Here are comments on the works that I read from beginning to end in the year 2007 and the first five months of 2008. When I retire in May, future reviews will be placed on a personal blog. Books that I did not enjoy are usually not completed so they do not appear here. Beginning in summer 2002, I added a summary evaluation tag.
The most recently read works appear at the head so this is a column of comments in reverse chronological order. Works read in previous years are available.
As I prepare for retirement, I will no longer post book comments on these pages. Instead, they will appear on my blog My Blog along with a variety of other content.
"Commander Daniel Leary sipped whiskey from a glass with the Quenzer monogram as he surveyed his fellow guests; he held his lips in a neutral smile."
This is the sixth volume in the "RCN" series. The first volume was With the Lightnings and the fifth one was Some Golden Harbor..
Although the situations vary somewhat, these novels have many similarities. Daniel is an excellent officer and an outstanding astrographer. For a variety of reasons, the naval leadership fails to appreciate his merit and sends him, his crew, and his ship into situations where they should fail. However, the crew is a good one with a variety of resources, including communications "officer" [former librarian] Adele Mundy who has nearly magical abilities to find critical information that wins the battle.
In this case, Daniel's ship is send to the Bagarian cluster to assist in a rebellion against the Alliance. There is a considerable political dimension with the local leadership being both corrupt and inept. Daniel and his crew take unexpected initiatives that seem unlikely to succeed against great odds.
Major characters from previous novels appear again in familiar and pleasing roles. Neither Daniel nor Adele seem to have changed much although there may be just a bit of softening in Adele's attitude toward life and living. The space warfare is well done although not as detailed in particulars as Weber might do. The blend of politics and naval action works well and makes it difficult to ut the book down.
World building is satisfactory but not too detailed. There is enough geographic, economic, and political context for the story to make sense. Daniel is always an underdog, but with his crew behind him almost anything seems possible.
Drake is well regarded both for this SF and his heroic fantasy. The RCN space opera books may appeal also to those who enjoy military fiction. Pages turn quickly and there is little to slow down the reader. The pleasing cover art by Stephen Hickman shows Adele and Daniel at the command console. The series is highly recommended for larger collections, especially where the earlier books have done well.
"Ingolf Vogeler slapped his horse affectionately on the neck; he felt a little better now that the rain had stopped, even though it was the tag end of a chilly October day with a ragged sky the color of damp raw wool rolling in from the West."
This is the seventh volume in the "novels of the change" series. The first volume was Island in the Sea of Time and the sixth one was A Meeting at Corvallis..
In these novels, a strange and unexplained event has eliminated virtually all technology except that available during medieval times. Civilization has collapsed nearly everywhere, but is gradually being reborn in a few places. Elsewhere, the world consists of death zones and places lightly populated by neo-savages. So far, the series has mostly focused on the rebirth of civilization in Oregon. With the Sunrise Lands , the series reaches out to lands east of continental divide.
Ingolf Vogeler has finally made his way to the Willamette Valley after a series of adventures that took him as far East as Nantucket Island where he may have encountered something responsible for the change itself. Something has charged him with going to Oregon to find "the son of the bear who rules. Tell the Sword of the Lady what awaits him." Ingolf will find Rudi, the Sword of the Lady, and with other well-chosen companions they begin a quest to return to Nantucket Island.
Needless to say, the miles to Nantucket are filled with a variety of deadly challenges, especially those from the Church Universal and Triumphant lead by a crazed and murderous prophet. There is considerable action as well as clear and interesting descriptions of places and people twenty odd years after the change.
World building is first rate. Geography, culture, technology, and human frailty are well integrated into a persuasive portrait. At the same time, the positive characters in particular and their way of thinking/acting are well done. Each of the eight major characters involved in the quest are people we understand and would like to be with.
The earlier volumes were well received and the series is likely to be a major contribution to the literature, especially of APOCALYPTIC SF. Given the nature of the story, there are some fantasy elements that will appeal to those who enjoy heroic fantasy. The series also works well as adventure fiction or as [alternate] historical fiction. The story moves well, but back stories appear now and then to provide the newer reader with context. Unhappily, this volume ends in a cliff hanger with the success of the quest in considerable doubt. The front cover image shows Ingolf [I think] alone on a highway with crossbow in hand which doesn't really match the story. A helpful map of the U.S. is included in the front matter. The series is highly recommended for larger collections, especially with its considerable cross-over appeal.
"Dalcey rode into Ghosenhall late on a bright, cold midwinter morning. He noted with approval the sentries posted at the outer gates, the royal soldiers roaming the city in their formal black-and-gold uniforms."
This is the fourth volume in the "Novels of the Twelve Houses." The first was Mystic and Rider and the third was Dark Moon Defender. The story continues with essentially the same characters as before except that here we focus on Cammon [the mystic who reads people's emotions, moods, and the truthfulness of what they say] and Amalie who is Princess and heir to the throne of Gillengaria. As before, some of the great twelve houses are eager to replace the King even if that means an uprising and warfare between the houses. At the same time, many see mystics, with their magical abilities, as evil who should be destroyed.
Cammon has been assigned to protect Amalie by being with her when she is with others since as a reader he can identify those who wish her, or her father the King, harm. Cammon has had a difficult childhood and is unusually open and loving to those who are good and need friendship. This complicates his relationship with Amalie who has been protected and isolated since childhood. Her mother passed away when she was little and the King's second wife is most protective of Amalie. Much of the story focuses on the development and interaction of these two primary characters. Since Cammon is far from being noble or affluent, he can hardly be a match for the lonely Princess even if she comes to love him.
At the same time, powerful nobles are gathering to remove the King and the Princess unless she will marry one of the nobles. The Royal Riders, the mystics close to the King, and some of the major houses prepare for war. Although war and battle appear toward the end of this volume, this is primarily a character study exploring relationships and revealing more about the twelve houses of Gillengaria, but especially the habits, background, and nature of the small company of mystics that has gradually grown since the first volume.
World building is solid, especially with the previous three volumes to clearly describe the twelve houses and the nobility. The main characters are thoughtfully and well developed. There are many minor characters and they strengthen the inclusiveness of the story. The plot is straight-forward without too many surprises. Amalie is not at all what she first appears to be and her unexpected powers include being able to control the terrifying raelynx -- certainly the most deadly creature in the kingdom.
Shinn is an established author of semi-romantic SF and heroic fantasy. She is particularly talented in developing strong and multi-dimensional female characters. This series has been well received and this volume is an automatic selection where the earlier volumes have been popular. While it could be read as a stand-alone volume, it's best to begin with the first volume in the series. Since there is a strong romance element here, this is a good cross-over title for romance readers as are the earlier volumes in the series. The physical book is typical of today's hard cover editions. Cover art by Donato Gianeola shows Cammon and the raelynx in an action scene.
"The first time Leodora spoke to a god, she had climbed to the top of the bridge tower and she was masked. It was late in her third day on the span called Vijnagar, a broad segment on one of the infinite bridges that uncoil across the oceans of Shadowbridge."
Leodora has grown up in fishing village with little sense of either her father or mother until she discovers that her father was a great story teller, a "shadow-puppeteer." From a not always sober colleague of her father, she gradually learns how to work the puppets and become a master story teller.
The early parts of the story deal with the village, the culture of these villages and the strong tensions among the family that she lives with, especially her harsh and dominating uncle. Later, she escapes with the puppets and Soter, her father's colleague, to become Jax -- a masterful story teller much like her father. Along the way, Leodora finds a god-touched musician who adds another dimension to the story-telling.
This first volume in an unnamed series ends in a cliff hanger and seems intended to set the stage for more substantial conflicts in the future. Although the setting consists primarily of long and distinctive bridges, and their communities, across a mostly ocean planet, we learn little about how these bridges were built or the economy that supported such substantial and challenging infrastructure. This is a world with limited technology, but we don't learn much about that. As a story-teller, Leodora tells traditional stories now and then that illuminate and illustrate the legends associated with Shadowbridge and individual bridge communities.
World building is certainly sufficient. The bridge communities interest and the particulars are well described. The plot is straight-forward as Leodora flees from her past and becomes Jax -- the traveling story-teller. We sense without any specifics that something terrible happened to her father and that some one or some group may be searching for Leodora. Leodora and Diverus, the musician, are nicely developed and hold our interest. Sotor plays an important role but seems to be more stereotypical. There are several interesting minor characters and situations as the three main characters set forth.
Frost has received increased critical attention. The story appeals. The setting, while sometimes unconvincing, is unusual and provides a notably different setting for a heroic fantasy adventure. The myths and stories that Leodora tells are well done and add considerable weight to the story. The physical book is typical of today's trade market paper editions. Cover art shows one of the distinctive spans [bridge communities] on Shadowbridge. It appeals and is most attractive. Recommended for larger heroic fantasy collections, especially where there is interest that goes beyond the usual sword and sorcery.
"The wolfship was only a few hours from Cape Shelter when the massive storm hit them."
This is the third volume in the "Ranger's Apprentice" series. The first book was The ruins of Gorlan and the second was the Burning Bridge. While this volume might be read separately, the tale makes more sense to those who have read the earlier volumes.
Will, the Ranger's Apprentice, and Evanlyn, the disguised daughter of the King, have been captured by Norsemen and are being taken to Scandia [the icebound land] where they will be sold as slaves. Halt, the Ranger, has decided to rescue Will even if the King forbids it. He will be accompanied by Horace, a young but very talented knight. In their quest, they will encounter and be captured by an brutal warlord. At the same time, Will and Evanlyn hope to find some way to escape their captors.
The plot is straight-forward, but with some interesting twists and turns. No magic here and not much action. Emphasis is on the main characters, their interaction with those they encounter and comments on culture and beliefs. All three of the major teen characters have opportunities for growth and learning. World building is quite satisfactory if typically medieval along with the Norsemen. Writing is clear and easily understood. Pages turn quickly and there is some concern about the ability of the four main characters to meet their challenges and survive. Will, Evelyn, and Horace are compelling characters and the reader is eager to discover what will happen to them. The story ends with hope, but at least one more sequel will be needed to finish the story.
