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SF Insite: Contributing Editor Steven H Silver
puzzles over some of the choices made in Entertainment Weekly's 100 Greatest Works of Science Fiction.
Letters:
We love letters. They make us think. They make us laugh. They make us sit up and take notice.
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Jonathan Carroll Reading List: from Land of Laughs
to his latest, Kissing the Beehive, he's on many readers' favourite writer list. And now he's got a new website.
Science Fact: Sometimes fiction isn't enough. Here are a few places to start.
Star Trek: for those of you wondering where to go and what's there, here are some suggestions.
Computer Gaming: Want to waste some more time? Here, you can download playable demos, shareware versions,
patches, FAQs, and a wide assortment of helpful utilities.
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Author & Fan Tribute Sites: we've built 26 pages of them (plus one for Mc).
Our Contents Page highlights reviews of
Immortality by Dr. Ben Bova,
Eternal Lovecraft edited by Jim Turner,
Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan and
Legends edited by Robert Silverberg.
SF Site Interviews: In past issues, we've interviewed Gregory Benford, Bruce Sterling and many others. If you missed any, here is an easy way to see which ones.
Conventions: we've updated our coverage to include listings broken down by date, by location and by category.
SF Site Chronological and Alphabetic List: wondering what appeared in previous SF Site issues?
Or perhaps you're just interested in our recent issues:
SF Site is host to:
Visit our sister site
for the best in SF-oriented chat.
For SF TV movie listings from SF Site and TVNow, visit
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The Golden Globe by John Varley
reviewed by Paul J. McAuley
Guest Reviewer Paul J. McAuley found it to be a relaxed, playful, virtuoso performance,
packed with incidents and wonders as casually deployed as scarves from a magician's hat.
The novel vividly evokes a Solar System where all history is, of necessity, as postmodern and
hyperreal as Disneyland. It never falters as the narrative moves from comedy to tragedy.
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Lost Pages by Paul Di Filippo
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
There could be any number of parallel universes popping up around
us, but even in this one, Paul Di Filippo is in his own world.
This time, he is musing upon a world where SF as a genre died in
the late 60s. The inevitable question arises: how would the world have been different?
The Best of Crank! edited by Bryan Cholfin
reviewed by David Soyka
David found much of this anthology is more fantasy than SF,
though even that distinction is kind of meaningless. What's
here is literature. At times it annoyed him, puzzled him: even frustrated him.
But, above all, it made him think.
The Gilded Chain by Dave Duncan
reviewed by Wayne MacLaurin
Never one to tell a simple tale when a more complex one would
be even better, the author has taken what could have been a
uninspired rehash of every sword-swinging hero and molded it
into a tale that draws more from the characters and the depth
of the story line than it does from bloodshed and swordplay.
Eating Memories by Patricia Anthony
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
No one who has kept up with Patricia Anthony's novels needs to be
reminded of her amazing talent. For those who haven't had the pleasure,
meet Ms. Anthony: quite simply one of the finest writers of our time. And
begin your acquaintance with this collection of her powerful short fiction.
October Books
compiled by John O'Neill
What is it about fall? Publishers get ready for winter the same way small animals do
-- with enormous energy. We've seen nearly sixty new titles in the last two weeks alone,
and the books keep arriving. They include new work from
Raymond E. Feist, Neil Gaiman, John Varley, Harry Harrison, Stephen Baxter, Paul Di Filippo,
Anne McCaffrey, David and Leigh Eddings, Philip Pullman, Wil McCarthy, Dave Duncan, and
dozens of others.
With the Lightnings by David Drake
reviewed by Peter D. Tillman
A more descriptive title might be "The Lieutenant & the Librarian." Lt.
Daniel Leary is a supernumerary diplomat and Adele Mundy, the Electoral
Librarian, is the lone survivor of her family's political massacre on the planet Cinnabar.
Leisurely at the beginning, once a coup unfolds, the action becomes
fast and furious -- as well as clever and fun.
