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New Arrivals
compiled by Neil Walsh

Some of the new arrivals this month include the latest novels from Jacqueline Carey, Charles Stross, Marie Jakober, Jennifer Fallon, Alastair Reynolds, Jane Lindskold, plus a whole lot more.

With regard to my personal reading lately, here's a cross-section, including a novella, a graphic novel and a collection of poetry:

  • The Healthy Dead by Steven Erikson (PS Publishing, trade & hc, 103 pages, May 2004, UK)
        Of course you've been following Erikson's Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, because they're the most in-depth, intelligent, well-written fantasy books of the past... well, forever. Resuming the adventures of the two necromancers and their hapless manservant begun in Blood Follows (2002, also from PS Publishing), The Healthy Dead is part of that world, but not strictly required reading for the rest of the series. But why would you want to miss out on this delicious treat? You know how each of Erikson's novels has a few characters that are just hilarious to hang out with. Here they are. Emancipor Reese and his outrageous masters are terrific fun to watch in both their interactions among themselves and with other people. This novella and its predecessor are like having the lightest and most frivolous bits of Erikson's larger, denser works distilled into a brilliantly entertaining concoction, creepy and humorous all together. Having left behind the City of Lamentable Moll (encountered in Blood Follows), our travellers arrive at the city of Quaint. Here they discover a city gone mad with health-consciousness, saints created by workplace accidents, and the healthy dead on display as examples of good living. The obvious course of action, then, is to raise the dead usurped king...
    reviewSF Site Review

  • The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess, et al. (Tor, hc, 192 pages, November 2004, USA & Canada)
        This is an illustrated collection of traditional ballads adapted by such notables as Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, Jeff Smith, Jane Yolen and others, each in collaboration with illustrator Charles Vess. Following each adaptation is the straight text of the ballad, so you can see what the authors were working from. You have to understand that ballads are sometimes not the most logical of tales, and some of these adaptations fail to fill in all the gaps of sense or narrative coherence that may exist. A few -- notably Charles de Lint, who has two collaborations here -- do an admirable job of moulding the ballad into a brief story that resonates on both a mythic and a personal level. In any case, with Vess's distinctive artwork, this book is undeniably a beautiful package that is worth investigating.
  • The Heartacher and the Warehouseman by David R. Bunch (Anamnesis Press, trade, 108 pages, 2000, USA)
        David Bunch was one of those quiet icons of the genre, writing for over half a century. You've almost certainly read some of his stories, even if you don't remember his name. I picked up this collection of his poetry pretty much by accident, and it completely blew me away. Bunch used this crazy in-your-face sprung rhythm which he doubly reinforced with a heavy use of upper case and italics. The result is that you can't so much as glance at a page of his verse without words leaping up from the paper on full attack mode. His subject matter and tone range from whimsical through satirical all the way to deeply pensive -- sometimes all within the same poem. If you have any interest whatsoever in either poetry or genre poetry, then this collection can be summed up in two words: must read!
(Books are listed alphabetically by author. Only books received are noted.)

New Arrivals & Forthcoming Books: December 2004
Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett
Warhammer 40,000, Black Library (trade, 764 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, UK & USA & Australia
    Includes three complete novels, Xenos (2001), Malleus (2001), and Hereticus (2002), as well as two stories linking the novels together.

The Road of Silk by Matt Afsahi & Barbara Dysonwilliams
Synergy Books, TurnKey Press (hc, 329 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, USA

Fallen Angel by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime
Telos (trade, 218 pages)
Publication date: November 2004, UK & USA & Canada

The Shadow Chaser by Dylan Birtolo
Inkwater Press (trade, 277 pages)
Publication date: 1 December 2004, USA

Judge Dredd: Kingdom of the Blind by David Bishop
Black Flame (mm, 253 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, UK & Australia

Banewreaker: The Sundering, Book 1 by Jacqueline Carey
Tor (hc, 432 pages)
Publication date: 12 November 2004, USA & Canada

After the Deluge by Chris Carlsson
Full Enjoyment Books (trade, 282 pages)
Publication date: November 2004, USA
    Subtitled "A Novel of Post-Economic San Francisco."

Singularity by Bill DeSmedt
per Aspera Press (hc, 505 pages)
Publication date: 8 November 2004, USA & Canada

Of Adam by Russ Evans
PublishAmerica (trade, 214 pages)
Publication date: 2004, USA

Treason Keep: Hythrun Chronicles, Book 2 by Jennifer Fallon
Tor (hc, 492 pages)
Publication date: 24 November 2004, USA & Canada
reviewSF Site Review of Book 1, Medalon

Tangent by Robert G. Ferrell
Potomac View Press (hc, 317 pages)
Publication date: 2004, USA

The James Tiptree Award Anthology 1 edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, Jeffrey D. Smith
Tachyon Publications (trade, 320 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): January 2005, USA
    Previously uncollected works associated with the award, from James Tiptree, Jr., Geoff Ryman, Joanna Russ, Matt Ruff, Ruth Nestvold, Pat Murphy, Sandra McDonald, Kelly Link, Ursula K. Le Guin, Karen Joy Fowler, Carol Emshwiller, Kara Dalkey, Suzy McKee Charnas, Richard Calder, and Hans Christian Anderson.

