Visitants edited by Stephen Jones
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
Angels are generally represented as either God-sent messengers or guardians protecting our souls from evil. And
we must remember that devils and demons are, supposedly, just fallen angels. All in all, angels are supernatural
beings bringing either light or darkness into our life. What better topic, then, for an anthology of fantasy /dark fiction?
SF Site's Best Read of the Year: 2010
compiled by Neil Walsh
Welcome to the SF Site's 14th annual Editors' Choice Best Books of the Year -- our official
Best Reading recommendations from everything we read in 2010.
You'll notice some overlap with the SF Site's Readers' Choice: Best Read of the Year, and plenty of variance. Undoubtedly
you can find some gem of a book here that you might otherwise have missed, as every book mentioned on this page is worth a look. Enjoy!
Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold
an audiobook review by Nicki Gerlach
To the Jackson's Whole geneticists who created him, he's a perfect clone, a work of art. To the Komarran
terrorists who raised him, tortured him, and trained him, he's the ideal assassin. To Barrayaran Imperial
Security, he's a dangerously unknown quantity and potential threat. And to Miles Vorkosigan, he's a
wayward younger brother. But who is Mark Vorkosigan, really?
One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
an audiobook review by Julie Moncton
Four years have passed since the events of Halfway to the Grave and Cat is now leading a crack team of
recruits who track down and eliminate vampires. The team is a first-class vampire killing machine whose physical
skills are finely honed with a brutal training regimen and a touch of vampire blood infusions to give them an
extra bit of supernatural boost.
Time for the Stars by Robert A. Heinlein
an audiobook review by Dale Darlage
The Earth is too crowded and a research corporation called the
Long Range Foundation has invested in several ships to seek out new planets that humans can inhabit. There
are already colonies throughout the solar system but they are too expensive and can only hold a limited
number of colonists. The trick with all of these ships will be communication. The Foundation has found that some very
few people, especially twins, are actually telepathic and can be trained to speak to one another with their minds.
Atlantis and Other Places by Harry Turtledove
an audiobook review by Dale Darlage
Called a "Master of Alternate History" by Publishers Weekly, Harry Turtledove continues on that track
with a set of 12 short stories. Topics and eras range from pre-history to the Peloponnesian War to the Byzantine
Empire to World War II, along with two stories set in modern times.
Directive 51 by John Barnes
an audiobook review by Gil T. Wilson
The story takes a look at an America where terrorists, both foreign and domestic,
all attack at once, threatening not only our creature comforts, but the Constitution of the United States of America.
The year is 2024 and many factions are tired of America's slothfulness and reliance upon technology. They all band
together in a movement called Daybreak and bring not only America, but the world, to its knees.
A Matter of Matter by L. Ron Hubbard
an audiobook review by Gil T. Wilson
Once again, listeners have the opportunity to visit the Golden Age of science fiction in this audio
release of selected short stories written by L. Ron Hubbard for pulp magazines such as Astounding
Science Fiction, Startling Stories, and Thrilling Wonder Stories. This
audiobook contains four stories brought to us by a cast of performers and narrated by R.F. Daley.
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Among Others by Jo Walton
reviewed by Rich Horton
Morwenna is a Welsh girl, with an identical twin named Morganna (also
called Mor), and with an involved family history, living in the valleys in South
Wales. But some months before, there was a terrible accident and
Mor's sister dies, while Mor is sufficiently injured that she still uses a cane and walks with pain.
Mor blames her mother for what happened, though somewhat indirectly -- it seems her mother, a somewhat
dreadful and rackety woman is also a magic user, and had plans to became a Dark Queen.
Chasing the Moon by A. Lee Martinez
reviewed by Ernest Lilley
Diana has been living out of her suitcase and couch-surfing for weeks, so she really needs a place of her
own. So when she's shown an apartment that comes with a set of rules (Rule #3: Don't pet the dog) and
Mr. West, a mildly weird landlord, she's willing to overlook the little bell going off in her head in
order to get free utilities, a jukebox with her favorite songs, and a fridge already stocked with her
favorite soda. The apartment, West tells her, likes her.
The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The premise is that in 1870 a terrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world, annihilating
millions of humans outright, and condemning many more to death from disease and famine. The survivors fled south
to the tropics, where vampires could not stand the constant heat. Aided by their steam-based technology and a
determination to rise again, humans rebuilt their shattered societies. Princess Adele is the heir to the Empire
of Equatoria, a remnant of the old British Empire. Adele is 19, and promised in marriage, for political reasons,
to a man she has never met.
Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan
reviewed by Katherine Petersen
King Authun, son of the god Odin, has only daughters, so with the help of the witches who live on the troll
wall, he finds a way to give himself an heir. He travels to a Saxon village to steal a baby, who in turn,
was stolen from the gods. To his consternation, he finds twins instead of one child and takes both and their
mother back with him, assuming the witches will know which should become his heir. King Authun leaves no
witnesses to his crimes.
The Japanese Devil Fish Girl and Other Unnatural Attractions by Robert Rankin
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
It is only ten years after the Martians had invaded Earth, at least according to H.G. Wells,
where they were killed by viruses unknown to them. Professor Coffin has the remains of some of the
Martians on display as a curiosity among many other unnatural attractions that are losing their interest quickly
among the visitors.
Source Code
a movie review by Rick Norwood
An intelligent script can turn an old idea into an entertaining film. Source Code is that old chestnut about
reliving the same experience over and over in the hope that, this time, it will not end badly. The filmmakers
tacitly acknowledge that the idea is unoriginal by casting Quantum Leap's Scott Bakula in the
voice role of the hero's father.
Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Doctor Who returns April 23. Rick missed listing it in the April issue, so here is
a list of the episodes announced so far in the new season.
Nexus Graphica
a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams
The Cartoon Art Museum revealed to Rick Klaw many delights, chief among them exhibits featuring the
works of Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkley Breathed and a behind-the-scenes peek
at the making of the legendary Looney Tunes.
Back to the Future: the Game -- Episode 1: It's About Time
a game review by David Maddox
The story picks up
six months after the close of Back to the Future III. It's 1986, Doc is missing and his possessions
are about to be auctioned off by the city of Hill Valley. A saddened Marty McFly goes searching through his
old friend's workshop when, suddenly, the DeLorean appears, containing only Einstein and a recorded plea
for help from the Doc!
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