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SFRevu The SF Site is proud to announce the addition of its newest hosted site, *SFRevu, edited by Ernest Lilley. Every month SFRevu* ties books, film, comics and other regions of the SF universe together with some of the finest interviews and reviews on the web. This month the SFRevu crew brings us an interview with Hugo award winner Vernor Vinge (author of A Deepness On The Sky), an in-depth review of The Matrix, and much much more.
The Silicon Dagger by Jack Williamson reviewed by Georges T. Dodds Partly high-tech thriller, partly diatribe about the ills of America today, this is the latest book by a science fiction author who, if he is published in the year 2000, will have had a writing career spanning 9 decades! Mad Ship by Robin Hobb reviewed by Wayne MacLaurin Wayne found there isn't a character in Mad Ship that is flat or inanimate. Everything the author puts to paper comes alive, whether it's a struggle for power aboard a ship or the haunted demons of Paragon's tortured soul. The Q Chronicles by Gene Roddenberry et al. reviewed by Jonathan Fesmire You know what they say about the corruptive nature of absolute power, but did you realize that it could also make someone absolutely bored, selfish, or lonely? It made Q all these things. Mid-March Books compiled by John O'Neill A brand new Arkham House anthology, the final volume of *The Second Foundation* trilogy, and a Dictionary of SF Places -- just the start of this issue's book list, which also includes new novels by Glen Cook, Kate Elliot, Robin Hobb, Jack Williamson, Elizabeth Hand, Sheri S. Tepper, Alan Dean Foster, Chris Bunch, and David Brin. Run Fast, Die Hard by Mel Odom reviewed by Todd Richmond This is a gentle introduction to the *Shadowrun* universe. Start with William Gibson's vision of cyberspace and feuding megacorporations, throw in the return of magic, convert a portion of the population into trolls, orcs, elves, vampires, and etc., mix together and voila: a frothy stew for adventure fans of every persuasion. The Cure by Sonia Levitin reviewed by S. Kay Elmore With the author's great skill in portraying real, living characters, you cannot read this book without becoming entranced. The author's unflinching depiction of one of the most pervasive horrors of history -- blood libel -- is a triumph. Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde reviewed by Victoria Strauss In past books, she has dealt strongly and convincingly with dark and even tragic themes, but this is a thoroughly light-hearted romp. True, there's murder, greed, lust, deception, and a spirit brought back from the dead, but all is treated with wry humour. Excerpt: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King Stephen King says this story came to him during a baseball game, when he was supposed to be enjoying some R&R after completing two books. Eventually he abandoned his vacation to complete one of his most compact novels in years -- the story of a nine-year-old girl who gets lost in the woods, and soon discovers she's not as alone as she thinks she is. Here is a 2,800-word excerpt, courtesy of Scribner. The Last Legion by Chris Bunch reviewed by Todd Richmond It's the first of a new series, but those of you acquainted with Bunch's previous work will find yourselves in familiar territory. Take a couple of criminals, drop them into a brewing mess of interstellar war, racial prejudice and guerrilla warfare, and watch what happens. The Knight by the Pool by Sophie Masson reviewed by Lisa DuMond Mysterious, historical figures. Court intrigue. Magic, both good and evil. Fantastical characters. Knights and Ladies. And, the creation of a quest that will bring fact together with fiction to form an adventure that just possibly could have happened. Nimisha's Ship by Anne McCaffrey reviewed by Jeri Wright Anne McCaffrey's latest novel introduces a new world and new characters. Fans of McCaffrey will not be surprised to find a strong female protagonist, lots of adventure, and a bit of romance. Forthcoming Books compiled by John O'Neill Stephen King surprises everyone (including his publisher) with an unannounced novel, Bruce Sterling prepares a new short story collection, and Lloyd Alexander unveils the tale of Gypsy Rizka. All that and many others. Not the Only Planet compiled by Damien Broderick reviewed by Steven H Silver Lonely Planet is best known for publishing an excellent series of travel guides. This venture into fiction is a reprint collection which draws from 3 countries and as many decades to look at how travel is tied to our image of the world around us. Nebula Awards 33 edited by Connie Willis reviewed by David Soyka In her short intros to each selection, the editor acknowledges the difficulty in classifying the work as say, cyberpunk or alternate history, noting that they often encompass a range of sub-genres. Some aren't even strictly SF or fantasy and wouldn't be out of place in an avant-garde literary collection. Thief of Souls by Neal Shusterman reviewed by Georges T. Dodds This is the second installment in the *Star Shards Chronicles. It follows 6 young men and women who receive special powers when the radiation from a distant supernova reaches them on Earth. This time around they must defeat a powerful enemy that has survived since the days of ancient Greece. The Immortals* by Marilynn Byerly reviewed by Lisa DuMond In the future when the people of Earth reach out to the stars, what realities will they create? When we meet up with other sentient life forms, what will they think of us? It's not all beer and skittles out there and we're probably not the easiest humanoids to get along with. Maybe it's easier to get along without us.		