Some award nominations could enhance sales. 14), earlier this year, Barnes has come a long way since he was best known for his collaborative work with Larry Niven ( (June 28)įorecast: With the publication of a provocative alternative history novel, This work will be devoured with shivering delight by horror readers of all kinds, particularly those already familiar with the author's work, to which it also makes an excellent introduction. Where did the idea come from, and what challenges did you face in creating the world SB: It came from a number of sources. To envision Black Americans as the slave holders in an alternative America seems morally and emotionally explosive. His talent at handling race and racism has never been so evident and polished, and while the occasional overdone metaphor is jarring, the slangy dialogue rings true and the characters' interactions make sense without being predictable. Lion's Blood by Steven Barnes 858 ratings, 3.97 average rating, 95 reviews Open Preview Lion's Blood Quotes Showing 1-6 of 6 And whatever Aidan's secret thoughts might have been, for those moments his smiles and joy were genuine. Besides being a great read, Lion's Blood seems quite brave. With a delicate unfolding of the plot and an astonishing ability to show readers the world through the eyes of his many and disparate characters, from ambitious reporter Renny Sand and Kelly Kerrigan, a CIA agent turned theatrical sharpshooter, to dressmaker Vivian Emory and her perceptive and troubled son, Patrick, Barnes keeps the outcome a genuine secret right up until the last sentence. Lions Blood deals with an alternate history universe in which Africa colonized the Americas, bringing European slaves here. In an attempt to empower low-income youth, more than a thousand children are raised to become miniature copies of popular rags-to-riches politician Alexander Marcus, but they end up acquiring his bloodthirsty depravities as well as the brilliance and cunning he used to hide them. (1998), it far outclasses its popular predecessors in both style and sheer emotional impact. While this latest stand-alone thriller, an eerie tale of good intentions gone bad, is the clear spiritual descendent of Barnes's Blood Brothers The true battleground in the fight between good and evil is the human soul, and no one is better at describing those internal battles than Barnes.