Sf/Fantasy
By Jackie Cassada May 26, 2010Baker, Kage. The Bird of the River. Tor. Jul. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2296-8. $25.99. FANTASY
Teenage Eliss and her half-breed brother Alder become part of the crew of a large river barge after the drowning death of their addict mother. When Krelan, a professional assassin despite his youth, joins the barge to find a dead nobleman’s head for proper burial, life for Eliss becomes complicated. Pirate attacks begin to form a pattern as the barge plies the river, and Eliss gets caught up in Krelan’s search and in discovering the reason behind the attacks. The author of the popular sf series about The Company sets her latest work in the fantasy world of The Anvil of the World and The House of the Stag, illuminating yet another facet of this remarkable setting. VERDICT Compact plotting provides an antidote to the fantasy meganovel without sacrificing depth of character or quality of detail. A worthy final work by a master storyteller. Baker died January 31.
Baxter, Stephen. Ark. ROC: NAL. 2010. c.544p. ISBN 978-0-451-46331-9. $24.95. SF
By 2041, rising ocean levels have nearly covered the land surfaces of Earth and will soon overwhelm what little dry ground remains. Two spaceships, Ark One and Ark Three, prepare for a one-way trip to a habitable planet in a distant part of space. Among the potential colonists is Holly Groundwater, who learns the difficulties inherent in winning out over the competition and placing her life above others to gain a place in the transport. Verdict Continuing the apocalyptic vision of Flood, Baxter demonstrates an uncanny talent for delving into the psychological world of the survivor. His gift for storytelling and his large-scale, panoramic scenario should appeal to fans of such apocalyptic fiction as Walter Jon Williams’s The Rift and John Barnes’s Mother of Storms.
Chadbourn, Mark. The Queen of Sinister. Pyr: Prometheus. (The Dark Age, Bk. 2). Jun. 2010. c.306p. ISBN 978-1-61614-200-1. pap. $16. FANTASY
The modern world has ceased to exist as an invasion of magic—and magical beings—has thrown society into a new Dark Age. When a mysterious and deadly plague strikes her village, British doctor Caitlin Shepherd discovers a way to cross into the Celtic Otherworld in hopes of finding a cure, but first she must find peace and strength from the shattered personalities that dwell within her. Chadbourn’s saga, now in its second four-volume series, follows The Devil in Green with another compelling tale of ordinary people transformed into heroes. VERDICT Superb storytelling and a keen sense of character bring a feeling of reality to this modern fantasy infused with elder gods, magical creatures, and the indomitable human spirit. Fans of Charles de Lint will especially appreciate this series.
Digital Domains: A Decade of Science Fiction & Fantasy. Prime. Jul. 2010. c.312p. ed. by Ellen Datlow. ISBN 978-1-60701-208-5.pap. $14.95. FANTASY
From James Blaylock’s eerie tale of one man’s discovery of time’s fluidity (“Thirteen Phantasms”) to the terrible inevitability in Simon Ing’s story of a relationship between invader and native (“Russian Vine”), the 15 stories in this collection display the vibrancy and variety of online fiction as seen in the virtual “pages” of three related online magazines: Omni Online , Event Horizon , and SciFiction. Contributors include Paul Park, Jeffrey Ford, Kim Newman, Karen Joy Fowler, and other writers of both analog and digital fiction. VERDICT The easy availability of fiction on the web attracts a large following, and this volume is proof of its staying power. Suitable for lovers of short fiction of all genres.
Fallon, Jennifer. The Palace of Impossible Dreams. Tor. (The Tide Lords, Bk. 3). Jun. 2010. c.464p. ISBN 978-0-7653-1684-4. $27.99. FANTASY
As the Tide that determines who controls the magical energy in the world turns, Immortals grow stronger and vie with one another over who controls the Tide. The conflict takes its toll among the mortal population: the Lady Arkady finds herself branded as a slave and on her way to her new master, all hope of rescue beyond her reach. Arkady’s husband, Stellan, believed dead, has sought refuge in a neighboring land as the Tide Lords square off for a massive confrontation. The penultimate volume in Fallon’s latest series (The Immortal Prince ; The Gods of Amyrantha) provides an epic saga set in a fascinating and vivid world in which mortals and Immortals coexist, though not always happily. VERDICT Memorable characters and an intriguing premise make this grand-scale fantasy a strong choice for fans of George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan.
