Flush
Inside Straight

Read the full article

Join Tor.com on Google+

Management Services — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Because Tor.com strives to be your home for science fiction, fantasy, the universe and related subjects, we want to make sure you can keep up with us no matter which social media platform you favor. Our Facebook friends and Twitter followers have consistently made our existence better and our content richer, so we now would like you to add us to your circles on Google+. The link to our profile is here. See you on the interwebs!

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The Alloy of Law Spoiler Thread

Management Services — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Brandon Sanderson’s The Alloy of Law contains a number of references to the original Mistborn trilogy, and some very intriguing hints as to what is to come in the larger Mistborn series, as well as some ideas as to what the characters from the original series got up to.

And that’s just scratching the surface. There’s a lot buried within The Alloy of Law, so we’ve opened a spoiler/speculation thread below!

You can read a spoiler-free rundown of The Alloy of Law here, as well as the first six chapters here.

[Spoiler comments immediately below the cut]

Read the full article

The Alloy of Law Tour Will Unlock a Wheel of Time Secret!

Management Services — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:37:00 +0000

The Alloy of Law contains a secret from the Wheel of Time!

That Brandon Sanderson, he’s tricksy — so tricksy, that he’s again decided to hide an exclusive secret from the Wheel of Time in plain sight — encoded here on his own website.

To unlock the secret, fans will have find and enter all 35 codes, each one printed on the back of a WoT snake bumper sticker (pictured) and secreted in bookstores along Brandon Sanderson’s book tour for his new standalone Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law. Oh, and that book tour? Starts tomorrow….

Think you have what it takes to land your name in a gleeman’s epic???

Follow the Great Hunt on Twitter at hashtag #wotgh

[Check out Brandon Sanderson’s full tour schedule for The Alloy of Law after the jump]

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Tor.com Now Available via Mobile App Float

Management Services — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Float is a new digital reading service developed by Scribd. Now, the Float suite of web and mobile applications is revolutionizing the experience of reading, putting documents, news, blogs, friend recommendations and more into a convenient mobile application for the iPhone.

Tor.com is happy to announce that our content will now be available through Float, meaning that if you have an iPhone, accessing your favorite web content about science fiction, fantasy, the universe, and related subjects just got a little easier. For now Float is only available for the iPhone, but Android and iPad apps are on the way! You can check out all the details on Float.com by clicking here.

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Free Halo: Glasslands Wallpaper!

Management Services — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Halo: Glasslands is the first novel in an all-new Halo trilogy based on the Xbox Halo videogame series. Karen Traviss, who has penned number one bestselling novels in the Star Wars universe, as well as bestselling novels for the Gears of War franchise, explores the events following Halo 3 in a novel continuing the story begun in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.

For fans of Halo and Halo: Glasslands, we’re offering free wallpapers of the art from Glasslands by Eddie Smith!

[Click below. Available in a variety of sizes]

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Barnes and Noble Bookseller’s Picks for November

Management Services — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Last month, we talked about first steps in steampunk. This month, a collection of releases from October and November will be highlighted through interviews, appreciations, excerpts, and more.

[Read more]

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Announcing the 2011 World Fantasy Award Winners!

Management Services — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:00:00 +0000

The World Fantasy Awards have been given annually since 1975, to fantasy authors the world over, and are announced every year, appropriately, at the World Fantasy Awards Convention, which is being held in San Diego, CA this year. This year’s guests are Jo Fletcher, Neil Gaiman, Parke Godwin, Shawna McCarthy, and Ruth Sanderson. Connie Willis is the toastmaster.

Below the cut you’ll find a list of the categories with nominees, with winners in bold. We’ll be updating the list as winners are announced, so don’t forget to refresh the page periodically.

[Winners below the cut]

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343 Industries and Karen Traviss Talk Halo: Glasslands

Management Services — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Halo: Glasslands, out today, is the first novel in an all-new Halo trilogy based on the Xbox Halo videogame series. Karen Traviss, who has penned number one bestselling novels in the Star Wars universe, as well as bestselling novels for the Gears of War franchise, explores the events following Halo 3 in a novel continuing the story begun in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.

In Halo: Glasslands, The Covenant has collapsed after a long, brutal war that saw billions slaughtered on Earth and her colonies. For the first time in decades, however, peace finally seems possible. But though the fighting’s stopped, the war is far from over: it’s just gone underground. The UNSC’s feared and secretive Office of Naval Intelligence recruits Kilo-Five, a team of ODSTs, a Spartan, and an eccentric AI to accelerate the Sangheili insurrection. Meanwhile, the Arbiter, the defector turned leader of a broken Covenant, struggles to stave off civil war among his divided people.

[Read on]

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Happy Birthday, Robert Jordan

Management Services — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Robert Jordan, the creator of the massively detailed Wheel of Time world, was born on October 17, 1948. Today would have been his 63rd birthday.

