SF/Fantasy

In his third outing, after X-Rated Bloodsuckers and The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, Latino vampire detective Felix Gomez follows a death-bed directive from an alien using the body of Gomez's long-dead college roommate and is on the trail of an alien killer and potential kidnapper of Earth women. Teaming up with fellow vampire Carmen, an expert in both sex and investigation, Gomez believes that only the legendary powers of an undead version of the Kama Sutra can protect them from assorted aliens' powers. This adults-only urban fantasy is recommended for libraries where sf humor and vampire fiction are popular. [See also Patricia Altner's vampire fiction roundup on p. 94.—Ed.]

After the Kingdom of Francia purged its mages, the official church believed itself rid of practitioners of magic. But when young Captain Ruaud de Lanvaux, a Guerriere or holy warrior, finds an orphaned girl-child and sees to her care, he is unaware that she is the daughter of a mage who died on the inquisitors' pyres and that a spirit bent on revenge accompanies her. The author of the "Tears of Artamon" trilogy (Lord of Snow and Shadows) begins a new series set in a land of warring nations and conflicting beliefs, where religion and magic are at odds with each other, and the souls of men and women struggle to find their own truth. Ash's graceful prose and well-drawn characters make this fantasy adventure a good addition to most libraries.

From Gord Rollo's transcendentally eerie tale of a comatose young boy's revenge ("Lost in a Field of Paper Flowers") to Mark Morris's cautionary tale about a pair of unorthodox vampires ("Puppies for Sale"), the 21 original stories in this anthology establish the strength of British horror writers. Contributors include Ramsey Campbell, Sarah Pinborough, Conrad Williams, Peter Crowther, and other veterans and new authors. A strong collection of contemporary horror from across the pond, this volume belongs in libraries with budgets that can accommodate its upscale price.

From a tale of vengeance gone awry in Middle America ("The Guy Down the Street") to a frightening story of one man's solution to the problems in his world ("Myiasis"), the 13 stories collected here demonstrate Garton's skill at tales of horror in low and high places. The author's versatile style is by turns gory and visceral or subtle and insinuative. Including two new novellas as well as hard-to-find reprints, this pricey volume belongs in libraries where the author is popular.

Born to a slave taken at the fall of Troy, the child named Gull is chosen by the oracle Pythia to succeed her in service to the Lady of Death because of her prophetic visions. When survivors of a later assault on Troy, called Wilusa by its inhabitants, free their enslaved people, Gull accompanies the captain of the seven black ships, the Trojan Prince Aeneas, as they search for a place to call home. Drawing her inspiration from Virgil's The Aeneid, debut author Graham re-creates a vivid picture of the ancient world, a mysterious place in which gods and goddesses speak to their chosen. Recent interest in Troy, the ancient Greek city-states, and the foundations of Western civilization may increase demand for this historically based fantasy and make it a strong addition to any library. [The author wowed librarians at an Orbit luncheon at last summer's ALA convention in Washington, DC.—Ed.]

An unexpected encounter with a man whose breath turns her into a flesh-eating zombie marks Amanda Feral's induction into Seattle's secret supernatural community, obsessed with designer clothes, trendy clubs—and strange disappearances. When one of Amanda's undead friends vanishes, she, along with fellow zombie Wendy and vampire friend Gil, uncovers plot that threatens to consume the city's walking dead. Henry's first novel is not for the squeamish or for readers uncomfortable with graphic sex, and the proliferation of frivolous footnotes detracts from the otherwise fast-paced action. Fans of splatter fiction and visceral horror laced with the perceptions of a fashionista seem to be the primary target for this eccentric urban fantasy.

Convicted of a crime he did not commit, Nevare Burvelle has fled the town of Gettys and his former soldier comrades for an uncertain future. In desperation he gives in to the Speck magic that dwells within him as a powerful alter ego determined to prevent encroachment upon Speck-held territories. Ultimately, however, Nevare seeks to reconcile his dual nature to bring peace to both sides of his heritage. The author of the "Liveship Traders Trilogy" and the "Farseer Trilogy" brings her latest series to a fitting conclusion. Nevare's journey through war and peace is both timeless and timely and belongs in most libraries.

Within the five-armed radial universe known as the Entire, many species, copied from other universes, dwell beneath a protective lid of plasma known only as "The Bright." Ex-star pilot Titus Quinn sets out to destroy the fortress Ahnenhoon, whose power source will soon penetrate the membrane between the worlds and destroy the universe that contains Earth. Despite threats to his wife and a plot by his daughter to assassinate him, Quinn pursues his mission and discovers the dark truth that lies at the heart of the Entire. Kenyon's sequel to Bright of the Sky delves deeper into the personalities of her characters. This volume by a strong storyteller with a fresh new approach to fantasy and sf belongs in most libraries.

