Odd and the Frost Giants

I was delighted this past week to Beta-read Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants. It's a story about beauty and joy and helping people get what they want in life, with a little wisdom thrown in... And Thor makes a very cute, grumbly, bear (I'm just sayin').

He wrote it for World Book Day's 1-pound books, so you can supposedly order a copy for £1. Release date to be March 6th in the UK and Ireland.

Neil posted the opening to the third chapter on his journal, a conversation the night after Odd follows a fox into the woods (I mean, why not? Doesn't happen every day a fox wants to lead you someplace, does it?) and ends up with some fine and strange guests who wake him in the middle of the night with their bickering.

“Somebody was talking,” said Odd. “And it wasn't me. There isn't anyone else in here. That means it was you lot. And there's no point in arguing.”

“We weren't arguing,” said the bear. “Because we can't talk.” Then it said, “Oops.”

The fox and the eagle glared at the bear, who put a paw over his eyes and looked ashamed of himself.

Odd sighed. “Which one of you wants to explain what's going on?” he said.

“Nothing,” said the fox, brightly. “Just a few talking animals. Nothing to worry about. Happens every day. We'll be out of your hair first thing in the morning.”

(This post brought to you by jeffreyab, who requested more posts about SF)

Book Received

This weekend I received a copy of Water Logic, by Laurie J. Marks, from Gavin Grant at Small Beer Press.

Its predecessors Fire Logic and Earth Logic were some of the best new fantasy I'd read in years at the time they came out. I've been looking forward to this one for a long time.