Astronomy by Richard Wadholm
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Everything about this debut novel recalls the dime novels of the early part of the 20th century. Tough and tender babes. Villainous foes.
Strong, silent heroes. Pure good versus evil stuff. Now, instead of "penny dreadfuls" you can
get all the action via ebook -- not a bad idea, not bad at all.
Necropolis by Tim Waggoner
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
Matthew Adrion was a cop on Earth until he and his partner followed a suspect through a magical portal and ended up at Necropolis,
where Vampires, Lycanthropes, demons and every other creature famous for going bump in the night have decided to make their
home. Created by the five Dark Lords, its light source, Umbriel (sort of a stationary moon that stays constant in the sky) needs to
be renewed every year through a ceremony where they unite their considerable powers.
One Nation Under George by Z.M. Wagner
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The book includes satirical inventions
that are, at turns, amusing and subtly terrifying, but these are floating around holes big enough to swallow a politician's ego. The premise
is that the author is writing his personal take on the history of the last few years in America, from the jaundiced perspective of
2008. This alternate future history includes a great many uncomfortably close parallels to real world events, and what may happen
in the "Land of the Free," if liberty is crushed by anti-terror legislation.
The Divided by Katie Waitman
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
The author has crafted a gripping, thought-provoking, emotionally compelling novel. It's a considerable
change of pace from her semi-comic Bildungsroman-like debut, The Merro Tree.
The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Visions of the future vary as widely as daydreams, but there is one
thing we all seem to hope for our world: tolerance. On the surface, that
doesn't appear to be too much to ask. But, with a multitude of races,
the universe of this novel offers a convincing argument that no magic cure
is on the way to save us from our worst selves.
Return to the Centre of the Earth by Rick Wakeman
a music review by A.L. Sirois
The album tells the story of three explorers seeking to retrace the steps of
Verne's intrepid voyager, Professor Lidenbrock, from the 1864 novel.
Lidenbrock got into trouble trying to follow after Arne Saknussemm, and
these guys do too. Wakeman's chosen some outstanding talent to help him,
foremost among them Patrick Stewart as narrator. It's also fun listening to
Ozzy Osbourne wailing about being buried alive...
Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Droids by Daniel Wallace
reviewed by Jonathan Fesmire
After reading Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Droids, Jonathan almost wished these droids
were real. Not all of them, just some. The assassin droids can remain fictional.
The Mabinogion by Lady Charlotte Guest and The Mabinogion Tetraology by Evangeline Walton
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Wow! The people at Harper Collins/Voyager really put together a beaut' here, something reminiscent of
the lovely illustrated editions of late Victorian and Edwardian times. A lovely, evocative and eminently readable, if
bowlderized, translation of the 14th century Red Book of Hergest and the late 16th
century "Peniardd M.S." with 50 gorgeous colour plates by Alan Lee make this edition of the Mabinogion a joy
to behold, to read, and the quality of its production make it an edition worthy of a prominent place on anyone's bookshelves.
Farthing by Jo Walton
reviewed by Sherwood Smith
Jo Walton's novels are all quite different from one another. If any observation can be made about her work, it is that she has a gift
for taking a familiar storyline and crossing it with an unexpected trope to present something not just new, but that informs and thus
transcends the elements she draws upon.
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
reviewed by Sherwood Smith
The ritual of eating a dead dragon, Bon Agornin, is what launches the story. Bon's powerful and demanding son-in-law, the
Illustrious Daverak, takes more than his share for his own family, despite the wishes of Bon and the claims of Bon's other
children, the Blessed Penn, Avan, the brother who works in the city, and the two younger
maiden sisters, Selendra and Haner. Avan decides the next day to institute a lawsuit against Daverak.
The Prize in the Game by Jo Walton
reviewed by Steven H Silver
The author claims her 3rd novel, set in the same
world as her previous books, can be read without recourse to
those books, despite growing out of a brief passage in her debut, The
King's Peace. While it is certainly true that a person can read this book
without previous acquaintance with her world, to do so will leave
the reader with the opinion that its culture is not as fully
detailed as might be indicated by the earlier volumes.
The Amazing Transforming Superhero edited by Terrence R. Wandtke
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The book presents a series of essays analysing the changes to various comic book and movie
super people, in response to the real world. Included are such intriguing diversities as the ultra patriotic, somewhat
jingoistic presentation of the original Captain America, Wonder Woman as both a male fantasy and feminist icon, the
importance of the Thing's Jewish roots, how Batman became the Man of Tomorrow, and the transcreation of Spiderman
from Western to Eastern culture.
The Genesis Protocol by Dayton Ward
reviewed by Kilian Melloy
Science is a method, and technology a means, and their combined application produces advanced tools for the betterment of
humanity. But advances in civilized living come at a cost -- pollution, global warming, disturbed ecological systems. The hope
is that science, a self-correcting discipline, will find a way to correct the abuses and imbalances we have imposed on our
environment, and with the emergence of high-level biotechnology there's a glimmer of hope that we may soon have the means to
fix our self-inflicted problems.
