SF/Fantasy

Caught up by a "narrative hook" and transported to the magical land of Xanth, Jumper the giant spider must, with the aid of a company of young women, reconnect the broken cable that forms a magical connection between Xanth and the mortal world of Mundania to return home. The 33rd installment in master raconteur Anthony's popular series is a tale of friendship, duty, honor, love, and betrayal, liberally spiced with his characteristic wordplay. VERDICT Although the series is aging, with the introduction of more adult themes and risqué situations, as Anthony and his fans are growing older, this book remains suitable for most readers; an essential addition to any library's fantasy collection.

Thirty years after technology ceased to work and magic returned to Earth, Fred and his friend Yan discover how to reverse "The Change" and set off a chain of events that includes a pursuit up the broken interior of California to stop a madman from destroying the world. The long-awaited sequel to the 1983 cult classic Ariel captures the reader's attention from its first sentence (much like its predecessor), building in both intensity and intrigue until its unexpected but entirely appropriate conclusion. VERDICT Laced with humor in odd places, this postapocalyptic fantasy ranks with classics such as Walter M. Miller Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz as an example of first-rate storytelling that serves up both a cautionary tale for the 21st century and an author's masterwork. Highly recommended.

Joseph and his extended family have escaped the colony planet Fremont where their powers as genetically altered humans have made them essential and mistrusted. Wanted by Fremont authorities, they seek safety on the peaceful planet Lopali, where genetically altered humans can fly but have lost their ability to reproduce naturally. First introduced in The Silver Ship and the Sea, a book marketed for the YA audience, these compelling characters have matured and face adult situations like trying to raise children in an atmosphere fraught with suspicion and danger. VERDICT A fascinating culture of winged humans with exotic customs and strange alliances adds extra depth to a novel that is suitable for mature YAs as well as adult readers.

Ten years after he saved his friend Laura from a vampire sorority, Ted still has nightmares, while Laura seems to have moved on. When Ted uncovers a cult of mad followers of H.P. Lovecraft's Old Gods and goes to Laura for help, their friendship reaches the breaking point—until strange events convince Laura that Ted might be onto something world threatening. Cooper's debut is both homage to the Cthulhu mythos and a darkly comedic spoof of the modern horror story. He excels at injecting just the right amount of mayhem into this tale about two unlikely heroes. VERDICT A good choice for most horror collections, this fast-paced novel should appeal to fans of Lovecraft who don't take themselves too seriously.

As the Saramand raiders harass the coast of the Green Lands, the Icelord seeks to assert his rule over all the lands, killing the Summerborn and preventing the return of the Summerlord to his rightful place. Only a few chosen individuals, including a druidic apprentice, a one-eyed youth, and a girl with the power of the Summerborn, hold the hopes of the world in their hands. Written in 1980 but never before published, this traditional fantasy in the style of The Harp of the Grey Rose and The Riddle of the Wren bears de Lint's characteristically lyrical prose and hypnotic storytelling. VERDICT Filled with Celtic lore and wonderfully drawn characters, this stand-alone epic should please the author's many fans and lovers of medieval fantasy.

Astrid's wastrel father knew the secret of the indigo-blue waters that run beneath the town of Indigo Springs. When Astrid and her friend Sahara learn to use the magic waters for themselves, they begin an experiment in wild magic that escalates into an ecological crisis and drives an irreparable wedge between them. Dellamonica's first novel displays an original, imaginative talent driven by a style that reflects both passion and lyricism. VERDICT First in a two-novel series, this ecofantasy delivers a powerful story of good intentions gone terribly wrong and introduces a promising new voice that brings a fresh vision to the genre. Recommended.

Ten years after the plague that transformed the survivors of Switchcreek, TN, into argos, grey-skinned giants with immense strength, and betas, parthenogenic bald women with brick-red skin, Pax Martin, one of the few unaffected, returns home for the funeral of an old friend, a beta who supposedly hanged herself. Pax's investigations into her possible murder reopen old wounds and reveal dangerous information. Gregory (Pandemonium) creates a disturbing yet fascinating vision of a new evolution of humanity along two distinct lines, raising questions as to what constitutes being human. VERDICT As involving as any mystery, this tale calls to mind both the groundbreaking work of Philip K. Dick and the universal appeal of Ray Bradbury. [Library marketing.]

Using the Welsh legend that suggests Arthur of Britain had three wives, all named Guinevere (or Gwenhwyfar), Lackey pieces together a complex, multitextured story of the rise and fall of King Arthur through the life of the young warrior maiden who became the third Gwenhwyfar. Inspired by her close friend and mentor, Marion Zimmer Bradley, whose seminal Mists of Avalon turned Arthurian legend on its head, the author of the popular "Valdemar" series displays her talent for creating a new and surprising story from familiar material. VERDICT Portraying the complexities of a religious civilization that treads cautiously between the path of the White Christ and the Goddess-based old religion, this retelling of the Arthurian legend should attract widespread fans.

