The Lord Of Terror by Marcel Allain
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Thought to have sunk with Fantômas on the S.S. Gigantic, Juve and Fandor suddenly find themselves
alive and well in c. 1925 Marseilles. When diplomat Léon de Vautreuil serves as courier for millions in diamonds,
strange things begin to happen around Paris, his sister, known to be on a ship to South America, mysteriously returns home
unable to speak, and the family's clearly dead dog has come back to life.
Lunar Encounter by Harold W.G. Allen
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Let's make this clear right from the start, this book is full of bad science, bad writing and bad science
fiction. Lunar Encounter is an attempt by the author to disseminate his peculiar theories of cosmology in the form
of a science fiction novel. With respect to the writing and science fiction elements, Georges can honestly say that it is likely
the worse science fiction novel he has ever read.
Mythic edited by Mike Allen
reviewed by Michael M Jones
In this first volume of a new anthology series, the editor brings several aspects of the SF/fantasy field together, creating something
that's neither fish nor fowl, but an enjoyable blend of both, kind of like a literary platypus: rich, strange, comical,
confusing, thought-provoking and definitely memorable. Here are over a dozen talented writers bringing unique visions
of fiction and poetry to life.
BSI Starside: Death Sentence by Roger MacBride Allen
reviewed by Greg L. Johnson
The problems for Senior Special Agent Hannah Wolfson, and her partner, Jamie Mendez, begin
when another Special Agent, Trip Wilcox is found dead in his small spaceship. Wilcox
had been on a diplomatic mission, conveying a document from the alien Metrannan back to Earth. The document has
been found, but the key to decoding the encryption is gone, and there is reason to suspect that Wilcox was
murdered, but not before he found a way to hide the key.
Swords for Hire by Will Allen
reviewed by Georges T. Dodds
Does it cover all the clichés of heroic fantasy? Sure, it has the malevolent evil bad guy with no face; the not-so-clever bad guy
with some socially unacceptable habits; the young man, innocent but ready-for-adventure; the grizzled, if quirky, veteran and master of
arms; and naturally, the beautiful but resourceful princess. Sure, the good guys win, the boy gets the girl, the bad guys get their
comeuppance. But what pulls it out is that the author makes something new out of these standard characters, makes it funny, keeps
the action moving along, and creates an altogether very entertaining work.
Swords for Hire by Will Allen
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
King Olive is rotting away in a dark, dank dungeon. His only hope is a message that he has managed to smuggle out, written in his own blood. A
prisoner of the Boneman, betrayed by his brother who is now the king, he has little hope. King Boonder, a greasy, disgusting creature with a
fixation with worms, is content until he hears of this note, and of the unusual heroes who may have gotten it.
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Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal by Aaron Allston
reviewed by David Maddox
The Yuuzhan Vong war is over, the vile race of ruthless conquerors driven away and the defeated New Republic has been reformed
into the united Galactic Alliance. Jedi are plentiful, while politicians argue and make decisions for the masses. One would think
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia could take a moment to relax and catch their breath. No chance.
Blood of Winterhold by Stephen Almekinder
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
This novel takes readers back to this fascinating monarchy divided. Picking up almost 20 years
after the dramatic close of Winterhold, we return to the politically mad world of the half-kingdoms. The
Queen/Lady continues to rule the territory of the Hold, while the King/Lord rules the Camp below. Every moment without
open warfare is spent in a tense truce that any change in the balance could shatter.
Winterhold by Stephen Almekinder
reviewed by Lisa DuMond
There are addictions to match every personality and every situation. Addictions
multiply in a stagnant society... or, maybe addictions result in a stagnant society.
On Winterhold, the race to dissolution is a contest between chemicals and rituals;
alone or united, they are capable of dragging the civilization into ruin.
Resurrection by Steve Alten
reviewed by Charlene Brusso
Michael Gabriel sacrifices himself to destroy a giant "trans-dimensional" serpent during the Rapture
of 2012 to save Earth from alien invasion, leaving behind his pregnant lover Dominique Vasquez, who lives in hiding, desperate
to protect their unborn children. Gabriel's enemies are led by billionaire Alabama defense contractor-turned-televangelist
Peter Mabus, leader of the Fundamentalist Christian political party "People First," who has hired an assassin who's also an
ex-CIA mole to kill Dominique.
Goliath by Steve Alten
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
Sitting inside the combat information center on the Aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan, Commander Rocky Jackson has been watching the sonar
screen. She hears a sound that she thinks is innocent; an orca or similar creature. Her commander agrees with her, but something
about the sound bothers her. Before she can figure it out, she hears an explosion and runs to find her husband, only to find he's
been murdered. Working her way off the sinking carrier up to the surface, she
discovers that she is one of only a handful of survivors; the twelve ship convoy sunk. She also sees Goliath, a huge sting
ray-shaped submarine, one that she herself had a hand in engineering.
MEG by Steve Alten
reviewed by Neil Walsh
It's not difficult to see why the book was optioned for a couple of million.
It reads like Alten had a Hollywood blockbuster in mind the whole time.
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