Tough Traveling: Hidden Kingdom

The Thursday feature "Tough Traveling" is the brainchild of Nathan of Review Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynn Jones. Nathan has invited anyone who is interested to come play along, so be sure to check out the first link for more information. Compulsive list-maker that I am, I'm very excited to take part!

This week's tour topic is: Hidden Kingdom

Usually reached through CAVERNS or after an arduous trek into the heart of the central masssif, this is often the object of the Tour QUEST…

I'll be honest, when I saw this week's topic, I drew a big blank. There are plenty of hidden worlds I can think of, but most of those involve jumping through portals and planes existing on completely different realms. A lot of the ones I can think of that are hidden beneath the earth or in a mountain are actually ruins or untamed "lost worlds" that aren't exactly kingdoms. Maybe I'm overthinking things, but I was only able to come up with a few this week. Hey, just be glad I didn't whip out Otoh Gunga from The Phantom Menace novelization!

Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan
The first book I thought of when I saw this topic was of course Hollow World, a cross-genre novel about a man with a terminal disease traveling into the future to find a cure. What he finds is an earth overgrown, seemingly devoid of much activity on the surface. But then he is brought below ground into a hollow world, where the denizens of the time had created an impressive civilization beneath the earth, complete with its own solar source.

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen
Stolen Songbird is a book I recently read that fits the theme. Though later we find out that Trollus isn't completely hidden, since some merchants know the way to trade there, but for the most part the existence of the troll city is but a mere rumor. This kingdom was buried under the ruins of Forsaken Mountain five hundred years ago by a witch's curse, and since then the trolls have been bound to this place beneath the earth and rock. The main character Cécile was kidnapped and brought here through an underwater passage and a series of confusing caverns. This one totally counts!

The Silk Map by Chriss Willrich 
Dammit, now I'm second guessing myself. Does this book really count? I know in this latest installment of the Gaunt and Bone series our dynamic duo have to travel far to the west to find the mythical land of Xembala. These books have a bit of a surreal quality to them, so it was a bit hard to follow exactly how our heroes actually managed to make it to Xembala. But it is a kingdom and it did actually exist and it was well-hidden. That, and because I'll only have a paltry two entries otherwise this week is why I'm gonna count it!

Book Review: Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan

Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tachyon (April 15, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hollow World was easily one of my top reads of 2013. I was fortunate to receive the ebook version early because I was a backer in the Kickstarter campaign, a project I pledged my support to as soon as I found out about it because I am a fan of the author. At the time I had just finished reading his Riyria Revelations series and was still coming off from the high, so I was pretty keen on the idea of seeing Hollow World take off.

First, though, a bit of history: in his afterword, Michael J. Sullivan writes that he first took this project to Kickstarter because while everyone he spoke to about it loved the concept behind the book, the general consensus was that this kind of story just wasn't marketable. The science fiction landscape these days is dominated by space operas, military sci-fi, or books from established franchises. It seemed there was very little room left for Hollow World and its good old cross-genre time traveling tale about a 58-year-old man dying from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, who decides to journey into the future in the hopes of finding a cure. 

To be honest, reading about the reasons why Sullivan ultimately decided to crowdfund Hollow World came as a surprise to me, especially after just having finished the book. Yes, the story is undoubtedly very different than what is typical in the mainstream right now, and Ellis Rogers would not be what you would call a traditional protagonist. Yet the character's adventure through time is no less extraordinary. Hollow World tells the tale of a man who has played it safe his whole life until he has nothing left to lose, and what he finds in the far, far future is way more than just the freedom from his illness. 

It's a great time for speculative fiction right now, with what I've noticed is an increased interest in cross-genre novels and so many great and original ideas having found their way into being published in recent years. I thought surely -- SURELY -- this book could have found a place. In any case, thank goodness for small press and self-pubs as well as sites like Kickstarter, because Hollow World is probably my new favorite book by Michael J. Sullivan, right up there with Heir of Novron. I think his style suits a book like this very well, with its modern character and simply astonishing setting. 

The story was compelling from page one, with its masterful introduction to Ellis in the moments after he first receives the life-altering news about his disease. Both character development and world building are Sullivan's greatest strengths, and it was easy to establish a connection with Ellis right away. But that feeling of "Oh wow, this book is something REALLY special" did not hit me until later, when we actually find ourselves in Hollow World. The author has created a breathtaking version of the future.

