The Power by Frank M. Robinson
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
Bill Tanner is a professor of anthropology at an unnamed university
in Chicago. He's part of a team working on Navy-financed studies
in human endurance, focused on answering the question of what
qualities make some people so much stronger, smarter, more
efficient, and more likely to survive than others. Colleague John
Olson, however, thinks the studies have a secret agenda --
there's a superman among them, in hiding, just waiting for the
right opportunity to take over the world.
Waiting by Frank M. Robinson
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
This is a near-future thriller based on all too plausible speculations in
anthropology and evolution. It begins when a man is murdered as he prepares
to publish an article about an autopsy performed on a body that didn't seem to
be human...
The Dark Beyond the Stars by Frank M. Robinson
reviewed by Leon Olszewski
Imagine that you wake up in hospital bed. All you can remember is the last mission. You don't
know who you are, or what happened before that last planetary landing. You don't
remember the people around you, either their names or what they mean to you. How's that for an opening?
Nebula Awards Showcase 2002 edited by Kim Stanley Robinson
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
Over the last few years, competition among the various best of the year anthologies has grown particularly
fierce. There's only so much space on bookstore shelves, and after Gardner Dozois' yearly anthology takes up its
portion, room is at a premium. This annual anthology guarantees its own place on the shelves not only through
its connection to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, but also by providing a true alternative to the
other year's best collections.
Future Primitive: The New Ecotopias edited by Kim Stanley Robinson
reviewed by Thomas Myer
We sometimes forget how tough and redoubtable the planet Earth
is, and how totally uncaring. Tom takes a look at an intriguing
anthology that helps remind us.
Harvest of Changelings by Warren Rochelle
reviewed by Kilian Melloy
Set in North Carolina in 1992, this novel features everything that makes fantasy a potentially great genre: epic struggles between good and evil; a
blend of realism and magic; an enchanted view of the various fantastical species that dwell in realms other than our own, and
sometimes trespass here softly or in malicious, murderous force.
It starts with widower Ben Tyson meeting an enchanting woman of great beauty and charm named Valeria who
proposes marriage. Marriage and parenthood bring with them a certain transparency, which means that Ben becomes privy to Valeria's secret:
she is a leading figure among the Faerie.
The Wild Boy by Warren Rochelle
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
In some ways, this book is a throwback to such mid-20th century alien invasion novels as
George O. Smith's Pattern for Conquest and Eric Frank Russell's Sinister Barrier,
except, that in this case the humans don't save themselves in extremis, they become pets. The Lindauzi, a race
of long-lived, highly advanced genetically-enhanced ursine-like aliens require a primate species as emotional symbionts,
lest they revert to their former savage state. However, their former emotional symbionts have perished in a great
plague -- and humans are the closest viable substitute.
The Q Chronicles by Gene Roddenberry et al.
reviewed by Jonathan Fesmire
You know what they say about the corruptive nature of absolute power, but did
you realize that it could also make someone absolutely bored, selfish, or
lonely? It made Q all these things.
The Stars Compel by Michaela Roessner
reviewed by Donna McMahon
The Duchessina Catherine de Medici, age 11, has just moved to Rome from
Florence and is scheming to foil Pope Clement's plans to marry her off to the King of France. Despite political pressures,
she is hoping to wed her handsome cousin, Ippolito. Inevitably, her personal chef, Tommaso Arista, is pulled into her
intrigues as he cooks and spies for the Medici family, and studies with famous artists Cellini and Michelangelo so he
can learn to create masterpieces of culinary presentation.
The Stars Compel by Michaela Roessner
reviewed by Kristen Chew
The sequel to The Stars Dispose is likewise set in the well-mined
battlefield that was 16th-century Italy. Caterina is the sole legitimate
heir to the once great Medici line, and powers both in this world and in
others are warring over possible futures for her. Pope Clement, wanting to
keep a closer eye on his great niece, moves Caterina to Rome. Tommaso the
chef joins her and becomes her eyes and ears outside of the palace,
following the events of his life -- his love affair with Michelangelo, his
continuing development as a master cook and reluctant spy, and the slow,
inevitable blossoming of his talents as an heir to the Old Religion.
The Music of Razors by Cameron Rogers
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
Seventy-two angels fell with Samael, the Son of Morning, cast out of Heaven for rebellion. Then another angel, who
had the task of assigning power and function, grasped the enormity of its own ability. So the angel sundered another
of its unkillable kind and fashioned the bones into instruments that contained its great gift of Form and Power. It
scattered these instruments across the Earth, to safeguard them in case its plan failed, then attempted to ally
with the Fallen One. But Samael rejected the angel.
