Tales Before Narnia edited by Douglas A. Anderson
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
This anthology reprints a score of works which were putative direct or indirect influences on the writings of C.S. Lewis, although the relevance of the material extends beyond merely the Chronicles of Narnia to such of Lewis' works as The Screwtape Letters and the Space Trilogy. Lewis was a voracious and lifelong reader, so lots of potential material exists for such an anthology, and the editor has distilled some of the best of these here.

The Surgeon's Tale and Other Stories by Cat Rambo & Jeff VanderMeer
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
A slim booklet of only 90 pages, it assembles five pieces of fiction including the title story, a collaborative work by the two writers. It is the highlight of the book, providing an excellent mix of horror and fantasy where an old surgeon reminisces about his years as a medical student and the daring experiment attempting to bring back to life the corpse of a young woman.

Nexus Graphica
a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams
Nexus Graphica is a column about graphic novels and comics that grew out of discussions between Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams. They will alternate columns. The nature and subject of each piece will vary from month to month, but it will always have something to do with graphic novels or comic books. For his first column, Mark is grappling with the idea of what comics are for. Are they just for fun? Or are comics -- when at their best -- simultaneously about individual lives (even spandex-encased ones) and everyone's lives, our lives, all at once? Social commentary, perhaps.

A Guide to Folktales in Fragile Dialects by Catherynne M. Valente
reviewed by Amal El-Mohtar
In Antoine Galland's Arabian Nights, there's a story called "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp." In the story, Aladdin orders his Djinn to build a palace for the Sultan. He specifies, however, that he wants there to be one flaw in the whole, one window-frame of gems that is incomplete, in order to allow the Sultan the honour of finishing it. The Djinn complies. Then, when the Sultan's being led through it, his eyes light on the incomplete window, and he's relieved to have found the flaw, the one tiny thing that can give his soul a break from the otherwise overwhelming awe. That's what reading this collection is like.

Tales from the Secret City: A Cryptopolis Anthology
reviewed by David Hebblethwaite
Cryptopolis -- a writers' group based in Austin, Texas -- offers us an anthology of ten stories by its members, each introduced by another contributor. The book is elevated above the status of back-slapping exercise by actually being pretty good, yet at the same time, it's frustratingly not good enough to be much more than pretty good. It seems that three of the stories go the extra distance to become something quite special; the other seven are interesting, but stop a little short.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
reviewed by Dustin Kenall
At the center of the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicles stands Kvothe. At different times an orphan, a lutist, a student, a mage, and a dragon slayer, at the opening of his tale Kvothe is only Kote, a simple innkeeper who has renounced his adventurous ways and heroic persona. The author shows us, in a prologue that is about as perfectly polished as one page of prose can get, the layered silence that envelops him, "the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die." There are demons -- monsters equal parts spider, lobster, and Edward Scissorhands -- about and, unsurprisingly, it appears Kvothe's past is catching up with him. A scrivener tracks him down to take his life story. Kvothe demands three days -- one for each book.

Inside Straight edited by George R.R. Martin
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
In the plus column, Inside Straight introduces three or four credible new characters, there's a smattering of informative continuity with the established Wild Cards canon, and new blood in the pool of writing talent. In the minus column, most older characters and their chronology appear to have been consigned to history, except for cheesy cameo roles.

Wastelands edited by John Joseph Adams
reviewed by Stuart Carter
This anthology collects 22 stories together, the majority from the 21st century, although some reach back to the mutually assured destruction of the 80s, and a couple even hail from the crazy 70s. Is this anthology a result of the new age of insecurity and Terror (with a capital "T") that we live in? It might be argued so, because nuclear armageddon seldom rears its ugly head here; instead the eponymous apocalypse is more likely to be biological, a post 9/11 war of attrition or even the Biblical Day of Judgment.

Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Rick has some thoughts on Dr. Who, and the Dr. Who spinoffs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. All three begin their run on American TV in April. He also has some notes on new shows by Ronald D. Moore and by Joss Whedon on Fox coming this Fall.

New Arrivals
compiled by Neil Walsh
The newest batch of books to arrive on our doorstep include the latest from Stephen Baxter, Steven Erikson, John Kessel, John Meaney, Keri Arthur, Joe Abercrombie, Greg Keyes, Adam Stemple, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., as well as new anthologies from William Schaffer of Subterranean Press, Ann & Jeff VanderMeer, and much more.

New Audiobooks
compiled by Susan Dunman
At times, it's more convenient (and enjoyable) to hear the latest in science fiction and fantasy. Recent audiobook releases include works by Jim Butcher, Orson Scott Card, Philip Pullman and Lois McMaster Bujold.