Legend by Marie Lu

Loosely based on the story of Les Miserables and with the movie rights sold even before publication, you can be certain that Marie Lu’s Legend is a story and a half. Set in dystopian (the current buzzword in young adult fiction) Los Angeles, Legend is the story of two worlds colliding.

Day is a fugitive. He is the most wanted criminal in all of Los Angeles. He lives on the streets, exiled from the family he loves and reduced to committing petty crimes to survive. The Republic hates him for one reason, and one reason only; they can never, ever catch him. They don’t even come close.

June is someone very different. Born into wealth and shelter, she is smart and feisty and the only person to ever achieve a perfect score on their Trial. It’s because of that incredible perfect score that June has managed to get away with almost every kind of mischief. The fact that her older brother Metias is a respected military captain doesn’t exactly hurt.

When Metias is suddenly and horribly killed, June and Day’s worlds are, without either of them realising it, set on an inevitable collision course. What they thought they knew about the “other” side is destined to change forever.

The first in a trilogy, Legend is a thrilling adventure and an epic love story – simply impossible to put down! Recommended for 13+. Paperback, $19.95

Classic Sci-Fi and Fantasy by Gollancz- Happy 50th Birthday!

British publishing house, Gollancz, have been championing science-fiction and fantasy for over 50 years, and have recently had a poll going to choose the public’s top ten favourite releases of all time.  The Top Ten titles chosen have all been beautifully repackaged in fantastic retro hardback covers in the classic yellow Gollancz style.  Very hard to miss!! Titles chosen include the brilliant and ahead-of-its-time Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick, the classic Time Machine by H.G. Wells,  Dune by Frank Herbert, and Hyperion by Dan Simmons (to name but a few!).

The Top Ten include five favourite Sci-Fi titles and five favourite Fantasy titles, and are a ridiculously cheap $20 for a beautiful hardback.

All are currently in stock.  Open up your mind to other worlds now!

Gollancz: 50 Years of Science Fiction and Fantasy

rrp $20

Shift by Em Bailey

Since her father left her family, Olive has not had an easy time of things. And her mum’s obvious disapproval of her best (and only) friend, Ami, doesn’t exactly help. When a new and slightly strange girl starts at her school, Olive is at least distracted for a while. Until she begins to realise there is something not quite right, something sinister about Miranda. Olive tries to convince Ami that there is more to Miranda than meets the eye but Ami dismisses her worries as silly fantasies, knowing full well that Olive’s imagination is more active than most. As Miranda works her way into Olive’s old life, being friends with Olive’s ex-best friend and becoming, as Olive used to be, part of the ‘in’ crowd, Olive’s fears only grow… and grow.

Em Bailey’s Shift is a story about a girl in whom every girl can see a piece of themselves. Olive is struggling with boys and best friends, being popular and then not, and most of all with a tricky family life – all the normal things that come with being 16. Shift also just happens to be an incredibly well written psychological thriller that will own your attention from the very beginning. Highly recommended for 14+. Trade Paperback, $22.95

Vintage is turning 21!

The Vintage imprint is turning 21, and to celebrate they have released 21 of their most popular books as special editions. The books are beautiful, produced in a gorgeous rainbow of bright colours, with even the edges sprayed to match. Shelved together they make a stunning display. And at only $12.95 each, it will be hard to resist buying the whole collection! For a limited time only,  so don’t delay.

Greek vs Roman- Gods at War!!

Heroes of Olympus:

The Son of Neptune

Percy Jackson is indeed back! In this epic follow-up to the brilliantly fast-paced The Lost Hero, the first book in the ‘Heroes of Olympus’ series, we finally find out where our lost hero has been for the past few months.  In book one, Percy is nowhere to be found, but the mysterious Jason turns up to Camp Half-Blood with a serious bout of amnesia.  He finds out he is the son of Zeus, and he and his new friends Piper and Leo (also demigods) set of on a dangerous quest to free the captured Hera (wife of Zeus, goddess of marriage and family) and Piper’s dad from the evil clutches of Gaia, the earth goddess and goddess of giants and monsters.  She is waking and preparing to take over the world!  Books one ends with Jason and his friends successfully saving Hera but they only manage to stall the rise of Gaia…

In book two, The Son of Neptune takes us to Camp Jupiter, a safe-haven for children of the ancient Roman gods to live, train and fight.  Percy Jackson arrives in usual dramatic fashion, battling evil snake-haired gorgons and carrying a disguised goddess of women and fertility, Juno.  Percy has lost his memory, has no idea where he is or what he has done, and he does not understand his powers.  He remembers just one name from his past- Annabeth.  He quickly befriends two other camp outcasts- Frank and Hazel, and the three of them head off on the most important quest of all: The Prophesy of Seven.

