Miracle In Three Dimensions by C.L. Moore
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
Catherine Moore is probably best known to SF and fantasy readers for her many collaborations with partner and husband
Henry Kuttner, a partnership that produced such classics as "The Vintage Season" and "Mimsy Were The Borogoves." But
before that Catherine was a successful writer on her own, and the stories of C.L. Moore were mainstays of the science
fiction magazines of the 30s. This was the pulp era, a time when magazine SF was in its infancy and writers were making
up the rules as they went along.
The Baum Plan for Financial Independence and Other Stories by John Kessel
reviewed by Paul Kincaid
In a genre like science fiction, where magazines and anthologies have played such a significant part in the
development of the literature, it is inevitable that some writers will make their greatest impression in the short
story. John Kessel is one such writer. His novels have been well received but not groundbreaking; it is as a short
story writer that he has proved most impressive.
So it is strange, to say the least, that so few of his stories have been brought together in collections.
The Adventures of Corwyn by Chad Corrie
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
In his introduction, the author states that, besides their obvious qualities, the conciseness and ability to span a wide time scale of
Robert E. Howard's Conan tales inspired him to try his hand at some short fantasy tales.
While neither Corrie nor anyone else before or since has written quite
like R.E. Howard, these stories are well constructed, entertaining, have engaging characters, and use
standard fantasy tropes with humour and a modicum of originality.
Myth-Chief by Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye
reviewed by Michael M Jones
After an extended time away from M.Y.T.H. Inc. to focus on his studies, Skeeve's decided that it's time to get back in the
groove of things. But rather than rejoin his friends, he's going to start his own consulting agency. Of course, even the
best-intentioned plans tend to go askew, and before Skeeve can even blink, he's somehow managed to talk himself into a
competition with his best friend and former mentor/partner, Aahz.
Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez
reviewed by John Enzinas
This is the first in a series of adventures of Daisy Giordano, a Junior at Nightshade High School. Daisy is the youngest
in family of psychics but has not yet manifested any powers of her own. The story follows Daisy as she attempts to help
her mother, a famous psychic, who is stumped by a murder investigation. She spots a connection to the investigation
when a wasting disease starts striking down the members of the school's cheerleading team.
City of Ember
a movie review by Rick Norwood
City of Ember is a charming children's science fiction movie. Rick's rating is based on the appeal of the movie for
young children. If your child loved last year's children's fantasy The Water Horse, they will love this film as
well. Intelligent moviemaking for children is not to be scorned. Teens, on the other hand, will probably be bored.
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
David Drake, Tanya Huff, Robert A. Heinlein, Jim Butcher,
Stephen R. Donaldson, Sharon Shinn and Orson Scott Card.
Tigerheart by Peter David
an audiobook review by Sarah Trowbridge
Paul Dear is a lively young English boy with apple cheeks, sparkling eyes, and dark, shining hair. He lives near
Kensington Park in London, and has grown up listening to the tales his father tells of The Boy. Which Boy is
that? Why, it's the one we all have heard of: the one who refuses to grow up, the one who can fly. All the names
(and a few of the details) have been changed, but the many exploits of The Boy of Legend are essentially the
adventures of Peter Pan.
Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
an audiobook review by Nicki Gerlach
This is a retelling twice over: first, and most obviously, it's a retelling of Snow White in a
historical perspective. However, it's also a re-imagining of part of the life story of Lucrezia Borgia, a figure
known to most people as a the leading lady of corrupt and murderous Machiavellian politics. What the author
does so well is to synthesize the two, mixing historical fiction with magical realism to
create a historical context and story that seem entirely plausible as the source from which the fairy tale sprung.
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House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
reviewed by Rich Horton
This is a novel that serves up most anything a Space Opera addict could
ask for: vast time scales (the book is set several million years in the future), vast distances (the characters
traverse thousands of light years, and in fact the state of the Andromeda Galaxy is an important plot point),
powerful and exotic tech, from space drives (light speed limited, mind you) to robots to weapons to things like
stardams (to keep a supernova from harming nearby systems), and of course space battles and exploding ships.
The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison
reviewed by Michael M Jones
Rachel Morgan, witch and bounty hunter extraordinaire, finds the sins of her recent past catching up to her in full force when
the demon she thought gone for good, Algaliarept, appears out of nowhere, thoroughly upset and out for revenge. It seems that even
though he's in prison, someone has been summoning him out of his cell and siccing him on Rachel. Another demon, Minias, is in hot
pursuit of the demon Rachel calls "Al," and wants her help in returning the fugitive to his proper confinement.
Nexus Graphica
a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams
The Obama Presidency will be a kind of Rorschach for America, with people
reading into his campaign, and eventually into his administration, what they want to see in themselves. Or,
as per the routine projections of the far right, what is unbearable in themselves.
Mark London Williams began to muse about what the role of
call-and-response is in graphic novels, etc., as part of the overall zeitgest -- to what degree comics
are indistinguishable from media as a "lump sum" -- will future anthropologists distinguish between
types of pop culture, when sifting through moves, TV shows, novels, et al., to determine what it was
we thought of ourselves? -- or do comics occupy a perch of their own?
News Spotlight -- Genre Books and Media
a column by Sandy Auden
Producer/writer/director Stevan Mena takes us behind the scenes on horror comedy movie Brutal Massacre; Keith
de Candido talks about writing Dean and Sam Winchester Supernatural novels; and Fiona McIntosh
updates us on the four novels she's writing this year, including the new Royal Exile.
Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Rick continues his look at TV writers. This time, he mentions those
currently making a major contribution to genre television shows like Doctor Who,
Smallville and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He also has a
word or two about A Quantum of Solace.
City of the Beast by Michael Moorcock
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
This is the first novel in a trilogy, featuring an incarnation of the author's Eternal Champion,
called Michael Kane, an all-American hero, whose life and times deliberately imitate Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars. For
readers who have not encountered Burroughs Martian series, the name of the game is pure escapism. Those who
prefer a high degree of scientific accuracy in their fiction will be disappointed. But, if your main priority
is what used to be called a "rip-roaring adventure" then this novel may be just the one for the job.
Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded by John Scalzi
reviewed by John Enzinas
Those of you who are not blog fans or who don't spend much time on the web may not be aware that John Scalzi has a
blog called Whatever where he posts thoughts, opinions and rants every day and has done so for 10 years (as of
Sept 13, 2008). The thing about having an archive of thousands of essays is that no matter how skilled the author is overall,
the odds of finding his best stuff is pretty poor, unless you have someone to point you at the good bits.
Grimoire of the Necronomicon by Donald Tyson
reviewed by Tammy Moore
In the beginning there was Order, overseen by the piping God Azathoth, his daughter Barbelzoa and the thirteen
gods who danced around his throne. Thirteen, a fan of Lovecraft might query, but surely there are only twelve
blind and idiot gods in attendance on the Nuclear Chaos? Not to mention, the daughter? In this mythos, the
Crawling Chaos, Nyarlathotep, was originally one of the dancing gods, before they were either blind or
idiot -- the conjoined twin of Galila. Driven by lust for bright Barbelzoa, Nyarlathotep used his magic to cast
the other gods into slumber and raped the goddess.
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