* Bear, Greg : Quantico
(UK: HarperCollins UK 0-00-712978-5, £17.99, 439pp, hardcover, November 2005)

Contemporary SF thriller about three FBI agents, graduates of the academy in Quantico, Virginia, and their involvement in a new round of terrorist attacks against the US and international targets.
• Bear's website has this description from the cover flap.
• The London Times ran this review by Peter Millar: "The blurb for Quantico proudly declares that, in 2000, the author lectured the FBI academy there on the future of crime and criminal justice. Whether he foresaw the World Trade Centre attacks or the anthrax letters sent throughout the US mail in the weeks that followed is not mentioned, but the latter lie at the scientific heart of this book..."
• There is currently no US edition of this novel scheduled.
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book in the January issue of Locus Magazine: "Quantico is by far the most stripped-down and linear of Bear's near-future thrillers, and the one most willing to play with the clichés and conventions of the genre..."

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+ Browne, N. M. : The Story of Stone
(Bloomsbury USA 1-58234-655-0, $17.95, 335pp, hardcover, October 2005) First US edition (UK: Bloomsbury, September 2005)

Young adult fantasy novel about an archaeologist who discovers a magical stone that reveals a past civilization.
• The author's website has this page of story notes (including spoilers) with links to an extract and reviews.
• The publisher's site has this author information.
• Amazon has reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist; the former concludes "This multilayered novel may be daunting for readers new to fantasy, but fans of the genre will relish the complex, but thoroughly satisfying tale."
• Carolyn Cushman reviews it in the December issue of Locus Magazine.

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* Calhoun, Dia : The Phoenix Dance
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux 0-374-35910-5, $17, 273pp, hardcover, October 2005, cover art Rebecca Guary)

Young adult fantasy novel, in part a retelling of the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", about a young girl who dreams of becoming a shoemaker, and her battle with the 'Illness of the Two Kingdoms', i.e. bipolar disorder.
• The author's website has this description, noting that the book is a companion to earlier novel Aria of the Sea.
• Amazon has the School Library Journal review -- "Calhoun has created a strong fantasy novel, complete with a well-rounded heroine suffering from a very real illness."
• Carolyn Cushman, in the December Locus Magazine, isn't quite as impressed: "Unfortunately, the fairy tale elements mix oddly with the issues of mental illness and social inequality, making the story less engaging than it should be."

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* Duchamp, L. Timmel : The Red Rose Rages (Bleeding)
(Aqueduct Press 1-933500-02-6, $9, 166pp, trade paperback, November 2005)

SF novel about an actor sentenced to prison for civil disobedience, and a prison administrator who hopes a scientific breakthrough will help rehabilitate her.
• The publisher's site has this description and ordering information.
• The author's website has a long essay, The Prick of Political Imagination: on Writing The Red Rose Rages (Bleeding), about her own acts of civil disobedience.

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* Fenner, Cathy, & Arnie Fenner, eds. : Spectrum 12: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art
(Underwood Books 1-887424-94-6, $29.95, 208pp, trade paperback, October 2005, cover painting David Bowers)

Twelfth annual yearbook of fantasy art, with reproductions of over 400 works by almost 300 artists, chosen by jury and announcing Gold and Silver Awards in various categories (Advertising, Book, Comics, etc.) as well as a Grand Master Award -- this year to H.R. Giger. Arnie Fenner's introduction covers "The Year in Review", and Harlan Ellison writes about Giger. There's also an artist index with contact information for each artist.
• The publisher's site has this page about the book, while the Spectrum Fantastic Art Official Website has information about the annual contest.
• The Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards compiles winners from past years' volumes.
• Also available in hardcover.
• Karen Haber reviews it in the December issue of Locus Magazine.

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* Hanson, Donna Maree : Australian Speculative Fiction: A Genre Overview
(Australia: Aust Speculative Fiction 0-9757217-0-4, A$45, 10+226pp, trade paperback, November 2005, cover art Nick Stathopoulos)

Nonfiction overview of Australian SF and related fantastic genres. Contents include profiles of Australian authors -- 135 of them, 1 per page from Deborah Abela to John Zanetti, with notables K.J. Bishop, Damien Broderick, Jack Dann, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Sara Douglass, Terry Dowling, Greg Egan, Margo Lanagan, Justine Larbalestier, Chris Lawson, Sean McMullen, Garth Nix, Lucy Sussex, Anna Tambour, Scott Westerfeld, Sean Williams and others in between; a section on illustrators, with color examples of artwork; a section on Australian magazines and anthologies; brief profiles of new authors; and appendices including table of contents listings of magazines and anthologies, and an index of names and titles.
• There's a foreword by Van Ikin, and an introduction by the editor.
• The publisher's site has a PDF press release about the book, photos from the book's launch party in November with Jack Dann, and ordering information.

