Waiting on Wednesday 11/19/14
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick:
Chasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick: August 11, 2015 (Tor)
We are continuing to feature upcoming science fiction books in our Waiting on Wednesdays this month with this intriguing looking title featuring two con men named Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright. Don’t know about you, but as I was browsing, that bit caught my attention right away. The description indicates that the two are couple characters from the author’s previous works, but this seems like a brand new adventure that hopefully new readers can just pick up. I’m totally on board for “sharp”, “slick”, and “witty” science fiction.
“A science fiction masterpiece from a five-time Hugo Award winner!
In the distant future, Surplus arrives in China dressed as a Mongolian shaman, leading a yak which carries the corpse of his friend, Darger. The old high-tech world has long since collapsed, and the artificial intelligences that ran it are outlawed and destroyed. Or so it seems.
Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright, are a pair of con men and the heroes of a series of prior Swanwick stories. They travel to what was was once China and invent a scam to become rich and powerful. Pretending to have limited super-powers, they aid an ambitious local warlord who dreams of conquest and once again reuniting China under one ruler. And, against all odds, it begins to work, but it seems as if there are other forces at work behind the scenes. This is a sharp, slick, witty science fiction adventure that is hugely entertaining from one of the best SF writers alive.”
The BiblioSanctum 
Oh nice! Totally new to me but hope you love it once you read it!
Here’s my WoW
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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Great pick – I may have to nab this one myself. Fantasy con men are always worth a read.
Here’s my WoW
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Awesome! First a dog who walks upright, and his name is Surplus?? I haven’t read a Michael Swanwick book in a long time, and this is definitely going on the list!
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At least you have read Swanwick, you’ve got the advantage over me there 🙂
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Always wanted to read Swanwick but never have. And I like a good long con game.
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Same here! On both points.
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This sounds promising, although I don’t know that I’d choose to describe a book as “slick.” Genetically engineered dog? Colour me intrigued. I have yet to read a book by Swanwick so maybe this will be the first!
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“Slick” is something that sounds good to me 😛
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I’m still loving the sci-fi recs of course, but man does this one ever sound unique! I love the sound of the setting AND the con artist aspect 😉 Thanks again for bringing this one to my attention Mogsy ^^
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The intelligent dog character sounds awesome! I hope he gets a point of view. (and doesn’t die. Why do authors like to kill animals?)
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