Good Superhero Books
My comment on Steven Long's thoughts on fantasy book size trends and superhero novels:
Ebooks actually seem to be trending towards shorter lengths, and spearheading a resurgence in novellas and even short stories. Dean Wesley Smith and J.A. Konrath have a lot of interesting things to say in that regard. I'd say forget the gatekeepers, e-publish, and move on to the next novel, and the next.
As for good superhero novels, Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible stands like a titan above the rest, but I'm also quite fond of Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps (with a great use of a subtle power, and one of the best villain names ever), Mike Stackpole's In Hero Years... I'm Dead on Kindle, and James Maxey's Nobody Gets the Girl, which I see has a sequel on the Kindle.
I for one welcome a return to shorter fantasy novels.
Ebooks actually seem to be trending towards shorter lengths, and spearheading a resurgence in novellas and even short stories. Dean Wesley Smith and J.A. Konrath have a lot of interesting things to say in that regard. I'd say forget the gatekeepers, e-publish, and move on to the next novel, and the next.
As for good superhero novels, Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible stands like a titan above the rest, but I'm also quite fond of Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps (with a great use of a subtle power, and one of the best villain names ever), Mike Stackpole's In Hero Years... I'm Dead on Kindle, and James Maxey's Nobody Gets the Girl, which I see has a sequel on the Kindle.
I for one welcome a return to shorter fantasy novels.