SF/Fantasy
Aug 15, 2010Beagle, Peter S. Return: An Innkeeper's World Story. Subterranean. Sept. 2010. c.104p.
ISBN 978-1-59606-309-9. $35. FANTASY
Soukyan, a warrior for hire, fends off a trio of assassins, the latest of many who have been sent to kill him since he fled the monastery in which he was raised. Seeking a resolution to the seemingly endless pursuit, he returns to "that place," as he thinks of it, and uncovers its dark secret. Despite its brevity, this novella, set in the world of Beagle's 1991 The Innkeeper's Song, contains a wealth of detail, both explicit and implied. VERDICT Beagle's obvious gifts as a storyteller and master stylist shine in this small tale that is large in meaning and mastery. Libraries should consider the steep price before purchasing.
Hale, Ginn. Lord of the White Hell, Book One. Blind Eye. Aug. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-9789861-6-2. pap. $14.95. FANTASY
When promising young mechanist Kiram Kir-Zaki becomes the first member of his people, the Haldiim, to attend the prestigious Sagrada Academy, he experiences the scorn of the haughty scions of the ruling Cadeleonians, who dominate the school. Despite cultural and religious differences, he befriends a pair of nobles who share his sense of alienation and comes to the attention of upperclassman Javier Torsenal, who has a reputation for mayhem after selling his soul to become the master of a force known as the white hell. The author of Wicked Gentlemen launches a two-volume tale of a young man who believes himself doomed and the stranger who may hold the key to his salvation. VERDICT Lushly detailed, with believable, fully developed characters, this fantasy with homoerotic overtones is reminiscent of Mercedes Lackey's Vanyel novels and should appeal to a similar readership.
Hamilton, Peter F. The Evolutionary Void. Del Rey: Ballantine. (Void Trilogy, Bk. 3). Sept. 2010. c.704p. ISBN 978-0-345-49657-7. $28. SF
As Araminta, the Second Dreamer, struggles with her decision to accept her responsibilities to the faction known as the Living Dream, the rogue Ilanthe, genetically enhanced leader of the Accelerater faction, continues her quest for absolute dominion through her attempt to enter the Void that lies at the heart of the universe. In an alternate world of dreams, Edeard must make a choice between impossible realities as his power to alter time leads to inescapable consequences. With a large and vibrant cast of characters and an epic plot, Hamilton's latest trilogy (The Dreaming Void; The Temporal Void) comes to a compelling conclusion. VERDICT The author's mastery of the art of the "big story" earns him a place among the leading authors of dynastic sf. A strong addition to any sf collection.
Korogodski, Leonid. Pink Noise: A Posthuman Tale. Silverberry Pr. Aug. 2010. c.192p. illus. ISBN 978-0-9843608-2-6. $25.95. SF
Nathi, one of the foremost brain doctors on Mars, is a posthuman who exists in the virtual world. Called to heal a comatose girl, he attempts a radical procedure by mapping parts of his own mind onto hers—and falling into an unexpected virtual quest with the girl's imprisoned mind as his companion. Ukrainian author Korogodski's new wave novella straddles the sf and fantasy genres with its combination of fantasy imagery and cutting-edge science. VERDICT Explosive in its approach to language and imaginative in its portrayal of a life lived in cyberspace as well as in the real world, this postcyberpunk adventure injects the genre with a long-awaited freshness. A good choice for both adult and YA fans of hard sf and postmodern fantasy.
Lloyd, Tom. The Ragged Man Pyr: Prometheus.
(Twilight Reign, Bk. 4). Aug. 2010. c.548p. ISBN 978-1-61614-206-3. pap. $16. FANTASY
With the death of Lord Isak, the Farlan armies retreat in disarray. Emin Thonal, King of Narkang and the Three Cities, seizes his moment to advance his position, while Ruhen, the human possessed by the shadow Azaer, makes his own bid for power. Another Great War is at hand, but this time the gods use their followers to lead the armies to battle, and the land's only true hope lies in the man known as the Grave Thief, who seeks to bring a hero back from the dead. Lloyd's fourth series entry (after The Grave Thief) continues the grim countdown to a final confrontation. VERDICT Powerful storytelling complements a large cast of characters and a complex narrative that touches on everything from romance to high drama to fast-paced war scenes.