It's obvious that Michael J. Sullivan drew inspiration from The Time Machine, and he even makes mention to H.G. Wells' classic in his Author's Note. How Ellis Rogers managed to travel forward in time in a disembodied old van seat surrounded by a stack of plastic milk crates isn't the point of Hollow World -- it's the character's story, its fascinating concepts and the heartfelt emotions it invoked, that will make this book stay with me for a long time. Authors of time-travel fiction have long speculated on the future of our planet and humankind, and Sullivan has accomplished something truly amazing with Hollow World, mixing together elements from many different genres including science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller and suspense, action-adventure and even a bit of romance.  

This confluence of ideas from so many different genres is likely what made the book such a tough sell to publishers to begin with, but its multiple facets is actually what I enjoyed the most. In fact, Hollow World is like a study in pluralities. There are some heavy subject matters within, from interpretations of God and religion, to sociological discussions of hive mind versus individuality, harmony versus chaos. It asks questions like, when does a utopia become a dystopia, and does it matter from whose perspective we look at? Is it worth it to trade comfort and security for freedom? Or how about sacrificing peace and happiness for a sense of accomplishment? Is there a middle ground? Why can't we have it all? 

Even though I thought I knew the answers, reading this book was an eye-opener. Ellis Rogers' journey to Hollow World changed his understanding of life and love, making him rethink all the things he thought he knew, and I found myself naturally immersed in his experiences. At certain points, the story made me so angry I wanted to smack the main character upside the head; at others, I was so moved that I was almost in tears. Whether or not you'll find yourself shocked, disturbed, ecstatic, annoyed, or deeply touched (I was all of these and more), Hollow World is a character-driven story packed with intensity and emotion.

I rate this book highly based on pure enjoyment factor; Hollow World is so many things, but without a doubt, the best part about it is also its most obvious duality: that is it at once a light and entertaining read, but also heavy on important issues and philosophy. Most important of all, this story will make you think and feel. I absolutely loved it. 

Top 10 Reads of 2013

2013 has been a fantastic year for our reading lists (or a horrible one, if you consider how much larger our to-read piles have grown). We've read a lot of brilliant books, but we've managed to narrow our list of favorites down to the top ten books that truly resonated with us this year.

Love Minus Eighty by Will McIntosh

MOGSY SAYS: I read more than 200 novels this year. 200. Asking me to pick just a handful of my favorites is a nigh impossible task, because I read so many amazing books in 2013. I could easily fill this list myself with 10, 25, or even 50 of my greatest reads this year, but alas I cannot, or my co-bloggers will surely beat me into coma with their heaviest of epic fantasy tomes (they already let me choose four instead of their three).

But Wendy has helped me narrow things down, with the description she wrote for the post above. The keyword is "resonate". And I suppose few other books have resonated with me this year as strongly as Will McIntosh's Love Minus Eighty. In a future full of advanced technology, people still strive for that timeless, formless, unshakeable connection to another soul known as love. It is what makes us human.

Provocative. Thoughtful. Beautiful. Passionate. This book is all that and more, and definitely deserves more attention. Way more. (Read more in my review)

The Boys by Garth Ennis

TIARA SAYS: This year has been all about the comics/manga for me, so while I've read some really great novels, I wanted to do something a little different and highlight some of the great comics I've read this year starting with The Boys. Now, I haven't actually put up a review of this series yet, but I've been working on one that may find its way to my personal blog because it's a long, introspective thing that keeps growing. The Boys is bloody disgusting. Within these pages, you will find an overabundance of disgusting human behavior. There is an excess of gross conduct and no one is truly beyond it.  It's offensive, hard to swallow, and out of control. It is also BRILLIANT.

Depending on your view of things, you may either feel that Ennis pointed out some very disturbing trends in comics, especially as they start to explore darker concepts with the audience shift, or you may feel that he missed the mark on some issues which has started some interesting debates. Personal interpretation is everything with this series. I've seen interpretations of the same events in to the book differ wildly, but prove to be valid ways of looking at things. Either way, this series is one of those stories that's hard to shelve. You want to look away, but it's such a veritable, horrific mess that you just can't stop reading it.

The Cloud Roads  by Martha Wells

WENDY SAYS: A sure sign that a book has really impressed me is when (A) I "just one more chapter" it to completion and (B) buy all of the author's other books the moment I'm done.

