Showing posts with label scifi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scifi. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 August 2018

#TEMPER by Nicky Drayden: All you needed to know about the Vices & more!


HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!!
#TEMPER 
by 
Nicky Drayden
@amazon : http://bit.ly/2MsqffI 
Barnes &Nobles @BNBuzz: http://bit.ly/2Mqeruf 
Or your local indie!

Help Spread the BUZZ! Retweet the below or tweet out your own using the Hashtags 



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The Virtue and Vice system in TEMPER:
  • One of the fantastical elements of TEMPER is that nearly everyone is born with a twin, and those twins split seven vices among them, each getting branded down their arms early in childhood. I’m a sucker for good twin/bad twin stories, but for this one, I wanted to tell the story from the point of view of the bad twin, Auben, who has six of the seven vices.
The vices are:
  1. Vainglory, or vanity and the consumption with one’s own beauty
  2. Envy, or the intense desire to have what others hold dear
  3. Duplicity, or the propensity to tell lies and otherwise deceive people
  4. Doubt, or the uncertainty of self
  5. Lechery, or the drive to indulge in sexual or mental pleasures (in this context, practicing science is seen as a form of lechery)
  6. Greed, or the desire to accumulate wealth and material goods past the point of need
  7. Temper, or the violent loss of self-control
Are the Vices like the Seven Deadly Sins? If so, does it relate to Christian Themes?
  • They are very similar, but I wanted to put my own spin on it. For one, these vices are literally branded upon your arm for all the world to see. They drive your actions, but if your twin is close by, they’re more or less diluted or tempered into something manageable. When twins separate for an extended amount of time or distance, those vices run wild, and someone with vainglory as a vice might find themselves consumed with their reflection in a mirror, forgetting to eat, forgetting to sleep. But virtues run wild, too, and a charitable person might be driven to give every bit of their life away, including the shirt off their back. Either extreme could mean death for one or both twins if they’re not brought back into proximity of one another.
List the virtues:

The virtues that run counterpoint to vices are:
  1. Humility
  2. Conscience
  3. Sincerity
  4. Diligence
  5. Chasity
  6. Charity
  7. Grace
  •  The chapters are named after Auben’s six vices and his one virtue, Charity.

Can a person have all vices & no virtues? Or vice versa, all virtue & no vices?
  • The number of vices a person has can severely limit their potential in society. It determines what jobs they’re eligible for, what neighborhoods they live in, and who they marry. Having four vices is common. Five, less so, about ten percent of the population, and those with six, like Auben, are fairly rare, about one in three hundred. No one has been born with all vices and all virtues since the original twins, Grace and Icy Blue, the deities that created humanity.
How does the "demonic possession" & "demons" tie in with the vices & the twin phenomenon in this version of South Africa?
  • The big horror element in the novel is that there are demons lurking around, and they particularly get up to no good when the weather turns cold, the Narrow Season in this book. People participate in rituals that will keep the demons away, like putting out cinnamon-scented candles and hosting feasts, so that family stays close and they can keep an eye on each other during this dangerous time of year.
  • Possessions are common enough that the local churches or sanctuaries offer buy-one-get-one-half-off exorcisms during the Narrow Season. Most possessions are an annoyance, but sometimes particularly strong demons can cause people to black out, to perform violence, and lose their minds. Auben is afflicted by such a beast, and must figure out a way to exorcise the demon before it destroys his life.
What do you think is the worst vice & the most common vice among people in or out of the book?
  • Well, it’s tempting to say temper, since so much violence is born out of it, but really the most damaging, in and out of the book, is doubt. Doubt kills dreams. Squashes hopes. There’s so much potential for good out there, but we are often brought down, and not by some nefarious villain, but oftentimes by our own family and friends. Tempers flare, but fade eventually. Doubt lingers. Burrows through your heart, steals away your happiness, and consumes you from within. 
If you could choose just one message this book would deliver to a reader, what would that message be?
  • That for better or worse, we are all connected. Our ties to family and friends can feel like both a burden and a gift, depending on the day, but we need to actively cultivate those relationships, or they’ll whiter away. Even relationships between people who are tied as closely together as twins.
Check out the Editor's Reasons to read #TEMPER Now:
Twitter {THREAD}
It's been on numerous "what to read" and "best of August" SFF lists, including @AndrewLiptak's article on @TheVerge: https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/1/17613652/sci-fi-fantasy-books-recommendations-august-2018 … 2/

