The Lions of Al-Rassan
by Guy Gavriel Kay, Viking

With only a few tips of the hat towards traditional fantasy elements, Kay has crafted a magnificent story of love, intrigue and friendship. The book has some of the strongest characters I've met in many-a-year of reading. Jehane, the doctor with, to western eyes, odd ways of diagnosis and Rodrigo, the mercenary leader whose love of family brought tears to my eyes and Ammar ibn Khairan, the assassin with noble goals and failed dreams (thanks, Guy); they all made me hope for their success and worry when their failure was imminent. What more could an author offer than the joy a reader finds in his prose?

World Without End
by Sean Russell, DAW

Have you ever found a book that you don't want to end? Ever? I've discovered a few in almost forty years of reading science fiction and fantasy. This is one. I wish I could explain why it held me in such thrall. Characters? Plot? Prose? Setting? Yeah, I suppose so but that's not it. I just remember each time I picked it up there was a languid ache knowing that, with each page, I'd have less to read. Finishing it was like the day I knew for certain that it was time to leave school and go out into the world. I could only sigh, look back and remember.

Harry Gainsborough wrote a children's book called Zod Wallop. But with the drowning death of his daughter, he stopped. This was much to the despair of Raymond Story, for the book meant everything to him. So much so, that he decided to seek out Harry and try to recreate the events of the book. Unfortunately for Harry, Raymond is a patient at Harwood Psychiatric Hospital. In a way, this synopsis reminds me of Stephen King's Misery. But not so, gentle reader.

Until this book appeared, I wondered whether I'd ever see another the likes of Jonathan Carroll's Land of Laughs. I have and I am happy. Spencer's originality, humour and warmth left me with a sense of wonder and well-being. It reminded me of the joy found in simple acts of kindness, the satisfaction of not caving into institutional wisdom and the merits of eccentricity.

Walt Stebbins wants nothing more than to run his catalogue sales business out of his garage, His wife, Ivy, could quit her job as a real estate agent, if business picked up like he expected. After all, Christmas was coming. Into his life comes Henry, Ivy's uncle, and his wife, Jinx, to spend the winter in a trailer park in their laneway. Then along comes a mysterious package for Argyle, an old business partner and one-time suitor for Ivy's hand. Foolishly opening it to see what Argyle is up to, Walt returns it to Argyle's doostep minus one item. Sound pretty straightforward, doesn't it? Well, not with Blaylock at the keyboard. He provides us with a provocative look at the effect man's greed for success will have on him. We meet a golem, two churchmen trying to save souls from eternal damnation (one used to sell souls for fun and profit) and a 6'6" phony postal inspector with a face like pudding. Then, there is the author's odd facination with various forms of sea creatures. He throws in spontaneous human combustion along with a bottled bluebird which may just grant wishes. Geez, I love Blaylock's stuff.

The Knights of the Black Earth
by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin, Roc

I start hundreds of books each year. Usually, I know whether I'm going to finish it within fifty pages. I began this one due to Don Perrin's local connection and Margaret Weis' courtesy to me one Saturday in Chicago some years ago. Twenty pages or so in and minding my own business, the novel shook me by the neck and dragged me headlong into a fabulous adventure. I struggled, I pushed, I deked but I couldn't shake loose until the end. One sitting and I was done, exhausted and drooling for more. Geez, I hope they don't write another. I couldn't handle the ride. Thanks, guys.

Stephenson took the SF world by storm when Snowcrash was published. I can only compare its presence in retail to that of Dan Simmons' Hyperion. Shortly thereafter, the buzz began. Can he do it again? Will the sophomore jinx kick in? Will he rise like Gibson did or will he see bleak times like Card did? Well, it's hard to tell until this book is in paperback. What he has written is a truly different novel full of intriguing and goofy technology and the people who use it and abuse it. Some of the technology is already passe. The bulk is to come and, if true, it will change humanity forever. Great characters, neo-victorian stuff for fans, a so-so plot and great movie possibilities. It has everything that should have been in The Difference Engine.

Williams had built up a lot of points with me for his first bunch of novels. Witty, enchanting, clever describe his manner novels and sleek, edgy and innovative are reserved for his adventure novels. But his last two really stiffed at the cash register and customer feedback wasn't polite. I couldn't finish either one. Karma points were sinking. I started Metropolitan on spec. Then I met Aiah, one of the most interesting and evolving characters whose exploits I've had the pleasure to follow. She takes her life by the throat and goes for the brass ring. Knowing that life isn't fair and she could tank, she keeps a realistic perspective and her options open. The plot, to overthrow a city-state, remains in the background and, instead, stays near her. Her pivotal role and her relationship with the Metropolitan, Constantine, show why not every book needs to focus on the splatter bits. Bravo, Mr. Williams.

Some years ago, I picked up a digest magazine in which a friend of mine had a story published. Now I don't read enough short fiction (usually just the Year's Best from St. Martin's). Anyway, I thought I'd skim some of the other stories when I saw an Ian McDonald item. I thought, double treat. It was called Towards Kilimanjaro. It forms the core of this novel (called Chaga in the UK). It gave me a taste of the impact a spreading alien plant form could have on modern society. I saw how the various walks of life would react and adapt to the spread of alien flora. The native culture (it is set in Africa) is juxtaposed with the rest of the world via an evolved UN force (they try to surround the chaga) and the media (they try to out-scoop one another -- big suprise, eh?). It's a story of loss, joy, rebirth, treachery, and hope without the usual slanted view of destroying what we don't understand. About 70 pages from the end, a stray thought about Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Outlet in North Conway, NH surfaced. You know how they give you a spoonful of their ice cream to taste? Well, the novelette is like the spoonful. You know there is a big treat coming.