Fiction

By Staff -- Library Journal, 10/15/2006

Bernhard, Thomas. Frost. Knopf. Oct. 2006. c.352p. tr. from German by Michael Hofmann. ISBN 1-4000-4066-3 [ISBN 978-1-4000-4066-7]. $25.95. F

What with blogs, cable news, and talk radio, the rant as a mode of rhetoric might seem to be in full flower, but it was the late Bernhard (Concrete: The Loser) who raised the rant to an art form. As a publishing event, the long-overdue English translation of Bernhard’s 1963 debut novel is both illuminating and disappointing. Concerning a young medical student sent to rural Austria to observe a troubled painter, the narrative is anemic, which is typical of Bernhard, whose main concern was the expression of the anguished states of despair, disease, and disgust. Frost presents his distinctive voice, with many brilliant passages, but with its unrefined style, it comes off as spiritually one-sided, even shrill, and far too long and repetitive. Arriving now, this work’s greatest value is in what it reveals about the evolution of a major artist. This is the literary enterprise in extremis, inviting appreciation and exasperation from readers in equal measure. A worthy purchase for libraries with large literary fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/06.]—Stephen Sposato, Chicago P.L.

Brandeis (The Book of Dead Birds, winner of Barbara Kingsolver’s Bellwether Prize) has written a paean to Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself. Protagonist Flan supports her family by going to self-storage auctions and selling the contents of the storage units; her husband is a graduate student struggling to finish his thesis. Although their housing complex includes families from many nations, their Islamic Afghan neighbors are treated as outcasts, particularly when Sodaba accidentally hits Flan’s daughter with her car. Despite this incident, Flan helps Sodaba go into hiding when she faces deportation. Meanwhile, themes and snippets of Whitman’s poem appear throughout the novel, as Flan and her family struggle to find their authentic selves. Parts feel forced, such as when the stereotypical white middle-class woman accuses the Afghan couple of being terrorists, but readers will identify with Flan’s quest to go beyond the daily grind. Recommended for most libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/06.]—Amy Ford, St. Mary’s Cty. Lib., Lexington Park, MD

Are we worth saving if we become terrorists in order to stop terrorism? This question is at the heart of Brody’s (Unlawful Deeds) third thriller in the series following attorney Shelby Baskin and her fiancé, Bruce, a security consultant/sailing instructor. Set in a post-9/11 world, the book begins with Shelby being approached by her uncle Abraham, a Holocaust survivor intent on protecting the Jewish people at any cost. Abraham is unable to enlist Shelby’s help in “Kidon,” his personal war against anti-Semites, owing to her opposition to his vigilante tactics. However, he secures Shelby and Bruce’s help in trying to stop a terrorist cell that is planning an attack on Boston. How much does Abraham really know? What is he withholding from Shelby? This realistic, frightening novel focuses on America’s continuing fight against terrorism, addressing our vulnerabilities and our response to those vulnerabilities through human characters. The plot will keep readers guessing right up to the end. Strongly recommended for all collections.—Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s, MD

In this British romance—Davies’s second after The Madness of Love—Eira’s present life as a single museum worker approaching middle age with a crush on her married boss is intertwined with flashbacks to a traumatic childhood vacation at the country home of her Aunt Maggie and Uncle Hue. The discovery of an abandoned baby and its return to its teenage mother force Eira to reexamine her admired older sister’s hidden adolescent pregnancy with a tragic end while their parents vacationed in Fiji. Meanwhile, the happy pregnancy of Daisy, her boss’s wife, only fuels Eira’s depression over her life and childlessness. At times both dark and maudlin, this novel mixes Gothic elements with psychological self-examination in a spottily entertaining blend. For extensive romance collections.—Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., VA