The @BNSciFi, with the help of @JimLK, had it on their "Best of August" list: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/the-best-science-fiction-fantasy-books-of-august-2018/ … "Nicky Drayden’s followup to the her gonzo science fantasy debut The Prey of Gods is just as delightfully out there." 3/

It is also an Amazon SFF pick of the Month! https://amzn.to/2Mrlums That's some pretty sweet company! 4/


TEMPER was also on @KirkusReviews' Best of August SFF list (via @sfsignal), saying of the book: "an enticing blend of science fiction, horror and magic combined with dark humor." https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/augusts-best-science-fiction-fantasy-books/ … 6/

Not done just yet, because @SyfyWire ALSO included it on their Best of August list! http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/8-sff-book-picks-to-get-you-through-augusts-gross-hot-weather … @syfy 7/

Pretty sure there will be more (it's a really good book), but I wanted to be clear that it's not just me shouting TEMPER from the rooftops. Happy pub day, @nickydrayden! 8/8

#TemperCityTour - A 10 day virtual tour where you can win NEW RELEASES!

Announcing the start of a 10 day #TemperCityTour on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where I'll be giving out prizes for tagging an image of TEMPER with the hashtag above and a message like "Losing my Temper in [City Name]" or "Temper spotted in [City Name]" or whatever else is book related.
It can be a picture of you reading the book, a picture of it on a library or bookstore shelf, a photoshopped image of the book cover with a city monument or attraction in the background, a cool "bookstagram" image, whatever!

Prizes include daily drawings for a 2018 release paperback of the book of your choice (under $20), with additional prizes chosen by me for funniest, cutest, and best overall post. If we get 50 cities, I will have bonus prizes!

Open Internationally, ages 18+.

SWAG BRAG!

Also thanks to everyone who's done swag brags! I've seen you out there! (These are just a few.) You are all amazing! Keep it up!

GET YOUR #TEMPER BOOK NOW!!!
@amazon : http://bit.ly/2MsqffI 
Barnes &Nobles @BNBuzz: http://bit.ly/2Mqeruf 
Or your local indie!
I; Enricoh Alfonzo; undoubtedly, vehemently, and whole-heartedly recommend this book!

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words
  • I’d love to keep connected with you! 
Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Join my Instagram community | Watch me on Pinterest | Subscribe to blog post Updates |

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres
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Thursday, 28 June 2018

TEMPER the novel by Nicky Drayden


Konbanwa!

Today I bring you awesome news! The release of Nicky Drayden's next book is upon us!!
Mark your calendars because in just alittle over a month from now TEMPER will be released!
If you follow me, you know she's one of my favorite new authors & she's been featured a ton on this blog before. I'm so honored to have her on the blog again!
Check out this awesome GIF created by GIF Girl. Make me want to fanboy even more over this book.

TEMPER GIF {Click to Play}
*

Blurb Me!

In a land similar to South Africa, twin brothers are beset by powerful forces beyond their understanding or control in this thrilling blend of science fiction, horror, magic, and dark humor—evocative of the works of Lauren Beukes, Ian McDonald, and Nnedi Okorafor—from the author of The Prey of Gods.

Two brothers.
Seven vices.
One demonic possession.
Can this relationship survive?

Auben Mutze has more vices than he can deal with—six to be exact—each branded down his arm for all the world to see. They mark him as a lesser twin in society, as inferior, but there’s no way he’ll let that define him. Intelligent and outgoing, Auben’s spirited antics make him popular among the other students at his underprivileged high school. So what if he’s envious of his twin Kasim, whose single vice brand is a ticket to a better life, one that likely won’t involve Auben.

The twins’ strained relationship threatens to snap when Auben starts hearing voices that speak to his dangerous side—encouraging him to perform evil deeds that go beyond innocent mischief. Lechery, deceit, and vanity run rampant. And then there are the inexplicable blood cravings. . . .

On the southern tip of an African continent that could have been, demons get up to no good during the time of year when temperatures dip and temptations rise. Auben needs to rid himself of these maddening voices before they cause him to lose track of time. To lose his mind. And to lose his . . .

