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Our Contents Page highlights reviews of Inherit the Earth by Brian Stableford, Vast by Linda Nagata, Queen of Demons by David Drake and Freddy the Detective by Walter R. Brooks.

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The Borrowers 1, 2 & 3 by Mary Norton reviewed by Georges T. Dodds It's been said before, but it's still true that *The Borrowers* is a wonderful series of children's books, enchanting for children yet retaining an interest for adults. They're more than just novels of adventure and wonder; they can also be seen as a parable of the disenfranchised and homeless. Harcourt, Brace & Co. has recently reprinted Mary Norton's classic series as a tie-in to the movie. The Borrowers 4 & 5 by Mary Norton and The Borrowers by Sherwood Smith reviewed by David Soyka People are often disappointed when a movie isn't the same as the book it's based upon. Generally speaking, movies usually have a hard time matching the complex interactions between readers and words. Which is why it's best to consider movies as adaptations of the books on which they are based, not literal recreations. Revisions to characters and plot structure are oftentimes necessary to focus on significant themes that can be adequately expressed cinematically.
Song for the Basilisk by Patricia McKillip reviewed by Victoria Strauss It is demanding reading. Yet such is the beauty of the writing, the vividness of the images, the truth of the emotions, and the strength of the characterizations, that it's possible to read this book for these things alone, without dipping more deeply into the complex web of symbol and allusion that lies beneath the fairy-tale surface. The Searchers: City of Iron by Chet Williamson reviewed by Todd Richmond There's no doubt that we're seeing more books about government conspiracies, supernatural activities and alien abductions. Not a bad thing if you're a fan. This novel is right on target with hints of secret government organizations, mysterious holy hitmen, and immortal Scotsmen with links to the Knights Templar. Babylon 5.1 TV reviews by Rick Norwood In his column this month, Rick's commentary on SF television includes his choice of the best episodes of last year and an episode of The X-Files, "The Erlenmeyer Flask", written by Chris Carter. The Whispers by Dan Parkinson reviewed by Lisa DuMond Would you like to make more money? Sure, we all do. So, why not start your own business? A travel agency? Yeah, that can be risky, but your travel agency is going to be different. Your clients are heading for the past, not Fiji. Lucas and Maude Hawthorn did. The Alien Years by Robert Silverberg reviewed by Greg L. Johnson What do you do against an utterly unbeatable enemy? Silverberg poses this question in his latest novel, in which the Entities arrive on Earth -- aliens who refuse all attempts to communicate. They simply take over, and humans are quickly relegated to the status of a second rate species on our own planet. As much a multi-generation family epic as a novel of alien invasion, Greg finds The Alien Years is very much the work of an old master re-examining one of SF's classic themes. Star Wars: I, Jedi by Michael A. Stackpole reviewed by Thomas F. Cunningham Stackpole has already proven his adeptness at *Star Wars* tales with the *X-Wing* series. This time he uses a little ILM magic to brush in a new student amongst Luke Skywalker's budding Jedi Knights, retelling part of the tale of the Jedi Academy. His hero is Corran Horn, Corellian fighter pilot -- independent, hard-headed and with a lust for adventure. Between the Darkness and the Fire edited by Jeffry Dwight reviewed by Lisa DuMond This anthology marks Jeffry Dwight's first foray into editing. Hmmm... doesn't show. Either Dwight has a natural ability to select quality material, or he's just assembled a stellar collection of authors for this initial anthology. Asimov's SF, August 1998 reviewed by David Soyka Asimov's contemplates the existence of God in its August issue, and the revelations it arrives at are hardly comforting. From Greg Egan's excellent novella "Oceanic" to James Patrick Kelly's clever "Bierhorst, R.G. Seera, B.L., and Jennifer R.P., 'Proof of the Existence of God and an Afterlife,' Journal of Experimental Psychology, Volume 95, Spring 2007, Pages 32-36," the focus is on about humanity's relationship with divinity. Best of all Possible Wars edited by Larry Niven reviewed by Peter D. Tillman Is *The Man-Kzin Wars* the best shared world series on the market? Peter thinks so, and this latest volume -- a best-of collection featuring work from Larry Niven, Greg Bear, S.M. Stirling, and Jerry Pournelle -- will show you why. Aliens: Berserker by S.D. Perry reviewed by Todd Richmond The ninth book in the *Aliens* series portrays an interesting new practice in the war with the bugs -- send in a small team, including one very powerful killing machine, and let them loose. Worried about losing too many men? Use criminal volunteers and give them a break on their sentence -- if they live. The Fantasy Hall of Fame edited by Robert Silverberg reviewed by Todd Ruthman "Definitive" and "Best" are in the eye of the beholder, but Robert Silverberg and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America have selected thirty thoroughly enjoyable works of short fantasy in this long overdue companion to *The Science Fiction Hall of Fame*.		Going Home Again by Howard Waldrop reviewed by Greg L. Johnson Howard Waldrop is a singularly individual writer who writes complex, beautiful short stories, many of which reveal alternate histories of a truly unique nature. Unfortunately, he produces them barely faster than most authors turn out novels. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix reviewed by Chris Donner Luke, the illegal third son, must hide to avoid being caught by the Population Police. He discovers a counterpart named Jen who lives in a neighboring house. What starts out slow and a bit dull suddenly jumps into life with a pop of the clutch and the catch of the gears. Under the Cat's Eye by Gillian Rubinstein reviewed by Thomas Myer If you liked C. S. Lewis and Robert Louis Stevenson, then you will absolutely go bananas over Gillian Rubinstein. She captures exactly how Thomas, as a child, would react or think about different things, and her portrait of fantastical subjects is charming and evocative. $Aftermath$ Aftermath by Charles Sheffield reviewed by Victoria Strauss This is a well-written, absorbing book. As always in a Sheffield novel, the science is well-explicated and the characters varied and sympathetic. The plot turns are unusual, and keep the reader guessing. September New Arrivals compiled by John O'Neill Yes, it's September. Time to lay in books for the winter. And there are some great titles to get you started this week, including books by George Zebrowski, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Fred Saberhagen, Bryan Cholfin, Andre Norton, William Barton and Michael Capobianco, Nancy Holder, Peter David, Nancy Collins, Steven Lee Climer, Robert Silverberg, William Browning Spencer,, and Robin Wayne Bailey. After the Blue by Russel Like reviewed by Lisa DuMond Tired of waiting for the next Douglas Adams opus? Afraid the *Red Dwarf* franchise has been milked for all its worth? Don't give in to despair; there must be other knee-slappers out there. Well, with a minimal amount of digging, Lisa has found one for you. The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha by Lloyd Alexander reviewed by Chris Donner This is one of those rare novels that really transcends the barriers between children's literature and adult literature -- a special talent of Lloyd Alexander. The wealth of meaning and simplicity of language is reminiscent of writers like Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien. The Dancers at the End of Time by Michael Moorcock reviewed by Robert Francis Jherek Carnelian is one of the last humans alive on Earth. He lives at the End of Time, and the people of his world have the power to instantly fulfill their every whim, thanks to millennia-old technologies. So why does Mrs. Amelia Underwood, reluctant time traveler and model citizen of Victorian England, stubbornly refuse to fall in love with him? Spacelight a website review by Steven H Silver Spacelight's introductory page explains what George Willick is trying to do -- an alphabetical listing of the science fiction and fantasy author obituaries. In some cases, authors are also listed under their most popular pseudonyms.