Angels and You Dogs by Kathleen Ann Goonan
reviewed by Paul Kincaid
It maybe that the author would like to live very far away from the rest of us, in a remote cabin
somewhere, preferably where it snows a lot. This is not necessarily a place to escape the present, but rather a place where
one might encounter, understand, and perhaps even embrace the future.
Such, at least, is the setting and the circumstance that keeps cropping up in these stories. They are full of characters
recalling, in isolation, some great catastrophe in which they were complicit; very often they know, also, what is necessary
to put things right, but this withdrawal from society is needed before they can take that next step.
Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton
reviewed by Dominic Cilli
This is a meticulously crafted novel that blends murder mystery, horror story and thriller into one very
compelling and entertaining science fiction novel. This should come as no surprise to fans of the author. He has consistently
proven himself to be one of the most creative and imaginative writers in science fiction. There aren't very many authors
out there who can juggle three genres, a couple dozen characters and a multitude of plot threads with this much detail and
pull it all together into one seamless novel.
Miss Felicity Beedle's The World of Poo by Terry Pratchett
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Over the years, Terry Pratchett has referred to numerous fictional authors and their works in his expansive Discworld
series, from Achmed the Mad's Necrotelinomicon to Cohen the Barbarian's Inne Juste 7 Dayes I wille make you a Barbearian Hero! In
his novel Snuff, Pratchett introduced the prolific chidren's author Miss Felicity Beedle, and he has now published one
of Miss Beedle's books, a tribute to a lost style of children's book where all the kids are well-mannered and all the adults are
infinitely patient.
The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
reviewed by David Soyka
The woman doing the serial dying here is none other than British Special Ops agent Thursday Next, heroine of six previous
novels as well as one imaginary novel who herself may or may not be imaginary. Of course, this is fiction, so of course
she's made up, but this is the kind of fiction that calls into question the nature of reality by imagining a reality that
is not very real, all the while dropping hints that consensual reality may not be so real as the consensus believes, and
that suspending disbelief to sustain narrative is what we do in ordinary life anyway. Confused?
The Sum of Her Parts by Alan Dean Foster
reviewed by Trent Walters
In the trilogy's finale, Ingrid and Whispr run into a "meld," a human gene-modified for the desert, complete
with a heavy water storage sack on his back. He wants a cut on their diamond haul, but the two aren't hunting
diamonds. They believe they lose him; yet unbeknownst to them he dogs their trail. Later, after they've dodged searcher drones
patrolling the area outside the SEAC facility, a four-armed anti-corporation Meld, living and prospecting in this forbidden
zone, accosts Ingrid and Whispr.
Meanwhile, Molé, the hired assassin sniffs out their trail to southern Africa.
The Fifth Science Fiction Megapack: 25 Modern and Classic Science Fiction Stories edited by John Betancourt
reviewed by Cyd Athens
The 5th volume in the Science Fiction Megapack ebook series presents 25 tales of
high adventure through other worlds and times, including two award winners: Avram Davidson's Hugo-winning story, "Or All the Seas
with Oysters," and Gardner Dozois's "The Peacemaker," which won a Nebula Award, and several
nominees: Nebula Award finalist "The Eichmann Variations," by George Zebrowski; Hugo finalist "Code Three," by Rick
Raphael; and,"May Be Some Time," by Brenda Clough, which was both a Hugo and a Nebula finalist.
Chimera by T.C. McCarthy
an audiobook review by Dale Darlage
This is the third installment of the remarkable Subterrene War trilogy. This
is not an easy trilogy. It has brutal battle scenes, shows the reader an uncomfortable vision of technology pushed too far and
asks important questions about what it is to be human. And, on top of that, these three books are well-told, hair-raising trips
through three different war zones in a truly dysfunctional world.
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Hex Appeal edited by P.N. Elrod
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
All together there are ten authors at work here, two of whom write under a collective name, presenting paranormal tales from the world that lies just out of
sight, most of the time. These include stories about bigfoot, albino vampires, professional wizards, a resurrected
boyfriend, and a supporting role for a pleasure droid from the twenty-third century! The editor wrangles a nicely
diverse collection of talent. But former glory is never a guarantee. Is what they
serve up the literary equivalent of a gourmet meal, or more like a dog's breakfast?
Into the Woods by Kim Harrison
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
Readers of Kim Harrison's novels will have some idea of what to expect with her latest offering of short and long stories which are based either in or out
of the Hollows. They feature bounty hunter and witch heroine, Rachel Morgan, and includes
a special Hollows novella. This is a large book, so
her fiction is more novella than short stories, and it takes the reader through her realms where nothing is what it seems
when elves and other beings lurk in the shadows.
What I Found at Hoole by Jeffrey Barlough
reviewed by Christopher DeFilippis
It's tough to classify the Western Lights novels, which take place in a mysteriously sundered
world where an ice-locked Victorian society coexists with a host of prehistoric beasts. The series wonderfully mixes horrific,
fantastic and supernatural elements -- with a dash of Science Fiction thrown in -- cooked up into a string of stand-alone
Victorian-esque potboilers. The author calls his books fantasy mysteries.
Finding Poe by Leigh M. Lane
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
Edgar Allan Poe has influenced many new writers with his short stories that ranged from the strange, to the eerie
and bizarre. They were dark, but one novel he never completed was The Lighthouse, and this is the basis for the novel, as
well as other characters the author has added for creative reasons.
Nexus Graphica
a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams
A bombastic ad of Thor #337 featuring a scary-looking alien destroying the Thor comics
logo littered Marvel comics throughout late summer 1983. As a young comics fan, Rick Klaw knew something of the
character. He had read the title for a brief period in the 70s and a smattering of the Lee/Kirby issues
from the 60s. Something about this cover image of a strange creature
that appeared similar to the Thunder God, really struck a chord. Rick picked up the issue the day it
came out, thus launching a life-long love affair with creator Walter Simonson whom he intervews.
Watching the Future
a column by Derek Johnson
Inclusion stands among science fiction's chief virtues. While infighting breaks out, often about where the center presently resides,
fans and critics think nothing of accepting works outside the genre into the pulp folds.
Despite this, Derek Johnson admits to balking when it comes to extending
the James Bond series, either in print or on screen, the same courtesy. It's not that he dislikes Bond but he finds
the adventures featuring Ian Fleming's famous secret agent fit uncomfortably with science fiction,
like a Savile Row suit not tailored for Bond's Walther PPK.
Cloud Atlas
a movie review by Rick Norwood
This is a historical/romance/contemporary thriller/comedy/science fiction/fantasy unlike anything you've ever
seen. Whether it is the wave of the future or a flash in the pan, Rick enjoyed it far more than he expected. What a less media
savvy audience would make of this series of quick, vivid images that tells six different stories remains to be seen.
Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
When a new genre television series comes along, Rick usually watches a few episodes, though in some cases,
Arrow for example, a few minutes is enough. Then he either signs on or signs off. Sometimes
he tells us that he makes a mistake. He gave up too soon on Lost and Heroes, and went back to them
on Blu-ray. Sometimes the shows he likes are not to everyone's taste.
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