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Books and Trade Paperbacks

The Unscratchables

It’s called The Unscratchables by Cornelius Kane, and it’s being billed as “A new breed of crime novel”. Here’s the run-down from Publisher’s Weekly: “Detective Max ‘Crusher’ McNash, a fearless bull terrier in the slaughter unit of the San Bernardo police dog force, must overcome his distrust of special agent Cassius Lap, a very Zen Siamese of the FBI (Feline Bureau of Investigation), in their pursuit of a serial killer cat targeting dogs in this off-the-leash hard-boiled satire from the pseudonymous Kane. The fur begins flying when two rottweilers are torn apart. Later victims include a retriever attending a museum shindig, movie star Jack Russell Crowe and a newshound. Crusher and Cassius deal with gangsta hounds as well as visit Kathattan, an island where dogs are unwelcome, and Cattica Correctional Facility, where convicted murderer Quentin Riossiti, a debonair psycho cat, offers his help for a price. Billed as a well-known Australian author, Kane offers plenty of tongue-in-muzzle insights into bestial behavior, political chicanery and assorted foxy topics.”

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves.  Look for it soon, in paperback from Scribner.

The Dragon Codices

The Dragon Codices series by R.D. Henham is a new series of young-adult hardcover fiction novels for readers with an interest in dragons — as characters, not just as marauding monsters. This is from the publisher, Mirrorstone:

“For fans of The New York Times best-selling A Practical Guide to Dragons, a new series of fantasy fiction focusing on the power of dragonkind. The Dragon Codices chronicle adventures with each of ten dragons of Krynn. From the fiery, evil red dragon to the playful copper, each dragon’s tale is unique. Sindri Suncatcher, narrator of A Practical Guide to Dragons, shared these tales from his travels with library scribe R.D. Henham. Mudd lives a peaceful life in his small town, tinkering with the mill and any mechanical devices that he can find. But his peaceful life soon changes when, out of nowhere, a red dragon attacks, burning the town and kidnapping Shemnara, the village seer. Only one clue is left behind–a cryptic note telling Mudd, “Seek the silver dragon.””

The most recent book in the series is Brass Dragon Codex. An orphaned brass dragon named Kyani ventures out into the desert and stumbles upon a gnome inventor — whose latest invention might just start a war if he and his new dragon friend aren’t careful!  Remember, folks: Color dragons are evil, and metal dragons are good.  Mostly…

Long Tall Kitty

Lark Pien is a name well-known among graphic novel fans, and now she’s released her first hardcover children’s book through Blue Apple Books.  Long Tall Kitty tells the story of the titular cat and his friends — including a bee who’s friends with the flowers (at least the nice ones), a mouse who likes ice skating, and a family of aliens who drop in for a night of fun.  Yes.

Apes and Babes

Frank Cho is world-famous as the creator of Liberty Meadows, Jungle Girl, and other comics featuring Beautiful Human Babes and various critters both dangerous and comical — sometimes at once.  Now Image Comics brings us Apes and Babes, Book One, a 144-page full-color collection of Cho’s past and present illustrations and sketches.

Thank You, Charles

[From Amazon.com:]

“Charles M. Schulz and his beloved comic strip, Peanuts, have changed the world. In Security Blankets: How Peanuts Touched Our Lives, Donald Fraser and Derrick Bang present a heartwarming collection of 51 touching true stories to show the connection people have with the adored cartoon. Stories, photos from the contributors, and Peanuts artwork make this work extra special. The connections are so strong they’ve even had the power to change people’s lives. Take, for example, the Vietnam POW; whose first piece of correspondence while in captivity was a Snoopy card that included a picture of his wife and children. Or the 5-year-old boy from Boston who demanded that his stuffed Snoopy accompany him to the hospital for a high-risk surgery. Connections such as these show how Peanuts has become a security blanket for thousands. This is chicken soup for the Peanuts lover’s soul.”

