Tad Williams

March 15, 2016

Belated happy birthday to the imaginative Tad Williams

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized birthday, elizabeth story, fantasy, kerem byat, Tad Williams, the very best of tad williams

Before finding
success as an acclaimed bestselling author, Tad Williams held
numerous odd jobs, including insurance salesman, radio host, laying
titles, and several years in a rock band called Idiot. Among his
numerous works are the series MEMORY, SORROW & THORN series (THE
DRAGONBONE CHAIR, STONE OF FAREWELL, and TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER),
OTHERLAND (CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOW, RIVER OF BLUE FIRE, MOUNTAIN OF
BLACK GLASS, and SEA OF SILVER LIGHT), SHADOWMARCH (SHADOWMARCH,
SHADOWPLAY, SHADOWRISE, and SHADOWHEART), and BOBBY DOLLAR (THE DIRTY
STREETS OF HEAVEN, HAPPY HOUR IN HELL, and SLEEPING LATE ON JUDGEMENT
DAY) and the classic stand alone novel TAILCHASER’S SONG.

Williams has
authored comics for DC, Image, Wildstorm, and Big Entertainment.
Titles included AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS, THE NEXT, WILDC.A.T.S,
DIVINE RIGHT, and MIRRORWORLD: RAIN. His numerous shorter works have
been collected in RITE: SHORT WORK, A STARK AND WORMY
KNIGHT, and THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS.

All
of us at Tachyon wish the fantastical Tad a happy birthday.

For more information on THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story

June 14, 2015

Get the marvelous BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS for $1.99

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized collection, ebook, elizabeth story, fantasy, Kerem Beyit, kindle, kindle daily deal, science fiction, short story, Tad Williams, the very best of tad williams

THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS is a Kindle Daily Deal for Sunday, June 14.

For today only, the ebook is available for just $1.99!

[STARRED REVIEW] “This marvelous short fiction retrospective testifies to the breadth of Williams’s creativity. All but one of these 17 otherworldly tales have appeared in magazines or anthologies, but fans will welcome the chance to have them all in one place. Several of the earlier pieces are particularly charming, including “The Old Scale Game,” with its thoroughly modern monsters, and “Every Fuzzy Beast of the Earth, Every Pink Fowl of the Air”, a chortling version of the book of Genesis. Williams effectively portrays poignant human regrets and longings in “Three Duets for Virgin and Nosehorn,” a miniature masterpiece, and explores the paradoxes of religious belief in “The Stranger’s Hands” and “And Ministers of Grace.” “A Stark and Wormy Knight,” a linguistic tour de force, shows without one misplaced word just how clever dragons can be. Williams’s sensitivity to atmosphere and trademark attention to telling detail shine through most of the selections in this varied collection of little gems.”
—Publishers Weekly

Within these pages you will find such delightful and curious things as a strange storytelling vampire, two woefully-overmatched angels, a dragon in cahoots with a knight and a witch, an ineptly duplicitous fish, the loyal robot butler of Werner Von Secondstage Booster, and the Greatest Wizard of All (disputed!).

“Obviously fans of Tad Williams will enjoy this, but then anyone with a sense of humour, a love of the unknown and anyone that enjoys a good tale should benefit from these stories.”
—Fantasy Book Review

From his epic fantasy series, including Memory Sorrow and Thorn—which George R. R. Martin cited as an inspiration for Game of Thrones—to the classic novel Tailchaser’s Song, Tad Williams has mastered every genre he has set his pen to. Here are the stories that showcase the exhilarating breadth of Williams’ imagination, hearkening back to such classic fantasists as J. R. R. Tolkien, Ray Bradbury, Peter S. Beagle, and beyond. Whether you are a devoted reader of his longer works, already a devotee of his short fiction, or even new to his writing entirely, The Very Best of Tad Williams is the perfect place to discover one of the most talented and versatile authors writing at any length today.

