In the mail this week, I received a finished copy of Songs of Love and Death, an anthology of new fiction from romance, science fiction and fantasy authors you’ve probably never heard of, like Neil Gaiman, Marjorie M. Liu, Diana Gabaldon, Jim Butcher, Jo Beverly, Mary Jo Putney, Jacqueline Carey and some other people. Gosh, it’s amazing how people with no track record of really honking excellent fiction get to assemble into an anthology AND get really slurpy-good cover art, isn’t it? Outrageous when that happens.
Anyway, because (a) I have an ARC and (b) I’m not done with it yet and also (c) fantasy and science fiction are not what my brain is craving right now and (d) I certainly don’t need a hardcover copy (see [a] re: ARC) I decided to give my copy away. Right here, right now, like that 90’s pop song only with Neil Gaiman instead of Jesus Jones.
This book isn’t out until 16 November, and I’ll mail the book on Friday 5 November Priority Mail, so if you’re in the US, you’ll get it before the release date. I’ll absolutely throw in the customary Smart Bitch Swag that goes into every possible mailing (stickers, SBTB post its, random pieces of cat hair – you know, the regular swag).
If you are the winner, and you want to let me know what you think of it, please do send up a flare, or an email, or both. I can’t require such things due to pesky laws and regulations but I am always curious what people think of the books they win here at the hot pink palace of Bitchery.
What do you have to do to win? Tell me which story or which author you want to read the most – and if you can’t pick one because you’ve never heard of any of these people (gosh who ARE these upstart nobodies anyway? Does NO ONE vet these anthologies for People Who Are Amazing Writers requirement? Sheesh) – tell me which author of romance, fantasy, or science fiction you’d like to see in an anthology next.
Leave your entry in the comments, or, if you’re Neil Gaiman or Tanith Lee and you didn’t get your own copy, you can email me your entry at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOTcom with “Anthology giveaway” in the subject line. Comments close in 24 hours, and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow afternoon. If I get the address by Friday afternoon, I’ll mail it out Saturday morning. Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway except for one less hardback and a little less cat hair in my house. I’m watching the world wake up from history. Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry. Not suitable for anyone under the age of 6. May cause extreme giddiness in your pants.
I love me some Diana Gabaldon – can’t wait to read the story about Roger’s parents!
As for who I’d like to see in an anthology, I’m currently on a Lisa Kleypas kick. Karen Marie Moning would be another good one, especially now that she’s finished writing the Fever series.
Lord how I want the Jim Butcher.
Anyone who’s a current fan of the Dresdon files is twitching violently because Ghost Story is a long way off and the ending of Changes was how shall I put this… oh yes, Evil Nasty Cliffhanger.
ZOMG, Neil Gaiman, Neil Gaiman, Neil Gaiman!!!
Gabaldon—she really writes in such a leisurely way that I’d love to read what she does in a shorter format. Much love, respect, etc, BUT
I want more Julia Spencer Fleming!!!! Wish it were a story of hers.
I went to Amazon and got a listing of contributing authors…WOW! Thanks for great giveaway!
PETER S. BEAGLE, JO BEVERLEY, JIM BUTCHER, JACQUELINE CAREY, DIANA GABALDON, NEIL GAIMAN, YASMINE GALENORN, M.L.N. HANOVER, ROBIN HOBB, CECELIA HOLLAND, TANITH LEE, MARJORIE M. LIU, MARY JO PUTNEY, LINNEA SINCLAIR, MELINDA SNODGRASS, LISA TUTTLE, CARRIE VAUGHN
So many great authors! I’ve been an UF kick, so I’d have to say Carrie Vaughn or Jim Butcher, however I am a fan of most of the contributors. I love that they got stories from authors that shine various genres.
Neil Gaiman because my boyfriend and I got to hear him do a reading last year and it rocked. =)
I’m a huge Diana Gabaldon fan, and started salivating over this book when I saw it on her blog. Thanks for offering this giveaway!
Neil Gaiman! But all the others listed very nearly as much.
Neil Gaiman.. because I just started reading his book and I’m on a glom here!
This anthology sounds AWESOME, and I’m a fan of all the authors! I guess I would especially like to read the stories by Carrie Vaughn, Neil Gaiman, and Diana Gabaldon, but they’re all great authors.
Jacqueline Carey = AWESOME
It’s an embarrassment of riches, all these folks between 2 covers, but my #1 pick would be Jim Butcher since he left Harry D. in quite a pickle (again! some more!) at the end of his last book, and the next one doesn’t hit until March:( I NEED A FIX, yo! 2nd place to Diana Gabaldon, because I hope to catch up with those crazy kids Claire & Jamie, too:) I recently started my English Lit. & Comp. class, so I might even brave a review…;) And if there’s any chance of a short story from GRRM set in A Song Of Ice & Fire’s universe in there, that book totally has my name on it!!!
looking65: better not be; I’m only 38!
I’d love to read Carrie Vaughn’s story! She’s one of my favorite authors and I love everything she writes!
Hmm it’s so hard to choose as all the authors are wonderful. I think I’m looking forward to Robin Hobb’s short story the most. Does anyone know if Carrie Vaughn’s story is part of the Miss Kitty series?
I’d get it for any of those authors, really, but I’m going to go with Gaiman for my main event. Because he doesn’t often write romance, but when he does, it has a way of sneaking up on you and biting you in the ear. Not too hard, just enough to give you a jolt and make you realize that wow, something awesome is happening on these pages.
I’m embarrassed to start by saying that I’ve always considered myself a science fiction/fantasy reader but I only started reading Neil Gaiman last year (I know, ridiculous, no?) So if I win this book, Neil Gaiman’s story will either be the first one I read (because I just can’t help myself) or the last, because I would have saved it until then!
