Across the Wall by Garth Nix
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
Subtitled "A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories" this is a collection of short fiction, from the best-selling author of The Abhorsen Trilogy. The title is misleading, as the Abhorsen herself never actually appears and no one crosses the Wall into the Old Kingdom. In fact, only the first story "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" is set in the same world as Sabriel. In total, there are thirteen unconnected works here and most demonstrate why Nix is the recipient of such critical acclaim.

Across the Wall by Garth Nix
reviewed by Adam Volk
The genre of young adult fantasy literature seems alive and well these days, thanks in part to everyone's favorite pre-pubescent boy wizard. Indeed, his adventures have not only drawn in millions of readers of all ages, but has created legions of fantasy junkies now looking for a fix to tide them over until the next volume hits the shelves. And yet, what is perhaps most surprising is the number of adult readers who are also now wandering the young adult book section of their local bookstores.

The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The heroine is an 18-year-old student at Wyverley College, for young ladies of quality. Sabriel's father is the Abhorsen, a unique type of necromancer, both feared and respected. Abhorsens see dead people, and kick their rotting backsides. Sabriel first began to follow in her father's terrifying footsteps, literally walking into Death, when she was twelve. One day, she knows that she will become the Abhorsen, served by supernatural entities called Sendings, and plagued by Mogget, a dangerous talking cat.

The Ragwitch by Garth Nix
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
Julia and Paul, two Australian children, discover an Aboriginal midden on a deserted beach. At its summit is an odd birds nest, containing a ball of feathers, inside of which is a rag doll. Julia chooses to take this home, and by the time darkness falls, she's been possessed by the Ragwitch; the spirit of a supernatural entity from another dimension. Julia is made to return to the world where the Ragwitch once ruled, when she was called the North-Queen.

A Completely Different Place by Perry Nodelman
reviewed by Lela Jones Olszewski
Johnny Nesbit is ready for some peace and quiet after the terrifying events of The Same Place But Different. It doesn't look like he's going to get it.

The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays by Christopher Nolan
reviewed by Trent Walters
The status of Batman -- the superhero who doesn't shoot and kill enemies -- has grown for decades, stepping beyond comics to TV, film, books, games, and action figures. Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, and David S. Goyer released a trilogy of movies that tried to create a realistic hero, asking, "How did Batman become a legend?"

Dark Universe and Impact-20 by William F. Nolan
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
He is probably best known as the co-author of Logan's Run, but these two collections show the full range of his short fiction, with Dark Universe presenting the best work of a top notch modern horror writer in chronological order, each with an introductory blurb from Nolan himself. Besides reminding us that many of these stories have been included in best of the year anthologies and much anthologized elsewhere, the author explains the genesis of many of the stories. This temporal sequence also allows one to see where his horror writing has taken him, beyond the influence of The California Group, to claim a voice all his own.

California Sorcery by edited by William F. Nolan and William Schafer
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
With a line-up with the likes of Charles Beaumont, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, and Richard Matheson, the editors, including William F. Nolan, one of the original inner circle members of this writer's group, would have been hard-pressed to present a poor book. Nine of the stories are original to the anthology (including a previously unpublished Charles Beaumont tale), three are reprints, and all carry a spark of what made this group of authors so influential in modern American imaginative fiction.

Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
This book reaches out to welcome African-American children into the wonderful territory of unrestrained imagination. With vibrant colours and a beguiling story, it's quite possible that this fantastical situation may exist only in a child's mind, but that is real enough for the very young.

Falling Out of Cars by Jeff Noon
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
His latest novel revolves around Marlene, a journalist grieving for her dead daughter, and three companions, an ex-thug named Peacock, an ex-soldier named Henderson, and a teenager named Tupelo. They, or perhaps the world around them, are sick with a disease that doesn't have a name, but manifests itself as something called noise. The world is still there, behind the corrupted messages of the senses, but it can't be understood: words can't be read and music can't be followed and photos can't be interpreted and mirrors have grown terrifying, for to look in them is to fail to recognize what you see.

Close To My Heart: Moon of Three Rings by Andre Norton
a review by J.G. Stinson
"It's often been said that the golden age of science fiction is 12, referring to the age at which many readers first discovered it. SF came into my life in junior high school, in the 8th grade, when I found two books. One was an anthology that contained Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination," and the other was Andre Norton's story about a woman who could summon magic and a spacer who was transformed."

Vurt by Jeff Noon
reviewed by Martin Lewis
A debut by unknown author for a tiny publishing house that had never released anything before, this book went onto achieve both critical and commercial success culminating in the Arthur C Clarke Award. Its biggest selling point is probably its fundamental oddness. It's almost like cyberpunk as written by someone who has never heard of computers. Though set in the near future, vaguely dystopic setting and lowlife, it is a long way from Gibson and Co.

