Editor's Choice
short fiction reviews by David Truesdale
In his column, David looks at the March 1998 of Science Fiction Age. His choice is "Craphound" by Cory Doctorow.

The Moon Maid and Other Fantastic Adventures by R. Garcia y Robertson
reviewed by Stephen M. Davis
The Moon Maid shows Mr. Garcia y Robertson to be every bit as deft at creating characters as Peter S. Beagle, with a good sense of story structure and a nice touch of humour.

Dan Simmons Reading List
compiled by Rodger Turner
With the anticipated release of a new Dan Simmons novel, The Crook Factory, later this year, the time has come for a detailed look at the fiction of this award-winning author.

Cosm by Gregory Benford
reviewed by Stephen M. Davis
This novel is based on an entirely plausible idea from theoretical physics. The basic theory concludes that a "false vacuum" can be formed as a universe connected to our "true vacuum" universe by a "neck" of negative energy. Using a hard, black sphere on our end of things that acts as a kind of window to the newly created universe, Gregory Benford weaves a taut thriller.

Star Wars: Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn
reviewed by Thomas F. Cunningham
This is the first book of the two-volume series, The Hand of Thrawn. It stands out from the many other Star Wars follow-up stories, due mainly to the author's ability to maintain and expand upon the myth that George Lucas began.

How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Typical of Turtledove's alternate history novels, this one sports a large cast of historical characters such as Abe Lincoln, Sam Clemens, Theodore Roosevelt, Frederick Douglass and Stonewall Jackson. They allow Turtledove to present different viewpoints of the situation and add depth to the world he has created without seeming to give any single individual an unreasonably open or broad mind. For it isn't a black-and-white story.

Iron Shadows by Steven Barnes
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Lisa discovered that Barnes has crafted a private eye tale with many special twists, a case different from any his characters have ever taken. Different from anything they've ever seen, and they've seen plenty. It's gun-toting PIs and aura-sprouting miracle workers.

Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber
reviewed by Katharine Mills
If you are the kind of person who won't even go into the bathroom if there's a spider in the tub -- well, you should be forewarned. This is a buggy book. But it's a fine read. And who knows, after your intimate glimpse into their world, you might find yourself actually able to go up to that spider, and gently remove it to a better world outside.

Hand of Prophecy by Severna Park
reviewed by Thomas Myer
In reading, Thomas found this to be a multi-layered novel. At the very core is fear and love and hate, and each layer above it is different: the gore of bodily fluids, the politics of relationships, the greed of the bloodsport managers, the intricacies of governmental disinformation, and the desire for freedom.

The Timeless Tales of Reginald Bretnor by Reginald Bretnor
reviewed by Steven H Silver
For the too many readers who are completely unfamiliar with the author's writing, perhaps the stories which come closest to Bretnor's style and wit are the Azazel stories written by Isaac Asimov during the final years of his life.

February New Arrivals
compiled by John O'Neill
February has produced nearly as many titles as the entire month of January, including new books by Raymond E. Feist, Peter F. Hamilton, Greg Bear, Chris Bunch, Harry Turtledove, Stepan Chapman, John Kessel, Charles Sheffield, Jack Vance, Christopher Rowley, Severna Park, Kate Elliott, S.M. Stirling, Martin H. Greenberg, Scott Mackay, Elliot S. Maggin, and many others.

Star Wars: The Magic of Myth by Mary Henderson
reviewed by Thomas F. Cunningham
When you first saw Star Wars, did you get the feeling you were watching an old western in the future? As you think about it, do you see the Empire as a metaphor for Nazi Germany? This companion volume to an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution, explains why you might have these thoughts.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett
reviewed by Jim Greer
Jim says there's really only one reason why he reads Terry Pratchett novels. It's for those moments when he's laughing so hard he almost roll off the couch. He's happy to report that Feet of Clay delivers.