As readers familiar with Tor.com may know, the series has produced an enormous amount of discussion both here and elsewhere online. Most recently, Tor.com Wheel of Time Reread writer Leigh Butler penned an appreciation of the very first novel, The Eye of the World, harkening back to her introduction to the series and the emotion that discovering Jordan’s world produces amongst fans new and old. The comments immediately became a collection of resonant experiences and old stories about Jordan. (Or Jim, as many knew him.)

If you have a moment today, we can think of no better way to celebrate his birthday than to read through these heartfelt tributes to him. (Linked above.) And, perhaps, add your own.

Happy birthday, James Oliver Rigney, Jr. Thank you for the gift.

Read the full article

Visiting First Second Books at New York Comic Con

Management Services — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:36:00 +0000

New York Comic Con is now (here’s some tips on how to do it best) and children’s book and comic imprint First Second has revealed their signing schedule.

You might know First Second from their comic offerings here on Tor.com, from nostalgic video game comic strip Legends of the Joystick to the more recent selections from Nursery Rhyme Comics. Check out the creators and artists form First Second at booth #1730 this weekend!

[Schedule below]

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Stephen King 11/22/63 Tour Dates Released

Management Services — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:44:00 +0000

Tickets are going quickly for the recently announced promotional tour for Stephen King’s upcoming novel 11/22/63.

11/22/63 follows Jake Epping, a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane — and insanely possible — mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life — a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

The tour for 11/22/63 begins on November 7, the day before the book’s release.

[Details below the cut]

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Tor Books Panels & Signings at New York Comic Con 2011

Management Services — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0000

New York Comic Con is a few scant days away (here’s some tips on how to do it best), and this year several Tor Books authors will be on many of the fantastic panels. From discussions about zombies, to ruminations about demonic hotspots, to an analysis of the uber-popularity of epic fantasy; this years panels have it all.

Click below for the full schedule of panels, author signings, and giveaways at the Tor Books booth (#945).

[Read more]

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Mysterious Galaxy Opening a New Location

Management Services — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Independent bookstore Mysterious Galaxy is expanding its empire with the opening of a new location in Redona Beach, CA. The ribbon-cutting cermony will occur this Thursday October 13th at 10:00 AM. In celebration of this grand opening, the new location will feature special author appereances throughout the month including, Charlaine Harris, John Sanford, Vernor Vinge, Lawerence Block, Orson Scott Card, Kathy Reichs, Laini Taylor and more!

Mysterious Galaxy has been an indie bookseller since opening their first location in San Diego in 1993. They are also a forthcoming contributor to Tor.com’s new Independent Booksellers Picks! Check out their website calendar for complete details on the new store.

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Mistborn Adventure Game Sweepstakes #3

Management Services — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Crafty Games, the RPG publisher of the forthcoming Mistborn Adventure Game (November 2011), has kindly offered to partner with Tor Books and Macmillan Audio for a series of sweepstakes themed around Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy, and his forthcoming new Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law (November 8, 2011).

Today, we’re giving away the third of five awesome prize packs.

[Read more]

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Amazon Launches SFF Imprint 47North

Management Services — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Amazon has announced the launch of a new science fiction/fantasy imprint, 47North. The imprint joins six others currently under the Amazon Publishing umbrella and kicks off its schedule of releases this month, a schedule which includes Dave Duncan, Neal Stephenson, and Greg Bear.

[More details below the cut]

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SF Gateway Launches!

Management Services — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Gollancz’s launched SF Gateway today, as part of their 50^th anniversary celebration. SF Gateway offers classic science fiction and fantasy ebooks for sale (largely, but not exclusively, in UK territories) and will be the home for the third edition of the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

SF Gateway promises to be an invaluable database for the SF reader, and also a hub of fan communication and welcome insight on the genre from the folks at Gollancz. Your friends and Tor.com salute you.

Check out SF Gateway here.

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Excerpt and Interview

Management Services — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone was released just last week, and we have some media fun for those of you who are curious about this fascinating take on angel mythology from Little, Brown and Company. First up, Laini reads an excerpt from the book!

And we have an video interview with the author herself:

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Announcing Independent Bookseller Picks on Tor.com

Management Services — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Science fiction and fantasy are our favorite genres because they allow for infinite diversity of viewpoints. But wih a galaxy of reading options out there, how does one pick one’s next book? Since we’re always interested in new releases and classics from the whole range of publishers, we recently recruited Barnes & Noble buyer Jim Killen to curate a monthly recommended-reading list for us. But indie booksellers also hold up half the sky, and therefore we’ll also be featuring regular Independent Bookseller Picks in the genres we love.

[Read more]

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Steampunk ebooks on Sale for $2.99!

Management Services — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

The new Barnes & Noble Bookseller’s Picks are here and Tor.com’s Steampunk Week has begun. To help you gather a foothold on this sub-genre, Tor Books is offering the following ebook titles for only $2.99 (U.S. only):

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
Mainspring by Jay Lake

Visit your favorite ebook retailer and start downloading today on your ereader.