Moonseed by Stephen Baxter
reviewed by Steven H Silver
It opens with a recounting of the Apollo 18 mission to Aristarchus
and the explosion of Venus. Neither event seems to have a major
impact on the lives of people on Earth. The rocks collected at
Aristarchus are sealed in decontamination units by NASA for decades.
One day, a small sample is spilled onto the ground...
Forthcoming Books
compiled by John O'Neill
Part of the joy of reviewing books is the occasional glimpse at a future title or two.
And we don't think we're all that different from you. So, using the same format as our
New Books and New Games sections, we've crafted a set of pages devoted to news and info
on forthcoming books -- including work from Stephen R. Donaldson,
George R.R. Martin, Bruce Sterling, and many others. We'll think you'll find it very
interesting.
The Chronicles of Scar by Ron Sarti
reviewed by Regina Lynn Preciado
This trilogy traces the evolution of young Prince Arn, also called Scar,
from a frightened beggar to a cowardly prince to an unwilling hero and
finally to a mature leader and man. Set on a ravaged world where
electricity and other technologies are forbidden, and "dinosaurs" roam the swamps.
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Bag of Bones by Stephen King
reviewed by Pat Caven
It reads like Rebecca meets Bill Gates meets Kramer vs Kramer.
For Pat, this novel served as an introduction into the famed Stephen King mystique.
And after a year of reading Canadian literary writers, it was like being slapped
in the face with a big wet fish.
Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
In his column, Rick reviews the two-part season premiere of Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine, "Image in the Sand" and "Shadows and Symbols," and the
premiere episode of Star Trek: Voyager, "Night."
The Runelords: The Sum of All Men by David Farland
reviewed by Regina Lynn Preciado
In the first of this series, a renegade Runelord sets out to
conquer his neighbouring kingdoms. But an even greater danger
walks (or crawls) upon the land. It is a time of darkness,
a time of sickness in the Earth itself. The humans' only hope
for survival is the rebirth of the Earth King -- a legend
almost forgotten, unknown even by the chosen heir.
The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Visions of the future vary as widely as daydreams, but there is one
thing we all seem to hope for our world: tolerance. On the surface, that
doesn't appear to be too much to ask. But, with a multitude of races,
the universe of this novel offers a convincing argument that no magic cure
is on the way to save us from our worst selves.
Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Canine cyborgs with human-level intelligence are created by a mad scientist and his
minions. Equipped with voice boxes and prosthetic hands, they revolt and
slaughter their masters before making a splashy arrival in New York.
A young NYU student writes an article about them and is hired as the PR voice of the dogs.
Elaine Cunningham
An interview with Don Bassingthwaite
In the last issue, Don did a review of Thornhold by Elaine Cunningham,
the last book in The Harpers series from TSR. Because the series
concluded with her book, Don has asked Elaine to share some of her thoughts on
The Harpers and on her books within the series.
A Paladin in Hell
a gaming module review by Wayne MacLaurin
Every once in a while something comes along that you know is
destined to become a classic. A Paladin in Hell is definitely one of them.
Get Medieval
a game review by Steve Lazarowitz
Some 15 years ago, a game called Gauntlet made its debut
in the arcades. I pumped enough quarters into that machine to put my daughter through
college. I don't regret a single cent of it. This game is so similar
to that classic, they should have called it Gauntlet II.
Star*Drive: Arms and Equipment Guide
a gaming accessory review by Don Bassingthwaite
Great selection, slightly questionable presentation,
good background material with a little imagination, Don's advice: buy the
Guide for the toys but look for text details and
you'll get even more out of this book.
September Games
compiled by John O'Neill
Modern gaming features some of the most creative work in fantasy and science fiction today. From the rich background
of TSR's Forgotten Realms to the detailed future of White Wolf's Trinity, gamers and game
authors around the world are enjoying some of the most fully-realized fictional settings ever created. If you're
looking for innovative ideas and energetic prose, look no further.
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