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On the face of it, Bloody Rose (2018) is a lot like Kings of the Wyld, the first novel in Nicholas Eames‘ THE BAND series: it’s still following the original’s fun premise (i.e. “questing bands are basically just rock bands, complete with touring and groupies”), and it boasts much of the same humor, heart, and hard-rock-cafe sensibility. It also carries on the tradition of being, you know, awfully good. But there are some notable changes lurking under the surface.
October 8th, 2018. Tim Scheidler and Greg Hersom´s rating: 4.5 | Nicholas Eames | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
History, legacy, identity, family, and community are all at stake against the backdrop of the modern world coming quietly to an end in Waubgeshig Rice’s slim, but powerful, novel Moon of the Crusted Snow (2018). Survival isn’t just an issue of preparation here — in order for any one person to thrive, the community must be strong; in order for the community to survive, each person must contribute unselfishly. Human nature being what it is, unfortunately, that’s often easier said than done.
October 3rd, 2018. Jana Nyman´s rating: 4.5 | Waubgeshig Rice | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
Alabaster (Volumes I and II) by Osamu Tezuka
Alabaster (Volumes I and II), written by Osamu Tezuka in 1970 and published in 2015 by Digital Manga, Inc., is a dark but compelling story that touches on the evils of which humankind are capable and the resentment and desire for revenge that results in those who are mistreated. Alabaster’s story allows Tezuka to critique bigotry, specifically focusing on racism in the United States. James Block, a young African-American gold-medal winning Olympic athlete, turned into Alabaster because of his experience with the woman he loved as a young man.
September 29th, 2018. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Euphrates Tree by Osamu Tezuka
The Euphrates Tree is written and drawn by the great Osamu Tezuka, who is known as the “God of Comics.” Tezuka warns us in the postscript not to take this story too seriously; however, I am afraid I will have to go against his advice, because I believe this volume of manga deals with serious topics of great importance. It is about three high school students who visit Jova Island and discover the mysterious Euphrates tree. The tree bears fruit that, if eaten,
September 28th, 2018. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
Summers at Castle Auburn (2001) was my first exposure to Sharon Shinn‘s fantasies, and it was pretty much insta-love for me (I like to think that Shinn returns my affections in a distant and anonymous fan-appreciation kind of way). It instantly set me off on a search for more of her books.
Corie is the teenaged illegitimate daughter of a nobleman who died before the story begins, but the royal family is still keeping close tabs on her.
September 27th, 2018. Tadiana Jones and Kat Hooper´s rating: 4.5 | Sharon Shinn | Audio, Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Toward the end of Pat Barker’s newest novel, her main character Briseis thinks to herself:
“Yes, the death of young men in battle is a tragedy … worthy of any number of laments — but theirs is not the worst fate. I looked at Andromache, who’d have to live the rest of her amputated life as a slave, and I thought: We need a new song.”
The eloquently powerful The Silence of the Girls (2018) is Barker’s attempt to create just that,
September 25th, 2018. Bill Capossere and Ray McKenzie´s rating: 4.5 | Pat Barker | Edge, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
In Dust 8 by Osamu Tezuka, a plane wrecks on a strange island inhabited by peculiar beings. As the plane wrecks, it runs into part of a magical mountain, and bits of rock, or “dust,” land on ten people, bringing them back to life. Eight of these ten people leave the island and are rescued when they are found at sea. The other two stay on the island, and like the other eight, are alive only because they each have one piece of rock on them,
September 22nd, 2018. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Melody of Iron and Other Short Stories by Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka’s Melody of Iron and Other Short Stories is a wonderful work by the “God of Manga.” It is has been translated beautifully by Adam Seacord and is published by Digital Manga, Inc., a publisher that is doing an excellent job of putting out in translation many of Tezuka’s works that are completely unknown in the United States. This work is one of Tezuka’s mature collections from late in his career. The original collection is from 1974 (Tezuka died in 1989),
September 22nd, 2018. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4.5 | Comics | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Fated Sky (2018) continues Mary Robinette Kowal’s LADY ASTRONAUT series, covering the ground from the first peopled space flight ever to a peopled mission to Mars. Kowal has created an intriguing and exciting alternate history and there is nothing to stop her from writing more stories and books in it (more will be coming), but The Fated Sky completes Dr. Elma York’s pursuit of her dream.
September 20th, 2018. Marion Deeds and Jana Nyman´s rating: 4.5 | Mary Robinette Kowal | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
The Black Druid by Frank Belknap Long
In my recent review of Frank Belknap Long’s short-story collection The Hounds of Tindalos, I mentioned that when this hardcover volume was initially released by Arkham House in 1946, it contained 21 tales, encompassing the genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror. I also mentioned that most later reprintings of this now classic collection contained only half of those 21 stories, including the 1975 edition that I recently wrote about; the one from the British publishing firm Panther.
September 20th, 2018. Sandy Ferber´s rating: 4.5 | Frank Belknap Long | Short Fiction | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
Do it! One of the best things I've read in recent years.
This reminds me. I want to read Addie LaRue.
We’re in total agreement David!
I felt just the same. The prose and character work was excellent. The larger story was unsatisfying, especially compared to…
Hmmm. I think I'll pass.