* Aldiss, Brian W. : HARM
(Ballantine Del Rey 978-0-345-49671-3, $21.95, 225pp, hardcover, June 2007, jacket illustration Tifenn Python)

SF novel about a government agency, HARM (for Hostile Activities Research Ministry), that interrogates a writer of Muslim descent who's written a satirical novel about government officials, and who escapes his torment by imagining an insect-dominated planet called Stygia.
• Del Rey's site has this description, with dustjacket blurbs and this author Q&A.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which calls the book "a hard-hitting view of the global war on terror in this cautionary tale of the near future" and concludes "Aldiss deserves credit for continuing his long tradition of using the genre to explore current hot-button political issues."
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book in the May issue of Locus Magazine, calling it "a novel as bitter and disturbing in its own more tightly focused way as MacLeod's" The Execution Channel.

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* Allen, Roger MacBride : BSI: Starside: Death Sentence
(Bantam Spectra 978-0-553-58727-2, $6.99, 482pp, mass market paperback, June 2007, cover art Jerry Vanderstelt & James Wang)

SF novel, second in a series following BSI: Starside: The Cause of Death (2006), about the interstellar Bureau of Special Investigations. In this book a 25-year-old BSI agent, missing for six months, is found dead of old age.
• The series has its own URL, www.bsi-starside.com.
• Bantam's website has this description and an excerpt.

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* Butcher, Jim : Wizard Under Fire
(SFBC 978-0-7394-8344-2, $15.99, 754pp, hardcover, May 2007, jacket art Daniel Dos Santos)

Omnibus of the eighth and ninth novels in the "Dresden Chronicles" about crime-solving wizard Harry Dresden in Chicago: Proven Guilty (2006) and White Night (2007).
• The author's website and descriptions and sample chapters.
• This edition is exclusive to the Science Fiction Book Club, which has published three previous collection of novels in the series. The club's page for this volume has a description and several member reviews.

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* Delany, Samuel R. : Dark Reflections
(Carroll & Graf 978-0-78671-947-1, $15.95, 295pp, trade paperback, May 2007)

Associational (non-SF/F) novel, a sort of alternative autobiography, about an African-American poet in New York's Lower East Side and his career as a poet.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly and Booklist reviews; PW concludes "Delany transforms poetry's status as the most ignored field of American letters into a devastating and beautifully written study of the loneliness and despair that so often accompany the life of the mind in America", while Booklist's Carl Hays calls it "one of his most masterfully written novels to date".
• Matthew Cheney wrote this post last month about reading this book and seeing a film about Delany; he describes the book as "one of the most immediately accessible novels Delany has written in ages. This is not to say it lacks complexity -- it's intellectually rich and structurally impressive, with hardly any moment lacking echoes and reiterations elsewhere in the book."

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* Douglass, Sara : The Serpent Bride: Darkglass Mountain, Book 1
(Eos 978-0-060-88213-6, $26.95, 627pp, hardcover, May 2007, jacket illustration Steve Stone)

Fantasy novel, first in a new series that follows the six-volume The Wayfarer Redemption novels. It concerns a Serpent Cult that reads the future from the bowels of human males.
• The author's website has this page about the series, with a map and a description of this book.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Set in a world evocative of ancient Egypt, the dark, sensuous first in a new fantasy series from Australian author Douglass picks up five years after the events in 2006's Crusader, the conclusion to her Wayfarer Redemption series...."

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* Estep, Jennifer : Karma Girl
(Berkley 978-0-425-21511-1, $14, 360pp, trade paperback, May 2007, cover art Stan Chow)

Fantasy romance novel, the author's first novel, about a newspaper reporter who discovers her fiance is a superhero.
• Berkley's site has this description.
• The author's site has these descriptions of the book and its sequels, with a chapter one excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "A zippy prose style helps lift this zany caper far above the usual run of paranormal romances."
• Carolyn Cushman reviews it in the June issue of Locus Magazine: "It's a goofy take on superheroes that makes you ask (along with Carmen) why no one ever notices the local billionaire's resemblance to the local superhero. A little suspension of disbelief is required, but the result is lots of fun."

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* Gilman, Laura Anne : Burning Bridges
(Luna 978-0-373-80274-6, $14.95, 410pp, trade paperback, June 2007)

Contemporary urban fantasy novel, fourth in the "Retrievers" series following Staying Dead (2004), Curse the Dark (2005), and Bring It On (2006), about a woman with magical talents who specializes in finding things gone missing. This book concerns war between talented and untalented humans.
• The author's website has this page about the series.
• The publisher's site has a description and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Though newcomers to the series might find the plot and multiple cabals a little confusing-with the spy stuff a little too derivative of TV's Alias and not enough fey-Wren's can-do magic is highly appealing."
• Carolyn Cushman reviews the book in the June issue of Locus Magazine: "I miss the lighter tone of the early books, but the series remains great fun even as it tackles issues of intolerance and prejudice."