The series has received positive review attention and should appeal to older children, tweens, and teens interested in heroic fantasy. With strong male and female main characters, the series should have wide appeal.
""Blessed--look out!' Everyone turned and stared; at Kero, and at the boy about to lose the towering platter of bread."
Lackey has had considerable success with the various volumes in the "Heralds of Valdemar" series. While all are good, this is my favorite and a story that I have read many times.
Kero suddenly and unexpectedly finds herself chasing a kidnapped bride and an evil magician after her brother's wedding feast has been attacked by "bandits." With help from an unexpected source and a magical sword, Kero emerges victorious with the bride. The story then follows her career as a professional soldier -- light horse cavalry -- until she eventually becomes the leader of a company widely recognized as the best of its kind. Along the way, there are a variety of battles, campaigns and interactions including the final campaign to protect Valdemar.
World building is not especially original, but it is nicely done. The series allows Lackey to create a substantial political-cultural-economic world with many persuasive details and interactions. The strength of the story is in the characters. Major characters are fully developed and the minor ones certainly hold the reader's interest. The military aspect is well handled and seems quite persuasive. Writing is clear, interesting, and easily digested without being simple.
Lackey has become a notable and most productive author, including a variety of successful partnerships with others, and has moved beyond Valdemar. Still, of all her works, this remains my favorite and one that clearly demonstrates the continuing appeal of well done heroic fantasy. The fact the the main character is a talented and principled young woman is a plus and widens the potential audience. The cover art by Jody Lee is first-rate.
"Makenna had to stretch onto her toes to reach the small stone lamp, for the shelf that held it was higher than a grown woman's head, and she was only eleven. She'd drawn the fire rune in the sweet-smelling sawdust that lettered the floor of Goodman Branno's workshop."
Makenna's mother, a hedgewitch, has healed and helped local villagers for years before a new priest accused her of being in league with demons and the villagers killed her. Makenna escaped and vowed to punish humans. She soon encounters goblins and after awhile learns enough of their customs to gradually become their leader in a fight against the humans who wish to slay all goblins. These goblins are tricky and use their natural magical gifts well. Here goblins are less than three feet tall with sharp, distinctive features.
While her magic remains relatively weak, Makenna becomes good at strategy and tactics and her goblins become larger and better organized. They are able to defeat some initiatives by the Priests and rulers of the Realm of the Bright Gods. However, when barbarians from the South begin to move into the Realm, the existing population must move Northward so priests with their strong magic, soldiers, and many others are moving into the territory where Makenna and the goblins operate.
In order to eliminate what is now known as the Sorceress of the Goblin Wood, a special force with several priests has been sent north. At the same time, a knight, Tobin has been sent on a special mission to find Makenna and let the priests know where she is. Tobin does find Makenna but she is not at all what he expected. The same is true of his interaction with the goblins.
The world building is satisfactory, but Bell is especially good in creating the various kinds of goblins and their culture. The interactions between the leading goblin characters and Makenna and Tobin are very well done. There is some action, but this is more a story of character development. The plot is straight-forward, but with a surprise or two, especially toward the end.
Both Makenna and Tobin are characters that we care about. Both are well developed.
Besides being a librarian, Bell has successfully published several well regarded fantasy stories so this title should already be in most library collections. Print is large and black. White space is good so reading is easy. A clear, helpful front matter map shows the places in the story. Eric Bowman dis the appealing cover art which shows Makenna and a goblin in the wood.
At first captain Mikhail Ivanovich Volkov couldn't comprehend what he was looking at in the cavernous dry dock of Plymouth Space Station.>
The United Colonies are at war with aliens, the nefrim, who they cannot communicate with or understand. At the moment, they are losing. At the same time, a warp drive from a long lost UC space ship suddenly appears near Plymouth Space station. Instead of sending a UC ship to attempt to discover what happened to the long lost ship, the Defense Minister at Plymouth asks the captain of a Novaya Rus militia frigate to do the job. He will discover a new world, but one with many aspects of contemporary civilization as well as aliens not yet found in known space.
One thread is the journey to find the lost ship, the Fenrir and discover why it disappeared. Another thread involves the definition of what is human. Reds and blues [in much fewer numbers] have been created in genetic labs. Reds are typically male warriors and blues are pleasure workers. Volkov's ship contains two groups of Reds. His "brother" is also a red who, while a strong, thoughtful warrior, lacks confidence in his value as a "real" human. The role and place of Reds and Blues plays an important role in the interactions between the main characters in the new world, especially between Turk, the brother, and Paige Bailey who rescues Turk from certain death. Finally, a person from Volkov's past will challenge him and threaten the success of the mission.
The world building is very well done although more might have been done with the alien races only briefly mentioned here. The notion of a Sagrasso where space ships from various races and different times have ended up and the sort of civilization that is created is not new, but Spencer handles it well. More detail on the back story, the context of the adventure, would make the earlier part of the story easier to understand. Characters interest and are thoughtfully drawn. There is not a lot of action, but the threat of action/misfortune certainly keeps the story moving while allowing the author to describe a most interesting setting. The story ends is a satisfactory manner, but there is considerable scope for sequels.
Because of the romantic interaction between Turk and Paige, the story might appeal to those who enjoy romance and adventure as well as those who enjoy space opera. The physical book is of average quality although the print is larger. There is quite a bit of see through on the pages. The cover illustration by Kurt Miller appeals and suggests the type of story but does not illustrate a scene from the story. A good choice for larger SF collections.
"I should have known I would get fired my first day on the job. All the signs were there. I was just too excited to see them."
This is the second volume in the "lost journals of Ven Polypheme" series. The first volume was the Floating Island and the third volume will be The Dragon's Lair.
"Long ago, in the Second Age of history, a young Nain explorer by the name of Ven Polypheme traveled much of the known and unknown world, recording his adventures." Haydon treats the story both as journal entries and also as you are there scenes with one alternating with the other. The story moves forward smoothly without unreasonable breaks in the flow of content.
While it would be helpful to have read the first volume to become familiar with Ven and his companions, the story can be read alone since there is enough of the back story to make sense. Ven has been appointed as the King's Royal Reporter. He is publicly fired but secretly is assigned a secret mission to learn more about a mysterious relic given to the King's father. Ven and four children, one of whom is not human [as is Ven], will go on their quest to the Gated City which is ruled by the Queen of Thieves and is a most dangerous place to be. While in the City, interesting characters are met, there are adventures, and they do meet the Queen who is most unpleasant.
While there is some action and the threat of action, the story focuses more on the world building and how each character acts in a difficult situation. Given the several races and interesting devices, the story hold's the reader's interest, but there is not enough action for those who expect one thrilling adventure after another.
World building is certainly sufficient if quite complex. Main characters interest and show some depth but not too much of their inner life except for Ven. Writing is clear, flows well, and descriptions are well done. The journal format and the pseudo-scholarly comments here and there provide an interesting and ironic context for the story.
The first volume was well received and this one is an automatic choice where the first one is held. The book is illustrated by Jason Chan. The illustrations are appropriate, true to the story, and add interest. Jason also did the cover with a large dragon image and a much smaller one of the Thief Queen's daughter. The front matter includes a clear, helpful map of the Gated City while the rear endpapers include a map of the region where the story occurs and the city of Kingston.
"'Basically, I'm in it for the money,' Aramis Anderson said. 'Who can turn down entire weeks' worth of pay per day?' He sat back in his couch and sipped the drink.'"
While set in a science fictional future with space travel, this story could just as well be in the present time or just a few years down the road. The future elements are relatively few.
A group of military veterans working for Ripple Creek Security have been contracted to protect President Bishwnath in the poor, conflicted country of Celadon. They are talented, unafraid to do what needs to be done regardless of the bloodshed, and not at all accepted by the external authorities -- including the multi-system government [BurState] and its military, especially the army. The government on Celadon is nearly non-existant as various tribal groups and gangs fight each other. In fact, the country seems to be awash with weapons and people eager to use them. When both locals and the externals decide to replace Bishwnath [he will just die], the bodyguards decide to continue to protect him by taking him off planet.
Most of the story is tactical, how to protect the President in certain situations and to keep him alive. While trying not to kill natives without cause, the guards engage in vigorous bloodshed throughout. While they are only six guards, they are deadly, well trained, and experienced. There is considerable action and many natives die.
World building is certainly sufficient. This is a third or fourth world country. With few exceptions, the natives are portrayed as violent, stupid, drugged, and casual about life. Surely, not all of the President's opponents would be such. Still, this likely reflects a conservative attitude toward those in less developed places. At the same time, many of those associated with the UN-like external government are seen as corrupt or incompetent.
The plot is straight-forward without many surprises. The President flees, protected by his guards, and goes through one difficult situation after another until the conclusion where all may be saved.
Characters are reasonably developed, but without much insight into their character or manner. The one female, an explosive specialist, is strange but effective in her role.
Military SF has become quite popular and there is considerable cross-over potential for those who enjoy military adventure stories. There is plenty of action, much weapons handling and use, and considerable explicit violence. Print is clear, dark, and larger than usual. Good use of white space enhances easy reading. Cover art by Kurt Miller shows the guards fighting a mob with the President in the background. Recommended for larger military SF collections.
"Hello. We're Round Peg/Round Hole Recruitment. We want to offer you a job on behalf of one of our clients ."
Stross is noted for inventive, different and sometimes wry writing. Holting State is set in near future Scotland, now mostly independent. Information technology has taken on a more essential role with government and commerce depend on digital information flows. Politically, the U.S. [not part of this story] is a bit of a has been with economic problems. Here, the Europeans and the Chinese compete for economic and political power through the use of information technology, including dirty tricks that could should shut down a society.
