Asgard's Conquerors by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Susan Dunman
Mike Rousseau is a stalwart explorer, renowned archeologist, or shameless charlatan, depending on who is giving the description. Having
survived a series of life-threatening mishaps on the mysterious, multi-level alien habitat known as Asgard, Rousseau decides to give
up a life of adventure before he gets killed. This second installment of The Asgard Trilogy begins with Rousseau's plans to return
home to Earth, but fate interferes with his ambitions for a leisurely retirement.
Asgard's Secret by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Susan Dunman
Welcome to Asgard. No, not the fabled city of Norse mythology, but an equally amazing structure that seems to have been made
by the gods themselves. In fact, no one can figure out exactly who made it, but Asgard is a planet-sized artifact that consists
of innumerable concentric spheres, one inside the other. No one knows how many levels comprise the entire structure, but
scientists, explorers, crooks, and grave robbers from all the nearby galaxies have made their home in Skychain City, the base of
operations for the exploration of Asgard.
Year Zero by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Ian Nichols
There are sufficient resonances in here to please the most demanding musician, and sufficient icons to populate an Orthodox
church. Elvis Presley, Men in Black, Grey Aliens, Angels, Demons, and the Devil himself, all dressed in their garb of late
20th century finery, the tatterdemalion glory in which their billions of believers dressed them. It is the year 2000, and
they're still hanging around like Banquo's ghost. Somebody has to sort it all out before the Satan's plan comes to fruition and
the world ends, so to speak, on New Year's Eve, 2000. The job falls to Molly.
|
Swan Songs by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
The 6 novels collected here manage to maintain the charming aspects of the space opera sub-genre,
introduce some new elements, while thankfully avoiding the more painful excesses
of the past. First, the hero and main characters don't speak college boy gibberish, they are adult and have adult relationships, if
anything their philosophical monologues occasionally get a bit out of hand. The super-science is mostly used as is, rather than
backed up by didactic exposés of space drive mechanics, and the author, a former scientist himself, avoids the bonehead scientific
pitfalls of some of his predecessors.
The Fountains of Youth by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
Mortimer Gray is one of the first true emortals, new humans who, barring accident or
violence, will theoretically live forever. Mortimer becomes an historian
and this ambitious, thoughtful novel is nothing less than the memoirs of an immortal historian who is determined to understand
the meaning of death.
The Dictionary of Science Fiction Places by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Steven H Silver
This is an interesting and entertaining look at the wide variety of worlds created by
more than a century of SF authors. Beginning with the writing of
H.G. Wells and continuing to such recent authors as Mary Doria Russell, it includes
brief descriptions of places which have enthralled SF audiences.
Inherit the Earth by Brian Stableford
reviewed by Jean-Louis Trudel
This is as taut a thriller as they come, with enough surprises to stock an entire
Hollywood season. Brian Stableford is even kind enough to let us deduce the
modus operandi used to achieve the story's most striking instance of future
tech subterfuge. Shouldn't we love an author who doesn't insult our intelligence?
|