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* Grossman, Austin : Soon I Will Be Invincible
(Pantheon 978-0-375-42486-1, $22.95, 287pp, hardcover, June 2007)

Comic SF novel about superheroes and an evil genius called Doctor Impossible.
• The author is a video-game design consultant.
• The publisher's site has this description with quotes from reviews and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Grossman dabbles in a host of themes-power, greed, fame, the pitfalls of ego-in this engrossing page-turner, broadening the appeal of an already inviting scenario."

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* Gryphon, Talia : Key to Conflict
(Ace 0-441-01503-4, $7.99, 325pp, mass market paperback, June 2007, cover art Judy York)

Fantasy novel about a "paramortal psychologist" who travels to Romania to counsel a vampire.
• The publisher's site has this brief description.
• Amazon has reader reviews.

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+ Holdstock, Robert : The Broken Kings
(Tor 0-765-31109-7, $27.95, 367pp, hardcover, May 2007, jacket art Larry Rostant) First US edition (UK: Gollancz, January 2007)

Fantasy novel, third book in the "Merlin Codex" following Celtika (2001) and The Iron Grail (2002), that blends ancient British and Greek legends.
• Tor's website has this description and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which calls it an "intriguing if convoluted conclusion" to the trilogy; "Nice touches include a depiction of Jason's sentient ship, Argo, decayed in frame but not in mind, and the adventures of Jason's son Kryptoii in the form of a hunting dog. While not quite up to Holdstock's usual standard, this volume shows he's still one of today's masters of mythic fantasy."
• Faren Miller reviewed it in the December '06 issue of Locus Magazine: "Where the enigmas and timeshifts of Book 2 gave me occasional fits of vertigo, now Holdstock's bold fusion of very different legends (Jason, Medea, and the Argo, with proto-Arthuriana) begins to make a curious kind of sense..."

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* Hollands, Neil : Read On... Fantasy Fiction
(Libraries Unlimited 1-59158-330-6, $30, 210pp, trade paperback, May 2007)

Nonfiction reference guide, subtitled "Reading Lists for Every Taste", presenting annotated lists of titles arranged within several dozen category headings, such as "Games of Thrones: Fantasy's Most Devious Royal Intrigues", "Down the Generations: Epic Family Sagas of Fantasy", and "Urban Developments: Big City Fantasy". References titles are heavily weighted toward recent books, with few titles first publlished more than 20 years ago. Each reference includes year, publisher, and ISBN.
• The book includes an introduction, with a definition and history of fantasy; an appendix of best trilogies and series; listings of fantasy awards winners; and an index of authors and titles.
• The publisher's site has this description.

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* Huff, Tanya : The Heart of Valor
(DAW 978-0-7564-0435-2, $24.95, 357pp, hardcover, June 2007, jacket painting Paul Youll)

Military SF novel, third in the "Confederation" series following Valor's Choice (2000) and The Better Part of Valor (2002). In this book Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr visits a training planet, which seems to come under attack.
• DAW's website has this brief description.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which says that the book "examines how an interplanetary confederation might unite several distinctive species into an effective military organization despite widely differing physiologies, customs and mores", and concludes "The intriguing and well-designed aliens and intricate plotting keep the reader guessing."

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* Marco, John, & John Helfers : Army of the Fantastic
(DAW 0756404134, $7.99, 303pp, mass market paperback, May 2007)

Anthology of 13 original stories about alternate wars involving magical creatures -- gryphons, sea serpents, dragons, etc.
• Authors include Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Jean Rabe, Fiona Patton, Mickey Zucker Reichert, and Michael A. Stackpole.
• DAW's site has this description.
• Amazon has the Booklist review by Roland Green: "This engaging theme anthology showcases magical beings at war, sometimes siding with, sometimes in opposition to, humans, and sometimes . . . Well, read and find out."

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+ Masterton, Graham : Edgewise
(Leisure Horror 0843954264, $7.99, 326pp, mass market paperback, May 2007)

Dark fantasy novel about a Minneapolis woman who hires a Sioux shaman to find her kidnapped children.
• This is the first US edition; a hardcover was published last year by Severn House.
• The publisher's site has this description and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Booklist review: "[T]here are enough thrills and chills here to keep fans of Masterton's best work (say, Descendant, 2006) happy, if not overwhelmed."

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* Scott, Tim : Outrageous Fortune
(Bantam Spectra 978-0-553-38440-6, $12, 371pp, trade paperback, June 2007, cover art Stephen Youll)

Humorous SF novel in which architect Jonny X67 returns home to discover that his house has been stolen, the first in a series of screwball episodes perhaps related to his work on the Dream Virus Project.
• Bantam's site has this description and an excerpt. The author, according to the publisher's bio, has previously written children's books and comedy for BBC4 and ITV in Britain.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Given the extent of Jonny's outrageous experiences, the novel ends a little too abruptly. Readers may forgive Scott, however, if only for his delightfully droll sense of humor, which keeps his story going longer than would seem possible."

