The Year of Our War

The Year of Our War

Infobox Book
name = The Year of Our War
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = 2005 paperback edition
author = Steph Swainston
illustrator =
cover_artist = Emma Wallace
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = The Castle books
subject =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Gollancz
release_date = April 2004
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 304 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-575-07005-6
preceded_by =
followed_by = No Present Like Time

The critically acclaimed Fantasy/Science Fiction novel "The Year of Our War" (2004) is the first book by British author Steph Swainston. Described by China Miéville as "unputdownable" it is often given as an example of the New Weird literary genre.

Plot summary

The novel is set in the Fourlands, a country in danger of being overrun by large hostile Insects, and follows the exploits of Jant, also called "the Messenger" or "Comet". As a half-breed of two humanoid species Jant is the only person who can fly, which makes him an indispensable part of the Emperor's Circle of about 50 immortals, an elite group of (mostly) warriors who do not age (but, despite the name, are capable of being killed).

Swainston spins an intricate story which covers, among other things, the intrigues among mortals and immortals from the various humanoid races of the Fourlands, a full-scale assault by the Insects (previously held at bay behind an Insect wall), and Jant's exploits in the "Shift", an alternate world which he enters as a side effect of his addiction to a lethal drug.

So far, two sequels, "No Present Like Time" (2005) and The Modern World (2007) have been published. As of 2006 Swainston is planning a fourth book. [ [http://www.stephswainston.co.uk/blog/steph/2006/11/chamonix Blogs | StephSwainston.co.uk ] ]

Awards and nominations

The book won the 2005 Crawford Award and was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

Reviews and sources

* [http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/yearofourwar2.htm Infinity Plus review]
* [http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/175.html SF World review]
* [http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/MP-31268/The-Year-of-Our-War.htm Page at Orion Books]
* [http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue357/excess.html SciFi Weekly review]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Black Swan (Story of the Year album) — The Black Swan Studio album by Story of the Year Released …   Wikipedia

  • The Skin of Our Teeth — Infobox Play name = The Skin of Our Teeth image size = 160px caption = 1942 original production handbill writer = Thornton Wilder characters = Sabina Mrs. Antrobus Mr. Antrobus Gladys Dinosaur Chair Pusher Henry setting = The Antrobus home in… …   Wikipedia

  • All the Year Round — was a Victorian periodical, being a British weekly literary magazine founded and owned by Charles Dickens, published between 1859 and 1895 throughout the United Kingdom. Edited by Charles Dickens, it was the direct successor to his previous… …   Wikipedia

  • Timeline of the 2008 South Ossetia war — The 2008 South Ossetia war started on August 7, 2008 and involves Georgia, Russian Federation, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Military conflict TimelineThe tensions have been escalating through the year of 2008, but the countdown to the open… …   Wikipedia

  • History of Cape Colony from the Second Anglo-Boer War — The Second Anglo Boer War had no sooner commenced with the ultimatum of the Transvaal Republic on 9 October 1899, than Mr Schreiner found himself called upon to deal with the conduct of Cape rebels. The rebels joined the invading forces of… …   Wikipedia

  • Disinformation campaign during the 2008 South Ossetian war — The 2008 South Ossetia War included an extensive information war, fought over historically poor communications infrastructure in the region. [cite web last = Freese first = Theresa authorlink = coauthors = title = Tension Again on the Rise in… …   Wikipedia

  • Latvian fleet that fought for the Allies in World War II — The part of the Latvian fleet that fought for the Allies in World War II under the flag of Latvia consisted of eight freighters: Abagra, Ciltvaira, Regent, Everasma, Everalda, Everelza, Ķegums, and Everagra. Only two of them: Everagra and Ķegums… …   Wikipedia

  • The Modern World (novel) — Infobox Book | name = The Modern World image caption = author = Steph Swainston country = United Kingdom language = English series = The Castle books genre = Fantasy novel publisher = Gollancz pub date = April 2007 media type = Print (Hardback… …   Wikipedia

  • Alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan Civil War — Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009) Background Sri Lanka · History of Sri Lanka Origins of the Civil War Origins of the Civil War · Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism  …   Wikipedia

  • Story of the Year — Dan Marsala performing for the first ever Revellution at UC San Diego Background information Also known as SOTY, Story, Big Blue Monkey …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”