Aldiss, Brian W., & Harry Harrison, eds Nebula Award Stories Two
(Stealth Press 1-58881-019-4, $29.95, 10+291pp, hc, April 2001, jacket art Frank R. Paul, jacket design Jeff King)
Reprint (Doubleday September 1967). Second volume in the series of high-quality hardcover reprints by Stealth Press of the Nebula Awards volumes. This one (first published as Nebula Award Stories Number Two) follows the policy of including the Nebula Winners from the awards year (here 1966) as well as additional stories -- not necessarily limited to those on the actual final ballot -- selected by the editors. The winners from 1966 are Jack Vance's novella "The Last Castle", Gordon R. Dickson's novelette "Call Him Lord", and Richard McKenna's short story "The Secret Place". What's remarkable after 35 years is the quality of the runners-up, several of which should have won the award, especially Bob Shaw's "Light of Other Days" (the famous "slow glass" story) and Frederik Pohl's "Day Million" (which wasn't on the final ballot!); the McKenna story that won was decent enough, but the author had just died (in 1964) and he should have won a virtual Nebula for "Casey Agonistes", a true classic published in 1958. A novelette also-ran included here is Philip K. Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" -- again, not on the final ballot -- an iconic PKD story that was the basis for the film Total Recall. Other stories included in this volume are by Brian W. Aldiss himself ("Man in His Time"), Robin S. Scott, R.A. Lafferty ("Among the Hairy Earthmen"), Sonya Dorman, and George Henry Smith. The editors provide a "Year in SF" summary of the best novels, collections, and nonfiction books of the year. High recommended, especially if you're unfamiliar with the Vance, Dickson, Shaw, Pohl, or Aldiss stories. The novel winners that year, by the way, were a tie between Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon and Samuel R. Delany's Babel-17 (neither excerpted in this volume). (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
+ Banks, Iain M. Look to Windward
(Pocket 0-7434-2191-4, $23.95, 369pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art Jerry Vanderstelt, jacket design Carolyn Lechter)
First US edition (UK: Orbit August 2000). SF novel, latest entry in Banks's ongoing series of far future space opera epics about "The Culture". Reviewed by Jonathan Strahan in the October 2000 Locus, and Faren Miller in the March 2001 issue. The Amazon UK page has a review by David Langford. (Tue 24 Jul 2001)
Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan
(Simon & Schuster 0-7432-1449-8, $25, 134pp, hc, November 2000, jacket art Raquel Jaramillo)
Reprint (Hodder & Stoughton 1911). New edition of the classic fantasy tale, with photo-realistic illustrations by Raquel Jaramillo. Reviewed by Karen Haber in the January 2001 Locus, who said Jaramillo "may have created an entirely new approach to photo illustration with her lucious work for Peter Pan. She imbues her digitally manipulated photos with a lush, almost painterly feel." Samples of the artwork are on the publisher's website. (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
* Bradley, Marion Zimmer, & Deborah J. Ross The Fall of Neskaya
(DAW 0-7564-0034-1, $24.95, 431pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art Romas Kukalis, jacket design G-Force Design)
SF novel, "Book 1 of the Clingfire Trilogy", a new Darkover series written by Ross from material developed with Bradley before her death. (Tue 10 Jul 2001)
* Brust, Steven Issola
(Tor 0-312-85927-9, $23.95, 255pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art Stephen Hickman, jacket design Carol Russo Design)
Fantasy novel, new volume in Brust's series about the assassin Vlad Taltos. Amazon has PW and Booklist reviews. Carolyn Cushman reviewed it in the June 2001 Locus, remarking that "it ends with a major new development in Vlad's life that fans of the series won't want to miss". (Tue 3 Jul 2001)
* Bryant, Edward A Sad Last Love at the Diner of the Damned
(Wormhole Books 0-9709657-2-9, $12, 45pp, chapbook, 2001, jacket art David Martin)
Second volume (see Tem below) in a series of chapbooks from new specialty press Wormhole Books. This is a new edition of a "classic of splatterpunk", according to S.P. Somtow's introduction, first published in 1989 and a Stoker and World Fantasy Award nominee. There's also a new afterword by author Bryant. (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
* Bujold, Lois McMaster The Curse of Chalion