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Barnes and Noble Bookseller’s Picks for October: Steampunk Edition

Management Services — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Last month, we talked about first installments in epic fantasy series. For October, our ongoing collaboration with Barnes and Noble continues with steampunk, to coincide with Tor.com’s Steampunk Week, curated by Ay-leen the Peacemaker. Don your goggles, we’re offering up a great cross-section of how to approach steampunk.

[Read more]

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Mistborn Adventure Game Sweepstakes #2

Management Services — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Today, we’re giving away the second of five awesome prize packs.

[What it includes below]

Read the full article

Tour Schedules for Alex Bledsoe, Gabrielle Zevon, Alyson Noel & Mary Pearson

Management Services — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Starting this week, several Tor Books and Macmillan authors are hitting the road for a variety of appearances in promotions of their new books. Below the cut is the appearance schedule for Gabrielle Zevin, Alyson Noel, Mary E. Pearson, and Alex Bledsoe. If you’re in Texas, California, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, or Wisconsin these authors are coming your way soon! Note: Zevin, Noel, and Pearson are appearing together on a number of occasions.

[Click here for tour schedule]

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The Center for Fiction Celebrates SFF with Margaret Atwood, Kelly Link, Lev Grossman, N.K. Jemisin, Ellen Kushner & More

Management Services — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:15:00 +0000

We are proud to announce that Tor.com is an official media sponsor of The Center for Fiction’s month long event The Big Read: A Wizard of Earthsea! Throughout the month of October, The Center for Fiction will be honoring Ursula K. Le Guin and celebrating science fiction and fantasy with a number of stellar panels. If you’re near Tor.com’s homebase, New York City, at any point in October, these events are not to be missed.

The panel discussions feature authors such as Margaret Atwood, Kelly Link, Lev Grossman, N.K. Jemisin, Ellen Kushner, Charles Yu, John Wray and more. Tor.com will be present at all the Big Read events, so come out and say hello. Below the cut is a full list of the events.

[Read more]

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Sara Douglass, 1957-2011

Management Services — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Beloved science fiction and fantasy author Sara Douglass passed away yesterday, September 26th. Douglass had been diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and wrote eloquently about her struggle with the treatment and the stigma behind it on her personal blog. She was 54 at the time of her passing.

Born Sara Warneke, she wrote under the name Sara Douglass from 1995 until her death. Hailing from Penola, Australia, Sara’s major works include BattleAxe, Starman, Enchanter, The Wayfarer Redemption series and the Crucible trilogy.

A talent lost far too young, Sara will be missed very much by her readers and the science fiction community.

[Via Locus]

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Del Rey’s Editor-in-Chief Betsy Mitchell Bows Out

Management Services — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:22:00 +0000

After almost ten years as editor-in-chief at science fiction and fantasy publisher Del Rey, Betsy Mitchell is taking an early retirement, leaving Tricia Pasternak to take over the reins.

Starting in the early 1980s at Baen, Mitchell went on to editorial jobs at Bantam, Warner Aspect, and ultimately Del Rey. Her contributions to science fiction and fantasy are too numerous to list. She’s edited the likes of William Gibson, Michael Chabon, Octavia Butler, Terry Brooks, and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Her eye for exemplary fiction has enriched the genre in ways that are incalculable. Whatever she decides to do next, we wish her the best of luck.

[News via Publishers Weekly]

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Tor Books Authors at New York Comic Con 2011

Management Services — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:15:00 +0000

New York Comic Con is right around the corner, and this year several Tor Books authors will be on many of the fantastic panels. From discussions about zombies, to ruminations about demonic hotspots, to an analysis of the uber-popularity of epic fantasy; this years panels have it all. Click below for the full schedule.

[Read more]

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Epic Fantasy Ebooks on Sale for $2.99! - One Week Left

Management Services — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:46:00 +0000

The Barnes & Noble Bookseller’s Picks list for epic fantasy concluded just this past Monday, but the ebook sale for the Tor Books titles featured will only continue for one more week! That’s Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World, Steven Erikson’s Gardens of the Moon, and Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, all available at a low price for you favorite e-reader wherever ebooks are sold. Download and enjoy!

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Tor/Forge Monthly Twitter Chat Series Gears Up with Steampunk!

Management Services — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:07:00 +0000

The Tor/Forge blog is back to chat! Their monthly Twitter Chat series is set for this coming Wednesday, September 21st from 4-5 PM under the hashtag #torchat.

This month, to celebrate the impending Tor.com Steampunk Week in October, the chat will focus on the steampunk subgenre. The special guest authors will be debut novelist Lev AC Rosen (All Men of Genius), Marie Brennan (With Fate Conpire, the Onyx Hall series) and George Mann (Newbury and Hobbes Investigation series).

#Torchat happens in the middle of each month and you can check here and on the Tor/Forge blog for info, authors, and times.