In Du Brul’s twist on history, the German zeppelin Hindenburg explodes in 1937, the result of sabotage aimed at silencing an academic on board. In the present day, the academic’s secret from almost 70 years ago is about to be discovered by Philip Mercer, a geologist looking for a rare metal in Africa. There he meets a woman from the Centers for Disease Control investigating a village with the highest rate of cancer per capita in the world. The two stumble onto a terrifying conspiracy; terrorists will go to great lengths to achieve their goals with this secret. As in the best of Clive Cussler, the past here affects the future of the world, and a reluctant hero must dig deep to succeed. Du Brul (The Medusa Stone) cowrites the “Oregon Files” series with Cussler, and fans of that style of adventure will not be disappointed. Even though this book marks Mercer’s seventh appearance, it’s not necessary to read the other entries in this series, but patrons will seek them out after reading this twisty page-turner. For larger fiction collections.[The publisher claims this is Du Brul’s hardcover solo debut, but his first two novels, Vulcan’s Forge and Charon’s Landing, were originally published in hardcover by Tor.—Ed.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Catherine Parr can be called the lucky one. She was the sixth wife of Henry VIII and managed to outlive him. But lucky is a relative term, as we see in Erickson’s new historical novel (after The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette). Narrated from Catherine’s point of view, it recounts the tumultuous succession of King Henry’s wives, from Catherine of Aragon, when Parr was a small child, to the charming but ultimately adulterous Catherine Howard. While these marriages are taking place, we learn more about Parr herself—married three times, not once for love. And then in her thirties, when she finally weds a man she loves, she dies of childbed fever. Historian Erickson’s second foray into fiction is not as strong as her first, as some of the plot twists seem more for effect than based in historical fact. Still, she offers a good view of the intrigue and scheming in the court of Henry VIII. Descriptions of court and country life are well done and enrich the story. Recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/05.]—Anna M. Nelson, Collier Cty. P.L., Naples, FL

In 1985, Ford published The Sportswriter and with protagonist Frank Bascombe began an epic story of the everyman. Ten years later, Bascombe returned in Ford’s Independence Day, winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, a feat never before accomplished by a single work of fiction. Here, Ford revisits the story in 2000, as Bascombe deals with prostate cancer, his second divorce, and the controversial presidential election fiasco. He has moved to the Jersey shore, where he sells real estate and, over the course of 500 pages, does nothing particularly important except host a postnuclear family Thanksgiving get-together to which, against his better judgment, he has invited his ex-wife and emotionally explosive son. But, as in many literary classics, the beauty of this novel is in its presentation—the word choice and perfect phrases—and in Bascombe’s unwaveringly honest and humorous narration. Ford manages to become his character and remove authorial boundaries, transforming his novel into a story told to us by an old friend. A fitting way to complete the Frank Bascombe legacy; recommended for public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/06.]—Stephen Morrow, Columbus, OH

Known primarily as a playwright (and favorably compared to Ibsen), Norwegian Fosse has produced more than 30 literary works in the past 20 years. This book, originally published in 1995 and his first to be translated into English, certainly lives up to its name. Moody and episodic, it showcases the author’s understanding of the human psyche and its flaws. Because of its distinctive structure—it’s divided into three chapters, each shorter than the last—the novel will be best appreciated in one sitting. While the final chapter takes place in the recent past, most of the novel is set in the mid-1850s and focuses on Norwegian artist Lars Hertervig. The stream-of-consciousness style used here gives readers an inside look deep into the mind of the neurotic and deeply troubled protagonist. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with large fiction collections.—Karen Walton Morse, Univ. at Buffalo Libs., NY

Soon after young David Shepherd’s near-death experience, random names start appearing in his thoughts. Years later, those names, which he has diligently jotted down, have grown into the thousands, and he is horrified by the recent addition of his stepdaughter. David’s discoveries regarding the accident’s aftereffects lead him to the malevolent Gnoseos. For centuries, this international cult has used its considerable wealth and power to destroy the balance of the world by killing chosen individuals. With the help of a brilliant archaeologist, Yael HarPaz, David becomes an active adversary of the Gnoseos. It will take all of their mental and physical skills to save his stepdaughter and the fate of the world. Coauthors Gregory and Tintori deftly use a concept of Jewish mysticism known as the Lamed Vovniks, involving 36 righteous souls upon whom the whole of humanity depends. Convincing characters and a rapidly moving plot combine to create an enjoyable religious thriller with a premise similar to that of Sam Bourne’s The Righteous Men. Recommended for popular fiction collections.—Joy St. John, Henderson Dist. P.L., NV

