Locus Online: New Books, 2nd week July 2005

* Bear, Elizabeth : Scardown
(Bantam Spectra 0-553-58751-x, $6.99, 368pp, mass market paperback, July 2005, cover illustration Paul Youll)

SF novel, sequel to Hammered (2005), about a former Canadian special forces warrior, part machine, who now pilots a starship in search of a habitable world for humanity.
• Both the author's website and the publisher's site has this description; the latter has an excerpt.
• The third volume, Worldwired, is due in November.

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

* Butcher, Jim : Academ's Fury
(Ace 0-441-01283-3, $24.95, 472pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket illustration Steve Stone)

Fantasy novel, second in the "Codex Alera" following Furies of Calderon (2004), set in a realm where adults have bonds with magical spirits that provide defenses and talents. This volume concerns the First Lord's nephew Tavi, now a student at Alera's great academy.
• The author's website has this page about the book, with excerpts posted at weekly intervals.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Solid world-building, intriguing characters and vivid action make this a solid addition to a marvelously entertaining series."
• Carolyn Cushman reviewed the book in the June issue of Locus Magazine: "The fragmented plot takes a while to get rolling, but it builds to high adventure, with engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion..."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

+ Clemens, James : Shadowfall
(Penguin/Roc 0-451-45994-6, $24.95, 465pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Steve Stone)

Fantasy novel, first of the "Godslayer Chronicles", set in a world ruled by a hundred gods and concerning a knight searching for the killer of one of them.
• The author's website has a link to an excerpt.
• Amazon has the PW review: "Once Clemens (Wit'ch Fire, etc.) understands that what characters do with their knowledge is more interesting than how they get it, things should pick up in future installments."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

+ De Pierres, Marianne : Nylon Angel
(Penguin/Roc 0-451-46037-5, $6.99, 289pp, mass market paperback, July 2005) First US edition (UK: Orbit, January 2004)

Cyberpunk SF novel, subtitled "The First Parrish Plessis Novel", about a "femme fatale and all-around bad girl" in a world run by the media.
• The book was a finalist in this year's Aurealis Awards in the Best SF Novel category.
• The author's website has this page about Parrish Plessis, with covers images from various editions of this and forthcoming volumes, and quotes from reviews, as well as information on her other work, including several children's books.
• Amazon has reader reviews, a couple comparing the author to Heinlein, Gibson, and Williams.

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

+ Fallon, Jennifer : Harshini: Book Three of the Hythrun Chronicles
(Tor 0-765-30988-2, $25.95, 444pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Paul Youll) First US edition (Australia: Voyager, 2001)

Fantasy novel, third in the "Demon Child" trilogy and book three of the Hythrun Chronicles, following Medalon (Australia 2000; US April 2004) and Treason Keep (Australia 2001, US November 2004). It's about a human/Harshini demon child battling one god to save others. The fourth volume of the Chronicles, Wolfblade, has already been published in Australia, with two more volumes forthcoming.
• The author's site has a companion to the series, with maps, a glossary, and a description of each book.
• Tor's site has this page about the author within its 'Women in Fantasy' section, with a biography and an excerpt from the first book.
• Amazon has reviews from PW and Booklist, the latter concluding "The battles are fierce, the losses heartrending in Fallon's beautifully created world, whose disparate inhabitants are once again completely convincing, making Harshini a chilling, thrilling conclusion to the trilogy."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

* Gilman, Laura Anne : Curse the Dark
(Harlequin/Luna 0-373-80227-7, $13.95, 346pp, trade paperback, July 2005, cover art uncredited)

Contemporary urban fantasy novel, second in the "Retrievers" series following Staying Dead (2004), about a woman with magical talents who specializes in finding things gone missing. This book concerns the theft of a magical manuscript from an Italian monastery.
• The author's website has a description and excerpt.
• The publisher's site has a description and an excerpt.
• Carolyn Cushman's review in the July issue of Locus concludes "This plot bogs down occasionally in magical politics, but other developing situations - particularly the relationship between Wren and Sergei - keep interest high."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

* Hartwell, David G., & Kathryn Cramer, eds. : Year's Best Fantasy 5
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-077605-6, $7.99, 10+502pp, mass market paperback, July 2005, cover art uncredited)

Anthology of 24 fantasy stories first published in 2004, with an introduction by the editors and introductions to each story.
• Stories include Locus Award winner "Golden City Far" by Gene Wolfe, and others by John Kessel, Robert Reed, Neil Gaiman, Kage Baker, Tim Powers, Tim Pratt, and Nalo Hopkinson.
• HarperCollins' site has a description and excerpt (from Robert Reed's "The Dragons of Summer Gulch").
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book in the upcoming August issue of Locus -- along with several other best of the year anthologies -- remarking "For the most part, [Hartwell and Cramer] deliver what they promise: most of what is in the volume will resonate with habitual fantasy readers, nearly all are comfortably entertaining, and only a few pieces will seriously challenge their assumptions of what fantasy might be."

