The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland combines historical fiction, science fiction and a touch of magic

LISA REDMOND

Renowned speculative fiction author Neal Stephenson and acclaimed historical fiction author Nicole Galland have collaborated on an intriguing project combining science fiction, historical fiction and a touch of magic. The result is The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., a wickedly funny novel about the endless possibilities of time travel. The achievement is no mean feat when the authors have had to combine not just ideas but genres. However it seems that for them the desire to tell a great story outside of any thought of genre made the collaborative process a great deal easier.

“Happily we were generally always on the same page about what made a good story and how best to tell it,” Stephenson and Galland reported. “We’ve found it to be a pretty natural marriage of minds, since the story itself is a merging of scientific speculation and various historical periods. When we were on a book tour we joked about inventing anecdotes of conflict or tribulation just so we’d have something interesting to say about our process. It was really pretty organic and we both enjoyed it.”

NICOLE GALLAND, PHOTO BY ELI DAGOSTINO

It certainly seems that the authors had a great deal of fun with the book. They have used a variety of narrative techniques in the novel in order to capture the voices of a number of narrators from different time periods and with differing personalities; these include letters, diaries, emails, circulars and even at one point epic poetry. I asked them why they chose this format. “Several reasons. It lets us short-cut through what would feel like a lot of exposition. We’re following the show-don’t-tell rule. Also, the medium is sometimes literally the message. Instead of (for example) lengthy descriptions of the bloated bureaucracy that develops in the contemporary setting, you see examples of that bureaucracy – emails, after-action reports, personnel files, PowerPoint presentation. It’s the equivalent of a film cross-fade. Also, it was fun.”

The central premise of the book is that magic and science are opposing forces and so cannot coexist. The authors chose 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition, as the date when magic faded from existence; this is established through the research carried out by the main characters. I asked the authors why they felt this particular date was so significant. “The Great Exhibition of 1851 displayed, in one concentrated bit of space-time, the world’s greatest technological and scientific advancements – and therefore it makes sense that it would have an exponentially dampening (i.e. snuffing) effect on magic.”

NEAL STEPHENSON, PHOTO BY BRADY HALL

This is a big book and the authors have put a lot of effort into creating numerous characters, government departments and the thoroughly realised historical eras that the various time-travelling characters visit. These visits gave the authors ample opportunity for culture clashes leading to misunderstandings, danger and even changing the course of history. Because the possibilities for adventure are really limitless with time travel I was keen to learn of any planned sequels and spin-offs. “If you’re asking about a full-length novel sequel, watch this space.” However if you have already read the book and can’t wait for the sequel you will be happy to learn that the authors have created an online hub. “There are already a few online historical “equels” to D.O.D.O. (not a sequel or a prequel, but stories that take place “off-screen” during the five-year span of D.O.D.O.), and these can be found at the URL getbound.io. They are written by other writers but we’ve vetted them and like them a lot.”

About the contributor: Lisa Redmond is a writer, reviewer and lover of books. She is currently working on a novel about 17th-century Scottish witches. She blogs about books, writing and women in history.

This article originally appeared on The Historical Novel Society Website. You can read the original here.

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/the-rise-and-fall-of-d-o-d-o-by-neal-stephenson-and-nicole-galland-combines-historical-fiction-science-fiction-and-a-touch-of-magic/

Spandex and the City by Jenny T Colgan Blog tour

Spandex and the City is the second novel from Jenny T Colgan, the pen-name of bestselling and award winning romance writer Jenny Colgan. It's a fairly flimsy disguise especially as the author's lovely, smiling face adorns the back of the book and I'm guessing there are two reason Ms Colgan is hiding her science fiction alter-ego in plain sight; firstly because she is utterly unashamed of her passion for and interest in stories about superheroes and time travelling doctors and secondly because she wants you to try her delightful genre mash-up and admit that you like it too. I am a big fan of science fiction, fantasy, comics, superheroes and romance so the idea of this book really intrigued me. It's a bit like Bridget Jones falling in love with Superman and it's as wild, funny and laugh out loud as that description sounds.
Holly Phillips is hungry for a job in journalism she wants to write about exciting things, but for now she's working in the PR section of the Mayor of Centreton's office writing boring press releases about subway repairs and traffic disruption. One Friday night while clubbing with best friend Gertie she is rescued from a villain by the city's resident superhero Ultimate Man and throwing her over his shoulder he exposes her underwear to the world. Just hours later her image has gone viral and she's become "Panties Girl". Holly just hopes that interest will die down and that'll be the end of it but as an evil super villain tries to attack Centreton again and again Holly just can't help bumping into Ultimate Man and before she knows it, they are on a date, well sort of.
This is a delightful and funny romantic comedy which has some deep moments and some truly laugh out loud moments. I really loved it. Jenny T. Colgan is a smart, sassy writer who knows her genres and yet breaks all the rules to create something new. If you've wondered how Lois Lane puts up with being Superman's girl and all the drama that entails then you'll love Holly's story. Perfect for fans of Superheroes, contemporary romance and Doctor Who.
Available now from Orbit in paperback. Thanks to Clara Diaz for a copy of the book and a chance to take part in the Blog tour.

