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Mortality Bridge by Steven R. Boyett
Depressing. Disgusting. Brilliant.
When trying to think of words to describe Mortality Bridge, I keep coming back to variations on those three. Steven R. Boyett has written an unforgettable tale of one man’s journey to Hell, and I wish I liked it better than I did. Ordinarily I enjoy descents to the underworld, but we all have our limits, and with Mortality Bridge I think I’ve found some of mine.
August 24th, 2011. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Steven R. Boyett | Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Man of Gold by M.A.R. Barker
The Man of Gold is a lush, richly written fantasy novel. M.A.R. Barker’s work is both strongly developed and highly detailed, at levels that few other authors ever attain. Barker spent decades building the living, breathing world of Tékumel. In the 1970s, Barker developed this world into a role-playing setting; later, in the 1980s, he wrote a series of novels set there. The Man of Gold, published in 1984,
August 23rd, 2011. John Hulet´s rating: 4 | M.A.R. Barker | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Water to Burn by Katharine Kerr
Katharine Kerr’s License to Ensorcell was an uneven but unique entry into the urban fantasy subgenre. It began as an interesting paranormal whodunit with some annoying acronyms, then took a sharp turn and became a story of alternate universes (also known here as deviant world levels). The addition of the alternate-universe material made License to Ensorcell more original than many of its peers and introduced a poignant subplot involving the heroine’s teenage brother, but also made the mystery make less sense.
August 22nd, 2011. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Katharine Kerr | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford
Here is a fantasy novel that stands up through nearly three decades and still delivers. John M. Ford’s The Dragon Waiting won the World Fantasy Award in 1984, and 27 years later it still offers readers an intricate and compelling story with complex, believable characters.
Ford sets his alternate universe fantasy in what would have been our fifteenth-century Europe. Since Christianity never emerged as a world religion and the Byzantine Empire rules most of Europe and Asia,
August 22nd, 2011. Marion Deeds´s rating: 4 | John M. Ford | Stand-Alone, World Fantasy Award | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
[In our Edge of the Universe column, we review mainstream authors that incorporate elements of speculative fiction into their “literary” work. However you want to label them, we hope you’ll enjoy discussing these books with us.]
In Sphere, the follow up to Congo, Michael Crichton asks the question: how do you top a techno-thriller that pits a team of parachuting scientists against extremely intelligent apes that protect a remote area of jungle in Congo?
August 19th, 2011. Ryan Skardal and Jason Golomb´s rating: 4 | Michael Crichton | Edge, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Alone among her relatives, Tamsin Greene grew up believing the family’s Talents had skipped her over, and learned to get by without magic. But in Once a Witch, Tamsin learned that she was far from powerless. Rather, she was one of the strongest of the Greene witches. Always a Witch concludes her story.
Tamsin is still getting used to having magic, and her sister Rowena is annoying her with her bridezilla antics. These concerns take a backseat when the family learns that the sinister Alistair Knight has altered the past and restored his ancestors to power.
August 19th, 2011. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Carolyn MacCullough | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Third Section by Jasper Kent
PLOT SUMMARY: Russia, 1855. After forty years of peace in Europe, war rages. In the Crimea, the city of Sevastopol is besieged. In the north, Saint Petersburg is blockaded. But in Moscow there is one who needs only to sit and wait — wait for the death of an aging tsar, and for the curse upon his blood to be passed to a new generation.
As their country grows weaker, a man and a woman — unaware of the hidden ties that bind them — must come to terms with their shared legacy.
August 18th, 2011. Robert Thompson´s rating: 4 | Jasper Kent | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Margrave by Catherine Fisher
The Margrave is the fourth and final book of Catherine Fisher’s Relic Master. The series as a whole is a bit thin on worldbuilding, emotional depth, and secondary characterization, but save for a minor drop-off in book two, it is a smoothly exciting read and The Margrave brings it to a satisfyingly strong conclusion.
As in the previous books, the story is split between Raffi’s experiences and Carys’. It begins with a bang as Carys is captured by the Watch at the very beginning.
August 16th, 2011. Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Catherine Fisher | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Island in the Sea of Time by S.M. Stirling
After a strange electrical storm, the residents of Nantucket discover that their entire island and its surrounding waters have been sent back to 1300 B.C. Now this society, which is mostly based on a tourist economy, must figure out how to establish a new identity in prehistory. This includes clearing and farming land, building ships, finding new sources of fuel, salt, and other necessities, and most difficult of all, developing a constitution and befriending native trading partners.
Fortunately, Nantucket has some citizens with valuable knowledge and skills who find themselves naturally rising to leadership positions: a brave and competent Baptist police chief,
August 14th, 2011. Kat Hooper´s rating: 4 | S.M. Stirling | Audio | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
The Hidden Coronet by Catherine Fisher
The Hidden Coronet is the third book of Catherine Fisher’s Relic Master series, following The Dark City and The Lost Heiress. While book one was quite strong, the sequel was solid but a bit disappointing, hurt by somewhat weak plotting and worldbuilding. The Hidden Coronet is much stronger and a welcome return to the quality of The Dark City.
It begins with several tense scenes — one involving Galen and Raffi trying to rid a house of an evil presence and the other concerning the attempted rescue of several prisoners,
August 13th, 2011. Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Catherine Fisher | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no 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.