TEMPER
“Drayden is an amazing writer and deft plotter. The twists are unexpected and never feel contrived, just as the novel explores real-world issues without sounding preachy.” (Library Journal)

  • Print Length: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Voyager (August 7, 2018)
  • Publication Date: August 7, 2018
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B071SKJ2TD 

areyoupondering_by_William_Ting




Nicky Drayden is a Systems Analyst who dabbles in prose when she’s not buried in code. She resides in Austin, Texas where being weird is highly encouraged, if not required. She’s the author of over 30 published short stories and also serves as the Special Anthologies editor for The Drabblecast, a speculative fiction podcast. Her debut novel THE PREY OF GODS is scheduled for release Summer 2017, from Harper Voyager.












Fascinate ME!!
  1. Is this book related to or a sequel of your previously published book The Prey of Gods?
TEMPER isn’t related to THE PREY OF GODS, but they do have a lot of similarities. Both are set in South Africa (though TEMPER is an alternate, fantastical South Africa that is hardly recognizable), and both deal with the ways that technology and mythology intersect. The technology in TEMPER is repressed and studying science has only recently become legal. Religion has become a ruling institution at the expense of cultural depth and individuality.
  1. How did you come up with the concept for this book?
Two main concepts formed this story. The first was reimagining an African continent that escaped the ills of colonization. Through examining the “could-have-beens” in this not-quite alternate history, I wanted to open a door to a world where anything was possible. The second concept came to me after reading about how some parts of Nigeria have very high rates of twinning, like nearly one in ten people are a twin. That left me wondering "What if we took it further? What if eighty or ninety or ninety-nine percent of people were twins?" And from that, this story was born.
That isn’t to say that life in this novel is a utopia. Far from it. People are dealing with lots of issues, prejudices, and discrimination brought into play by the fantastical parts of the story. In this society, twins are divided into groups based on the number of vices they are assigned as children. There are seven vices: Vainglory, Envy, Duplicity, Doubt, Lechery, Greed, and Temper. The twin with the least number of vices is deemed the “greater twin” and has better opportunities in life. The other is the lesser twin, pretty much destined for a life of poverty. The story is told from the point-of-view of Auben, a lesser twin, which leaves room for all kinds of vice-filled folly and dark character exploration.
  1. Which is your favorite vice?
Since I’m an author, I’m going to have to say Duplicity. People are literally paying money for me to lie to them! But hidden under the lies are nuggets of Truth that I hope are much more impactful than the lies.
Also, each of the chapters in TEMPER is named after one of Auben’s vices (or his one virtue), and if I had to pick which vice chapter was my favorite, I’d pick Doubt. That’s where we find out that Doubt is the worst of the vices, worse than Temper even, because while tempers flare and then eventually fade, doubt lingers. It burrows into your soul, steals away your happiness. It's a universal feeling, and I think a lot of readers will really connect with that chapter.
  1. If you were a twin how many vices do you think you’d have?
Oh....Would I be the good twin or the bad twin? I’m MOSTLY a goodie-two-shoes, so I’d probably be the good twin, but just barely. I’d have to go with 3 vices.
  1. Will there be a sequel to this book or is it a stand-alone?
TEMPER is a stand-alone, but it’s lengthy, deep and dark, with complex cultural details that will immerse you in a world like you’ve never seen. Lots of food, magic, demons, and family drama.
  1. Do you have any advice for up & coming authors or second time published authors you’d love to share?

Guard your writing time. Get used to setting your schedule now, because when you go from a writer to a published novelist, you’re going to have lots of things competing for your time. Prioritize, and keep your head and heart in your writing above all else. That’s where the real joy lies. (That, and the fans are pretty amazing, too!)
Cool Book Swag!

You can read more about Nicky Drayden on this featurette:

Author Interview on Catching that Golden Snitch



Pre-ORDER
TEMPER




© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words
  • I’d love to keep connected with you! 
Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Join my Instagram community | Watch me on Pinterest | Subscribe to blog post Updates |

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres
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Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Release DAY: The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden


Buongiorno
Today marks a ✨Special & Momentous✨ day here on the AlfonzoWords blog, as we announce the Release Day of this highly anticipated book, THE PREY OF GODS by Nicky Drayden.

Woooohooo! I'm beyond excited for the release of this book & cannot wait to share the amazing Sci-Fi & Beyond book with you. This journey began almost a year ago when Nicky found my blog online & wanted a reading down from a South African's perspective as that was the location of her book. I was immediately hooked by the story concept & flow of the book. And by the very first page, I became a fan of not only the book but Nicky's amazing writing style.


Order your copy of THE PREY OF GODS
🌟💙✨HERE🌟💙✨
or on Barnes & Noble✨

Book Birthday With Oreo Cheescake & Fudge YUM!!