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* Luceno, James : Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
(Del Rey 0-345-47732-4, $25.95, 322pp, hardcover, November 2005, jacket design David Stevenson)

SF media-related novel set in the Star Wars universe, following the character of Darth Vader picking up just after the last Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith.
• Del Rey's site has this description and an excerpt.
• Amazon has reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, the latter concluding "Now that all three Star Wars prequel movies are out, expect plenty more novels along the lines of this gripping, fast-paced story."

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* Marley, Louise : Singer in the Snow
(Penguin/Viking 0-670-05965-X, $16.99, 304pp, hardcover, October 2005)

YA science fantasy novel set on the ice planet Nevya, follow-up to her "Singers of Nevya" trilogy, where singers channel psi energy through music to create heat and light.
• Marley's website has this page about the book, with the publisher's description and reprints of several reviews.
• Carolyn Cushman reviewed it in the August issue of Locus Magazine: "This is SF with a fantasy feel very much in the style of Anne McCaffrey, a bit overwrought, but involving."

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+ Oppel, Kenneth : Skybreaker
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-053227-0, $16.99, 369pp, hardcover, December 2005, jacket art Danilo Ducak) First US edition (Canada: HarperCollins Canada, July 2005)

YA fantasy novel, sequel to Airborn, set in an early 20th century with pirates and airships. This book involves the pursuit of a legendary ghost ship.
• The series website has this page about the new book, with a flash introduction, description, an excerpt, etc.
• Amazon has a review by Lisa Alward: "With pirates, sky monsters, and disturbed spirits, not to mention enough bizarre flying machines to fill an aviation museum (even a bat-copter for Silverwing fans), Skybreaker confirms Kenneth Oppel's reputation as Canada's leading fantasy author for children and young adults."
• Faren Miller reviews the book in the upcoming January issue of Locus Magazine: "Skybreaker's climactic chapters are likely to win over even cranky types, for they're chock-full of thrills and chills, pirates, monsters, gizmos and death-defying feats more fun than any theme park ride or video game. Enjoy!"

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* Pierce, Tamora, & Josepha Sherman, eds. : Young Warriors
(Random House 0-375-82962-8, $17.95, 312pp, hardcover, October 2005)

Young adult anthology of 15 original fantasy stories on the theme 'What does it take to be a warrior?'. Authors include Mike Resnick, Janis Ian, Holly Black, Esther M. Friesner, Tamora Pierce, and Bruce Holland Rogers.
• Random House is hosting a contest based on the book, asking readers to submit pictures of themselves as young warriors and describing what makes them one. The deadline is January 31, 2006.
• Tamora Pierce's website notes that the book has already been nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association (along with numerous other genre titles).
• Amazon has reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist.

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* Pohl, Frederik : Platinum Pohl
(Tor 0-312-87527-4, $27.95, 463pp, hardcover, December 2005, jacket art Digital Art/Corbis)

Career-spanning collection of 30 stories, including Hugo Award winners "Fermi and Frost" and "The Meeting" (co-written by C.M. Kornbluth), as well as classics "Day Million", "The Merchants of Venus" (precursor to Gateway), and "The Gold at the Starbow's End". Introduction by James Frenkel, and afterword, "Fifty Years and Counting", by the author.
• The book is one of SciFi.com and Tor Books' Sci Fi Essentials, with this description and excerpt (from "The Merchants of Venus").
• Amazon has PW and Booklist reviews, the former beginning "Spanning the five decades of SFWA Grand Master Pohl's career, these 30 stories stand out for their gritty, straightforward style and for their insightful ideas about our political, social and ecological future."
• Damien Broderick reviews the book in the January issue of Locus Magazine, discussing both the stories that are included in the book and a couple significant ones that aren't.

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* Westerfeld, Scott : Pretties
(Simon Pulse 0-689-86539-2, $6.99, 370pp, trade paperback, November 2005)

Young adult SF novel, second in a trilogy following Uglies (March 2005), set in a world where everyone has an operation at age 16 to make them beautiful. In this book Tally, now a Pretty, faces the consequences of her transformation.
• The SimonSays site has this description, and an excerpt.
• The author's site has this page about the trilogy, with quotes from reviews and an author Q&A.
• Amazon has reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist; the latter concludes "Just as good as its predecessor, it will leave fans breathlessly waiting for the trilogy's final volume."

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