Nights of Sin by Matthew Cook

First, a confession: I haven't actually read Blood Magic, the novel that precedes Nights of Sin. However, kudos to Matthew Cook for never letting me get lost. Everything I needed to know was provided to me, and in a way that flowed naturally with the story rather than feeling infodumpy.

Nights of Sin begins with a harrowing description of Kirin, the heroine, attempting to shepherd her lover, Lia, safely through a dangerous blizzard. Kirin is a necromancer who has vowed to renounce her powers, and this is the first of many crises that will test her resolve.

Upon reaching the Imperial City, Kirin and Lia face new problems. The city is under siege by the terrifying Mor, a race of six-limbed, telepathic creatures of superhuman size and strength. Kirin joins the troops charged with defending t... Read More

Interzone is a British science fiction and fantasy magazine that’s been around since 1982. It’s expensive as SF magazines go for American readers, but Interzone’s great fiction and detailed movie, television and book reviews are worth the expense. After a period of relative penury has eased somewhat, I’ve subscribed again, and I’m greatly enjoying some very good fiction.

One of the strongest stories in the most recent issue (#239) is “Tangerine Nectarine Clementine Apocalypse” by Suzanne Palmer, a hard science fiction story that starts out sounding like a fantasy. It takes some time before the reader places the fruit stand at which most of the events of the story take place on a generation ship instead of a far distant planet. The ship is called Utopia, and no payment is exchanged for goods. The boy, Echa, believes i... Read More