Of Swords and Spells by Delia Marshall Turner
reviewed by Jonathan Fesmire
Here, magic drives technology. Untrained
witches are pursued by the nasty cosmic cops who destroy
all life on planets that break the law. Getting between worlds is easy
for them as the planets are all connected
through a sort of magical, cosmic net -- provided you have a ship with a magical drive.
The Silver Gryphon edited by Gary Turner and Marty Halpern
reviewed by Rich Horton
This anthology is the 25th "archival quality hardcover" the company has issued (they have also recently started to
publish novella length chapbooks). It includes 20 original stories by the authors of the first 24 books
(two of those authors have published 2 books each with Golden Gryphon, one book was an anthology, so only Tony
Daniel does not have a story here). The collection is quite entertaining throughout, not perhaps a
surprise as Golden Gryphon books have been by a quite noticeably excellent set of authors.
Eternal Lovecraft edited by Jim Turner
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
The editor has put together an excellent anthology. Some tales are set in
Lovecraft's fictional and personal haunts, some merely use or allude to
his mythology and props, and some share the cosmic vision, especially
prevalent in his early Dunsanian tales.
21st Century Pulp by Eric Turowski
reviewed by Kit O'Connell
In the glory days of the pulp magazines, the masked adventurer righting wrongs could be found just as commonly in story as he could in his
more familiar modern home, sequential art. Apart from the rare modern-day revival à la Kavalier and Clay, costumed hero fiction is largely
limited to tie-ins with the major superhero publishers. Fortunately, for the genre's fans there are a few stalwart enthusiasts like
this author.
The First Heroes edited by Harry Turtledove and Noreen Doyle
reviewed by Steven H Silver
The fantasy genre has its roots in the oldest legends of mankind. From Gilgamesh defeating Humbaba to the fall of Troy and Odysseus'
journey back to Ithaka, these early stories of civilization have long held a fascination for mankind. The editors
have commissioned 14 stories set during the Bronze Age for thise anthology. Given the length of
the Bronze Age, however, the stories span a vast period of time and point out that the Bronze Age didn't end simultaneously across
the world.
The First Heroes edited by Harry Turtledove and Noreen Doyle
reviewed by Sherwood Smith
There is something here for every type of reader, from young adults who might be sampling the mixing of history and science fiction or fantasy
for the first time, to the ancient history scholar who likes to take the occasional dip into fictive explorations of their favorite
period. There is also good reading here for the most sophisticated postmodern reader of literature.
Household Gods by Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove
reviewed by Rich Horton
Nicole Gunther-Perrin is a recently divorced lawyer in present-day Los
Angeles. Her life seems to be falling apart. Her husband left her for a
blond bimbo. Her daycare provider just quit. And she has been passed over
for a partnership at her law firm, while the man she has just collaborated
with got his partnership. Everything in our world seems slanted against
women. So she makes a half-hearted prayer to a plaque featuring the Roman gods Liber and
Libera to send her back to Ancient Rome, where, she imagines, women had
equal status with men. And they comply...
Unexplained Natural Phenomena by Keith Tutt
reviewed by Thomas Myer
If this book were a boxer, Thomas'd say it was a bantamweight: fast on its
feet, wiry, but packing a mean punch. Lively reading on such topics as
precognition, psychic surgery, and telepathy; Yeti, Nessie, vampires,
zombies, and angels; ball lightning, spontaneous human combustion, dowsing,
the face on Mars, and crop circles.
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The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
reviewed by Donna McMahon
Maya is trying to escape her past. Throughout her childhood her father trained her relentlessly as a warrior, spy and
assassin. At twenty-six, she has twelve passports, is an expert at disguise and can kill a man in seconds, but she wants a normal
life and she has been trying to build one in London. When her father is murdered, she reluctantly shoulders
the responsibility he has passed to her -- to travel to Los
Angeles and protect two brothers who are being hunted by members of a secret organization. The odds are against her.
The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
reviewed by Lise Murphy
Set in present day, this novel explores the timely concept that we are being watched by the Vast Machine, in an elaborate
plot to exert control over society. There have always been a certain few people who can exit our realm and visit other realms
bringing back with them new ways of seeing the world and novel ideas. Ideas that would, eventually, free us from this
societal control.
The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
For thousands of years, an elite caste of warriors known as Harlequins have defended beings called Travelers, whose unique
genetic makeup allows them to journey between the six realms of existence. From these realms, Travelers return transformed,
ready to pass on the wisdom they have gained to others. However, the Travelers have a deadly foe: a powerful secret society called the Brethren
who have been trying to exterminate them, along with their Harlequin protectors.
To Hell with the Harp! by M.K. Twigg
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Put a bungling demon in charge of the fires of Hell and add one ineffectual
angel -- disaster is unavoidable. There is no way these two clowns are going to
do anything but make matters worse. The last thing the situation needs is more players...
Crown of Fire by Kathy Tyers
reviewed by Suzanne Krein
The author once again sweeps us away into the stellar whorl of Firebird and Brennen
Caldwell. Brought together from very different societies, they now find themselves fighting a common enemy who
threatens both of their home worlds. The Shuhr are star-bred telepaths who do not share the moral imperatives of Brennen
and his star-bred people, the Sentinels. The Shuhr are determined to destroy the Sentinels and to begin their conquest
of the Federacy by conquering Netaia, Firebird's home planet.
Firebird and Fusion Fire by Kathy Tyers
reviewed by Suzanne Krein
Lady Firebird Angelo knows her duty as a wastling. As the 3rd-born child in one of the ruling families of Netaia,
her duty is to die. The Holy Powers worshipped by the Netaians demand this policy of "heir limitation."
Her chosen method of "departure" seems honorable and natural -- she will go into battle as part of the attack
force invading the planet Veroh and she will bravely die in that battle.
One Mind's Eye by Kathy Tyers
reviewed by Suzanne Krein
Llyn Torfinn longs for a normal life. Ever since she was rescued from an alternate reality chamber, her life has been
anything but normal. Music, which can be her greatest source of joy, can also throw her into the trance-like state of another
reality. Her adopted mother, Karine, claims to have Llyn's best interests at heart. Karine is a member of the
Empath Order. She uses her ability to see inside the minds of others as a tool for healing.
The Necronomicon Tarot by Donald Tyson
reviewed by Charlene Brusso
The Necronomicon Tarot uses images and themes from H.P. Lovecraft's "Cthulhu" mythos. Lovecraft was a ground-breaking pulp
horror writer from the 20s. No vampires or werewolves from him, no sir. Lovecraft's ultimate evil, Cthulhu, wasn't even technically
evil, in the Manichean sense of "good" vs. "evil."
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