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Cherie Priest’s Tour for Ganymede

Management Services — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:50:00 +0000

Starting at the end of this month, Cherie Priest will be traveling all over the midwest and west coat to talk about her new book, Ganymede, Book 4 in the Clockwork Century series. Pick up a copy and meet Cherie at one of locations listed below:

[Read more]

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Site upgrade: “Of Interest” links index

Management Services — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Looking for a quick diversion? In addition to our regular content, we have also enjoyed sharing fun and interesting articles, videos, images and more from around the web. Throughout the day, we post links to things that catch our eye. These show up in our “Of Interest” sidebar, over on the right side of the home page. Now you can browse through all of this fun stuff on a dedicated index page. (Please note the “show all” at the end of the sidebar.) You can also share the links by clicking on the time stamp.

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Bill Willingham Out On Tour For Down the Mysterly River

Management Services — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Bill Willingham, the lauded author of Fables, is heading out on tour to celebrate the release of his brand new book Down the Mysterly River.

Max “the Wolf” is a top-notch Boy Scout, an expert at orienteering, and a master of being prepared. So it is a little odd that he suddenly finds himself, with no recollection of his immediate past, lost in an unfamiliar wood. Even odder still, he encounters a badger named Banderbrock, a black bear named Walden, and McTavish the Monster (who might also be an old barn cat) — all of whom talk — and who are as clueless as Max....

[Catch Willingham at one of the following bookstores or events]

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Vernor Vinge’s Tour Schedule for The Children of the Sky

Management Services — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Next month, Vernor Vinge will be hitting the west coast to discuss his new book, the much-awaited The Children of the Sky, the sequel to his acclaimed novel A Fire Upon the Deep. Pick up a copy of the book (excerpt here) and catch him at one of the following bookstores.

Tuesday, October 11th - 7:00 PM
Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego, CA

Wednesday, October 12th - 7:00 PM
Mysterious Galaxy, Redondo Beach, CA

Thursday, October 13th - 7:00 PM
University Books, Seattle, WA

Saturday, October 15th - 7:00 PM
Powell’s Books, Beaverton, OR

Sunday, October 16th - 3:00 PM
Borderland Books, San Francisco, CA

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Epic Fantasy Ebooks on Sale for $2.99!

Management Services — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:05:00 +0000

As we celebrate the Barnes & Noble Bookseller’s Picks, we have a treat for all of you. The first pick list we are exploring showcases the premiere volumes of ten different epic fantasy series, and we know you’re probably eager to start reading them all. Which leads to our good news: the three Tor titles on the epic fantasy list can now be found for only $2.99 in ebook format! That’s The Eye of the World, Gardens of the Moon, and Mistborn, all available at a low price for you favorite e-reader wherever ebooks are sold. Download and enjoy!

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Download the First Six Alloy of Law Chapters for Your E-Reader!

Management Services — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Hey there, Mistborn fans! We know you had a blast reading the first six chapters of The Alloy of Law, but we were thinking you deserved something a little more... portable. So now, if you go to any online ebook dealer, you can find those first six chapters available for free download! Nab them for your e-reader of choice today!

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Announcing Barnes and Noble Bookseller’s Picks on Tor.com

Management Services — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Tor.com is pleased to announce a joint collaboration with Barnes and Noble Booksellers to bring the best in genre fiction to fans and new readers alike. Tor.com is partnering with Barnes & Noble for a series of appreciations, the “Barnes & Noble Bookseller’s Picks,” a monthly recommended science fiction and fantasy reading list.

For over a decade, Barnes & Noble buyer Jim Killen has been a driving force behind Barnes & Noble’s remarkably well-chosen science fiction and fantasy sections. Each month, Mr. Killen will curate a list of science fiction & fantasy titles, which various Tor.com contributors will then discuss and explore.

The recent release of George R.R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons and the smash success of HBO’s Game of Thrones have put interest in epic fantasy at an all-time high. If you’re just beginning to read in this subgenre, you may be wondering what to try next. To answer that question, this month’s theme will focus on the opening volumes of various epic fantasy series.

[Where to start in epic fantasy]

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Mistborn Adventure Game Sweepstakes

Management Services — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Just in time for Dragon*Con, Tor.com is thrilled to announce that Crafty Games, the RPG publisher of the forthcoming Mistborn Adventure Game (November 2011), has kindly offered to partner with Tor Books and Macmillan Audio for a series of sweepstakes themed around Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy, and his forthcoming new Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law (November 2011).

Today, we’re giving away the first of five awesome prize packs.

[Prizes below the cut]

Read the full article

NASA and Tor/Forge Publishing Collaboration Coming Soon

Management Services — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:26:00 +0000

NASA and Tor/Forge have announced a forthcoming publishing collaboration that will meld the sensibilities of strong science fiction with equally strong space science. This team up will pair existing Tor/Forge authors with scientists from the Goddard Space Flight Center. The concept is to not only create scientifically accurate and exciting science fiction novels, but also to promote an interest in science awareness in general.

When I was a boy, books by Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and their colleagues excited me, inspiring a lifelong fascination with space and the science and technology that would get us there. — Tom Doherty, publisher of Tor Books

The project has just been announced so stay tuned for details as to which authors will be participating. The space shuttle program may have ended, but the dream goes on! Read the full press release on the Tor/Forge blog here.