Lord Mayor Imago of Lockwood rules a transformed city. The sandwalker Kalliope and Bijaz the Dwarf, whose powers have grown godlike, sense a change in the city with the arrival of a strange woman named Ashkoliiz, her guard of Northmen, and a dancing ice bear. As rumors of a discovered tomb lure the greedy and ambitious, the expatriate dwarfs of Port Defiance battle raiding corsairs. Lake's sequel to Trial of Flowers continues the tale of a decadent and exotic city where madness and politics go hand in hand. VERDICT Award winner Lake (Mainspring; Escapement) combines steampunk eccentricities with magical realism in the style of China Miéville's Perdido Station and Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter.

Physicist Michael Shelborne's disappearance leads his son Shel and a linguist to discover his portable time machine and set off in search of him, interacting with times and places they had heretofore only dreamed of until Shel makes a cardinal mistake, forever changing his life. In a departure from his space-travel-oriented sf adventures such as his Priscilla Hutchins and his Alex Benedict novels, McDevitt touches upon a beloved sf theme. His approach, however, plays fast and loose with the paradoxes inherent in temporal interventions, while at the same time demonstrating the consequences of such recklessness. VERDICT This entertaining blend of sf classic and missing-persons drama is a good choice for most fans of hard sf or those fascinated by time travel.

Soon after foiling a plot against the city of L'Excelsis, young imager Rhenn receives his assignment as imager liaison to the city's Civic Patrol. Given the worst part of the city for his beat, Rhenn must follow the strict rules of his Collegium while protecting himself from one of the city's High Holders. Modesitt excels in creating meticulously detailed worlds populated with complex, believable characters. As in his popular "Recluce" novels, magic in Modesitt's newest series, which began with Imager, is never taken lightly and has as many restrictions as it has advantages. VERDICT One of the genre's most accomplished detailers of the social and political complexities of wielding power, Modesitt enjoys a following that appreciates his verisimilitude, versatility, and storytelling talent.

Rogue starship commander Wilson Cole believes the galactic Republic has degenerated into a tyrannical organization and, with his loyal crew, is determined to overthrow it—a seemingly impossible task. One of the most prolific writers of action-based yet principal-driven sf, Resnick has created another people's hero, a gritty, determined individual who commands respect that has been honestly earned and who symbolizes a kind of rugged, conscience-based independence. VERDICT A master of the tall tale (the "Chronicles of Lucifer Jones") and the sociological allegory (Kirinyaga), Resnick understands the multiplicities of human nature. His many fans will want this addition to his ever-growing opus.

In this sequel to Yellow Eyes, Ringo ("Legacy of the Aldenata" series) and Kratman (A State of Disobedience) recall the classic voyage of Odysseus after the fall of Troy. In the wake of their failed invasion of Earth, the alien Posleen are placed aboard a ship and sent into space followed by human members of various religions hoping to convert them. VERDICT Ringo's military sf is unparalleled, while his more thoughtful moments provide insights often missing from action-based sf. Fans of the series and the authors will enjoy this somber chronicle of victors and vanquished.

When deep-space diver Boss discovers a rare Earth-made spacecraft from an era before faster-than-light travel, she determines, with a handpicked crew, to explore the vehicle and solve the mystery it presents but soon begins to wonder whether finding answers will exact too high a price. VERDICT Veteran sf/fantasy author and former editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Rusch ("Retrieval Artist" series) possesses a quiet, elegant prose style, even when telling a story that relies on hard science and powerful action. The voice of her narrator is thoughtful and compelling, bringing a level of personal accountability to a story that is more than space adventure, seeking out the secrets not only of space but of the soul.

It begins simply. A grieving father chases the killer of his daughter across the Dust Bowl, finding allies and enemies along the way. Soon, though, it seems that the killer is more than human, and as the story gains momentum, it passes through layers of supernatural and psychological horror and enters the realm of myth. The ending is predictable, but the protagonist has no idea, and there's a savage joy in watching him rush headlong to his fate. VERDICT Readers who liked Neil Gaiman's American Gods will find similar themes here, while the setting and bleak inevitability invoke a more readable Cormac McCarthy. Compelling and truly horrifying, this debut novel is highly recommended for all fiction and horror collections.—Karl G. Siewert, Tulsa City-Cty. Lib.

After winning acclaim and awards for his YA novel Little Brother, Locus Award winner Doctorow (Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom) returns to adult sf. His latest involves a corporate executive who funds high-tech microprojects—they cost thousands of dollars instead of millions—a pair of inventors who can make anything out of anything, and a blogger who chronicles their careers. Doctorow isn't Pollyannesque about the effects of rapid technological change: change of such scope and force is often devastating—boom followed by bust, then boom again, then bust. The ending of this well-written, well-conceived novel is bittersweet. VERDICT In speculative fiction, too often the ideas outrun the writing, but not here. Doctorow's novel features a good, modest story, appealing characters, and extremely interesting ideas that will appeal to his fans and sf aficionados as well as readers interested in cogitating on the social consequences of cybertechnology's near-exponential growth. Enthusiastically recommended.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA