The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
reviewed by Michael M Jones
When the Others came, it was not in peace. They destroyed our modern infrastructure. They drowned our cities. They sent a
plague to weed out the vast majority of the survivors. They enlisted silent killers and deadly drones to pick off the
stragglers. And now those few who've made it this far must worry about the rumored 5th Wave, the one that will eradicate
the last remnants of humanity and leave the Earth to its new owners.
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
reviewed by Dan Shade
It is April 15, 1888 and a grave robber has just delivered a huge bundle to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop and his young assistant Will Henry.
Dr. Warthrop is a Monstrumologist, a scientist who studies monsters. What
the grave robber has delivered to his door has been thought to be a myth for centuries. Here now lay proof in
all its horror and alarm.
Fresh Perspectives on the H.G. Wells Classic The War of the Worlds edited by Glenn Yeffeth
reviewed by Stuart Carter
The academics amongst you should be aware that this isn't a collection of literary criticism pieces. The various essays (and they
truly are quite 'various') are rather personal thoughts and responses to the text. They're very accessible and by turns
thought-provoking, entertaining and informative.
The Anthology at the End of the Universe edited by Glenn Yeffeth
reviewed by Steven H Silver
All of the authors who have contributed to the anthology of essays clearly have a love and respect for Adams's work, even
Susan Sizemore, whose essay "You Can't Go Home Again, Damn It! Even If Your Planet Hasn't Been Blown Up by Vogons"
discusses how she has discovered that she and Adams's comedy have drifted apart over the years since she was first
enamored by the series.
Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
reviewed by Alma A. Hromic
Jane Yolen is a writing phenomenon of our time, deservedly called the Hans Christian Andersen of our age, a superb storyteller
who has a staggering number of books to her credit and a house which must groan under the weight of all the awards she has won over
the years. She now widens the scope of her already incredible oeuvre by embarking on a series of "rock'n'roll" fairy tales, in
collaboration with co-author and professional musician Adam Stemple.
The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens edited by Jane Yolen and Patrick Nielsen Hayden
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Ninety percent of everything, according to Theodore Sturgeon, is garbage. The golden age of science fiction, according
to Peter Graham, is at thirteen. In a long overdue attempt to help those thirteen-year-olds separate the creamy ten percent,
the editors have compiled this first volume.
With the editors' tastes, this should prove to be the first of a long series of anthologies.
The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens edited by Jane Yolen and Patrick Nielsen Hayden
reviewed by Matthew Cheney
To the ever-growing stacks of collections of the year's best stories is now added this one.
To the ever-growing arguments over what is or isn't science fiction and/or fantasy and/or the best can now be
added an argument over what makes a story "for teens." The closest thing to a rationale offered here is in the preface.
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Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville
reviewed by David Soyka
What do you do when your parents tell you The End is only weeks away?
While Marina believes in God, she has a hard time reconciling her faith
with a prophecy of Doom. Jed is an outright
non-believer, reluctantly going along with the preparations, watching
and waiting... and wondering why some of the cult members are secretly
gathering weapons.
The Sea Man by Jane Yolen & The Great Redwall Feast by Brian Jacques
reviewed by David Soyka
Two books from Peguin/Philomel share Christopher Denise as illustrator, and, though aimed at
different age groups, proved worthy bedtime reads on a reliable test subject, David's eight-year-old daughter, Sydnie.
Best of the Rest 4 edited by Brian Youmans
reviewed by Mario Guslandi
One wonders about "Year's Best" anthologies. Not only because, in many instances, you could disagree on the editor's choices,
but because, no matter how competent, honest and thorough the editor is, to examine all the published stories, scanning every
magazine, book and web site, is a superhuman task. So "the year's best" is just the best (hopefully) of what the editor has actually read.
And the rest? Good question.
Operation: Montauk by Bryan Young
reviewed by Christopher DeFilippis
After traveling in time on a mission to kill Hitler before the start of the war, World War II Army Corporal Jack Mallory wakes
up with most of his unit dead or dying, facing down a hungry Velociraptor -- which he starts shooting in the face. After an
instance of bloody mayhem, he meets up with other time travelers likewise stranded in prehistory, including 19th Century
British inventor James Richmond, 20th Century scientist Veronica Keaton, and Captain Abigail Valentine and the surviving
crew of the Chronos, the first faster-than-light vessel from some nebulous point in Earth's far future.
The Bridge by Janine Ellen Young
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
In the far reaches of a distant galaxy, circling endlessly through the rings that girdle a nameless gas giant, a race of
dragon-like beings dreams of contact with intelligent life beyond their own planetary system. And so a great project is
begun. A bridge across space-time is built, and a million tiny craft are launched scattershot into the universe. Each
bears greetings and knowledge, meant to build a different kind of bridge -- one of understanding.
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
reviewed by Rich Horton
Charles Yu is a young writer whose first collection Third Class Superhero, gained
a lot of praise in literary circles. But he's one also a guy who grew up reading Isaac Asimov. He has
professed admiration for the likes of Richard Powers, who writes literary novels -- but also sometimes SF,
and almost always scientifically-engaged work. So, what is How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional
Universe? Actually, that's an interesting question.
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
reviewed by Steven H Silver
The novel's protagonist, also named Charles Yu, lives his life in a small time machine with the company of
his AI, TAMMY, and an "ontologically valid" non-real dog, named Ed. Although he has minor contact with other
characters, notably those who need time machines repaired, his only other relationships are with his AI boss,
Phil, and his mother, who is caught in a time loop of her own devising.
Planetes: Volume One by Makoto Yukimura
reviewed by Susan Dunman
When moving to a foreign country, travelers often take with them essential elements of their culture, including laws, religion,
entertainment, and... garbage. Space is no exception, so it's not a surprise when there's too
much "space trash" between Earth and a new lunar
colony. The debris poses a deadly threat to spacecraft and its removal necessitates the creation of a new job in space, the
extra-planetary sanitation worker.
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