Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Black Guard
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.bookgrail.com/store/aj-smith/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY: British
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Smith_(writer) * http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7149797.A_J_Smith * http://www.tor.com/2013/07/30/book-review-the-black-guard-a-j-smith/ * http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/AJ-Smith/The-Black-Guard.html
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.:
nb2014004662
LCCN Permalink:
https://lccn.loc.gov/nb2014004662
HEADING:
Smith, A. J. (Tony J.)
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1_ |a Smith, A. J. |q (Tony J.)
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__ |a Education, Secondary |a Fantasy fiction |2 lcsh
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__ |a Novelists |2 lcsh
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__ |q Tony J.
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1_ |a Smith, Tony |q (Tony J.)
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__ |a The black guard, 2013: |b t.p. (A.J. Smith) prelim. (has been devising the worlds, histories and characters of the Long War chronicles for more than a decade; he was born in Birmingham and works in secondary education)
670
__ |a Head of Zeus www site, viewed 25 February 2014: |b Authors (A.J. (Tony) Smith)
PERSONAL
Born in Birmingham, England.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and educator. Works in secondary education.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
A.J. Smith is a British fantasy author who created the “Long War” series of dark fantasy novels. When not writing, he works in secondary education. The first book in the series is the 2013 title The Black Guard, in which the Stone Giant, Fire Giant, and Ice Giant are victors in the Long War and are worshipped by men. Meanwhile, Duke Hector of Canarn is declared a traitor for wanting to break away from the Kingdom of Ro, and his children, Lord Bromvy and Lady Bronwyn, must flee. The king’s new advisors are the Seven Sisters, sorceresses who control men and armies through the magical power of the flame. According to a writer in Publishers Weekly, “Smith’s decidedly epic debut, which layers a plethora of religious overtones onto fascinating world building, entices and entertains.” In Booklist, Lynnanne Pearson commented: “Once the world and many characters have been established, the author picks up the pace.”
The next book, The Dark Blood, follows the sorceresses who have positioned themselves in the court of every city in Ro. With the help of the Red Knights, the witches’ long-term scheme is to raise the dead Forest Giant. Assassin Rham Jas Ramin will get his revenge on the sorceress who murdered his son. Others vow to undo the witches, such as Albino Black cleric Utha of Arnon and Bromvy Black Guard, the traitor duke of Canarn. With humor, “the bloody and gleefully homicidal story unfolds at a surprisingly lugubrious pace given the amount of action,” noted a Publishers Weekly contributor. Declaring that “Smith’s writing is dense and fast paced,” Claire Rudy Foster in ForeWord added: “In this world—part Dungeons and Dragons and part Guillermo Del Toro fantasy—magic and reality blend seamlessly.”
The 2015 title The Red Prince, the third book in the series, finds the Seven Sisters ruling the Kingdom of Ro and enslaving the people. Red Prince Alexander Tiris is battling his brother, the king of Ro, who is under the power of one of the Seven Sisters witches. Offering help is assassin Rham Jas Ramin. Lynnanne Pearson advised in Booklist that readers who have not read the whole series “should start at the beginning, for Smith’s world is complicated and richly detailed,” and she called the fantasy series exciting. The last book in the “Long War” series is The World Raven, in which the Dead God is risen, led by the power-mad priestess of the Seven Sisters. The final battle is underway, led by the old gods, including Brytag, the World Raven. In Booklist, Lynnanne Pearson said: “While the character list is vast, each has a part to play in the final battle for Ro.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, September 1, 2016, Lynnanne Pearson, review of The Black Guard, p. 64; October 15, 2016, Lynnanne Pearson, review of The Dark Blood, p. 26; March 1, 2017, Lynnanne Pearson, reviews of The Red Prince and The World Raven, p. 48.
ForeWord, March 2, 2016, Claire Rudy Foster, review of The Dark Blood.
Publishers Weekly, August 15, 2016, review of The Black Guard, p. 54; August 22, 2016, review of The Dark Blood, p. 93.
ONLINE
Fantasy Book Review, http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/ (June 13, 2017), Cat Fitzpatrick, review of The Black Guard.
Tor.com, http://www.tor.com/ (July 30, 2013), Niall Alexander, review of The Black Guard.
A.J. (Tony) Smith is a British fantasy author, known for his The Long War series of dark fantasy novels.[1] His books are published by House of Zeus, an imprint set up in 2012 by established publisher Anthony Cheetham,[2] and has been reviewed by SciFiNow.[3][4]
The Long War series[edit]
The Black Guard (2013, Head of Zeus: ISBN 978-1781855621)[5][6][7][8][9]
The Dark Blood (2014, Head of Zeus: ISBN 978-1781852262)[10]
The Red Prince (2015, Head of Zeus: ISBN 978-1784080860)
The World Raven (2016, Head of Zeus: ISBN 978-1784080907)
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Smith, A.J. (2013). "Worlds are complicated". Head of Zeus. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
Jump up ^ Williams, Charlotte (10 February 2012). "Cheetham's Head of Zeus lines up launch list". The Bookseller. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
Jump up ^ "Catalogue record: "The Black Guard"". Worldcat. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
Jump up ^ "Catalogue record: "The Dark Blood"". WorldCat. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
Jump up ^ Alexander, Niall (2013-07-30). "Less is More, More or Less: The Black Guard by A. J. Smith". Tor.com. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
Jump up ^ "The Black Guard by AJ Smith". SFF World. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
Jump up ^ "Fiction Book Review: The Black Guard: Chronicles of the Long War by A.J. Smith.". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
Jump up ^ "The Black Guard (review)". Booklist.
Jump up ^ "The Black Guard by AJ Smith REVIEW". SFX (via Wayback Machine). July 26, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
Jump up ^ "Fiction Book Review: The Dark Blood by A.J. Smith.". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
5/14/17, 7(31 PM
Print Marked Items
The Dark Blood
Claire Rudy Foster
ForeWord.
(Mar. 2, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 ForeWord http://www.forewordmagazine.com
Full Text:
A. J. Smith; THE DARK BLOOD; Head of Zeus () 14.95 ISBN: 9781781852286 Byline: Claire Rudy Foster
Suffering from Game of Thrones withdrawals? The latest book in A. J. Smith's twisted fantasy series, The Dark Blood, has enough renegade clerics, murderous assassins, and unholy pacts and feuds to soothe even the most passionate fan's fever. With nearly one corpse per page, Smith races through this installment of the Long War cycle, leaving a bloody, impenitent smear in his wake.
Smith's rule of thumb seems to be that "nothing is sacred," and from the first chapter, he's quick to start slitting throats. Rebellious religious sects, acting on behalf of the blighted, ancient gods, have divided into orders. They seek an albino Black cleric who threatens their order: Utha of Arnon, "pale-skinned, white-haired and terrifying." Assisted by a younger priest and a Dokkalfar, a forest giant, Utha seeks to clear his name.
In this world -- part Dungeons and Dragons and part Guillermo Del Toro fantasy -- magic and reality blend seamlessly. It's not surprising to learn how the world's races mix, or what powers each character has inherited from what spirit or ritual. If anything, Smith's cast is so diverse that it's unsettling to come across a character who is merely mortal, and good with a sword.
Smith's writing is dense and fast paced, and short on backstory. Although Smith spent twelve years in the world- building stage, there aren't many surprises in the plot department. Revenge, old scores, sexual rivalry -- the old favorites work here, too. Smith seems to delight in creating fascinating and hideous new monsters to pit against one another. Strong description makes the graphic action scenes come to life, with pages in the proverbial splatter zone.
Whatever glitters, in Smith's world, is certainly not gold. He keeps it dark, and then blows out the torches, one by one.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Foster, Claire Rudy. "The Dark Blood." ForeWord, 2 Mar. 2017. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA484194481&it=r&asid=d19b90948d878a41a44256d64e41595e. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A484194481
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The World Raven
Lynnanne Pearson
Booklist.
113.13 (Mar. 1, 2017): p48. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The World Raven.
By A. J. Smith.
Apr. 2017.496p. IPG/Head of Zeus, $29.95 (9781784080907); e-book (9781784080891).
The Long War series reaches its epic conclusion in this fourth and final book. Saara, the Mistress of Pain, is certain victory and the resurrection of her Dead God is close at hand. The opponents of Saara, while outnumbered and weary, fight for the old gods and their own survival. Brytag, the World Raven, has remained strong, while the other older gods have slowly lost power. In a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the Long War, he gathers the shades of the other gods and diffuses his power among them. But is it too late to stop the total takeover of the Dead God and his horrible creation, the Twisted Trees? Bloody battle scenes and page-turning action have been a hallmark of this series all along, and Smith does not disappoint in the final installment. While the character list is vast, each has a part to play in the final battle for Ro and for Ranen. Fans of the series will not be disappointed and will hope the author decides to revisit his richly detailed world in a future series.--Lynnanne Pearson
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Pearson, Lynnanne. "The World Raven." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2017, p. 48. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA488689536&it=r&asid=6a31865e0225aa282ed5a16ee7296fcd. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A488689536
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The Red Prince
Lynnanne Pearson
Booklist.