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-380-97901-2, $25, 442pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art Doug Beekman)
Fantasy novel set in a medieval world--not part of Bujold's popular series about Miles Vorkosigan. Amazon has Booklist and other reviews. Reviewed by Carolyn Cushman in the April 2001 Locus, who says "Bujold gets fantasy right this time"; and by Faren Miller in the July issue, who says "this is fantasy with its feet on the ground and intelligence enough to watch where it steps". (Fri 27 Jul 2001)
Bull, Emma War for the Oaks
(Tor/Orb 0-765-30034-6, $13.95, 332pp, tpb, July 2001)
Reprint (Ace July 1987). New edition of the author's debut novel, which won the Locus Award as Best First Novel of 1987. PW calls it a "minor fantasy cult classic", and Amazon has a review by Cynthia Ward. The book has a new introduction by the author. (Thu 12 Jul 2001)
+ Cadigan, Pat Dervish is Digital
(Tor 0-312-85377-7, $22.95, 230pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art Bruce Jensen, jacket design Peter Lutjen)
First US edition (UK: Macmillan October 2000). SF novel about a detective who runs the Techno Crime, AR (Artificial Reality) Division, follow-up to Tea from an Empty Cup. Reviewed by both Faren Miller and Russell Letson in the March 2001 Locus; Letson concluded "[AR] is a genre space and an SF milieu rich in possibilities for both satire and absurdist nightmare, and Cadigan exploits it for all it's worth, with wit, gusto, and fine sense of the oddball." (Thu 12 Jul 2001)
* Chambers, Stephen Hope's End
(Tor 0-312-87349-2, $23.95, 319pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art Andrew Burwood-Hoy)
SF novel, a first novel by a University of Chicago sophomore. Amazon has PW review. (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
* Ellison, Harlan The Essential Ellison: A 50-Year Retrospective
(Morpheus International 1-883398-46-0, $24.95, 1249pp, tpb, May 2001, jacket art Leo & Diane Dillon)
Expanded edition of the massive 35-Year Retrospective collection published in 1987; grown from that book's 1019 pages to this one's 1249, this volume has over 80 stories and essays divided among 16 thematic sections. Contents include classics "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", "Jeffty Is Five", "The Deathbird", and numerous others; new in this edition are "Paladin of the Lost Hour", "Mefisto in Onyx", "With Virgil Oddum at the East Pole", "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore", and the 1990 essay "Xenogenesis" about Ellison's fans. Recommended, especially if you don't have the earlier edition. (Sun 15 Jul 2001)
Engh, M.J. Arslan
(Orb 0-312-87910-5, $14.95, 296pp, tpb, July 2001)
Reprint (Warner 1976). New edition of near-future, character-driven SF novel about a mad General from Turkestan who, trying to save the Earth from humanity, conquers the US and much of North America. It's told from the viewpoint of residents of a US Midwestern town where Arslan has set up HQ. Though still not widely-known, the book has had a steady following; though first published as a paperback original, it had a hardcover reprint in 1987 and now appears in this trade-paper edition. David Pringle's Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction calls it "Lyrical, brilliantly characterized, shocking, psychologically astute -- it is a masterpiece." (Sun 15 Jul 2001)
+ Gemmell, David Ravenheart
(Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-43226-6, $24.95, 404pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art John Ennis, jacket design David Stevenson)
First US edition (UK: Transworld/Bantam UK April 2001). Fantasy novel, third in the Rigante series after The Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon. Amazon has the PW review. (Tue 10 Jul 2001)
* Hartwell, David G., & Kathryn Cramer, eds Year's Best Fantasy
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-380-81840-X, $7.5, 15+492pp, pb, July 2001)
First volume in a new annual series complimenting Hartwell's Year's Best SF series, now in its 6th year. Included are stories by George R.R. Martin, Michael Swanwick, John Sullivan, Brian Stableford, Nalo Hopkinson, Charles de Lint, Zoran Zivkovic, Gene Wolfe, and an 80-page novella by Terrry Goodkind first published in 1998 in Robert Silverberg's anthology Legends and not available for reprint until now. Kathryn Cramer is indicated as co-editor on the title page, but not on the cover or spine. (Tue 10 Jul 2001)
