+ Barker, Clive Abarat
(Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins 0-06-028092-1, $24.99, 25+388pp, hc, October 2002, jacket art Clive Barker)
First US edition (UK: HarperCollins UK September 2002). Young adult [YA] fantasy novel, first in a series of four, about a young girl transported to a land of 25 islands where each represents a different hour of the day… Barker has written a previous novel for children, The Thief of Always (1992), though the timing of this book, along with recent YA novels by Chabon and others, has made him subject of numerous essays about the new 'respectability' of juvenile fiction (see Field Inspections). Amazon has a review by Roz Genessee, and the PW review. The cover and numerous interior illustrations are by Barker; an exhibit of the artwork is at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood CA from Sept. 23 to Oct. 26, and samples are on Barker's website, which also has some background on the projected series, and an excerpt [in PDF] from this first book. Jonathan Strahan reviewed this book in the July issue of Locus Magazine, commenting that this is "the most satisfying work that this reader has encountered from Barker". (Wed 2 Oct 2002)
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* Duncan, Dave Paragon Lost
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-380-97896-2, $24.95, 348pp, hc, October 2002, jacket illustration Stephen Hickman, jacket design Amy Halperin)
Fantasy novel, a stand-alone though a follow-up to his "Tales of the King's Blades" series, according to the PW review on the Amazon site. Reviewed by Faren Miller in the October issue of Locus, who says the book "grows increasingly swift, strong, and dark". The author's webpage for this book includes this sample chapter. (Thu 3 Oct 2002)
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* Farmer, Nancy The House of the Scorpion
(Simon & Schuster/Atheneum 0689852223, $17.95, 380pp, hc, October 2002, jacket illustration Russell Gordon, jacket design cd)
YA novel, the latest by the 1988 L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Grand Prize winner, since then a two-time Newbery honoree; it's about a future in which human laborers have computer chips in their brains to insure docility, according to the review on Amazon by Patty Campbell. The Amazon page also has the PW and School Library Journal reviews. (Thu 3 Oct 2002)
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* Jacques, Brian Triss
(Penguin/Philomel 0-399-23723-2, $23.99, 389pp, hc, September 2002, jacket art Troy Howell)
Fifteenth novel in Jacques's popular 'Redwall' animal fantasy series. Illustrated by David Elliot. Jacques's website, Redwall Abbey, has this page about the book. (Wed 2 Oct 2002)
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+ Nicholson, William Firesong
(Hyperion Books for Children 078680571-4, $17.99, 422pp, hc, September 2002, jacket illustration Peter Sis)
First US edition (UK: Mammoth May 2002). YA fantasy novel, conclusion of the 'Wind on Fire' trilogy that began with The Wind Singer (2000), a Locus recommended first novel. (Thu 3 Oct 2002)
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* Tarr, Judith Devil's Bargain
(Penguin/Roc 0-451-45896-6, $16, 387pp, tpb, October 2002)
Alternate history fantasy novel, about King Richard and the Third Crusade, according to the PW review on the Amazon page, which assesses that it 'stumbles'. The author's webpage is a bit out of date, but has a brief description on this page. (Mon 30 Sep 2002)
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* Weber, David War of Honor
(Baen 0-7434-3545-1, $26, 869pp, hc, October 2002, cover illustration David Mattingly)
Tenth novel in Weber's popular Honor Harrington military SF series. The reader reviewers on Amazon like it. The book includes a CD ROM. Reviewed by Carolyn Cushman in the September issue of Locus, who comments that "politics [takes] up a good 750 of the 856 pages in the novel". The publisher's site has this page about the book. (Wed 2 Oct 2002)
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* Weist, Jerry Bradbury: An Illustrated Life
(HarperCollins/Morrow 0-06-001182-3, $34.95, 26+195pp, hc, October 2002, jacket illustration Joseph Mugnaini, jacket design Richard L. Aquan and Barbara Levine)
Lavish biographical portrait of Ray Bradbury, with lots of cover illustrations and interior illustrations from The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, The Illustrated Man, etc.; as well as movie posters and stills, fanzine and comics reproductions, historical photos, and much else. Bradbury's own introduction is titled "Journey to Far Metaphor". Bradbury's website has the book noted on this page but so far without links or excerpts. (Thu 3 Oct 2002)
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