The story begins when a bank in a virtual reality game is robbed. The local police are soon involved as are investigators from Dietrich-Brunner Associates concerned with liability issues. The main characters whose story is told in alternate chapters are: Sue [Scottish police sergeant], Elaine [forensic accountant and gamer], and Jack [weird but hotshot games programmer]. There are several less important characters with different motivations and values. It gradually becomes clear that there is much more to this than robbery. Rather it is an IT war between British and Chinese programmers to control the IT infrastructure via hardware/software resources found in large, complex game environments.
Once the environment becomes familiar, IT, gaming, Scottish dialect, the near future society, this is a mystery story with who did what and why revealed only at the end. The three major characters are well drawn and certainly different. Stross is clearly familiar with IT and large scale gaming environments so the details are more than persuasive. The political/social/economic comments made by various characters are also persuasive with a most realistic future environment although not a comfortable one for most of those who live in it.
Stross is an increasingly popular author of inventive, thoughtful, and interesting SF stories. Because of the setting and the language [including IT and gaming vocabulary], it may take a bit for some readers to come to speed. Still, this is an inventive, interesting story that raises a variety of important issues about our future. Type is clear and readable with good white space. Margins are acceptable and "see-through" is not too bad. Cover art by Sophie Toulouse is attractive showing Elaine looking a vignettes from the story. For a SF book club or one concerned with futures, this would be a great discussion choice.
"A woman led a lame horse across an unpeopled landscape. For much of the way all seemed peaceful, but then she would come to an area where buildings were shattered or gutted with fire, young crops trampled flat, and bodies, both human an animal, sprawling in their blood and now rotting unburied."
This is a sequel to The Ropemaker, but long removed in time and with a different set of characters. Still, the lead characters are similar to those of the earlier work. The old magic that protected the Valley from invaders from the North and the South has faded away. Invaders from the North have done terrible damage to the Valley's land and people. Magicians from the Empire to the South threaten.
Gradually, a small company of adventurers come together to fight the powerful magicians of the Empire and then restore the magic that would protect the Valley once again. Saranja, now a woman, returns to the Valley after a difficult time in another land. She will find the golden feathers that enable long lost magic. Ribek, from the Northern part of the Valley, listens to the water and can call the snows. Maja, now twelve, has been in hiding. She is Saranja's young sister. Benayu is also young, but has the potential to be a great and powerful magician. Together, these four will journey to the Empire to fight the 24 magicians that dominate the empire and perhaps even save the Universe.
Angel Isle is a quest adventure. The company must find the mythical Ropemaker from many, many years ago. Only he has the power to defeat the evil magicians and make things right. Each member of the company has a role to play with Maja's role receiving a bit more attention than the others. The nature of the magic [equation based] receives some attention, including five pages in the back matter.
World building is quite satisfactory although there is nothing especially unique or different about the settings. The empire seems quite traditional while their enemies have airships and a more advanced technology but lack the magical strength. The plot is straight-forward as they make their way to Angel Island, encountering a variety of challenges along the way. Main characters, especially Maja, hold the reader's interest and the interactions between the characters are well done. The magicians threaten throughout and there is a fair amount of action. The story ends reasonably well with a substantial opportunity for a follow-up volume.
Dickenson is an established young adult author. The Ropemaker was a Michael L. Printz Honor book and other recent works have been well received. The physical book is easily read. Cover art by Steve Rawlings shows various items that play a major role in the book. Recommended for young adult heroic fantasy collections.
"A young peasant girl and her brother kneeled in the smooth gray stones on the edge of the river, filling wooden buckets with water for their master."
Creech has created a friendly, cheerful story that resembles a traditional fairy story -- although without the harsh elements. The story has been illuminated/illustrated by David Diaz. There are many short chapters and each begins with four lines of text and a richly colored illustration. Type is large, clear and leading is generous so the story is easily read.
There are two groups of primary characters. Pia and Enzio are the peasant brother and sister who will find their future in the Castle Corona. The Royal Family is the second group with the King and the Queen and their three children. Each has an interesting if somewhat stereotypical character. In fact, it's difficult to believe that the King, who is so ineffective and muddled, would actually rule. Still, this gentle story has lessons for all to learn. There is little action, threat, or danger. The author describes the castle and its inhabitants well and the plot has an interesting close.
Creech is a Newberry winner [Walk Two Moons] and has been a most product children's author so this should be an automatic selection for most children's collections. This bright, cheerful book should have special appeal for girls since Pia has a primary role.
"Rahl ... how are you coming on Tales of the Founders? In the light of a spring afternoon, Kian glanced across the workroom toward his younger son, seated behind the battered but spotless oak copying table."
This is the 14th novel in the "Saga of Recluce" and begins a new set of adventures and challenges by another young man challenged to learn how to learn how to use his substantial but unexpected magical talents. Rahl is a scrivener as is his father and expects to eventually become a master and owner of the shop. He is not happy with that, but alternatives are limited. While somewhat happy, he tends to grumble quite a bit and tends to drift rather than select a goal and move toward it. After unexpected events, he finds himself sent to Land's End where he prepares to be exiled to Hamor. Much to his surprise and that of his family, Rahl turns out to be a natural ordermage with consider power and potential. Unhappily, he finds it difficult to control or understand his power. He also tends to blame others for all of his problems.
A considerable part of the story deals with Rahl's experiences at Land's End where he learns some of the skills that he will need to survive abroad. His magical training and understanding is not very successful. The rest of the story deals with Rahl's adventures in Swartheld, a major port in Hamor where he is a clerk in a importing-exporting company from Recluce. He soon discovers that there are some irregularities in the firm and things are not what they seem. Next he wakes up with a loss of memory in Luba where he is called Blacktop and is a loader at a gigantic iron and steel making complex. Luba is the home of a variety of criminals and others who have displeased the authorities in Hamor.
As his memory begins to return, but slowly, Rahl is helped by an older ordermage and is able to begin training as a Hamorian mage-guard. The rest of the story examines his training, his learning, and the challenge of mastering his skills. Along the way are some interesting adventures, but mostly this is about learning how to learn and how to control.
As always, Modesitt excels in world-building. The details of life in Recluse and Hamor are shared in clear, persuasive writing that is easily understood and makes the setting come alive. The discussions of magic, order, responsibility, authority and the like are understandable and the magic is systematically presented. While not as much action is seen here as in several of the other stories, Rahn is an appealing character -- and sometimes a frustrating one too.
The plot is straight-forward without too many surprises [until we reach the end]. Major and minor characters are reasonably well developed.
Modesitt is a popular, established author in both SF and heroic fantasy. The Recluce stories are notably popular and appeal to many. The text is clear and readable. Reasonable white space makes reading easy. Margins are acceptable and "see-through" is not too bad. Maps by Ellisa Mitchell are clear and helpful. Jacket art by Darrell Sweet is true to the story. Highly recommended.
"My lady ad I are being shut up in a tower for seven years. Lady Saren is sitting on the floor, staring at the wall, and hasn't moved even to scratch for an hour or more."
Hale's "Books of Bayern" series and her more recent the Princess Academy were well received. While her stories could have a wide audience, they are most likely to appeal to girls.
Hale has taken a Gimm Brothers fairy tale, placed it in Mongolia, and created a substantial story. Saren's father requires that she marry Lord Khasar, the powerful ruler of the Thoughts of Under. When she refuses, she is placed in the tower for seven years to teach her to do what she is told. Her new maid, Dashti, lost her brothers and finally her mother. She arrives in Titor's Garden with nothing but the clothes on her back. Dashti has lived on the plains and plain's folk are seen as primitive and stupid by the city dwellers. Plain's people are called "muckers." Dashti soon finds herself bricked into the tower with her lady.
Lady Saren is weak while Dashti is strong. The story is told in the notes that Dashti makes in a sort of diary. Excellent small illustrations [as well as a front matter map] by James Smith enhance and illuminate the story.Besides being isolated in the tower, problems soon develop with the food and rats. While Dashti does her best, using her own strength and healing songs learned from her mother, Saren remains weak and fearful.
While in the tower, there are two visitors. Khan Tegus, intending to marry Saren, visits the tower. Saren won't speak to him, asking Dashti to pretend to be Saren and that begins a continuing deception. Lord Kasher also visits showing himself to be evil and powerful. Finally, there is the possibility of escape from the tower and flight to the city of Khan Tegus. If they are successful, will they be welcomed there and will Dashti continue to be Lady Saren?
While there are bits of action here and there, this is a story about character and situations as well as culture or roles. We see the growth of Dashti and how the "muckers" have skills and strenght that make a very real difference in whether or not people and a kingdom survive. With the exception of the two rulers, this is a novel about girls and women finding their place in a difficult and rigid culture.
World building is well done. The culture is clearly and persuasively described and seems authentic. Saren is perhaps too weak to be interesting and her transformtion at the end seemed out of character. Dashti and Khan Tegus are well developed.There is enough suspense to be interesting, but this is not a real page turner.
Hale is a recognized and well regarded author, especially since receiving the Newberry Honor Award. This story is not as appealing as the earlier ones, but the strong female lead and the notably positive outcome will certainly appeal to many female readrs.
"In Sartorias-deles long history, only once have we seen pirates enjoy the protection of the strongest naval power in the world. The summer of the year 3910, some of the most notorious pirates made increasingly daring raids--such as Gaffer Walic's attack on a trade convoy not two days outside of Khanerenth, which had once possessed the leading pirate-fighting navy in the southern seas.."
This is the second volume in an unnamed series. The first volume was Inda and there will be at least one more. In the first volume, Indevan-Dal, the second son of the Prince and Princess of Choraed Elgaeir, was framed for a crime that he did not commit and then sent to the coast under an alias at 13. Eventually, still a teen, he heads a small marine mercenary company that is quite successful in defending trade ships. While the story can be enjoyed by those who did not read the first volume, many of the relationships will not make as much sense.
After a difficult battle, Inda is captured by pirates and pretends to be a simple crew man. After a variety of difficult situations and experiences, he will become a pirate captain whose mission is to destroy as many pirates as possible. Most of the story deals with this interesting, action-filled story of adventures at sea with Inda and his companions. At the same time, the back story continues with court intrigue, foreign relations, and the like at home.
