* Beagle, Peter S. : The Line Between
(Tachyon Publications 1-892391-36-8, $14.95, 14+231pp, trade paperback, July 2006)

Collection of 11 stories, five of them (including four brief ones under the umbrella title "Four Fables") previous unpublished. Titles include "Two Hearts", a sequel to Beagle's early novel The Last Unicorn and winner of this year's Hugo Award for best novelette, and "A Dance for Emilia", published as a short book by Roc in 2000.
• Beagle provides a book introduction and introductions to the stories.
• The publisher's site has this page about the book, with a description and quotes from reviews.
• Amazon has the starred Publishers Weekly review, from its July 10th issue, which says "all 10 stories in this book are lucid and refreshing as spring water, full of amusement, humanity, and wisdom."
• Nick Gevers reviews it in the upcoming September issue of Locus Magazine, calling it "his third and best collection" ... "a cornucopia of delights; mark this as a major contender for Collection of the Year."

|

* Dahlquist, Gordon : The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters
(Bantam 0-385-34035-4, $26, 760pp, hardcover, September 2006, jacket design and illustration Shasti O'Leary Soudant)

Historical fantasy novel, the author's first novel, set in a city resembling Victorian London and concerning characters who gather at a country mansion where they discover alchemical experiments with crystals that capture memories...
• The publisher's site has this description -- "a mammoth work of the imagination, a deliriously readable, heartstoppingly suspenseful, and darkly erotic masterpiece of storytelling." -- an excerpt, and a special Glass Books website.
• Amazon has a statement by the author about how he came to write the book, and the Publishers Weekly review, which says it "aims for a blockbuster" but "never quite comes together".
• Faren Miller reviews it in the upcoming September issue of Locus Magazine, noting the heavy publicity behind the book: "Can it possibly live up to all that hype? Actually, it can."

|

* Datlow, Ellen, Kelly Link & Gavin Grant, eds. : The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2006: Nineteenth Annual Collection
(St. Martin's Griffin 0-312-35614-5, $19.95, 123+480pp, trade paperback, August 2006, cover art and design Thomas Canty)

Anthology of 40 stories and poems first published in 2005. Authors include Delia Sherman, Bruce Sterling, Elizabeth Hand, Jeffrey Ford, Howard Waldrop, Geoff Ryman, Joe Hill, Theodora Goss, and Kim Newman.
• Over 100 pages of year-in-summation essays include Kelly Link and Gavin Grant on fantasy, Ellen Datlow on horror, Edward Bryant on media, Charles Vess on graphic novels, Joan D. Vinge on anime and manga, Charles de Lint on music, and obituaries compiled by James Frenkel. The book concludes with 18 pages of honorable mentions.
• There's also a hardcover edition; the Amazon page for it includes a complete list of story and poem contributors.
• Cat Eldridge has this review at Green Man Review.
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book (and three other year's best fantasy anthologies) in the upcoming September issue of Locus Magazine, exploring the shift in the fantasy selections since Link and Grant took over for Terri Windling three years ago: "But if a veteran horror reader might find much that's familiar in Datlow's selections - though they'd look in vain for vampires and werewolves - a fantasy reader coming from the world of dragon-riddled trilogies and whimsical lawn-gnome fiction might be thoroughly disoriented by Link & Grant's eclectic choices, in which dysfunctional families are far more likely to take center stage than sword-wielding heroes."

|

+ Eddings, David, & Leigh Eddings : The Younger Gods
(Warner Aspect 0446532282, $26.99, 410pp, hardcover, August 2006, jacket illustration Matt Stawicki) First US edition (UK: HarperCollins/Voyager, May 2006)

Fantasy novel, fourth and concluding volume of "The Dreamers" series following The Elder Gods, The Treasured One, and Crystal Gorge. In this book the land of Dhall is threatened not only by an invading insectoid army, but also by an insane Elder God planning to murder one of the Younger Gods.
• The publisher's site has this description and an excerpt.

|

+ Erikson, Steven : House of Chains
(Tor 0-765-31574-2, $14.95, 669pp, trade paperback, August 2006, cover art Todd Lockwood) First US edition (UK: Transworld/Bantam UK, December 2002)

Fantasy novel, fourth book of the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series following Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates, and Memories of Ice, concerning the Malazan empire and its numerous enemies.
• A hardcover edition is also available.
• The series' website, www.malazanempire.com, has background on the author and the books.
• SF Site ran this review by Neil Walsh of the earlier UK edition: "The highest praise I can offer House of Chains is to say that it is Erikson's best yet. Without a doubt, this is one of the best books of the year. Without a doubt, this is the best series of the past decade."
• Amazon has Publishers Weekly's starred review, from its July 10th issue -- "Unusual among fantasy writers, Erikson succeeds in making readers empathize equally with all sides involved in his world's vast, century-spanning conflict." -- and a review by Booklist's Roland Green, who notes "with the help of the glossary and cast of characters Erikson provides, this book is enjoyable even without previous acquaintance with the Malazan tales." also hc

|

+ Larke, Glenda : The Tainted
(Ace 0-441-01419-4, $7.99, 432pp, mass market paperback, July 2006, cover art Scott Grimando)

Fantasy novel, third book in the "Isles of Glory" trilogy following The Aware (2003) and Gilfeather (2004).
• The publisher's website has this description.
• The Amazon page has a brief note from the author, and points to her blog, Tropic Temper.
• Cheryl Morgan reviewed the book in Emerald City, concluding "This is not the stuff of formula fantasy. Larke is not just telling a light and fluffy story of heroism, she is telling us things that she thinks are important. My spies in Australia tell me that her new series continues the trend of improvement. I'm looking forward to it."