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The Fetter Mission by M.L. Roland
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Rick and Bill of the Jerdain military are amongst those attacking Bahar, the lair of Thomas Fetter and son Curtis, a pair of evil,
ruthless immortals, masters of mind control as well a number of other advanced technologies, and -- naturally -- bent upon
ruling the universe. Sure, this sort of thing has been done a thousand times by the likes of Ray Cummings, Edmond Hamilton,
and John W, Campbell, Jr. -- but perhaps never quite so poorly.
Sporty Spec: Games of the Fantastic edited by Karen A. Romanko
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
In professional sports there are major leagues and minor leagues. The majors are where the best professionals play their games. The
minors are the home of players, some on their way up, some on their way down, and others who know they'll never play at a higher
level, but happy to be able to play at all. The world of publishing has a similar structure.
Sword Masters by Selina Rosen
reviewed by Sherwood Smith
Most people understand sword & sorcery to mean derring-do with pointy weapons, set in a far-away kingdom where there may or may not
be involvement with the supernatural and or magic. There is a distinct flavor of the Arabian Nights in most early twentieth century
sword and sorcery, probably left over from the largely imaginary "travel" tales of the late 1600s and 1700s. The conflict in
sword & sorcery tales is usually personal rather than ideological or political -- even when the enemies are two kingdoms. Most
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
reviewed by Jeff VanderMeer
As with most his novels, this one has many layers. It is not only a keenly observed
account of a boy growing up in a Jewish-American New Jersey community in the 40s but also a chilling step-by-step
clinic on how a democracy can descend into facism; a carefully thought-out alternate history novel in which Charles
Lindbergh defeats FDR in his bid for a third term.
Tales of the Black Earth by R.A. Roth
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Rubert Pilgor, Jr. is the last man on an Earth where humanity has been "vaporized" by a highly evolved, sentient and vengeful
form of the HIV virus. Its remaining viroids inhabit him, render him immortal, and carry on a conversation with him. Besides
the many biological implausibilities of such a parasite-host interaction, Pilgor's sole survival seems more serendipitous than
sensible.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
reviewed by Dustin Kenall
At the center of the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicles stands Kvothe. At
different times an orphan, a lutist, a student, a mage, and a dragon slayer,
at the opening of his tale Kvothe is only Kote, a simple innkeeper who has renounced his adventurous ways and heroic
persona. The author shows us, in a prologue that is about as perfectly polished as one page of prose can get, the layered
silence that envelops him, "the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die." There are demons -- monsters
equal parts spider, lobster, and Edward Scissorhands -- about and, unsurprisingly, it appears Kvothe's past is catching up
with him. A scrivener tracks him down to take his life story. Kvothe demands three days -- one for each book.
Aramaya by Jane Routley
reviewed by Jeri Wright
Dion Holyhands, The Demonslayer of Gallia, travels to the glorious land of
Aramaya with her friend Kitten in search of her missing niece Dally.
Braving winter storms in an attempt to escape the heartbreak
in her personal life, Dion vows to concentrate on finding Dally instead of dwelling on
the recent past.
Fire Angels by Jane Routley
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
Strange creatures and stranger characters. Mystical locales. Enviable
abilities. Compelling situations. It never occurs to doubt the possibility of this tale, only
to hurry to learn the fate of the people and places between the covers.
Dragon Ultimate by Christopher Rowley
reviewed by Todd Richmond
It nicely finishes off the Bazil Broketail
series, though you won't appreciate that if you haven't read the rest
of the books. Dragon Ultimate leaps right in and doesn't look back.
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
reviewed by Donna McMahon
Donna is surprised that outraged adults aren't pounding on J.K. Rowling's door.
By her fourth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
she has broken most of the unwritten rules of current children's literature.
Bad things happen to good people. Adults lie to children and make bad decisions. Life isn't fair or safe. And here's
the kicker. People die in Harry Potter books. Even children. Even good, heroic children. Wow.
Harry Potter Novels by J.K. Rowling
reviewed by Pat Caven
In the media the Harry Potter books have been compared to C.S. Lewis
and The Little Prince. Ostensibly for children, but with deeper
meaning for adults. Maybe Pat is still just a big kid, but she didn't see
any of this. She just enjoyed them for what they are. Great reading that
takes you back to that time in your life. They are wildly imaginative,
wonderfully funny and well thought out. The author has created instant
classics that deserve a valued place in children's literature.
Under the Cat's Eye by Gillian Rubinstein
reviewed by Thomas Myer
If you liked C. S. Lewis and Robert Louis Stevenson, then you will
absolutely go bananas over Gillian Rubinstein. She captures exactly how
Thomas, as a child, would react or think about different things, and her
portrait of fantastical subjects is charming and evocative.
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