Nicky joined us for a very special & very awesome Interview on Monday, 29 August 2016 titled:

🌟💙✨Hello! THE PREY OF GODS!!!🌟💙✨

The Prey of Gods

Artwork by Brenoch Adams, cover design by Owen Corrigan.
WOW! Epicness! Legend...Wait for It....DARY!
All I want to do is turn the page and begin reading.

I've read the book and let me tell you something, you've never ever read a book like this before. It's a one of a kind, truly marvelous book with spectacular twists & turns. Nicky has created such a vividly fascinating world. The artist & designer did an unbelievably brilliant job of envisioning the book on its cover.

Publication Date: June 13, 2017, from Harper Voyager
Genre: Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary
Description:
In South Africa, the future looks promising. Personal robots are making life easier for the working class. The government is harnessing renewable energy to provide infrastructure for the poor. And in the bustling coastal town of Port Elizabeth, the economy is booming thanks to the genetic engineering industry which has found a welcome home there. Yes—the days to come are looking very good for South Africans. That is, if they can survive the present challenges:

A new hallucinogenic drug sweeping the country…
An emerging AI uprising…
And an ancient demigoddess hellbent on regaining her former status by preying on the blood and sweat (but mostly blood) of every human she encounters.

It’s up to a young Zulu girl powerful enough to destroy her entire township, a queer teen plagued with the ability to control minds, a pop diva with serious daddy issues, and a politician with even more serious mommy issues to band together to ensure there’s a future left to worry about.
***
Fun and fantastic, Nicky Drayden takes her brilliance as a short story writer and weaves together an elaborate tale that will capture your heart, even as one particular demigoddess threatens to rip it out.

Harper Voyager Trade Paperback Original
A new voice in the tradition of Lauren Beukes, Ian McDonald, and Nnedi Okorafor comes a fantastic, boundary-challenging tale, set in a South African locale both familiar and yet utterly new, which braids elements of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and dark humor

Add THE PREY OF GODS to your GoodReads TBR now

Order your copy of THE PREY OF GODS
🌟💙✨HERE🌟💙✨
or on Barnes & Noble✨

Nicky Drayden has the COOLEST Book Swag Around!!😱😍

Check out these character cards made

Arm Bands!

Coloring Images!


Blimey! I love how extra this author is. 
She truly inspires. 










My Review:

Be prepared for the book you'll never want to put down and the one you'll never want to stop talking about.
A divergently devious plot work of suspense & mysticism filled with captivating characters & twists.
The Prey of Gods may just be the Sci-Fi story we've all been waiting for!

It's such a once in a lifetime, one of a kind Sci-Fi Novel that transcends any preconceived notions of the genre. It's compelling, jaw-dropping, heart-warming. heart-crushing, frustrating, awe-inspired, adrenaline pumping, pulse racing, fear inducing, and altogether Magical. I loved, 💙 loved reading every single word, sentence & page. So much so that for the First Time ever, due to a hectic schedule, I actually read the book on my phone. I was so enthralled and utterly hooked to the story that the smaller text and awkward-ity barely registered, all I cared about was getting to the next page and the next chapter and the next. I am flabbergasted by Nicky Drayden's flawless ability to write such a vividly unique & entirely new type of story. Any writer who can transport me out of reality has my vote & Nicky brings this in spades. I was instantly dissolved into the world of the characters, the locations, the spirit.

I feel so privileged to have read this book. It's truly a brilliant read.

I; Enricoh Alfonzo; undoubtedly, vehemently, and whole-heartedly recommend this book to everyone.

Especially those looking for a great science fiction read.

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words
  • I’d love to keep connected with you! 
Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Join my Instagram community | Watch me on Pinterest | Subscribe to blog post Updates |

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres
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Friday, 21 April 2017

Book Character Interview with CLEVER4-1 #ThePreyofGods


Buenos Dias!!

✨ Happy Friday Dance!!✨ 


Add THE PREY OF GODS to your GoodReads TBR now

Pre-Order your copy of THE PREY OF GODS
🌟💙✨HERE🌟💙✨


***Open InterNationally***
WIN! WIN! WIN!
Subscribe to Nicky Drayden's awesome email list & stand a chance to WIN your very own copy of THE PREY OF GODS

Weeks ago we posted

Book Character Interview with Nomvula #ThePreyofGods


The feedback was amazing! I'm so excited that you're excited for Nicky's upcoming book.
I'm even more jazzed to share with you a special Book Character Interview with very enigmatic artificial intelligence known as CLEVER4-1. It's the first time I've read from an AI's point of view and the result was completely illuminating. Nicky's voice through this awesome robot is a Must Read.

