Kim Stanley Robinson Reading List
compiled by Rodger Turner
With the anticipated release of Kim Stanley Robinson's latest novel, Antarctica, the time has come for a detailed look at the fiction of this award-winning author. (The Philip K. Dick reading list continues in the mid-October issue).

The Fiction of Vivien Alcock
reviewed by Margo MacDonald and Alice Dechene
Vivien Alcock's Young Adult fantasy and suspense novels are among the finest currently being published. What is it about her style and stories that works so well? Margo and Alice examine some of her most popular works to find out.

The Arkadians by Lloyd Alexander
reviewed by Neil Walsh
The novel's setting is a fictionalized past with the tangible feel of ancient Greece. The central character, Lucian, is a clerk at the palace of King Bromios. Upon discovering some embezzling by influential royal courtier, he flees to avoid some unpleasant "sacrificial procedures." Thus, the adventure begins.

As She Climbed Across the Table by Jonathan Lethem
reviewed by Glen Engel-Cox
This is not a novel for all tastes, for it is not rigorous enough in its science, nor sweet enough in its romance, nor cynical enough in its satire.

Winter Tides by James P. Blaylock
reviewed by Rodger Turner
For Rodger, the sheer maliciousness with which one of the characters goes through life has made this book one of Blaylock's most intriguing to date.

Gibbon's Decline and Fall by Sheri S. Tepper
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Steven found the novel to be somewhat on the preachy side. The author's diatribes, although well-reasoned, tend to stop the action.

The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich by Fritz Leiber
reviewed by Neil Walsh
As Lovecraftian horror goes, it's a well-constructed tale that's neither too gruesome for the weak-stomached, nor too tame for the warp-minded.

Cain by James Byron Huggins
reviewed by Todd Richmond
It's an action-packed novel filled with combat, big explosions, chases, and suspenseful confrontations. One can't help but get the feeling that it is meant to be a screenplay.

Saturn Rukh by Robert L. Forward
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Steven found it unrepentant pulp, reminiscent of the stories from several decades ago. Weak plotting, rationalizations and characterizations make it difficult to maintain interest.

The Battletech Universe: Part 2
a survey by John O'Neill
Giant battling robots? Virtual reality centers? Is this science fiction or toy merchandising? John continues his in-depth look at the rich universe that has spawned over thirty novels, the MechWarrior computer games, and even a trading card game.

The Book of Words by J.V. Jones
reviewed by Wayne MacLaurin
The series is filled with all sorts of delightful nuances that capture the attention of the reader and elevate it far above standard fantasy fare.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and illustrated by Alan Lee
reviewed by James Seidman
It's been 60 years since its first publication. If you are one of the few people who has never read The Hobbit, James says it should be on your "must-read" list. This is one of the most important and seminal works in fantasy fiction.

The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories: and Other Stories by Gene Wolfe
reviewed by Stephen M. Davis
For Stephen, Gene Wolfe is not an author for the meek. If he drives like he writes, he probably gets up to highway speed and then boots his passengers out the door.

The Iron Dragon's Daughter by Michael Swanwick
reviewed by James Seidman
It's a very original story, quite unlike any other James has read. It has a dynamic, unpredictable writing style that succeeds in providing fairly consistent entertainment.

Deathstalker Rebellion by Simon R. Green
reviewed by Todd Richmond
There's a lot happening here but it's all pretty easy to keep track of: fighting, treachery, intrigue, romance, and lots of good plain fun.