McConchie, Lyn. The Questing Road. Tor. Aug. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2211-1. $25.99. FANTASY
When Tayio, the son of Chylo and Razaia, members of the felinoid Tarian race, disappears, his parents and their human friends search for him and wander unknowingly through a portal into another world. Their paths cross with a pair of nobles whose empathic cat is on a quest to find its sire. Together, these seekers must involve themselves in a complex plot to prevent a group of evil people from setting loose a horde of demons through the sacrifice of the captive Tayio. New Zealander McConchie, a frequent collaborator with the late Andre Norton (Silver May Tarnish), goes solo in her first original fantasy novel. VERDICT A vivid and colorful background enlivened with intelligent catlike creatures as well as humans of many different cultures makes this a better-than-average fantasy that should appeal to fans of Norton's "Witch World" series.
Parker, K.J. Blue and Gold. Subterranean. Dec. 2010. c.104p. ISBN 978-1-59606-327-3. $25. FANTASY
As a philosopher and alchemist, Saloninus enjoys the friendship of Phocas, the prince of Paraprosdocia, and the privileges that come with it, until the day he murders his wife, who is also Phocas's sister. The deed was an accident connected to Saloninus's search for an elixir of eternal youth, but he finds himself on the run from the City Watch and Phocas's soldiers. Ultimately, both alchemist and philosopher give way to the true Saloninus, who is much more than the sum of his many parts. The author of "The Engineer Trilogy" has written a mesmerizing short novel that combines fictional autobiography with political intrigue and the art of the confidence man. VERDICT History rewrites itself at every turn in this tale of an alchemist whose own base metal becomes, at last, pure gold. Despite its price, this novella is suitable for large libraries.
Richardson, Kat. Labyrinth: A Greywalker Novel. Roc: Penguin. Aug. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-451-46336-4. $24.95. FANTASY
Since her death and resuscitation two years earlier, private investigator Harper Blaine has become a Greywalker, possessing the ability to traverse the Grey realm that exists between the living and the dead. When she returns from a trip to London, where she has gained some insight into her father's death and ghostly imprisonment, she discovers that the man who killed her has been murdered—and she desperately needs to speak to his ghost. The fifth installment of Richardson's popular Greywalker series (after Vanished) sheds more light on the mysterious events in Harper's past and expands her relationships with both friends and enemies. VERDICT Standing head and shoulders above the plethora of urban fantasies, Richardson's latest tale should appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" and Tanya Huff's Victoria Nelson series.
Sedia, Ekaterina. The House of Discarded Dreams. Prime. Aug. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-60701-228-3. pap. $14.95. FANTASY
When Vimbai rents a room in a ramshackle house on the dunes of a New Jersey beach, she hopes to escape a mother who embarrasses her. Instead, she finds a roommate with a strange ability to separate objects into their component parts, a psychic-energy baby living in the telephone wires, and the ghost of her Zimbabwean grandmother inhabiting her kitchen. One day, the house floats out to sea, and Vimbai must find a way to return home. Sedia (The Secret History of Moscow) crafts a tale of magical realism that explores the connections between culture and identity as well as the nature of reality and dreams. VERDICT Humor and metaphysics blend in an elegantly written story of a woman's quest for her true home and should appeal to fans of James P. Blaylock and Jonathan Carroll.
Snyder, Maria V. Spy Glass. Mira: Harlequin. Sept. 2010. c.432p. ISBN 978-0-7783-2847-6. pap. $13.95. FANTASY
By using her blood in a ritual battle, Opal Cowan has lost her power to create glass magic and has become immune to magic's effects. She turns to other work in the outside world and discovers a new power. She also finds that someone has stolen some of her blood, and she must recover it or risk losing her magic forever. VERDICT In this third installment of her fantasy series (after Sea Glass), Snyder's storytelling skills continue to build an involving story line with an engaging and resourceful heroine.