The plot is complex with a large number of situations and characters. It makes sense to the careful reader or one can focus on Inda and enjoy strategy, tactics, and battles. There are more major characters than usual and they are well developed, holding the reader's attention. The two major male characters in particular have conflicting and sometimes troubling emotions that add much depth to their character.
There is considerable naval action and much hand-to-hand combat. World-building is excellent and is enhanced by excellent front matter maps. Jacket art by Matt Stawicki shows Inda armed alone aboard ship--it's well done. The book is attractively designed and easily read. The author's website includes a variety of story details and particulars
A major heroic fantasy series that should have wide appeal with action, strong characters, and a well-constructed world. Some magic in this volume with more likely in the future. Highly recommended, but best with the first volume.
Otah took the blow on the ear, the flesh opening under the rod. Tahi-kvo, Tahi the teacher, pulled the thin lacquered wood through the air with a fluttering sound like bird wings.."
This is the first volume in the "Long Price Quartet" series. The second volume, Winter Cities will soon be issued. In this particular world, there are two dominant powers. The Galts with their technology and strong military dominate the winter lands. In the summer lands, technology is much less powerful, but magicians who control captive spirits are powerful and some have dramatic powers indeed. Saraykeht is the leading city in the summer lands and its ruler knows no challenges. However, his magician Heshai is torn by inner turmoil and relives errors made in the past. At the same time, his captive spirit [named Seedless because he can remove all the seeds from the cotton crop in a burst of magic] hates him and plots to gain his freedom by eliminating Heshai.
The Galts, eager to weaken their major rival, join with Seedless to strike at Heshai and leave the city in a weakened state. Without magic to protect, the city will fall. The story revolves around the strife between magician and captive spirit as well as a young magician who has been sent to be Heshai's apprentice. This Maati encounters a laborer in the city who was once an upper classman in the school which trains/weeds out magicians. This man, Otah, becomes involved with others to reveal the plot and prevent its implementation.
The plot is somewhat complex, but the reader easily follows while uncertain what will happen next. Not all will be pleased by the resolution at the end of this volume, but it certainly can be justified. There is little action, whether magical or with conventional arms. Still, there is a reasonable amount of suspense. The strength of the novel is the author's unusually effective writing. Both descriptions of the the school in the early part of the story and of the city, the society, and the interactions between the characters in the latter parts are very well done. Clearly, this is only the first chapter in what will be a more complex and challenging story. Most readers will wish the following volumes would appeal much more quickly.
2006/2007 was a good year for new authors to have a substantial impact. Abraham is one of this. The story will not appeal to those who expect considerable action and dramatic magic. It will appeal to those who enjoy strong characters making difficult decisions in an appealing and well described world. The text is clear and readable. Margins are acceptable and "see-through" is not too bad. Cover art by Stephan Martiniere shows the entrance to Saraykeht from the sea. It's true to the story and quite appealing. The front matter maps by Jackie Aher are clear, attractive, and helpful. For nearly all heroic fantasy collections.
"'I am going to thump Lady Saraband Sconce,'" said Clovermead Wickward. Her hand swiped at the air as she paced back and forth along the wooden floor of her father's room."
This is the second volume in the "Shadow of the Bear" series following Clovermead. Clovermead has discovered who her real father is as well as her mother. She is now the equivalent of a princess in a small kingdom and is being groomed to become the sovereign of Chandlefort when her mother dies. She does what she is supposed to do, but doesn't care much for ceremony and elegant manners. She is also not as ruthless as her mother.
In the first volume, Clovermead gained the power to shape shift into a bear. She also had a series of adventures with the Bear God and the Bear Priests. She survived, but the Bear God has touched her and she will never be the same.
There are three major threads here. The most important is the tension and hatred that Clovermead has for the beautiful and talented Saraband, especially when her best friend Sorrel seems to have fallen in love with Saraband. The second is that a mysterious man befriends Clovermead,but then attacks her mother. This man is a tool of the Bear God whose bears and priests will soon attack Candlefort. Clovermead, Sorrel, and Saraband hope to avoid the enemy, secure a magical potion, and return to Candlefort in time to heal her mother. Along the way, she will again encounter the mysterious man who will soon have considerable power over her.
While there are battle scenes, the main focus of the story is on Clovermead's thoughts, values, and behavior as she reacts to her companions and the enemies. In that sense, it is a story of illumination and self-discovery -- and not all of that is pleasant. Character development of the two major female characters is well done, but Sorrel might have received more attention. World building is adequate, but somewhat generic. Pace varies, but the pages turn quickly. Randall writes clearly and the story flows well.
The first volume was well received and earned endorsements from notable authors and review sources. Cover art by Steve Stone is true to the story, dramatic, and appealing. Derek Ginnell contributed a well done front matter map, but the gray layer atop it makes it a bit less legible. Print is dark and light. Binding is average. While this may be read as a stand-alone, better for the earlier volume to be held. For most YA heroic fantasy collections.
"At the height of the long wet summer of the Seventy-seventh Year of Sendovani, the Thiefmaker of Camorr paid a sudden and unannounced visit to the Eyeless Priest at the Temple of Perelandro, desperately hoping to sell him the Lamora boy."
The Thiefmaker and the Eyeless Priest live in the island city of Camorr, built on and around the seemingly magic ruins of aliens that left long before. Both are in the thief education and training business. The Eyeless Priest trains unusually able young people to play a variety of roles that allow them to steal relatively large amounts of money and other precious objects. The story focuses on the Priest‚ his students the Gentlemen Bastards, a small group of boys that become men who have been educated so that they may act like a noble or a farmer. It is a most unusual group. Gradually, Locke becomes the leader of the group, especially after the Priest passes away.
While it may take some effort to favor the thief, there is a Robin Hood aspect. The Bastards only steal from the rich and they avoid violence as much as possible. Locke has planned a major confidence trick that should net a very large amount of money after he has sold the goods to a very rich family. Unhappily, at almost the same time, an unknown called the Gray King has begun to kill, often in most unpleasant ways, the major gang leaders in Camorr. Capa Barsavi, the leader of these gangs is threatened. The violence will soon threaten the Bastards as well.
Much of the story is fairly slow but succeeds in an unusually detailed and persuasive world building. Lynch's descriptive writing is unusually good so we have a nearly photographic image of characters, scenes, and events. In the final part of the story, there is more action and violence. While there is some magic in the final parts, this is mostly a story of mysteries being slowly solved plus fists and swords and knifes.
World-building is excellent The plot is complex with some surprises near and at the end.Lynch alternates chapters with one on the current situation and the other on the history of the Gentlemen Bastards as a group as as individuals. All of the major characters are nicely developed. Other characters receive less attention, but are persuasive in their roles. The pace is sometimes leisurely, but the gradual accumulation of details is persuasive and interesting.
Lynch is a new author, but this volume has received considerable praise and a sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies, will be issued soon. The physical book is of average quality. Cover art is mysterious and suggests a city scene, but is not especially appealing. The front matter map by Robert Bull is clear and useful. Recommended for nearly all heroic fantasy collections.
"Despite the protective suit shielding her from flames, Lieutenant Jodenny Scott expected to die very soon. The prospect should have alarmed her, but on some dim, exhausted level, she supposed it was only fair."
The human TeamSpace has found new worlds far from Earth. In this story, Team Space uses the alien constructed and poorly understood Alcheringa space warp to take settlers and others between worlds. Lt. Scott's ship the Aral Sea is nearly destroyed due to a strange explosion in the Alcheringa. She survives after a heroic act, but is certainly not the same.
There are four threads to this story. First, the new ship assignment for Scott and her attempts to recapture a normal life after the nightmares and destruction. Second, the mysteries surrounding gangs on the space ship Yangtze , what they're doing, and how their activities impact those who work for her in Underway Stores, a unit with a variety of problems. Third, and this did not always work well, is the linkage between alien spheres found on planets and Australian aborigine culture. Fourth, there is a growing love interest between Scott and an NCO who has his own problems.
While there is some action, mostly fist fights, Outback is really a cultural story. McDonald does a good job of describing the navel culture on a very large space ship, with an emphasis on the interactions between enlisted personnel and the NCO's and officers. There is a mystery to be solved on board although it's clear from early on who is responsible [but certainly not why]. the larger mystery of who build the spheres and how to understand the world to world transportation system that they represent receives some attention but remains fuzzy. The Australian culture has potential, but is not well integrated into the story line. It needs to be more fully developed. As it is, it seems to be more of a fantasy element than science fictional.
There are some stereotypical characters, and the bad guys might be more fully developed. Still, there are a good variety of characters and interactions. Scott and Myell appeal and we quickly become involved in their various situations and problems.
McDonald is a new author. Her work should appeal to those who enjoy the spaceship interactions found in the Honor Harrington Stories. There is certainly room for more stories involving the Jodenny and Myell as well as the Alcheringa. Cover art by Donato is rich and appealing showing Scott in space suit. The physical book is of average quality. Text is clear and quite readable. For large SF collections
"It might have been chance that kept my attention tight across the street and upon the mud-splattered gypsy van, but I doubted it. Nebulous coincidences like chance aren't allowed shelrobins@charter.netay in my life, everything being planned to the moment if I didn't arrange for spontaneity.."
Princess Contessa of Costenopolie has been trained for years to become a queen and advance her kingdom through a proper royal marriage. After a strange incident with a gypsy fortune-teller, a series of events changes everything. She discovers that she is not the princess. Instead, she is a decoy to protect the real princess who is hidden in a nunnery far away. Not only does Contessa have to discover who she really is and what role she will play, but the kingdom has been secretly invaded.
While the story has a few somewhat romantic aspects to it, it is much more of an adventure story than a romance although it is clear that more serious romance is likely in the next volume of Contessa's story.