(Mon 11 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

+ McKenna, Juliet E. : Southern Fire
(Tor 0-765-31411-8, $25.95, 448pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Scott M. Fischer) First US edition (UK: Orbit, October 2003)

Fantasy novel, first in a series of four set in the same world as the "Tales of Einarinn" series that ran from The Thief's Gamble (1999) to The Assassin's Edge (2002). This volume marks her US hardcover debut, and concerns residents of the Aldabreshin Archipelago who fear the magic brought by southern invaders.
• The author's website has this page about the new series, with this page about the current book, with an excerpt, and a preview of the next book, Northern Storm.
• Amazon has the PW review, from this week's issue: "An original and intriguing setting, impressive world-building and compelling writing set McKenna's work apart from a field thick with far less ambitious fantasy works. Fans of Rosemary Kirstein and Robin Hobb will enjoy this book."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

* Nix, Garth : Across the Wall
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-074713-7, $16.99, 12+305pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Leo & Diane Dillon)

Collection of 12 stories, subtitled "A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories", including an original novella set in the land of his Abhorsen trilogy, and a satiric piece on epic fantasy sagas. There's an introduction by Nix, and notes on most of the stories.
• The publisher's site has this description, with reader reviews, and this excerpt from Abhorsen novella "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case".
• Amazon has the Booklist review, and several detailed reader reviews.
• The book is a "New and Notable Book" in Locus Magazine's upcoming August issue.

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

* Schroeder, Karl : Lady of Mazes
(Tor 0-765-31219-0, $24.95, 256pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Stephen Martiniere)

SF novel set in the same universe as Ventus (2000), concerning the Teven Coronal, a ringworld of virtual-reality 'manifolds' created by human interaction with artificial intelligences, where an outside force called 3340 threatens to break down barriers and destroy the system.
• Russell Letson's review in the March issue of Locus calls it "a classic example of the science-fictional game of Where Are We And What Are The Rules Here" while Paul Witcover's SF Weekly review says "Its pedigree goes back to classic conceptual-breakthrough novels like Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky..."
• Amazon has reviews from PW and Booklist; the latter concludes "Schroeder continues to improve his unique blend of hard sf and vivid, dreamlike prose and bids fair to become a major genre voice."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

* Stross, Charles : Accelerando
(Ace 0-441-01284-1, $24.95, 390pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket design Rita Frangie)

SF novel following three generations of a postmodern family as humanity confronts the Vingean singularity. It knits together a series of 9 novellas first published in Asimov's SF magazine, from "Lobsters" (June 2001) through "Survivor" (Dec 2004), several of which have been award nominees, including "Elector" on this year's Hugo ballot.
• Stross has set up website Accelerando.org compiling reviews, commentaries, and free downloads of the entire book in various formats. Wikipedia has a Accelerando Technical Companion.
• The publisher's site has this brief description.
• Amazon has the PW review and reader reviews, including one from John Scalzi calling it "The SF Book to Beat in 2005".
• Nick Gevers reviewed the book in the June issue of Locus, Damien Broderick in the July, who says with the publication of this book "Charles Stross is sealed as the new Poet Laureate of the Vingean technological singularity."

(Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon

	MONITOR New Books July #1 Catherine Asaro Pierce Askegren Orson Scott Card Alan Dean Foster Kim Harrison Kelly Link C.E. Murphy Paul Park Tom Piccirilli M.J. Putney Wen Spencer Yolen & Stemple New Books June #4 Cory Doctorow Dave Freer Mel Odom Mark A. Rayner Mike Resnick Dan Simmons Jonathan Strahan John Twelve Hawks 2005 Archive Advertisement KEY This page lists selected newly published SFFH books seen by Locus Online (independently from the listings compiled by Locus Magazine). Review copies received will be listed (though reprints and reissues are on other pages), but not galleys or advance reading copies. Selections, some based only on bookstore sightings, are at the discretion of Locus Online. * = first edition + = first US edition Date with publisher info is official publication month; Date in parentheses at paragraph end is date seen or received. LINKS Links Portal Bookseller Links Your purchase of books through Amazon.com and Amazon UK links (click on titles or covers) helps support Locus Online Publisher Links E-mail Locus Online		New SF, Fantasy, and Horror books seen : 2nd week July 2005 posted 19 July 2005 * Bear, Elizabeth : Scardown (Bantam Spectra 0-553-58751-x, $6.99, 368pp, mass market paperback, July 2005, cover illustration Paul Youll) SF novel, sequel to Hammered (2005), about a former Canadian special forces warrior, part machine, who now pilots a starship in search of a habitable world for humanity. • Both the author's website and the publisher's site has this description; the latter has an excerpt. • The third volume, Worldwired, is due in November. (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| * Butcher, Jim : Academ's Fury (Ace 0-441-01283-3, $24.95, 472pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket illustration Steve Stone) Fantasy novel, second in the "Codex Alera" following Furies of Calderon (2004), set in a realm where adults have bonds with magical spirits that provide defenses and talents. This volume concerns the First Lord's nephew Tavi, now a student at Alera's great academy. • The author's website has this page about the book, with excerpts posted at weekly intervals. • Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Solid world-building, intriguing characters and vivid action make this a solid addition to a marvelously entertaining series." • Carolyn Cushman reviewed the book in the June issue of Locus Magazine: "The fragmented plot takes a while to get rolling, but it builds to high adventure, with engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion..." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| + Clemens, James : Shadowfall (Penguin/Roc 0-451-45994-6, $24.95, 465pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Steve Stone) Fantasy novel, first of the "Godslayer Chronicles", set in a world ruled by a hundred gods and concerning a knight searching for the killer of one of them. • The author's website has a link to an excerpt. • Amazon has the PW review: "Once Clemens (Wit'ch Fire, etc.) understands that what characters do with their knowledge is more interesting than how they get it, things should pick up in future installments." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| + De Pierres, Marianne : Nylon Angel (Penguin/Roc 0-451-46037-5, $6.99, 289pp, mass market paperback, July 2005) First US edition (UK: Orbit, January 2004) Cyberpunk SF novel, subtitled "The First Parrish Plessis Novel", about a "femme fatale and all-around bad girl" in a world run by the media. • The book was a finalist in this year's Aurealis Awards in the Best SF Novel category. • The author's website has this page about Parrish Plessis, with covers images from various editions of this and forthcoming volumes, and quotes from reviews, as well as information on her other work, including several children's books. • Amazon has reader reviews, a couple comparing the author to Heinlein, Gibson, and Williams. (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| + Fallon, Jennifer : Harshini: Book Three of the Hythrun Chronicles (Tor 0-765-30988-2, $25.95, 444pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Paul Youll) First US edition (Australia: Voyager, 2001) Fantasy novel, third in the "Demon Child" trilogy and book three of the Hythrun Chronicles, following Medalon (Australia 2000; US April 2004) and Treason Keep (Australia 2001, US November 2004). It's about a human/Harshini demon child battling one god to save others. The fourth volume of the Chronicles, Wolfblade, has already been published in Australia, with two more volumes forthcoming. • The author's site has a companion to the series, with maps, a glossary, and a description of each book. • Tor's site has this page about the author within its 'Women in Fantasy' section, with a biography and an excerpt from the first book. • Amazon has reviews from PW and Booklist, the latter concluding "The battles are fierce, the losses heartrending in Fallon's beautifully created world, whose disparate inhabitants are once again completely convincing, making Harshini a chilling, thrilling conclusion to the trilogy." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| * Gilman, Laura Anne : Curse the Dark (Harlequin/Luna 0-373-80227-7, $13.95, 346pp, trade paperback, July 2005, cover art uncredited) Contemporary urban fantasy novel, second in the "Retrievers" series following Staying Dead (2004), about a woman with magical talents who specializes in finding things gone missing. This book concerns the theft of a magical manuscript from an Italian monastery. • The author's website has a description and excerpt. • The publisher's site has a description and an excerpt. • Carolyn Cushman's review in the July issue of Locus concludes "This plot bogs down occasionally in magical politics, but other developing situations - particularly the relationship between Wren and Sergei - keep interest high." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| * Hartwell, David G., & Kathryn Cramer, eds. : Year's Best Fantasy 5 (HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-077605-6, $7.99, 10+502pp, mass market paperback, July 2005, cover art uncredited) Anthology of 24 fantasy stories first published in 2004, with an introduction by the editors and introductions to each story. • Stories include Locus Award winner "Golden City Far" by Gene Wolfe, and others by John Kessel, Robert Reed, Neil Gaiman, Kage Baker, Tim Powers, Tim Pratt, and Nalo Hopkinson. • HarperCollins' site has a description and excerpt (from Robert Reed's "The Dragons of Summer Gulch"). • Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book in the upcoming August issue of Locus -- along with several other best of the year anthologies -- remarking "For the most part, [Hartwell and Cramer] deliver what they promise: most of what is in the volume will resonate with habitual fantasy readers, nearly all are comfortably entertaining, and only a few pieces will seriously challenge their assumptions of what fantasy might be." (Mon 11 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| + McKenna, Juliet E. : Southern Fire (Tor 0-765-31411-8, $25.95, 448pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Scott M. Fischer) First US edition (UK: Orbit, October 2003) Fantasy novel, first in a series of four set in the same world as the "Tales of Einarinn" series that ran from The Thief's Gamble (1999) to The Assassin's Edge (2002). This volume marks her US hardcover debut, and concerns residents of the Aldabreshin Archipelago who fear the magic brought by southern invaders. • The author's website has this page about the new series, with this page about the current book, with an excerpt, and a preview of the next book, Northern Storm. • Amazon has the PW review, from this week's issue: "An original and intriguing setting, impressive world-building and compelling writing set McKenna's work apart from a field thick with far less ambitious fantasy works. Fans of Rosemary Kirstein and Robin Hobb will enjoy this book." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| * Nix, Garth : Across the Wall (HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-074713-7, $16.99, 12+305pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Leo & Diane Dillon) Collection of 12 stories, subtitled "A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories", including an original novella set in the land of his Abhorsen trilogy, and a satiric piece on epic fantasy sagas. There's an introduction by Nix, and notes on most of the stories. • The publisher's site has this description, with reader reviews, and this excerpt from Abhorsen novella "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case". • Amazon has the Booklist review, and several detailed reader reviews. • The book is a "New and Notable Book" in Locus Magazine's upcoming August issue. (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| * Schroeder, Karl : Lady of Mazes (Tor 0-765-31219-0, $24.95, 256pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket art Stephen Martiniere) SF novel set in the same universe as Ventus (2000), concerning the Teven Coronal, a ringworld of virtual-reality 'manifolds' created by human interaction with artificial intelligences, where an outside force called 3340 threatens to break down barriers and destroy the system. • Russell Letson's review in the March issue of Locus calls it "a classic example of the science-fictional game of Where Are We And What Are The Rules Here" while Paul Witcover's SF Weekly review says "Its pedigree goes back to classic conceptual-breakthrough novels like Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky..." • Amazon has reviews from PW and Booklist; the latter concludes "Schroeder continues to improve his unique blend of hard sf and vivid, dreamlike prose and bids fair to become a major genre voice." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| * Stross, Charles : Accelerando (Ace 0-441-01284-1, $24.95, 390pp, hardcover, July 2005, jacket design Rita Frangie) SF novel following three generations of a postmodern family as humanity confronts the Vingean singularity. It knits together a series of 9 novellas first published in Asimov's SF magazine, from "Lobsters" (June 2001) through "Survivor" (Dec 2004), several of which have been award nominees, including "Elector" on this year's Hugo ballot. • Stross has set up website Accelerando.org compiling reviews, commentaries, and free downloads of the entire book in various formats. Wikipedia has a Accelerando Technical Companion. • The publisher's site has this brief description. • Amazon has the PW review and reader reviews, including one from John Scalzi calling it "The SF Book to Beat in 2005". • Nick Gevers reviewed the book in the June issue of Locus, Damien Broderick in the July, who says with the publication of this book "Charles Stross is sealed as the new Poet Laureate of the Vingean technological singularity." (Fri 8 Jul 2005) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| Opening lines: Manfred's on the road again, making strangers rich. Opening lines: "I am going back to the Old Kingdom, Uncle," said Nicholas Sayre. "Whatever Father may have told you. So there is no point in your trying to fix me up with a suitable Sayre job or a suitable Sayre marriage. I am coming with you to what will undoubtedly be a horrendous house party only because it will get me a few hundred miles closer to the Wall." Opening lines: The Montreal has wings. They unfurl around her, gossamer solar sails bearing a kilometers-long dragonfly out of high Earth orbit and into the darkness where she will test herself, and me. She�s already moving like a cutter through night-black water when Colonel Valens straps me to the butter-soft leather of the pilot�s chair and seats the collars. I�m wearing the damned uniform he demanded; it�s made for this, with a cutout under my jacket for the interface. Previous New Books: 1st week July
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