SF/Fantasy

By Jackie Cassada, Ashville Buuncombe Lib. Syst., NC -- Library Journal, 8/15/2006

Anthony, Piers. Stork Naked. Tor. Oct. 2006. c.304p. ISBN 0-765-30409-0 [ISBN 978-0-765-30409-4]. $24.95. FANTASY

When the Stork refuses to deliver Surprise Golem's baby, fleeing with it to another reality instead, the sorrowful mother and her friends must track down the missing bird through a number of different realities, each with its own special characteristics. Prolific fantasy and sf author Anthony celebrates his 30th volume in the perpetually popular “Xanth” series with a tale of love's struggle to overcome adversity. Filled with the requisite puns and plays on words, this installment features both old and new Xanth residents caught up in a series of whirlwind events. The usual author's afterword credits fans' contributions to the puns and catches up on current events in Anthony's life. Libraries should purchase according to anticipated demand.

Pregnant and with no hope of marriage, young Fawn Bluefield seeks a new life in a larger city where no one knows her. Before she can reach her destination, Fawn encounters the monstrous creatures of dark magic known as malices as well as a veteran sorcerer-soldier called Dag, who becomes her unlikely escort and companion. The award-winning author of The Hallowed Hunt and The Paladin of Souls begins a two-volume saga of daring deeds and unlikely romance. Bujold quickly develops unforgettable characters as she crafts a world filled with unique monsters and an original approach to magic. For most fantasy collections.

The charismatic inheritor of his family's ability to produce vital steampower, Eson also possesses his lineage's magic—the knowledge of how to bind other people and their fortunes to him through enchanted contracts written with pen and ink. When a mysterious young woman comes into his life, he recognizes a kindred spirit, not knowing that her presence means his betrayal. Copithorne's first novel creates a world of subtle intrigue and fragile shifts of power and fills it with characters who appear both steeped in reality and larger than life. Lyrical in style, with a fairy-tale atmosphere enhanced by the author's delicate line drawings, this fantasy of love and transformation belongs in adult and YA fantasy collections.

These companion volumes serve as transitions between longtime award-wining Australian editor Strahan's earlier “ScienceFiction: Best of” and “Fantasy: Best of” series (coedited with Karen Haber and published by the now closed iBooks imprint) and a new series with a new publisher. Each volume strives to represent the genre's breadth of subject matter and high quality of storytelling. Strahan's fantasy selections include a new tale by Peter S. Beagle featuring Schmendrick the magician and a little girl brave enough to fight a griffin for what she loves (“Two Hearts”) as well as a campfire tale by newcomer Kelly Link about a monster who enjoys playing with its food (“Monster”). Stories by Jane Yolen, Neil Gaiman, Bruce Sterling, and others round out this collection of 16 of last year's best fantasy tales.

Included in the sf collection are a tale by Michael Swanwick of one middle-aged couple's reaction to a visit from a herd of dinosaurs (“Triceratops Summer”), a macabre minitale by Wil McCarthy depicting humanity's most likely future (“They Will Raise You in a Box”), and a haunting story by Ian McDonald of a child-goddess in a future India (“The Little Goddess”). Eleven other contributions by such authors as Gwyneth Jones, Bruce Sterling, and Cory Doctorow round out this strong grouping of recent sf. Most libraries should consider adding both volumes to their short story collections.

Best-selling fantasy writer Teresa Noncoiré writes of a sisterhood of demon fighters, using the fantastic nature of her stories to hide the truth: the Sisterhood of the Celestial Blade Warriors does exist—and she is an imp-carrying member. Together with her companion imp, the foul-mouthed, cigar-smoking Scrappy, Teresa investigates the case of a young Navaho girl pursued by a monstrous, doglike demon but soons find herself shadowed by two men who seem to know more about her than she would like. Frost's fantasy debut series introduces a charming protagonist, both strong and vulnerable, and her cheeky companion. An intriguing plot and a well-developed warrior sisterhood make this a good choice for fans of the urban fantasy of Tanya Huff, Jim Butcher, and Charles deLint. For most libraries.

