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Errant Dreams gives Magebane 5/5
Another nice review for Magebane, this one from Errant Dreams: Lee Arthur Chane’s Magebane is an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love.... The mix of high fantasy and steampunk is one that I regarded with suspicion; such a blend is difficult to do well, such that it makes sense and doesn’t create a sense of genre discord. Chane did a marvelous job with it, however... Although I’ve raved solely about the worldbuilding so far, there’s plenty more to recommend it. The characters are delightful...There’s plenty of action and excitement to keep things going... If you ...McNally Robinson likes Song of the Sword
A great review of Song of the Sword has appeared on McNally Robinson Booksellers' website. Chadwick Ginther begins: If you think you know Arthur, Merlin and the Lady of the Lake guess again. Ariane is a troubled teen, starting a new life with her aunt in Regina. A new school would be hard enough, but learning you're a descendant of the Lady of the Lake too? And ends: You can't always judge a book by its cover--but in the case of Song of the Sword, you can. Its stunning cover is the door to a unique, clever, and beautifully modern retelling of an old legend. Read the ...Song of the Sword on McNally Robinson list of Aurora-eligible titles that “excited the staff”
Too busy working on revisions for Twist of the Blade, Book 2 of the Shards of Excalibur series, to write a long post this morning, so this little self-serving item will have to do. As the title says, Song of the Sword shows up on a list of titles that "excited the staff" at McNally Robinson Booksellers and are eligible for this year's Aurora Award for best Canadian science fiction or fantasy novel in English. It's a good list to be on: Eligible works that excited our staff in 2010 include: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong, Tesseracts 14 edited by John Robert Colombo ...An Aurora display at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon
Robert J. Sawyer spotted (and photographed) this "end-cap" display of Aurora Award finalists at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon. Note the multiple copies of Marseguro!* *Oh, have I mentioned recently that Marseguro is an Aurora Award finalist? The voting deadline is July 15! Don't delay, vote today!Terra Insegura is a bestseller!
Not, alas, on the New York Times's list, but at one store in Saskatchewan, anyway. It shows up as the fourth-bestselling mass-market paperback at McNally Robinson, which then translates into number nine on the overall bestseller list published by the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, which includes hardcovers. Thanks to Robert J. Sawyer (whose new novel Wake is number two on the list) for pointing this out!McNally Robinson posts an interview with me
Chadwick Ginther of McNally Robinson Booksellers (an independent chain with stores in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Toronto and New York) has just posted a lengthy online interview with me on the company's website. Here's how it begins: CG: You've written a wide variety of works: SF, YA, Fantasy, as well as non-fiction for adults and children. Where did you get your start as a writer? EW: Like most writers, I began as a reader. I was the kid who always had his nose in a book, who won the prize for reading the most books in the course of the year, who prefaced every answer I gave to every question in class, "I read somewhere that..." So it was pretty natural ...A nice new review of Marseguro…
...is now up at the McNally-Robinson Bookstore site. It's by Chadwick Ginther. An excerpt:Regina Author, Edward Willett has filled his second novel with both memorable characters, great world-building and interesting science. The planet of Marseguro becomes a character itself under Willett's stewardship, and the Body Purified, a frightening yet believable antagonist. Each of Marseguro's point of view characters face hard choices when the Body Purified finds Hansen's hidden refuge, choices that serve to define both them, and the future of their worlds.Willett has crafted a grand science fiction story that manages to pay tribute both to the galaxy spanning empires of Space Opera, and the examination of technologies just out of ...We came, we saw, we chapbooked
Today was the final day of the 2008 Saskatchewan Writers' Guild's Online Youth Mentorship Program, and a fine day it was. The twelve teens who have been taking part in the program and the four mentors (of whom I was one) met this morning at St. James's Anglican Church in Saskatoon and, with the guidance of the fine folks from Jack Pine Press, preceded to construct chapbooks containing pieces created by all of the young writers.That went well--I really enjoy the process, myself, possibly because its focus on scissors, paper and glue takes me back to halcyon ...Photo of the (Yester)day: Me reading in Saskatoon
I made the trek up to Saskatoon yesterday, killing two birds with one stone: I met with two of the girls I'm mentoring through the Saskatchewan Writers Guild's Youth Mentorship Program, and then read from Marseguro at McNally Robinson bookstore. Both events were successful, although you have to wonder if it's worth it when you're reading to, in this case, nine people.Here I am in the "art alcove" (because it's the alcove where all the art books are), either reading something very serious or worrying that that pizza I had for supper is about to turn bad.Mentors and mentees mingle at McNally Robinson
Some time ago I was selected to be one of the mentors for the Saskatchewan Writers Guild's first Online Youth Mentorship Program. I enjoyed it very much.I worked with three young writers, Danita Stallard of Estevan, James Waldner of Biggar, and Arnav Jatukaran of Regina. I had at least one face-to-face meeting with all of them, but most of our work was carried out online: they'd send me stuff, I'd critique it and point them to online (and other) resources, I'd answer any questions they might have, etc.Not surprisingly, I guess, two of my mentees were focused on the SF and fantasy field: Danita is particularly interested in fantasy, while James is focused on military space opera. ...
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Magebane
“Spectacular” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, hidden kingdoms…Lee Arthur Chane…has done a marvelous job…Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time.” – A.M. Donovan, Night Owl Reviews
I happily recommend Magebane and I’ll certainly give Chane’s next novel a try based on this one.” —Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature
“…an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love…” – Errant Dreams Reviews
Eight centuries ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change….
Written as Lee Arthur Chane (the middle names of my older brothers, Jimmy Lee and Dwight Arthur, and myself, Edward Chane Willett).
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
When country music legend Johnny Cash took the stage at Folsom State Prison in 1968, he solidified the public’s perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path. Born in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Cash endured poverty, the death of his older brother, and a difficult relationship with his father. He turned to gospel and country music to express the pain, and after many years of struggling, his songs of hardship and hope would finally reach the ears of those waiting for an artist who represented them, ordinary people fighting to survive.
Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes
“Paintings are too hard. Machines have less problems…” In the 1960s, Andy Warhol became the most famous creator of a new style of art called pop art, which transformed mass-produced items of popular culture into fine works of art. From Campbell’s Soup cans to photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol’s willingness to use anything and everything from the mass media in his work expanded the range of subject matter available to artists. His avant-garde films, artistic usage of American icons, and unconventional social life made him a controversial figure, both greatly admired and deeply reviled. A trendsetter rather than a trend-follower, a dispassionate observer of both the seamy and celebrity sides of life, Warhol was a true American rebel.
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
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