Kelman (Summer of Storms) departs from her customary suspense novels with this sassy comedic tale about a 40-plus mother of two grown children who has her own coming-of-age experience. Speech therapist and voice dialect coach Maggie Strickland is stunned when she discovers that her professorial husband, Harold, is leaving her for a 23-year-old graduate assistant. Maggie attempts to adjust to life on her own with the help of her friend Janine, a fashion designer and expert matchmaker. Maggie’s self-deprecating humor is witty and entertaining as she trades barbs with her cranky mother and engages in counseling sessions with a kindly young female rabbi. Though laugh-out-loud humor is never in short supply, the novel’s winning appeal derives from Kelman’s ability to combine humor with Maggie’s burgeoning sense of self. As Maggie discovers that she is a grandmother and begins dating her junior high crush, she comes to the conclusion that her sense of worth is not dependant on the adoration of a man. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/06.]—Sheri Melnick, Harrisburg, PA

At the center of Lawson’s follow-up to her lauded debut, Crow Lake, are the antithetical personalities of two brothers—the handsome and insidious Jake and Arthur, who’s diffident and diligent. This stark contrast bursts into dangerous sibling rivalry when a girl named Laura comes between them. Lawson composes the novel in mutually enlightening chapters that vacillate between two different periods: the brothers’ adolescence and early adulthood during World War II and a setting 20 years later, when Arthur and Laura are married, Jake has returned to Arthur’s farm after a long absence, and Ian, a local boy who also is attracted to Laura, is working with Arthur. Lawson ingeniously uses this narrative structure to create immense tension by gradually disclosing the past Ian walks into and the unresolved hostility he unwittingly reignites in his adoration for Laura. The suspense of Arthur’s impending explosion is a double-edged sword, though, as along the way his reticence depletes many events of their emotional impact. Despite this flaw, Lawson proves herself an adept chronicler of the conflicting dispositions and priorities that divide a family. Recommended for most fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/06.]—David Doerrer, New York

Levy, winner of the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year Award for Small Island, here delivers a solid meditation on the power of family stories. Faith Jackson begins a career in television with optimism only to be stymied by the casual racism that meets her everywhere in London. Confused, Faith turns to her Jamaican-born parents, but their solutions—getting married and going to church—don’t resonate with her. Trapped between two worldviews, Faith literally takes to her bed until an invitation to visit Jamaica opens a new world of possibilities for her. The rambling, disconnected anecdotes of London life give way to an intricate tapestry of lively family narratives as stories of Faith’s ancestors provide a foundation from which she can draw strength. Fans of Zadie Smith will appreciate Levy’s explorations of race and class but may find it difficult to sympathize with Faith, whose naïveté can be exasperating. A somewhat abrupt ending and slightly flat secondary characters hinder but do not spoil this otherwise solid effort. Recommended for large fiction collections.—Leigh Anne Vrabel, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

This boiling cauldron of intrigue takes place in the volatile Holy Land of the near future. When the Arab leader of a terrorist faction kidnaps a rabbi who heads an ultraconservative settlers’ group, Israeli security services go on red alert. In adding a smart-alecky American reporter to the mix, Littell (The Company) ratchets up the action to a heart-bursting sprint that stops only for big gulps of violence and torture. What makes this book unforgettable is the extraordinary relationship between kidnapper and victim. Extremists both, they joust with vehement hatred yet are strangely drawn together. Littell’s acute portrayal of their inflamed psychological states illuminates an understanding that goes far beyond the day’s headlines. For all public libraries where espionage tales populate the reserve lists.—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA

This addictive page-turner takes us into the lives of three young girls and whisks us through years of their experiences into adulthood. Best friends Amber, Becky, and Madeline are entirely different from one another. But while they have their problems, they also share a strong bond. Lokko’s (Sundowners) saga also introduces us to the fascinating Max, the megarich patriarch of two families, one in England (he is Amber’s father) and one in Italy (he is also the father of the beautiful and glamourous Paola Rossi). Both families know about each other, and the media know as well, which adds to the dysfunctional problems of these characters. A lot of issues are covered here—drug and alcohol dependency, infidelity, race, and class—but Lokko’s great character development and exciting plot keep us entranced to the end. For libraries where Judith Kranz is popular. —Marianne Fitzgerald, Severna Park H.S., MD