Speculative Horizons. Subterranean. Nov. 2010. c.128p. ed. by Patrick St. Denis. ISBN 978-1-59606-336-5. $20. FANTASY
An ideal man proves to be much more than Josie wished for in C.S. Friedman's macabre "Soul Mate," while a hard-boiled policeman specializes in investigating the death of love itself in Hal Duncan's "The Death of a Love." The five stories in this small volume also include tales by Tobias S. Buckell, L.E. Modesitt Jr., and Brian Ruckley. Part of the proceeds from sales goes to breast cancer research. VERDICT Exceptional writing and powerful storytelling make this a worthwhile addition to large collections; it will appeal to the highlighted authors' fans.
VanderMeer, Jeff. The Third Bear. Tachyon,
dist. by IPG. Aug. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-892391-98-8. pap. $14.95. FANTASY
In the title story, a monster of seemingly supernatural powers threatens a small village, forcing its leader to find the only way to save his home, while in "Fixing Hanover," a seaside salvage reconstructionist balks at repairing a mechanical device he fears will bring about his own doom. These 15 elegantly crafted stories ably demonstrate VanderMeer's skill at telling tales of wonder in language that enhances the reading experience. VERDICT Fans of imaginative literature and true speculative fiction should appreciate this groundbreaking collection by a World Fantasy Award winner that calls to mind the works of Borges, Kafka, and Stanislaw Lem.
Warrior Wisewoman 3. Norilana. Aug. 2010. c.306p. ed. by Roby James. ISBN 978-1-60762-061-7. pap. $12.95. SF
From Gwendolyn Clare's dystopian vision of a world run by women because male births are dwindling ("Driving X") to Douglas Smith's tale of a bizarre unfolding in a secret government test lab ("A Bird in the Hand"), the 19 stories in this annual anthology highlight women protagonists in tales that blend hard science with issues of human ethics, political intrigue, and interpersonal drama. VERDICT Including original tales by Bruce Golden, Jennifer R. Povey, and other contemporary short story authors, this volume offers solid appeal for fans of female-oriented sf.
The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2010. Prime. Aug. 2010. c.544p. ed. by Rich Horton. ISBN 978-1-60701-218-4. pap. $19.95. SF
From Stephen Gould's tall tale set in an exotic desert dig where metal is forbidden ("A Story, with Beans") to John Kessel's far-future minidrama ("Events Preceding the Helvetican Renaissance"), the 30 stories in this annual collection present an outstanding showcase of the year's most distinctive sf and fantasy. Themes include time travel, represented by Genevieve Valentine's "Bespoke"; urban fantasies, such as Kelly Link's "Secret Identity"; and science/fantasy, including John Meaney's "Necroflux Day." VERDICT A better exposure to current trends in sf and fantasy would be hard to find.
Additional SF/Fantasy
Mullany, Janet. Jane and the Damned. Avon. Oct. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-06-195830-4. pap. $13.99. FANTASY
After her manuscript is rejected for publication, Jane Austen is determined to find enjoyment at the Basingstoke Assembly. A trio of Damned are in attendance, and Jane accepts an invitation to dance with one of the gentleman vampires. The next day she realizes falling ill at the dance was the beginning of her existence as one of the Damned. Reverend Austen takes the family to Bath so Jane can be cured by the waters. Before her first glass, she is adopted" by Damned leader Luke Venning, and the French Revolutionary Army invades Bath. Now, Jane is grateful for the active role she can take in the war against the French. VERDICT Historical romance author Mullany (Improper Relations) joins the literary mashup craze with this tepid novel. Her spotty explanations of etiquette in Damned society, not fully developing Prince George's temporary vampire status to preserve the line of succession, and the open-ended nature of the conclusion (hinting at a possible series) make this a less than satisfying read for either Austenites or vampire fanciers. A far wittier take on Jane Austen as vampire is Michael Thomas Ford's Jane Bites Back.—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH
