The Etched City
Encyclopedia
The Etched City is the first novel (and the only one published to date) of the Australian science-fiction writer K. J. Bishop
. It was published for the first time by Prime Books
in 2003 (cover art done by K. J. Bishop
herself), then by Tor / Pan Macmillan
(in 2004 and 2005) and by Bantam Spectra
(in 2004).
The novel has a gothic style similar to the works of China Miéville
, set in a Victorian Age technological society. We read about two good friends, Raule – a healer and Gwynn – a bounty hunter, running from their homeland of Copper Country, chased by the Army of Heroes. They reach the town of Ashamoil to start a new life, but they have unexpected and strange trials.
The characters are well drawn, Copper Country and Ashamoil have a distinct Wild West feel to them, despite the fact it is set in modern times. The hospital in Ashamoil, Raule's workplace, resembles some sort of 19th Century one, where nuns play the role of doctors and nurses. Raule is plagued by strange occurrences; a girl gives birth to a baby-headed crocodile, and you'll never forget the descriptions of Raule's lab, or Chamber Of Horrors. Gwynn - a very civil man, until you learn of his past - joins a very 1960's style mafia family.
The story is one bizarre mix of themes; characters speak in poetic phrases, cults walk the streets while apothcaries sell their poisons. Add to that an alcoholic vicor, strange murders and artwork which comes alive, and you just begin to scratch the surface of K. J. Bishop
's Etched City.
K. J. Bishop
Kirsten J. Bishop is an Australian writer and artist. In 2004, her first book, The Etched City, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award in the Best Novel category.-Novels:* The Etched City * Black Dog...
. It was published for the first time by Prime Books
Prime Books
Edited by two-time Hugo-nominee and 2006 World Fantasy-winner Sean Wallace, Prime Books is an award-winning independent publishing house, specializing in a mix of literary/commercial anthologies, collections, novels, and two magazines: Fantasy Magazine and Lightspeed Magazine. Some of its...
in 2003 (cover art done by K. J. Bishop
K. J. Bishop
Kirsten J. Bishop is an Australian writer and artist. In 2004, her first book, The Etched City, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award in the Best Novel category.-Novels:* The Etched City * Black Dog...
herself), then by Tor / Pan Macmillan
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
(in 2004 and 2005) and by Bantam Spectra
Bantam Spectra
Bantam Spectra is the science-fiction division of Bantam Books, which is owned by Random House.According to their website, Spectra publishes "science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative novels from recognizable authors" Spectra authors have collectively won 31 such awards in the fields of...
(in 2004).
Analysis
The Etched City is a fantasy about love, transformative magic, and exile.The novel has a gothic style similar to the works of China Miéville
China Miéville
China Tom Miéville is an award-winning English fantasy fiction writer. He is fond of describing his work as "weird fiction" , and belongs to a loose group of writers sometimes called New Weird. He is also active in left-wing politics as a member of the Socialist Workers Party...
, set in a Victorian Age technological society. We read about two good friends, Raule – a healer and Gwynn – a bounty hunter, running from their homeland of Copper Country, chased by the Army of Heroes. They reach the town of Ashamoil to start a new life, but they have unexpected and strange trials.
The characters are well drawn, Copper Country and Ashamoil have a distinct Wild West feel to them, despite the fact it is set in modern times. The hospital in Ashamoil, Raule's workplace, resembles some sort of 19th Century one, where nuns play the role of doctors and nurses. Raule is plagued by strange occurrences; a girl gives birth to a baby-headed crocodile, and you'll never forget the descriptions of Raule's lab, or Chamber Of Horrors. Gwynn - a very civil man, until you learn of his past - joins a very 1960's style mafia family.
The story is one bizarre mix of themes; characters speak in poetic phrases, cults walk the streets while apothcaries sell their poisons. Add to that an alcoholic vicor, strange murders and artwork which comes alive, and you just begin to scratch the surface of K. J. Bishop
K. J. Bishop
Kirsten J. Bishop is an Australian writer and artist. In 2004, her first book, The Etched City, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award in the Best Novel category.-Novels:* The Etched City * Black Dog...
's Etched City.
Publications
- 2003 (February), publisher Prime BooksPrime BooksEdited by two-time Hugo-nominee and 2006 World Fantasy-winner Sean Wallace, Prime Books is an award-winning independent publishing house, specializing in a mix of literary/commercial anthologies, collections, novels, and two magazines: Fantasy Magazine and Lightspeed Magazine. Some of its...
, cover art by K. J. BishopK. J. BishopKirsten J. Bishop is an Australian writer and artist. In 2004, her first book, The Etched City, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award in the Best Novel category.-Novels:* The Etched City * Black Dog... - 2004, publisher Tor / Pan MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
UK - 2004 (December), publisher Bantam SpectraBantam SpectraBantam Spectra is the science-fiction division of Bantam Books, which is owned by Random House.According to their website, Spectra publishes "science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative novels from recognizable authors" Spectra authors have collectively won 31 such awards in the fields of...
, cover art by Paul You'll - 2005 (February), publisher Tor / Pan Macmillan UK
Reviews
- William Thompson (2003) in InterzoneInterzone (magazine)Interzone is an award-winning British fantasy and science fiction magazine. Published since 1982, Interzone is the eighth longest-running science fiction magazine in history and the longest-running British SF magazine...
, #190 July–August 2003 - Faren Miller (2003) in The New York Review of Science FictionThe New York Review of Science FictionThe New York Review of Science Fiction is a monthly literary journal of science fiction that was established in 1988. It includes works of science fiction criticism, essays, and in-depth critical reviews of new works of fiction and scholarship. It is published by Dragon Press and the managing...
, July 2003 - James Sallis (2003) in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science FictionThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science FictionThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
', August 2003 - Gahan Wilson (2003) in Realms of FantasyRealms of FantasyRealms of Fantasy is a professional bimonthly fantasy speculative fiction magazine published by Damnation Books, which specializes in fantasy, nonfiction, and art. The magazine publishes short stories by some of the genre's most popular and most prominent authors...
, October 2003 - Greg Beatty (2003) in The New York Review of Science FictionThe New York Review of Science FictionThe New York Review of Science Fiction is a monthly literary journal of science fiction that was established in 1988. It includes works of science fiction criticism, essays, and in-depth critical reviews of new works of fiction and scholarship. It is published by Dragon Press and the managing...
, December 2003 - Sue Thomason (2004) in VectorVector (journal)Vector is the critical magazine of the British Science Fiction Association . It is free to members of the BSFA and can be purchased at genre conventions and BSFA events. The first issue was published in 1958 under the founding editorship of E. C...
235 - John C. Bunnell (2004) in Amazing StoriesAmazing StoriesAmazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
, December 2004 - VectorVector (journal)Vector is the critical magazine of the British Science Fiction Association . It is free to members of the BSFA and can be purchased at genre conventions and BSFA events. The first issue was published in 1958 under the founding editorship of E. C...
241
Awards
- 2003 - Nomination Aurealis AwardAurealis AwardAurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...
, Fantasy Novel - 2004 - Place 3 Locus Poll Award, Best First Novel
- 2004 - Nomination World Fantasy AwardWorld Fantasy AwardThe World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
, Best Novel
External links
- Amazon.com page containing the cover and readers' opinions
- Author's official site