The questionable reality and emotional truth behind artifacts propel this story of a British man’s search for his past. David Carter, a museum curator fascinated with history and objects, discovers in his mid-twenties that he is an adopted orphan and becomes consumed with discovering his birth parents. The narrative traces the events of his life, re-created around descriptions of objects he and family members have preserved. While researching in Aberdeen, Scotland, he meets and falls in love with Eleanor, who is determined, despite her working-class family’s lack of support, to graduate from college. Readers follow their married years as they raise a daughter and cope with Eleanor’s depressions and David’s relations with a female coworker. It is only after their daughter leaves for college that David and Eleanor track down a woman in Ireland who may be David’s birth mother. In this elegantly written novel, McGregor (If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things) focuses on the interpersonal and the emotional, successfully dramatizing the impact of events on people’s lives. Recommended for larger fiction collections.—Jim Coan, SUNY Coll. at Oneonta

The only surviving historical record of the wife of Pontius Pilate is a very brief reference in the Gospel of Matthew, which states that she sent word to Pilate during Jesus’s trial imploring him to have nothing to do with the Galilean, as she had been troubled by dreams of him. From this meager bit of information, May (coauthor, Adventures of a Psychic) has written the story of Claudia, born to one of Rome’s first families, follower of the goddess Isis, young wife of Pilate, and seer and visionary in her own right. From an early age, Claudia is blessed—or cursed—with the ability to see the future. Sadly, like Cassandra of Troy, this capacity does not come with the power to change the tragic events she sees unfolding for herself, her family, and her world. Depicting an extraordinary woman living in a turbulent and pivotal moment in time, May’s fiction debut is a fresh and vivid retelling of a well-known story comparable in scope to Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent and Elizabeth Cunningham’s The Passion of Mary Magdalene. One hopes this is the first of many novels by this excellent author. Recommended for public libraries, particularly where there is an interest in historical fiction, Christian fiction, or early church history. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/06.]—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK

When circumstances force Captain Fortune, inveterate optimist and opportunist, to admit to his patient and long-suffering daughter, Caroline, that he can no longer afford the last in a series of decreasingly genteel lodgings, she has no choice but to go along with his final desperate scheme to see her provided for. After all, acting as a paid companion to the wealthy widow of Colonel “Devil’s Eye” Catling, the Captain’s former regimental commander, sounds no worse than taking a post as a governess—her only other alternative. And the Colonel’s widow, exacting and irascible though she may be, does introduce this pragmatic and self-reliant young lady to Regency England’s most fashionable seaside resort during the height of the season with decidedly mixed results. Authentic enough to engage even the most demanding of Jane Austen fans, Morgan’s (Passion) delightful second novel offers refreshingly original characters, an intriguing plot, and an elegantly ironic style that will appeal to even the most diehard Austen purists. Highly recommended.—Cynthia Johnson, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA

In their 1995 debut, Motion To Suppress, and in the ten novels that followed, Mary and Pam O’Shaughnessy, writing as Perri O’Shaughnessy, put attorney Nina O’Reilly through varied sets of harrowing personal and professional experiences. But with their penultimate book, Case of Lies, Nina’s career was put on hold to give the sisters a chance to explore other projects. Their latest is a standalone psychological thriller that moves into a new realm of popular fiction. Architect Ray Jackson and his wife, Leigh, are experiencing marital problems deeply rooted in their individual pasts. Ray is attempting to exorcise his demons by revisiting scenes of his childhood in a manner that dances on the threshold of criminal behavior, while Leigh embarks on more standard coping mechanisms: adultery and desertion. Enter Leigh’s old friends Kat and Jacki, who, alarmed by Leigh’s disappearance and Ray’s conduct, become involved in the couple’s complex entanglements. This is a bold step for the sisters O’Shaughnessy that is certain to gain them new fans and please old ones. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/06.]—Nancy McNicol, Ora Mason Branch Lib., West Haven, CT

