What does Tim Powers write about?

[littlemissattitude]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

I liked the way he associated Blackbeard with Voodoo -- not sure whether or not this is historically correct, but I liked it.

I don't know either, and I haven't read the book - I keep trying to find it, but I haven't come across it yet in either a library or bookstore. But I wouldn't be at all surprised if Powers found some sort of supporting evidence for that. He does incredibly detailed research. I think I've mentioned before that in Earthquake Weather, part of the action takes place on a partcular street, Rosecrans Avenue. Well Rosecrans is a real street in Los Angeles County, and it is a long street, but the action happened to take place along a stretch of that street very near where I lived for a time, and he got the place so...right...that I recognized places that I used to pass by nearly every day as I read the book.

[dwndrgn]

Look what you've done! Y'all already made me search high and low and then purchase The Anubis Gates, read (and enjoy it!), and now I'm going to have a search for this new old one On Stranger Tides. Sigh. At least this one was re-released (no doubt thanks to the popularity of pirates nowadays) so it shouldn't be as hard to locate.

[williamjm]

"On Stranger Tides" is great fun. Admittedly, "The Anubis Gates" and "Declare" are probably better books overall, but they don't have pirates in them.

By the way, there is a new Powers book out soon (it might even be out in America by now) called "Three Days To Never" about Albert Einstein, spies, time machines and no doubt all sorts of weird stuff.

[littlemissattitude]

Originally Posted by williamjm

By the way, there is a new Powers book out soon (it might even be out in America by now) called "Three Days To Never" about Albert Einstein, spies, time machines and no doubt all sorts of weird stuff.

Actually, according to Amazon, Three Days to Never has a released date of Tuesday, August 1. I'm especially interested to see if one particular thing made it into the book that was suggested to Powers during a question and answer session I attended at LosCon year before last.

I'm glad you mentioned this. I had been wondering when this book was scheduled to be in bookstores.

[littlemissattitude]

Well, apparently Amazon lied. Or got their information wrong. Or something. I tried to get the new book this evening, but my local bookstore had the information that the release date is actually August 8.

Oh, well, I bought two books anyway.

[Allegra]

Originally Posted by knivesout

Tim Powers - one of fantasy's best-kept secrets.

A secret to me until now. Had a quick check and come up with 2 questions:

1. Is his Declare a spy novel or a spy fantasy?
2. Is Anubis Gates his best?

[williamjm]

Originally Posted by Allegra

A secret to me until now. Had a quick check and come up with 2 questions:

1. Is his Declare a spy novel or a spy fantasy?
2. Is Anubis Gates his best?

1 - Well I suppose it is both, since it is a novel and a fantasy. And has spies in it. There's a lot of espionage stuff in it and a lot of fantasy as well although the fantasy elements are relatively subtle to begin with.
2 - I think so, and a lot of people seem to agree. Of course, it is all a matter of opinion.

[Allegra]

Thanks, Will. This author didn't seem to be very popular outside of US. I found only two titles listed on play.com. May be it's play's problem. A few years back when Dresden files got popular there were hardly any Jim Butcher's books on play. Now they stocked up all his books.

[williamjm]

Originally Posted by Allegra

Thanks, Will. This author didn't seem to be very popular outside of US. I found only two titles listed on play.com. May be it's play's problem. A few years back when Dresden files got popular there were hardly any Jim Butcher's books on play. Now they stocked up all his books.

Amazon.co.uk does have a bit more choice. Play.com is a pretty good website but it doesn't have quite as wide a range of books in my experience.

[Connavar]

Many of his work sounds so interesting.

I ordered Declare,Drawing of The Dark from the library.

I didnt want to read Last Call,Anubis Gate and On Stranger Tides as library cause they are his best works from what i have read from the fans.

[Worldbuilder]

Nothing like jumpin' in four years later. Tim Powers is writer guest of honor at BayCon 08 Memorial weekend (May 23rd?) in Santa Clara, CA. I read Three Days to Never. I liked the Einstein elements. In fact this book was discussed in this thread while he was writing it I believe. Anyhow, overall, it really wasn't my cup of tea, but I thought I'd find something else by him that I might like better since I'll have a chance to meet him. I'll go with one of those SF ones. I'm not much for fantasy. Thanks for the info here.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Yes, the fact that Tim Powers is one of the guests has definitely caused me to rethink my decision not to go this year.

[Worldbuilder]

Theresa,
I'll be there as a guest. Maybe I'll see you? It's a fun Con. Have you been before?

[Worldbuilder]

Sorry. Teresa. And I hate it when people misspell my name. >whips self with wet noodle<

[Teresa Edgerton]

Yes, I've been to BayCon many, many times. In my opinion, it used to be one of the best conventions anywhere, but not so much in recent years.

One thing I used to like was the fact that it attracted guests from all over the West coast and into Arizona; being on panels was a good way to meet other writers you might never otherwise get the chance to talk with. Last year, it was pretty much just us local folks, and not so many of us.

But, as I said, Tim Powers makes the prospect of this year sound more appealing.