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Music, Sound, the Chet and Bernie Playlist, and A Farewell to Arfs by Spencer Quinn

A Farewell to ArfsSpencer Quinn’s A Farewell to Arfs ups the ante in the action-packed and witty New York Times and USA Today bestselling series that Stephen King calls “without a doubt the most original mystery series currently available.”

Chet the dog, “the most lovable narrator in all of crime fiction” (Boston Globe) and his human partner PI Bernie Little are on to a new case, and this time they’re entangled in a web of crime unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.

Their elderly next door neighbor, Mr. Parsons, thought he was doing the right thing by loaning his ne’er do well son, Billy, some money to help get himself settled. But soon, Mr. Parsons discovers that his entire life savings is gone. A run-of-the-mill scam? Bernie isn’t so sure that the case is that simple, but it’s Chet who senses what they’re really up against.

Only Billy knows the truth, but he’s disappeared. Can Chet and Bernie track him down before it’s too late? Someone else is also in the hunt, an enemy with a mysterious, cutting-edge power who will test Chet and Bernie to their limit—or maybe beyond. Even poker, not the kind of game they’re good at, plays a role.

Read onwards to see the incredible playlist you can jam out to while reading Spencer Quinn’s upcoming novel, A Farewell to Arfs!


By Spencer Quinn (Peter Abrahams):

Music, Sound, the Chet and Bernie Playlist, and A Farewell to Arfs

We seem to be in an era of scams—in our personal lives and perhaps in other societal regions. When it comes to personal scams there’s a new development, namely the use of artificial intelligence to replicate the voice of, say, a relative in trouble. AI is already good at this and of course getting better all the time. Okay. That’s by way of background. The Chet and Bernie mystery series is narrated by Chet, partner of Bernie, the private eye. Chet’s a dog. But not a talking dog! He’s as purely canine as I can make him. That makes him an unreliable narrator in some ways—alright, many—but a super-reliable narrator in others. One of those super-reliable categories is sound. Anyone who knows dogs knows they hear like we do not, both better and more richly. Therefore sound—and smell, of course—play a much bigger role in the Chet and Bernie series than they do in most other fiction. Which is part of the fun!

But forget fun. One day I was out on my bike ride, my mind wandering aimlessly—maybe its go-to state—when I suddenly thought: would Chet be fooled by an AI replicated voice? AI is built on human input, oceans of it. Chet swims in different waters. Aha, I thought to myself. And that was the genesis of A Farewell to Arfs, the new Chet and Bernie novel in a series designed—with no help from AI—to be read in any order.

If there was a totem pole of human sound, music would be at the top, in my opinion. Bernie is a music lover, given to singing—usually when he and Chet are alone, although also sometimes at parties when he’s had perhaps one too many. Three songs are mentioned in A Farewell to Arfs: “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” by Rev. Gary Davis; “God Walks These Dark Hills” by Iris Dement; and “If You Were Mine” by Billie Holiday. That last one is Chet’s favorite on account of Roy Eldridge’s dazzling trumpet solo that closes it out, the trumpet doing special things to Chet’s ears. Here’s a little snippet about that from A Farewell to Arfs. Chet and Bernie are watching Bernie’s son Charlie’s soccer practice. Charlie’s friend Esmé is also on the team. Malachi is her dad and he and Bernie have met before—at a Christmas party of which Bernie has only vague memories.

“You played Roy Eldridge’s trumpet solo from ‘If You Were Mine’?” Bernie said.

“At your request,” Malachi said. “And you handled Billie Holiday’s vocal.”

“Good grief,” said Bernie, meaning he must have forgotten how well he’d done. “But you played great, if I remember.”

“Not disgraceful,” Malachi said. “For an amateur. I’ve got no illusions about that. But I’ve always loved music. Not to sound too pompous—one of my failings, recently pointed out by Esmé but my wife agreed immediately—it’s my belief that music reveals the beauty of math even to folks who hate it.”

Bernie thought that over. “Esmé was saying something about this. You’re a mathematician?”

“Applied,” said Malachi, losing me completely, although I was already there.

Speaking of music, a Chet and Bernie fan named Mike Farley has compiled a Spotify playlist composed mostly of songs from the series. I’m so grateful for that, and for the high level of engagement readers seem to have with C&B. Here’s Mike’s Spotify list, the annotations all his:

Chet and Bernie Tribute – MikeF126, V1.

  1. If You Were Mine,” Billie Holiday. Roy Eldridge on trumpet
  2. Rock the Casbah”– Remastered.” The Clash
  3. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” – Single [short] Version,” Iron Butterfly
  4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy’” Rev. Gary Davis
  5. The Sky Is Crying,” Elmore James
  6. Sway-2009 Mix,” The Rolling Stones
  7. It Hurts Me Too,” Elmore James, Chief Records version
  8. Lonesome 77203,” Billy Don Burns
  9. Done Somebody Wrong,” Elmore James
  10. Can’t Cash My Checks.” Jamey Johnson
  11. Sea of Heartbreak,” Jimmy Buffet/George Strait version
  12. Metal Firecracker,” Lucinda Williams
  13. Chain of Fools,” Aretha Franklin
  14. Song for Chet,” Peter Abrahams, Mitch Watkins, Gene Elders, et al
  15. Surfin’ USA,” The Beach Boys
  16. Pontiac Blues – Live.” Sonny Boy Williamson and The Yardbirds

Enjoy!


Click below to pre-order your copy of A Farewell to Arfs, available August 6th, 2024!

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The Official In the Lives of Puppets Playlist from TJ Klune

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in the lives of puppets by tj kluneLast year, TJ Klune provided us with a fantastic official playlist and write-up for his new novel, In the Lives of Puppets. Now that Puppets is releasing in paperback, we’re bringing his tunes and commentary back 😎


As of the day I’m writing this—April 12, 2023—I have over five hundred songs in my In the Lives of Puppets playlist. Below, I’ve selected fifteen songs from that list to tell the musical story of the novel. These songs are in narrative order to take you on the journey with Vic, Hap, Nurse Ratched and Rambo to save one of their own. There’s a mix of jazz, contemporary and some different versions of songs you’ll recognize.

Each of the major characters—from Vic to Giovanni—are based upon a particular type of music and/or musical performance. For example, the Coachman is partially based on Gerard Way’s performance as part of My Chemical Romance for Welcome to the Black Parade. The Blue Fairy is pure Annie Lennox in Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

Enjoy the playlist for In the Lives of Puppets!

TJ Klune


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A Puppets Vibe

The Irrepressibles — “In This Shirt”

There’s a thorn in my side
It’s the shame, it’s the pride
Of you and me
Ever changing


PART 1

Weather report volcano for hire vinilo epoca

Weather Report — “Volcano for Hire”

Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald — “Cheek to Cheek”

Heaven, I’m in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek

Rihanna — “Disturbia”

It’s a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you
A disease of the mind, it can control you
I feel like a monster

Ethan Bortnick — “engravings”

All the pain is underneath, I’m listenin’
To everything, please tell me everything
I’ll put my hand up on your chest
So you forget your engravings

BT — “Simply Being Loved (Electronic Opus Mix)”

Some little joy some little joy,  it’s complicated
Some little time some little time, my heart’s been faded
Some little hope some little hope, and I pray again for love

(original substituted for remix on the linked Spotify playlist)


PART II

screencap of kouyou's youtube remix of come along by cosmodrake

Cosmo Sheldrake — “Come Along” (Reverb Edition by Kouyou)

Run along now don’t be glum
Get you gone now have some fun
Don’t be long for the end is nigh

(original substituted for remix on the linked Spotify playlist)

My Chemical Romance — “Welcome to the Black Parade”

We’ll carry on, we’ll carry on
And though you’re dead and gone, believe me
Your memory will carry on
 

Loveless — “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”

You don’t wanna hurt me
But see how deep the bullet lies
Unaware I’m tearing you asunder
Oh, there is thunder in our hearts


PART III

Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Music Video 1983) - IMDb

New Beat Order & Arc North & Aaron Richards — “Numb”

I’ve become so numb, I can’t feel you there
I’ve become so tired, so much more aware
I’m becoming this
All I want to do is be more like me
And be less like you

TALK — “Run Away To Mars”

I can’t tell which way is home
I’ve been gone for so long
It’s an empty world pp here
I skip stones and wonder
How long ’til I’m discovered?
It’s a quiet life up here

The Eurythmics & Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart — “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

Phlotilla & Andrea Wasse & Topher Mohr — “Going Down Fighting”

If the city’s on fire
I’ll stand in the ashes
There’s no turning back
It’s ready or not

This Mortal Coil — “Song to the Siren”

Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
‘Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me, let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you


PART IV

Listen to The Irrepressibles - In This Shirt (True Identity Remix) by True Identity in My dear ones playlist online for free on SoundCloud

The Irrepressibles — “In This Shirt”

In the night to hear the engines purr
There’s a pain
It does ripple
Through my frame, makes me lame
There’s a thorn in my side
It’s the shame, it’s the pride
Of you and me


Order In the Lives of Puppets in Paperback Here!