Patterson (Conviction) pens a big legal thriller that is light on suspense but compelling nonetheless. David Wolfe, a successful Jewish lawyer with political ambitions, had a clandestine affair with Arab activist Hana Arif while in law school, but Hana left him to enter an arranged marriage. Thirteen years later, Hana is vacationing in San Francisco with her family when the visiting Israeli prime minister is assassinated by a suicide bomber, which brings a new level of terrorism to the United States. Hana stands accused as the mastermind of the murder and asks David to represent her, dramatically disrupting both their lives. While David isn’t entirely sure he believes his former lover is innocent, he finds many inconsistencies in the evidence against her. When it begins to appear that Hana is being framed, he goes to Israel in search of the truth. The stories of the Israelis and Arabs with whom David meets are unforgettable, but the central plot line and main characters are a bit thin. Still, Patterson delves evenhandedly into both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict, making this a fascinating and timely read. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/06.]—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL

From 6:18 p.m. on December 21 to 8:29 a.m. on December 22, single mother Sue Young is forced by an unknown caller to travel through stormy weather and follow specific orders if she wants to get her abducted baby daughter back. Her estranged husband always said, “[T]he past is never done with you, not in any substantial way,” and she learns firsthand that he was right. Her travels through the sleepy small towns of Massachusetts involve a garbage bag with unsavory contents, corpses, zombies with shot-out eyes, and serial killers from the past. This fast-paced novel tips its hat to Stephen King and is filled with both human and supernatural terror. Schreiber packs a lot of horror into 200 pages, and while the writing is sometimes more choppy than suspenseful, this noteworthy debut is recommended for all public libraries.—Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

It is to the credit of Tejpal, a news writer and editor in New Delhi, that his first novel holds the reader’s attention throughout its 500-plus pages. Divided into five parts, the story is really several stories in one. Foremost is the obsessive love the narrator has for his beautiful wife, Fiza, appropriately nicknamed Fizz. When the young couple inherit some money, they buy a cottage in a mountain village in northern India. While renovating the old house, they unearth notebooks hidden by a previous owner, a wildly unconventional American woman who lived there many years ago and had a torrid affair with a local man. In reading these notebooks, the young man finds himself in the grip of an obsession with this long-dead woman. While in one sense another sprawling novel about modern India, this work also reads like a combination of a ghost story and the Kama Sutra. Suggested for academic and larger public libraries.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

An impoverished writer wanders Brooklyn in search of the money that will reunite him with his family. Having survived horrific abuse as a child and alcoholism as an adult, the unnamed protagonist continues to suffer. Part Native American, part African American, he is obsessed with his wife’s whiteness, his children’s ambiguous ethnic identities, and the perceived slights of his neighbors. A father of three, he refuses to take a steady job, finish his doctoral dissertation, or even respond when addressed. This debut is ambitious, paying homage to James Joyce and Ralph Ellison, but it often suffers from writing-workshop laziness, as when Thomas details the flavor of his character’s belches, the precise route of his walks, the highs and lows of his cigarettes. While the narrator’s every bodily sensation and painful memory are probed, no other characters are granted interiority. Just as the perspective of this novel is selfish, its values are worldly: in what purports to be a story about art and injustice, redemption is defined as a lease for a posh address and tuition for a left-leaning prep school. Recommended for collections specializing in African American fiction or Brooklyn local interest.—Leora Bersohn, doctoral student, Columbia Univ., New York

Graduate student Ariel Manto acquires a copy of a cursed book, The End of Mr. Y. According to the curse, whoever reads the book will die. This doesn’t stop Ariel from reading it and taking a tincture prescribed in the text, which transports her to a parallel, multidimensional existence called the Troposphere. Suddenly, Ariel is being pursued by ominous government agents, making friends with the god of mice, falling in love with an office mate, and trying to save the world—or at least, the laboratory mice therein. The bare plot outline cannot begin to describe the dizzying inventiveness of Thomas’s (PopCo) second novel. It is a combination of postmodern philosophy and physics, spine-tingling science fiction, clever, unexpected narrative twists, and engaging characters—all on one wild drug trip. With this book, Thomas, who in 2001 was named by the Independent on Sunday one of Britain’s 20 best young writers, has moved into first place. While the science, mathematics, and philosophy may challenge readers, this novel is highly recommended for all fiction collections.—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

Hamilton’s (Incubus Dreams) anthology contains 14 short stories, including six never before published. Two feature Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, while several others are set in the Nightseer world. In the introduction, Hamilton states that “these are ideas I was compelled to write by nothing but my sometime peculiar imagination and a desire to play. Short stories for me are like vacations.” These vacations take the reader to some strange and twisted places. Standouts include “Here Be Dragons,” which is about the evil of which human beings are capable and the monsters within us. “House of Wizards” explores the tension between creativity and practical skills and what is and should be of value. “Those Who Seek Forgiveness,” the very first Anita Blake story, affords an interesting introduction to the character’s early career as a zombie reanimator. Perhaps most appealing to Hamilton’s fans will be the brief introductions she writes for each story, as they reveal much of her personality and motivations. Strongly recommended.—Laurel Bliss, Princeton Univ. Lib., NJ

In this collection, Kun (The Locklear Letters) once again explores the line between truth and fantasy with humor and creative composition. “Publisher’s Notes,” penned by the author, preface each of the 21 stories; we learn, for instance, that the memoirist of the title story is not who he says he is. In the strongest story, “The Last Chance Texaco,” Earl reveals why he lives above the laundromat reading car manuals. In “My Wife and My Dead Wife,” a man deals with both his first wife and his second wife having the same name, and “Steve Smith” explores the complications of having a common name. Many of the pieces are not traditional stories but mere jabs at things like corporate seminars (“Fresh Fruit”), advertising (“You Have Made Quite a Purchase”), and office politics (“Does Your Job Application Put Your Company at Risk?”). These nonstories detract from the strength of the collection. An optional purchase.—Joshua Cohen, Mid-Hudson Lib. Syst., Poughkeepsie, NY

Harry Bosch, still working for the Open Unsolved (cold cases) Unit, is brought into a new scenario. The killer in question claims to be responsible for a number of older cases, including one that centered on the disappearance of a woman whose body was never found. Bosch, still haunted by those circumstances, has been hounding another man he thinks is responsible. As he and partner Kiz Rider are pulled further into the prosecution of the alleged killer, Bosch learns that nothing is as it seems. Sidelined from the case after an incident, he teams up with FBI agent Rachel Walling (first introduced in The Poet) and continues to investigate. Connelly offers strong action writing and exciting plot twists, coupled with more development of Bosch’s character and his internal conflicts. Another excellent and riveting entry in the longstanding series by one of mystery fiction’s best writers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/06.]—Elizabeth B. Lindsay, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman

South Chicago natives Danny Carter and Evan McGann were young partners in crime until one fateful robbery-gone-bad sent Evan to prison for seven years. Danny walked away, managing to convince himself that his criminal days were over; he’s now working in construction management and is in a long-term relationship. What he failed to reckon with was Evan, newly released from prison, who understands all too clearly that partners in crime don’t break up. Attempting to outwit Evan without succumbing to his past life, Danny devises a scheme wherein the two of them will kidnap Danny’s boss’ son, hold him for ransom, and make a bundle, at which point they will “be even.” Does this make sense? Of course not, but what a thrilling ride debut author Sakey has concocted. Sakey’s insights into Danny’s struggles to maintain a decent, honest life truly make the story stand out. This book may remind readers of George Pelecanos’s Drama City and certainly will appeal to Dennis Lehane fans as well. Recommended for all popular crime fiction collections. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 9/1/06.]—Teresa L. Jacobsen, Solano Cty. Lib., CA

Imagine an episode of 24 written by Robin Cook, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of Swierczynski’s (The Wheelman) second novel. Two parts adrenaline rush, one part medical thriller, this twisted story starts with a bang and rarely slows down. In an airport bar, Jack Eisley meets a beautiful blonde who slips some poison into his drink, but that’s hardly the worst of it. Hours later, she infects him with a deadly virus containing a tracking device. As a result, Eisley must remain within ten feet of another person at all times or else risk a fatal cerebral implosion. Every time that Eisley thinks he’s hit rock bottom, things just continue getting worse. To the rescue comes Mike Kowalski, a member of an ultrasecret wing of the Department of Homeland Security, who has been sent to locate the blonde before she futher spreads the deadly virus. Full of offbeat characters, excruciatingly reckless twists, and sardonic humor, this fun ride shows great promise for a rising author. Recommended for most thriller and crime fiction collections. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 7/06.]—Ken Bolton, Cornell Univ. Lib., Ithaca, NY

Why would one person snuff out another for money? This collection of hitmen (and hitwomen) stories offers 31 possible answers, one for each story included, and they range from professional pride to pure inbred dumbness. Authors include both the comparatively unknown (Julie Hyzy, whose “Strictly Business” is all down-and-dirty business) to such stalwarts as Max Allan Collins, Ed Gorman, Lawrence Block, and David Morrell (whose “The Attitude Adjuster” will ensure you notice the next road construction worker you pass). Brian M. Wiprud offers a brief comic dialog about the quandaries of disposing of a lemur. The many pleasures of pulp are here in abundance, befitting on several levels the anthology’s subject. According to the publisher, which has been getting a lot of mileage out of edgy prose lately, the authors represent a combined total of $500 million in book sales. That ought to add up to at least a few requests at your library. For all public libraries.—Bob Lunn, Kansas City P.L., MO

By Jackie Cassada, Asheville Buncombe Lib. Syst., NC

In the not-too-distant future, as the energy wars between the United States and the combined forces of Japan and California escalate, several army engineers steal the plans for a device that could solve the world’s energy problems. Instead, they flee to a distant planet, a potential colony, hoping to distance themselves from the dying Earth. What they find in space, however, is not at all what they expected. Day’s debut novel paints a grimly optimistic picture of the future while telling the personal stories of his characters as they struggle to make their way in an uncertain world. A good addition to large sf collections.

Accompanied by the beautiful Lonni Norr, a Sensitive with the uncanny ability to perceive danger, interstellar courier Jak Rebo must transport the brilliant artificial intelligence known as Logos to an out-of-the-way planet where it can restore the system of star gates that allowed travel among distant worlds. When forces that oppose the recentralization of the star systems give chase, Jak and Lonni try to stay one step ahead. The sequel to Runner by the author of Earthrise is filled with intrigue, action, and a smattering of romance. For larger sf collections.

In the land of the Hundred, eagle-mounted Reeves act as guardians of the peace for their people until the murder of one Reeve and the mutilation of her eagle signal the beginning of a secret war against an unknown and malevolent foe. Far to the south, a young woman’s unexpected marriage to the captain of an occupying army begins a journey that leads them toward their destiny in the land of Reeves and giant eagles. The author of the acclaimed “Crown of Stars” series launches a new seven-book epic fantasy set in a world of warring clans, restless ghosts, and mysterious, nearly forgotten Guardians. Elliott’s skill at building worlds and peopling them with colorful characters and vibrant societies makes this novel an excellent choice for most fantasy collections. [Elliott and fantasy writer Melanie Rawn, see the review of her Spellbinder on p. 55, will be blogging about their joint book tour this fall on the West Coast and in the South.—Ed.]

Robbed of the person she loved, former “hammerjack” Lea Prism has a new career as a corporate spook determined to rid the world of the antitech Inru terrorists, a group attempting to accelerate evolution and instead destroying lives. Technology and nature face off with no clear battle lines in Giller’s sequel to Hammerjack. Rapid-fire pacing and hard science blend in a high-tech sf thriller that belongs in most libraries.

A global search for meteorites said to cause those exposed to them to develop extraordinary powers results in the near extinction of a small tribe of apparently primitive residents of the Amazon. The four survivors, three girls and a boy, fall under the protection of a pair of scientists, Michael Miskulin and Susan Yamada, until they all become targets of a conspiracy to control both the meteorites and the children. Set in a plausible near future where global concerns clash with individual rights, Hendrix’s (The Labyrinth Key) latest novel proffers a superb blend of hard science and sf adventure sweetened with strongly developed characters. Recommended for most sf collections.

The apocalypse has come and gone, and now seraphs and demons rule the world, waging war on an Earth plunged into an ice age. Only a few gifted humans, such as Thorn St. Croix, live as fugitives among normal humans. When Thorn’s ex-husband is kidnapped, Thorn is accused of the crime, and she is forced to use her magic to find him at the risk of her own life and freedom. Hunter’s distinctive future vision offers a fresh though dark glimpse into a newly made postapocalyptic world. Bold and imaginative in approach, with appealing characters and a suspense-filled story, this belongs in most fantasy collections.

