R. Scott Bakker, The Warrior-Prophet
(Overlook Press Jan 2005)
Holy war breaks out despite intrigues and conflict between allies in this thrilling fantasy novel, the second book of an epic trilogy, The Prince of Nothing. Originally published in Canada last year and now out in the US.
David G. Barnett, ed., Damned: An Anthology of the Lost
(Necro Press Apr 2004)
Heaven and hell battle over souls in this impressive anthology of 12 new horror stories by authors including Jack Ketchum, Tom Piccirilli, Charlee Jacob, and Edward Lee.
Neil Barron, ed., Anatomy of Wonder, Fifth Edition
(Libraries Unlimited Dec 2004)
One of the major reference guides to the field gets a major overhaul in this new edition, with critical annotations of over 2,000 novels and reference works (almost 700 new) along with revised and expanded discussion of the history of SF, online resources, library collections, art, magazines, fandom, films, and more.
Peter Crowther, ed., Constellations
(DAW Jan 2005)
The theme of stars gets a wide-ranging exploration in this anthology of 15 all-new stories by some of the biggest names in British SF today, including Alastair Reynolds, Stephen Baxter, Gwyneth Jones, and Paul McAuley.
Cecilia Dart-Thornton, The Iron Tree
(Tor UK Nov 2004)
A young man seeking his long-gone father teams up with a young woman who fears madness runs in her family in this epic fantasy full of elements out of British and Irish folklore, the first volume in The Crowthistle Chronicles.
Gardner Dozois, ed., The Best of the Best: Twenty Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction
(St. Martin's Griffin Feb 2005)
Dozois undertook the Herculean task of winnowing out the very best stories from the first 20 volumes of his award-winning anthology series (a total of 6,306,634 words by 180 authors) to present 36 stories, some well known, others ‘‘unfairly overlooked.’’
Steven Erikson, Deadhouse Gates
(Tor Feb 2005)
The second volume in the acclaimed epic fantasy series, The Malazan Book of the Fallen, the story of varied adventurers dealing with war, intrigue, and dark magics in the far reaches of a vast empire. [First American edition]
Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Stamping Butterflies
(Orion/Gollancz Nov 2004)
Contemporary thriller and New Space Opera combine in the intertwined stories of two men - one a near-future assassin/genius, the other a far-future emperor - who believe they are dreaming each other. ‘‘A major novel from ... one of the major figures of the new British SF.’’ [Gary K. Wolfe]
H. P. Lovecraft, edited by Peter Straub, Tales
(Library of America Feb 2005)
The master of the weird tale joins the Library of America’s list of great American authors with this collection of 22 classic stories.
Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle, Burning Tower
(Pocket Feb 2005)
The magical prehistory continues in this sequel to The Burning City, as a city lord joins merchants on their travels to new territories, finding a wondrous - and deadly - pre-Aztec civilization that risks its own destruction in its profligate use of dwindling magic supplies.
Robert Reed, The Well of Stars
(Orbit Dec 2004)
The Big Ideas of novelette ‘‘Marrow’’ are nearly eclipsed in this sequel, in which the immense Great Ship, so big it contains worlds, encounters an entity made up of planet-sized organisms.
Bill Sheehan, ed., Night Visions 11
(Subterranean Press Jun 2004)
The latest volume in this noted series of horror anthologies goes for quality, not quantity, with three original dark fantasy novellas by noted authors Tim Lebbon, Kim Newman, and Lucius Shepard.
Steph Swainston, The Year of Our War
(HarperCollins/Eos Feb 2005)
The fate of an empire of immortals at war with giant insects may depend on a drug-addicted Messenger who can fly in this powerful first novel, an inventive fantasy acclaimed as a model of the New Weird, now out in the US.
Lisa Tuttle, My Death
(PS Publishing Oct 2004)
Moody, evocative novella of a biographer obsessed by her subject’s self-portrait, and its clues to a mystery from the past.
