Chasing the Phoenix - Tor/Forge Blog

$2.99 Ebook Deal: Chasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick

May 1, 2019April 26, 2019torforge

opens in a new windowThe ebook edition of opens in a new windowChasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick is on sale now for only $2.99! This offer will only last for a limited time, so order your copy today.

About Chasing the Phoenix:

In the distant future, Surplus arrives in China dressed as a Mongolian shaman, leading a yak which carries the corpse of his friend, Darger. The old high-tech world has long since collapsed, and the artificial intelligences that ran it are outlawed and destroyed. Or so it seems.

Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright, are a pair of con men and the heroes of a series of prior Swanwick stories. They travel to what was once China and invent a scam to become rich and powerful. Pretending to have limited super-powers, they aid an ambitious local warlord who dreams of conquest and once again reuniting China under one ruler. And, against all odds, it begins to work, but it seems as if there are other forces at work behind the scenes. Chasing the Phoenix is a sharp, slick, witty science fiction adventure that is hugely entertaining from Michael Swanwick, one of the best SF writers alive.

Order Your Copy

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This sale ends June 1.

New Releases

New Releases: 8/30/16

August 30, 2016May 10, 2024torforge

Here’s what went on sale today!

opens in a new windowThe Empty Ones by Robert Brockway

opens in a new windowFollowing on the heels of Robert Brockway’s comedic horror novel The Unnoticeables, The Empty Ones reveals the next chapter in the lives of a few misfits attempting to fight back against the mysterious Unnoticeables. The Empty Ones follows Carey and Randall to London where they go to rescue Gus and fight more of these mysterious angel-like creatures, and stumble on a powerful and unexpected ally. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn, who was very nearly beat when last we saw her, continues her fight into the desert of Mexico and the Southwest US, seeking the mysterious gear cult. Once there, she discovers what the gear cult is really up to: trying to ‘pin’ the angels to Earth, focus their attention here, and get as much of humanity as possible “solved”–which, in their minds, is akin to being saved–and in the process discovers something incredible about herself.

opens in a new windowHigh Stakes edited by George R. R. Martin and Melinda Snodgrass

opens in a new windowAfter the concluding events of Lowball, Officer Francis Black of Fort Freak, vigilante joker Marcus “The Infamous Black Tongue” Morgan, and ace thief Mollie “Tesseract” Steunenberg get stuck in Talas, Kyrgyzstan. There, the coldblooded Baba Yaga forces jokers into an illegal fighting ring, but her hidden agenda is much darker: her fighters’ deaths serve to placate a vicious monster from another dimension. When the last line of defense against this world weakens, all hell breaks loose, literally…. The Committee in New York sends a team of aces to investigate. One by one, each falls victim to evil forces–including the dark impulses within themselves. Only the perseverance of the most unlikely of heroes has a chance of saving the world before utter chaos erupts on Earth. Edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin, High Stakes features the writing talents of Melinda M. Snodgrass, John Jos. Miller, David Anthony Durham, Caroline Spector, Stephen Leigh, and Ian Tregillis.

NOW IN PAPERBACK:

opens in a new windowChasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick

opens in a new windowGatefather by Orson Scott Card

opens in a new windowHell’s Foundations Quiver David Weber

opens in a new windowPeople of the Songtrail by Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear

opens in a new windowTrucker Ghost Stories edited by Annie Wilder

opens in a new windowWhat You See by Hank Phillippi Ryan

opens in a new windowWillful Child by Steven Erikson

NEW IN MANGA:

opens in a new windowAngel Beats!: Heaven’s Door Vol. 2 by Jun Maeda

opens in a new windowMonster Musume Vol. 9 by OKAYADO

opens in a new windowShomin Sample: I Was Abducted by an Elite All-Girls School as a Sample Commoner Vol. 2 Story by Nanatsuki Takafumi; Art by Risumai

opens in a new windowSee upcoming releases.

Events / What's New

Tor Books Announces Programming for New York Comic-Con 2015

September 17, 2015May 10, 2024torforge

It’s time for New York Comic Con again! This year, we are pleased to announce that the Tor: The Next Generation! stage from BEA has been chosen as a panel. As always, Tor Books will continue its popular in-booth (#2223) signings and giveaways, offering you a chance to meet your favorite authors and pick up free books! Our exciting line-up includes author appearances by opens in a new windowJohn Scalzi, opens in a new windowCatherynne M. Valente, opens in a new windowCharlie Jane Anders, and more!

