Month: May 2014

Magic’s Pawn: Fluffy epic fantasy with a twist

Magic’s Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

Vanyel Ashkevron is miserable at home. His father, one of the lords of Valdemar, wants him to be a warrior like the other boys in the family, but Vanyel, who’s more interested in clothes and music, wants to be a bard. After getting beat up by the armsmaster, Vanyel is sent to be fostered by his Aunt Savil who trains Valdemar’s Herald-Mages. At first he is terrified, but soon he realizes that he is finally free to discover the truths about himself. He experiences love and tragedy and,

Earthlight: Imaginative descriptions of life on the moon

Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke is one of the most influential writers of science fiction. His quiet optimism, faith in science, and ability to tell straightforward but intriguing tales endeared him to a generation of fans that continues to this day. Earthlight, his sixth published novel, follows directly on the heels of his successful Childhood’s End, and though rather simplistic in presentation, adheres to the author’s style in perfect fashion.

Earthlight is the story of Bertram Sadler,

May 19th, 2014. Jesse Hudson and Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Arthur C. Clarke | SFF Reviews | no comments |

The Legion of Space: A true page-turner in the best pulp style

The Legion of Space by Jack Williamson

The Legion of Space, the opening salvo of a tetralogy that Jack Williamson wrote over a nearly 50-year period, was initially released as a six-part serial in the April-September 1934 issues of Astounding Stories. (This was some years before the publication changed its name to Astounding Science-Fiction, in March 1938, and, with the guidance of newly ensconced editor John W. Campbell, Jr, became the most influential magazine in sci-fi history.) It was ultimately given the hardcover novel treatment in 1947.

May 17th, 2014. Sandy Ferber´s rating: 4 | Jack Williamson | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |

Green Lantern: Dark Days by Robert Venditti

Green Lantern Vol. 4: Dark Days (The New 52) by Robert Venditti

Venditti has one of the most difficult jobs a writer can get in writing monthly comics: Taking over a title that has just finished a long successful run by another author. Green Lantern was written by Geoff Johns from 2004-2013. And, though I’ve never been a huge Green Lantern fan, I read that series because Johns is a great writer. Because of Johns, I know enough about Green Lantern’s character to be interested in what he’s up to now,

May 16th, 2014. Brad Hawley´s rating: 3 | Comics | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign by Takaya Kagami

Seraph of the End (Vol 1): Vampire Reign by Takaya Kagami

Seraph of the End is an exciting shonen manga with some creepy post-apocalyptic elements combined with the vampire genre. This is the third vampire book I’ve reviewed in the past few weeks, and I’ve never been drawn to vampire stories to begin with. I do enjoy many vampire stories — from Dracula to a few by Rice, and I love Buffy — but I don’t actively seek them out.

May 16th, 2014. Brad Hawley´s rating: 3.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | no comments |

Skraelings: Clashes in the Old Arctic: Has a winning charm

Skraelings: Clashes in the Old Arctic by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley

Skraelings: Clashes in the Old Arctic, by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, is a Middle Grade book that despite some problems has a winning charm to it.

Set in, well, the old Arctic, at a time when the Inuit were just entering a land, the story is both a coming-of-age tale and a clash of cultures narrative. The coming-of-age belongs to a young Inuit hunter named Kannujaq. The culture clash involves the new-to-this-land Inuit,

Thoughtful Thursday [GIVEAWAY]: You choose the winners!

It’s award season in Science Fiction and Fantasy Land, with the 49th annual Nebula Awards Weekend starting TODAY (Terry and I will be attending), and the Hugos coming up in August. The Hugo slate wins the Everyone’s-in-a-Froth award for the nomination of the entire WHEEL OF TIME series in the best novel category, a nomination which is allowed by the World Science Fiction Society, but leaves people saying, “Wha—hunh?”

We’ve got all the short-listed novels reviewed (links below), but we want to know what you think. Have you read them? Which books do you think will win?

May 15th, 2014. Marion Deeds | Giveaway!, Thoughtful Thursday | 17 comments |

Talus and the Frozen King: The world’s first detective

Talus and the Frozen King by Graham Edwards

If Jean Auel and Arthur Conan Doyle had collaborated, the result might have been Talus, the bard detective at the center of Graham Edwards’ novel, Talus and the Frozen King. Set in northern Europe during the Neolithic period, Talus and his companion Watson, umm, I mean Bran, stumble across an island village mourning the sudden death of their king. It takes only a few pages for Talus to throw everything into chaos with his Quincy-like revelation (yes,

May 15th, 2014. Bill Capossere´s rating: 3 | Graham Edwards | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |

WWWednesday: May 14, 2014

The biggest news to hit the Internet in the last few weeks has been the addition of two wonderful new members to the happy family here at Fantasy Literature. Sandy Ferber is a name that readers who frequently visit the site will recognize, as Sandy has been a guest reviewer for a long time now; we’re delighted to have him as a full-timer. And Kate Lechler is someone we simply picked off the blogosphere because we liked her word-wielding. Please join us in welcoming them both!

And after that,

May 14th, 2014. Terry Weyna | World Wide Wednesday | 6 comments |

The Fire Rose: A Beauty and the Beast retelling

The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Lackey’s ELEMENTAL MASTERS is a series of ten (so far) novels that take place on an alternate Earth where some people are born with the ability to learn to control fire, water, air, or earth. Each book is also a fairytale retelling, though you may not notice that if you’re not looking for it in the story.

The first ELEMENTAL MASTERS novel, The Fire Rose, is based on “Beauty and the Beast” and is set in 1905-1906 San Francisco.

Next SFF Author: Ben Aaronovitch

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