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Announcing the 2011 Hugo Award Winners!

Management Services — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:59:00 +0000

The Hugo Awards have been awarded since 1953, and every year since 1955, by the annual World Science Fiction Convention (the “Worldcon”). Finalists are nominated by members of the previous and impending members of Worldcon, while the winners are selected only by memebers of the upcoming Worldcon.

This year the World Science Fiction Convention, Renovation is being held in Reno, Neveda with the Hugo Awards Cermony on August 21st.

Check out the full list of nominees and winners below the cut!

[Read more]

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A Farewell to Noir

Management Services — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:46:00 +0000

Thanks to everybody for joining us on our journey to the dark side — we hope you’ve enjoyed our Noir Week escapades as much as we have! The posts this week have presented a fantastic sampling of some of the best that noir has to offer, but there’s always so much more to talk about, and we’ve gotten some wonderful suggestions in the comments, from Double Indemnity and Gilda to the work of the brilliant Chester Himes to The Grifters, Minority Report, and Brick (to name just a few). As always, we encourage you to stop by our Tor.com forums and begin your own discussions on these topics and more. Perhaps we’ll be visiting some of these works in the future, but for now, it’s time to bring this Long Goodbye to a close....

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Tor/Forge Monthly Twitter Chat Series! It’s Back to School with YA

Management Services — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:45:00 +0000

The Tor/Forge blog will be chatting away today! Their monthly Twitter Chat series is set for today, August 17th from 4-5pm under the hashtag #torchat.

This month, in honor of the Back to School season, the chat will focus on Young Adult fiction. The special guest authors will be Lisa Desrochers (Personal Demons, Original Sin), debut novelist Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood) and Kiki Hamilton (The Faerie Ring).

#Torchat happens in the middle of each month and you can check here on on the Tor/Forge blog for info, authors, and times.

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Announcing Noir Week on Tor.com

Management Services — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Noir Week at Tor.com! Join us as we escape from the sweltering dog days of summer into the cool, shadowy underworld of back alleys, jazz joints, hardboiled hooligans and tough-talking femme fatales; a world filled with violence, glamour, and intrigue, where the color scheme is black and white and the rules are anything but....

This week, we’re making the most of our “And related subjects” tagline and branching out into new territory: in addition to our regular content, we’ve got posts on some of our favorite classic noir movies, writers, iconic characters and actors. Less a genre than a style, noir continues to be an iconic and influential force in fiction, film, and fashion and we’re taking a detour all the way down to its shady, whiskey-soaked roots — so grab your fedora, slip your pearl-handled pistol into your purse, and brush off your best Bogart impression: it’s going to be a wild ride.

We’ll be trailing Philip Marlowe, hunting down The Third Man, sampling some Soylent Green, and swinging through Chinatown and Dark City on the way…for all these posts and much more, keep an eye on the Noir Week Index.

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14 Titles from Tor Books Featured in NPR’s SFF Top 100

Management Services — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Some congratulations are in order to our affiliated publisher Tor Books! Out of the top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Book List from NPR, 14 of them were published by Tor!

The Tor Books titles, along with their placement in the NPR poll, are listed below the cut. For some lively conversation about the list itself, jump into our post from earlier today.

[Read more]

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William Sleator 1945-2011

Management Services — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Science fiction and young adult novelist William Sleator passed away this week at his home in Thailand. Sleator was most famous for his novel House of Stairs that depicts a dystopian orphanage without walls or a ceiling and stairs that seem to ascend into infinity. (If you’re unfamiliar with Sleator and his style, you can read a good rundown of House of Stairs here.)

Combining Kafkaesque imagery with thrilling plotting in his tales, the contemporary field of speculative young adult fiction would likely look very different if it weren’t for Sleator. He will be missed.

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L.A. Banks (1959-2011)

Management Services — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Several authors have reported today that Paranormal Fantasy author L.A. Banks has just passed away. Banks had been fighting a battle with cancer for some time, one that she tragically lost today. Banks was known to the science fiction and fantasy community primarily for her Crimson Moon werewolf series as well as The Vampire Huntress Legend series. Under a variety of pen names, L.A. Banks also wrote in several other genres including crime, thriller, and romance.

L.A. Banks was a witty, upbeat author who brought energetic and strong sensibilities to her work. The fields of SFF and her fans will miss her deeply.

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Read a Free Sherrilyn Kenyon Excerpt!

Management Services — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Exciting news for Sherrilyn Kenyon fans! The prologue to the much-anticipated novel, Retribution, is now available exclusively on our sister site, HeroesandHeartbreakers.com. Head on over to read the excerpt and while you’re there, enter for a chance to win a signed copy of the book and continue on to read Chapters 1 and 2. It’s quite a preview of the next Dark-Hunter installment!

Read the prologue to Retribution on HeroesandHeartbreakers.com

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon is available August 2.

