Locus Online: New Books, last week July 2006

* Asprin, Robert, & Peter J. Heck : Phule's Errand
(Ace 0-441-01423-2, $7.99, 281pp, mass market paperback, August 2006, cover art Walter Velez)

Humorous SF novel, sixth in the series of military SF parodies that began with Phule's Company (1990).
• See Alt.Fan.Asprin FAQ Page for everything to know about Asprin. There's also a Wikipedia page.
• Amazon has a couple reader reviews.

(Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Conviser, Josh : Echelon
(Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-48502-5, $13.95, 289pp, trade paperback, July 2006, cover design Stevenson, David)

SF novel, the author's first novel, about a global electronic surveillance system -- secretly created by the NSA after World War II -- called Echelon that's brought peace to the world, and an Echelon agent who investigates a conspiracy to destroy it.
• The publisher's site has this description and an excerpt.
• The author, a screenwriter who worked on the TV series Rome, has this website, with a synopsis and excerpt of the book.
• Amazon has reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal; the former concludes "The highly visual descriptions of the cyberpunk setting make the usual suspects (nanotech that confers superpowers, secretive "suits" vs. "street" hackers, virtual/physical reality crossover) a bit more cinematic, albeit at the expense of believability. The mystery of Echelon's origin dangles at the end, pointing to the promised sequel."

(Tue 25 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Kushner, Ellen : The Privilege of the Sword
(Bantam Spectra 0-553-38268-3, $14, 378pp, trade paperback, August 2006, cover illustration Marc Peltzer & Stephen Youll)

Fantasy novel set in the world of Riverside, setting of previous novels Swordspoint (1987) and The Fall of the King (2002, written with Delia Sherman). In this book a country girl is obliged by her city uncle and patron to learn the ways of the sword.
• Bantam's site has this description and an excerpt.
• Kushner's website has background on her earlier books, and information about her radio and online career. She also writes a blog.
• A hardcover edition of this book will appear from Small Beer Press in September.
• Amazon has the PW review. Faren Miller reviews it in the August issue of Locus Magazine, calling it "a thrilling tale that's more than just a thriller or a melding of quasi-historical fantasy with the comedy of manners."

(Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Lackey, Mercedes, & James Mallory : When Darkness Falls
(Tor 0-765-30221-7, $27.95, 496pp, hardcover, July 2006, jacket art Todd Lockwood)

Fantasy novel, third in the "Obsidian Mountain" trilogy following The Outstretched Shadow (2003) and To Light a Candle (2004).
• Lackey's website has this page announcing the book as "The Fall of Darkness" and noting that "Plans are afoot for another trilogy set in the same world".
• Amazon has the PW review, calling it a "highly readable conclusion to their Obsidian fantasy trilogy" and that "high fantasy fans should appreciate the intelligent storytelling with an unmistakable flavor of Andre Norton at her best."

(Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Lukyanenko, Sergei : Night Watch
(Miramax Books 1-4913-5979-5, $11.95, 455pp, trade paperback, July 2006)

Horror novel, translated from the 1998 Russian original (Wikipedia entry) that became a hit film in 2004. It's about two opposing supernatural groups, the Night Watch that seeks to improve the world, and the Day Watch that seeks to exploit humanity.
• Claude Lalumière reviewed the film for Locus Online.
• Amazon has a description, and the starred review from Publishers Weekly, from its June 5th issue, which calls it "potent as a shot of vodka".

(Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Morse, Drew, ed. : The 2006 Rhysling Anthology
(The Science Fiction Poetry Association/Dark Regions Press 0-8095-6264-2, $12.95, 146pp, trade paperback, May 2006, cover art Maxfield Parrish)

Anthology of 89 SF, fantasy, and horror poems published in 2005 and nominated for this year's Rhysling Award, selected by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Contents are grouped by the award's two categories: short poems and long poems.
• Authors include Mike Allen, Lee Ballentine, Greg Beatty, Bruce Boston, Roger Dutcher, Robert Frazier, Albert Goldbarth, Joe Haldeman, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Yoon Ha Lee, David Lunde, Tim Pratt, Mark Rich, Ann K. Schwader, Marge Simon, Sonya Taaffe, Mikal Trimm, and Uncle River. The full contents -- as well as the winners and runners-up -- are shown here.
• There's an introduction giving the history of the award, and an appendix listing past winners.

(Mon 24 Jul 2006) • (Directory Entry)

* Sanderson, Brandon : Mistborn
(Tor 0-765-31178-X, $27.95, 541pp, hardcover, July 2006, jacket art Jon Foster)

Fantasy novel, first in "The Final Empire" series, about a former thief and prison escapee battling the Lord Ruler of a mist-haunted world. It's the author's second novel, following last year's Elantris.
• The author's website has sample chapters, a link to his blog, and status on several forthcoming projects.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly and Booklist reviews; the latter concludes "Intrigue, politics, and conspiracies mesh complexly in a world Sanderson realizes in satisfying depth and peoples with impressive characters."
• Faren Miller review the book in the August issue of Locus Magazine, calling it an "enjoyable, adventurous read" that should "satisfy even easily-bored teens."

(Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Smith, Scott : The Ruins
(Knopf 1-4000-4387-5, $24.95, 319pp, hardcover, July 2006)

Horror thriller about two American couples exploring Mayan ruins, and what they find. It's by the author of the novel A Simple Plan (1993) and the screenplay of the subsequent film version, and his first novel since then.
• The book has its own URL, www.entertheruins.com, with a summary, author background, interview, sneak peek, a "survive the ruins" quiz, and reviews.
• Amazon has Stephen King's review from Entertainment Weekly -- "The Ruins is going to be America's literary shock-show this summer, doing for vacations in Mexico what Jaws did for beach weekends on Long Island." -- and the starred review from Publishers Weekly: "While admirers of such classic genre writers as John Wyndham or Algernon Blackwood may find the horror less suggestive than they might wish, the eerie atmosphere and compelling plot should appeal to fans of ABC's hit TV series Lost, who will help propel this page-turner up bestseller lists."

(Fri 28 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

* Thompson, Eldon : The Obsidian Key
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-074152-X, $24.95, 516pp, hardcover, July 2006, jacket illustration Koveck)

Fantash novel, second in the "Legend of Asahiel" trilogy following The Crimson Sword (2005). In this book the young King of Alson battles powerful spirits from another dimension who are enslaving the souls of men.
• The HarperCollins site has a description, and text excerpt.
• The author's website has information on this book and the next in the trilogy, The Divine Talisman, due in 2007.

(Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense • (Directory Entry)

