Michael J. Sullivan

September 17, 2021

Happy birthday to The New York Times bestselling author Michael J. Sullivan

Rick Klaw birthday, blog birthay, hollow world, Michael J. Sullivan, nolyn

Michael J. Sullivan first gained notice for Riyria Revelations (The Crown Conspiracy [2008], Avempartha [2009], Nyphron Rising [2009], The Emerald Storm [2010], Wintertide [2010], Percepliquis [2012]) and Riyria Chronicles (The Crown Tower [2013], The Rose and the Thorn [2013], The Death of Dulgath [2015], The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter [2017]), a pair of interrelated series set in the fantasy world of Elan. Translated into fifteen languages, the acclaimed Riyria novels have been selected for more than sixty best of the year or most anticipated lists, including mentions by Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, Audible.com, and Goodreads.

Sullivan’s third series, Legends of the First Empire, set in the distant past of Elan, explores the true history of the mythical world includes Age of Myth (2016), Age of Swords (2017), Age of War (2018), Age of Legend (2019), Age of Death (2020), and Age of Empyre (2020). The first volume of The Rise and Fall, Nolyn premiered in 2021.

His first science fiction novel, the standalone HOLLOW WORLD came out in 2014 to overwhelming praise including a James Tiptree, Jr. Award Honorable Mention and a Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis nomination.

All of us at Tachyon wish Michael a stupendous birthday!

September 17, 2019

Happy birthday to the acclaimed Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized age of legend, age of myth, age of swords, age of war, birthday, hollow world, Michael J. Sullivan

Michael J. Sullivan first gained notice for Riyria Revelations and Riyria Chronicles, a pair of interrelated series set in the fantasy world of Elan. Translated into fifteen languages, the acclaimed Riyria novels have been selected for more than sixty best of the year or most anticipated lists, including mentions by Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, Audible.com, and Goodreads.

Sullivan’s third series, Legends of the First Empire, set in the distant past of Elan, explores the true history of the mythical world. Four books of the six volume series have been published: Age of Myth (2016), Age of Swords (2017), Age of War (2018), and Age of Legend (2019).

His first science fiction novel, the standalone HOLLOW WORLD came out in 2014 to overwhelming praise including a James Tiptree, Jr. Award Honorable Mention and a Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis nomination.

All of us at Tachyon wish Michael a stupendous birthday!

For info on HOLLOW WORLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Michael J. Sullivan

September 17, 2018

Happy birthday to the acclaimed Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized age o myth, age of swords, ages of war, birthday, hollow world, legends of the first empire, Michael J. Sullivan

Michael J. Sullivan first gained notice for Riyria Revelations
and Riyria Chronicles, a pair of interrelated series set in
the fantasy world of Elan. Translated into fifteen languages, the
acclaimed Riyria novels have been selected for more than sixty
best of the year or most anticipated lists, including mentions by
Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, Audible.com, and
Goodreads.

Sullivan’s third
series, Legends of the First Empire, set in the distant past
of Elan, explores the true history of the mythical world. Three books
of the six volume series have been published: Age of Myth
(2016), Age of Swords (2017), and Age of War
(2018).

His first science fiction novel, the standalone HOLLOW WORLD came out in 2014 to overwhelming praise including a James Tiptree, Jr. Award Honorable Mention and a Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis nomination.

All of us at Tachyon wish Michael a stupendous birthday!

For info on HOLLOW WORLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Michael J. Sullivan

September 18, 2017

Belated happy birthday to the acclaimed Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized age of swords, birthday, hollow world, Michael J. Sullivan, plothole, sarah sullivan

Michael J. Sullivan first gained notice for RIYRIA REVELATIONS and RIYRIA CHRONICLES, a pair of interrelated series set in the fantasy world of Elan. Translated into fifteen languages, the acclaimed RIYRIA novels have been selected for more than sixty best of the year or most anticipated lists, including mentions by Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, Audible.com, and Goodreads.

Sullivan’s third series, THE FIRST EMPIRE, set in the distant past of Elan, explores the true history of the mythical world. The first volume, AGE OF MYTH, premiered in 2016 and the second, THE AGE OF SWORDS, earlier this year.

His first science fiction novel, the standalone HOLLOW WORLD came out in 2014 to overwhelming praise including a James Tiptree, Jr. Award Honorable Mention and a Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis nomination.

PLOTHOLE #5 by Michael and Sarah Sullivan

In 2011 Sullivan came up with PLOTHOLES, a comic strip that pokes some fun at writing fantasy and publishing in general. Not having the skills to produce the graphics for the project he turned to his daughter Sarah to lend a hand. The duo have produced six strips.

