23 November 2004

SF novel in the "Skolian Empire" series, the 9th published, though earliest by internal chronology.
• Asaro's website has this description.
• Cynthia Ward's review on Amazon recommends it as an entry point for those unfamiliar with the series. The book includes a timeline and a family tree.
(Wed 20 Oct 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Humorous fantasy novel, latest in the long-running series by Asprin, the first to be a collaboration between Asprin and Nye.
• Online reviews include SF Site's review by Steven H Silver, and this Rambles review by Jean Lewis.
• Excerpts from earlier books in the series appear here. A nitpicker's guide, also somewhat out of date, is here.
(Thu 4 Nov 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, sixth book in the "Tales of Alvin Maker" series following Seventh Son, Red Prophet, Prentice Alvin, Alvin Journeyman, and Heartfire.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which begins "If not the best in the series, Card's latest Alvin Maker novel .. still enchants."
• Bookwrap features the book, with a synopsis, author interviews, etc.
• Card's official website is Hatrack River.
(Thu 4 Nov 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Military SF novel about a far future foreign legion.
• The follow-up, For Those Who Fell, appeared this October -- description.
• Amazon has the PW review: "Dietz has created an intricate tapestry of local and star-faring culture with topnotch action sequences."
(Wed 20 Oct 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Military/hard SF novel about colonists and terrorists on a Martian colony. The author's first novel.
• The Amazon page has reviews from Publishers Weekly, which calls the book "a strong candidate for the year's best SF debut", and Booklist, which says "Drago's exceptionally well-written first novel is a police procedural set on Mars in the twenty-second century."
• Infinity Plus has a review by Stuart Jaffe: "Go buy this book. It's a great read, a lot of fun..."
(Thu 11 Nov 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, first book in a new four part "Dreamers Saga".
• The second volume, The Treasured One, just appeared in hardcover (description).
• Amazon's Jeremy Pugh is not impressed: "The book unfolds like a children's primer. This pedantic style proves to be heavy-handed for adult readers and will quickly try their patience...."
• The publisher's site has this excerpt.
(Wed 20 Oct 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, a first novel, about a woman in a small Maine town who learns of her connection to the Celtic 'Old Ones' from the land of Mordred and Merlin.
• The follow-up, The Winter Oak, has just appeared in hardcover (description).
• The author's webpage offers this excerpt.
• Faren Miller's review in the October '02 Locus said the book, "compared to standard pseudo-Celtic fare", "kicks butt".
(Thu 11 Nov 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel based on Japanese folklore, follow-up to The Fox Woman (2000).
• It was a finalist this year for the World Fantasy Award in the best novel category.
• The author's webpage has a description and excerpt.
• Amazon has the PW review: "This tale of life and dying, of love and humanity, soars with feline grace."
(Thu 4 Nov 2004) • 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.
• Winner of the 2004 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best SF novel of the year.
• 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".
(Wed 27 Oct 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Reprint of the first half of Silverberg's large anthology of original fantasy novellas, Legends II. This volume has stories by Neil Gaiman, Anne McCaffrey, Tad Williams, Robin Hobb, Robert Silverberg, and Raymond E. Feist.
• The second half, titled Legends II : Dragon, Sword, and King, has stories by George R. R. Martin, Orson Scott Card, Diana Gabaldon, Elizabeth Haydon, and Terry Brooks.
• Gaiman's "The Monarch of the Glen" ranked 2nd in this year's Locus Poll for best novelette. Martin's "The Sworn Sword" ranked 4th as best novella. The book itself placed 2nd in the anthology category.
(Wed 27 Oct 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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