Previous SFF Author: Jay Posey
The Cometeers by Jack Williamson
The sequel to The Legion of Space (one of the most popular serialized sci-fi novels of the 1930s), The Cometeers, to author Jack Williamson’s credit, is not only a better-written book, but does what all good sequels should: enlarge on the themes of the earlier piece and deepen the characterizations. First appearing in the May-August 1936 issues of Astounding Stories magazine (two years after The Legion of Space made its first appearance therein,
May 27th, 2014. Sandy Ferber´s rating: 4 | Jack Williamson | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Daryl Gregory’s pharma-tech novel Afterparty is good entertainment with many wonderful moments. At times it is wildly inventive — filled with images like an apartment full of tiny genetically-engineered bison roaming the “range” of wall to wall grass, or an angel named Dr. Gloria who wears a business suit, white coat, glasses, carries a clipboard and has wings.
Kat and I read this book about the same time. We both gave it four stars but we may have liked different things,
May 26th, 2014. Marion Deeds and Kat Hooper´s rating: 4 | Daryl Gregory | Audio, Stand-Alone | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |
Batman/Superman (Vol. 1): Cross World (New 52) by Greg Pak
Greg Pak’s Batman/Superman: Cross World is one of the better books in the DC New 52: This first collection of monthly issues tells the story of a young Batman and Superman meeting an older Batman and Superman from an alternate reality. Best of all for fans of Jack Kirby is that the storyline features Darkseid, the late Kirby’s great villain (who also inspired Jim Starlin’s Thanos, the evil Marvel character who will soon start making appearances in the Marvel films).
May 23rd, 2014. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4 | Comics | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Serpent’s Shadow by Mercedes Lackey
The Serpent’s Shadow is the second of Mercedes Lackey’s ELEMENTAL MASTERS novels. These are stand-alone fairytale retellings and this particular one is based on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” The story takes place in London in 1909 and it’s so different from that familiar tale, though, that you may not have recognized its influence if I hadn’t told you, even though the classic elements are here (seven companions, an apple, a magic mirror, poison that puts the heroine to sleep,
May 23rd, 2014. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Mercedes Lackey | Audio | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Blade Reforged by Kelly McCullough
Kelly McCullough’s FALLEN BLADE series has been a lot of fun to read. For fans of cloak and dagger fantasy, it’s been a welcome, easy to read morsel. You really don’t need to pay close attention because the story is about humor, a little danger, long lost romance and loyalty to ideals that have been lost. It’s not complex, but it’s good.
Blade Reforged follows Aral Kingslayer through his final transformation back from dissolute, amoral thug-for-hire to someone who at least resembles the rising star of the Order of Namara before her death at the hands of the Son of Heaven.
May 23rd, 2014. John Hulet´s rating: 3.5 | Kelly McCullough | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Aquaman (Vol. 4): Death of a King (The New 52) by Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns, perhaps best known for his incredible nine-year run on Green Lantern, has written another winner with Aquaman: Death of a King. The company-wide reboot of all DC titles is known as the New 52, and it’s had a lukewarm reception, to put it mildly. Post-reboot, only a handful of titles have been considered exceptional, including two by Geoff Johns: His start to Aquaman and his conclusion to Green Lantern (which ended in volume three of the Green Lantern New 52 trade collections).
May 22nd, 2014. Brad Hawley´s rating: 4 | Geoff Johns | Comics | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien (author) & Christopher Tolkien (editor)
The last few years has seen the release by the Tolkien Estate of several hybrid books that combined original retellings/translations of ancient hero legends (Sigurd, Arthur) with further commentary by J.R.R. Tolkien (on the source material) and Christopher Tolkien (on his father’s work). The latest in this series is Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf, which has perhaps incurred greater interest since outside of his fiction, Tolkien is perhaps best known for his famed essay, “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.” As with the prior two,
May 22nd, 2014. Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | J.R.R. Tolkien | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Awards
The Nebula Award winners have been announced. Ann Leckie is cutting quite a swath with her first novel, Ancillary Justice, which has now won the Nebula, the British Science Fiction Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award. It’s also up for a Hugo.
The winners of the Spectrum Awards have been announced.
The finalists for the Ditmar Awards have been announced. The Ditmar Awards are given by the Australian National Science Fiction Convention for professional and fan works by Australians.
May 21st, 2014. Terry Weyna | World Wide Wednesday | 4 comments |
Magic’s Price by Mercedes Lackey
In Magic’s Price, the third book in Mercedes Lackey’s THE LAST HERALD MAGE trilogy, we discover how this trilogy got its name. It’s been nine years since the previous story ended and the Herald-Mages are being knocked off one by one. Valdemar is in great danger. Vanyel is “the last Herald-Mage” and there’s a target on his back. If he dies, how will Valdemar survive a magical attack by enemies? Can Vanyel and Yfandes, his Companion horse, find and stop Master Dark,
May 21st, 2014. Kat Hooper´s rating: 2.5 | Mercedes Lackey | Audio | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Wizards: From Merlin to Faust by David and Lesley McIntee
I’ve been a huge fan of just about all the MYTHS AND LEGENDS series from Osprey Publishing, having given four stars to Troy, Robin Hood, and Thor; and 4.5 to King Arthur, with only Jason and the Argonauts standing out as a weak entry in the roll.
May 20th, 2014. Bill Capossere´s rating: 3 | Myths-&-Legends | Children | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Previous SFF Author: Jay Posey
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.