* Hendrix, Howard V. Empty Cities of the Full Moon
(Ace 0-441-00844-5, $24.95, 441pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art John Jude Palencar, jacket design Erika Fusari)
Near-future SF novel about a 21st century pandemic that leaves only a few million people alive, perhaps accidentally as a result of attempts to deal with mental illness; perhaps not. Reviewed by Faren Miller in the August 2001 Locus, who says the book "abounds with fascinating ideas and presents some memorable glimpses of a radically altered world…" (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
* Keyes, J. Gregory The Shadows of God
(Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-43904-x, $15, 311pp, tpb, July 2001, jacket art Terese Nielsen)
Fantasy alternate-history novel, fourth and final volumn in the "Age of Unreason" series that began with Newton's Cannon, "Based on the premise that Sir Isaac Newton devised a theory of alchemy that led to the industrial use of demons" according to the PW review quoted on Amazon. Reviewed by Carolyn Cushman in the July 2001 Locus. (Thu 12 Jul 2001)
* Kress, Nancy Probability Sun
(Tor 0-312-87407-3, $24.95, 348pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art Bob Eggleton)
SF novel, sequel to last year's Probability Moon which was based on the Nebula and Sturgeon Award-winning "The Flowers of Aulit Prison", about aliens with a unique sense of shared reality. Reviewed by Faren Miller in the June 2001 Locus, and by Cynthia Ward at Amazon, who calls it "a rare and successful hybrid of literary, military, and hard SF". (Tue 10 Jul 2001)
* Lee, Sharon, & Steve Miller Pilots Choice
(Meisha Merlin 1-892065-02-9, $20, 605pp, tpb, February 2001, jacket art Michael Herring, jacket design Neil Seltzer)
Omnibus of two Liaden novels, Local Custom and Scout's Progress. Amazon has a review by Nona Vero. (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
* Nielsen Hayden, Patrick, ed Starlight 3
(Tor 0-312-86780-8, $24.95, 350pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art Edward Miller)
Anthology of 16 original stories by Stephen Baxter, Ted Chiang, Terry Bisson, Andy Duncan, Jane Yolen, Maureen F. McHugh, and others. Reviewed by Jonathan Strahan in the June Locus, and Gary K. Wolfe in the July. Amazon has Booklist and other reviews. (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
* Robinson, Spider The Free Lunch
(Tor 0-312-86524-4, $22.95, 254pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art Stephan Martiniere, jacket design Dutton & Sherman)
SF novel about Disneyland-style park in 2023 called Dreamworld. The introduction by Robinson explains that this began as a collaboration, years ago, with John Varley. Amazon has the PW review: "Fans of lightweight SF should be pleased." (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
Shepard, Lucius The Jaguar Hunter
(Four Walls Eight Windows 1-56858-186-6, $15.95, 500pp, tpb, May 2001, jacket design Scott Idleman//Blink)
Reprint (Arkham House May 1987). Collection of stories, many from Shepard's early career, including the title story, Nebula-winner "R&R", and "The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule". This edition restores "R&R", dropped in the 1988 and 1989 reprint editions, and adds the much more recent 2000 novella "Radiant Green Star", which won this year's Locus Award for best novella. (The back cover of this edition, supposedly published in May 2001, even proclaims as much!) (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
* Shwartz, Susan Second Chances
(Tor 0-312-87342.5, $24.95, 382pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art David Seeley)
SF novel; a chance of pace for the author, this is an SF casting of Conrad's Lord Jim. Amazon has the PW review. (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
+ Siegel, Jan The Dragon Charmer
(Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-43902-3, $24, 12+371pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art Eric Peterson, jacket design Min Choi)
First US edition (UK: HarperCollins/Voyager November 2000). Fantasy novel, follow-up to last year's debut Prospero's Children. PW has Amazon and Booklist reviews. Reviewed by Faren Miller in the June 2001 Locus, who remarks "a little too much of The Dragon Charmer depends on over-familiar fantasy materials. (Avid dragon fanciers may disagree.)" (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
* Simmons, Dan Hardcase
(St. Martin's Minotaur 0-312-27497-1, $23.95, 263pp, hc, July 2001, jacket design Scott Levine)