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* Shearin, Lisa : Magic Lost, Trouble Found
(Ace 0-441-01505-0, $7.99, 345pp, mass market paperback, June 2007, cover art Aleta Rafton)

Fantasy detective novel about Raine Benares, a sorceress who finds missing people and things.
• The publisher's site has this very brief description.
• The author's site has a synopsis, with author blurbs, and excerpts to the first two chapters.
• Amazon has reader reviews, including one from Linnea Sinclair.

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* Sherman, Josepha, & Susan Shwartz : Vulcan's Soul
(SFBC 978-0-7394-8205-6, $14.99, 758pp, hardcover, April 2007)

Omnibus of three novels in which crewmembers from Star Trek original and next generation series -- Spock, Uhura, Saavik, Data, etc. -- address a threat to the Federation/Romulan/Klingon alliance from mysterious aliens called the Watraii.
• The three novels are Exodus (first published by Pocket Books, 2004), Exiles (2006), and Epiphany (2007).
• This edition is available exclusively from the Science Fiction Book Club, whose site has this page for the book, with the description and a member review.

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* Strahan, Jonathan, ed. : Best Short Novels: 2007
(SFBC 978-1-58288-267-3, $14.99, 14+524pp, hardcover, June 2007, jacket art Stephan Martiniere)

Anthology of 8 novellas that were first published in 2006. Authors are Kage Baker, Robert Reed (Hugo-nominated "A Billion Eves"), Chris Roberson, Robert Charles Wilson (Hugo-nominated "Julian: A Christmas Story"), Ysabeau S. Wilce, Michael Swanwick (Hugo-nominated "Lord Weary's Empire"), Cory Doctorow, and Jeffrey Ford.
• Strahan provides a book introduction and introductions to each story. He posted on his blog this preview back in April.
• This book is available exclusively from the Science Fiction Book Club, whose site has this page for the book, with descriptions of the stories.

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* Tepper, Sheri S. : The Margarets
(Eos 0-06-117065-8, $26.95, 508pp, hardcover, June 2007, cover by John Picacio)

SF novel about a girl, Margaret Bain, whose return from Phobos to Earth leaves behind six imaginary companions who become personas with their own histories and destinations in the universe.
• Eos' website has this description with a "Browse Inside" feature.
• Note that the dustjacket incorrectly credits the cover art to Stephan Martiniere, though in fact it is (obviously) by John Picacio.
• Amazon has the starred Publishers Weekly review, from its May 21st issue: "Full of fascinating characters and beautifully detailed settings, Tepper's complex and multifaceted far-future SF novel follows the many selves of Mars colonist Margaret Bain on a mission to save the human race from annihilation. ... Tepper wields grand science fiction themes with skill, vision and a twist of black humor."
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews the book in the June '07 issue of Locus Magazine: "In its simplest terms, the tale is a variation on the classic SF plot of the ordinary child who unknowingly holds the key to saving the world. And it's a world that's pretty seriously in need of saving. Tepper's famously dark view of human nature (The Companions involved a plan to wipe out all nonhuman animals on Earth, just to make room) is if anything darker than ever..."

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* Tessier, Thomas : Wicked Things
(Leisure 0843955600, $6.99, 338pp, mass market paperback, June 2007)

Horror novel about an insurance investigator in a town where people are dying and disappearing.
• The publisher's site has this description. The volume also includes novella "Scramburg, U.S.A." from 2001.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review: "Tessier's first original novel in almost 10 years makes for an addictive but unsatisfying read."
• The author's site has links to other reviews.

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* Turtledove, Harry : The Gladiator
(Tor 0-765-31486-X, $23.95, 288pp, hardcover, June 2007, jacket art Scott M. Fischer)

Alternate history novel, fifth in the "Crosstime Traffic" series following Gunpowder Empire (2003), Curious Notions (2004), In High Places (2005), and The Disunited States of America (2006). This book is set a century after the Soviet Union won the Cold War.
• Tor's website has this description and an excerpt.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which calls it "the best yet in this SF series with substantial YA crossover", concluding "Fans of Turtledove's unambiguously adult alternative history (Days of Infamy, etc.) will find this effort up to his usual high standard."

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* Van Name, Mark L. : One Jump Ahead
(Baen 978-1-4165-2085-6, $24, 293pp, hardcover, June 2007, cover art Stephen Hickman)

Military SF novel, the first novel by an author previously known for occasional short fiction, about a nano-enhanced warrior and his AI tank.
• Baen's site has this description, which calls it "the first novel in the Jon & Lobo series" and has blurbs from Orson Scott Card, Jack McDevitt, John Ringo, and others, plus links to 8 chapters.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which notes "a layer of irony rare in this popular subgenre: the introspective hero's most complex relationship is with his artificially intelligent tank, Lobo." The review concludes "An attention to the details of future military tech and service, along with several scenes of them in action, will reward those expecting the more standard military SF for which Baen is known."

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