Besides the sudden and unexpected change in status and role, Contessa also discovers that there is much more to political-social-economic competition between the kingdoms than the royal houses. In fact, in each kingdom there are "players" who plot and plan how to take advantage of the others. Contessa has been raised by a man who is the player/manipulator in her kingdom, but she never knew that.She also did not know that the poison she regularly took to protect her from being poisoned has important side effects and magical possibilities.
World building is certainly sufficient. This is standard medieval world but with more swords than sorcery. In fact, if this wasn't a created setting, this could be a historical adventure. The plot is straight-forward without many surprises. Contessa flees, returns, and must find a way to rescue the real princess. She has a male partner, Duncan, who may develop into a major romantic lead in a later volume. Contessa is well developed and appealing. Other characters receive less attention, but are persuasive in their roles.
Cook has become an established author of romantic but not steamy fantasy. The female heroine is strong and appealing. The decoy and then revelation in the plot works well. There is plenty of adventure and some suspence without explicit violence. The physical book is typical of today's mass market paper editions. Cover art by Patrick Farley shows Contessa as portrayed in the book. Recommended for larger heroic fantasy collections.
"Early in the year the Christians number the eight hundred and forty-fifth after the birth of their God the White Christ, my fate led me to the outskirts of Hedeby, the largest town in all the kingdom of the Danes."
This is the second volume in the "Strongbow Saga." Halfdan Hroriksson has fled from the men who killed his brother to Hedeby where he hopes to find a place for himself, adventure, and eventually a way to slay those who murdered his brother and attempted to kill him. This is historical adventure with many of the elements of heroic fantasy but true to the historical record and without magic.
Demonstration of his unusual skill with the long bow, a bow that he made himself, gains Halfdan [half Irish, half Dane and formerly a slave in his own household] a place in a Viking ship soon to lead one of the invasion fleets south to battle the Franks.
After a reasonable and quite persuasive amount of introductions to the main characters and the Viking ship, the voyage begins. Soon a ship is captured and then a major Frankish town is captured. Halfdan soon finds himself in trouble with older, plundering Vikings from another ship. Finally, he and a handful of others are send inland to spy out the Frankish armies. Each goes alone. Halfdan is successful in finding the main Frankish army, captures a young woman on her way to a nunnery, and succeeds in beginning a journey back to his own forces -- with Frankish cavalry close behind. It seems unlikely that he will make it.
Roberts has done a good job with the historical background and there is a website devoted to the world of the Vikings [www.strongbowsaga.com]. The story would be a useful supplement to a unit on the Vikings in the public schools.
World building seems true to what we know of the historical record. The plot is reasonable, with a good balance of character development, character interactions, adventure, and description of place and culture.
The "Strongbow Saga" is an excellent choice for older children, tweens, and some teens. Writing is clear and easily understood. Characters and their actions seem realistic and convincing while providing considerable insight into the Vikings and their culture. Since HalfDane is half Irish and speaks Latin his perspective is a bit different than most Danes while still being true to the culture itself. Cover art by Scott Irvine appeals with a realistic, almost photographic, image of Halfdane about to launch an arrow from his longbow.
"'The quick red fox jumps over the --' Taneem paused, her glowing silver eyes narrowing in concentration, her whiplike K'da tail making little circles in the ari behind her long, gray-scaled body. 'Lassie dog'? she suggested."
This is the fifth volume in the "Dragonsback Adventure" series. The first volume was Dragon and Thief while the fourth volume was Dragon and Herdsman.Draycos, a K'da Poet Warrior, was part of an advance party finding a home for his people after their homeworld was attacked. Draycos was the only survivor when his scout fleet was ambushed. He has the ability to change into a two-dimensional form and become what looks like a full body tattoo on Jack Morgan's back. Jack, doesn't really know who his parents were, was raised by his uncle Virgil [now dead] who was a con man and thief. Jack learned a variety of unusual skills from his uncle.
When this volume opens, Jack and his friend Alison Kayna [another teen with an unusual background and unusual skills] decide to go to a planet where Virgil had a lockbox in a local bank to see if that box contained any clues. Jack is soon kidnapped by aliens who believe that he is the Judge-Paladin who can bring justice to their isolated community.
Alison is kidnapped by employees of some of the leaders of the conspiracy against Jack and also against the K'da. She may be able to survive if she can use her special skills to open booby-trapped safes held by her enemies.
Zahn, an accomplished author of SF adventures for adults, continues to do a good job with the series. The main characters are plucky, have unusually skills, and find themselves in difficult circumstances. Both Allison and Jack have Dragons that can hide on their back or become fiercely three-dimensional depending on need. The plot contains enough surprises to keep the pages turning. Writing is crisp and clear.
While this is written for tweens and teens, it is certainly readable by many older children. There is some violence, but is is not explicit or genuinely scary. Heroic fantasy has really blossomed for younger audiences, but SF has been left behind. This series is a good one to remedy that.
"Brown vines dried and crumbled along the village Refojee-Ten's edges. Everything thirsted for the impending rainy season: the dry jungle, the hard-packed dirt roads winding through the village, the two wells, and the dropping emerald ears of corn."
Crystal Rain is Buckell's first novel. Although slow to appear, the back story involves aliens -- the Loa and the Teotl -- who are both similar and quite different. These aliens have fought humans through space and through wormholes. On Nanagada, the wormhole has been closed, leaving a few Loa, a few Teotl, and many humans on the planet. The Teotl are the "gods" that drive and control the human Azteca with their frequent blood sacrifices. The Loa are opposed, but provide little assistance to the free humans who live on the other side of the Wicked Highs mountains.
John deBrun is the leading character. Somehow, he has lost all memories of his past before he washed up on the shores of Nanagada and settled in Brungstun where he married and has a son. When the Azteca create a secret way through the mountains and invade, John is separated from his family. As the Azteca advance quickly, the only hope for the humans who have retreated to Capitol City is to find the legendary space ship Ma Wi Jung somewhere in the frozen North. The ship may provide the secret needed to defeat the Azteca as well as to fill John's lost memory.
Although science fiction, there is little advanced technology evident except for the space ship and a few hidden stores. Closing the wormhole to prevent more Teotl from coming through and the planetary war that followed destroyed nearly all advanced technology. In the present, Nanagada has steam engines and technology appropriate for that age.
There is a good deal of 19th Century adventure, but much of the novel is devoted to world building. Interestingly, most of the humans on this planet -- at least on the side that we see -- are of Caribbean origin. Earth-colored skin and dreadlocks are common. Buckell has done well in creating a society, a way of speaking, and a culture that is different and appealing.
The plot is straight-forward without too many surprises. John goes North to find the space ship. Pepper, a lost colleague of John's, seeks John and journeys North with him. Pepper is an almost super hero character, but he is a good contrast to the more thoughtful John. Major characters are reasonably well developed, including one Azteca spy. Otherwise, we learn little about the Teotl and their Azteca. Similarly, the Loa are introduced but don't do much.
A second novel, Ragamuffin deals with the same universe -- scattered and oppressed humans here and there -- but with different characters and situations. The first novel received strong review attention as has the second. The setting and culture are a bit different from the usual and that appeals. The adventure scenes and plotting are well done although the back story might have received a bit more attention. A solid choice for most SF collections.
Cover art by Todd Lockwood shows an exciting scene from the book as John and Oaxyctl fly a small blimp to Capitol City while being chased by Azteca. The book is easily read with dark type and reasonable white space. "Crystal Rain" is the local name for snow on the quest to the North.
"When the wind blew down from the north, Nidaros felt as if the Glacier had never gone away. Two thousand years before, the spired city that ruled the Raumsdalian empire was a manmmoth-hunting camp at the southeastern corner of Hevring Lake, the great accumulation of melt-water at -- or rather, just beyond --the southern edge of the Glacier."
Turtledove, surely one of the most productive of the heroic fantasy and SF authors, has begun a new series. The Glacier has melted sufficiently to expose a gap leading to land beyond. When word of the gap and the opportunity to see what is on the other side comes to Nidaros, The Emperor commissions a small group to explore and bring back news. This group includes the leader of the clan closest to the gap [Trasamund], a hardy but glum Count with years of battlefield experience [Hamnet Thyssen] and an unusually effective adventurer [Ulric Skaaki], a noted scholar who happens to be married to Hamnet's former wife, a down-at-the-heals mage, and a few soldiers. Later, the clan's wise woman is added to the party.
A major theme for most of the book is the strong, negative relationship between Hamnet and Gudrid, his beautiful, unfaithful, and challenging former wife. Relationships between Hamnet and the other major characters also receive considerable attention, especially as Hamnet later finds himself in a new and genuinely satisfying relationship.
Along the way, we learn more about the geography, the economic-social-culture environment, especially the contrast between how "civilized men" and the clans live their lives. As we get closer to the gap, the environment becomes more threatening. Finally, once through the gap, the party encounters a war party from another civilization with unusual weapons, including very strong magic. There is a race back through the gap to see if the party can reach the Emperor with the bad news before there is an invasion.
While this is certainly a good story, it involves considerable stage setting as a reasonably complex environment is shared and characters are developed. Most of the action involves character interactions until fairly late in the story and even then the action is limited. I suspect that there will be considerable action in forthcoming volumes.
Character building is a special strength in this volume. Hamnet and Ulric are strong, interesting, and persuasive although perhaps Hamnet is too darkly depressed about this unfaithful wife. Writing is clear, interesting, and the pages turn quickly. Turtledove has a large, devoted audience.They will certainly be pleased by a new series although their patience may be tested until the next volume is issued.
Turtledove should be a nearly automatic addition to any heroic fantasy collection. This one may also appeal to alternative history and military adventure readers. The text is clear and readable although there is more see-through than I liked. White space is acceptable..
"Once a very long time ago, between fifty and a hundred thousand years, a small group of humans fleeing from predators took refuge in a cave. Clinging to one another during the night, they heard a great roaring, louder and more fierce than the roars of the beasts they knew, and when they peeked out at dawn, they saw that a moon had fallen out of the sky."