	MONITOR New Books July #3 Steven Barnes Linda Buckley-Archer Karen Chance Cole & Perumov Marianne De Pierres Lynn Flewelling Terry Goodkind Theodora Goss Greg Keyes Brian Lumley Rebecca Maines Harry Turtledove Jeanette Winterson New Books July #2 Kevin J. Anderson Barry & Pearson Bruce Boston Brin & Stover Susan Cooper Design Studio Press Gardner Dozois Hartwell & Cramer Katharine Kerr McCaffrey & McCaffrey Paul Park 2006 Archive 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 : last week July 2006 posted 3 August 2006 * Asprin, Robert, & Peter J. Heck : Phule's Errand (Ace 0-441-01423-2, $7.99, 281pp, mass market paperback, August 2006, cover art Walter Velez) Humorous SF novel, sixth in the series of military SF parodies that began with Phule's Company (1990). • See Alt.Fan.Asprin FAQ Page for everything to know about Asprin. There's also a Wikipedia page. • Amazon has a couple reader reviews. (Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Conviser, Josh : Echelon (Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-48502-5, $13.95, 289pp, trade paperback, July 2006, cover design Stevenson, David) SF novel, the author's first novel, about a global electronic surveillance system -- secretly created by the NSA after World War II -- called Echelon that's brought peace to the world, and an Echelon agent who investigates a conspiracy to destroy it. • The publisher's site has this description and an excerpt. • The author, a screenwriter who worked on the TV series Rome, has this website, with a synopsis and excerpt of the book. • Amazon has reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal; the former concludes "The highly visual descriptions of the cyberpunk setting make the usual suspects (nanotech that confers superpowers, secretive "suits" vs. "street" hackers, virtual/physical reality crossover) a bit more cinematic, albeit at the expense of believability. The mystery of Echelon's origin dangles at the end, pointing to the promised sequel." (Tue 25 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Kushner, Ellen : The Privilege of the Sword (Bantam Spectra 0-553-38268-3, $14, 378pp, trade paperback, August 2006, cover illustration Marc Peltzer & Stephen Youll) Fantasy novel set in the world of Riverside, setting of previous novels Swordspoint (1987) and The Fall of the King (2002, written with Delia Sherman). In this book a country girl is obliged by her city uncle and patron to learn the ways of the sword. • Bantam's site has this description and an excerpt. • Kushner's website has background on her earlier books, and information about her radio and online career. She also writes a blog. • A hardcover edition of this book will appear from Small Beer Press in September. • Amazon has the PW review. Faren Miller reviews it in the August issue of Locus Magazine, calling it "a thrilling tale that's more than just a thriller or a melding of quasi-historical fantasy with the comedy of manners." (Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Lackey, Mercedes, & James Mallory : When Darkness Falls (Tor 0-765-30221-7, $27.95, 496pp, hardcover, July 2006, jacket art Todd Lockwood) Fantasy novel, third in the "Obsidian Mountain" trilogy following The Outstretched Shadow (2003) and To Light a Candle (2004). • Lackey's website has this page announcing the book as "The Fall of Darkness" and noting that "Plans are afoot for another trilogy set in the same world". • Amazon has the PW review, calling it a "highly readable conclusion to their Obsidian fantasy trilogy" and that "high fantasy fans should appreciate the intelligent storytelling with an unmistakable flavor of Andre Norton at her best." (Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Lukyanenko, Sergei : Night Watch (Miramax Books 1-4913-5979-5, $11.95, 455pp, trade paperback, July 2006) Horror novel, translated from the 1998 Russian original (Wikipedia entry) that became a hit film in 2004. It's about two opposing supernatural groups, the Night Watch that seeks to improve the world, and the Day Watch that seeks to exploit humanity. • Claude Lalumière reviewed the film for Locus Online. • Amazon has a description, and the starred review from Publishers Weekly, from its June 5th issue, which calls it "potent as a shot of vodka". (Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Morse, Drew, ed. : The 2006 Rhysling Anthology (The Science Fiction Poetry Association/Dark Regions Press 0-8095-6264-2, $12.95, 146pp, trade paperback, May 2006, cover art Maxfield Parrish) Anthology of 89 SF, fantasy, and horror poems published in 2005 and nominated for this year's Rhysling Award, selected by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Contents are grouped by the award's two categories: short poems and long poems. • Authors include Mike Allen, Lee Ballentine, Greg Beatty, Bruce Boston, Roger Dutcher, Robert Frazier, Albert Goldbarth, Joe Haldeman, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Yoon Ha Lee, David Lunde, Tim Pratt, Mark Rich, Ann K. Schwader, Marge Simon, Sonya Taaffe, Mikal Trimm, and Uncle River. The full contents -- as well as the winners and runners-up -- are shown here. • There's an introduction giving the history of the award, and an appendix listing past winners. (Mon 24 Jul 2006) • (Directory Entry) \| * Sanderson, Brandon : Mistborn (Tor 0-765-31178-X, $27.95, 541pp, hardcover, July 2006, jacket art Jon Foster) Fantasy novel, first in "The Final Empire" series, about a former thief and prison escapee battling the Lord Ruler of a mist-haunted world. It's the author's second novel, following last year's Elantris. • The author's website has sample chapters, a link to his blog, and status on several forthcoming projects. • Amazon has the Publishers Weekly and Booklist reviews; the latter concludes "Intrigue, politics, and conspiracies mesh complexly in a world Sanderson realizes in satisfying depth and peoples with impressive characters." • Faren Miller review the book in the August issue of Locus Magazine, calling it an "enjoyable, adventurous read" that should "satisfy even easily-bored teens." (Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Smith, Scott : The Ruins (Knopf 1-4000-4387-5, $24.95, 319pp, hardcover, July 2006) Horror thriller about two American couples exploring Mayan ruins, and what they find. It's by the author of the novel A Simple Plan (1993) and the screenplay of the subsequent film version, and his first novel since then. • The book has its own URL, www.entertheruins.com, with a summary, author background, interview, sneak peek, a "survive the ruins" quiz, and reviews. • Amazon has Stephen King's review from Entertainment Weekly -- "The Ruins is going to be America's literary shock-show this summer, doing for vacations in Mexico what Jaws did for beach weekends on Long Island." -- and the starred review from Publishers Weekly: "While admirers of such classic genre writers as John Wyndham or Algernon Blackwood may find the horror less suggestive than they might wish, the eerie atmosphere and compelling plot should appeal to fans of ABC's hit TV series Lost, who will help propel this page-turner up bestseller lists." (Fri 28 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| * Thompson, Eldon : The Obsidian Key (HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-074152-X, $24.95, 516pp, hardcover, July 2006, jacket illustration Koveck) Fantash novel, second in the "Legend of Asahiel" trilogy following The Crimson Sword (2005). In this book the young King of Alson battles powerful spirits from another dimension who are enslaving the souls of men. • The HarperCollins site has a description, and text excerpt. • The author's website has information on this book and the next in the trilogy, The Divine Talisman, due in 2007. (Wed 26 Jul 2006) • Purchase this book from Amazon \| BookSense • (Directory Entry) \| Opening lines: In the moments after impact, cold fury consumed Ryan Laing. Adrenaline blasted through him. Rage fired hot. Electric pain racked limbs, joints, and bone. His blood flowed, staining the desert earth. Muscles locked in spasm, drawn taut. Opening lines: No one sends for a niece they've never seen before just to annoy her family and ruin her life. That, at least, is what I thought. This was before I had ever been to the city. I had never been in a duel, or held a sword myself. I had never kissed anyone, or had anyone try to kill me, or worn a velvet cloak. I had certainly never met my uncle the Mad Duke. Once I met him, much was explained. Opening lines: They met Mathias on a day trip to Cozumel. They'd hired a guide to take them snorkeling over a local wreck, but the buoy marking its location had broken off in a storm, and the guide was having difficulty finding it. So they were just swimming about, looking at nothing in particular. Then Mathias rose toward them from the depths, like a merman, a scuba tank on his back. He smiled when they told him their situation, and led them to the wreck. Opening lines: The winter storm tore across the land, ripping and snarling like a caged beast set free at last. Its howling breath wailed in his ears. Its frigid claws raked his skin. The darkness of its maw enveloped the earth, rendering deliberate progress a fool's dream. Previous New Books: July #3
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