Libyrinth by Pearl North
reviewed by Charlene Brusso
15-year-old Haly is a clerk in the Libyrinth, a vast underground library of Earth lore and knowledge brought long ago to this colony world. From her earliest memories, Haly has been able to "hear" the Libyrinth's books. They speak to her, reciting their contents, as lively and full of personality, from warm and comforting to stodgy and pedantic, as any family you might imagine. But not everyone treasures this repository of ancient knowledge.

The Shadow of Albion by Andre Norton & Rosemary Edghill
reviewed by Jeri Wright
Adventure, political machinations, spies, assassins, court intrigue, plots, counter plots, secret societies, missing heirs, arranged marriages, and, oh yes, magic too -- the alternate Regency England of The Shadow of Albion has all of this and more.

The Scent of Magic by Andre Norton
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
The author's focus on the city's smells and unseen signatures presents a unique way of viewing the setting and the cast of characters. Every location and every player bears the indelible mark of scents, good and bad. The descriptions of lavish furnishings and garments remain, but become secondary to the olfactory signals.

A Mind for Trade by Andre Norton and Sherwood Smith
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
The sixth novel in the Solar Queen series features pirates, space storms, and strange floating lifeform whose touch brings death. Victoria Strauss investigates.

The Borrowers 1, 2 & 3 by Mary Norton
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
It's been said before, but it's still true that The Borrowers is a wonderful series of children's books, enchanting for children yet retaining an interest for adults. They're more than just novels of adventure and wonder; they can also be seen as a parable of the disenfranchised and homeless. Harcourt, Brace & Co. has recently reprinted Mary Norton's classic series as a tie-in to the movie.

The Borrowers 4 & 5 by Mary Norton and The Borrowers by Sherwood Smith
reviewed by David Soyka
People are often disappointed when a movie isn't the same as the book it's based upon. Generally speaking, movies usually have a hard time matching the complex interactions between readers and words. Which is why it's best to consider movies as adaptations of the books on which they are based, not literal recreations. Revisions to characters and plot structure are oftentimes necessary to focus on significant themes that can be adequately expressed cinematically.

Not One of Us, #33
reviewed by Rich Horton
The 33rd issue of this fine small press publication is similar in tone and quality to its previous issue. As its title promises, it often features stories and poems about people on the edge of society, out of the way sorts -- or, as editor John Benson mentions with regard to this issue, people who have "disappeared." As before, the prose is generally fine, sometimes excellent.

Not One of Us, #32
reviewed by Rich Horton
The opening story is perhaps the best, Sonya Taaffe's "Another Country". Taaffe is a poet, and it shows in her dense and evocative prose. This story slowly builds a portrait of the relationship between a newly pregnant woman and her two lovers -- it in itself a fraught situation, but made a bit more complex by the nature of one of the possible fathers. Danny Adams's "A Deconstruction of Beauty" is about a cop in a grim world who encounters a woman painting forbidden things -- like trees.

Firebirds edited by Sharyn November
reviewed by Amal El-Mohtar
Amal was really, really excited about this anthology when it came out, and even more excited by the prospect of reviewing it. She offers this by way of apology for any indulging in school-girlish glee on her part while describing its contents. She offers also the testimony of her sister's puzzled looks, occasioned by giggles, shocked exclamations and occasional teary effusions while reading, in proof of the fact that this will be a fairly gushy review.

Firebirds Rising edited by Sharyn November
reviewed by Rodger Turner
These days being a teenager is tough. They have competitive parents telling them what they should do to ensure a good future. They have McJob employers giving them no end of grief over the franchise's rules and regulations. They have peers giving them bad advice for no reason other than an attempt at undermining their status in the local teenage hierarchy. They have their media idols trying to sell them on the latest fashion or tech toy. It seems that almost nobody is on their side and, when there is someone, often it leads to a betrayal to be buddies with someone cooler. It's no wonder adults think teens are rude and inconsiderate. How would you feel if it appeared that everybody was out to get you?

Naomi Novik

A Signal Shattered by Eric S. Nylund
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
This novel continues the story begun in Signal to Noise. Jack Potter and a few others, all of whom have a good reason to distrust at least one another, are stranded on the moon with a limited oxygen supply, dwindling energy resources, and no way to escape. And for Jack, all his solutions seem to lead to more and more problems.

Signal To Noise by Eric S. Nylund
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
When communications with an alien give Jack Potter access to new technology that will make him rich, he cannot say no. And it propels him into a world of corporate and national intrigue. The plot is a classic case of learning who is lying, who is telling the truth, and who can be trusted.