Here's what I've been reading:

• Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, translated from the Japanese by Alfred Birnbaum (Vintage Books, trade, March 1993, USA & Canada -- still in print).
  Knowing absolutely nothing about Japanese literature, I picked this up based solely on the recommendation of a friend. And boy am I glad I did. Cyberpunk trappings, yeah, but thoroughly infused with an appreciation of earlier 20th century western art -- particularly literature and film. Parallel stories told in alternating chapters. The narrator-protagonist in one is a cynical, somewhat stoical existentialist computer data manipulator who has had his brain surgically altered to make him better at his job; in the other storyline, it's a guy who has been separated from his shadow (and consequently his memories) so he can live in an idyllic town and read dreams from unicorn skulls. In both stories, something very weird is going on, but I'm sure you'll figure it all out well before the end. Doesn't matter, though. Still a profoundly cool, enjoyably engrossing and thought-provoking read.

(Books are listed alphabetically by author. Only books received are noted.)

Myth Directions / Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin
Ace (mm, 332 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada
   Second omnibus volume in Asprin's punning Myth series; first published individually in 1982 and 83 respectively.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Women Writers Explore their Favorite Fairy Tales edited by Kate Bernheimer
Anchor Books (trade, 370 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): 9 July 2002, USA & Canada

The Moon Maid: Complete and Restored by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press (trade, 384 pages)
Publication date: 16 April 2002, USA / June 2002, UK

Forsaken: Dead God Trilogy, Book 1 by Richard Lee Byers
White Wolf (mm, 285 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada
   First book in the first series set in Sword & Sorcery Studio's "Scarred Lands" setting.

The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter: A Treasury of Myths, Legends, and Fascinating Facts by David Colbert
Berkley Books (trade, 210 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA

First Truth by Dawn Cook
Ace (mm, 340 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

Infinities edited by Peter Crowther
Victor Gollancz (hc, 358 pages)
Publication date: 6 May 2002, UK
   Contains novellas by Alastair Reynolds, Ken McLeod, Eric Brown and Adam Roberts.

Mars Probes edited by Peter Crowther
DAW (mm, 320 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada
   All new stories from Paul Di Filippo, Alastair Reynolds, Ian McDonald, Stephen Baxter, Gene Wolfe, Paul McAuley, James Morrow, Michael Moorcock, Brian Aldiss and others, plus a Ray Bradbury story never previously published in the US.

To Trade the Stars: The Trade Pact Universe, Book 3 by Julie E. Czerneda
DAW (mm, 496 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada
SF Site Review of Ties of Power, Book 2

Knight Life by Peter David
Ace (hc, 343 pages)
Publication date: 4 June 2002, USA & Canada

Minority Report by Philip K. Dick
Pantheon Books (hc, 110 pages)
Publication date: 21 May 2002, USA & Canada
   Highly unique design for this new edition of an old PKD classic.

The Curse of Arkady: The Magickers, Book 2 by Emily Drake
DAW (hc, 305 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

The Magickers by Emily Drake
DAW (mm, 384 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney
Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press (trade, 167 pages)
Publication date: 24 April 2002, USA / June 2002, UK
   First published in 1935.

Gen¹³: Version 2.0 by Sholly Fisch
Ace (mm, 233 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

The Fantasy Writer's Assistant and Other Stories by Jeffrey Ford
Golden Gryphon (hc, 247 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

Dragonstar by Barbara Hambly
Del Rey, Ballantine Books (hc, 292 pages)
Publication date: 4 June 2002, USA & Canada

The Glasswrights' Journeyman by Mindy L. Klasky
Roc (mm, 344 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada
SF Site Review of The Glasswrights' Progress

Deryni Tales edited by Katherine Kurtz
Ace (mm, 280 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay
Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press (trade, 274 pages)
Publication date: 19 April 2002, USA / June 2002, UK

Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks
Tor (hc, 336 pages)
Publication date: 21 May 2002, USA & Canada

A Storm of Swords: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3 by George R.R. Martin
Bantam Spectra (trade, 977 pages)
Publication date: 4 June 2002, USA & Canada
SF Site Review

Sagittarius Whorl: The Rampart Worlds, Book 3 by Julian May
Voyager, HarperCollins (mm, 378 pages)
Publication date: 2 April 2002, UK

The Dreamthief's Daughter: A Tale of the Albino by Michael Moorcock
Warner Aspect (mm, 480 pages)
Publication date: 1 June 2002, USA & Canada
   The first Eternal Champion novel from Moorcock in over a decade, and the first in a new trilogy of Elric novels. This book starts relatively quietly (in Nazi Germany) and grows progressively more fantastical. Plenty of fun, this reminded me how much I enjoyed reading the original Elric saga all those years ago...

Battletech: Operation Audacity by Blaine Lee Pardoe
Roc (mm, 276 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

The Science of Discworld II: The Globe by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen
Ebury Press (hc, 368 pages)
Publication date: 2002, UK & Canada
SF Site Review of The Science of Discworld I

Dating Secrets of the Dead by David Prill
Subterranean Press (hc, 125 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): 5 August 2002, USA

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Ace (mm, 588 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA
SF Site Review

The Staircase by Ann Rinaldi
Gulliver Books, Harcourt (mm, 230 pages)
Publication date: 2002, USA & Canada
   Historical novel for readers aged 10 to 14.

Tainted Trail by Wen Spencer
Roc (mm, 312 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

Swan Songs: The Complete Hooded Swan Collection by Brian Stableford
Big Engine (trade, 655 pages)
Publication date: 2002, UK
   This omnibus edition includes Halcyon Drift (1972), Rhapsody in Black (1973), Promised Land (1974), The Paradise Game (1974), The Fenris Device (1974) and Swan Song (1975).

Eternity Row: A Stardoc Novel by S.L. Viehl
Roc (mm, 416 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): 3 September 2002, USA & Canada

Peril's Gate: Alliance of Light, Book 3 by Janny Wurts
Voyager, HarperCollins (mm, 800 pages)
Publication date: 5 June 2002, UK
SF Site Review

Kingdom of Cages by Sarah Zettel
Warner Aspect (mm, 594 pages)
Publication date: June 2002, USA & Canada

Magazines

Asimov's Science Fiction, July 2002, USA & Canada
Contributors to this issue include: Robert Reed, Paul McAuley, Pat Cadigan, Michael Jasper, Karen Traviss, Molly Gloss, Lori Ann White, Mario Milosevic, Bruce Boston.

Analog, Special Double Issue, July/August 2002, USA & Canada
Contributors to this issue include: Adam-Troy Castro, Brenda W. Clough, Kevin J. Anderson & Gregory Benford, Fajnar Vajra, Ron Goulart, Edward M. Lerner, Geoffrey A. Landis, Larry Niven, Tobias S. Buckell, Jack McDevitt, Shane Tourtellotte, Jayge Carr.

The 3rd Alternative, Spring-31 July 2002, UK, Europe & USA
Contributors to this issue include: Neil Williamson, Douglas Lain, Ian Watson, Robert Wexler, Paul Meloy, Christopher Kenworthy, plus interviews with Mark Morris and Alan Moore.