Jeff Somers
Jeff Somers is a U.S. science fiction author from New Jersey.
Literary career
Since 1995, Somers has published his zine The Inner Swine[1] and has been a prolific contributor to alt.zines. The 21st century has seen Somers's transformation from an observational essayist into a science fiction writer of no small talent, "a gifted craftsman"[2] with a "funky wit."[3] His first novel, Lifers was soon followed by the dystopian Avery Cates series. His novels are published in the US and the UK by Orbit Books.[4] Somers has also been called one of the "promising lesser lights"[5] of mystery writing.
Critical attention
According to one critic, Jeff Somers' first novel Lifers has an "undernourished plot,"[3] although the same critic praises Somers's character observations.
Somers' novel The Electric Church was widely praised on its publication. Booklist wrote, "Somers' stunning debut introduces one of the genre's most promising newcomers." Library Journal called it "a dark future of high tech and low dreams in an action-filled noir thriller reminiscent of Blade Runner."[6] Publishers Weekly praised the characters but was less enthusiastic about the plot, writing, "Somers's [sic] plot sprints along through the nicely detailed (if slightly unoriginal) world, but the characters are the real prize in this entertaining near-future noir."[7]
In 2009 one of Somers' short stories Drum Trial was selected as 1st Runner Up for Best Science Fiction Story 2500 to 6999 words in the "Best Of" contest from Strange, Weird & Wonderful Magazine.[8]
Bibliography
The Avery Cates Series
- The Electric Church (2007)[9]
- The Digital Plague (2008)[10]
- The Eternal Prison (2009)[11]
- The Terminal State (2010)
- The Final Evolution (2011)
- The Shattered Gears (2016)
The Ustari Cycle
- Trickster (2014)
- Fixer (prequel eBook) (2014)
- We Are Not Good People (2014)
Other works
- The Ruiner (2014)
- Chum (2013)
- Lifers (2001)
- The Freaks Are Winning (2002)
- Blood and Splendor: Sliders Special (1997 Sliders Comic Book Co-writer)
Digital riction
- The Electric Church (an Alternate Reality Game) [9]
- Twitter Fiction[12]
- The Eternal Prison Text Adventure[11]
References
- ↑ "The Inner Swine's Sinister Web Presence". innerswine.com.
- ↑ Rick Klaw. Review of The Electric Church. Austin Chronicle, Oct. 5, 2007. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A546562
- 1 2 Bruce Allen. Review of Lifers. New York Times, Books sec. July 1, 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/07/01/bib/010701.rv105816.html
- ↑ "Orbit Books - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy - Orbit Books". Orbit Books - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy.
- ↑ Rod Cockshutt."Great tales come in small packages." News & Observer, Jan. 14, 2007. http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/532109.html
- ↑ Jackie Cassada. Review of The Electric Church. Library Journal, Sept. 15, 2007. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6477475.html
- ↑ Review of The Electric Church. Publishers Weekly, July 30, 2007. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6463364.html
- ↑ http://www.strangeweirdandwonderful.com/
- 1 2 "the-electric-church.com". the-electric-church.com.
- ↑ "the-electric-church.com". the-electric-church.com.
- 1 2 "HugeDomains.com - EternalPrison.com is for sale (Eternal Prison)". eternalprison.com.
- ↑ "Short Story". twitter.com.
External links
- Official website
- Jeff Somers at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- The story behind We Are Not Good People - Online Essay by Jeff Somers at Upcoming4.me
- The story behind Trickster - Online Essay by Jeff Somers at Upcoming4.me