|

* Little, Denise, ed. : Hags, Sirens & Other Bad Girls of Fantasy
(DAW 0-7564-0369-3, $7.99, 307pp, mass market paperback, July 2006)

Anthology of 20 original stories about 'bad girls of fantasy'. Authors include Laura Resnick, C.S. Friedman, Greg Beatty, Jean Rabe, and Rosemary Edghill.
• The Amazon page has a reader comment that lists the complete table of contents.

|

* Martinez, A. Lee : In the Company of Ogres
(Tor 0765315475, $13.95, 352pp, trade paperback, August 2006, cover art Jeff Soto)

Humorous fantasy novel, follow-up to the author's first novel Gil's All-Fright Diner (2005). This book is about a soldier, Never Dead Ned, who's died and come back to life 49 times, now put in command of a company of misfit ogres, goblins, trolls, etc.
• Amazon has the Booklist review by Regina Schroeder, who calls it "as joyfully fast paced and funny" as the author's first book.
• The author's website includes a blog, a forum, and ordering information.

|

* May, Julian : Sorcerer's Moon
(Ace 0-441-01383-X, $25.95, 451pp, hardcover, August 2006, jacket illustration Steve Stone)

Fantasy novel, third in the Boreal Moon sequence following Conqueror's Moon (2004) and Ironcrown Moon (2005). In this book issues of succession threaten a kingdom's ability to defend itself against tentacled Salka.
• Wikipedia has this entry for the author.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly and Booklist reviews; the latter's Roland Green concludes "Though the pace is sometimes slow, May realizes characters, setting, and the potential ethical conundrums involved in using magic with her accustomed skill, and readers who've enjoyed her for 30 years won't stop now."

|

* Ringo, John, & Travis Taylor : Von Neumann's War
(Baen 1416520759, $25, 394pp, hardcover, August 2006, cover illustration Kurt Miller)

SF novel, first in a new series, about an invasion of self-replicating probes that turns Mars from red to gray, presumably using it as a staging ground before attacking Earth.
• Baen's websubscription.net site has this description -- "a new saga of invasion, resistance and heroism!" -- and links to several chapters.
• Amazon has a brief description, and mostly positive reader reviews, including one by P. Gibbs titled "Rocket Scientists vs. Alien Invaders" that comments "If you look closely at the cultural assumptions of the book, it is easy to conclude that it could not have been written by a couple of liberal SF writers in San Francisco. Its setting and its tone are very southern."

|

+ Shepherd, Joel : Crossover
(Pyr 1-59102-443-9, $15, 457pp, trade paperback, August 2006, cover illustration Stephan Martiniere)

SF novel, the debut novel by the Australian author, first published there by HarperCollins Voyager in 2001. It's the first "Cassandra Kresnov Novel", about an experimental android who's defected from her position with the League for refuge with her former enemy, the Federation.
• Pyr's website has this description with excerpts from reviews.
• The author's website displays the Australian covers of this book and its two sequels, already published there. He also has a blog.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which concludes "Lacing Cassandra's search for identity and acceptance with plenty of hand-to-hand combat and racy sexual exploits, Shepherd also convincingly presents vividly realized ethical dilemmas: what happens to soldiers when the war is over? can a culture that opposes the artificial manufacture of life accept its creations? Shephard grapples with some genuinely thought-provoking questions on the nature of humanity."

|

* Walton, Jo : Farthing
(Tor 0-765-31421-5, $25.95, 319pp, hardcover, August 2006)

SF alternate history novel, the author's first novel since her World Fantasy Award winning Tooth and Claw (2003). This book is set in alternate 1949 in which Nazi Germany has won control of the European continent. The story concerns a gathering at a country estate called Farthing, where a murder takes place.
• The author's website has this page for the book, with links to an excerpt, a FAQ ("Did you really write it in three weeks? A. 17 days."), and blurbs.
• The author's blog mentions various online reviews, including one by Rich Horton (also posted on the Amazon page).
• Amazon has Publishers Weekly and Booklist reviews; the former's starred review, from its June 12th issue, calls it a "stunningly powerful alternative history" and concludes "But while the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well."
• Lisa Goldstein reviewed the book in the May issue of Locus Magazine, saying that while the book "plays fair with the conventions of the genre", "Walton is dealing with a larger mystery - why people do evil to one another - and here she succeeds brilliantly. ... It's a clear-eyed, passionate meditation on universal themes: injustice, civil liberties, the fear of the outsider. No wonder it reads as if it was written just this morning." LR 2006/05 lg LR 2006/05 lg LR 2006/05 lg LR 2006/05 lg

|

* Whitfield, Kit : Benighted
(Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-49163-7, $14.95, 532pp, trade paperback, September 2006)

Fantasy thriller, set in a world where werewolves form the majority of the population, and a minority of human 'barebacks' are tasked with maintaining order every full moon. (The virtually simultaneous UK edition is called Bareback.)
• The author's website has this page about the book, with answers to FAQs. She also writes a blog.
• Del Rey's site has this description and an excerpt.
• Paula Guran mentioned the book as one of her favorites so far in 2006, at a panel at last week's World SF Convention.
• Amazon has Publishers Weekly's starred review, from its July 31st issue: "A nuanced exploration of prejudice, this deftly written, absorbing debut deserves a crossover literary and fantasy readership."
• Faren Miller reviews it in the upcoming September issue of Locus Magazine, saying "Kit Whitfield takes a somewhat unlikely premise - that throughout history, the dominant majority of humans have been werewolves ("lunes") who change shapes with every full moon - and makes it work through something a lot like mainstream realism."

|