“An essential addition to the bookshelf for fans of Tad Williams and also a great opportunity for new readers to sample the breadth of his storytelling prowess.”
—SF Signal

The Old Scale Game
The Storm Door
The Stranger’s Hands
Child of an AncientCity
The Boy Detective of Oz: An Otherland Story
Three Duets for Virgin and Nosehorn
Diary of a Dragon
Not with a Whimper, Either
Some Thoughts Re: Dark Destroyer
Z is for…
Monsieur Vergalant’s Canard
The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of
Fish Between Friends
Every Fuzzy Beast of the Earth, Every Pink Fowl of the Air
A Stark and Wormy Knight
Black Sunshine
And Ministers of Grace

“Throughout this collection Williams ably demonstrates that he is a jack of all trades — and their master as well.”
—Interzone

For more information on THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

November 12, 2014

THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS delivers bite-sized nuggets of pure enjoyment

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized another universe, elizabeth story, fantasy, horror, jen rothmeyer, Kerem Beyit, review, science fiction, short stories, Tad Williams, the very best of tad williams

Jen Rothmeyer of Another Universe reviews The Very Best of Tad Williams.

These snippets from his complex imagination read like my very own chicken soup for the Tad Williams fan’s soul with bite-sized nuggets of pure enjoyment. I may very well end up with nightmares from “The Storm Door,” but the laughs I got out of the critiques the kid comic book artist received from his creative team in “Some Thoughts Re: Dark Destructor” ensures all is forgiven. Williams has a little bit for everyone in this motley mix of fiction.

Read the rest of Rothmeyer’s review at Another Universe.

For more information on The Very Best of Tad Williams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

October 23, 2014

Lit Crawl SF event was a rousing success!

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized carter scholz, ellen klages, event, heather mcdougal, jacob weisman, jill roberts, libby vega, lit crawl, madeline robbins, michael blumlein, rina weisman, rob hugel, san francisco, signing, Tad Williams, Tim Pratt, time frame

The Lit Crawl San Francisco Tachyon event at TIME FRAME was an unqualified success. And we have the pics to prove it!

Crowds of people crammed into the shop.

Tad Williams entertained the masses.

As did it Ellen Klages.

Not to be out done, Michael Blumlein joined in.

Not to worry, Tim Pratt also did his part.

The proud and happy Tachyon head honcho Jacob Wesiman watched over everything.

More of the crowd.

And afterwards, dinner.

Tad Williams, Ellen Klages, Jacob Weisman, Rob Hugel, Libby Vega, Carter Scholz (mostly hidden behind Heather McDougal), Heather McDougal, Madeline Robbins, Michael Blumlein, and Jill Roberts

Thanks to everyone who came to the amazing event. Fun was had by all.

All photos by Rina Weisman.

October 21, 2014

“The Old Scale Game” is a great way to kick off THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized collection, dragon, elizabeth story, fantasy, graeme flory, graeme's SFF, horror, Kerem Beyit, review, science fiction, short stories, short story, Tad Williams, the old scale game, the very best of tad williams

Graeme Flory of Graeme’s SFF reviews “The Old Scale Game,” the lead story from The Very Best of Tad Williams.

‘The Old Scale Game’ takes a simple premise and shows the reader what could happen if a scheme is a little* too* successful and everyone wants in on it. What originally begins as a ‘one man, one dragon’ operation leads to any number of mythical beasts wanting to get involved, resulting in depression and spiralling alcoholism for one of the original conspirators. I found myself in the position where I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Guldhogg and Sir Blivet, even though a blatant lack of forethought had led them to this in the first place. Everything works out though (it had to, given the note of gently humour that runs through the piece) and all credit to Williams for taking a thoroughly twentieth century concept and having it sit very comfortably in a tenth century setting (although if the reader is asked to believe in dragons then it’s not a huge leap to believe in a dragon that… that would be telling).

Read the rest of Flory’s comments at Graeme’s SFF.

For more information on The Very Best of Tad Williams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

October 15, 2014

Tachyon Publications participates in Lit Crawl San Francisco

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ellen klages, event, jacob weisman, litcrawl, michael blumlein, portable childhoods, san francisco, signing, Tad Williams, the roberts, the treasury of the fantastic, the very best of tad williams, time frame

Join Tachyon Publications at the San Francisco Lit Crawl!

Saturday, October 18th
Phase I – 6:00PM – 7:00PM

Featuring Tad Williams, Michael Blumlein, Ellen Klages, and Jacob A. Weisman (Editor and Publisher, Tachyon Publications).

Presented by Tachyon Publications, San Francisco’s foremost science fiction publisher.

This event takes place at TIME FRAME, 418 Valencia St. (between 15th and 16th), San Francisco, CA, 94103. We highly recommend taking BART or MUNI to 16th Street. Plan your trip here.

Make time for Phase II and Phase III at Borderlands Books afterwards!
Phase I – 7:15-8:15PM – Mysterious Ways
Phase II – 8:30-9:30PM – New Worlds

The 10th annual Lit Crawl spans more than 3 hours in the Mission District’s Valencia Street corridor, featuring an astonishing 101 literary readings and events, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comedy and more, in bookstores, bars, galleries, restaurants, stores, cafés, community spaces, a bookmobile, a vibrator store, and a police station. Get the full schedule here!

For more information on The Very Best of Tad Williams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

For more information on Portable Childhoods, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by John D. Berry.

For more information on The Roberts, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story.

For more information on The Treasury of the Fantastic, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Thoms Canty.

September 30, 2014

THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS speeds along smoothly and without too many hiccups

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized elizabeth story, Kerem Beyit, review, richard dansky, Tad Williams, the green man review, the very best of tad williams

Richard Dansky of The Green Man Review writes about The Very Best of Tad Williams.

Not every collection has to be earth-shattering. Not every story has to be a mind-blower. Sometimes it’s nice to have something that’s just amusing and easy to read and straightforward, without challenge or morally fraught situations. And that’s where The Very Best of Tad Williams comes in, because that’s precisely where it slots in along the speculative fiction spectrum. Split between shaggy dog stories and Outer Limits-style“Gotcha!”s, the collection speeds along smoothly and without too many hiccups.

<snip>

[M]any of the pieces here are, if not memorable, enjoyable, and the one-two punch of “Vergalant” and “Ministers of Grace” will provide food for thought long after the taste of the other stories has faded.

Read the rest of Dansky’s piece at The Green Man Review.

For more information on The Very Best of TadWilliams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

July 22, 2014

THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS demonstrates that he is a jack of all trades – and their master as well

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized collection, elizabeth story, fantasy, horror, ian hunter, interzone, Kerem Beyit, review, science fiction, short stories, Tad Williams, the very best of tad williams

For the July (253) issue of Interzone, Ian Hunter lauds The Very Best of Tad Williams.

[H]ere we have shorter offerings – sixteen stories and a hundred-and-twenty page screenplay called Sunshine. Only one story – ‘Omnitron, What Ho!’ – is original to this collection with the others first appearing in anthologies edited by the likes of Chris Golden, Jack Dann,
Gardener Dozois, Peter S. Beagle, George R.R. Martin, and even
David Copperfield.

The very first tale gets us into a light-hearted groove as ‘The Old Scale Game’ tells the story of a knight and dragon who are getting a bit old in the tooth and fang and come up with a scheme that benefits them both, much to the envy of other mythical creatures who are being hunted
to extinction. Similar scaly shenanigans are evident in ‘A Stark and Wormy Knight’ where an exasperated dragon mum has to recount the bedtime story of how Grand-Greatpap (there is some wonderfully intentional misuse of language throughout this story) managed to overcome the dogged Sir Libogan the Undeflectable.

<snip>

The good humour isn’t maintained in all of the stories though. In ‘Not With A Whimper, Either’ online chat room banter turns into something more sinister that just might spell the end of the world, and in ‘The
Stranger’s Hands’ two foreigners are discovered in the forest – one of them has the power to make dreams come true, but possibly not exactly in a way the wisher intended, and such power inevitably attracts the attention of the greatest wizards in the land.

<snip>

We are in Stephen King territory here with the dual timescale and the
close-knit group, but surely that can’t be a bad thing? What is bad are the events that unfold in ‘The Storm Door’; it reads like an old pulp hero tale smashing right up against a very modern horror
trope given a very original spin.

<snip>

Throughout this collection Williams ably demonstrates that he is a jack of all trades – and their master as well. Damn him.

Read the rest of Hunter’s review in the latest issue of Interzone.

For more information on The Very Best of Tad Williams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story

June 5, 2014

THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS showcases the work of this engaging author

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized collection, elizabeth story, fantasy, horror, january magazine, Kerem Beyit, review, science fiction, short stories, Tad Williams, the very best of tad williams

January Magazine lavishes praise upon The Very Best of Tad Williams.

The Very Best of Tad Williams (Tachyon) showcases the work of this engaging author. Most of the stories collected here have appeared in various magazines and anthologies. Bound together in this way, though, they create a sort of living retrospective of the author’s work. Obviously, Williams’ many fans will eat this up. However, those who have been thinking about reading some of his work but have been hesitating will find this book a great indoctrination, especially since many of his novels are massive in both size and scope. Beginning with a more bite-sized stories may well appeal to those wary of making the huge time investment into most of Williams’ novels.

For more information on The Very Best of Tad Williams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

June 2, 2014

Double your reading pleasure with Bookgasm reviews of Tad Williams and Joe R. Lansdale

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized Alan Cranis, bookgasm, cold in july, collection, crime, elizabeth story, fantasy, horror, jim mickle, joe lansdale, Joe R. Lansdale, Kerem Beyit, movie tie-in, mystery, review, science fiction, short stories, Tad Williams, texas noir, the very best of tad williams

Bookgasm’s Alan Cranis pulls double duty with reviews of two recent Tachyon titles.

On The Very Best of Tad Williams:

For newcomers to his short fiction, the most pleasant revelation will be the different types of stories Williams has written over the years. In “The Old Scale Game,” a fairly recent work, an aging knight confronts an equally aging dragon and the two traditional adversaries enter into a mutual partnership. This contemporary spin on a familiar setting allows Williams to express a sly warning to those who see the fantasy field as nothing more than a cash cow.

Contrast this with “Not With A Whimper” where a group of readers debate online the merits of fantasy versus science fiction until their exchange is interrupted by power surges. The source of the surges, the debaters discover, is an artificial intelligence struggling with its new-found consciousness and powers. Williams presents the entire story in a near cyber-punk style of coded posted messages.

<clip>

Of the far too many authors cramming the fantasy field with seemingly endless series, only a few are genuinely worthy of our time. THE VERY BEST OF TAD WILLIAMS proves that he is among this select company, and may also cause some to drastically re-evaluate the talents of this prolific and popular author, and discover his other equally satisfying works.

For the rest of the Cranis review, which includes coverage of several of the other stories in the collection, visit Bookgasm.

And then on Cold in July:

One of the benefits of COLD IN JULY being made into an independent movie (adapted by screenwriter/actor Nick Damici and directed by Jim Mickle) is this new, movie tie-in edition from Tachyon, Joe R. Landsdale’s publisher. So now this early work from one of America’s finest storytellers – first published in 1989 and nearly impossible to find since – is once again available. That’s wonderful news not only for the legion of Lansdale fans but also for those who love a finely told crime story.

<snip>

This new edition is further enhanced by an original forward by director Jim Mickle, and a new afterword by Lansdale himself. Mickle recalls what first attracted him to the novel and the many false-starts his adaptation suffered along the way to completion. Lansdale reveals the events that planed the seed of the story in his unconscious, and how it seemed to flow full-borne from his mind to his typewriter when he finally devoted himself to the story.

Lansdale also comments how happy he is to see a new edition of this novel back in print after so long a time. That’s true for us readers as well.

Regardless if you plan to see the movie or not, now’s your chance to fill that gap in your Lansdale collection — or finally get one started.

For the rest of the Cranis review, visit Bookgasm.

For more information on The Very Best of Tad Williams, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Kerem Beyit.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

For more info on Cold in July, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story

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Tad Williams

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