First Review of Codex Born
I added one last link to the roundup (from Laura Resnick), but at this point I think that post has made its point pretty well.
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In totally unrelated but very happy news, the first review of Codex Born [Amazon | B&N | Mysterious Galaxy] has been spotted in the wild!
Publishers Weekly says:
Nonstop action and laughter power Hines’s riveting second journey into the “peculiar life” of Isaac Vainio … Hines supplies everything a reader needs—werewolves, ghosts, robot insects, a fire spider that eats candy, and homages to classic SF—for a very good time.
Like many authors, I tend to be rather neurotic about how people will respond to a new book or story. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve done this before, I’m always afraid that this will be the time I crash and burn. This will be the book where everyone discovers I’m a total fraud.
(I’m now waiting for someone to respond, “Don’t worry, Jim! We figured that out four books ago!”)
Anyway, given the strong response to Libriomancer, I’ve been even more worried about whether or not the sequel would live up to expectations. And while I’m sure there will be disagreement and a range of reactions among readers — which is both normal and healthy — seeing that first positive review has been a tremendous relief.
Two months and counting!
Martin
June 6, 2013 @ 9:34 am
Don’t worry, Jim! We figured that out four books ago!
Martin
June 6, 2013 @ 9:35 am
P.S. You are aware that you are raising my personal expectation to orbital heights ;-).
Jim C. Hines
June 6, 2013 @ 9:39 am
You are a cruel, cruel man.
Martin
June 6, 2013 @ 9:43 am
Cruel? Who? Me?
Wicked? Maybe!
Mischievous? Of course!
Cruel? Nope, just honest! 🙂
Allison
June 6, 2013 @ 1:24 pm
Whoo! Grats on a good review. And, actually, it was about four books ago that I figured out that you were on my list of, “I will read anything this author writes, regardless of whether or not the topic interests me.” Looking forward to Codex Born.
Jim C. Hines
June 6, 2013 @ 1:33 pm
Thanks so much, Allison!
KLGaffney
June 6, 2013 @ 2:20 pm
I read Libriomancer by candlelight during Hurricane Sandy, and it was a fun ride. Not gonna lie, I’ve been looking forward to the sequel from the minute I hit the last page of the first one (especially with a whole 2 days of hurricane and then over a week without power after that), but no pressure, honest! 😉
Jennifer B.
June 6, 2013 @ 6:39 pm
My book budget has been pretty non-existent for the past year or so, but now that the husband is employed, I’ve got a list. I call it the “Pringles”* list, and I added you to it based on the book and story samples I’ve read and the writing you share with us here.
*Because I can’t read just one.
Jim C. Hines
June 6, 2013 @ 7:28 pm
Thank you! And I hope you can enjoy this one sans hurricane!
Jim C. Hines
June 6, 2013 @ 7:29 pm
Thanks, Jennifer! And hooray for book budgets!
Daryl
June 6, 2013 @ 8:21 pm
Well, you know what I thought of the book from my email to you a few days ago (and I can’t post a review on our website until the book is released)!! Congrats on the good review from Publisher’s Weekly!! Also, I wanted to let you know that you were listed on our “booking ahead” sheets at the Library for Codex Born. (This is generally seen as a real turning point for authors at the Library since it’s the list of books we’re told we really need to have for the collection. Of course, I had already put the book on order before this list came out!) So, I think more than just “we” have figured out how good a writer you are and how much the readers enjoy your work!!!
So WHEN will Unbound be available????????
Jim C. Hines
June 6, 2013 @ 8:32 pm
Awesome, and thank you!!!
We don’t have a firm release date for Unbound, but it will probably be in early 2015. I’d love to get it out sooner, but we pushed the release of Codex Born pretty quickly, and I simply don’t think I’ll be able to write fast enough to get it out sooner.
Daryl
June 6, 2013 @ 8:48 pm
Thanks Jim! No hurries/worries on that, it’s just that I really want to know what happens next!! And I’m sure the number of people that do will grow when the book is widely available!
Rob Allen
June 7, 2013 @ 3:07 pm
Libriomancer is my go-to book for people who ask me for a recommendation. Of course, now they’ve all read it and are chomping at the bit for Codex Born. If you want more heaped praise and validation ahead of the August release, I’d be happy read an advance copy and let you know how ridiculously awesome it is.
Jim C. Hines
June 7, 2013 @ 3:24 pm
Thank you 🙂
And that is a very tempting offer, sir!
Mike
June 8, 2013 @ 10:56 am
My daughter (she’s 12) and I (a year younger than you and in Michigan too!) both loved Libriomancer, and the Goblin Quest books are among my all time favorites. We are both looking forward to reading Codex Born in August. One of these days we hope to meet you at one of your various appearances here in the state.
jimmy
June 10, 2013 @ 3:11 am
I love the goblin books and the Libriomancer books! I shall soon read the princes books. One tip for meeting Mr. Hines do not pull a Wane’s world and bow down going I am not worthy! just kidding.
Jim C.
June 14, 2013 @ 4:09 pm
FYI – I picked up Libriomancer based on your Big Idea post over on Scalzi’s blog. On the strength of that book, I quickly plowed through the rest of your back catalog, and was not at all disappointed. I am eagerly anticipating the release of Codex Born, which I hadn’t realized was coming out soon but then say this posting as I was flipping back through your blog. In fact, wait a sec… boom, there I just pre-ordered in for my nook. Please keep up the great work, and I hope you have many more stories to tell in Isaac’s universe.
Jim C. Hines
June 15, 2013 @ 9:39 am
I’ll try to keep that in mind, thank you 😉
Jim C. Hines
June 15, 2013 @ 9:39 am
Thanks so much, Jim!
Tegan M.
June 20, 2013 @ 1:48 am
The lesson I have learned from this is read the full post before trying to find the book in my library catalog for two weeks. 😀
Jim C. Hines
June 20, 2013 @ 7:30 am
D’oh! 🙂