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Mistborn Fans: Don’t Forget to Pick Up Today’s Edition of The Elendel Daily

Management Services — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:41:00 +0000

Good day, Mistborn and The Alloy of Law fans, have you seen today’s edition of The Elendel Daily? Quite shocking, we must say. It seems as if crime and panic are seeping into every part of life! What is Scadrial coming to?

Right now at San Diego Comic Con, the Tor Books booth is offering a special broadsheet packed with news from the world of Brandon Sanderson’s upcoming The Alloy of Law Mistborn novel. The broadsheet is packed with little hints about the upcoming book, as well as a ton of contextual information about the world that doesn’t appear in the novel itself!

[How you can get one]

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Reminder: TorChat is Live from Comic Con Today!

Management Services — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Reminder! The Tor Books publicity group is the subject of this month’s TorChat!

Starting at 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST, #TorChat is live from Comic-Con! With @tdelucci (Theresa Delucci, Ad/promo Manager & Tor.com blogger), @Laura_FitzG (Laura Fitzgerald, Digital Mktg Coordinator) @opattyg (Patty Garcia, Director of Publicity) and @jgolenbo (Justin Golenbock, Senior Publicist Extraordinaire).

We have it on good personal authority that all of the above are a lot of fun to hang around with and absorb knowledge from, so don’t forget to tune in!

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Not at Comic-Con? Enter for a Chance to Win a Tablet!

Management Services — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:00:00 +0000

This year at San Diego Comic Con, we’re giving convention-goers a chance to win a tablet!* But don’t fret—if you didn’t have the means to hitch a ride west this year, you can still enter the sweepstakes!

Visit http://link.me/torprize to enter, or if you’re an AT&T or Sprint/Nextel/Boost customer, just text “TorPrize” to 333888 (Msg & Data Rates May Apply)! Not only is a tablet a valuable tool (and a fun techie toy), but what better way to enjoy the books and short stories you see on Tor.com every day? Take half of your library on the bus, to the park, or the corner of your favorite coffee shop.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. You must be 18 or older and a legal residence of the 50 Unites States or D.C. To enter. Promotion begins July 19, 2011 at 12 a.m. ET and ends July 29, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void in Puerto Rico and wherever prohibited by law. For official rules, visit link.me/torrules. For SMS Terms and Conditions, visit link.me/smshelp.html.

*iPad 2 valued at $499

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Tor.com Turns 3 (It’s a Magic Number!)

Management Services — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Today is officially Tor.com’s third birthday — we launched the site on July 20th, 2008, and we’ve been having an amazing time ever since, exploring the universe (and related subjects) with help from our loyal crew, brilliant bloggers, authors, and artists, and especially our wonderful readers. Thanks so much to all of you for coming along for the ride!

Here’s to three exceptionally magical years, and to the many more still ahead...

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Download the Tor Books Sampler

Management Services — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Those kids at Comic Con don’t get to have all the fun. Even if you’re not currently cruising around the San Diego Convention Center decked out in your best Trek uniform, we have no intention of leaving you out. Everyone can enjoy this chapter sampler, filled with articles and excerpts from all your favorite Tor and Forge authors!

Do you have the guts to steal from the Queen of England? Or the survival instincts to survive a zombie apocalypse? Have you ever wondered what your cat is staring at in a seemingly empty room? In this collection you can experience this all and much more.

[More info]

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BioShock Prequel Novel in Stores Today!

Management Services — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Today Tor Books announced the publication of BioShock: Rapture by John Shirley (A Tor Trade Paperback; $14.99; July 19, 2011), the first novel based on the best-selling, critically acclaimed “BioShock” video game franchise. BioShock: Rapture is available at retailers nationwide.

BioShock: Rapture tells the story of Andrew Ryan, a great dreamer with a vision: a utopia free from government, censorship, and moral restrictions on science – where great men and women can get what they give. So begins the origin story of Rapture – the majestic, shining city beneath the sea, an underwater utopia…destined to suffer great tragedy. This is the story of how it all came to be, and how it all ended.

[Read more]

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Tor Books Announces Brandon Sanderson Tour for New Mistborn Novel The Alloy of Law [UPDATED]

Management Services — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Brandon Sanderson will be touring in November this year to promote his new Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law! To read the first chapters of novel as Tor.com leads up to the release, go here.

The tour has undergone some changes due to pending Borders closings. New dates and locations, updated as of July 26, are below the cut.

[Read more]

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Tor Books Reveals Second Halo Novel by Greg Bear

Management Services — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Book two in the New York Times bestselling Forerunner Saga

A long time ago, I was a living, breathing human being. I went mad. I served my enemies. They became my only friends…

Tor Books is excited to reveal the title, cover, and release date for the second novel in the Halo Forerunner Saga, Halo: Primordium, written by legendary science fiction author Greg Bear. Book one of the Forerunner Saga, Halo: Cryptum, is currently available in hardcover, and will release in trade paperback this fall. Book two, Halo: Primordium, will release January 3, 2012 alongside a simultaneous audio edition.