Journalist Gregory MacAllister launches a campaign to end the prestigious Space Academy’s deep space program in favor of a last-ditch attempt to rescue Earth from global warming. In response, the academy sends the Starship Salvator to explore the “moonriders,” strange lights seen in nearby planetary systems. MacAllister joins the expedition and helps discover that the moonriders are far more deadly than first thought. The author of Chindi and other novels featuring the academy succeeds in visualizing a believable future of space exploration as well as believable personalities whose lives and loves put a human face on scientific speculation. Expert storytelling and a thorough grounding in hard science strongly recommend this to most libraries.

The Georgia battlefield of Chickamauga, where 35,000 soldiers died during the Civil War, is haunted by ghosts—in particular by Old Green Eyes, whose presence allows the dead to rest in peace. When Old Green Eyes disappears, specters in ragged uniforms seek out medium Eden Moore to be their go-between, whether she wants to or not. Priest’s sequel to Four and Twenty Blackbirds brings the past to life in a Southern Gothic tale of supernatural adventure and human drama. For most fantasy collections.

Born into a family of witches, Holly McClure prefers her career as a successful author to the rigors and demands of magic. Because of the special quality of her blood, she is an essential member of a local coven, whose leader is a district court judge. When a meeting with federal marshal Evan Lachlan offers her a chance at a relationship of mutual trust and love, she must risk sharing with him her secret life as a witch. The discovery of a practitioner of black magic involving ritual murder brings Holly and Evan together in ways neither of them ever expected. Rawn’s first novel in eight years marks a departure from her previous fantasy sagas. Set in modern-day New York City, this romantic urban fantasy by the author of the “Dragon Prince” and “Dragon Star” trilogies retains Rawn’s talent for character building, her acute eye for the minutiae of daily life, and her storytelling excellence. With potential appeal to a wide audience, this belongs in most fantasy collections. [This fall, Rawn will tour the West Coast and the South with fantasy author Kate Elliot (see the review of her Spirit Gate on p. 54).—Ed.]

Searching for her brother’s killer, class-nine empath Ahni Huang ventures to the orbiting Platforms, some of which now want independence from the Earth’s unigovernmental World Council. Her high empathic skill and total bodily control give her insights into the motivations of others but also make her vulnerable to many deceptions. When she encounters Dane Nilson, a hydroponics plant administrator, his secrets and her quest bind them together in a dangerous alliance. Rosenblum (Stone Garden) combines cutting-edge hard science with the savvy atmosphere of postcyberpunk fiction to create an all-too-believable future. Memorable characters and a solid adventure story make this a good selection for most sf collections.

Two young prostitutes in 19th-century France form a mystical bond that links them together and penetrates the veil of the future in Delia Sherman’s “La Fée Verte,” while in “The Lepidopterist,” Lucius Shepherd tells of a magical night, a storm, and some unforgettable butterflies. Written especially for this collection, the 15 stories by Peter Beagle, David Prill, Marly Youmans, and other new and veteran writers straddle the line between fantasy and reality and belong in most short fiction or fantasy collections.

No longer an indentured poison taster to her late, hated master, Yelena is now ready to start her training in her newly discovered magical powers. Reunited with her brother, she finds to her chagrin that he despises her bloody past and, in fact, seems to wish her dead. This sequel to Poison Study continues the tale of a young woman condemned to death unless she can learn to control her power. Suitable for large fantasy collections and libraries where paranormal romances and this author are popular.

A swarm of Fireflies—lighted alien objects in the sky—now orbits Earth, speaking among themselves and ignoring human attempts at communication. In desperation, a group consisting of a linguist with multiple personality disorder, a biologist more machine than man, a paleogenetic vampire, and a pacifist is sent to confront this unfathomable alien presence. Watts (Behemoth) continues to challenge readers with his imaginative plots and superb storytelling. A good choice for most sf collections.

From Yoon Ha Lee’s fairy tale-like parable that explores the meaning of being human (“Eating Hearts”) to Connie Willis’s period piece that revolves around the ghost of H.L. Mencken (“Inside Job”), the 23 stories in this collection represent the cream of the crop of short fantasy published in 2005. Although some of the stories have been previously published, they take on a new life in this anthology and are recommended for most fantasy or short fiction collections.