Step right up and try your luck: CARNIEPUNK is available now!: seanan

Step right up and try your luck: CARNIEPUNK is available now!

Carniepunk, a new, carnival-themed anthology of urban fantasy awesome, is available now from a bookstore near you! (If there is not a bookstore near you, I recommend Borderlands Books, which does mail order and has hairless cats.) Featuring stories from me, Rachel Caine, Jennifer Estep, Allison Pang, and many more, this is an exploration of the carnival by a bunch of people who have actually been to the carnival at least once in their lives.

Yes. I know. That's a lousy sale line. But not everyone knows how to put together a Ferris wheel, okay? And people did their research, and on the whole, the stories are solid, fun reads, and the book is beautifully designed. My story, "Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea," requires no knowledge of my pre-existing universes, and gives you a sneak peek at one of the mermaid species to be found in the InCryptid setting (we'll be seeing more of them in an upcoming Fran and Johnny story, "We Both Go Down Together").

Here are some review bits:

"'Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea" by Seanan McGuire is a haunting story about, you guessed it, mermaids. It’s about growing up, family secrets, and relationships between mothers and daughters. It has an ending that, while not what I’d exactly call happy, hits you hard and lingers for a very long time." —Dear Author.

"...this story is about a mermaid growing up in the carnival. And in fitting with my theory above, the writing is strong. Very strong. Not even the depressing nature of the full circle concept of her journey could bring me to pull away from it." —Wicked Little Pixie.

I really, really loved several of the stories in this anthology, and none of them made me want to throw the book across the room. I file it under "anthology I would recommend even if I wasn't in it," which is my benchmark for a really good collection. So step right up. I haven't jawed you false. Put your money down, take your ticket, and find out what's behind the painted curtain.

I promise that it's worth your while.

rhoda_rants

July 25 2013, 18:29:45 UTC 3 years ago

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"Lousy?" Pfft. You had me at "Carniepunk." I don't know if that's actually becoming a Thing or not, but I seriously want it to be, because that's pretty much my favorite setting ever. (Well, apart from creepy old houses. And spaceships.)

seanan_mcguire

July 25 2013, 19:41:28 UTC 3 years ago

I want this volume to do really well, so we can do a sequel.

groblek

July 25 2013, 19:00:13 UTC 3 years ago

Ooh, that's right, I got a call that my preorder had arrived at the local bookstore last night. Thanks for the reminder, time to go get it!

July 25 2013, 19:41:35 UTC 3 years ago

Yay!

aliciaaudrey

July 25 2013, 19:54:39 UTC 3 years ago

It's on my to buy list! The sample was excellent. I'm sure the whole anthology will be.

I have had to promise myself not to buy a book until I finish a book though so it will have to wait until i M done reading about orcas, I'm like a book dragon. I would make a giant pile and then lay on it and breathe fire at hobbits. That is fun but unproductive.

July 25 2013, 19:57:30 UTC 3 years ago

...if having a giant pile of books will grant you the ability to breathe fire, you should buy more books right now.

purpleranger

3 years ago

wolf_shadow

July 25 2013, 22:03:21 UTC 3 years ago

Got a review copy of this last week which I'm about 2/3 through now. Very good :)

July 26 2013, 18:31:22 UTC 3 years ago

July 25 2013, 22:19:32 UTC 3 years ago

Is one of the hairless cats named Mr. Bigglesworth?

July 26 2013, 18:31:30 UTC 3 years ago

Nope.

anne_d

July 25 2013, 23:32:52 UTC 3 years ago

My copy just arrived in today's mail. Yay!

July 26 2013, 18:31:39 UTC 3 years ago

lysystratae

July 26 2013, 03:30:40 UTC 3 years ago

Just bought :)

July 26 2013, 18:31:48 UTC 3 years ago

Glee.

danaoshee

July 26 2013, 05:01:24 UTC 3 years ago

My reading habits love that I can read your post, and 30 seconds later buy the ebook.
(my book budget, on the other hand, has skyrocketed - when I had to actually go to stores, or wait for delivery, I did a lot more rereading and a lot less impulse buying...but it's worth it.)

July 26 2013, 18:31:59 UTC 3 years ago

That is pretty awesome.

notalwaysweak

July 26 2013, 05:17:02 UTC 3 years ago

I'm all over this. Have you read Mr. King's Joyland yet, or is that a silly question?

Also, can I recommend my friend Mary's excellent short story 'Monochrome Circus'? I think you would really like it. It's a fairly dark circus story with a hell of a twist that I managed to not see coming.

July 26 2013, 18:32:21 UTC 3 years ago

I have! And it made me INCREDIBLY HAPPY.

kaberett

July 26 2013, 14:55:32 UTC 3 years ago

Oooooooh, have tracked down the ebook and put it in my "books to buy" bookmarks folder!

July 26 2013, 18:32:31 UTC 3 years ago

Woot!

tikiera

July 26 2013, 17:38:46 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you for the reminder.

July 26 2013, 18:32:41 UTC 3 years ago

Very welcome.

museclio

July 26 2013, 19:38:21 UTC 3 years ago

Had it preordered for ebook. Just finished. Damn but your ending for your story is heartbreaking. There goes my Hugo nom for next year.

July 28 2013, 16:25:01 UTC 3 years ago

Awwww.

<3

jammiesest

July 27 2013, 00:09:55 UTC 3 years ago

My copy is on its way to me! And I shall huff a BPAL Carnaval scent while I read. :)

July 28 2013, 16:25:11 UTC 3 years ago

An excellent plan.

kyrielle

July 31 2013, 16:32:41 UTC 3 years ago

...wow. Also, *sniffles*.

October 11 2013, 16:49:04 UTC 3 years ago

*hugs*

trektone

August 4 2013, 03:01:55 UTC 3 years ago

Bought the book from Other Change of Hobbit (new location - El Cerrito!) for your story, which I just read. I liked it a lot. I know you mentioned the InCryptid connection, but might there be other stories about that carnival family?

Happy Museconning!

October 11 2013, 16:49:26 UTC 3 years ago

Maaaaaaaaaaaybe. I do not know yet.

rose_clover

August 7 2013, 12:05:26 UTC 3 years ago

Got the Audio version and it was wonderful!

October 11 2013, 16:49:38 UTC 3 years ago

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