Wells really impressed me with her world building, especially when it comes to the various people of her world. Too often genre fiction authors create "alien" species, only to have them simply be humans with make up. Wells' creatures are each unique in form and culture and she takes a studious amount of time to bring that all to life. I have the utmost praise for the way she makes her main characters move, never forgetting that they are, most often, winged creatures, which means they will function in very different ways from us. I loved the way her characters moved and responded to each other. Every aspect of their world is so very different from ours, but so very endearing.  (Read more in my review)

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler

MOGSY SAYS: Like Wendy, one way to know that a book has impressed me is when I go on the hunt to track down all of the author's other works as soon as I'm finished reading. This is exactly what happened when I finished The Thousand Names.

This book was so difficult to put down; I devoured all 500+ pages in days. I couldn't even make myself slow down to savor it because it was just that absorbing. I've always had a soft spot for flintlock fantasy, Wexler gave me everything I wanted with his epic fantasy featuring magic, revolution, blood and gunpowder.

Military fantasy fans as well as wargamers rejoice, this book will put you right where the action is, with rich world-building as well as memorable and fully-realized characters to boot. (Read more in my review)

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama

TIARA SAYS:  Before I started reading this (and watching the anime), if someone had asked me what my favorite manga of all time was, I would've said, "Simple. Tite Kubo's Bleach." If you were to ask me now, I'd probably do some fidgeting and get annoyed because I think this series has claimed the number one spot in my heart, and I feel like I'm cheating on my first love (Bleach) that I've been with for years. I still love you, Bleach. Don't leave!

I've gotten into quite a few new mangas this year, but none have fascinated me quite like this one. What I love about this series and what always stays on my mind is how human these characters are, how vulnerable they are both physically and metaphysically, and how these characters, the situation they're in, captures so much of the human need to fight and survive--even when it looks hopeless. It's a story about the courage in the face of fear. It presses upon the reader that, in order to survive, humans have to depend on each other and bring their individual strengths to the table to win this fight. It captures the indomitable spirit of humans without compromising other emotions such as fear, trust, and uncertainty. The fact that all this captured with few words and visuals. Amazing! (Read more in my reviews)

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

WENDY SAYS: This is a sneaky little book. It's actually a romance that cleverly disguises itself as science fiction. While you're blissfully enjoying the displaced Sadiri people's hunt for suitable mates to help replenish their society after the heinous destruction of their planet, you slowly come to realize that you've fallen in love with Delarua and Dllenahkh, who slowly come to realize that they've fallen in love with each other.

Part way through this book, Tiara asked how I was enjoying it and I gave her a gushing response about how it felt like sitting comfortably on a couch, hanging out with good friends - who happen to like science fiction.

This book was so subtle and unassuming, which made it easily able to get right under my skin. (Read more in my review)

Miserere: An Autumn Tale by Teresa Frohock

MOGSY SAYS: This was a book I read in early spring, so sadly I was unable to feature it in my "Best of Summer" list. That's why I'm so glad to have the opportunity to talk about it now in our year end Top Reads post. 

Simply put, this book is gorgeous. The writing, the depth of the characters and the strength of their emotions made me want to hurl myself to my knees and thank the book gods that we have writers like Teresa Frohock and novels like Miserere. It is an intensely alluring book, taking its time to reveal its true nature, doling out details about its world in a trickle as you read. Needless to say, patience will be rewarded -- in spades. The author's talent is on full display, giving us the most brutal and disconcerting elements of horror, but as well showing how the most powerful of loves can endure and offer redemption. And Teresa Frohock does it all oh so beautifully. (Read more in my review)

Batgirl by Gail Simone

TIARA SAYS: I've read many amazing comics this year, and I could gush on and on about books like Saga, East of West, and Locke and Key just to name a few. However, I wanted to highlight Gail Simone's Batgirl for a few reasons. One being that it's been a long time since I really appreciated the story in mainstream comic. This book joins books such as Kingdom Come and Old Man Logan as a book that rises above the usual wash, rinse, repeat in mainstream comics, and it's not even an AU (alternate universe) like those two--unless you just don't acknowledge the DCnU, which is totally legit in my opinion. 

