The SF Site: The Best in Science Fiction and Fantasy

If this goes on...: In his column, Contributing Editor Thomas Myer tells us why he's a Geek for Life.

Letters: in which readers ask about comics, the fate of Richard Matheson, role-playing games, and much more.

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Paul J. McAuley Reading List: The Invisible Country is his latest. After you've read it, you should try one of these.

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Science Fact: Sometimes fiction isn't enough. Here are a few places to start.

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Our Contents Page highlights reviews of A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin, Distraction by Bruce Sterling, The Iron Wars by Paul Kearney and Dog Eat Dog by Jerry Jay Carroll.

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?

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The Tomorrow Series by John Marsden reviewed by Georges T. Dodds These books are fast-paced, suspense-filled, realistic, emotionally-charged and psychologically-detailed. The *Tomorrow* series is an elevation of adventure literature to heights that are only achieved once or twice in a generation. Georges is already regarding it as a modern classic.
Moonlight and Vines by Charles de Lint reviewed by Robert Francis What would happen in a place where the animal spirits of the Native Americans and the pixies, nixies, pookahs, hobgoblins, and others of faerie co-existed? Charles de Lint has certainly been wondering this for a long time and, in this collection, we can see where his musings have led. The Termination Node by Lois H. Gresh & Robert Weinberg reviewed by Rodger Turner The authors created a nerve-tingling story with monstrous consequences. Most of the book's devastating computer alterations are disarmingly simple and can happen today. Don't let anyone tell you differently. By Reason of Insanity by G. Miki Hayden reviewed by Lisa DuMond Disregard the "mystery" classification. This book is one of the finest examples of dark realism of this decade. Dr. Dennis Astin has no doubt that whoever is committing murder must be dangerously insane. The problem is sorting out the merely chemically unbalanced from the hopelessly mad. Hard to do when you are unsure of your own mental health... February Books compiled by John O'Neill The Best of 98 articles are done with, and now we're in the market for our Best of 1999 candidates. Plenty of promising entries this issue, with fine new work from Dan Simmons, Stephen King, Guy Gavriel Kay, Paul J. McAuley, John Barnes, James Alan Gardner, Anne McCaffrey, Tom Holland, Tom Arden, and many others. Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay reviewed by James Seidman This stunning book is set in a fantasy world based on the historical Byzantine Empire -- the Sarantine Empire. Obvious similarities include a fallen empire to the west and competing factions supporting charioteers. But in the Sarantine Empire, alchemy, pagan gods, and the like are, at least sometimes, actually real. Babylon 5.1 TV reviews by Rick Norwood In his column, Rick's commentary on SF television includes his views about the best way to collect SF on video. King of Infinite Space by David Wolf reviewed by Lisa DuMond Anyone who has ever left the city to find peace and security in the country has learned that small towns are where things really happen. Underneath that soft, furry underbelly of rural life lie more secrets, cover-ups, and shenanigans than metropolitan areas can hope to match. Diplomacy of Wolves by Holly Lisle reviewed by Todd Richmond The first book in *The Secret Texts, a new series by Holly Lisle, begins a tale of conspiracy and treachery, sorcery and lycanthropy, and ancient feuding families. 365 Views of Mount Fuji* by Todd Shimoda reviewed by Lisa DuMond You have never read a book quite like 365 Views of Mount Fuji. Probably, you have read nothing remotely like it. It's time to correct that flaw in your cultural character. Mark V. Ziesing Books compiled by Rodger Turner From Gene Wolfe to Joe Lansdale, Stephen King to James Blaylock, Mark Ziesing has published an eclectic mix of titles since he did his first book in 1982. This is the 7th installment of a 9-part series putting together a reading list of Mark V. Ziesing Books. The Ballad of Billy Badass and the Rose of Turkestan by William Sanders reviewed by Lisa DuMond This is most likely unlike any novel you've come across lately. Forget the fact that it sways between science fiction, fantasy, and horror. This is a story of horrifying truths, deadly lies, and people pushed aside since long before current memory. Vigilant by James Alan Gardner reviewed by Rich Horton Beginning with the promise of a story of politics, this novel soon moves on to a fast-moving plot which involves different species, trade negotiations, ancient alien archaeological sites, plague outbreaks, and some very old crimes. New Magazines compiled by John O'Neill Looking for the best in new magazines? The FictionHome page has news, reviews and links to the finest short fiction on the market, from SF magazines to anthologies and collections. This week sees the arrival of new issues of *Weird Tales, SF Chronicle, and others. Embryo* by Charles Wilson reviewed by Lisa DuMond Imagine a child born, not from a woman's womb, but from an artificial one. How will humans react to machines bringing embryos to term? What kind of life will these "engineered" children have in a world crammed with paparazzi and tabloid news addicts? Forthcoming Books compiled by John O'Neill An advance look at some exciting future releases, including work from Orson Scott Card, John Barnes, Jack Williamson, Alan Dean Foster, Sheri S. Tepper, Christopher Priest, John Marsden, Larry Niven, and many others. We think you'll find it very interesting. The Sleeper in the Sands by Tom Holland reviewed by Georges T. Dodds This is a book that would stand well, both stylistically and in terms of quality, on a bookshelf among the early classics of fantasy and horror based around ancient Egypt. His books have the stamp of the great British adventure and horror writers of the late 19th-early 20th century.		Storm of the Century by Stephen King reviewed by Duane Swierczynski The year is 1989 and while the small town of Little Tall, Maine is preparing for a storm, another force of nature is moseying into town: Andre Linoge, a tall, creepy stranger with a thing for nursery rhymes. Rant and Ravey UK video reviews by Colin Ravey Colin Ravey takes a thoughtful meander through the theatrical, frightening and fanciful world of fantasy and science fiction on the UK's small screen. In his column, Colin considers what it takes to get the BBC to make SF television. The Jackal of Nar by John Marco reviewed by Victoria Strauss John Marco manages to avoid nearly all the pitfalls of fantasy cliché. There are no quests to be followed, enchanted talismans to be won, Evil Overlords to be overthrown, or dark forces to be confined. Though set in an invented world, this is very much a story of human tribulation and triumph. Leopard Lord by Alanna Morland reviewed by Victoria Strauss Were-leopards, dueling deities, and true love meet in this romantic fantasy adventure. Varian is the heir to Leopard's Gard, a barony whose mountainous lands form a barrier between the populous countries of the south and the northern wastelands controlled by an evil, nameless god. The Pleistocene Redemption by Dan Gallagher reviewed by A.L. Sirois The story is really just another take on Jurassic Park, but with less verisimilitude. A means of extracting ancient DNA is discovered. Rather than conjuring up dinosaurs, this time it is Pleistocene fauna such as mammoths, giant sloths, and so on -- up to and including Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals. The Necronomicon Files by Daniel Harms and John Wisdom Gonce, III reviewed by Lisa DuMond Was there ever an ancient Necronomicon? Hard to imagine that a book that important would just vanish. Would someone have gathered it up with the wrapping paper and accidentally trashed it? Would it get mixed in with the daily papers and end up as recycling? It's not really the kind of thing someone would misplace with their keys. Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary by David West Reynolds reviewed by Steve Lazarowitz *Star Wars* has made such an impression on the world of science fiction that one could say it almost single-handedly brought the genre into the mainstream. And this is a great visual representation of the characters and creatures from all three movies. Time On My Hands by Peter Delacorte reviewed by David Soyka Here, the author lets us see what might happen if we ever had a chance to go back and do it differently -- and the moral is that no matter how many second chances we might get, the likelihood is that we'd continue to screw things up. The Collected Strange Papers of Christopher Blayre by Edward Heron-Allen reviewed by Lisa DuMond In the 19th century, few authors skated as close to the thin ice of what was then questionable material. Heron-Allen also knew the foibles of polite society. Throughout this entertaining collection, he seems to take every opportunity to let the hot air out of the Victorians. It's not, however, very scary to the contemporary audience. In fact, it's the kind of book you could read by candlelight, whiling away the hours listening to bulletins about escaped homicidal maniacs. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb reviewed by Wayne MacLaurin In a reprise review to coincide with the paperback release, Wanyne's thinking, "Oh boy... pirates, talking ships, magic, sea serpents, slave revolts, dashing heroes, bloody battles and lusty maidens..." Ship of Magic has all of this and a whole lot more. Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz reviewed by Rodger Turner In a reprise review to coincide with the paperback release, Rodger felt that, despite it being a non-stop thrill ride, the book is more about family and friendship than anything else. Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East by Brian Campbell et al. a gaming module review by Don Bassingthwaite Oh... my... God. This book kicks so much ass that you should strap a pillow to your butt before opening the cover. The City of Raven's Bluff by Ed Greenwood a gaming module review by S. Kay Elmore Kay's favourite part of the book is a walking tour. Over 40 pages of eye-scrunchingly tiny text lead you along nearly every alley and byway in the city. Along with black-and-white detail pictures to complement the full-colour pull-out map, the tour really brings the city to life. February Games compiled by John O'Neill Sierra brings us back to the world of Krondor with the latest in computer role playing, Pagan Publishing offers their best for *Call of Cthulhu* fans, White Wolf begins the Year of the Reckoning, and TSR returns to The Tomb of Horrors. It's all here in our February games column. Bring a snack -- this could take a while.