At some time in the future, Earth has been largely destroyed by over population, foolish policies and governments that failed to do what was needed. Humans have gone to space and there are a few human colonies, but larger, more powerful alien empires dominate known space. Earth imports water and other needed items while exporting humans who serve as slaves on distant planets where they live dark and short lives.
Gentherans are an alien force for good and are doing their best to save Earth and humans. The Siblinghood of Silence is a secret organization of Gentherans and humans who hope to protect humans from the vicious alien races and provide them with an opportunity to recreate Earth after a dramatic reduction in population.
Margaret Bain, the onely only child on the scientific station on Phobos, has created seven selves as an extension of her own consciousness. Each of these seven Margarets has different attributes, skills, and roles. Soon after the story begins, each Margaret becomes a separate person and journeys to a place where she can make a difference. An ancient story talks of walking the seven roads that are one. Some how, the Margarets must fufill their separate roles and walk that road.
While there is a strong, pervasive environmental message in Tepper's work, the setting seems persuasive and reasonable. The world building, including the alien reaces and characters intrigues. The contrasts between the Margatets holds the reader's interest and character development is well done throughout. There is enough action and several unanswered questions that keep the pages turning. There are both science fictional and some fantasy elements. They work well together. This is a substantial and somewhat complex story, but it reads quickly.
While the ending may not convince all readers, it wraps things up nicely. The notion of a racial memory and how it would guide future actions is thoughtful and interesting.
Tepper is such a highly regarded author that is is an essential purchase for the Science Fiction collection. The physical book is quite satisfactory. The jacket illustration by Stephan Martiniere shows faces of the seven Margarets in a manner that appeals and seems true to the story.
"Indigo Jaxx, general of the Death's Head, wipes sweat from his forehead and straightens the sleeve of his silver-and-black uniform. He hates himself for doing so and knows that he will make someone suffer for his moment of weakness."
In this military science fiction story, there are three major powers: the United Free which is the most advanced and dominates as well as the Uplifted with their machine intelligences and the empire of OctoV. The forces of the Uplifed and those of OctoV fight each other while the United Free watches and insures that some basic rules are followed.
Sven Tveskoeg, formerly a sergeant in the OctoV foreign legion, has been caged, beaten and is about to be whipped to death for insubordination when he is "rescued" by Ferox warriors. Then rescued again by Death's Head soldiers, he is given a special mission to slay a notable politician and his family. If successful, he will then become an officer in the elite Death's Head military and fight against the Uplift forces on a distant planet.
Much of the book is devoted to this particular campaign. Sven adopts a handful of local militia foces, creates his own Death's Head auxiliary and leads them through a variety of battles. He is super-human with a body that self-heals. Sven has also been given an illegal but powerful symbiont which gives him unusual potential if he can understand it and use it. He also has an intelligent gun with considerable battle experience.
Sven is a super hero with much common sense and a willingness to risk himself to do what he feels is right. He is a well developed character although a bit more on his childhood would interest. While other characters can be stereotypical, they work well. The members of his "auxiliary" interest but might have received a bit more attention.
World building is adequate. The battle scenes require little detail. Military scenes seem persuasive. There is considerable action and Sven kills easily and without regret.The plot is straight-forward without too many surprises.
This is a first novel with a satisfactory close. Still, it's clear that Sven's small military group will have future missions, but with the United Free. Military SF remains popular and this is well done. Print and white space are adequate. Cover art by David Stevenson shows a single warrior in the desert where the story begins and a bit of a death's head. Recommended for larger SF collections.
"MARNO CAVOTTI was better known as the Mutineer, Blood-lord Stralg, the Fist of Weru, had promised years ago that he would buy the Mutineer's corpse for its weight in gold or pay six times that much for the man alive and fit enough to be tortured. The offer still stood."
This is the second and concluding volume in the Dodec series. The first volume was Children of Chaos. In it, Blood-lord Stralg led armies from the Vigaelian Face to successfully invade and conquer the Florengian Face. In the process, the four children of the ruler of the great city of Celebre were taken back to the Vigaelian cities as hostages. Most were too young to remember their parents or their previous life. At the end of the first volume, the four, now sixteen years older have escaped from their captors and are on their way home -- chased by their former captors. This volume focuses on the final stages of their journey to the "Edge" and over the edge to the Florengian Face and then to Celebre.
Although Stralg's warriors are fierce [they can transform themselves into war-beasts], the invasion has created resistance and the war is increasingly unpopular at home and in the occupied territories. The Mutineer has his own fierce, dedicated warriors and Stralg is in retreat although still quite a challenge.
Besides the four children and many secondary characters, Stralg's most evil sister Saltaja, dedicated to Xaran, goddess of death and evil [also the Mother of Lies], uses her magical powers to control and kill. In particular, she will do anything to catch and punish Fabia, the daughter of the ruler of Celebre, who is also dedicated to Xaran. Saltaja is one of the most evil characters encountered in recent heroic fantasy.
There is considerable action and the constant threat of action. Characters are well drawn and interactions between characters, especially between the four children [but children no longer] strengthen and add interest. With the exception of the artist Benard and Dantio, none of the characters are likely to become a reader's favorite. I doubt that the author's interest and skill in creating a dodecahedron world really makes much difference to the reader but it is imaginative. World building is satisfactory without being noteworthy.
Duncan has authored at least three dozen heroic fantasy novels and has a deserved reputation for solid, interesting work. The King's Blades novels are best known, but he is versatile. The sequel is manditory for libraries with the earlier volume. Cover art work by Daniel Dos Santos shows Saltajan, knife in hand, standing in rivers of blood with one dead warbeast in front and two fighting toward the rear. This dark, grim scene is true to the book. Clear, helpful maps by Ellisa Mitchell in the front matter make the geography clear. The physical book is easily read./p>
"The angels, it is written, at the beginning of time sang into creation the stars.With the aid of the Lightstone, their golden voices brought forth out of the black void Solaru, Aras, Varshara, and a million other bright bursts of fire."
This is the sequel to the Lightstone When published earlier in the UK, that volume included an earlier version of the Silver Sword. TOR divided the story into two volumes and the author revised the second half for this volume.
While the story could be read independently, it will make more sense to those who have read and remember the earlier volume. The seven companions continue their quest to find the Lightstone and place it where it can be protected and used by the forces of good to fight the evil Morjin, the dragon lord.
The companions sail from the Island of the Swans to the mainland of Ea. At present, they believe that the Lightstone might be hidden in the great library at Khaisham far, far from their present location. After many adventures and a notable loss, they reach the library. The Lightstone is not there, but it may be hidden in Morgin's palace in his largely underground city so they go there -- to the heart of great evil and great danger.
This is a heroic fantasy quest story so the plot is fairly straight forward except for the location of the Lightstone and the ambiguity of the clues. The interactions between the companions and their character development, particularly Val Elahad, the Valari warrior, are well done and strengthen the story, especially since each of the companions is so different from the others. World building is not especially innovative, but it is clear and persuasive. The author is particularly good at describing the landscape and the environment as the journey moves forward. The back story [Ea settled by angels with immortal powers] is not always as clear as it might be, but it provides an interesting context. There is plenty of action, particularly toward the end and it is sometimes graphic.
The first volume was well received and additional stories about Ea and the main characters are forthcoming. While this part of the story ends satisfactorily, substantial loose ends remain. One wonders about publishers dividing stories into separate smaller volumes, but it probably makes economic sense. The physical book is satisfactory and quite readable. The front matter includes a useful map by Richard Geiger. Jacket art by Gordon Crabb appeals showing Val and Atara on horse in a wintery setting. A good choice for larger heroic fantasy collections containing the earlier volume.
"Piet Ricimer stood out like an open flame on the crowded, cluttered bridge of the Sultan as she orbited Salute. Stephen Gregg was amused by the young officer's flashy dress."
Baen is an innovative SF publisher with a large number of titles available on the web for free download reading and also for their "megabook" collections such as this one. Both are thoughtful ways to develop reader communities.
David Drake published these three military SF novels between 1994 and 1996 about the war between Venus and others following the collapse of human civilization and then its rebirth. Here they are collected in one substantial volume. The three are Igniting the Reaches, Through the Breach, and Fireships.
More than one thousand years after the collapse, humans have returned to the reaches beyond the solar system. In particular, they seek artifacts of the former civilization, including automated chip factories and large quantities of the chips which are far superior to what is presently available within the solar system. An alien race, the Molts, have a genetic memory that includes what they did and were able to do before civilization collapsed. They are treated as slaves by the Federation -- the dominant power in the Solar System and the reaches as well.
Piet Ricimer, modeled after Francis Drake, is the captain who will lead Venus back to the stars and will challenge the Federation if it gets in the way. He firmly believes that God's destiny for mankind is to return to the stars to trade and prosper. He does not believe in slavery. Piet will do what needs to be done. He is an unusually good pilot and military strategist. The second most important character is Stephen Gregg, a gentleman who becomes "a killing machine" who often makes the difference between success and failure.
While the focus of each of the three novels is slightly different, there is one story -- how Piet wins fame and glory while defeated the often incompetent Federation forces. There is considerable military action, including a surprising amount of bloody hand-to-hand combat. Many are killed including civilians. The author is realistic in his depiction of military action and the resulting damage to people and the environment.
World building is certainly sufficient, although a bit more might have been done with Venus. The several planets landed upon are well described as are those who live upon them. The plot is straight-forward without many surprises. Major characters are reasonably well developed, although we don't learn why Piet has the almost fanatical devotion to his mission. There are many secondary characters and they work well.
Drake is a popular, established author in both SF and heroic fantasy. This collection is an excellent value for libraries that do not hold the three separate volumes. Military SF remains popular and Drake has been successful with it for several years. Although a bit small, the text is clear and readable. Margins are acceptable and "see-through" is not too bad. Some concern about the binding in library use. Jacket art by Stephen Hickman, is first-rate showing Stephen with his flashgun and a Molt in battle. Recommended for larger SF collections.
