Luz, the Art of Ciruelo by Ciruelo Cabral
reviewed by Lucy Snyder
Lucy Snyder (of Dark Planet fame)
considers lavish illustrations of square-jawed heroes battling monsters,
wooing buxom lasses in various states of distress (and undress).
The Twilight Zone: Upgrade & Sensuous Cindy by Pat Cadigan
reviewed by Steve Lazarowitz
The best thing about the original Twilight Zone is that it's a quick hit. You knew something was up by watching the
teaser, before Rod Serling came in for his monologue. You didn't have to wait, because the stories depended upon easily identifiable
stereotypes as characters. You knew immediately you were looking at a gangster, or a tired businessman or an absent-minded
professor.
The Ultimate Cyberpunk edited by Pat Cadigan
reviewed by David Soyka
The title of this anthology makes a far-reaching claim so patently unlikely that its editor quickly dispenses with it.
The question then becomes whether there is any need for another anthology some sixteen years after the famous original
compilation, Mirrorshades, edited by Bruce Sterling. But her undeniable contention that it "is not all there is" doesn't
quite explain the rationale for this particular collection.
Dervish Is Digital by Pat Cadigan
reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Detective Dore Konstantine runs the 3-person Techno Crime, AR (Artificial Reality) Division. Though swamped with
work, as the net has become a copyright nightmare, Dore would not mind if they could win one, once a while. Proof
is difficult at best to find and justice is a cyber-thought of the mundane realm.
However, Dore is stunned when designer Susannah Ell claims her former spouse, wealthy Hastings Dervish, is stalking her via artificial reality.
Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
With a prose style both dense and minimalistic, the latest novel from the
author of Fools, is a story that demands the
reader pay attention to every word, resisting the urge to rush ahead to
discover the truth that lies behind the imagery.
Chicks Kick Butt edited by Rachel Caine and Kerrie L. Hughes
reviewed by David Soyka
Let's first stipulate that women both fictional and real
shaped David's concept of positive femininity. Which is why he is a sucker for characters like Mary Gentle's Ash
and Justina Robson's Lila Black, independent women who can handle themselves despite considerable social and physical
obstacles, and despite self doubts and insecurities sometimes unique to feminine sensibilities, and frequently better
than the men for or against them.
So this anthology sounded like something that would appeal, even if he had never read
anything by the female authors collected here, nor the editors. But, that's half the fun of picking it up.
Mortal Companion by Patrick Califia
reviewed by Alisa McCune
This novel is not for the easily offended or those who are not comfortable with explicit sex. Subtitled as "an
erotic tale of love and vengeance" like no other, it delivers. The author has created a world where everything
is possible and nothing is taboo. This world is opened up to the reader layer by layer -- chapter by chapter -- until the final climatic
end which leaves us panting and waiting for the sequel.
Call of Cthulhu
a survey by Wayne MacLaurin and Neil Walsh
A role-playing game set in the demon-haunted worlds of H.P. Lovecraft? Can such things be? Senior
Editors Wayne MacLaurin and Neil Walsh risk their health and sanity with a peek at the forbidden tomes of
gaming lore from Chaosium. Part One of two.
Call of Cthulhu
a survey by Wayne MacLaurin and Neil Walsh
A role-playing game set in the demon-haunted worlds of H.P. Lovecraft? Yikes! Senior
Editors Wayne MacLaurin and Neil Walsh risk their health and sanity with a peek at the forbidden tomes of
gaming lore from Chaosium. Part Two introduces a few of the important game supplements.
Call of Cthulhu
a survey by Wayne MacLaurin and Neil Walsh
A role-playing game set in the demon-haunted worlds of H.P. Lovecraft? Yikes! Senior
Editors Wayne MacLaurin and Neil Walsh risk their health and sanity with a peek at the forbidden tomes of
gaming lore from Chaosium. Part Three targets their non-1920s role-playing milieux
as well as their Call of Cthulhu Fiction.
Dragon Tempest by Don Callander
reviewed by Todd Richmond
In this, the 3rd Dragon book, Tom Whitehead's very pregnant
wife is kidnapped. Tom, along with his Dragon Companion,
begins to search for them. A ransom note leads to a magical unmanned ship which
immediately sets sail as they step on board.
Aeromancer by Don Callander
reviewed by Todd Richmond
Todd thinks this one and, in fact, all of his
books, have a warm, cheerful feel to them. Though they follow
the eternal struggle of Light vs. Dark, Good vs. Evil, they are
still light, pleasant reading.
A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias
reviewed by Ernest Lilley
Midway between the Earth and Sholen, the world of the alien race that's been there, done that, cleaned up their act, and now looks
askance at humanity's move into the universe, lies the ice-covered world of Ilmatar, where intelligent life lies below a few
kilometers of ice in its frigid seas, dwelling in communities around thermal vents. A human research station also lies on the
ocean floor, carefully separated from the nearest community, its scientific efforts hampered by a non-interference agreement with
the Sholen, who would prefer it if the humans stayed out of the water completely, and ideally back on their own planet.