Man Over Mind by Dean S. Warren
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
In the 33rd century, rule by a man/computer hybrid has become a nightmare. Billions seethe,
waiting for the slightest chance to overthrow the Minds that control them and have made life unbearable for centuries.
Until now, no one has come along who has presented any hope for destroying these human brains who join
with the computers to become all-powerful and monstrous in their appetites.
The Court of the Midnight King by Freda Warrington
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
For August, a modern day history major, the obsession began with
a movie, Sir Lawrence Olivier's version of Shakespeare's Richard III. She is
spellbound by him, even as her fellow students argue whether he was truly the evil, malformed creature history has named him, or
if, in fact, he was the best king England ever had. That night, she begins to see the story, in a place like ours, but not quite.
Mockymen by Ian Watson
reviewed by Michael M Jones
What do body-possessing aliens, mind-destroying drugs, Nazi occultism and reincarnation all have in common? They're the
disparate threads of this visionary novel, a truly bizarre tale of life, death, betrayal, and jigsaw puzzles.
It starts out innocently enough, when an aged Norwegian hires a young British couple to make some very specialized jigsaw puzzles, involving
nude pictures of themselves with a certain statuary garden in Oslo.
The Great Escape by Ian Watson
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
The safe, sure way for a writer to gain an audience is to find something that works, and then keep working it,
expanding your readership without losing your original fans. It's a tried and true method that has been used by many
an SF writer (not to mention more than a few songwriters), and one that it is quite evident this author never
heard of. This collection displays the talents of a writer who is equally at home in,
and brings an individual slant to, science fiction and fantasy, comedy and drama, philosophy and farce.
The Wizard Lord by Lawrence Watt-Evans
reviewed by Rich Horton
The single characteristic of Lawrence Watt-Evans's books that has strikes one most insistently over time is the way he features
basically ordinary people in heroic roles. This doesn't mean nebbishes or
losers: for the most part his heroes are fairly heroic, but they are heroic for reasons that make sense for regular
people. The Wizard Lord is a practically perfect example of this.
Touched By The Gods by Lawrence Watt-Evans
reviewed by Jim Greer
Jim found it to be a clever, thought-provoking story that moves with good pace. The characters
are slightly static, but well-drawn and interesting. There is enough mystery and intrigue to keep the
reader glued to the story.
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Apocalypse Troll by David Weber
reviewed by Peter D. Tillman
25th century humans have been at war with the alien
Kanga for centuries. The Kanga are on the ropes; in desperation they send a battle group
into Terra's past, to cut off the foe at the roots. The Terran Navy is soon in hot pursuit.
Murdered by Human Wolves by Steven E. Wedel
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
Katherine Cross, a good girl from a good home, cannot imagine why her best friend Elise Stone would give herself out of
wedlock to one of the local bad boys. No one likes Luther McGrath, he and his family are looked down upon by the local
people because of rumors attached to him of missing girls, murder, and deviltry. She
discovers that the McGraths are actually werewolves.
Horror of the 20th Century by Robert Weinberg
reviewed by Lisa Brunetta
Collectors take note: this illustrated history of 20th century horror is
really a treat with its heavy, full-colour pages, a fabric-like cover with
an embossed linen texture (red, of course) and a great cover illustration of
Dracula with a hapless victim. The book traces the roots of modern horror to
well before the 20th century, and continues through to the present day. And
there's no shortage of reading material suggestions to keep you going well
into the 21st century.
Mistress of Dragons by Margaret Weis
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
Dragons are the superior race, the secret masters of the world. For centuries they've watched the development of humankind,
an upstart species whose odd blend of intelligence and weakness intrigues the dragons. By dragon law, humans are not to be harmed, nor are
dragons to interfere or interact with them. There's just one exception: the Watcher, a dragon who consents to take human form and go among
the humans, keeping watch and reporting back to the Dragon Parliament.
Journey into the Void by Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
In this final chapter of the Sovereign Stone trilogy, the journey towards the Portal of the Gods continues as the races of
man, elf, ork and dwarf bring their shards, torn apart by King Tamaros so long ago, to be reunited. Will they reach it before Dagnarus, Lord
of the Void, can catch up with them? It proves to be no easy task as friends are lost and Dagnarus and his army get more powerful with every step.
Guardians of the Lost by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
Gustav, the human Dominion Lord, has finally found the human race's piece of the Sovereign Stone. As he makes the journey to
return to his lands, he is attacked by a corpse, and is mortally wounded. Before he dies, he is found by a group of three people
who will become the centre of this book: Bashan of the pecwae race, who are a group of small, nimble creatures who would rather
speak to animals than anything else, Jessan, an unproven youth of the Native American-flavored Trevenici warrior tribe,
and Wolfram, a Dwarf. They take Gustav to the pecwae village, but even their best healers can not mend his wounds...