The book is available in paperback from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

The Furry Pin-Up Portfolio

The artist known as Sekhmet has brought together a wealth of furry and fantasy artists to create the new Pin-Up Portfolio, a 56-page softcover coffee-table book of full-color art newly available for order this month. Featuring artists as diverse as Balaa, Dark Natasha, Diana Harlan Stein, Heather Bruton, Michele Light, Kacey Miyagami, Caribou, and many many more, this collection features over 40 full-color illustrations of furry ladies, sexily dressed or tastefully topless… plus 8 pages of sketches and work-in-progress illustrations, as well as information about the artists.  Take note that this rare gathering of furry art talent is available only for a short time, and can only be ordered on the Internet.  Visit http://pinupportfolio.com/ to find out more about ordering your own copy.

New Comic Title from Blotch!

I think I’ll let Blotch themselves explain this one…

Across Thin Ice is the first book of the Nordguard Trilogy. In short: It is a fully painted, color graphic novel, with each book coming in around 90 pages. Sofawolf Press will be publishing it and we’re looking at a release date of summer 2010.

The story is set in the north-eastern arctic in the year of 1903 and follows the trail of Pi and her team of sled-dogs. The northland is an untamed and cruel country, ruled by the winter and populated by scattered tribes and half starved strays. But now, at the turn of the 20th century, it is civilization’s last frontier and must be won. In this time of dauntless enterprise, exploration and intrepid spirits, thousands travel north to seek their own manifest destiny in the land of the midnight sun. The Nodguard is an elite company of dogs formed for search, rescue and exploration in the arctic regions of the White Land. Charged with cutting trails, carrying mail and recovering lost travelers, their dangerous job is never done. When a distress call comes over the wire in the late autumn, Pi and the team are called into swift action. With tensions between the three great nations rising in the northland, the team quickly finds themselves in deeper trouble than usual. Traveling in the company of an arrogant military officer and a green field surgeon, pursued by relentless hunters and pushed into the grip of a much larger conspiracy, their survival rides on very thin ice.

Arctic adventure, collies, huskies, Smith & Wessons, snow, caribou, tigers, wolverines, mines, glaciers, walrus, lumberjacks, sleds, canned fish, dynamite, barometers, bears and boars–what more is there! Well, a lot, but you’ll have to check out the Nordguard Website for more: www.nordguard.com.
But wait, want Free Stuff? Well, my friend, don’t fret. The folks at Sofawolf will be giving away, 100% free, no purchase necessary 18×24 posters of the Nordguard promo picture, here! When, you say? At their Sofawolf Dealer’s Island at AnthroCon this July! It’ll be first come, first serve while supplies last, so don’t miss out!”

You heard them!  Check out the previews this summer, and look for the first book in 2010. And of course, keep your eyes on Sofawolf Press (www.sofawolf.com) for lots more cool anthropomorphic publications.

Very Short Notice!

We just received word about a special event for animation fans taking place next week:

“Walt Stanchfield’s Drawn to Life
20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium
Woodbury University
7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA

Join Don Hahn [producer of The Lion King and many other animated films — ye ed-otter] and a panel of distinguished guests for a discussion of Walt Stanchfield’s Drawn to Life series.

Drawn to Life is a two volume collection of the legendary lectures from long-time Disney animator Walt Stanchfield. Edited by Don Hahn, all of Walt Stanchfield’s handout notes and lectures have been assembled into a two volume collection titled Drawn to Life – 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes. Walt was an animator, trainer, mentor and coach for decades at Disney and helped breathe life into the new golden age of animation with his teachings. He influenced such talented artists as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, John Musker, Glen Keane, Andreas Deja, and John Lasseter.

Following the panel discussion, Don Hahn will sign copies of Drawn to Life. A limited number of copies of this two volume collection will be available for purchase at the event.

Reservations are not required for this program. Admission is free. Parking is free and available on the Woodbury University campus.”

Meanwhile the books, Drawn to Live Volumes 1 and 2, are available in trade paperback from Focal Press.

Re-Live the Turtles’ Early Days

Archie Comics has reprinted the first three full-color issues of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (written and drawn by Michael Dooney) in a new trade paperback. This is the comic based on the first TMNT animated TV series from the 1980’s — we know, we know, it’s hard to keep track of which is what in the Ninja Turtle universe!  Just remember that this is the series where Master Splinter is Hamato Yoshi, mutated, rather than being Yoshi’s vengeful pet rat.