In Empire City, whose official name is Technotopia, free-willed robot Mack Megaton undergoes rehabilitation to help him develop social skills and eventually qualify him for citizenship. When the human family next door disappears, Mack takes it personally and sets out to find them—a decision that necessitates his return to his original purpose as a killing machine. The author of Gil's All Fright Diner continues his comic approach to sf, this time spoofing hard-boiled detective fiction as well as the "robot-as-hero" image conjured up by books and movies such as I, Robot and Blade Runner. Quirky humor, intelligent storytelling, and engaging characters make this a good choice for most sf collections.

The selkie twins, Ronan and Murel, leave their home on the sentient planet Petaybee to rescue a friend only to find themselves imprisoned, with both the Company and an ambitious scientist fighting over custody of them. At the same time, the Company attempts another takeover of Petaybee, drawn by the planet's rich resources, and the twins' parents must join battle to save their world. The final volume of the second trilogy set on a world where everything has sentience brings the fate of Petaybee into sharp relief and focuses on the symbiotic relationships of its characters. The collaborative effort by veterans McCaffrey (the Pern series) and Scarborough (The Healer's War) brings together two consummate storytellers in an adventure suitable for both YA and adult audiences.

In a city based around death, murder still stands out as a crime—particularly when the murderer is targeting celebrities. Police Lieutenant Donal Riordan's task is to prevent any more murders in the vast necropolis known as Tristopolis. Together with a "para-live" female agent who holds a forbidden attraction for him, they search through a world filled with zombies, spirit slaves, and other strange beings, some living, some not quite alive. Dark, humorous, and in places, poignant, Meaney's (Sharp Tang; To Hold Infinity) series opener blends gothic urban fantasy with sf and horror to create a uniquely atmospheric detective thriller that belongs in most libraries.

The event known as the Singularity has left an artificial ring around Earth and destroyed or transformed into energy 90 percent of the human population. Resilient and inventive, the survivors have rebuilt their civilization and achieved space travel. Chosen as the future commander of the starship Consensus, Apollo Papadopulos is more than human. As an amalgam of five teenagers who have formed an entity known as a "pod," each personality has its own strengths and weaknesses. In order to achieve the goal set for them, they first have to survive their unique form of existence. Melko's first novel, set in an undetermined future, serves as a fivefold coming-of-age tale as well as an imaginative sf adventure. Chosen as a Sci-Fi ESSENTIAL book, this story of survival and becoming belongs in most sf collections and appeals to YA as well as adult readers. [Melko's novella, "The Walls of the Universe," was a 2007 Hugo and Nebula Award nominee.—Ed.]

Since the death of most of her family at the hands of political assassins, Kylara Vatta has sought vengeance against the mastermind behind the plot to destroy the Vatta family and its interstellar holdings. Now the young military-trained space merchant-turned-privateer commands her own fleet of spaceships and has identified her enemy—the notorious pirate and would-be galactic ruler Gammis Turek. Despite the threat to free worlds posed by Turek, there are powers who still mistrust the Vatta name and waiver about joining forces with Ky Vatta. The fifth and concluding volume to the author's popular "Vatta's War" series (Trading in Danger; Marque and Reprisal; Engaging the Enemy; Command Decision) takes place on many fronts—military, political, social, and personal—and Moon handles everything from full-scale space battles to intimate social and political interactions with the skill of a master storyteller. Strong characterizations, subtle humor, and a feel for military sf make this dynastic space opera a strong addition for all sf collections.

The 2000 publication of China Miéville's Perdido Street Station codified a new vision of both fantasy and sf, a startling blend of visceral imagery and fresh evocative prose that marked the evolution of imaginative fiction into a form that drew from fantasy, sf, and horror to create something indefinably new. This collection of 16 stories and essays, including a round-robin ("Festival Lives") in seven parts plus a conclusion available on the publisher's web site, presents a select sample of previously published and new examples of the "new weird." From Miéville's expansion on his world of New Crobuzon focusing on the deliberately mutilated creatures called the Remade ("Jack") to Clive Barker's horrifically stunning portrayal of two cities in literal battle ("In the Cities, the Hills") the tales live up to their assigned category. Other contributing authors include Michael Moorcock, Sarah Monette, K.J. Bishop, and M. John Harrison. Highly recommended for all libraries interested in the latest in sf and fantasy as well as modern horror.

Fans of the sf alter ego of literary fiction writer Banks will welcome his new Culture novel. The Culture, a highly evolved humanoid and machine civilization that spans the universe, is described from the point of view of a princess, Djan, given to the Culture by her warlord father. Now a highly trained Culture special circumstances agent, Djan returns to her home world on Sursamen, a fabricated sphere of 12 concentric worlds, created billions of years ago by a long vanished species, to act in a complex web of intra- and interspecies intrigue. Writing with a flowing and optimistic style and with much humor, the author portrays a fully imagined utopian future made possible by technology and a benignant world view, which contrasts with the many worlds depicted still struggling with war, famine, and disease. An appendix with lists of characters, species, and vocabulary terms is a great aid to the reader. Recommended for all libraries with contemporary literature collections.—Sara Rutter, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa Lib., Honolulu