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Heartsong Official Playlist

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heartsong by tj kluneTJ Klune’s Green Creek series follows the lives of the Bennett family werewolves, and this feature follows the playlist of songs that the author hand-selected as a soundtrack for Heartsong!

Check it out, and when you’re done, check out the playlists put together by TJ for his other novels Wolfsong and In the Lives of Puppets!


by TJ Klune

Oh, man, this was a hard one. My personal soundtrack for the months I spent writing Heartsong reached almost 200 songs. Trying to whittle that down was like pulling teeth, but I think I’ve managed to create the perfect playlist. As with my other playlists, these songs are in narrative order of the novel, so take from that what you will.

Note: Heartsong is divided into two parts. Part One is 99% of the book. Part Two—the last chapter—is only a few pages long. If you’ve read Ravensong, that should have sent a chill down your spine.

Each song comes complete with a lyric or three that I think goes well with the story. One or two of the songs might even have a note as to who they’re for…

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PART ONE

Home // Solomon Gray
Follow me home
And tell me which way I can let you go

Come Along // Cosmo Sheldrake
We’ll be here when the world slows down
and the sunbeams fade away
Keeping time by a pendulum
as the fabric starts to fray

Blood of the Rose // The Dear Hunter
The world burns but still we breathe
The iron chambered heart a seive
That sifts through honest elegance
And suffers from the wrong defense

Conquest of Spaces // Woodkid
I’m ready to start the conquest of spaces
Expanding between you and me
Come with the night the science of fighting
The forces of gravity

Fade Away // Tom Walker
‘Cause you betrayed me
You went ahead and played me
Said you’d try and save me
Well, I won’t fight for you no more

Things We Lost in the Fire // Bastille
Do you understand that we will never be the same again
The future’s in our hands and we will never be the same again

The Mourning Tree // Jessica Curry
I passed the day at the mourning tree,
Where the river’s sorrows run deep
And all at once a host of birds
Did settle and nest around me

Louder Than Words // Les Friction
No one could outrun the crash
It was all reduced to rubble
And then again to ash

Fear // Sarah Mclachlan
But I fear, I have nothing to give
I have so much to lose here in this lonely place

What Makes a Man? // City and Color
What makes a man
Walk away from his mind?
I think I know
I think I might know

Silhouette // Aquilo
Stood with our backs to the sun
I can remember being nothing but fearless and young
We’ve become echoes, but echoes, they fade away
We’ve fallen to the dark as we dive under the waves

Forever // Fireflight
Oh, tell me you’re here
That you will watch over me forever
Oh, take hold of my heart
Show me you’ll love me forever

Skin // Rag N Bone Man
When my skin grows old
When my breath runs cold
I’ll be thinking about you
About you

I’ll Be Good // Jaymes Young
I’ll be good, I’ll be good
And I’ll love the world, like I should
Yeah, I’ll be good, I’ll be good
For all of the time
That I never could

Come Little Children // Erutan
Come little children
The time’s come to play
Here in my garden of shadows

Legends Never Die // Against the Current
When the world is calling you
Can you hear them screaming out your name?
Legends never die
They become a part of you

Lovely // Billie Eilish ft. Khalid
(Kelly and Robbie’s song)
Isn’t it lovely, all alone?
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home

Sanctuary // Inertia
You show me how to see
That nothing is whole and
nothing is broken

Saturn // Sleeping At Last
(Kelly and Carter’s song)
I’d give anything to hear
You say it one more time
That the universe was made
Just to be seen by my eyes

PART TWO

Carry you // Ruelle ft. Fleurie
You are not alone
I’ve been here the whole time singing you a song
I will carry you, I will carry you

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The Atlas Complex Official Playlist

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the atlas complex by olivie blakeSix magicians were selected for the chance to study the foundational magics and laws of the world. You have been selected to listen to the playlist to compliment their heart-shattering series finale.

Please enjoy this playlist of tracks hand-curated by Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas SixThe Atlas Paradox, and the upcoming, world-changing The Atlas Complex.

And when you’re done, don’t forget to dive back into The Atlas Paradox Official Playlist, too!


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Featured Tracks

“HONEY (ARE YOU COMING?)” – Måneskin

“Nature Mother (with Emoni Wilkins)” – Until the Ribbon Breaks, Emoji Wilkins

“The Matrix” – Mother Mother

“life is good” – angelbaby, Jaguar Twin

“Safe And Sound” – Reimagined – Point North

“Wasteland” – TALK

“Hurricane & Sugar Highs” – FRENSHIP

“We Are All Insane” – AWOLNATION

“it’s my turn” – MisterWives

“Beyond The Pale” – Andrew Wyatt

“ANIMAL” – PVRS

“The Beginning of the End” – Klergy, Valerie Broussard

“NO HANDS (SIDE A)” – UPSAHL

“Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome” – The Mountain Goats

“Good Girl Trauma” – Transviolet, Janelle Kroll

“Farewell To Nova Scotia” – Blitz//Berlin, bülow

“We’re Not in Orbit Yet…” – Broken Bells

“wide eyed” – JAWNY

“Here to Forever” – Death Cab for Cutie

“Tomorrow” – Young the Giant

“Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa” – FINNEAS

“I Love This Part” – The Wrecks

“We’re All Gonna Die (with Noah Kahan)” – Joy Oladokun, Noah Kahan

“radiohead” – Nightly

“Heaven, Iowa” – Fall Out Boy

“Sour” – 1990nowhere, Lostboycrow, Olivver the Kid, Olen

“Lemon to a Knife Fight” – The Wombats

“Novocaine” – The Band CAMINO

“Hold Me” – The Strumbellas

“How’s It Gonna End?” – Aidan Bissett

“Magic”  – Vancouver Sleep Clinic

“Francesca” – Hozier

“Last Rites” – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

“Slowly Spilling Out” – Saint Motel

“You First (Re: Remi Wolf)” – Paramore, Remi Wolf

“Dance On The Sun” – Sheppard

“Mother Nature” – MGMT

“On Your Side” – The Last Dinner Party

“I’ve Only Started Running” – HARBOUR

“The View Between Villages” – Noah Kahan

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God-King Troubles & Other Vibes: A Sandymancer Playlist

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sandymancer by david edison

World-building is not easy work! A lot of perspiration and imagination goes into the craft of creating a world and communicating it in novel form.

David Edison is one such tune-inspired world-creator, and he’s sharing with us the playlist of songs he’s selected to represent his new fantasy epic Sandymancer!

Check it out!


 

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by David Edison

Writing is an act of magic, and songs are spells, so it’s natural that they weave themselves together; for some writers—for me—music is an essential component of creativity. I need song-magic to lift me out of the world and into that dreamy liminal state of bliss called flow. Music transforms me from a typist to a pianist.  

I do usually write with a one-size-fits all playlist, which is mostly for driving the energy levels, focus, and active joy I need to sit down and work. I also put effort into project-specific playlists, which is a crackerjack way to procrastinate.

I make weird association—I do write Weird Fiction, after all—so there’s always a bit of psychosis apparent in my playlists. Such is the fate of the neurospicy. As I write, I jump around from scene to scene as my attention shifts and splits, and very often it’s a song that sparks a connection between one scene and another. For that reason, I usually shuffle my playlists—and I’d recommend doing so with this one. Arranging the songs just so sounds like a fantastic way to lose lots of time and sanity, and one never wants more than just a bit of insanity. For flavor.

I’ve plucked out some songs to fit with the vibe beats in Sandymancer, and broken them down—somewhat airily—into loose vibe categories. I hope the songs cast their spells and tempt you toward Sandymancer, but if all fails, hit shuffle and enjoy some light psychosis courtesy of an author and his spiciness.

━━ ˖°˖ ☾☆☽ ˖°˖ ━━━━━━━

Vibe I: Sing the World into Being

This is the music that fleshes out the Land of the Vine—its lost hymns, naughty shanties, and somber dirges. Songs out of time. ‘Round these parts, some folk call it world-building.

  • “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
  • “Babylon” by David Carbonara
  • “The Wasteland” by Elton John
  • “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” by Neko Case

Vibe II: Hayseed Longing

A village so decrepit that it has no name, where dreams and boredom wallow together. These are songs of survival, of hardtack dreaming, and of rough beginnings.

  • “Beg Steal or Borrow” by Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs
  • “Daddy Lessons” by Beyonce
  • “Little Earthquakes” by Tori Amos
  • “Let’s Burn Down the Cornfield” by Lou Rawls

Vibe III: God-King Troubles

Heal the world, break the world—you can’t please everyone. This music swells to tell the history of the Son of the Vine, the hidden sorrows and frustrations he so rarely shares.

  • “The Melting of the Sun” by St. Vincent
  • “Fire on Babylon” by Sinead O’Connor
  • “The Man Who Sold the World” by Nirvana
  • “Congregation” by Low

Vibe IV: Grit and Teeth

Before a teenager stares down a (wicked?) long-dead god-king, she listens to these songs for courage. Truth is, Caralee could teach music a thing or two about courage herself.

  • “I Don’t Believe You” by Magnetic Fields
  • “Battle for the Sun” by Placebo
  • “No” by Emma Dean
  • “Teenage Hustling” by Tori Amos

Vibe V: Sass Regina

On the other hand, Caralee is a queen of self-possession.  These are the tunes rocking in her heart, the spunk that fuels her as-yet-unearned confidence.

  • “I’m A Lady (feat. Trouble Andrew)” by – Santigold
  • “Giddy Up” by Dragonette
  • “Strange Little Girl” by Tori Amos
  • “I Feel Lucky” by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Vibe VI: Heads Will Roll

Mistakes were made.  Lessons were learned.  When two unstoppable objects collide – and also cooperate – there are bound to be consequences both grave and grand.  Such is the case for both Caralee and the Son of the Vine.  These are songs of the phoenix in the fire, and also its rebirth.

  • “Heads Will Roll” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  • “The Girl You Lost to Cocaine” by Sia
  • “A Favor House Atlantic” by Coheed and Cambria
  • “Take Me to Church” by Sinead O’Connor

Vibe VII: Magic is Magick is Science

These songs summon Power.  They fill the space with mystery, which is sacred.  They are the full-throated incantations that connect will to intention: the essence of all Magick.

  • “Hy-Brasil” by Allison Russel
  • “Bell, Book and Candle” by Eddi Reader
  • “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry
  • “Cantara” by Dead Can Dance
  • “Don’t Sweat the Technique” by Eric B. & Rakim

Vibe VIII: It’s the End of the World as We Know it (and I Feel Fine)

Some theories hold that writers are actually human beings, and what’s more – some seem to enjoy being happy. These are sillier songs that are just as infused with meaning as their more sober counterparts above (Please refrain from drinking and driving until you get to heaven).

  •            “Everybody Drinks and Drives in Heaven” by Leslie Stevens
  •             “Still Alive” by Aperture Science Psychoacoustic Laboratories
  •             “No Rain” by Blind Melon
  •             “Missionary Man” by Eurythmics

David Edison was born in Saint Louis, Missouri. He currently divides his time between New York City and San Francisco. In other lives, he has worked in many flavors of journalism and is editor of the LGBTQ video game news site GayGamer.net.

…And he sleeps in unicorn corpses, tauntaun style.


Order Sandymancer Here!

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Disco Space Opera Playlist!

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devil's gun by cat rambo

Cat Rambo’s Disco Space Opera series kicked off with 2021’s You Sexy Thing, a novel we’d pitch as Farscape meets The Great British Bake Off. It’s got grizzled old soldiers and other vagrants who have grown tired of the campaigns and tumult of central space opera life, and have elected to open a restaurant at the edge of the known universe where they can eke out a more fulfilling existence. This distance from chaos is, of course, an illusion—albeit a comforting one. There’s no accounting for the propensity of sentient spaceships and sadistic pirate kings to just show up!

Anywho, that was the first book, and now we’re talking Devil’s Gun, the continuation of their adventure. We’re also talking the far future, and disco jams. Cat Rambo has shared with us their grand Disco Space Opera playlist.

Check it out!


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by Cat Rambo

“You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate

Why did I decide to name the ship what I did? I’m not sure, but early on in the writing the password exchange between Arpat Takraven and Niko appeared, and it led to the ship’s name. Like a lot of the songs on this list, it’s a big earworm and I’ve always loved it. Written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson, this song was released in 1975 and became the group’s most popular single, and was the only song to achieve Top Ten status in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

“Devil’s Gun” by C.J. and Company

In naming the second book, I wanted something that conveyed the nature of the dangerous artifact the crew is seeking in the book. When I listened to the song, it was the perfect mood. The song, written by Barry Green, Ron Roker, and Gerry Shury, was the first song played at Broadway’s Studio 54.

