Dual Memory is a finalist for the Audio Publishers Association’s 2024 Audie Awards in the Science Fiction category. Thank you for the narration, André Santana! The winners will be announced March 4.
You can listen to Chapter 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/dreamscape-media/dual-memory-by-sue-burke-chapter-1
You can buy the audiobook wherever fine audiobooks are sold — and the novel is available in hardcover and ebook, too.
A Weapon of Mathematics by Charles Ott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Full disclosure: I got this book as a gift from the author.
As set forth in Chapter Zero, mathematicians in the middle of the 21st century discovered a new series of numbers that permitted magic, but the new mathematics also smashed civilization and pushed the Moon out of its orbit. Now, eight hundred years later, at the end of Chapter Two, the King’s magician has been captured by the cult of an irrational god that could destroy what still remains of civilization.
This fun and often humorous short novel offers well-drawn characters and a fast-moving plot with surprises and twists. Feuding lovers must work together, a low-born man must prove his talent, and a capable magician makes it her job to hold them all together as a team. The math is clever, carefully thought-through, and believable as the basis of a fantasy – but don’t worry, there are no equations. There is, however, a dragon that can be both smart and stupid at the same time.
I think this is a self-published novel. It’s hard for those to get a lot of traction. Even if you have a major publisher behind you, selling books is hard — and much harder if you’re on your own. This seems to be the first Goodreads review of A Weapon of Mathematics, and I hope it gets more attention.
Isn’t it beautiful? This is the cover of Usurpation, the third novel in the Semiosis trilogy. It will be published on October 29 (and you can pre-order it now from your favorite bookseller).
You might be thinking that the picture looks a lot like a Venus flytrap. Yes, it does. That small plant originated in the eastern wetlands of North and South Carolina, and it grows in poor, wet soil. It kills and eats ants, spiders, and other small animals to get necessary nutrients. The toothy “jaws” on the ends of its leaves are waiting to close around prey.
But you’ll learn when you read the novel that carnivory is not the worst thing a plant can do.
This weekend, I’ll be at Capricon, a four-day science fiction convention held annually in the Chicago area since 1981. This is a fan-run convention created entirely by volunteers. Attendance might reach 1000 people — the right size for friendship and fun.
It will be held at the Sheraton Grand Chicago in downtown Chicago, 301 E. North Water Street. You can attend for the whole weekend or come for just a day. More information about registration is here: https://capricon.org/registration/
This year’s theme is The Endurance of Stars: “No matter where they’re from, what media/genre they appear in, or where their journey takes them, protagonists of our favorite stories often look up to the night sky, just as we do ourselves. The stars provide hope, guidance, and a sense of continuity, for all that they wheel and spin around us and constellations slowly creep into new configurations. Stars give an anchor to orbits, provide essential guides to navigators, and bring light and life to the universe.”
If you can come, say hi. I’ll be on some panels:
How to Moderate Panels – Bridgeport, Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Great moderation can make the a difference between a mediocre panel and a fantastic one. Come learn tips from our panel of experienced moderators. Moderator: Janice Gelb; Alessandra Kelley, Jerry Gilio, Sue Burke, and Dina Krause.
When SF Goes Literary – Sheraton II, Friday, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. If you’ve ever seen a work of SF called “literary,” you might wonder what that even means. Is “literary SF” something easily described? Or is it another of those “I know it when I see it” situations? And what are the implications of defining some SF works in this way? Our panelists discuss the meaning of “literary” in the SF world and explore the impact and influence of so-called “literary SF” works. Moderator: Sue Burke; Gary K Wolfe, James Bacon, and K.V. Peck.
SLF’s Mini Deep Dish Reading – Sheraton I Salon, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. The Speculative Literature Foundation is a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literary quality in speculative fiction. In this mini-version of their Deep Dish reading series, you’ll hear from a variety of local authors giving short readings. Moderator, Angeli Primlani; Shaun Duke, Jim Cherry, Sue Burke, and Darius Vinesar.
Self-Editing for Writers – Columbus, Saturday, 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. For many writers, editing is a daunting task. How are you supposed to sit down and make meaningful changes to your own work when you’ve spent days, weeks, months, or even a year writing it? Our panelists share their tips and tricks for self-editing to demystify the editing process. Moderator: Sue Burke; Clif Flynt, Steven H Silver, K.V. Peck, and JM Guilfoyle.
Random Panel Topic – Sheraton II, Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. What happens to the panel ideas that get rejected? They are reborn here as random panel topics. Our panelists will choose topics (at random, of course) and speak expertly on them for five minutes each. You’ll be rolling on the floor with laughter. Moderator: Sue Burke; Brian Sebby, Ariela Housman, and Will Saddler.
B&N.com will have a pre-order promotion from January 24 to 26 for its Rewards and Premium members. Rewards and Premium Rewards members will get 25% off pre-orders, including ebook and audio, while Premium members get an additional 10%.
During that promotion, you can pre-order the trade paperback edition of Dual Memory, coming April 16, and the hardcover edition of Usurpation, coming October 29. Usurpation is the third book in the Semiosis trilogy.
If you’re not a B&N special member, you can still pre-order those books at your favorite bookseller, although probably not at promotional prices. As I learn of any sales, I’ll announce them here.
Sue Burke 