Dawn of War by C.S. Goto
Warhammer 40,000, Black Library (mm, 412 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, UK & USA & Australia

Things That Never Happen by M. John Harrison
Gollancz (trade, 436 pages)
Publication date: 11 November 2004, UK
    Previously published in 2003 by Night Shade, and here for the first time in the UK. Collection of 24 stories from 1975 to 2000.

To the Stars by L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press (hc, 218 pages)
Publication date: Fall 2004, USA & Canada
    First published in 1950.

Even the Stones by Marie Jakober
Edge (trade, 337 pages)
Publication date: September 2004, Canada & USA

What Rough Beast by H.R. Knight
Leisure Horror, Dorchester (mm, 368 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): February 2005, USA & Canada & Australia & UK

22 Stories: Falling Upward Through the Tarot by David Lawrence
iUniverse (trade, 251 pages)
Publication date: 2004, USA

Wolf Captured: Firekeeper Series, Book 4 by Jane Lindskold
Tor (hc, 527 pages)
Publication date: 24 November 2004, USA & Canada

Valnir's Bane by Nathan Long
Warhammer, Black Library (mm, 255 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): January 2005, UK & USA & Australia

The Hedge Knight by George R.R. Martin, adapted by Ben Avery, art by Mike S. Miller & Mike Crowell
Devil's Due Publishing (trade graphic novel)
Publication date: 2004, USA
    Graphic adaptation of the prequel to the Song of Ice and Fire series, which was first published in the Legends collection.

Keaen by Till Noever
Edge (trade, 358 pages)
Publication date: September 2004, Canada & USA

Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds
Victor Gollancz (hc, 506 pages)
Publication date: 25 November 2004, UK

Blade: Trinity by Natasha Rhodes
Black Flame (mm, 409 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, UK & Australia
    Based on the New Line Cinema motion picture written by David S. Goyer.

Strontium Dog: Prophet Margin by Simon Spurrier
2000 AD, Black Flame (mm, 253 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): January 2005, UK & USA & Canada

Ports of Hell by Johnny Strike
A Diagonal Book, Headpress (trade, 192 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): February 2005, UK & USA

The Family Trade: The Merchant Princes, Book 1 by Charles Stross
Tor (hc, 303 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, USA & Canada

Deus Encarmine: Blood Angels, Book 1 by James Swallow
Warhammer 40,000, Black Library (mm, 252 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, UK & USA & Australia

The Silences of Home by Caitlin Sweet
Penguin Canada (trade, 496 pages)
Publication date (forthcoming): March 2005, Canada

Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr., edited by Jeffrey D. Smith
Tachyon Publications (trade, 522 pages)
Publication date: December 2004, USA & Canada
    A collection of 18 stories, revised with corrections from the author's original notes.

The Art of Halo: Creating a Virtual World text by Eric S. Trautmann
Del Rey, Ballantine (trade, 161 pages)
Publication date: 16 November 2004, USA & Canada

Ghostlands: Magic Time, Book 3 by Marc Scott Zicree & Robert Charles Wilson
Eos, HarperCollins (hc, 468 pages)
Publication date: 30 November 2004, USA & Canada
    Conclusion to the Magic Time series.

Magazines

Cthulhu Sex, No. 19, Vol. 2, 2004, USA & Canada
Contributors to this issue include: Robert Papcsy, Christine Ehren, Benjamin X. Wretlind, Scott S. Lawski, Perry McGee & John Edward Lawson, Stanley R.F., Brenden Haukos, Jeremy Johnson, Douglas Ford, Carmine, Charlee Jacob, Michael Amorel, Arthur Cullipher.

Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 2005, USA & Canada
Contributors to this issue include: Alex Irvine, John G. McDaid, Bruce Sterling, Esther M. Friesner, Arthur Porges.

Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 2005, USA & Canada
Contributors to this issue include: Matthew Hughes, R. Garcia y Robertson, Laird Barron, Robert Reed, Richard Mueller.

Flytrap, No. 3, November 2004, USA
Contributors to this issue include: Benjamin Rosenbaum, Gerald Costlow, K. Bird Lincoln, Mikal Trimm, Deborah Layne, Simon Owens, Jay Lake, Elizabeth Bear, Sonya Taaffe.

Premonitions, 2004, UK & USA
Contributors to this issue include: K. Bannerman, John Paul Catton, Stepan Chapman, Tim Clare, J.P.V. Stewart, Hugh Cook, Andrew Darlington, Chad Hensley, David Hudson, Antony Mann, Mark Mellon, Debbie Moon, David Rawson, and others.

Trunk Stories, No. 2, December 2004, USA
Contributors to this issue include: Nelson Stanley, Mark A. Rayner, Eric Gardner, David Connerley Nahm, Christina Sng, John Grey.

Warhammer Comic, No. 85, October 2004, USA & UK
Contributors to this issue include: James Peaty & Gary Erskine, James Peaty & Shaun Thomas, Si Spurrier & Frazer Irving.

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