“Rumor Has It” by Donna Summer

In the third book, which has been handed over to the publisher, the power of gossip and rumor becomes important as several aspects of Niko’s past come to confront her. You can’t invoke disco without invoking Donna Summer, in my opinion, and this was my choice to represent her. The song was written by Summer with co-writers Pete Bellotte and Giorgbio Moroder and released in 1978.

I have more adventures of Niko and her crew planned out – seven volumes worth, in fact. The main thread is a particular romantic plotline and by book ten, I’m hoping readers will be on the edge of their seats waiting to find out how it’s resolved. Without saying much more than that and not presenting any spoilers, I hope, here’s the names of the other seven books.

“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge

Dabry’s family history is revealed as the crew is forced to rescue his daughter – against her will. This song has always been one of my favorites, and for a book dealing with family issues, this seemed like a perfect pick. The song came out in 1979 and was written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

“Heart of Glass” by Blondie

What happens when You Sexy Thing turns its attention to the most mystifying emotion of all: love? Another favorite song, this matches what I want to explore in this particular volume. Written by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, the song appeared on the band’s third album in 1978 and was released as a single the following year.

“Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb

Skidoo must return to her home planet. But will both she and her planet survive the visit? I felt this song reflected the complicated personal dynamics of her homecoming. Written by Andy, Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, the song appeared in 1978 and was that year’s Billboard Magazine top single.

“Take Me Home” by Cher

Petalia may have found a way to revive the almost-extinct Florian bloodline – but is Niko willing to pay the price that’s asked of them all? This song, written by Michele Aller and Bob Esty, appeared in 1979.

“You Can’t Lose What You Never Had” by Fantasy

Rebbe strikes off on his own, but You Sexy Thing and its crew must find him before he destroys a world. This song appeared in 1981 and was written by Tony Valor.

“Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead

The crew thinks they’ve finally caught a break, until finally the mystery of Atlanta’s past resurfaces and is on a direct collision course with her current role. The song was written by McFadden and Whitehead along with Jerry Cohen and appeared in 1979.

“Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor

All good things come to an end, but I hope to end the series in a way that will keep the crew in people’s hearts. When the crew finds out what Arpat Takraven truly wants of them, they’ve got a very hard choice to make. Written by Clifton Davs, the song appeared in 1979.


Cat Rambo (they/them) is an American fantasy and science fiction writer whose work has appeared in, among others, Asimov’s, Weird Tales, Chiaroscuro, Talebones, and Strange Horizons. A graduate of the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, where they studied with John Barth and Steve Dixon, they also attended the Clarion West Writers’ Workshop. They are currently the managing editor of Fantasy Magazine. They published a collection of stories, Eyes Like Sky And Coal And Moonlight, and their collaboration with Jeff VanderMeer, The Surgeon’s Tale and Other Stories, appeared in 2007. They live and write in Washington State, and “Cat Rambo” is their real name. 


Order Devil’s Gun Here!

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Playlist for Fixing Your Relationship with Death (Entity)

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masters of death by olivie blake-1Music makes us feel things, which is pretty cool. You know what else makes us feel things? Masters of Death by Olivie Blake, an intimate contemporary fantasy featuring Death, Death’s human god / fail-son, and a cadre of immortals and entities working through their tangled existence. We married these two feeling-generating items by synthesizing a Masters of Death-inspired playlist.

Check it out!


━━ ˖°˖ ☾☆☽ ˖°˖ ━━━━━━━

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Immerse Yourself in an Electric Space-Fantasy with The Genesis of Misery Playlist!

The Genesis of Misery by Neon YangAre you ready to dive into the electrifying space-fantasy that’s now available in paperback, The Genesis of Misery? Author Neon Yang is ready to help you find the vibe with their exhilarating playlist, featuring bops from Arcade Fire, Billie Eilish, and more!


It’s an old, familiar story: a young person hears the voice of an angel saying they have been chosen as a warrior to lead their people to victory in a holy war.

But Misery Nomaki (she/they) knows they are a fraud.

Raised on a remote moon colony, they don’t believe in any kind of god. Their angel is a delusion, brought on by hereditary space exposure. Yet their survival banks on mastering the holy mech they are supposedly destined for, and convincing the Emperor of the Faithful that they are the real deal.

The deeper they get into their charade, however, the more they start to doubt their convictions. What if this, all of it, is real?