Now, admittedly, I think Gail's writing can be a little corny (and I still think Barbara is more formidable as Oracle), but I have been enjoying Batgirl. First, I think Gail has done a wonderful job of showing Barbara as a survivor, a survivor who both rejoices in and questions her miracle, a survivor who has triggers that she's still trying to overcome, a survivor who questions the validity and intent of Gotham heroes, even herself. Of the books I've read, Barbara's stories have highlighted many of these issues, showing the upside and the downside. I think Gail does a wonderful job tackling some harder issues. Barbara's return has been plagued with issues and doubts she's dealing with, and I appreciate Gail doing that rather than trying to make Barbara's return to the mantle all rainbows and good times. (Read more of my reviews)

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

WENDY SAYS: All of my subsequent YA reads have to stand up to this book in terms of characterization. I love the way Stiefvater writes young adults. They are not the obnoxious, completely self-absorbed creatures that I don't enjoy reading. That is, sure they are a bit self-absorbed, but they aren't written in such a way that their teenage flaws become grating. Yet they aren't written as adults in teen bodies. Stiefvater handles them respectfully in a way that both teens and adults can appreciate.

The other thing that I adore about Stiefvater's writing is the way she foregoes allusions when painting her world. Instead, she uses actions and absence to describe a scene, and most importantly, to make her characters very, very real. Her descriptions are absolutely delicious.  (Read more in my review)

Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan

MOGSY SAYS: It's a great time to be a speculative fiction reader right now, with so many great and original ideas having found their way to being published in recent years. Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter have their place too, because if it weren't for them I wouldn't have had the pleasure of reading this incredible book in 2013.

What struck me about Hollow World isn't so much the story, but the main character's personal journey -- the things he learns about himself and the questions he asks about life and love. I didn't expect such heavy subject matters when I first picked this one up, but it was a welcome surprise. The book took my emotions on a roller coaster ride -- I felt ecstatic, shocked, angry, sad, annoyed, disturbed, deeply touched, so moved that I was almost in tears...all that and more just from reading the story, and any book that can give me the kind of feels that Hollow World did certainly qualifies as having resonated with me. (Review coming in Spring 2014 closer to release)

Kickstarter Goodies: Hollow World

Hollow World art by Marc Simonetti

As you know, I'm always looking out for interesting and/or promising fiction projects on Kickstarter to back. Earlier this year in March, one of my favorite fantasy authors Michael J. Sullivan decided to crowdfund his science fiction fantasy cross-genre novel Hollow World, so naturally I pledged my support. Ultimately, the project was not only fully funded, but the Kickstarter campaign ended up being a resounding success as well, at more than 1000% funded.

Yesterday, the stretch bonuses and other goodies starting coming in, and I just wanted to share. First is a signed 24" x 36" poster of the gorgeous image above. Luckily, my work requires that I always have a bunch of frames just lying around, so I quickly slapped that baby into one of them and hung it up by my own personal nook in the gamer cave. My Boba Fett bobble-head stands guard over it now.

Then there are the bookmarks -- 6 all together, and all of them signed on the back as well.

Given the vast numbers of posters and bookmarks sent out to Hollow World backers, I imagine poor Mr. Sullivan's writing hand must be cramping something fierce by now. But I love my Kickstarter goodies, and I can't wait to read this book!

Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan on Kickstarter

Hollow World art by Marc Simonetti

The books The Crown Conspiracy, Avempartha and Nyphron Rising are books I've had on my Kindle for a while, but it wasn't until this January when my family and I went on road trip that I finally got around to discovering the awesomeness that is Michael J. Sullivan's the Riyria Revelations series. I wanted an audiobook to listen to for the 16-hour drive to our destination and back, so I went ahead and bought the audiobook version of Theft of Swords. It was a choice I don't regret. The story made the time just fly by and me a new fan of Mr. Sullivan.

The interesting thing is, the series was originally made up of six books that were self-published and are out-of-print now, ever since Orbit picked up Riyria and released it again in three omnibus editions. In fact, Goodreads states that Michael is one of few authors who have successfully published books by himself, through small press, and through the big six, making him an example of an indie author who has found success. So I suppose it is quite fitting that he is currently funding another one of his projects by himself through Kickstarter.

The project is Hollow World, a "cross-genre piece mixing elements of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, mystery, and thrillers." I was so excited when I first heard about it, not only because I was eager to get my hands on anything else Michael writes, but also because it sounded really interesting, so I was more than happy to throw in my support. The fact that pledges of $10 or more means being able to read the book six months before it's officially available for sale didn't hurt either. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who felt the same way, because the project met its funding goals in just 17 hours.

There are still stretch goals to be met though, so I urge anyone to check it out if this sounds like something that will interest you! In general, I think anything that offers new publishing models and more options for both writers and readers alike is a good thing, and it's a wonderful thing to see more and more traditional authors turning to alternative avenues like Kickstarter to get their projects off the ground.