Harrison, Harry. The Stainless Steel Rat Returns. Tor. Aug. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2441-2. $24.99. SF
Just when life couldn’t be better, James Bolivar “Slippery Jim” DiGriz, also known as the Stainless Steel Rat, receives a visit from his long-lost cousin Elmo and finds himself the caretaker of a herd of swine that soon depletes his bank account and sends him and his wife, Angelina, on an interstellar journey. Harrison revives his most popular character after a ten-year absence in a galactic romp filled with adventure, hilarity, snappy dialog—and pigs. VERDICT Harrison’s witty style, combining hard-nosed noir with slapstick humor, has built a large audience for the escapades of his special agent/con man/retired criminal, and the demand for this novel should be high.
Lamplighter, L. Jagi. Prospero in Hell. Tor. Aug. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-7653-1930-2. $25.99. FANTASY
In this sequel to Prospero Lost, Miranda, head of Prospero, Inc., a modern company founded by the magician of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, searches for her missing father and concludes that he has been captured by the dark forces and is imprisoned in Hell. The demons holding him demand a harsh ransom for his freedom, and Miranda must travel to that dark place, accompanied by members of her extended family, while trying to decide how to prevent her family’s—and the world’s—doom. Verdict Continuing an imaginative and highly inventive story that takes place 500 years after the actions in Shakespeare’s play, Lamplighter’s ingenious plot and dynamic cast of characters lend depth to a fantasy that combines horror and humor in generous quantities.
Miéville, China. Kraken. Del Rey: Ballantine.Jun. 2010. c.496p. ISBN 978-0-345-49749-9. $26. FANTASY
The theft of the preserved body of a giant squid from the British Museum confounds the detectives sent to investigate the crime, but curator Billy Harrow sees the deed as a personal affront because the creature was in his charge. Billy’s attempts to find the kraken takes him through a bizarre landscape filled with squid-worshiping cultists, a man with a living tattoo, a trio of special investigators whose methods defy description or reason, and a pair of deadly scoundrels whose names alone strike terror in the hearts of those who have seen their handiwork. Set in a modern-day London awash with strangeness, the latest novel by the author of Perdido Street Station combines brilliant storytelling with doses of eccentric humor and eerily compelling horror. VERDICT Not for the squeamish, Miéville’s sprawling saga calls to mind the works of H.P. Lovecraft and H.G. Wells with a distinctive 21st-century spin and should draw a large crossover audience as well as genre fans. Highly recommended. [Ebook ISBN 978-0-345-52185-9.]
Niven, Larry. Stars and Gods. Tor. Aug. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-7653-0864-1. $25.99. SF
Ranging in content from excerpts from some of his most recent novels (Ringworld’s Children) to tales set in familiar worlds (“Choosing Names,” the Man-Kzin novels) to stand-alone short stories (“The Hunting Park”), this sequel to Niven’s previous collection, Scatterbrain , offers additional material from the dazzling and ever original mind of the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author. Niven also includes a selection of nonfiction pieces and excerpts from collaborative efforts with noted authors Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes, and Brenda Cooper. VERDICT Fans of the author as well as libraries where anthologies are popular should acquire this gold mine of both published and revised material.