In Marrakech, a derelict tramp who may or may not be a long-dead rock star hears the darkness tell him to assassinate the U.S. President. Far away, in time and space, a boy emperor in a re-creation of China's Forbidden City holds information from a vast library of knowledge that could change the world forever. In a not-too-distant future, a psychiatrist desperately seeks to uncover a vital secret from a condemned prisoner that could save the world from self-destruction. Grimwood's (Pashazade) latest novel continues his efforts to create a new method of storytelling, complex and detailed yet free-spirited and fluid. The author's s eye for significance and impressionistic detail makes him a master at inference and subtlety. Worth more than a single careful reading, this book belongs in most sf collections and is highly recommended.

When the love of his life turns out not to be what she seems, musician Joel Johnston joins a colony ship headed for a new world outside the solar system. Absorbed in his personal sorrows, Joel eventually learns to appreciate his new surroundings and his new future, as well as his fellow travelers—just before a series of unexpected calamities threatens to rob him of everything. Begun by Heinlein in 1955, this tale of life, love, and loss on a journey to the stars was unfinished at the author's death in 1988. Authorized by Heinlein's estate to complete the story, award-winning author Robinson has captured the late Grand Master storyteller's essential spirit while adding his own unique brand of lyrical prose and warm humor. A mandatory purchase for all sf collections.

Sent by her brother Torisen, now the Highlord of Knorth, to learn warcraft at the college at Tentir, the lady Jamethiel—or Jame—finds herself caught between the Caineron heir who wishes to humiliate her over an old family grudge and an Ardeth Highborn who tries to become more than a friend. Jame walks a fine line that threatens to collapse owing to her independent spirit and soon learns that the school itself has secrets that could lead to its undoing. This latest entry in Hodgell's series about Jamethiel Priest' bane (Seeker's Mask, God Stalk) elaborates on the complex relationships among families in a world filled with warring houses and creatures of magic and danger. A fearless, haunted, and fascinating heroine with a penchant for trouble and a knack for survival, Jame remains the highlight. Recommended for most libraries, particularly where the series is popular.

Long before the rise of Emperor Palpatine's Galactic Empire, the fate of the Republic rested on the outcome of the ongoing conflict between the Jedi Knights and the Brotherhood of the Sith. In an era when users of the Force's Dark Side were almost as numerous as those who adhered only to the Light Side, one Sith lord initiated his rise to power and forever changed the destiny of the Sith Brotherhood. Fantasy/sf author and video game designer Karpyshyn brings the expert knowledge of the Old Republic gained from his work on the video game, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic, to this somber story of one of the greatest villains in the prehistory of the world of Star Wars®. Filling in another historical era in film director George Lucas's most popular world, the first (but presumably not the last) novel set during the Old Republic belongs in most sf and YA collections.

When Never Dead Ned, so called for his penchant for returning to life after dying, is reassigned from his position as bookkeeper for Brute's Legion to the Commander of Ogre Company, a collection of monsters no other army unit wants, he fears that what lies before him is the most challenging and desperate battle of his several lives. The author of Gil's All Fright Diner turns his hand to fantasy with a military tale of orcs, ogres, and other monsters led by a man who is all but immortal. Martinez's broad humor should appeal to fans of the late Douglas Adams and other contemporary authors of comic fantasy. A good choice for large libraries or where humorous fantasy is popular.

Recovering from a brutal assault that had left her clinically dead for two minutes, private investigator Harper Blaine finds her perceptions have changed. Now she sees people that others can't and often struggles against a grayish mist that seems to permeate her world. A friendly couple with experience in the paranormal explain to her that she is a Greywalker, someone with the ability to cross between the living and the ghostly worlds. Suddenly, her life—and her business—grow a lot more interesting and much more dangerous. Richardson's first novel features a genuinely likable and independent heroine with a unique view of reality. Following in the tradition of Tanya Huff and Jim Butcher, this is a strong addition to the growing body of urban fantasy mysteries. A good selection for most fantasy collections.