Defy The Stars By Claudia Gray

This book came in the post one day last week and as I already had three other books on the go I had no intention of starting straight away but I opened it, read the first line and I was instantly hooked. The first line lets you know immediately that you are in the company of a master storyteller. 

'In three weeks, Noemi Vidal will die - here, in this very place.'

Obviously I wanted to know more and so I read on and on and finished the book later that day. However I didn't gobble it all in one sitting every so often I stopped just to savour the cleverness of the plot and the characters; oh my the characters. This book is a masterclass in creating wonderful, compelling, complex characters. 

Noemi is a soldier from the planet Genesis; settled many years before by colonists from Earth. Now however Earth and Genesis are at war. Earth seeks to exploit the resources of the other planets just as it destroyed it's own. Genesis has become a haven for people of faith and technology is limited while the people of Earth have pushed technology to it's very limits creating the ultimate robot warriors. When Noemi ends up on an abandoned spaceship she comes face to face with one of these mechs and although their initial response is to try and kill each other they somehow end up helping each other out. Soon they are facing a race against time to travel across the galaxy and try and save Noemi's home planet. On the way they make a variety of friends and enemies and as they learn more about the world they live in and each other they start to question everything they've been taught. 

Blending high stakes adventure with science fiction, romance and a thrilling plot this is a book that deserves to be huge. Fantastic storytelling. Wow. Claudia Gray just wow. Perfect for fans of  Star Wars, V. E. Schwab, Becky Chambers and Sarah J. Maas. Published by Hot Key and available on e-book and in paperback. The kindle edition is currently only 98p. Thanks a million to Tina at Hot Key who sent me a copy. Buy this book now you will not be disappointed. 

Netflix Binges

The Crown
The Crown is beautifully shot, beautifully acted and beautifully written. It is absolutely as good as everyone says it is. Don't miss out on this gem. I can't wait to see more of this. If you haven't already heard about this one it follows Elizabeth in the last years of her father's reign and the early years of her own as she struggles with being a public figure and being a devoted wife and mother. It stars Claire Foy and Matt Smith. If you have any interest in character development and even a passing interest in twentieth century history this is a must see.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
The BBC made a pretty good mini series from Douglas Adams' books just a few years ago so I was sceptical about this American version which is inspired by the characters and the world of the books rather than a straight remake. However it is very, very funny and well worth a look. If you are a fan of wacky screwball sci-fi comedy, like You, Me and the Apocolypse then this is right up up your street. It stars Elijah Wood as Todd a penniless former musician now working as a bell hop who seems to lurch from one disaster to another. On the same day he discovers a grizzly murder at the hotel where he works he also meets eccentric English 'holistic' detective Dirk Gently played by Samuel Barnett, much confusion, adventure, hilarity and casual violence ensues. Despite the laughs there are some disturbing scenes of violence in this series so it's not suitable for youngsters. However I found it thoroughly enjoyable and I hope there'll be more to come.

The OA
The OA is a strange show, which arrived on Netflix with little or no promotion in December last year A young woman who has been missing for seven years suddenly returns home; Prairie Johnson was a young blind girl adopted by an older childless couple, she disappeared on her 21st birthday and arrives back 7 years later with her sight restored. Refusing to tell her parents or the FBI anything about her ordeal instead she gathers together a group of misfit teenage boys and a female teacher and tells her story bit by bit each night. To say much more than this would give away too much about the plot. I almost gave up on this one because I expected it to be something dark and harrowing about captivity and rape. Thankfully I was wrong. this is one for fans of science fiction that will probably leave you with more questions than answers. Its hard to find anything to compare to except to say it's a kind of adult Stranger Things. Definitely worth a watch but it won't be for everyone.

The Expanse


This was addictive viewing combining space opera, mystery, science fiction and drama. Set 200 years in the future the solar system has been colonised and humans live on Mars and across the asteroid belt in a number of space stations. Mars has broken away from Earth and the two planets are now in a 'cold war' state competing for the resources of the asteroid belt where 'belters' toil to provide air and water. The ship The Canterbury is an ice hauler due to dock at Ceres station when it responds to a distress call and finds an empty ship. Meanwhile on Ceres, Miller is a detective tasked with finding a missing girl Julie Mao, daughter of one of the richest men on Earth and on Earth we meet Chrisjen Avasarala a United Nations executive who is working to prevent a war between Earth, Mars and a terrorist group called the OPA. I loved this show it's full of interesting characters, great writing and brilliant plot twists, it's based on a series of novels by James S. A. Corey so with plenty of material available lets hope this show runs and runs. One of the best things about the show is that there are a number of interesting women in the cast including Chrisjen who is a powerful and at times dark character and it's refreshing to see an older woman with a central and powerful role to play. Top Notch stuff and I can't wait for series 2. 