Novik, Naomi. Tongues of Serpents. Del Rey: Ballantine. Jul. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-345-49689-8. $25. FANTASY
Stripped of his rank and privileges, Will Laurence and his similarly exiled dragon, Temeraire, sail to their new home, the prison colony of Botany Bay on the distant continent of Australia. Once there, Laurence and Temeraire suffer the hardships of exile and encounter the colony’s former governor, the notorious Captain Bligh, as well as the current ruler and the many disgruntled officers who covet his position. The latest addition to Novik’s popular series set in an alternate Napoleonic era takes its heroes to a brave and harsh new world in which men—and dragons—are pushed to their limits but never broken. VERDICT Strong writing, engaging characters, and unforgettable dragons make this a sure bet for fans of period literature such as Patrick O’Brien’s Jack Aubrey novels, and, of course, lovers of fantasies featuring dragons. [Ebook ISBN 978-0-345-52175-0.]
Nylund, Eric. All That Lives Must Die. Tor. (Mortal Coils, Bk. 2). Jul. 2010. c.704p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2304-0. pap. $15.99. FANTASY
Teenage twins Eliot and Fiona Post have discovered that they are gods, the immortal children of a mating between Lucifer, Lord of the Infernals, and the Lady Atropos, eldest of the Three Fates. Now enrolled in an elite high school that teaches children of the gods how to control their various powers, they discover that classes and social time can transform from debate and lecture to duels and that failure means more than just a bad grade. In the meantime, both gods and demons watch their progress with great interest. Nylund’s sequel to Mortal Coils magnifies the trials and tribulations of the teen years to epic proportions, mixing humor and drama in generous amounts. VERDICT Irreverent and entertaining, this tale of modern teenagers caught in a supernatural web of family relations should please most adult and YA fans of urban and coming-of-age fantasies.
Palmer, Stephen. Urbis Morpheos. PS Pub. Jun. 2010. c.390p. ISBN 978-1-906301-43-9. $20. SF
In the far future, warring ecosystems threaten to destroy the manufactured ecosystem of Old Earth, now known as Urbis Morpheos, as the natural world fades into oblivion. Two women, Psolilai and psolilai, who dream of each other, may hold the keys that will save the world. Palmer’s surreal setting and distinctive style create an atmosphere that is at once dreamlike and starkly real. His characters serve as both archetype and individual, populating a world that is allegorical and believable. VERDICT The author of Memory Seed and Glass offers a challenging and thoughtful future world that should satisfy readers with a love for far-future sf and New Wave fiction.
Vaughn, Carrie. Discord’s Apple. Tor. Jul. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2554-9. $23.99. FANTASY
When Eve Walker returns to Hope’s Fort, CO, to be with her dying father, she discovers that the basement of the family house holds items that her father gives to those who truly need them. She also finds that she possesses an unerring sense of people who may partake of the house’s bounty. Yet forces older than history can wreak destruction on the world should they gain access to the Walker storeroom, and Eve’s greatest defender may be a stranger in town—a man who wants only to die. The author of the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series (Kitty and the Midnight Hour) weaves Greek myth with a dystopic near-future setting to produce a supernatural thriller laced with romance and mystery. VERDICT Believable and sympathetic central characters anchor a stand-alone novel that leaves the door open for a series and should appeal to fans of Greek myth, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s “Dark Hunter” series, and Patricia Brigg’s fantasies.
Weber, David. Mission of Honor. Baen, dist. by S. & S. Jul. 2010. c.608p. ISBN 978-1-4391-3361-3. $27. SF
In anticipation of war between the Star Kingdom of Manticore and the Solarian League, Adm. Honor Alexander-Harrington undertakes a delicate ambassadorial mission to attempt peace between the Star Kingdom and the Republic of Haven, unaware of an insidious plot by yet another interstellar power to wreak havoc upon the Manticorean worlds. The latest addition to Weber’s immensely popular Honor Harrington novels focuses primarily on strategic and political maneuvering, slowly and methodically building tension until its startling and world-changing conclusion and setting the stage for future novels. VERDICT Fully realized characters and an incisive understanding of the military mindset lend believability to this dynastic space opera sure to be popular with series fans and lovers of military sf. [Five-city author tour.]
