Dear Readers,
We had an amazing time at the first New York Comic-Con in late February! It was truly gratifying and fun to meet some of our avid readers. We had lively signings with Del Rey authors Charlie Huston (ALREADY DEAD), Naomi Novik (HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON) and Chris Claremont (X-MEN: THE LAST STAND).

TO THE READER

Dear Readers,

We had an amazing time at the first New York Comic-Con in late February! It was truly gratifying and fun to meet some of our avid readers. We had lively signings with Del Rey authors Charlie Huston (ALREADY DEAD), Naomi Novik (HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON) and Chris Claremont (X-MEN: THE LAST STAND). I hope to see some of you next year! Here are some pictures.

http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/DRIN/art/Booth2_drin_small.jpg
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/DRIN/art/Claremont1_small.jpg
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/DRIN/art/Huston_small.jpg
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/DRIN/art/naomi_small.jpg

The enchanting story of a man and his aerial combat dragon in the Napoleonic Wars, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON from Naomi Novik, lands on our shores this month!

Elizabeth Moon's ENGAGING THE ENEMY continues the amazing adventures of Kylara Vatta.

Amanda Hemingway's THE SWORD OF STRAW follows young Nathan Ward's trials in her sequel to the mesmerizing THE GREENSTONE GRAIL.

We have a classic that every science fiction fan should pick up: George R. Stewart's post-apocalyptic novel EARTH ABIDES.

Tim
tmak@randomhouse.com

DEL REY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Check Out Our Convention Announcements

Del Rey Editor Jim Minz will be attending Wiscon 30, in Madison, WI, over Memorial Day Weekend (May 26-29), along with Del Rey author Hal Duncan, whose debut novel, Vellum, goes on sale April 28th.

Eric Flint will be presenting the Andre Norton Award at the Nebula Awards in Tempe, Arizona, May 4-7. Also in May, from the 26th to the 28th, he will be in attendance at Marcon in Columbus, Ohio; then at Convergence in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 7-9; at Worldcon in Los Angeles, California, August 23-27; and at World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, November 2-5.

Harry Turtledove will be at Eeriecon in Buffalo, New York, April 21-23; Worldcon in Los Angeles, California, August 23-27; and at Loscon in Los Angeles, California, November 24-26.

Howard Hendrix will attend ConDor XIII in San Diego, California, March 3-5; and the Nebula Awards in Tempe, Arizona, May 4-7; Worldcon in Los Angeles, California, August 23-27.

Elizabeth Moon will be Guest of Honor at Millenicon in Blue Ash, Ohio, March 17 ñ 19; will attend ArmadilloCon in Austin, Texas, August 11-13; is the GoH at Archon 30, October 5 ñ 8; and will be at World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, November 2-5.

See Something You Like? Use It! (And Give Us Credit.) http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/DRIN/DRIN_links.html#see_something_you_like

IN DEPTH WITH - Elizabeth Moon

Here are a few words from Elizabeth Moon on Kylara Vatta, the heroine of ENGAGING THE ENEMY, the newest adventure in Moon's bestselling SF series Vatta's War (in fact, we've just learned that ENGAGING THE ENEMY will debut on the New York Times Extended Best Seller list on April 16th!):

Ky Vatta has been a tricky character to live with and write about for the past few years. Most obviously, she is an odd combination: the good girl who discovers that she enjoys conflict and even killing. Her combative nature doesn't fit her social or family norm, as far as she knows. So she's forced to face the question: What happens to the good person, the person who has always been perceived--and has defined herself--as one of the good guys, when she kills in self defense and finds she enjoys it? The issues here were discussed in Dave Grossman's book On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Ky has also had to contend with family definitions that impede her understanding of herself and of her surviving relatives....on top of chaotic and deadly external threats that have killed most of her family and are still trying to kill her.

Though initially less appealing than Esmay Suiza or Paksenarrion, I find Ky intriguing because she is determined to remain in control of those dark urges she has been forced to confront, even as she must sometimes let the tiger out, in the course of Vatta's War.

- Elizabeth Moon, author of ENGAGING THE ENEMY http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/authors/results.pperl?authorid=21071

NEW RELEASES

ENGAGING THE ENEMY
by Elizabeth Moon (Science Fiction)
Hardcover

For fans of fast-paced adventure and compelling characters, the military science fiction of Nebula Award-winning author Elizabeth Moon is the perfect choice.
Read more
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345447562

Read an excerpt
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345447562&view=excerpt

THE SWORD OF STRAW
by Amanda Hemingway (Fantasy)
Trade Paperback

Parallel universes and grave danger are nothing new to Nathan Ward. During his last mission, he risked life and limb to retrieve the Grail for safekeeping.
Read more.
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345460806

EARTH ABIDES
by George R. Stewart (Science Fiction)
Trade Paperback

A disease of unparalleled destructive force has sprung up almost simultaneously in every corner of the globe, all but destroying the human race.
Read more.
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345487131

Read an excerpt http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345487131&view=excerpt

PASTEL 2 by Toshihiko Kobayashi (Manga)
Trade Paperback

When Mugi meets the gorgeous Yuu, it's love at first sight. Imagine Mugi's surprise, then, when he learns that they'll be living under the same roof along with Yuu's cute and curious little sister. Comes with an extra short story by the author, and bonus glossary!
Read more.
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345486288

GHOST HUNT 3 by Shiho Inada (Manga)
Trade paperback

The psychic investigators are going back to school - this time to solve a baffling mystery.
Read more.
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345486264

THE WALLFLOWER 5
by Tomoko Hayakawa (Manga)
Trade paperback

Sunako Nakahara and her four handsome housemates are enjoying their glamorous lifestyle at her aunt's mansion until Sunako's father makes a surprise appearance.
Read more.
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345480941

KAGETORA 1 by Akira Segami (Manga)
Trade Paperback

The young ninja Kagetora has been given a great honor—to serve a renowned family of skilled martial artists. But on arrival, he's handed a challenging assignment: teach the heir to the dynasty, the charming but clumsy Yuki, the deft moves of self-defense and combat.
Read more.
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345491411

HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON by Naomi Novik (Fantasy)
Trade Paperback

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain's defense by taking to the skies, not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
Read more
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345481283

Read an excerpt
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345481283&view=excerpt

DANTE'S EQUATION
by Jane Jensen (Science Fiction)
Trade Paperback

In a breathless thriller that explores the relationship between science and the divine, good and evil, space and time, Jane Jensen takes us from the world we know into a reality we could only scarcely imagine. Until now.
Read more
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345430380

Read an excerpt
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345430380&view=excerpt

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TIME DANCERS
by Steve Cash
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345470935

Steve Cash created 'an absorbing [and] intriguing saga' (The San Diego Union-Tribune) in his debut novel, The Meq. Outwardly indistinguish-able from human beings, but with abilities no human can claim, the Meq search for their lost history and face a mysterious prophesied reckoning.

We are giving 10 readers the opportunity to get a first look at the sequel to THE MEQ: TIME DANCERS by Steve Cash (on sale May 30, 2006) and submit a review that could be posted in a future issue of this newsletter.

To participate, send an e-mail with TIME DANCERS in the subject line to delrey@randomhouse.com including your full name and mailing address in the body of the e-mail.(NOTE: your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this reader review). If you are among the 10 randomly selected reviewers, we will notify you by mail. All submissions must be received by April 30, 2006.
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