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Becky Chambers first book A Long way to a Small Angry Planet was one of my favourite books of 2015. In fact probably one of my favourite books of all time. So I was very eager to read a copy of her follow up A Closed and Common Orbit. It isn't exactly a sequel as it doesn't continue the story of the crew of the Wayfarer however it is a companion novel as it is the story of Lovelace formerly the artificial intelligence system of the Wayfarer who in the final moments of the events of A Long Way... was transfered into a new body. In the new book Lovelace wakes up in her new body travelling with Pepper to her home planet. Pepper worked hard to reinstall Lovelace who renames herself Sidra and she helps her to adjust to her new life. In tandem with this is the story of Jane who escapes a cruel childhood and as you will no doubt quickly work out grows up to become gutsy mechanic Pepper. As in the previous book the writing is full of character development moments and wonderful learning experiences as various diverse species come into contact with each other, although with little space travel involved there is less of the Space Opera feel but the book is no less enjoyable because of this in fact Sidra's story is if anything even more compelling than A Long Way...
Those looking for pulse pounding action, war and explosions will be disappointed, but this book offers something much better than that, it's a masterclass in writing characters and in world building through a character's eyes.
Available now in hardback from Hodder.

Thanks to Hodder for a reading copy of this book. 

Associates of Sherlock Holmes edited by George Mann

This collection edited by George Mann is the third he has produced for Titan Books and features a number of writers well known for their Sherlockiana such as Lyndsay Faye and James Lovegrove as well as those such as Simon Bucher-Jones who is presenting his first Sherlock Holmes story here. Unlike many other stories set in the universe of Arthur Conan Doyle which present the cases from Watson's viewpoint as Doyle did, here we see Holmes and Watson through the eyes of others; including Inspector Lestrade, Irene Adler and many more. It allows many of the associates, clients and villains to tell their own stories for the first time. The collection opens with a new story from fan favourite Lyndsay Faye as she allows Police Inspector Stanley Hopkins who appeared in Doyle's "The Adventure of Black Peter" to tell us a brand new tale of body parts dredged from the Thames in "River of Silence" There are some brilliant supernatural touches too courtesy of Jeffrey Thomas and Tim Pratt.
Titan are undoubtedly the best and most enthusiastic publisher of Sherlockiana and this collection is a fantastic idea although some stories are less successful than others. This collection is also a wonderful showcase of the work of some great new (to me) authors of crime, science fiction and fantasy. I will certainly be exploring more of the work of some of the authors I have encountered here. Fans of Sherlock Holmes won't be disappointed and in fact I went back to the original stories with new insight.
Perfect for fans and new readers alike.
Thanks to Philippa Ward from Titan Books for a review copy of this book.
Associates of Sherlock Holmes is published later this week. 

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Headline Publishing have re-issued  a number of titles from the powerful and hugely influential science fiction author Octavia E. Butler with titles available in both print and e-book format. I was delighted to be sent a print copy of this classic American book first published in 1979. While there is an element of science fiction in this novel it is also a politically charged tale of pre-civil war slavery. Dana a young black writer just moving into her new home with her husband feels dizzy and wakes up to find herself in early 19th century Maryland. She sees a young boy thrashing about in a river and pulls him out and revives him saving his life just as a hard faced man points a rifle into her face she is suddenly back home in her new apartment and soaked through. A series of trips back into the past then commences, some lasting for weeks and months at a time. Dana experiences first hand the cruelty of slavery and of being considered something to be traded as she struggles to stay alive and to keep her ancestors from harm. This book raises huge questions about equality, identity, race and gender. It is powerful, compelling and disturbing. Recommended even if you aren't a fan of time travel (as I am) or of science fiction generally. Thanks to Headline and Bookbridgr for a review copy of this book.

Gollancz Digital Price Drop

Some great news for fans of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Gollancz have just made the following announcement about e-book prices.

Press Release

Gollancz announce strategy to reduce the price of eBook editions of its 2014 debuts to £1.99 for the week of publication.

The science fiction and fantasy imprint of the Orion Publishing Group has decided to reduce the price of the eBook editions of six stunning debut novels to £1.99 for the week of publication. All pre-orders and purchases for these titles, made up to a week after publication, will cost the reader less than a cup of coffee.