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death

Blood-chilling stuff, as we’ve come to expect from famed writer Rick Riordan!  Percy and his friends journey to Alaska, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, and encounter many gods and monsters with battles, challenges and trickery.  From harpies to amazons to gryphons, the gang have their demigod work cut out for them!

With more action and adventure than should be allowed, this books will leave you in anticipation of the third installment (sadly not due out till this time next year).  Thankfully, The Son of Neptune is a hefty tome, so try to savour it and not read it too fast!

For young adults and adults alike (this devotee is 32 years of age…), get your copy while they’re still in stock!!

Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune

rrp $19.95 

George Ivanoff will be visiting Fairfield Books!

George Ivanoff, author of  many fantastic books for children and teenagers, will be visiting Fairfield Books from 11am to 12noon on Saturday 29th October as part of the Fairfield Village Market Day festivities. His latest books, Gamers’ Quest and Gamers’ Challenge tell of the exciting adventures of Tark and Zyra, teenage thieves living in a futuristic world. Come and meet him at the shop, have a chat about his novels and get your books signed! Gamers’ Quest and Gamers’ Challenge are both available in paperback, $16.95 each.

If you’d like to know a bit more about George and his work, why not read his wonderful guest blog post dated 15th October on our other blog, Fairfieldbooks on Kids? See you on Saturday 29th!

George Ivanoff will be visiting Fairfield Books!

George Ivanoff, author of  many fantastic books for children and teenagers, will be visiting Fairfield Books from 11am to 12noon on Saturday 29th October as part of the Fairfield Village Market Day festivities. His latest books, Gamers’ Quest and Gamers’ Challenge tell of the exciting adventures of Tark and Zyra, teenage thieves living in a futuristic world. Come and meet him at the shop, have a chat about his novels and get your books signed! Gamers’ Quest and Gamers’ Challenge are both available in paperback, $16.95 each.

If you’d like to know a bit more about George and his work, why not read his wonderful guest blog post dated 15th October on this blog? See you on Saturday 29th!

The Ox is slow but the earth is patient – Mick Malthouse

The Ox is slow but the earth is patient by Mick Malthouse & David Buttifant

HB, $30.00

Premiership coach Mick Malthouse and his longtime friend and conditioning coach David Buttifant have brought us a brilliant book that can inspire us all to success.

They tell the story of the past decade they have spent at the Collingwood Football Club and provide some fascinating insight into the inner workings of successful professional sporting organisations.The book covers achievements in both their personal and professional lives and includes comments from a variety of players, coaches, poets and politicians.

You do not need to be a mad football supporter to enjoy this book filled with fascinating anecdotes and sound advice from two men who clearly have the utmost respect for each other and have achieved great things.

 

 

 

Man Booker Prize 2011

Congratulations to Julian Barnes, winner of this year’s Man Booker Prize for his wonderful novel The Sense of an Ending. It’s the fourth time Mr Barnes has been on the Booker shortlist, so it’s a long-awaited and well-deserved win. Hardback, $29.95

And of course well done to all those authors whose works were shortlisted – no mean feat! All are worth a look, and we will endeavour to keep them all in stock.

In the Kitchen by Allan Campion and Michele Curtis

When looking for a cookbook that covers all the bases, look no further than the bible-like In the Kitchen. This is the cookbook for every occasion and cuisine, managing to cover all the basics without ever being boring. When looking under corn in the index, one will find 3 alternate recipes for corn fritters; an item everyone knows is simply the best Sunday breakfast dish on earth. Having recently more-than-successfully road-tested the apple, fig and pecan cake (iced with the proposed suggestion – cream cheese frosting, page 702), we are satisfied that In the Kitchen is the cookbook for all kitchens! Hardback, $59.95