A reimagining of Joan of Arc’s story given a space opera, giant robot twist, the Nullvoid Chronicles is a story about the nature of truth, the power of belief, and the interplay of both in the stories we tell ourselves.

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Buy The Genesis of Misery in Paperback Here:

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Howl Along to TJ Klune’s Official Wolfsong Playlist

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wolfsong by tj kluneOnce upon a time—in the quaint, idyllic summer of 2016—I released a book called Wolfsong. I hoped people would like it as it was a little…different than what I’d written before. I wasn’t necessarily thinking about how this would turn into a four-book series, although that was at the back of my mind.

I didn’t expect the reaction it received, or for the subsequent books. A fierce and protective fandom sprouted up around these characters, and I was delighted by it. People took to Ox and Joe and Carter and Kelly like they were real, and it blew my mind. Granted, that meant every word or turn of phrase was dissected within an inch of its life, but hey, I’m good with that.

Music has always been a major part of what I do. I think, one day, I might even have a musical in me, though that’s probably far away. (Can you imagine?!) I made a playlist for Wolfsong back when it was released, but that was on my old Blogger site (how young I was! How starry-eyed!) that is now defunct. Over the years, I’ve been asked over and over again to put the playlist together once more.

Here it is.

Enjoy!

 TJ Klune

(and a brief aside from a Tor marketer to let everyone know that TJ has some other Green Creek playlists on his blog: Ravensong, Heartsong, Brothersong. Check them out, and while you’re at it, check out these cool Green Creek acrylic charms made by Mavilez Art that you can receive when you upload a copy of your Wolf / Ravensong receipt here!)


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“I’ll Walk Alone” // Dinah Shore

I’ll walk alone
They’ll ask me why
And I’ll tell them I’d rather
There are dreams I must gather


“Chasing Twisters” // Delta Rae

What little soul that I have left
And oh, my God
I’ll take you to the grave
The only love I’ve ever known
The only soul I ever saved


“Nervous” // X Ambassadors

But I get nervous
When I’m happy
I get nervous
‘Cause what comes up must come down 


“Running with the Wolves” // AURORA

But we’re running out of time
Oh, all the echoes in my mind cry
There’s blood on your lies
The sky’s open wide
There is nowhere for you to hide
The hunter’s moon is shining


“Beloved” // Mumford & Sons

Before you leave
You must know you are beloved
And before you leave
Remember I was with you


“Sugar Mountain” // Neil Young

Oh to live on Sugar Mountain
With the barkers and the colored balloons
You can’t be twenty on Sugar Mountain
Though you’re thinking that you’re leaving there too soon
You’re leaving there too soon


“A Long December” // Counting Crows

A long December and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can’t remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
Now the days go by so fast


“Carry On” // Fun.

You swore and said we are not
We are not shining stars
This I know, I never said we are
Though I’ve never been through Hell like that
I’ve closed enough windows to know you can never look back


“I Feel Home” // O.A.R

To me it’s so damn easy to see
That true people are the people at home.
Well, I’ve been away but now I’m back today,
And there ain’t a place I’d rather go. 


“Rolling in the Deep” // Adele

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love they leave me breathless
I can’t help feeling

We could’ve had it all


“Six” // Sleeping at Last

I want to take shelter, but I’m ready, ready to fight
Somewhere in the middle, I feel a little paralyzed
Maybe I’m stronger
Than I realize


“Pale Yellow” // Woodkid

Pale Yellow
Unrip the flesh and let the damage grow
Like a blade in the chest bones
Pale Yellow
Relieve the weight and give it a last go
And make it your best shot


“Island” // SVRCINA

I am an island
You are the ocean
You’re so close we’re touching, completely surrounded
But I cannot have you the way that I want to
‘Cause I am an island you are the ocean
No, I cannot have you, I cannot have you without drowning


“Dead in the Water” // Ellie Goulding

‘Cause I can hardly breathe
When your hands let go of me
The ice is thinning out
And my feet brace themselves


“Get Up” // Barcelona 

Five days after black and red collide
The motion sickness past, I’ll be the first to stand
Behind that weathered door, I thought it would be safest
My head is dizzy now, I thought we’d overcome
We might not make it home tonight


“Everywhere I Go (I’m Not Alone)” // Halcyon Skies

No destination on my mind
We’ll take our time we’ll take our time
We’ll go get lost so we can find
The things we thought we left behind


Order Wolfsong Here!

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