Additional Sf/Fantasy
Adams, Cat. Blood Song. Tor. Jun. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2494-8. pap. $14.99. FANTASY
From the popular urban fantasy duo C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp comes the start of a new series written under the Adams pseudonym (Magic’s Design). Celia Graves works as a bodyguard protecting the rich and famous from the press, overzealous fans, and the occasional monster. Celia’s most recent assignment is to protect the prince of Rusland, but this routine job goes horribly wrong. Outside a nightclub the prince and his retinue suffer a vicious vampire ambush. The prince disappears, and Celia wakes up days later only to discover she is no longer human. She has been bitten by a master vampire, who mysteriously neither killed her nor completely turned her. Celia has become that rare hybrid known as an abomination. Her problems are only beginning. Celia is a brilliant character with plenty of hurt and sorrow in her life but also imbued with a strong spirit. Her tenacity saves the day more than once. Verdict This is a treat for urban fantasy fans who like smart, feisty heroines and complex, fast-paced stories.—Patricia Altner, Biblioinfo.com, Columbia, MD
Carey, Jacqueline. Naamah’s Curse. Grand Central. Jun. 2010. c.567p. ISBN 978-0-446-19805-9. $26.99. FANTASY
This second book in a projected trilogy (after Naamah’s Kiss) and eighth installment in the larger world of “Kushiel’s Legacy” follows Moirin as she navigates challenging terrains to reconnect with her Chi’n soul mate, Bao. Leaving the Orient, Moirin makes for Tartar territory, where she is captured and sold to a religious leader who wants to convert her to the path of Yeshua to aid him in an escalating holy war. Religion is much more of a theme here than in the previous book. The first part addresses the holy wars started on behalf of the son of God, and the second takes Moirin south, where she encounters fictionalized Buddhism and Hinduism. Far less focused on sex than many of Carey’s other series titles, this novel is more of a traditional quest fantasy, albeit with a sexually generous female protagonist. Verdict Recommended for series fans. Readers who enjoy fantasies that involve alternative mythological or religious history such as those by Marion Zimmer Bradley may also want to follow Moirin’s journey. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/10.]—Karen Kleckner, Deerfield P.L., IL
Kowal, Mary Robinette. Shades of Milk and Honey. Tor. Aug. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-7653-2556-3. $24.99. FANTASY
In this alternate history of a Regency England, a lady’s chance at a good match improves with her every talent: good taste in the arts, a deft hand at pulling images from the ether, and proper conduct in polite society. Miss Jane Ellsworth was born with gifts of a keen artistic eye and creating mesmerizing glamours, but her sister, Melody, was born with the gift of physical beauty. In the end, which is truly the more desirable? A series of romantic misunderstandings, poorly expressed feelings, and purposeful deception lead Jane and Melody into a better understanding of their own views on the topic. Verdict Readers will be disappointed only when they finish this enchanting story, which is suffused with genteel charm. The author’s judicious and effective changes to aspects of daily life clearly communicate how similar but different this world is from ours. With the grace of Sense and Sensibility, a touch of classic fairy tale magic, and an action-packed ending, this debut novel by an award-winning fantasy short story writer will appeal to fans of Jane Austen, Jane Yolen, Patricia Wrede, Susannah Clarke, and even Jasper Fforde.—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH
Okorafor, Nnedi. Who Fears Death. DAW, dist. by Penguin. Jun. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-7564-0617-2. $24.95. FANTASY
In her astonishing debut, Okorafor has created a desolate, postapocalyptic Africa of endless desert, failing technology, superstition, and magic. But life is not without hope. Prophesy speaks of a sorcerer who will change the future, end the wars and slavery, and reunite the people. Onyesonwu is a child of rare talent. Conceived by rape, physically different from her peers, Onyesonwu has the light skin, fair hair, and freckles that traditionally mark her as unworthy, frightening, ugly, and evil. But rather than accepting her outcast role, a defiant Onyesonwu uses her magic to prove herself, avenge her mother’s rape, and lead her people. Verdict Beautifully written, this is dystopian fantasy at its very best. Expertly exploring issues of race, gender, and cultural identity, Okorafor blends future fantasy with the rhythm and feel of African storytelling.—Jennifer Beach, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis
