In Memoriam: 2005
a memorial by Steven H Silver
Science fiction fans have always had a respect and understanding for the history of the genre. Unfortunately, science fiction has achieved such an age that each year sees our ranks diminished. The science-fictional year 2005 could have been much worse for the science fiction community in sheer numbers. While there were a few tragic surprises, the mortality rate for 2005 was no higher than would normally be expected.

Worldstorm by James Lovegrove
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
On this world, everyone is born with one of four Inclinations: Air, Earth, Water, or Fire. Each Inclination confers on its owner a particular set of abilities, which derive their nature from the element for which the Inclination is named. The Worldstorm is an enormous, permanent storm that roves the earth, wreaking havoc wherever it passes. Many people believe that there's a relationship between human beings and the giant storm -- though just what that relationship is, and how it came about, neither logic nor philosophy nor legend can properly explain.

Flight of the Nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
This book claims to be the first book of Darkwar, a brand new series, but directly continues the adventures begun in the three books that comprise the Conclave of Shadows sequence. As series readers know, there are two problems troubling the Conclave, one of which threatens the entire world of Midkemia. The greater threat is posed by the Talnoy, alien killing machines powered by trapped souls, or so it is thought. Thousands of them have been found in a cave on the continent of Novindus.

Black Gate #9
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
It seems with every issue this magazine pushes the boundary of the fantasy genre just a bit more. With the range of stories in this issue, that practices continues. From the sword-and-sorcery of "Payment Deferred" to the hillbilly magic realism of "The Whited Child" it runs the gamut, bouncing from one extreme to another, and providing something for every reader.

SF Site's Readers' Choice Awards for 2005
You've waited patiently for a whole year, but at last your favourite season has rolled around again. Yes, that's right, it's time to finish reading those new books that have been stacking up on your bookshelves, your floor or bedside table, because very soon you'll need to determine which ones you feel are the best of the best. Or at least, you will if you want to have a say in the annual SF Site Readers' Choice Awards! The deadline for voting is February 11, 2006. If you've forgotten what you chose in previous years, you can find them all linked at Best Read of the Year including Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke which was the top choice last year.

Lost on the Darkside edited by John Pelan
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
This anthology represents the forth instalment in the fortunate Darkside series, one so far consistently good, which has probably reached its peak with the previous volume A Walk on the Dark Side. In spite of the editor's ability to recruit first-class writers as contributors for his annual horror anthology, keeping up the quality level of such a literary project is not easy.

The Healer by Michael Blumlein
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
Payne is a Grotesque, a member of an offshoot of the human race distinguished by cranial deformities and an extra orifice in their chests. In most, this orifice is inert, but in a small number of them it's functional, enabling them to perform wondrous healings. Tesques with healing gifts are trained, then dispatched far and wide to serve humanity (and only humanity, for tesques cannot heal other tesques; nor are tesques considered worth healing, for humans regard them as a lesser race).

Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop by Kate Wilhelm
an excerpt
"I don't live by the clock. I work late hours at night and get up when I wake without much regard for what time it is. On those occasions when I have to get up early and set the alarm at bedtime, I invariably wake before it goes off. I know many others who say the same thing happens to them. It is as if something in us is keeping track of the time while we sleep."

Tides by Scott Mackay
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
Somewhere along the line, while he was writing this novel, the question may have been asked of the author, "Why a science fiction novel?" After all, you have a courageous sea-captain, uncharted waters, and an undiscovered continent with seemingly backwards natives waiting to be exploited. Why not an historical novel, with a modern emphasis on the sins of the exploiters?

New Arrivals
compiled by Neil Walsh
The latest batch of books to arrive at the SF Site office includes new works from Peter F. Hamilton, Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Damien Broderick, and John Marco. Also featured are new editions of some classic works from Frank Herbert, Philip K. Dick, Dan Simmons, and Charles de Lint. All this and much more.

Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Over the year-end dearth of SF on TV, Rick has been watching DVDs. He has some thoughts on the Lois & Clark: Season One and Battlestar Galactica: Season Two.

Dark Side of the Moon by J. Carson Black
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
The author continues to ignore the common wisdom of writing: debut novels are supposed to be rough and uncertain, fledgling steps into the genre, sophomore efforts stumble coming out of the gate. Right? Wrong. Starting with a spectacular debut that was one of the best novels of 2005, she follows up with a second volume in the Laura Cardinal series that may, in fact, be even better than the first. With a record like that, she is a force to be reckoned with and an author to keep an eye on.

Outside the Dog Museum by Jonathan Carroll
reviewed by David Soyka
Harry Radcliffe is a celebrated architect, divorced but still on good terms personally and professionally with his former spouse, currently seemingly equally in love with two different women. The Sultan of Saru is pestering Harry to build an edifice, the titular dog museum, that doesn't much interest Harry. Unfolding events persuade Harry to accept the job, that in turn not only becomes a life transformational event for Harry, but also portends drastic cosmic implications as humans understand, or rather misunderstand, them.