Esperance goes on sale next week! The release date is May 20th in the US and May 22nd in the UK, Tuesday and Thursday being the traditional publication day in those respective countries. Also, the days on which they hold their elections. Coincidence, right?
Mind you, publication and election day have this in common: it’s the day the public get to decide whether they have the slightest interest in what you’re offering. Like many a pol, I’m pacing about nervously anticipating the verdict. I think Esperance is great, but what about everyone else?
The polls, sorry: reviews have been encouraging, so I have hopes. Book Page have given it a starred review (embargoed till May 20, I’ll post the link then) which wraps up by saying, “Lovers of sharp, fast sci-fi from the likes of Neal Stephenson will be right at home with Esperance. For this reader, it scratched about a dozen itches at once and then some. It’s exciting, inventive and murky, an ocean worth the plunge.” Library Journal also gave it a starred review (I’m not providing the link because of spoilers), recommending it, “for readers who love intricately blended genre stories that ask big questions.” One blogger describes it as, “Part (very weird) murder mystery, part speculative fiction and a wow ending. . . an evolving surprise from start to finish,” and Women.com have listed it as a great choice for book clubs. So, all in all, I couldn’t hope for a better send off.
Plus, stop the presses! Locus Magazine, one of the SF world’s premier publications, is going to review Esperance in its June issue! Fingers crossed they like it.
I think the last thing I have going on before Esperance sees the light of day is a podcast interview with Quick Book Reviews on May 19th. That’s the interview date, at least. I’m not sure when it will go out, but shortly thereafter, I imagine. I’m a little nervous about it, but in a good way, I think. QBR is kind of a big deal when it comes to book podcasts: John Scalzi was on it recently, which was really something for an SF geek like yours truly, so I don’t want to stuff it up.
As regular readers of this blog will know, when it comes to social media, podcasts etc. I’m a bit of a dinosaur. I have a barely used LinkedIn for the day job and that’s it. Twitter/X terrifies me, and I can’t dance to save my life, so Tik Tok is out. I’ve never done a podcast before but, nerves notwithstanding, I’m kind of looking forward to it. I mean, it’s just radio for the 21st century, right? I can do that.
Can’t I?