The Princess Bride, 25th Anniversary Edition by William Goldman reviewed by David Soyka If you've only seen the movie, read the book. But if you haven't done either, read the book first. Except for the fact that it replaces the original ambiguous ending with the kind you'd expect in a Hollywood production, the movie is quite faithful to the text -- not too surprising, since Goldman was the screenwriter. Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop reviewed by Victoria Strauss All the elements that made her first book such a gripping read are present again: vivid and sympathetic characters, a fascinating and fully-realized magical system, lavish and sensuous descriptions, and interesting world building that turns traditional gender roles on their heads. 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 posits that *Doctor Who* has all the right and positive messages for a young gay person. Excerpt: A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V. Jones As the first book in a trilogy, it hints at the true story that will drive them all. While the plot of ancient dark magics is central to the tale, the author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader just a bit unsure of who is key to the story and which characters are going to survive its telling. Of Pigs and Spiders by Edward Lee, John Pelan, David Niall Wilson and Brett Savory, A Lap Dance With the Lobster Lady by S.P. Somtow and Two From Zothique: A Chapbook by David B. Silva and Geoff Cooper reviewed by Lisa DuMond Readers under the age of 17 caught reading these 3 chapbooks will be forced to take a three-week family vacation in a hatchback. With a car-sick dog sharing the back seat. And adults, please, don't get talked into buying these for kids loitering around the convenience store. Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven reviewed by Todd Richmond This book is a combination of a novel followed by 5 additional short stories. Do yourself a big favour and skip to the end, read the stories first and then come back to the start. The stories supply some much needed background information. To Visit the Queen by Diane Duane reviewed by Todd Richmond The story begins when a college student turns a corner at a London Underground station and finds himself suddenly 100 years in the past. In his panic, he drops the book he is carrying -- Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. Then, miraculously, he returns to his own time, sans book. Implications? Our feline wizards are about to find out... Babylon 5.1 TV reviews by Rick Norwood In his column, Rick has scoured the listings and found what is recommended viewing for April 1999. Check it out and see if you agree. 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. Delore's Confession by Paulette Crain reviewed by Lisa DuMond As long as there is an Anne Rice, there are going to be authors gunning for her spot on the bestseller lists. If anyone has ever had a legitimate chance to surpass the Queens of gothic, steamy horror, Paulette Crain might just be the one. Titus Crow: The Burrowers Beneath and The Transition of Titus Crow by Brian Lumley reviewed by Chris Donner Despite the otherworldliness of the topic -- the Cthulhu legend and occult themes in general -- the author manages to bring horror down from the stars and up from the seas and position it directly under our feet, where it may strike fatally and with no more than the quirky spasms of a seismograph needle to warn of its coming. Phoenix Café by Gwyneth Jones reviewed by Jean-Louis Trudel The author's powers of imagination are wickedly devious, garbed in the finery of stylish prose, evincing a gift for the unexpected cut or thrust, always able to draw out the greater and lesser consequences of an innovative technology. This novel shows us how she is able to do it. No Limits and Packing Fraction by Julie E. Czerneda reviewed by Jean-Louis Trudel Can SF be used to spark interest in science? No Limits is a textbook built around the stories collected in Packing Fraction. All the stories appear in both, but they are extensively annotated and analyzed in No Limits, which also provides additional information on the authors and pointers to related SF stories. The book uses SF to stimulate fresh and creative thinking about science. Libellus Sanguinis I and II a gaming module review by Don Bassingthwaite If you're keeping score, these 2 books cover 6 of the 13 clans described in *Vampire: The Dark Ages*. One other is also available. That leaves another 6 clans to be covered -- a perfect fit for 2 more libelli sanguinium.