Justin Allen

General/Other — Slaves of the Shinar author Justin Allen’s THE AMERICAN, about a Chinese-American boy who joins a gang of treasure hunters on a search out West for stolen gold, and along the way discovers what it means to be an American, to David Shoemaker at Overlook, by Katherine Fausset at Curtis Brown (NA).

It’s that time of year. Shopping lines at the department stores are a mess. Some sort of rain/ice mix fell from the sky all day yesterday. Those extra jobs we get in order to pay for the FUN are beginning to take their toll. And the holiday music loop at the office has gotten stuck on Bing Crosby.
Truly, the most joyous time of the year.
As for me, I have been busy busy, administrating and dancing in the Yorkville Nutcracker for Dances Patrelle - they sold copies of Slaves of the Shinar in the lobby, so it was a two-fold job - as well as writing and cooking various holiday treats.
I know I have been off-line more than not in the past few weeks, so let me just tell everyone that a review for Slaves went up over at fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com clear back in November. But the genius of the internet is that the review is still there, waiting to be read and commented on. Check it out. Robert, the fantasy book critic, is a heck of a guy, and remarkable in his ability to both devour books and offer his thoughts in a timely, organized fashion. I can barely be trusted to disorganize my thoughts in a tardy and admittedly self-interested fashion.
And of course, as I know so many folks will be shopping for gift books for that special loved one, just let me remind everyone of a couple of books you ought to consider giving, along with Slaves of the Shinar by Justin Allen.
In fantasy I suggest The Book of Joby by Mark Ferrari. From literary circles there is a book of short stories by Olaf Olafsson, called Valentines, which I loved, and reckon many of you will as well. For graphic novel fans, look into DC Comics The Brave and the Bold series. And of course, no holiday would be complete without a copy of Slaves of the Shinar under every tree and in every stocking. I know that my holiday won’t be complete without your placing a copy under every tree and in every stocking.
Lastly, I know it has become de riguer to avoid that certain name given to December 25th (notice the title of my post), much less to suggest that it is THAT day regardless of religious beliefs, but I like to make bold statements, so here goes - Merry Christmas to everyone, however you choose to celebrate or not. If you are into the whole church thing, enjoy! If you only like the pagan stuff, than pagan it up. Love the jazz age standards about the winter? Fantastic. Want to just wake up and treat yourself to the 25th as nothing more than a federal holiday, on a par with Memorial Day or President’s Day? You have my blessing and kindest wishes for a well-deserved day of rest. The day is yours, no matter what, so make of it what you will.
Plus, warmest wishes for a financially lucrative New Year. And I hope your bowl team slaughters those other guys.

Yep, that’s what I’ve been reading, the ol’ consulting detective of Baker Street. Why? Working on the Dupin Poe ballet, which we are now calling The Casebook of Edgar Allen Poe: Murder at the Masque. Got to keep the mystery nerve-endings clean and crisp. The thinking muscular.

News about Slaves of the Shinar as well. It has been reviewed in the Seattle Times. Really. Check it out.

And I was invited by some of the good folks at Boise State’s Arbiter to do a podcast.

Listen to it at arbiteronline.com

That’s what I’m calling a story I am beginning shortly. It features Poe’s immortal detective, C. Auguste Dupin. Nothing particularly new in that. What’s peculiar about this story is that I am writing it for a ballet. Francis Patrelle, with whom I work at Dances Patrelle, wants to do a mystery ballet, and we have hit upon none other than Chevalier Dupin for our detective. As it is Poe, we are hoping for a generous dab of the macabre, a generous dose of the uncanny. Toward that end I have been reading a goodly number of stories, among them the tales of C. Dupin. I suggest the Purloined Letter for sheer readability.

Wish me luck.

Also, don’t forget to buy another and another copy of Slaves of the Shinar.

Eternal Night has reviewed it and, well, read for yourself:

Justin Allen - Slaves of the Shinar (f)

It has happened. Slaves of the Shinar is now officially available in the UK!

One finds it all but impossible to conceive of the English schoolgirl who would not benefit from buying her own copy. How could any decent Welsh lad stand to go on, knowing that this wonderful book is in stores, but he hasn’t got one? Where is the Scottish Mum who would not benefit from a careful study of the mysteries illuminated to the careful reader who buys this tome? Who is the Irish gent who can be seen in the street, to say nothing of the pub, without a copy of this noble book under his arm? How can any person alive in the British Isles today possibly get away with living another year - or even another week - without doing what is right and noble, and purchasing his or her own copy?

Well, let us say, here and now, that they can’t. I don’t mean to sound alarmist, but failing to purchase at least one copy of this book, Slaves of the Shinar, will brand you as a traitor to the Queen. And as arrangements have been made to have all traitors rounded up and shipped to the states, where they will be made to eat the Yanks’ own version of both mushy peas and fish and chips ad nauseum (which we reckon is probably after a single helping), the risk of being caught without is simply too great!

And in case you are wondering if the book is worth it - check out the following. Charles Packer, from Sci-Fi-Online.com, “The UK’s leading telefantasy and cult website,” has a review for you to read.

Slaves of the Shinar (Hardback)

Justin Allen, known as the ‘Compassionate Allen’ in his neck of the woods, hopes his British friends will sense the urgency inherent in all this, and get right down to their local book shop. And please, in case any of you might have heard certain rumors - base tales of the comments Justin has reportedly uttered with respect to the queen and all her kin - do feel duty-bound to disregard them as the basest sort of unsubstantiated rumor.

Uruk Lives!!!!

Hey All,

Signed contracts not too long ago for a Russian translation of SLAVES OF THE SHINAR. This is exciting to me as I have been to Russia - one of my all time favorite trips - have a good Russian friend, and know how much the Russian people like good old Heroic Fantasy. Sword fights are just the thing for a cold winter night, it seems. Add a bottle of vodka, a cup of tea, and a bit of the old cabbage and dill and you’ve got not just an evening but an event!

Seriously though. Can’t wait to see the translation. Russian!

Uruk Lives!

Day and I have just returned from our trip to the south and west, and wanted to share a few thoughts on how things went.

First, on August 18th, in Gulfport, we sold out of copies in one hour flat!!! What wonderful people the folks of the Mississippi Gulf Coast are. They even pushed me into first place on the South Mississippu SunHerald local bestseller list. That’s right. First place! Above Harry Potter! Check it out.

Then, on August 20th, in Montgomery, Alabama, we did it again. Sell out! The South. What a place!

After a quick break in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we made our way to Boise. The welcome we received was startling in its warmth. Want to see how warm? Check out the Arbiter, the Boise State newspaper. They printed a story about me and the book, and even invited me to do a podcast interview.

Over the following days, we did three signings, and while we did not sell out any of the three, we did come close, selling one heck of a lot of books and having a really marvelous time.

So, to my fellow Americans, a great big thank-you. As I said toward the end of each and every one of my readings, art is peculiarly democratic. You vote with your dollars, your voices and your attendance. I appreciate all of you who have thus far kept me, and Uruk, afloat. But remember, you can vote again and again. In other words, help me get the word out!

You have the power.

Dearest Friends,

As of July 19th, my debut novel, SLAVES OF THE SHINAR, is officially out, on shelves, available online, and making sales.

This is an exciting time - the end to almost a decade’s worth of work, wait and worry, and the beginning of another sort of labor - the job of getting the word out.

Toward that end, Day and I are planning a number of book events. During the month of August we will be coming to the south, west and northeast, and are excited to see just how far Uruk and the boys can go (if you haven’t read the book, you may not know who Uruk is. But you will! You will!!!).

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