Notable new SF, Fantasy, and Horror books seen : October-November

Nonfiction anthology of 16 critical essays on philosophical aspects of The Lord of the Rings, part of the series "Popular Culture and Philosophy" (previous books covered The Simpsons, The Matrix, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Includes an Index. The publisher's site has this brief description. The editor has this webpage.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Illustrated book with art and story by Doug Chiang, and text by Orson Scott Card. Chiang's website has this elaborate flash site about the book. The Amazon page has a Booklist review by Roy Olson.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Concluding volume of two-part graphic novel (the first was listed here). The author's official website, Dream Chocolate Confections, includes these previews.
(Wed 1 Oct 2003)

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Original anthology of 16 ghost stories. Authors include Kelly Link, Joyce Carol Oates, Ramsey Campbell, Jeffrey Ford, Tanith Lee, Lucius Shepard. Authors provide afterwords describing their favorite ghost stories. Nick Gevers reviews the book in the November Locus, citing Shepard's novella "Limbo" for special recommendation.
(Sat 25 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, fourth volume in "The Runelords" series, following Wizardborn (2001). Farland is a pseudonym for Dave Wolverton. The Runelords website includes excerpts from the previous volumes, quotes from reviews, etc. The Amazon page has the Publishers Weekly review, and reader reviews.
(Fri 24 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Tenth volume of the annual anthology of fantastic art whose winners are chosen by jury; this year's jury is Mark Chiarello, C.F. Payne, Bob Eggleton, Bud Plant, Kelley Seda, and Michael Whelan, and winners include Michael William Kaluta as Grand Master, Charles Vess and Kinuko Y. Craft in the Book category, James Gurney and Omar Rayyan in the Editorial category, etc. The book also includes a Year in Review essay, and an index of artists with contact information. Karen Haber's review will appear in the December issue of Locus. Available from Bud Plant Comic Art.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Far future SF novel concerning humans and their alien conquerors facing a common threat. The PW review on Amazon calls it a "thought-provoking far-future novel" that "cries out for a sequel". Baen's site has a description and numerous excerpts.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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SF novel, eighth in the series concerning 24-year-old empath Philip Lynx and his mini-dragon companion Pip. The Amazon page has reviews from PW ("brisk, lightweight SF entertainment"), Booklist, and Harriet Klausner.
(Tue 4 Nov 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Young-adult fantasy about a girl whose father brings characters to life, literally, when he reads aloud from books. The publisher's page has this excerpt. Amazon.com has a review by Jennifer Hubert.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Graphic novel collection of seven stories about "The Endless" seven siblings of the Sandman character; this marks Gaiman's return after some years to the series that established his reputation. Each story in this volume is illustrated by a different artist: P. Craig Russell, Milo Manara, Bill Sienkiewicz, Miguelanxo Prado, Barron Storey, Glenn Fabry, and Frank Quitely. The publisher has this page with samples and biographies, while Gaiman's site has this summary of the series by Cindy Lynn Speer.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Literary fantasy novel, latest in the author's series of transplanted fairy tales (Wicked, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister), this time about Snow White. Amazon has reviews from PW, Booklist, and readers. The publisher's site has this description and excerpt.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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SF novel, third in a trilogy that began with The Engines of God (1994) and Chindi (2002), concerning semisentient 'omega clouds' that threaten Earth. McDevitt's homepage a synopsis, excerpts from reviews, and an excerpt. The PW review on the Amazon page calls it "feel-good SF novel that earns its hopeful conclusion". Russell Letson's review will appear in the December issue of Locus Magazine.
(Sat 25 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, described by Publishers Weekly as the author's "first adult-and-then-some romp through the darkling streets of a spooky post-Voodoo Wars world". Amazon also has reviews from Booklist and readers. The author's site [scroll down!] has quotes and links to reviews, praise from Neil Gaiman, an excerpt, etc. Reviewed by Faren Miller in the September 2003 issue of Locus Magazine.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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SF novel, a stand-alone though set in the same universe as The Parafaith War, two centuries later. Amazon has PW, Booklist, and reader reviews.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Literary fantasy novel, a surprise bestseller by a first-time author, about a man diagnosed with "Chrono-Displacement Disorder": he becomes unstuck in time. The PW review on Amazon calls it "a soaring love story illuminated by dozens of finely observed details and scenes". It's Faren Miller's lead review in the December issue of Locus.
(Tue 21 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Ghost story concerning the aftermath of a Halloween car accident. The author's site has this page of quotes and reviews. The Amazon page has reviews from PW, Booklist, and readers.
(Wed 15 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Collection of 16 stories and 4 poems, including the Nebula-nominated title story and one original story, "Pale Dog". There's an introduction by Michaela Roessner, and afterword by the author with notes about the origins of each story. It's reviewed by Jonathan Strahan in the November issue of Locus Magazine. Pratt is assistant editor at Locus, and writes online journal Tropism, which has posted Strahan's review. Available from the publisher, Prime Books.
(Fri 24 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Short story set in the universe of Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, packaged in a clothbound volume with a fold-out map of an alternate-reality Oxford and engraved illustrations by John Lawrence. The publisher's site has this page with a brief description.
(Wed 5 Nov 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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SF/fantasy novel set in a near-future Pittsburgh, the first hardcover novel by this year's winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. The author's site has this description and excerpt, while Baen's site has this page and excerpts. Amazon has reader reviews.
(Sat 25 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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A mock-encyclopedia of fictitious diseases, an anthology of entries by over 60 contributors, including Michael Moorcock, Cory Doctorow, Gahan Wilson, Shelley Jackson, Neil Gaiman, China Miéville, Jeffrey Thomas, etc. Website http://www.lambsheadguide.com/ is devoted to the book, while the publisher's site has this page with a full contributors list. The Amazon page has the Booklist review by Roy Olson, and quote from the PW review.
(Sat 18 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, a first novel, about a spy in a repressive land who hides her magic powers from her employers. The publisher's site has this description and excerpt, while the author's webpage has details about the Five Countries setting of this and future books.
(Thu 30 Oct 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy/thriller novel, latest in the Repairman Jack series after last year's The Haunted Air. The series has its own website, www.repairmanjack.com, with descriptions, cross references, character profiles, etc., though not yet updated for this book. The Amazon page has the description (from the dust jacket) and reviews from PW and Booklist and readers.
(Sun 2 Nov 2003) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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When Raj Ahten's caravan approached the Palace of the Elephant at Maygassa, all the stars in heaven seemed to be falling, raining down in shades of red and gold.

"He's not dead--but watch out for the winged snake."

As she studied the tall young man lying unconscious on the fast-moving gurney, the alert eyes of the duty physician at Reides Central narrowed. "What winged snake?"

Blessed be the blackmailers, Jack thought as he pawed through the filing cabinet.

He had a penlight clamped in his teeth and kept it trained on the labels of the hanging folders while his latex-gloved fingers fanned through them.

"I wish I could be a little goddess of cinnamon," my wife Emily says, closing her eyes and leaning in close to the spices. I'm used to Emily saying things like that, so I don't take any notice, just nod and pick up a bottle of peach nectar off the shelf, slosh it around, wrinkle my nose.

Long ago, men went to sea, and women waited for them, standing on the edge of the water, scanning the horizon for the tiny ship. Now I wait for Henry. He vanishes unwillingly, without warning. I wait for him. Each moment that I wait feels like a year, an eternity. Each moment is as slow and transparent as glass. Through each moment I can see infinite moment lined up, waiting. Why has he gone where I cannot follow?