Psychologist Natalie Armstrong's research involving a map of the human brain through the use of medical nanotechnology has become useful to the military as a form of mind control. At the same time, FBI special agent Jude Westhorpe is on the trail of a defector proficient in genetics and mind-mapping. As his search runs afoul of national security, he and Natalie become tentative partners in a race to prevent technology from becoming a dangerous weapon. Robson (Silver Screen) brings together cutting-edge technology and the ethics of science to produce a fast-paced thriller featuring a pair of compelling protagonists. Cinematic detail and a well-plotted story make this a good addition to most sf collections.

When the daughter of the Empress of Saramyr is discovered by the Weavers to possess the powers of an Aberrant, the land is drawn toward civil war. Far away from the seat of power, a young woman loses her family as she, too, manifests the forbidden magic of the Aberrant, drawing her into the path of the empress's daughter and toward an ever-growing peril. First published in England, this opening volume in Wooding's (The Haunting of Alazaibel Cray and the Broken Sky) new trilogy takes place in an elaborately detailed world reminiscent of medieval Asian myth and features a pair of strong female characters. The second installment continues the journey of destitute Kaiku and the Heir-Empress Lucia as they pit themselves against the formidable might of the Weavers in an attempt to break their control over the ruling families of Saramyr. This epic tale of personal heroism and passionate resolve belongs in most fantasy collections.

Set in Moscow in the late 1990s, this work was a smash success in its native Russia. It even spurred a movie of the same name that was recently released—and eagerly anticipated—in this country. The movie was dazzling but bewildering; the book is more convoluted still. Its plot revolves around Anton Gorodetsky, a regular Russian Ivan who just happens to be an Other. Others are something like sorcerers who, once identified, choose either the side of light or the side of darkness, which coexist in an ancient and uneasy truce. But, predictably, the center cannot hold, and dark and light seem destined to duke it out to claim a newly acknowledged Other with the power to tip the balance. While Lukyanenko proves that he has some interesting things to say about all this good and evil business—and just how murky it is—it isn't enough to save his story from its own clumsiness. We're told, for example, that Others have all sorts of powers, but it's never clear what they can and can't do. Lukyanenko has been compared to Asimov and Tolkien, but those writers set their looking-glass worlds in brilliant relief to our own. This otherworld is merely a shadow.—Tania Barnes, Library Journal

Lush with description and deep with historical detail, Naslund's (Ahab's Wife) latest novel weaves the epic of Marie Antoinette in all her misunderstood glory. Beginning with the ceremony that transforms the Hapsburg archduchess into the dauphine, the story captures a young girl's becoming the product of her circumstances. From her struggles to be diplomatic with her new family and subjects, to her marriage left unconsummated for years, Marie recalls her life in intelligent and mature observations. And when the first tremors of the French Revolution are felt, we see her struggle with her wishes to keep her children and husband safe. Immersing us in the life of the French court at its most vulnerable and decadent time, Naslund's marvelous work is more detailed and has more depth than Carolly Erickson's The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Anna M. Nelson, Collier Cty. P.L., Naples, FL

Newman's first novel presents a riveting portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln. Writing in her journal while confined to Bellvue asylum, Mary alternates between recalling her past life as First Lady and detailing her current experiences in that institution. The first-person narrative and liberal use of descriptive details, perfected perhaps by Newman's extensive experience writing nonfiction, enlist the reader's sympathy for the mentally unstable Mrs. Lincoln. At the same time, we can become dismayed at her seeming lack of common sense. Her obsessions are chronicled, from compulsive shopping and fears for the safety of her loved ones, to her sexual needs. Mary's hopes, dreams, feelings, and thoughts are conveyed with depth and subtlety, but the supporting characters seem superficial. Barbara Hambly's The Emancipator's Wife is similar in subject and style, yet the two novels complement rather than duplicate each other. Newman does not emphasize Mary's addiction to opium and patent medicines, while Hambly suggests this is at the root of much of Mary's irrational behavior. The authors present differing views on the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and Newman offers fewer details of Mary's life, which helps her better maintain the pace and tension of the story. Newman's nuanced portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln's personal struggles belongs in all public libraries, even if they already own the Hambly book.—Ann Fleury, Tampa–Hills­borough Cty. P.L.