The Universe of Things by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by Paul Kincaid
Paul is generally in favour of critical introductions to collections of stories. Except when it's a book he's
reviewing. Then he tends to feel that he is being told how to read the book; especially if the critic picks up on
an aspect of the work that he might otherwise have built his review around. Which is the case here. It's quite a
good introduction by Steven Shaviro.
Rainbow Bridge by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by Stuart Carter
When we last saw them, the Triumvirate -- Ax, Sage and Fiorinda -- were at their lowest ebb following an incredible and utterly
unstoppable invasion by the newly ascendant Chinese. The Rock'n'Roll Reich had been captured, were prisoners -- or worse,
puppets -- of England's new overlords. Now there are friends to be rescued or mourned, post-apocalyptic rock'n'roll hordes to be
calmed, invaders to be reassured regarding the realities of magic, and, as always, an entire country to be talked down from a
very high ledge. Where do they find time to fit any music in?
Band of Gypsys by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by David Soyka
The threesome are back from their adventures in America, where Ax and Sage
rescued Fiorinda from a cult intending to use her mojo to trigger a "neuro" bomb that would probably be as
devastating to the initiators as the target (shades of the cold war all over again). The British leadership want
Ax to resume the largely ceremonial powers of President to placate the masses, giving them breathing room to
pursue their own -- not necessarily in the general interest -- agendas. However, the troika isn't about to let
the fate of England fall into their hands, as a daring raid to free Ax's family from literally right beneath
the leadership's noses demonstrates.
Life by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by David Soyka
Anna Senoz is a genetics research scientist whose preliminary findings have controversial and surprising socio-biological implications
for the evolution of the species and concepts of gender. Limited resources with which to further prove her theory, as well as a glass
ceiling in which senior male researchers have the unquestioning power to maintain the comfortable status quo, impair not only her
research, but her career.
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Bold as Love by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by David Soyka
In a near-future England that has
dissolved all ties to other countries in what was once the United Kingdom, Pigsty Liver, an Ozzie Osborne-type
rock star, initiates a bloody coup to take control of the Counterculturals, a sort of shadow government whose
popularity with the people (at least those people who like rock music) reaps significant, albeit not total,
political power. Pigsty's personal perversities, however, soon lead to his downfall. The fate of the revolution falls into the
hands of a popularly-exalted triumvirate...
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.
Phoenix Café by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Thanks to virtual reality and designer sex drugs, it's difficult to put much faith in
any aspect of this novel's world. But, that's part of what Gwyneth Jones does best, destroying assumptions
and keeping the reader off-balance. Assumptions about sex and sexuality -- as
you may have already learned in the first two volumes of this trilogy -- are the first to go.
North Wind by Gwyneth Jones
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
According to Lisa, nothing is simple in this rivetting tale, least of all motivations.
Who is the mysterious Fat Man that Carton reports to? What is the truth
about the instantaneous transport device believed to have carried
Mankind's greatest martyrs to their doomed invasion of the Aleutian
mothership? And so many others...
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