Be sure to follow opens in a new window@TorBooks on Twitter for up-to-date information and last minute events.

Thursday, October 8th

12:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowThe End of All Things – John Scalzi
1:30pm – 2:30pm Tor: The Next Generation!, Room 1A18 Tor Books celebrates 35 years of publishing quality SFF by some of the biggest names in genre today! But even Orson Scott Card and Brandon Sanderson were once unknowns. Meet 2015’s new authors and see what makes them tick in a game of “Would You Rather” with host John Scalzi ( opens in a new windowThe End of All Things) and featuring: Ilana C. Myer ( opens in a new windowLast Song Before Night), Seth Dickinson ( opens in a new windowThe Traitor Buru Cormorant), Lawrence M. Schoen ( opens in a new windowBarsk: The Elephant’s Graveyard), and Fran Wilde ( opens in a new windowUpdraft).
Panelists: opens in a new windowSeth Dickinson, opens in a new windowIlana C. Myer, opens in a new windowLawrence M. Schoen, opens in a new windowFran Wilde
Moderator: opens in a new windowJohn Scalzi
Rm: 350 seat room
2:45pm – Signing to follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B
2:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new window24: Rogue – David Mack
5:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowUpdraft and opens in a new windowBarsk: The Elephant’s Graveyard – Fran Wilde and Lawrence M. Schoen joint signing

Friday, October 9th

12:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowLast Song Before Night – Ilana C. Myer
2:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowLuna: New Moon – Ian McDonald
5:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowThe Traitor Baru Cormorant – Seth Dickinson
5:15pm Science in Fiction, Room 1B03

Look at something like The Martian vs. The Fold vs. the Iron Man movies. Is hard science always a good thing? Authors discuss the pros and cons and the sometimes slippery slope of including hard science in a work of fiction, especially in a paradigm era of technological development.
Panelists: A.G. Riddle, Mindy McGinnis, Robin Wasserman, opens in a new windowIan McDonald, Barry Lyga
Moderator: Peter Clines

6:45 PM – Signing to follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B

Saturday, October 10

12:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowTrial of Intentions – Peter Orullian
1:30pm Masters of Unreality: Heavy Metal and SFF, Room 1A18
It’s well known that heavy metal songs have been based on fantasy novels; however, it can be argued that they’re also the perfect soundtrack to any battle scene, whether deep in the forest or in deep space. Authors Myke Cole, Michael Fletcher, and opens in a new windowPeter Orullian are not just talented writers, but they’ve all been in metal bands! Join them along with James Dashner as they discuss what they listen to as they write epic scenes, discuss seminal albums and how the two cross reference each other.
Panelists: opens in a new windowPeter Orullian, Myke Cole, Michael R. Fletcher
Moderator: Tricia Narwani of Del Rey
1:45pm Signing to follow
2:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowAll the Birds in the Sky – Charlie Jane Anders
4:00pm Books to Movies Wishlist, Room A101
The Martian. Foundation. American Gods. Redshirts: So many iconic SFF novels are finally scheduled to it the big screen, thanks to the rabid fandom of recent dramatizations of Game of Thrones, Outlander, The Hunger Games, and Divergent. But what’s on the big screen wish list of this panel of bestselling speculative fiction superstars? They all agree that the obvious franchises have been done already – and now, they want to discuss with NYCC attendees what lesser-know/cult fave titles should invade theaters and march into cable programming! Join us for a nerdy-fun discussion about which science fiction and fantasy must-reads would really make celluloid magic!
Panelists: Christopher Golden, Chuck Wendig, Jennifer Armentrout, opens in a new windowCharlie Jane Anders
Moderator: Michael Underwood
5:15pm Signing to Follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B
5:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new windowRadiance – Catherynne M. Valente

Sunday, October 11

12:00pm Tor Booth Signing: opens in a new window Chasing the Phoenix – Michael Swanwick
1:30pm Get Out of Your Chair and Off the Planet! Room A101

Whether it’s satisfying readers’ desires for interstellar armchair travel or sparking ambitions for SF fans to pursue extra-terrestrial encounters, in actuality, science fiction is the fiction of the imagination and inspiration. Authors opens in a new windowMichael Swanwick, Jay Allen, opens in a new windowCatherynne M. Valente, Judd Winnick, CH Higgin stake readers to the final frontier … and beyond.
Panelists: opens in a new windowMichael Swanwick, opens in a new windowCatherynne M. Valente, CH Higgins, Judd Winnick
Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart

2:45pm Signing to follow, Bookstore Hall 1-B

Giveaways are on a first-come, first-served basis

Events / What's New

On the Road: Tor/Forge Author Events in September

September 1, 2015May 10, 2024torforge

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opens in a new windowTor/Forge authors are on the road in September! Once a month, we’re collecting info about all of our upcoming author events. Check and see who’ll be coming to a city near you:

W. Bruce Cameron, opens in a new windowThe Dog Master

Sunday, September 6
opens in a new windowAJC Decatur Book Festival
Decatur, GA
2:30 PM

Monday, September 21—Tuesday, September 22
opens in a new windowMcLean & Eakin Booksellers
Booktopia 2015
Petoskey, MI

William S. Kirby, opens in a new windowVienna

Thursday, September 3
opens in a new windowTattered Cover
Denver, CO
7:00 PM

Tuesday, September 8
opens in a new windowBoulder Bookstore
Boulder, CO
7:30 PM

Wednesday, September 9
opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

Thursday, September 10
opens in a new windowMurder by the Book
Houston, TX
6:30 PM

Friday, September 11
opens in a new windowAuntie’s Bookstore
Spokane, WA
7:00 PM

Sunday, September 13
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
Also with Reed Farrel Coleman
San Diego, CA
2:00 PM

Jane Lindskold, opens in a new windowArtemis Invaded

Saturday, September 5
opens in a new windowNational Book Festival
Washington, D.C.
11:50 PM Presentation
1:00 PM Signing

Saturday, September 12
opens in a new windowNMSU Bookstore
Also with Victor Milán and Melinda Snodgrass
Las Cruces, NM
1:00 PM

Tuesday, September 22
opens in a new windowSip Coffee & Beer House
Books provided by opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Also with Victor Milán and Melinda Snodgrass
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

Ian McDonald, opens in a new windowLuna: New Moon

Thursday, September 24
opens in a new windowThe Last Bookstore
Also with Melinda Snodgrass
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM

Saturday, September 26
opens in a new windowBorderlands Books
San Francisco, CA
3:00 PM

Monday, September 28
opens in a new windowPowell’s Books
Beaverton, OR
7:00 PM

Victor Milán, opens in a new windowThe Dinosaur Lords

Saturday, September 12
opens in a new windowNMSU Bookstore
Also with Jane Lindskold and Melinda Snodgrass
Las Cruces, NM
1:00 PM

Tuesday, September 22
opens in a new windowSip Coffee & Beer House
Books provided by opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Also with Jane Lindskold and Melinda Snodgrass
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

John Scalzi, opens in a new windowThe End of All Things

Tuesday, September 1
opens in a new windowBooks and Company
Beavercreek, OH
7:00 PM

Thursday, September 3
opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble at Ohio State
Columbus, OH
7:00 PM

Melinda Snodgrass, opens in a new windowThe Edge of Dawn

Saturday, September 12
opens in a new windowNMSU Bookstore
Also with Victor Milán and Jane Lindskold
Las Cruces, NM
1:00 PM

Tuesday, September 22
opens in a new windowSip Coffee & Beer House
Books provided by opens in a new windowPoisoned Pen
Also with Victor Milán and Jane Lindskold
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

Thursday, September 24
opens in a new windowThe Last Bookstore
Also with Ian McDonald
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM

Michael Swanwick, opens in a new windowChasing the Phoenix

Wednesday, September 9
The Future of Philly Sci-Fi and Fantasy at the opens in a new windowFree Library of Philadelphia
Presented by opens in a new windowGeekadelphia
Also with Gregory Frost, Stephanie Feldman, Fran Wilde, and Siobhan Carroll, moderated by Jon McGoran
Philadelphia, PA
7:00 PM

Monday, September 21
opens in a new windowPenn Bookstore
Philadelphia, PA
6:00 PM

Greg van Eekhout, opens in a new windowDragon Coast

Tuesday, September 15
opens in a new windowBorderlands Books
Also with Seanan McGuire and Fran Wilde
San Francisco, CA
5:00 PM

Saturday, September 19
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
Also with Adam Rakunas and Fran Wilde
San Diego, CA
2:00 PM

Fran Wilde, opens in a new windowUpdraft

Tuesday, September 1
opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble
Philadelphia, PA
7:00 PM

Wednesday, September 2
opens in a new windowThe Doylestown Bookshop
In conversation with Chuck Wendig
Doylestown, PA
6:30 PM

Sunday, September 6
opens in a new windowAJC Decatur Book Festival
New Fantasy Fiction with Cindy Dees, moderated by Justin Colussy-Estes
Decatur, GA
3:45 PM

Wednesday, September 9
The Future of Philly Sci-Fi and Fantasy at the opens in a new windowFree Library of Philadelphia
Presented by opens in a new windowGeekadelphia
Also with Gregory Frost, Stephanie Feldman, Michael Swanwick, and Siobhan Carroll, moderated by Jon McGoran
Philadelphia, PA
7:00 PM

Saturday, September 12
opens in a new windowWriters with Drinks
The Elbo Room
Also with Eli Horowitz, Ruth Galm, Bucky Sinister, Maisha Z. Johnson, and Debbie Yee
San Francisco, CA
7:00 PM

Tuesday, September 15
opens in a new windowBorderlands Books
Also with Seanan McGuire and Greg van Eekhout
San Francisco, CA
5:00 PM

Saturday, September 19
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
Also with Adam Rakunas and Greg van Eekhout
San Diego, CA
2:00 PM

Monday, September 21
opens in a new windowUniversity Bookstore
Seattle, WA
7:00 PM

Thursday, September 24
opens in a new windowThe Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
12:00 PM

September 26—27
opens in a new windowBaltimore Book Festival
Baltimore, MD

Monday, September 28
opens in a new windowMain Point Books
Also with Gregory Frost
Bryn Mawr, PA
7:00 PM

Anne A. Wilson, opens in a new windowHover

Tuesday, September 1
opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble
Scottsdale, AZ
7:00 PM

What's New

A Brief History of the Notorious Tricksters Darger and Surplus

August 3, 2015May 10, 2024torforge

opens in a new window
Written by opens in a new windowMichael Swanwick

Darger and Surplus, post-utopian con men extraordinaire, were born in a moment of idle whimsy. I had the desire to write about a talking dog. So I stood one up on two legs and dressed him as if he had just stepped out of a Mother Goose illustration—with lace at his wrists and a silver knobbed cane in one paw. Because he needed a place to be, I put him on the docks of a future London. Because he needed somebody to talk to, I introduced Aubrey Darger, a nondescript man unencumbered with honesty.

At which point, the two rogues seized control of what was to become “The Dog Said Bow-Wow” and ran off with it, leaving me trotting in their wake, scribbling furiously and crying, “Wait! Sirs? Wait for me!”

At the end of their first adventure, Darger and Surplus accidentally set fire to London. This was their original sin, an act whose consequences would follow them forever. Over the next several stories (there will be more) they bounced about a de-industrialized but biologically sophisticated Europe, always setting out for one destination and arriving somewhere else. The boys being nothing if not distractible. In Prague, they unleashed a plague of golems. In Germany, Darger was eaten by a dragon. Always, they were headed for Moscow, where they planned to run the greatest scam of their careers.

Prior to discovering Sir Blackthorpe Ravenscairn de Plus Precieux (Surplus’s full name), and his mentor, I had never written series characters. I didn’t write stories whose protagonists would want to return for more. Darger and Surplus, however, were oblivious. They believed that they were good people having an excellent time. In both respects, they were completely deluded. But as long as they were having fun, so was I.

One day, casting about for what to write next, I realized that the time had come for my heroes to finally reach Russia. Recognizing that such a long-anticipated event would require a full novel to chronicle, I wrote Dancing With Bears. I will not say whether or not Moscow, a city I love, suffered the same fate as London.

By this time, it was clear to me, though not to them, that the rascals were on an inadvertent voyage around the world. So, at the end of their Russian adventure, it only made sense that they should continue eastward.

Thus, in Chasing the Phoenix, their newest adventure, the melancholic Darger and the dog of action Surplus find themselves conquering China. Literally, I mean. With armies and such.

Beyond the last page of that novel, there are more discoveries to come. Surplus has to return to the Demesne of Western Vermont to confront his origins. He was, after all, a product of the gene-mills of Winooski, and someone there had reasons for creating him. Darger has to return to the slums of Mayfair to learn the fate of his own mentor, and to see what has become of London during his long absence.

Here I will share with you a secret: Darger and Surplus are not the random factors that they would seem to be. They are catalysts. Their adventures are, in ways both large and small, changing the world. Should they ever reach London—and if they do, this will not be their final adventure, but it will be the last one I record—they will find the world transformed. The age they were born into, with all its glories and limitations, will be over.

They will see the new age in its infancy. But they will never know it was their doing.

Follow Michael Swanwick on Twitter at opens in a new window@MichaelSwanwick, or visit opens in a new windowhim online.