The Soulforge by Margaret Weis
reviewed by Wayne MacLaurin
Rastlin is perhaps the single most identifiable character in TSR's immensely popular
Dragonlance series.
This is an engaging look at a character who is much more complex than most,
and a worthy addition to the growing volumes that make up TSR's
Dragonlance universe.
Sewerelf by Dan Weiss
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Asher Archer's daughter wants desperately not to grow up. True, the technology to keep her young is there; she can remain
5 years old indefinitely, but it's going to require a mighty effort on Archer's part to obtain the extra time. First, he's going
to have to get them back from a rival company after an extremely hostile takeover that has taken him far away. Fortunately -- or
maybe, unfortunately -- a mysterious face from his past has returned to lend a hand.
Mood Shifts by Dan Weiss
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
In the Mood Shifts makeover salon, you can change your whole personality.
In this brilliantly shallow vision of the future, no one really knows
what's going on, and hardly anyone cares. Fred Duff cares... or at least he
thinks he does. This novel is a riveting ride through a house of mirrors.
Confusion, lunacy, and subtle threats spring up on every side.
Dawn of a Dark Age by Jane Welch
reviewed by William Thompson
Ostensibly the start of a new trilogy, this book is actually
a continuation of the saga begun in the Runespell Trilogy and followed by
The Book of Ond. After a 15-year absence, Spar returns to Belbidia to reclaim his rule of
Torra Alta. With him, he brings in tow a fractious and rebellious son, Rollo, still grieving from the recent
death of his mother and resentful at being forced to leave his native land of Artor. Spar is seeking
closure for his own loss, as well as a fresh start for both himself and his son. But much has changed in
his absence: fell and magical creatures of an earlier time now roam Belbidia, wishing to restore their own
ascendancy over the earth and mankind.
Beyond the Gates by Catherine Wells
reviewed by Steven H Silver
They have cut themselves off from the Unbelievers who reside in the rest of the galaxy except where
they need some essential goods or services. But they find that they must bring an Unbeliever
palaeo-zoologist to the planet to help determine the origin of an animal found in the desert.
Mother Grimm by Catherine Wells
reviewed by Jim Seidman
Here is a perfect example of what happens when an author attempts to
write outside of her area of expertise. Catherine Wells has created an interesting
premise for this story, but is seriously flawed in its execution.
The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G. Wells
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
H.G. Wells, the well-known author of famous SF novellas such as The War of the Worlds, The
Invisible Man and The Time Machine, was also a prolific writer of supernatural fiction, now assembled for the
first time in this stylish hardcover volume. Mind you, in Wells's body of work the term "supernatural" doesn't always
mean dark, horrific or ghostly.
The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells
reviewed by David Maddox
Set in England at the beginning of the 20th century, average industrialist
Bedford finds himself entwined in the machinations of Cavor, an eccentric
genius who has developed Cavorite, a substance that negates the pull of
gravity. The two men construct a vessel called the Sphere which hurls them
to the moon. But the adventurers have very different agendas. Cavor hopes to
discover a utopian society he imagines living on the planet, while Bedford
is purely interested in the monetary gain the trip represents.
The Time Machine and War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
reviewed by Neil Walsh
The author was certainly no Dickens or
Thackeray and, as a science fiction writer, he was no Frank Herbert or
even John Wyndham. However, his work is important to the history of the genre and
it is worth reading a sampling to understand the roots of contemporary science fiction. Imperfect as these two
stories are, they are probably the two best -- both for their historical importance
and for exemplifying the author's style and scope.
The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
reviewed by Donna McMahon
Nicholas Valiarde leads a double life. During the day he is the leisured and embittered young heir of Doctor Edouard
Viller, a renowned metaphysician who was executed ten years ago on false charges of necromancy. At night he is Donatien,
master criminal and man of disguises.
Donatien has become the city's foremost thief, but his career is only a cover for Valiarde's real
purpose -- to destroy the evil Count Montesq, the man who destroyed his father.
The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells
reviewed by Wayne MacLaurin
Mix some Sherlock Holmes with a heavy dose of Steven Brust's
Jhereg and you'll have some idea of what to expect from The Death
of the Necromancer. Wayne's already cast his vote on this book for
most exciting new fantasy novel of the summer!
Le Morte d'Arthur: An Epic Limerick, Vol I by Jacob Wenzel
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Sir Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur is the English language cornerstone of Arthurian lore. However
trying to read the hundreds of pages can sometimes get so involved in deciphering the language that one loses the essentials
of the plot and message. Here, however, we have Mallory retold in modern, slightly colloquial English, in limerick form.
Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber
reviewed by Katharine Mills
If you are the kind of person who won't even go into the bathroom if there's a spider in the
tub -- well, you should be forewarned. This is a buggy book. But it's a fine read. And who
knows, after your intimate glimpse into their world, you might find yourself actually able
to go up to that spider, and gently remove it to a better world outside.
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