Associational novel, a thriller that "pays homage to over-the-top pulp fiction" according to Otto Penzler's Amazon.com review. Amazon also has PW and Library Journal reviews. (Sat 7 Jul 2001)
Skipp, John, & Craig Spector The Scream
(Stealth Press 1-58881-022-4, $29.95, 437pp, hc, April 2001, jacket art Steve Montiglio, jacket design Steve Montiglio)
Reprint (Bantam February 1988). Rock'n'roll horror novel, the third of Skipp & Spector's splatterpunk sextet of novels, about a mega-cult band that makes otherworldly music. Order from Stealth Press. (Sat 14 Jul 2001)
* Tem, Melanie Pioneer
(Wormhole Books 0-9709657-0-2, $12, 26pp, chapbook, 2001, jacket art Joanna Erbach)
Debut volume in a series of chapbooks from new specialty press Wormhole Books. This is an SF novelette about a colonization team investigating a new planet, reviewed by Edward Bryant in the July 2001 Locus, who says it "is told with economy and spare eloquence". There's an introduction by Nancy Holder. (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
* Turtledove, Harry American Empire: Blood & Iron
(Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-40565-x, $27.95, 503pp, hc, August 2001, jacket design Big Dot Design)
SF novel by the master of alternate history; this novel follows the "Great War" trilogy and begins another series about life following a World War I fought in a world where the Confederacy remains an independent nation. Amazon has PW and Booklist reviews. (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
* Williamson, Jack Terraforming Earth
(Tor 0-312-87200-3, $24.95, 348pp, hc, June 2001, jacket art Stephan Martiniere)
SF novel about efforts by cloned survivors on the Moon to terraform (a term coined by Williamson over 50 years ago!) an Earth that has been destroyed by a meteor impact. Sections of the novel appeared as stories in Science Fiction Age and Analog. Amazon reproduces PW's starred review, which concludes "Throughout, poetic undercurrents permeate this masterful work by a superb chronicler of the cosmic." (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
* Wilson, Robert Charles The Chronoliths
(Tor 0-312-87384-0, $23.95, 301pp, hc, August 2001, jacket art Jim Burns, jacket design apt13)
SF novel set in 21th century Thailand about huge artifacts that appear, apparently from the near future. Reviewed by Jonathan Strahan in the July 2001 issue of Locus; he finds the book "strongly reminiscent of the best work of Clifford D. Simak … a major novel."; and by Gary K. Wolfe in the August issue, who concludes "what makes this one of his more mature and accomplished novels has little to do with the pyrotechnics of the SF thriller: the fireworks look great behind the house, but it's the people inside who finally command our interest." (Tue 31 Jul 2001)
Zelazny, Roger, ed Nebula Award Stories Three
(Stealth Press 1-58881-020-8, $29.95, 8+232pp, hc, May 2001, jacket art Frank R. Paul, jacket design Jeff King)
Reprint (Doubleday December 1968). Third volume in the series of high-quality hardcover reprints by Stealth Press of the Nebula Awards volumes. This one (first published as Nebula Award Stories Number Three) is a bit slender, lacking any nonfiction perspectives, but including stories that almost all stand up 34 years later as worthy classics: novella winner "Behold the Man" by Michael Moorcock, novelette winner "Gonna Roll the Bones" by Fritz Leiber, and short story winner "Aye, and Gomorrah…" by Samuel R. Delany. Runners-up included are Anne McCaffrey's "Weyr Search" -- the very first Pern story (which won the Hugo that year) -- Harlan Ellison's "Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes", and J.G. Ballard's not-on-the-final-ballot but nevertheless-classic 'Vermilion Sands' story "The Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D". The editorial prerogative inclusion is "Mirror of Ice" by Gary Wright, a writer rarely published before, or since. (The novel winner that year was Delany's The Einstein Intersection.) Again, highly recommended if you're unfamiliar with any of these stories. (Fri 6 Jul 2001)
* Zubrin, Robert First Landing
(Ace 0-441-00859-3, $21.95, 262pp, hc, July 2001, jacket art Bob Warner, jacket design Pyrographx)
Hard SF novel -- a first novel -- by author known for his advocacy of Mars colonization; he wrote nonfiction The Case for Mars and is president of the Mars Society. Amazon quotes cover blurbs from Gregory Benford and Kim Stanley Robinson. (Thu 12 Jul 2001)
Last month: June