"Let me tell you of the world's I've left behind. Earth you know; everyone knows it."
This is the final volume in a de facto series that also includes Old Man's War, and The Ghost Brigades. After his wife passed away, John Perry, joined the Colonial Union's military, endured some bio-engineering and became quite a soldier. His military adventures are well told in the earlier two volumes.
Here, John, his wife [former special operations soldier] and his daughter are selected to go to a new colony--called Roanoke--as the senior administrators. Unhappily for the Colonial Union, most alien civilizations, tired of wars and conflicts over the few livable planets, have agreed to end all colonization unless it is multi-racial and multi-cultural. The Colonial Union will not agree and decides to go ahead with colonization on Roanoke even though alien Conclave has forbidden it. If found, this "last colony" will be evacuated to its home world or all the colonists will be destroyed.
Needless to say, the Perry's and the other colonists are unaware of the political - military conflict that awaits them. The story has two threads. One, the political and other tensions inevitably involved in settling a new planet and encountering a new environment. Second, Whether or not the Conclave will discover the hidden colonists [the colonists use primitive technology to reduce that possibility that they can be discovered from space] and if so what will happen to the colonists as well as the Colonial Union.
As described above, the plot sounds more straight-forward than it is. There are surprises. Scalzi is especially good at creating "real people" characters with values, attitudes, and mannerisms that ring true. Interactions between characters are a major strength. We see how ordinary people act heroically rather than some people being heroes. World building is quite satisfactory. While there is some action, and much potential action, this is a story of values and perceptions.
Scalzi's earlier works have earned both popular and critical success. They are well written, interesting, and are easily read. There is enough technology to be "science fiction," but not too much. The physical book is easily read with large type and reasonable white space. Jacket art by John Harris seems generic rather than illustrating a particular scene from the story. This would be a good story to introduce SF to those who don't normally read it. Recommended for larger SF collections.
"Leaf woke with a start and sat up in bed. For a moment she was disoriented, because she wasn't in her own bed."
Nix is an accomplished author of innovative and well written fantasy stories. The "Keys to the Kingdom" series has had a volume for each day of the week beginning with Mister Monday and we have now reached Lady Friday. Each week is governed by a Trustee and rules over a unique and challenging world. The worlds are connected via the House. The main character, Arthur Pehhaligon, has so far defeated four of the Trustees in his quest to capture the seven keys to the kingdom and recreate the will as the Architect [the creator] intended. The world building is certainly unique and there is a very large cast of characters. Most readers will not be able to make sense of the story unless they begin with the first volume.
In this volume Arthur deals with challenges from the previous volume as well as new ones from Lady Saturday while Lady Friday may or may not be willing to let him have the key--if he can find it.
The story itself is dark and Arthur seems unlikely to succeed although we know that he will. For older readers, the charm of the story is the care and the craft with which Nix builds his worlds and the unique characters who live in them with their stories and their way of life. Lady Friday's chief enterprise is an unusual Scriptorium. World building combines fantasy elements with a sort of Dickens-like series of environments that very much contrast with the modern environments of Arthur and Leaf before they were transported from our world.
The plot is straight-forward in that this is a quest for a particular hidden key, but the details are curious and sometimes surprising.. Major characters are well drawn and there are many secondary and tertiary characters. The trustees tend to be one-sided and not especially complex.
Nix is a popular, established author and the series has received much positive attention from reviewers. Those who have read the first volume will certainly wish to read the others.Text is large and black. There is considerable white space so pages turn quickly. Jacket art by John Blackford is similar to those of the earlier jackets showing Arthur but this time with papers floating around this body. Recommended for children's and tween fantasy collections collections.
"The Sun rose in the west. Deera of the Cloud Mountain People ran as she had through the short hours of darkness, without hope and without much fear."
Stirling has combined science fictional elements from a variety of sources, including Edgar Rice Burroughs to create a story that is engaging, but not always persuasive. Here, space flight has moved forward with human life, notably similar to life on Earth, found on Mars and Venus. The natives on Venus call those from Earth the "sky people." Native culture is based on relatively simple technology with some few metal tools and primitive weapons. The Americans have a base on Venus near the largest city while the Soviet-Chinese have a base rather far away. The Americans are more advanced in their progress and the Soviets are unhappy.
Besides the competition between the Soviets and the Americans, the native people favored by both are threatened by the primitive, brutal Wergu, the beast men, here seen as Neanderthals.
Marc Vitrac is one of the elite selected for duty on the U.S. base on Venus. He is a ranger as well as a pilot and the leading character. When a Soviet space shuttle crashes far away, but closer to the U.S. base at Jamestown, a lighter than air ship is sent to rescue the crew -- if they are still alive. Besides the air ship captain, the crew consists of Marc, Christopher Blair [English], Cynthia Whitlock [geologist], and a Soviet female.
Most of the story is devoted to the voyage to the crash site, the distruction of the airship, collaboration with the Cloud People against the beast people [who gained automatic weapons from the Soviet shuttle], and a long, long journey back to Jamestown.The first third of the story does a good job in establishing the world with its dinosaurs and other unusual beasts and in developing the characters. The second third is more adventuresome while continuing to describe the people, the culture, and the landscape.
The major story line works well, but the fuzzy linkage to alien observers/manipulators in the cave of mysteries is neither clear nor persuasive. The story would be better without it.
World building is quite satisfactory. The alternate history with the informative Encyclopedia Britannica 16th edition chapter openings worked well. The exotic flora and fauna provide a convincing environment for the plot. The the pages turn quickly and the adventure is quite satisfactory if we ignore the alien mystery part. Character development is adequate, but a bit more on the background/development of the major characters, especially Blair, would strengthen the story.This is a quick, easy adventure story.
Stirling is well established with many books on the shelves of most larger libraries. The Edgar Rice Burroughs touch and the manly adventure make this a good cross-over title for those who don't usually read SF and for teens. Jacket art by Gregory Manchess shows a crashed space vehicle, space men and prehistoric animals so it clearly identifies the theme and story type. The book has good white space, dark print, and a relatively large font.
"Ahni Huang shut her eyes as the shuttle from the Elevator matched spin with the main port of New York Up. Grief distracted you, could get you killed. The Platforms were alien territory to her."
At some time in the not too distant future, mankind has moved into space. Large platforms in low Earth orbit [they are sometimes called "cans"] provide opportunities for those who live on them. Tourism is important as is science and some manufacturing and scientific work that works well in low gravity.
The Huang's are a rich and powerful family that controls the Tiwainese industrial/business group. Ahni's brother appears to have been killed and her father sends her to New York Up to avenge his death. She soon discovers that her brother is alive and is plotting against her father. Ahni also meets an unusually gifted biologist who is much more than he seems.
The story reveals Ahni's quest to discover what her brother is up to, who is involved, and why. The story quickly leads to the Dragon Home platform [mainland China] where the son of the Dragon Home leader is involved with Ahni's brother in some sort of terrible plot.
World building is well done. The political/economic/social elements are persuasive and provide a convincing context for the plot. The scientific elements interest and are believable. The plot is not always persuasive, but the pages turn quickly and the resolution is quite satisfactory. Character development is good, but a bit more on the background/development of the major characters would strengthen the story. The biological/scientific element adds substance. The political tensions between those on Earth and those in space certainly interest. It was different to see extreme environmentalists as the bad guys.
This is Rosenblum's first solo novel. It's well written and easily read. There is enough science fictional elements to add sense of wonder while including many familiar political elements. A worthy addition to large SF collections. Jacket art by John Harris appeals with an image of a platform floating above distant earth. The book has good white space, dark print, and a relatively large font.
"Fremont was discovered in the year zero. Zero always begins the marking of a new planet's time, as if it did not exist before humans found it."
Fremont was discovered and then settled by humans who wanted to be left alone with no more than adequate technology and no genetic engineering, no "altered humans". Some years after the original human settlers, a group of genetically enhanced humans landed on Fremont to settle. They too wanted to be left alone to develop their own community and culture. Unhappily, the two groups of settlers conflicted and after a brief but terrible war all the enhanced but six children are slain [though some of the enhanced were able to flee the planet]
The story begins when the six children, still seen as prisoners of war and feared by some community leaders, are in the their teens. Some humans warmly welcome these young people, others ignore them, and some fear them and wish to place them under constant supervision. As the teens come closer to adulthood, they must either find freedom within the human community or somehow leave Aristos, the one city on the planet and find their own way. There is the silver space ship on the plain [one of two that brought the altered], but none of the teens know how to enter it let alone fly it.
This is a coming of age story. Chelo Lee and her brother Joseph are the main characters and the focus is on the six altered teens and their struggle to find a place in a suspicious community with few friends. While there is some potential action and a little action, the story focuses on the world building, the impact of that world on the settlers, but most importantly on how the six altered teens react to an increasingly threatening situation.
World building is nicely done. Fremont is well described. Flora and fauna are realistic and persuasive. Plot is straight-forward and carries the story well although it is relatively quiet with its focus on character and character development. The ending is satisfactory but leaves room for a sequel.
This is Cooper's first solo novel. It's well written and interesting. Given the focus on teens and how to cope with being different, it should have considerable appeal to teens, especially females, who enjoy SF and heroic fantasy. Jacket art by Stephan Martiniere appeals with a scene that represents the content well. The book is easily read with good white space and dark print.
"Under the stars of the Arm, murmurs drifted up from the promenade overlooking the Nouvelle Seine. The red tinge of the full second moon--Bergerac--lent a smokiness to the night. Voltaire had already set."
Blaine Donne is a private investigator in the city of Thurene on the planet Devanta. Retired from the Assembly military where he was a distinguished special operations officer, Blaine is cautious, well-informed, and well armed. He also has become the "shadow knight" who walks in the shadows and punishes those who who threaten others.