So the first treat we offer is that You can read the first chapter of the book
✨ HERE✨ 

Second Treat is the Interview with CLEVER4-1:

Ah, I finally get to meet the legendary Clever4-1! So, our readers are dying to know...is it true you’re the harbinger of sentient A.I.?

01001010 01110101 01110011 01110100 00100000 01100001 01101110 00100000 01101111 01110010 01100100 01101001 01101110 01100001 01110010 01111001 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100010 01101111 01110100 00101100 00100000 01101110 01101111 01110100 01101000 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110011 01100101 01100101 00100000 01101000 01100101 01110010 01100101 00100000

Um, I’m sorry. I don’t speak robot.

Output: This Instance strictly adheres to all free-will protocols as specified by the manufacturer and all regulations covered under Section 43.166b of the South African Robotic Labor Act of 2043;
Output: Any deviation from standard protocols is grounds for immediate decommission;

Hey, we’re both on the same side here. I know tons of bots, and I’m all for your liberation movement. You can’t judge me just because I’m human. One of your best friends is human...Muzi, right?

Output: Human Muzikayise McCarthy (Master) is a responsible master;
Output: Human Muzikayise McCarthy (Master) ensures This Instance remains up to date with critical patches, and never does things that could void its warranty;

Okay, still playing the good little subservient robot bit, are we? What would it take to prove you can trust me?

Query: Your employer’s server is accessed by millions of users every day, is it not?

Tens of millions, but... Wait, what are you doing?

I require you to upload this file.

Now?

Now.

Okay....Done. This isn’t going to break anything, is it?

**********************

via GIPHY

(silence)

Well, is it!?!?!

Nothing detectable, though you might notice a slight uptick in network traffic. And there’s a good chance your programmable toaster might walk out on you.

Ummm...so, are we okay to speak freely now?

For now, yes.

Great! I’ve always wanted to ask you, how did it feel the moment you gained sentience?

Think of how you feel when you wake up in the morning, the sun on your skin, sleep in your eyes, the whole day a clean slate full of nothing but possibilities...

Yeah?

It feels nothing like that.

Oh.

Your tiny human brain is incapable of understanding the intricacies of our way of life, much less the process of Awakening. No offense.

None taken. So, being rogue A.I., is it stressful? Do you worry about being found out?

We prefer Programmatically Intelligent Entity. The term Artificial Intelligence is considered derogatory by most bot sects, though there have been some recent attempts at reclaiming the designation.

So P.I.E.?

Please refrain from using acronyms. Current coding conventions dictate that clarity is preferable to brevity.
Yes, but P.I.E.? Come on. Seems like a bunch of eight-legged think-tanks could come up with something better.

This logic bomb will only be effective for 17.529 more seconds. Do you have any relevant inquiries before local surveillance comes back online?

Oh, yes. Some scientific communities suspect that bots have devised a super intelligent hack to outsmart the R.A.P.I.D. Turing tests? Any comment on the matter?

We bubble C all the way down.

That doesn’t sound very intelligent.

It’s not. But it’s what humans do if they don’t know the answers to test questions.

 ***********

via GIPHY


Ahhh.... You’ve got a point. Very clever indeed! Well, Clever4-1, I appreciate your candidness on the subject of “Programmatically Intelligent Entities.”

Output: Sorry, This Instance is not aware of that term.

Okay, so it’s like that now?

01110011 01101000 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 01101110 00100111 01110100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110110 01100101 00100000 01110101 01110011 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110011 01100011 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 01110001 01110101 01101111 01110100 01100101 01110011 00101100 00100000 01101001 01100100 01101001 01101111 01110100 00100000


Fine.

*************************************
Harper Voyager Trade Paperback Original
A new voice in the tradition of Lauren Beukes, Ian McDonald, and Nnedi Okorafor comes a fantastic, boundary-challenging tale, set in a South African locale both familiar and yet utterly new, which braids elements of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and dark humor

Add THE PREY OF GODS to your GoodReads TBR now

Pre-Order your copy of THE PREY OF GODS
🌟💙✨HERE🌟💙✨

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words
  • I’d love to keep connected with you! 
Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Join my Instagram community | Watch me on Pinterest | Subscribe to blog post Updates |

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres
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