Cloud and Ashes by Greer Gilman
reviewed by Paul Kincaid
You encounter them sometimes, stories that haunt you without you ever knowing quite why or how. Stories that are
good, yes, you are sure of that, but what makes them so? "Jack Daw's Pack," which leads off this novel or collection
or what have you, is drunk on words, is feasting
on myth and legend and folk tales and song and literature. It's oblique, if that doesn't sound too straightforward
for what Greer Gilman does here. It's allusive, yet no-one, probably not even Gilman herself, is going to pick up
on all the allusions. Which means there is always mystery here, always some piece missing from the puzzle, always
some sense of the fist closing on air.
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
reviewed by Dominic Cilli
The kingdoms of Hallandren and Idris have been estranged from one another for 300 years over political
and religious differences. The kingdom of Hallandren is ostentatious,
colorful and worships its "returned" as living gods. They make use of a biochromatic system of magic that
utilizes colors along with their life force, which they refer to as Breath, to produce magical effects. In
stark contrast, is the humble kingdom of Idris. They lead simple drab lives of devotion and do not believe
in the using their breath to produce biochromatic magic and feel the Hallandren's use of breath to be blasphemy.
Nekropolis by Tim Waggoner
reviewed by Bonnie L. Norman
Matt Richter is good at doing favors for people. A former cop, he's good at finding things out and making
people talk. He's also very, very dead. As the only self-willed zombie in the alternate dimension where the
haven city of Nekropolis is built, he's something of an oddity even among the strange, weird, dangerous,
and creepy citizens that make their home there.
NeuroGenesis by Helen Collins
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
The planet Z2 is part of the Octente, a political entity comprised of many planets whose communications and
commerce are limited by the use of SPEED ships that travel near, but not beyond, the speed of light. SPEED
ships are also used for exploration and research. That's the mission of the Procne, but when the Procne's crew
is changed at the last minute, and its mission is mysteriously altered from two years to two hundred in local
time, the effect on the friends and family of the crew is as if they have all been murdered.
Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction, #13
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
Known for its showcasing talented writers and illustrators, the magazine
also boasts new stories from such well-known writers
as Steve Rasnic Tem who has penned many short fictional tales of fantasy and horror, Danny Adams who was also co-author
with Philip José Farmer and T.L.Morganfield. These stories range from the fantastic to the inventive and the tales
are woven with great style.
Shark Hunting in Paradise Garden by Cameron Pierce
reviewed by John Enzinas
Apparently there is a genre called Bizzaro Fiction. John hadn't know about it before reading Shark Hunting in
Paradise Garden by Cameron Pierce. Now he does. It touched him deeply. He has not yet decided if it was inappropriate
touching.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
an audiobook review by Nicki Gerlach
Seventeen-year-old Quentin Coldwater is pretty much your average highly-intelligent seventeen-year-old: he
plays at being aloof, cool, and indifferent to the trials of being a teenager. But there's a secret part of
him that longs for magic -- the same part of him that still loves the series of children's books set in the
magical land of Fillory.
The Demon Spirit, Part 2 by R.A. Salvatore
an audiobook review by Gil T. Wilson
The Demon Spirit, Part 2 continues with Elbryan, Pony and Juraviel, the elf, trying their best
to rid Corona of the remaining Fomorian Giants, Bloody-Cap powrie dwarves and goblins. This time,
they run into the generals of the powries and giants and decide to destroy those higher ranking
officials in hopes that, without their leaders, the powries and giants will leave the land and the
goblins will soon follow suit. The battles ensue and when it looks like a major victory for the
humans is eminent, an unforseen problem arises.
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Moxyland by Lauren Beukes
reviewed by Bonnie L. Norman
The gap between the haves and the have-nots has spread to a Grand Canyon sized gulf. Set in the
near future of South Africa, it follows the interweaving story of four very different kinds of people. In
each perspective, the person is somehow controlled or subsumed by the technology society has come to rely
on, bringing to mind visions of how claustrophobic and wired life could eventually become.
Wages of Sin by Jenna Maclaine
reviewed by Katherine Petersen
The story takes place in Regency England in and around London. Dulcinea Craven
comes from a long line of powerful witches who usually come into their power gradually as they age, but Dulcie
receives all her power at once, the night her parents are killed in a mysterious carriage accident on their way
home from a party. In fact, Dulcie's whole life changes that night.
Rundog by J.O. Quantaman
reviewed by John Enzinas
This a the story of a Norwegian/Japanese girl who escapes from sexual slavery to
taken in and trained by ninja-enforcers for a utopian co-op. If that doesn't grab your interest, what if you learned
it was self-published? But before you pass, read the first paragraph.
Nexus Graphica
a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams
In the late 90s, manga, Japanese comic books, finally exploded into the
American consciousness. Unlike its animated cousin, anime (popular since the
early 60s following the introduction of Astro Boy to the US), manga
didn't make a significant impact in the United States until the 1980 release of
Barefoot Gen. Rick Klaw concludes his look at how
the much maligned comic book edged toward the precipice of mainstream acceptance.
New Arrivals
compiled by Neil Walsh
This time our new arrivals include the latest from Kim Stanley Robinson, Jeff VanderMeer, Jacqueline Carey, David Anthony Durham, F. Paul Wilson, Kristin Cashore, Harry Turtledove, some classic Douglas Adams, and much more besides!
New Audiobooks
compiled by Susan Dunman
Recent audiobook releases received by SF Site include works by
Anne Rice, Simon R. Green, R.A. Salvatore, Alastair Reynolds, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
At times it's more convenient (and enjoyable) to hear the latest in science fiction and fantasy.
Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Rick has been thinking about the state of SF on TV and who writes the series.
He also gives us a list of what SF is on TV in November.
Night's Master by Tanith Lee
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
Originally published in 1978 and nominated for the World Fantasy Award, Night's Master
constitutes the first book in a series of five volumes which appeared in print over a ten-year period and subsequently
labelled under the title, Tales from the Flat Earth.
Structured as a series of interconnected short stories merging in atypical novels, it
takes place on a world in which the Earth, where humans live, is flat and lies between two different
layers: the Upperearth, the realm of indifferent gods, and the Underearth, a fantastic place where demons
rule and the sun never shines.
Sex in the System edited by Cecilia Tan
reviewed by Martin Lewis
There is a difference between dealing with sex and being sexy. Joe Haldeman opens and closes the collection
with two pieces, neither of which could be described as hot. The first, "The Future Of Sex: A Garden Of Unearthly
Delights," is a piece of light comic erotic SF verse. Thankfully that isn't a description you have to use
too frequently. The second, "More Than The Sum Of His Parts," is more typical of the fare on offer.
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