113.13 (Mar. 1, 2017): p48. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Red Prince.
By A. J. Smith.
Apr. 2017. 544p. IPG/Head of Zeus, paper, $14.95 (9781784080884); e-book (9781784080853).
Having once defied his brother, the king, to marry a commoner, disgraced "Red Prince" Alexander Tiris again finds himself in opposition to his brother. The king is enchanted by one of the Seven Sisters and waging wars on her behalf. Xander's duchy has been invaded, and he must fight to take back his home. Hope comes in the form of Rham Jas Ramin, an assassin who is on a personal mission to kill all the sisters. Many miles away, Utha the Ghost, his squire Randall, and Ruth the Gorlan Mother work on a separate plan to defeat the sisters. Book three of the Long War series adds more characters to a large cast and, in true dark-fantasy style, subtracts a few. Readers new to the series should start at the beginning, for Smith's world is complicated and richly detailed. Even series readers will find themselves consulting the character lists, map, and bestiary to orientate themselves to this world again. Another exciting entry in an excellent fantasy series.--Lynnanne Pearson
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Pearson, Lynnanne. "The Red Prince." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2017, p. 48. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA488689533&it=r&asid=bd735c3479a92cef027634bcfc3c7d99. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A488689533
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5/14/17, 7(31 PM
The Dark Blood
Lynnanne Pearson
Booklist.
113.4 (Oct. 15, 2016): p26. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Dark Blood. By A. J. Smith. Dec. 2016. 512p. IPG/Head of Zeus, paper, $14.95 (9781781852286); e-book (9781781852293).
Kirin assassin Rham Jas Ramin is the only one capable of killing the Seven Sisters, invulnerable enchantresses who seek to raise the Dead God. For Rham Jas, the mission is more personal, as the Seven Sisters murdered his son. Up north, Alahan Teardrop and Halla Summer Wolf separately battle to take back control of Fjorlan from the traitor Rulag Ursa. Other favorite characters return in this second book in the Long War series, including Squire Randall, Utha the Ghost, and Al-Hasim. Smith does not skimp on the bad language or violence and creates a rough, richly detailed world. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, and characters that were background in The Black Guard (2013) headline chapters here. Because this book is the second in a proposed four-book series, the action and plot sometimes feel like setup for future books. But there are enough action scenes (including a spectacularly creepy one in a dark cavern with giant ice spiders) and complex characters to keep readers turning pages and feeling excited for the upcoming books.--Lynnanne Pearson
Pearson, Lynnanne
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Pearson, Lynnanne. "The Dark Blood." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2016, p. 26. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468771273&it=r&asid=ae7c5c9d657df553b9a6453424dcc466. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468771273
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Smith, A.J.: EVEN MONSTERS...
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 15, 2014): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Smith, A.J. EVEN MONSTERS... Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (Children's Picture Books) $16.99 4, 1 ISBN: 978-1- 4022-8652-0
Who says monsters can only be frightful? Although monsters roar, snarl, grumble, growl and howl, Smith's playful text asserts that they also know how to behave. The text's cheeky humor is immediately apparent as the tasks the little monsters carry out involve putting on clean underwear and combing cooties out of their fur. Illustrations extend the text about eating a "well-rounded breakfast" by depicting a box of "Swamp Munch Cereal" with "Free Bugs Inside" alongside a carton of "Mantis Milk." Such playful intraiconic work affirms the interdependence of art and text, but the occasional indistinctness of the art and the sometimes-cluttered layout of the pages undermine the overall cohesion of the work as a whole. Furthermore, readers familiar with Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's How Do Dinosaurs- series may find that this title cuts a bit too close to the line between similar and derivative in its execution. A humorous, somewhat unoriginal offering-for kids who prefer monsters to dinosaurs. (Picture book. 3-5)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Smith, A.J.: EVEN MONSTERS..." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2014. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA361278917&it=r&asid=7b34e2d0f5bfa46ee83a64898d1d9f50. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A361278917
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The Black Guard
Lynnanne Pearson
Booklist.