It is a toss up betweeb Neil Gaiman and Jim Butcher. If I had read any of the Dresden Files, there would be no competition, but I know Butcher from his Codex Alera books. And Neil Gaimon just makes me swoon, him and Charles de Lint.
Definitely Neil Gaiman! While I enjoy Jim Butcher’s books, I don’t think romance has ever been his strong suit, although I’d be interested to read his too.
Neil Gaiman. This past year has been really hard for me, and the only thing that brought me out of a terrible funk this last spring was discovering Gaiman’s books. I will worship him forever for bringing a so much fun to me at such a dark time! Good Omens = funniest book in the world.
Linnea Sinclair, of course! Her books are great and I’m looking forward to reading her shorter fiction.
Diana Gabaldon for me, closely followed by Neil Gaiman. Can’t wait to hear more about Roger’s family!
Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d love to read this stunning array of … authors! But I most want to read MLN Hanover and Lisa Tuttle because, of this luminary list, they are the only two I’ve never read. Clearly a major oversight on my part.
Neil Gaiman. Jo Beverly. And Cecelia Holland (haven’t read her in years)
Pick Me Please!!!
Love Neil Gaiman, Marjorie M. Liu, Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney and want to read all the other authors.
I need more anthologies! It’s how I stay sane. 🙂
Tanith Lee because it’s the oddest thing. I swear she wrote something I loved, but I can’t think what.
I’m torn between wanting to read the Jim Butcher story and the Neil Gaiman story. . .Two of my fav authors in one anthology? I think my head might explode from the sheer awesomeness.
Capcha: Together79. Butcher and Gaiman together is 79 types of awesome.
Neil here. I’m very disappointed—I was supposed to receive my ARC in the mail, but it never arrived. Maybe Amanda put it somewhere, she sometimes puts books in odd places. I found one in the vegetable crisper this morning. Isn’t she darling?
Anyway, I would like to request that you mail me your copy as soon as possible, so I can make sure the right story got in there and there’s been no terrible mix-ups, like the time I was in Marks and Spencer and got mistaken for Dylan Moran or when my editor started replacing all my references to lifts with the word “elevator” because he thought it would broaden my reader base.
Do contact me at your earliest possible convenience, and merry Thanksgiving, or whatever it is you colonists say.
-Neil
(Note: the above is meant to be a joke, albeit a bad one. Neil, if you’re reading this, please don’t sue me.)
My most fav. author in this anthology is Marjorie M. Liu!!! I love everything she writes, and I own every thing she’s ever written!!! I’m so excited by this anthology, its a great way to get into authors you’ve never had a chance to read, or that you’ve never heard of> The author that I would love to see in an upcoming anthology would definitely have to be Karen Marie Moning without a shadow of a doubt!!! Thanks for the contest, you rock!!! m/-.-m/
Diana Gabaldon because her books rock!
Carrie Vaughn. I really enjoyed Voices of Dragons and I am awaiting Steel.
In addition to the inclusion of several authors I enjoy, I’m intrigued that George R.R. Martin is one of the editors.
I’d also like to see Kelly Link in an anthology like this one.
If I had to choose, my brain might short circuit! Between Dresden, Liu, Beverley, Putney, Lee and Gaiman I could never choose just one. You had better not send me the book because I might destroy it by constantly flipping back and forth and never managing to actually finish ANY of the stories. Ack! Keep this book away from me – it’s for my own good!
Must read Diana Gabaldon and more of love across time.
Seriously. Something about deep grief has catapulted me into the need to connect to stories of deep love, loss, and finally—happily ever-afters.
I am most excited to read Diana Gabaldon because I adore her characters. Also, I would like to read stories by the authors I haven’t had the delight to experience yet, because who doesn’t want to get extremely giddy in the pants?
I think I’ll start with Tanith Lee, because it’s been way, way, way too long since I’ve read anything by her. Then Gaiman, and Putney, and Beverley, and…
I can’t wait to read “Love Hurts” by Jim Butcher because my husband and I are huge fans and I can’t wait until April for my next hit of Harry Dresden.
I know about 1/3 the authors in this anthology and the ones I know I wouldn’t have necessarily put into an anthology together with the others. While, like a lot of people, I’m interested in reading the Gaiman (I love how he crafts his stories – his use of language is oftentimes exquisite) and Gabaldon entries (it’s just been ages since I’ve read anything Outlander related, and she’s always had a gift about making me care about her characters), I’m mostly interested in seeing how all these different authors interact with each other. Plus, there’s lots of authors in there I’ve not been exposed to, and it’s always fun finding new authors!
Ohmigosh Neil Gaiman! I love him! Just look at his picture in the back of his books—he looks so mysterious! I loved Good Omens (even though that wasn’t just him) and Neverwhere and Stardust and I should be finishing up Anansi Boys but I’m reading Victoria Holt instead =) He’s soooo good though!
My top three would be Neil Gaiman, Diana Gabaldan and Jacqueline Carey. Because I love them. Also, I haven’t had a chance to read and Jim Butcher yet, so a this would be great!
O dear, my heart skipped at just reading the list of authors, and again after checking it out on Amazon.
Can I offer you chocolate? (Unless you are allergic to it, and then otherwise your favorite snack.) The cat hair SB Swag is also a definite plus, as it would settle in here swimmingly amongst our dust moose (meese?) of cat and dog hair.
Of all those fine and wonderful authors (many on my busy library request lists), I would love to read more by lovely Marjorie. She had me hook, line, sinker, pole and boat with ‘Hunter Kiss’ in “Wild Thing,” and I have been eager to read any and all of her works that I can get my paws -er, hands- on. And giddy in the pants—what’s NOT to love!