The New York Times bestselling Halo® series, based on the hugely successful Halo videogames franchise for the Xbox 360, has sold millions of copies, part of a global phenomenon that has dominated the science fiction landscape over the last decade.

[Read more]

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Graphic Novels & Events from First Second at SDCC

Management Services — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:27:00 +0000

First Second, a graphic novel imprint you see a lot of here on Tor.com (Most recently, they were the minds that brought together Legends of the Joystick.) will be at SDCC next week! Take a look at their signing schedules and offerings below the cut and don’t forget to visit them at booth 1323!

Additionally, First Second graphic novels are up for four Eisner Awards this year!

The Unsinkable Walker Bean, by Aaron Renier
Prime Baby, by Gene Luen Yang (Legends of the Joystick)
Zahra’s Paradise, by Amir and Khalil
And Hilary Sycamore, First Second’s colorist, receives a nomination for her work on the First Second titles City of Spies, Resistance, Booth, Brain Camp, and Solomon’s Thieves

[Graphic novels at SDCC]

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Tor Books Presents Sanderson, GRRM, Rothfuss, Vaughn & Tons More at SDCC 2011

Management Services — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Tor Books will have a big presence at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, outdoing itself with 13 authors in attendance, including science fiction icon Vernor Vinge, fan favorites Brandon Sanderson & George R.R. Martin (Wild Cards series), and new to the Tor Books list, legendary creator of Fables franchise and New York Times bestselling author, Bill Willingham!

This year at the Tor Booth (#2707), Tor Books will not only have *in-booth signings and giveaways, but you’ll also have a chance to download exclusive content via QR codes and win a tablet from us here at Tor.com!

And finally, the esteemed Tor Books Staff will participate in their popular #Torchat series on Twitter, live from the con on Thursday the 21st from 10am – 11am PST. Read on for all the details!

[Read more]

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Ask Steven Erikson Your Memories of Ice Questions!

Management Services — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Now that Amanda and Bill have concluded their reread of Memories of Ice (and have gotten a well-deserved vacation), we’re opening up the floor to Malazan series author Steven Erikson for your Memories of Ice-related questions!

The procedure is the same as it was when Gardens of the Moon, Night of Knives, and Deadhouse Gates were wrapped up. Post your questions to Steven in the open thread below and they’ll be answered by the author himself! Keep in mind that the timing of the answers is subject to Steven’s schedule.

There are no strict guidelines for questions, but concise and well-composed questions are always best!

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Cover and Title Revealed for Karen Traviss’ Debut Halo Novel

Management Services — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Tor Books and 343 Industries have just announced the first title in a brand new Halo trilogy from Karen Traviss (Star Wars, Gears of War, and more).

Halo: Glasslands will follow up on the events of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx in the wake of the final events of Halo 3.

“Although Karen’s novel deals with the characters and events from Ghosts of Onyx, it’s the wonderful new characters and scenarios that she brings so vividly to life that will excite Halo fiction fans,” says Frank O’Connor, Franchise Development Director for 343 Industries. “We get an incredible opportunity to explore the Halo universe in the aftermath of the Covenant war, and unveil some mysteries and storylines that will connect readers to a compelling corner of the Halo universe. I can’t wait for readers to enjoy this book as much as we have.”

Halo: Glasslands will be released on October 25, 2011. A sequel to the first book in legendary science fiction author Greg Bear’s Halo Forerunner trilogy, Halo: Cryptum (read a free excerpt here) is also expected in 2012.

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Editor and Anthologist Martin Harry Greenberg (1941-2011)

Management Services — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Locus, SFsite, and others are reporting that prolific editor and publisher Martin Harry Greenberg passed away on Saturday, June 25th after a long battle with cancer. He was best known as the editor or co-editor of literally hundreds of anthologies of short fiction, often in collaboration with well-known writers such as Robert Silverberg, Jane Yolen, and Mike Resnick. He famously co-edited over 125 anthologies with Isaac Asimov. He also co-edited a large number of anthologies with scholars such as Charles G. Waugh, Joseph D. Olander, and/or Patricia Warrick. A holder of a doctorate in political science, Greenberg taught at the University of Wisconsin from 1975 until his retirement in 1996. In 2001, he founded book packaging company Tekno Books.

Greenberg’s contributions to the genre publishing did not go unheralded. He received lifetime achievement awards for his work in science fiction (the Milford Award), horror (the Bram Stoker Award), and mystery (the Ellery Queen Award). In 2009 he was honored with one of the first Solstice Awards, given by the Science Fiction Writers of America to individuals who have had a significant impact on the world of science fiction.

Martin H. Greenberg’s anthologies cast a wide net; they ranged from enjoyable tie-ins built around current hit movies to carefully-constructed teaching volumes designed for the education market. Odds are that you or somone you know owned or read at least one book edited by Greenberg. He will be missed.

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New Site Feature: Email Subscriptions to Posts

Management Services — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:34:00 +0000

We’ve added a new feature to Tor.com for those interesting in tracking their favorite conversations! Registered users can now subscribe to comment threads, with an option to be emailed for every comment, or to be emailed a single daily digest of updates to threads to which you’re subscribed. Users can also cancel and re-subscribe at any time. This way, regular site users can more easily keep abreast of interesting discussions.