113.1 (Sept. 1, 2016): p64. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* The Black Guard. By A. J. Smith. Oct. 2016.608p. IPG/Head of Zeus, paper, $14.95 (9781781855645). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The inhabitants of the lands of Ro worship the Stone Giant, who they call the One God, while the Ranen to the North worship the Ice Giant Rowanoco. Jaa, the Fire Giant, is the god of the southern Karesia people. These three gods were the victors in the Long War against their fellow giants, and the people of these regions live in an unsteady peace with each other. Forces beyond those of mortal men, however, conspire to break the peace. The Seven Sisters, witches with the power to bend men to their will, want to raise one of the giants defeated in the Long War. They manipulate armies, knights, and kings in their quest. As the first book in the Long War series, the novel's beginning narrative is a bit slowed down by the mechanics of the complicated world building. Once the world and many characters have been established, the author picks up the pace (and death count) in this ambitious story. The numerous fights and rousing battles, including one with Krakens, are definitely not for the squeamish reader. But fans of George R. R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie will find much to like in this bloody, grimdark fantasy and will eagerly await the next installment in the series.--Lynnanne Pearson
Pearson, Lynnanne
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Pearson, Lynnanne. "The Black Guard." Booklist, 1 Sept. 2016, p. 64. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA463755188&it=r&asid=e6543e12aa0f507c97cb41c77aa613b2. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A463755188
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The Dark Blood
Publishers Weekly.
263.34 (Aug. 22, 2016): p93. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Dark Blood
A.J. Smith. Head of Zeus, $14.95 trade paper (512p) ISBN 978-1-78185-228-6
Smith's second epic fantasy novel (after The Black Guard) continues to chronicle the devastation of a meticulously described fantasy world as gods battle one another and drag their faithful followers along. Using multiple viewpoint characters, Smith weaves together the stories of a variety of people fighting the sorcerous Seven Sisters in their own ways, each with their own agendas. The Dokkalfat, nonhuman forest-dwellers, have confirmed that the Sisters are planning to raise the dreaded Forest Giant. The red knights have rained down destruction, supplemented by the hounds controlled by the Sisters. And the specter of the entities called the Dark Young continues to haunt both sides; they are used as weapons by some, and feared by all. Tinged with unexpected humor, the bloody and gleefully homicidal story unfolds at a surprisingly lugubrious pace given the amount of action. The large cast puts Smith in a bind: reminding the reader who the characters are bogs down the imaginative narrative in many places, but omitting that introduction leaves the reader backtracking in search of memory-joggers. However, the characters themselves are vividly depicted and practically leap off the page to chat with the reader. Agent: Diane Banks, Diane Banks Associates. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Dark Blood." Publishers Weekly, 22 Aug. 2016, p. 93. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA461609306&it=r&asid=f2b8e048f1b8395628087f6039ad98f4. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A461609306
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The Black Guard: Chronicles of the Long War
Publishers Weekly.
263.33 (Aug. 15, 2016): p54. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Black Guard: Chronicles of the Long War
A.J. Smith. Head of Zeus, $14.95 trade paper (608p) ISBN 978-1-78185-564-5
As war brews in the human world, a deeper, more sinister game is afoot in the lands of the gods. Told from the viewpoints of a variety of characters on all sides of the conflict, Smith's decidedly epic debut, which layers a plethora of religious overtones onto fascinating worldbuilding, entices and entertains despite some flaws in execution. Duke Hector of Canarn planned to break away from the Kingdom of Ro, but a traitor reveals his plans and the king's elite church knights reclaim his lands. Hector's children are declared traitors to the crown and must flee, aided only by a handful of friends. They and others attempt to figure out exactly what role the Seven Sisters, feared enchantresses, play in these political plots, even as their gods make demands in what appears to be a celestial chess match. With flowing action and a plot that is varied and enticing, the novel stands as a testament to careful, effective characterization. However, frequent repetition stands merely to lengthen an already robustly detailed tome, and the constant switches in perspective make it hard to reconcile all the different threads of story. Agency: Diane Banks Associates (U.K.). (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Black Guard: Chronicles of the Long War." Publishers Weekly, 15 Aug. 2016, p. 54. PowerSearch,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA461444542&it=r&asid=02de74704f580933ec9f4ec8e1d63e92. Accessed 14 May 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A461444542
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