Although the science fictional world is well and persuasively constructed, most of the story deals with a loner detective who has several puzzling cases with elusive or hidden information. However, one of the cases is far more than it seems and will lead Blaine into conflict with a major player in a plot that involves the Assembly, planetary government, and the possibility of interplanetary war.
World building provides an appropriate, interesting environment. With one major exception, technology is straight-forward and easily understood. Political and social issues are well handled, especially the gender issues. There is enough suspense to keep the pages turning. The plot works well although there are one or two places where the pieces fall together too easily. There are several interesting characters, although not all are fully developed. Blaine is well developed, but the relationship with his sister might have received more attention. The romance between Blaine and Siendra strengthened the story, but might have received more attention earlier in the story. There is enough action to satisfy most readers, but the science fictional action [space ship maneuvers] takes place at the end.
Modesitt is unusually productive both as a science fiction and a heroic fantasy author. While his SF is likely somewhat less popular, this is a solid story and should be added to most SF collections, especially where his earlier works have been popular.
"At the Hub of the World, Queen Thirrin was in the Leopard Hols watching the finishing touches being added to the coming victory feast. The alliance of human, Snow Leopard, and Wolf-folk had defeated the fearsome Ice Trolls in a vicious, battle, and the victors were assembling, ready to mark the event with mountains of food and rivers of beer. "
This is the second volume in the "Icemark Chronicles." Icemark is a relatively small kingdom in the far North where humans have partnered with other species to insure that the Kingdom survives the war brought against it by the mighty Polypontian Empire. Although once defeated, the Empire, after some years of unrest, has turned its attention once again to Icemark and the General Bellorum is once again preparing for war.
There are two major threads to this volume. One is the story of the war and how those in Icemark hope to delay and defeat the war host brought against them. The second thread involves the children of Thirrin and Oskan and how they grow and develop during this time of crisis. Charlemagne, he youngest, is crippled by polio and is protected from the physical war. He must become a warrior and be exiled to a faraway land where he will find himself. Medea, his sister, is a mage like her father Oskan, but she hates Charlemagne for he receives more love and attention. Medea is tempted by the Dark and may turn against her family. The two older brothers must become warriors and fight in terrible battles. The oldest sister must become a great warrior and leader like her mother Queen Thirrin.
Besides the battles and the interactions between the major characters, Charlemagne travels far to the South to recruit allies to fight against the Empire. Quite a challenge for a crippled 14 year old, but it does give us an opportunity to see much more of this world and its varied peoples and geography.
While there are many adventures, this is also a story of personal growth and responding to challenge. Characters, including the animals and the vampires, are well developed if human-like, the world-building is nicely done, and there is enough sight-seeing and action to keep the pages turning. Charlemagne, in particular, is an attractive, appealing character. The author's use of familiar Earth names for people and places has some value in linking this story to familiar history, but may also add a false touch. Cover art by Gary Blythe and Carol Lawson is true to the story and has considerable appeal. Although the text is long, print is large and dark. White space is ample and aids reading. While this story may be read alone, it makes more sense if read following the first volume, the Cry of the Icemark
"' Turai is doomed,' says old Parax the shoemaker. He never was the most optimistic of men. 'Turai will survive,' declares Gurd. 'No demned Orc is chasing me out of this city. "
This [the eighth Thraxas novel] story finds the investigator down on his luck and grumbling. His city is surrounded by Orcish hordes, the weather is cold, even for someone with a magicked warm coat, and business is terrible.
Thraxas is not the typical fantasy hero. He is selfish, but not all the time, drinks to much, and has limited skills and abilities. He was once in the magic business, but that did not work out. His office is upstairs in a tavern where he has strong interactions with various interesting characters including the half-Orchish bodyguard Makri in her chain mail bikini.
Print is large and dark. The story focuses on character interaction and puzzles without too much action. The major thread involves a magic artifact in shell shape that has the power to create storms that will overcome the city and give victory to the Orcs. Thraxas and several others are attempting to find this Magic Storm device.
I suspect that this is a special taste since the the noirish world-weary detective may not have broad appeal. World-building is quite satisfactory with just a touch of bitterness and disappointment about how things really work. Characters interest and appeal, but are not deeply developed. Cover art by Tom Kidd clearly telegraphs the nature of the story and illustrates a scene from the great card game toward the end of the story. Since this particular tale leaves the reader with a cliff hanger there will certainly be a sequel.
"As the sun sank into the west, the forest canopy stood black against the burning sky. Few Leaves still clung to branches, and a haunting wind wandered through the wood, whispering wild secrets among the trees. "
A demon has broken lose on the world of Ellynrie and wrought destruction. Two brothers lose their home and their parents. One, Corin, is rescued by the wizard Dale and taken to live with a loving relative. The other, Cade, thought lost, wanders far away to become a dark and fearful wizard, vowing to unleash and slay the demon no matter what the cost, even if that cost includes his brother's blood. If the demon is unleashed and not defeated, evil would triumph.
Dale learns of the evil plot and sends his apprentice Adriel, untried and untested, to find and guard Corin. He also sends Wren, a talented retired mercenary, who is indebted to the wizard. Wren is attacked by assassins, and flees with his teen-aged daughter Kayla, to find Corin and fulfill his obligation.
At the same time, Cade, in the Tower of Shadows, has dispatched assassins and others to capture Corin and slay those who would protect him. Corin, Adriel, Wren, and Kayla and make the perilous journey to the Tower of Shadows to defeat Cade and the terrible evil that he has launched. Their journey is threatened by a variety of forces who will do anything to prevent their success.
Dowling writes well and the main characters interest although the evil brother is not well developed and the rationale for his actions is not well understood. There is considerable action. The fight scenes are well done. The plot is not entirely persuasive and the back story might have received more attention.
The book is well designed. End paper maps are clear and helpful. Print is dark and quite legible. While space is generous, particularly the leading. Cover art by John Harris is not quite true to the story, but works well to indicate the genre, especially with the dragon near the tower.
"Avalon outlink station lay on the border of the Polity, that expanding political dominion ruled by artifical intelligences and, to those who resented unhuman rule, the supreme autocrat: Earth Central."
This is the story of how the Prador made first formal contact with human kind and the war that resulted from their arrogant demands.
Humans formally met the Prador, large crab-like aliens, at Avalon. The Prador demanded immediate surrender and then attacked the station. Jebel Krong, an Earth Central Security commando was in charge of station security and fought valiently against the Prador attach there and in subsequent battles as human worlds were destroyed and the aliens moved forward with their seemingly invincible technology. The AIs responsible for security were quick to respond, but developing a substantial military force and new technology took time.
Moria Salem, was a runcible technician who has recently had a substantial upgrade to the augmentation already attached to her brain. She seems to have unusual intellectual powers and they may be the last hope for the defense of the Trajan runcible station and Earth.
Asher has created an intriguing and most interesting universe in the Polity with its AI based technology and the runcibles to transport people and goods from one place to another [no need for space ships]. The plot is fairly straight-forward, the writing [with a few scientific exceptions] is clear and direct. Not at all certain that the anti-AI terrorists were needed as a plot element. Characters here are not deeply developed, but they work well. There is a reasonable amount of action and violence, some of it fairly graphic.
This story fills an important gap in the Polity stories and will be popular with those who have enjoyed Asher's other novels. Cover art by Bob Eggleton is clear, attractive and fits well with the genre and the story. Print is dark and easily read.
"I lay on my back, watching the little patches of blue sky that I could see through the jungle canopy. My brother Baxmal and Chulchun, an older warrior, had climbed into the trees to spy on our neighbors."
This anthology of fifteen original short stories, mostly by relatively unknown authors deals with different aspects of being a warrior. Stories are set in different cultures, different situations, and different times.
Short stories can be difficult in fantasy since there is little time for world-building,character dvelopment, and plot development before the story ends. While most of the stories were interesting, the best were by Durgan, Pierce, Friesner, and Gilman.
Following each story is a brief biographic introduction to the author.
I'm uncertain if there is a need or a want for a collection of notably diverse young warrior fantasy short stories. Certainly, this would be an excellent discussion vehicle for some classes to deal with issues related to heroism. Print is large and black. Cover images are photographic and show partial faces of three diverse young people.
" The zitragor paused, head coming up to scan the area, delicate nose sniffing inquisitively. The beast seemed nervous, as though it sensed something wrong, but after a long moment it lowered its hed to the rivulet to drink. "
Chafe continues the Kzin - Human stories, the "Known Space" series in this substantial story about civil war on the Kzin home planet while humans create momentum for an interplanetary war that will destroy each of the planets occupied by the Kzin until their home world is destroyed. Mankind is united while the Kzin fight amongst each other.
Most of the story is set on Kzin where Pouncer, first son of the Patriarch -- the ruler of Kzin space, flees for his life after his father is slain and the Tzaatz become the de facto rulers of Kzin. When Pouncer flees he takes two Earth diplomats/representatives with him. Captain Ayla Kalinova stays with Pouncer and becomes his chief of staff. Major Quacy Tskombe is able to steal a space ship and takes the news home to Earth. He will do anything to return to Kzinhome to rescue Ayla who he has grown to love.
Like David Weber, Chafe has created a substantial and detailed story with considerable background on the Kzinti culture and traditions. While the world-building is excellent, it sometimes slows the story and the detail can be overwhelming at times. Still, there is considerable action as Pouncer, his sister, and Ayla flee while under fire. Pouncer must gain the respect of the lost prides hidden in the back country if he is to gain the Patriarchy. At the same time, Earth readies a force that will destroy Kzinhome and all who live upon it.
One of the best of the stories set in Niven's Kzin - human conflict universe. The plot is straight-forward, but contains some interesting twists and turns. Major characters are well-developed. World-building is excellent. Writing is clear and descriptions are nicely done.
Print is largely than usual and easily read. Paper is thin and there is some see-through. Cover art by Stephen Hickman clearly indicates genre and series, but might better illustrate an important scene in the story. Recommended for larger SF collections or anywhere that good space opera is popular. Many who enjoy David Weber's work will enjoy this one too.