All of us at Tachyon wish Michael a stupendous birthday!

For info on HOLLOW WORLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Michael J. Sullivan

February 2, 2017

Tachyon tidbits featuring Ellen Klages, Hap and Leonard, Lavie Tidhar, Alastair Reynolds, & more

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized alastair reynolds, all the birds in the sky, an occupation of angels, book riot, brown girl in the ring, Charlie Jane Anders, dradin in love, ellen klages, frankenstein, glaad, hap and leonard, in the garden of iden, interview, james purefoy, james tiptree jr, jeff vandermeer, kage baker, lavie tidhar, liberty hardy, mary shelley, Michael J. Sullivan, michael k. williams, nalo hopkinson, passing strange, revelation space, sundanceTV', Tad Williams, ten thousand light-years from home, the coode street podcast, theft of swords

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

Ellen Klages (photo: Scott R. Kline) and James Purefoy and Michael K. Williams as the titular characters in SundanceTV’s HAP AND LEONARD

HOLLYWOOD LIFE reports that SundanceTV’s HAP AND LEONARD received a GLAAD Award Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series.

The COODE
STREET PODCAST interviews Ellen Klages.

And we’re back! The bar has been re-stocked, the carpets have been steam cleaned, and we’re ready to go. For the first podcast of 2017, long time friend of the podcast Ellen Klages joins us to discuss her wonderful new book, PASSING STRANGE.

For BOOK RIOT, Liberty Hardy reveals 100
Must-Read Science Fiction & Fantasy Debuts. While no Tachyon titles made the list, first books by Charlie Jane Anders, Kage Baker, Nalo Hopkinson, Alastair Reynolds, Mary Shelley, Michael J. Sullivan, Lavie Tidhar, James Tiptree, Jr., Jeff VanderMeer, and Tad Williams were mentioned.

October 5, 2016

Tachyon tidbits featuring Lauren Beukes, Michael Moorcock, and Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized Ann Monn, black gate, clara bacou, derek ruiz, drunk in a graveyard, john o'neill, kickstarter, lauren beukes, max raynor, michael batolo, Michael J. Sullivan, michael moorcock, review, robin goodfellow, slipping, slipping: stories essays & other writing, the best of michael moorcock, the death of dulgath

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

Lauren Beukes (image: LaurenBeukes.com), Michael Moorcock, and Michael J. Sullivan

At DRUNK IN A GRAVEYARD, Robin Goodfellow, in one of the more unusal reviews, praises Lauren Beukes’ debut collection SLIPPING: STORIES, ESSAYS, & OTHER WRITING.

Now, let’s get nerdy, because.. I love short stories. Love them. For someone who is as busy as I am, the time management center of my brain allows me to more readily digest short fiction and non-fiction because I don’t have to sink hours into getting the story moving, and any author worth a Raymond Carver, knows the value of crafting a perfect short.

Short stories are harder than novels, I think. You have to say what you’re going to say in a smaller scale, and in order for short stories to punch you in the cunt, you really have to be succinct. Succinct is not a talent that a lot of writers have. Let me tell you right here, Lauren Beukes has this particular talent in spades.

The stories range from punk dystopic science fiction, to vaguely threatening, to seriously threatening, to murder, and to a deep resonating poignancy and longing that connects each.

One essay stands out for me in stark brutal truth and that is the piece, “All the Pretty Corpses”, and it stands in part as some explanation for the ideas behind “The Shining Girls”, why the violence in the book is so brutal and Beukes’s own thoughts on why she wrote “The Shining Girls”.. This is very cool and an intimate look at subjects that aren’t often discussed. Beukes discloses a personal story upon the murder of her friend.. an actual murder, discussed in plain language, real brutality and tangible tragedy. This story punched me in the face and knocked the wind out of me at the same time as it wove a knot into my throat.

My best friend was murdered in 2006. The experience lingers on my psyche like perfume and cigarette smoke to my going out clothes. The truth and reality behind what is said in this piece is so very relatable and heart breaking. I KNEW there was a reason that “The Shining Girls” had drawn me so deeply to it, and this really explains that connection.

This piece of information was so honest, so stark and it made me feel connected to this author and the work she is doing.

John O’Neill of BLACK GATE delivers this long overdue retrospective of THE BEST OF MICHAEL MOORCOCK.

Tachyon Publications released THE BEST OF MICHAEL MOORCOCK, edited by John Davey and Ann & Jeff VanderMeer, back in 2009, and I finally bought a copy last month. I don’t know what took me so long.

Moorcock has an enormous back catalog of fantasy; so vast I’ll never be able to read even a fraction of it. But this book finally gives me the opportunity I’ve wanted for years: to sample the full range of Moorcock’s storytelling craft in one compact volume, with some of his most famous stories — including his famous 1968 Nebula Award winning novella “Behold the Man,” the Elric tale “A Portrait in Ivory,” and the Jerry Cornelius story “The Visible Men.”

The book received rave notices when it first appeared. Bookgasm says it “Serves as a superb introduction to the boundless imagination of this unique and fascinating author,” and The Guardian calls it “A long-overdue retrospective.” And Booklist says it’s “A wild, fascinating batch of stories fairly balancing the fantastic and the nearly ordinary, and showcasing Moorcock’s talent very well.”

Michael J. Sullivan is Kickstarting the graphic novel of his best selling novel THE DEATH OF DULGATH.

Best-selling author Michael J. Sullivan teams up with Dabel Brothers Publishing, artists Max Raynor and Michael Bartolo, comic adaptation writer Derek Ruiz and letterer and production designer Dave Lanphear to bring Riyria to the graphic novel format for the first time. Sullivan’s fantasy novel, THE DEATH OF DULGATH was Kickstarter’s most successful fantasy novel project, and now it will be adapted into a two volume graphic novel series. The story will be lovingly interpreted in the visual form and supported by bonus material that is sure to excite any fan of fantasy who longs for that inside look into the making of the graphic novel.

For more info about SLIPPING: STORIES, ESSAYS, & OTHER WRITING, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Clara Bacou

Design by Elizabeth Story

For more info about THE BEST OF MICHAEL MOORCOCK, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Ann Monn

September 17, 2016

Happy birthday to the acclaimed Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized birthday, hollow world, Michael J. Sullivan, riyria

PLOTHOLE #3 by Michael and Sarah Sullivan

Sullivan’s third series, THE FIRST EMPIRE, set in the distant past of Elan, explores the true history of the mythical world. The first volume, AGE OF MYTH, appeared in Summer, 2016. His first science fiction novel, the standalone HOLLOW WORLD came out in 2014 to overwhelming praise.

All of us at Tachyon wish Michael a stupendous birthday!

For information on HOLLOW WORLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Michael J. Sullivan

December 28, 2015

Tachyon tidbits with Joe R. Lansdale, Alastair Reynolds, and Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized books by proxy, collection, crime, elizabeth story, hap and leonard, hollow world, joe lansdale, Joe R. Lansdale, matt molgaard, matt molgaard's horror novel reviews, Michael J. Sullivan, mightythorjrs, mystery, novella, review, science fiction, short stories, slow bullets, space opera, sundanceTV', texas noir, Thomas Canty, time travel, wayne c. rogers

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles from around the web.

Joe R. Lansdale, Alastair Reynolds (photo: Barbera Bella), and Michael J. Sullivan

Reviews of Joe R. Lansdale’s forthcoming collection HAP AND LEONARD have started coming in. This time from Wayne C. Rogers at MATT MOLGAARD’S HORROR NOVEL REVIEWS.

Okay, I managed to snag an advance copy of Hap and Leonard from the publisher, which couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I mean most of these stories made me laugh. One made me cry. So, here’s a short review of the book that is basically an introduction to the new television series of Hap and Leonard.

This review is of the collection, and for those who can’t seem to get enough of the boys (that includes yours truly), this is a definite must for their library. Now, I’d already read most of the stories in this collection. Subterranean Press published the three novellas as stand-alone stories (Veil’s Visit, Hyenas, and Dead Aim). I caught some of the short stories in various publications over the years. There were a few stories, however, that were new to me such as Death by Chili, Not Our Kind, and Bent Twig. All the others, I read for a second time and enjoyed them just as much. As Mr. Lansdale might say, “This was more fun than rolling down a hill with a bunch of armadillos.”

Let me say this, all of the stories are great!

Period. End of discussion.

<snip>

Rating: 5/5

BOOKS BY PROXY continues their impromptu novella season with Alastair Reynolds’ great SLOW BULLETS.

Having never read any work by Reynolds, SLOW BULLETS seemed like the perfect opportunity to dip my toe in the water and get a taste of what this prolific author is all about. This is a novella which reads like a memoir, has all the vision of a science fiction epic, and is crammed full of mystery and danger, leaving me in more than a little need of another Reynolds fix.

<snip>

In one short story, Reynolds manages to create a universe saturated with history; wars, conflict and religious feuds have had an indelible effect on the lives of those on board ship, and culture is made apparent through snippets of art and poetry which permeate the narrative. SLOW BULLETS stays clear of the hard science and presents a tense and plausible situation with little straying from the main narrative. spurring on the action and allowing the tale to unfold. This is a short, sharp and exciting read which appears to have a whole novel lurking beyond its pages.

Alastair Reynolds has certainly proven himself to be a skilled storyteller; his writing manages to conjure up almost an entire Universe in surprisingly few pages and I was hooked from start to finish. I would perhaps have preferred a more climactic and action packed conclusion – this novella certainly has the potential to be a full-length novel – but the conclusion was ultimately satisfying and the writing was fast-paced and exciting throughout.

If you’re looking for an exciting and suspenseful science-fiction novella to slot into the busy holiday season then SLOW BULLETS is an excellent place to start. This might have been my first foray into the writings of Alastair Reynolds, but it certainly won’t be my last!

MIGHTYTHORJRS was very excited about getting a copy of Michael J. Sullivan’s HOLLOW WORLD.

Book Haul from the past week. Did a little shopping the past week or so and picked up some great books. I have been wanting to read this book for a while now. Looks like some awesome stuff. Can’t wait to read and review!

For more info on HAP AND LEONARD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Elizabeth Story

For more info about SLOW BULLETS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Thomas Canty

Design by Elizabeth Story

For information on HOLLOW WORLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Michael J. Sullivan

September 17, 2015

Happy birthday to the acclaimed Michael J. Sullivan

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized birthday, elan, fantasy, hollow world, Michael J. Sullivan, plothole, riyria chronicles, riyria revelations, science fiction, the first empire

Michael J.
Sullivan first gained notice for RIYRIA REVELATIONS and RIYRIA
CHRONICLES, a pair of interrelated series set in the fantasy world of
Elan. Translated into fifteen languages, the acclaimed RIYRIA novels have been selected for more than sixty best of
the year or most anticipated lists, including mentions by
Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, Audible.com, and Goodreads.

PLOTHOLE #3 by Michael and Sarah Sullivan

Sullivan’s third series, THE FIRST EMPIRE, set in the distant past of Elan, explores the true history of the mythical world. The five-book epic fantasy series is slated for a Summer, 2016 release. His first science fiction novel, the standalone HOLLOW WORLD came out in 2014 to overwhelming praise.

All of us at Tachyon
wish Michael a stupendous birthday!

For information on HOLLOW WORLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Michael J. Sullivan

August 25, 2015

Four Tachyon authors earn a place among The 51 Best Fantasy Series Ever Written

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized alexander nanitchkov, brandon sanderson, brayan's gold, buzzfeed, demon cycle, elizabeth story, elric, fantasy, hollow world, list, Michael J. Sullivan, michael moorcock, mistborn, novel, peter v brett, riyria revelations, science fiction, stormlight archive, the emperor's soul, the great bazaar, the great bazaar & brayan's gold, the very best of michael moorcock

The braintrust over at BUZZFEED created a list of The 51 Best Fantasy Series Ever Written. Four Tachyon authors and their series garnered notice.

Brandon Sanderson

#2 The Stormlight Archive

Another series that only has two books so far, so now’s the time to get involved. The one issue is that they’re BIG books, so the two The Stormlight Archives feel more like four books. Luckily, they’re incredible, so you’ll tear through them. RIYL: really big swords, sorcery, and massive battle sequences.

#12 Mistborn

The heart of this series is in the intricate and cleverly deployed system of magic that powers it. Allomancers have different abilities tied to different metals, and there is a real thrill in watching the characters learn and master their craft and combine forces as they attempt to overthrow a corrupt and oppressive regime.

Tachyon published the Hugo award-winning novella THE EMPEROR’S SOUL.

Peter V. Brett

#10 Demon Cycle

A “hero’s journey” told through several protagonists and settings. As its name implies, the Demon Cycle exists in a complex and fascinating world where humans and demons are forced to live at constant odds with one another, and explores what happens when humans finally take a stand.

THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD, a pair of novellas set in the Demon Cycle universe, came out earlier this year.

Michael Moorcock

#33 The Elric Saga

Elric VIII, the 428th Sorcerer Emperor of Melniboné, is a weak and frail introvert. But his sword, Stormbringer, is anything but. It brings Elric the strength he needs to survive, at a cost: It feeds on the souls of its prey. Michael Moorcock’s subversion of what he saw as the tired tropes of fantasy established by Tolkien and others make for a powerful read that is, to this day, a seminal influence on the genre.

THE VERY BEST OF MICHAEL MOORCOCK begins with the Elric story “A Portrait in Ivory.”