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Tor Books’ Jay Lake Among 2010 Sidewise Award Nominees

Management Services — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:27:00 +0000

The 2010 nominees for the Sidewise Award for Alternate History have just been announced! A big congratulations goes to Tor Books’ Jay Lake for snagging a nomination for his novel Pinion.

The winners will be announced at Renovation,this year’s Worldcon, in Reno, Nevada during the weekend of August 17th. The awards ceremony has tentatively been scheduled for Thursday, August 18 at 9:00 PM. The Sidewise Awards have been presented annually since 1995 to recognize excellence in alternate historical fiction.

[Full list of nominees below]

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Brandon Sanderson Wins David Gemmell Legend Award for The Way of Kings

Management Services — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Congratulations to Brandon Sanderson for taking home the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Novel for The Way of Kings, the first installment of Sanderson’s new Stormlight Archive series!

Designed to promote awareness of the fantasy genre, the David Gemmell awards seek to recognize outstanding work in the professional fields of fantasy. This year, the prestigious ceremony will took place on June 17th at the Magic Circle in London. A list of the nominees is here.

The Morningstar Award for Best Newcomer was nabbed by Darius Hinks for Warrior Priest, while the Ravenheart Award for Best Cover Artist went to Olof Erla Einarsdottir for the cover of Power and Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts (Harper Collins Australia).

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Tor/Forge Monthly Twitter Chat Series! Romance is King (and Queen)

Management Services — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:35:00 +0000

The Tor/Forge blog has another chat for you! It’s time once again for this month’s Twitter Chat series, set for this Wednesday, June 15th from 4-5pm under the hashtag #torchat.

This month, in honor of the Romance Writers of America Convention, the chat will focus on paranormal romance and urban fantasy. The special guest authors will be Gabi Stevens (The Wish List), Catherine Verge (Mind Games) and Lilith Saintcrow (the Jill Kismet series). Giveaways will take place before the chat.

#Torchat happens in the middle of each month and you can check here on on the Tor/Forge blog for info, authors, and times.

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Tor Books Announces New Dragon Age Novel From BioWare Lead Writer David Gaider

Management Services — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Tor Books—the largest publisher of science fiction in the world—and BioWare, a division of Electronic Arts, are excited to announce the third novel in the award-winning Dragon Age fantasy RPG franchise. David Gaider, lead writer at BioWare and author of two previous Dragon Age novels, will pen Dragon Age: Asunder for late 2011 publication.

The team at BioWare, responsible for such beloved classics as Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Mass Effect, set a new Fantasy RPG storytelling standard with the Dragon Age franchise, which has won over 35 awards between the release of Dragon Age: Origins in 2009 and Dragon Age II in March 2011.

[Read on for details on where the world of Dragon Age goes next]

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Announcing the Tor Store on iBooks

Management Services — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Tor Books is proud to announce the Tor Store on iBooks! Readers can now browse Tor Books by category, new releases, and the starts of series on iTunes, as well as on iPad or iPhone devices. Selections have been curated by the Tor Books editorial staff and will be updated monthly.

[Examples below the cut]

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Decade’s Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movies Viewer’s Poll RESULTS

Management Services — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:15:01 +0000

The summer blockbuster season is now well on its way and considering all of the thunder gods, mermaids, mutants, and Johnny Depps flying around we can’t help but jabber on about SFF movies.

In that spirit, we’re happy to announce the final results of the Tor.com Decade’s Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movies Viewer’s Poll!

More than 200 of you cast nearly 3500 votes over the course of seven days in April 2011 for over 400 movies, and from that we shook out 12 movies (more on that in a bit) that the science fiction and fantasy fans of Tor.com feel are the best movies of the past 11 years*.

*Hereby known as a “Tor.com Decade.”

In the same manner as our Best SFF Novels of the Decade Poll, we’ll be rolling out appreciations of these movies over the course of this week. Below the cut, take a look at the best SFF movies of this millennium!

[Read more]

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Chat with John Scalzi Today on Tor/Forge’s Monthly Twitter Chat Series!

Management Services — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:55:41 +0000

The Tor/Forge blog says it’s chat time again, and who are we to argue? This month’s Twitter Chat series is set for today, Wednesday, May 18th from 4-5 PM under the hashtag #torchat.

We are very excited to announce that this month’s chat guest is none other than John Scalzi! Barring technical difficulties, he will be chatting live from his hotel in Salt Lake City, ready to talk to all of you about his new book Fuzzy Nation and its inspiration (1962 Hugo-nominated Little Fuzzy), his blog, and what it’s like to be on tour. Giveaways will take place before the chat. Keep an eye on @TorBooks books and the chat moderator Cassie Ammerman (@leanoir) in case of changes in the start time.

#Torchat happens in the middle of each month and you can check here on on the Tor/Forge blog for info, authors, and times.

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