Gollancz has a tradition of discovering new writers in the science-fiction and fantasy genre. Over the years they have been proud to launch the careers of authors including Ben Aaronovitch, Joe Abercrombie, Elspeth Cooper, Elizabeth May, Suzanne McLeod, Hannu Rajaniemi and Alastair Reynolds, and of course the adult fantasy debut of Joanne M. Harris. Gollancz are confident that all of their 2014 debuts are equally exceptional new talents and want to share these remarkable novels with as many readers as possible.

Darren Nash, Digital Publisher at Gollancz, writes:

“When we publish a debut novel, we’re very aware that we’re asking readers to take a chance on something new, rather than spend their money on an established author they know they’ll enjoy. That becomes even more challenging at a time like this, when money doesn't stretch as far as it used to. So, we’ve decided to help. We're confident that all of our debut authors are wonderful new talents that you should read – so confident, in fact, that we're prepared to put our money where our mouth is and make it possible for you to try these books for less than the price of a Saturday newspaper.”

The Gollancz debuts that will be included in this initiative are The Boy With the Porcelain Blade by Den Patrick, In Dark Service by Stephen Hunt, Barricade by Jon Wallace, The Seventh Miss Hatfield by Anna Caltabiano, The Incorruptibles by John Horner Jacobs and The Relic Guild by Edward Cox.

The Boy with the Porcelain Blade * Den Patrick * March 20 2014 * Trade Paperback £14.99 / eBook £7.99

In Dark Service * Stephen Hunt * 15 May 2014 * Trade Paperback £14.99 / eBook £7.99

Barricade * Jon Wallace * 19 June 2014 * Trade Paperback £14.99 / eBook £7.99

The Seventh Miss Hatfield * Anna Caltabiano * 17 July 2014 * Hardback £12.99 / eBook £6.99

The Incorruptibles * John Honor Jacobs * 14 August 2014 * Trade Paperback £14.99 / eBook £7.99

The Relic Guild * Edward Cox * 18 September 2014 * Trade Paperback £16.99 / eBook £8.99
Press Contact: Sophie Calder – sophie.calder@orionbooks.co.uk / 020 7520 4314

A Lovely Way to Burn by Louise Welsh

Louise Welsh has already established herself as the Queen of the intelligent psychological crime thriller and as a big fan of hers I was delighted to hear that she had a new book releasing in early 2014. However I had not anticipated that it would be the first in a trilogy about a mysterious virus spreading across the UK decimating the population surely this was a Science Fiction novel? therefore not my cup of tea? I am pleased to say I was wrong, Louise seamlessly blends aspects of crime and Sci-fi together and her gutsy heroine Stevie is a perfect protagonist; an ex journalist she still has an instinct for a story especially when things don’t add up. When her boyfriend dies suddenly in the middle of an epidemic no-one else seems suspicious but Stevie is convinced he was murdered. So while everyone else is fleeing the capital and the virus known as “the sweats” Stevie is entering dangerous territory and attempting to track down a killer. This is a fantastic, intelligent and heart thumping read the kind of book that will keep you awake in a desperate rush to finish it. I look forward to the next instalment.
Perfect if you love Lottie Moggach and Erin Kelly.
Thanks to welovethisbook.com for the chance to read an early copy of this book which is published in hardback and e-book by John Murray on March 20th.
I reviewed Louise Welsh's last novel the Girl on the stairs HERE

Housewife with a Half-Life by A.B.Wells

A.B.Wells is the not so secret pen name of Alison Wells who has been shortlisted for a number of literary awards including the Hennessy and Fish awards. Alison has also been published in a number of e-zines and anthologies. Housewife is her first novel published last year and launched in Hughes & Hughes; the novel can be purchased through Amazon and in selected bookshops. In her A. B Wells persona Alison has crafted a witty, weird and wonderful book that is almost impossible to pin down with anything as mundane as description. The basic premise is that housewife Susan Strong is a harassed mother of twin boys who lives a life of cooking, cleaning, bath time and general drudgery when one day she is visited by a strange man who claims to be her Fairy Godfather or Fairly Dave as he likes to be called. Dave explains that Susan is losing pieces of herself and he wants to help. As Susan and her twins Rufus and Pluto are dragged through weird dreams and strange alternate realities they discover that a ruthless Spinner is trying to destroy the universe. He needs to be stopped.  Alison's tale is inspired by her love of physics and science fiction, it features household objects with minds of their own and evil gnomes and geezers. Susan time travels back to her awkward teen age self and forward to a wrinkled white haired old lady. Alison poses deep questions about life and its meaning, about our destiny and the choices we make but they are wrapped in the surreal and funny tale of Susan and Fairly Dave. This book won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but if you enjoy the surreal humour of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams then this will have you laughing out loud.