God of Clocks by Alan Campbell
reviewed by John Enzinas
God of Clocks is the third book in the Deepgate Codex trilogy.
Its heros decide that their best plan is to split into two groups. The first, the sea god Cospinol and his anchor,
head to Hell to fight its king. The second group, composed of the former assassin Rachel, and the two escapees
from Hell, Mina and Hast, take their freed Arconite to see if they can rouse Heaven to clean up the mess Hell has
made of the world.
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.
Gaslight Grotesque edited by J.R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
Mario is happy to report that the present anthology is definitely of superior quality and that the large majority of the
thirteen stories assembled therein are accomplished examples of dark fantasy, apt to satisfy even the more demanding
readers, either Sherlockian enthusiasts or horror fans or just fiction lovers seeking out entertaining and well
written stories.
Gaslight Grimoire edited by J.R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
Very few fictional characters have seen their lives indefinitely prolonged by countless tales and books by various
devoted followers as the mythical Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson. This anthology assembles
eleven new stories -- penned by a bunch of contemporary authors eager to revisit the classical characters and
atmospheres created by Conan Doyle and graced by a number of black and white illustrations by Phil Cornell -- where
the famous detective has to deal with the supernatural.
The Lost Fleet: Invincible by Jack Campbell
reviewed by Michael M Jones
After a century of cryogenic sleep following a space battle in which he was one of the only
survivors, John "Black Jack" Geary was discovered. He awoke into a world in which he was a living legend, into a
society made weary by a century of constant war and strife. Through a series of bizarre circumstances, he was forced
to assume control of the Alliance's fleet, stranded deep in enemy space, and bring it home. Against all odds, he did
so. His reward? Rather than being allowed a quiet retirement, he was promoted to Admiral, given command of a new
fleet, and dispatched into the furthest regions of known space.
The Lost Fleet: Victorious by Jack Campbell
reviewed by Michael M Jones
After long months and great hardship, Captain John "Black Jack" Geary has accomplished the impossible: he's brought
the Alliance fleet home.
The fleet's suffered great losses in its desperate, prolonged escape from the heart of Syndic space, but
under Geary's anachronistic leadership, they've rediscovered what it means to be warriors and victors. But just because they've come
home doesn't mean the war is over.
|
The Lost Fleet: Valiant by Jack Campbell
reviewed by Michael M Jones
Captain John "Black Jack" Geary never asked to be a hero. He never dreamed of becoming a legend. In fact, by all rights,
he should be long dead by now, one of the earliest casualties of the war between the Alliance and the Syndics. Instead,
thanks to a fluke of fate, he spent a century in suspended animation, only to be rescued and brought back into service,
just in time to assume command of the massive Alliance fleet, lost deep within Syndic territory.
The Lost Fleet: Courageous by Jack Campbell
reviewed by Michael M Jones
Captain John "Black Jack" Geary is in for the fight of his life. He awoke from a century-long slumber in a survival pod to find himself
rescued by a fleet that reveres him for his military record and heroic actions, a fleet that seems to have forgotten everything it
once knew about intelligent tactics, smart battle maneuvers, and military strategy. And when the highest-ranking members of the
fleet's command structure were killed, he was forced to assume command by virtue of technical seniority.
Tales from the Cloud Walking Country by Marie Campbell
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Sometimes it's good to act a bit of a Luddite, ignore the current fantasy factories and their
multi-volume production lines and get back to the roots of a genre -- and oral storytellers are arguably
just that. Oral storytellers have been around since humans developed a language, but except for the
remotest regions of the Earth have largely disappeared in today's world. The author, a young
schoolteacher in the "hillbilly" regions of eastern Kentucky from 1928 to 1934, collected tales from
what was likely the last generation of mountain storytellers.
The Red Knight by Miles Cameron
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The first of a proposed five book sequence, The Red Knight is the author's debut novel, although he has
published historical fiction under another name. Therefore it comes as no great surprise that this work is loaded with detail and
world building creation. There's also a satisfying level of characterisation, which goes deeper than the average fantasy novel,
producing a more realistic cast. The author clearly understands the Medieval context of his world, which allows him to present
authentic feeling scenarios, even when dealing with magic.
Forever Azathoth: Pastiches and Parodies by Peter Cannon
reviewed by Richard A. Lupoff
The stories here all qualify as Lovecraftian metafiction, ranging from parody to
pastiche to homage. The author adds spice to this stew by calling in elements from authors as disparate as William
Faulkner and James Herriot. The most surprising and surprisingly successful combination is the importation
of P.G. Wodehouse's air-headed Bertie Wooster and Bertie's "gentleman's gentleman," the unflappable
Reginald Jeeves, into the world of Lovecraftian weirdness.
Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
an audiobook review by Susan Dunman
Victor is an apprentice mechanic to his father, the person responsible for maintaining life-support and other
essential systems on board the mining ship, El Cavador. A gifted student with a natural ability to understand all
things mechanical, Victor is already a valuable member of the ship's crew, although he's still a teenager. But it
is his dedication to ideals instilled by his family and his sense of responsibility that may catapult him into
the history books of the First Formic War.
Robota by Doug Chiang & Orson Scott Card
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Many art books take an artist's vision and then have an author write text describing the individual paintings or the artist's
work. Similarly, many stories are written and then illustrated by an artist with a sparse assemblage of paintings which
may, or may not depict the characters and places the author's text describes. Here, the artist and the author avoid both of these
pitfalls.
Getting Lost: Survival, Baggage and Starting Over in J.J. Abrams' Lost edited by Orson Scott Card
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
As the title suggests, this book is an attempt to explain the enigma and allure of the hit TV show,
Lost. To this end, fifteen writers give their views on where the series came from, what it is trying to tell us,
and where it's ultimately headed. Some are more successful than others, inadvertently creating an ironic parallel to what
happens on the show. Those who go with the flow, in a stream of consciousness approach, not only
make more sense, but give the impression of being on the verge of enlightenment. Not unlike fan favourite John Locke. In contrast,
the writers who allow themselves to get bogged down with over analysis and clever dickery, do less well.
Future on Ice edited by Orson Scott Card
reviewed by Rich Horton
This is quite legitimately an anthology which can stand on its own as
a "Best of the 80s" even though it was intended to be paired with
Future on Fire. No doubt, these aren't the very best 18 stories
from that decade, but on any given day, they'll do.
Black Mist: and Other Japanese Futures edited by Orson Scott Card and Keith Ferrell
reviewed by Stephen M. Davis
The idea behind the anthology is intriguing: six authors in five novellas look at the future of Japanese
culture and society in outer space, cyberspace, and Earth. Much to the reader's sorrow, the editors
succeed only partially in realizing their goal.
Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds by Craig R. Carey, Jason Fry, Jeff Quick, and Daniel Wallace
reviewed by Chris Przybyszewski
Wizards of the Coast delivers with its new accessory book to the Star Wars role-playing game. This
title features those worlds out yonder, those places not often frequented by those happily ensconced in
Coruscant and the Core Worlds, which is this accessory's big sister.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Ship of the Line by Diane Carey
reviewed by Jim Greer
Overall, Carey succeeds in delivering a ripping good yarn. The novel strikes a
nice balance between the many actions scenes and its more introspective
moments.
Dead Men's Boots by Mike Carey
an audiobook review by Sarah Trowbridge
Shortly after the turn of the 21st century, the dead started coming back. There had always been a few dead souls who
returned, here and there, of course -- but this wholesale rising was something new and troublesome. The situation
offered a silver lining of sorts to Felix Castor and others like him: natural exorcists, born with the knack of
laying dead souls to rest. What had previously been useful only as a quirky hobby or a party trick became a
profitable and sought-out profession.
Lucifer's Crown by Lillian Stewart Carl
reviewed by Jayme Lynn Blaschke
This is not an easy book to describe or classify. It tries to be many things
at once, but first and foremost, it's a novel of Biblical apocalypse. In a time where Christian fiction
with an apocalyptic bent -- led by the wildly popular Left Behind series -- is a multi-million
dollar industry, it was inevitable that more traditional fantasy writers would eventually turn their
hand to these tropes and themes. Taking up this challenge, the author has responded
with her most complex and ambitious novel to date. What's more important, it's also by far her best.
Along the Rim of Time by Lillian Stewart Carl
reviewed by Jayme Lynn Blaschke
Of the 11 stories contained here, all have some sort of underlying mythic/historical theme, which is the author's forté. Whether
the story is fantasy or science fiction makes no difference, as she deftly juxtaposes Greek legend among the red Martian sands,
reincarnated Chinese princesses among modern American tourists. There's a thoughtful, rational quality present in each story
that gives each one that elusive oh-so-plausible air.
Planet Dreams by Michaela Carlock
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Imagine the best of all possible worlds, and the worst of all possible
worlds. Two worlds, and the only bridge between them consists of dreams of
startling clarity. Lisa found this novel to be completely irresistible; one
of those books you know long before you finish that you plan to read again.
Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
Centuries after a nuclear disaster known as the Great White, only
a few remote farming communities escaped the radiation and its
aftermath. To protect the survivors from radiation-induced
mutations, the communities' ruling body decreed that
all beasts and children not born normal should be burned. Over
time, it became clear that mutation could be mental as well as
physical, producing a range of strange, enhanced psychic abilities.
Kalvan Kingmaker by John F. Carr
reviewed by Steven H Silver
The novel is a continuation of the Lord Kalvan stories written by H. Beam Piper. These tales, which
grew out of Piper's Paratime Police stories, follow a Pennsylvania state trooper into a world in which North America
was colonized from west to east and only bears a geographical resemblance to the North America of our own world. The author does an
excellent job of capturing Piper's style and stories in his world, but...
|
