http://www.sfreviews.net/ Hundreds of in-depth science fiction and fantasy book reviews by Thomas M. Wagner, for discriminating readers. en-us http://www.sfreviews.net/sfr-button2.jpg http://www.sfreviews.net/ 111 45 http://www.sfreviews.net/holzner_deadtown.html http://www.sfreviews.net/holzner_deadtown.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:26:00 CST First novel in an urban fantasy series with a shapeshifting heroine who must defend Boston from a vicious demon attack, avenging her father into the bargain. Interestingly, the story works far better taken as an allegory of modern race prejudice, in its depiction of the frought political climate between humans and paranormal beings. As simple escapism, though, it offers too few original ideas and a lot of narrative predictability that defuses much of its suspense. Basically an average urban fantasy offering, recommended only to that genre's ardent fans. (**1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/caine_ww01_ill_wind.html http://www.sfreviews.net/caine_ww01_ill_wind.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:35:00 CST The first entry in Rachel Caine's popular Weather Warden series is that rare urban fantasy that feels fresh and original, with a heroine who's both strong and believably vulnerable, a fantasy premise that skirts cliche, and some of the most exciting and well-written action scenes you're likely to find anywhere. Superior escapism. (****) http://www.sfreviews.net/hodder_spring_heeled_jack.html http://www.sfreviews.net/hodder_spring_heeled_jack.html Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:38:00 CST In this endlessly inventive and highly energetic (if tonally uneven) Victorian steampunk debut, Richard Francis Burton and his unlikely companion, poet Algernon Swinburne, hunt both werewolves and the mysterious titular villain among the sooty, gaslit streets of an alternate history London. (***1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/mieville_kraken.html http://www.sfreviews.net/mieville_kraken.html Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:29:00 CST In a modern-day London governed by dark magics and dissident gods, a hapless museum curator searches for a stolen giant squid specimen, whose theft could propel mankind towards its apocalyptic end. Bursting with inventiveness, humor, atmosphere, satire, and action, this book is a distillation of Mieville's whole creative ethos into a single delirious package. Wild entertainment for his fans; to the unconverted, beware. (****) http://www.sfreviews.net/rogue_angel_06.html http://www.sfreviews.net/rogue_angel_06.html Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:11:00 CST Victor Milan pens the sixth Rogue Angel adventure, in which Annja Creed tries to keep a set of ancient scrolls believed to contain ancient secrets of Atlantean energy from a murderous oil company. Terrific action negated by just plain dumb plotting is keeping this series strictly second-tier. (**) http://www.sfreviews.net/jemisin_100k_kingdoms.html http://www.sfreviews.net/jemisin_100k_kingdoms.html Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:28:00 CST Strikingly original epic fantasy debut in which a young woman finds herself the fulcrum of a power play between deposed gods and the ruling mortal dynasty that has enslaved them. Rich, character-drawn tale is at heart a big soap opera. But it's extremely well crafted, centered on a believable heroine, with a plot that leads readers through all of its labyrithine twists with satisfying clarity. (***1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/cronin_passage.html http://www.sfreviews.net/cronin_passage.html Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:38:00 CST A government experiment to create super-soldiers goes awry, resulting in the fall of humanity to a viral vampire apocalypse. A century later, the last surviving human stragglers seek to destroy the creatures with the aid of an enigmatic girl who may well be humanity's savior. Sprawling, epic, trilogy-launching novel -- which netted its author millions -- employs way too many familiar tropes, but is extremely well-written entertainment of its type. Comparable to a young Stephen King at the height of his powers. (***1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/bacigalupi_windup_girl.html http://www.sfreviews.net/bacigalupi_windup_girl.html Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:44:00 CST Award nominated debut novel from Bacigalupi depicting a grimy, post-ecocrunch near-future dystopia is a triumph of world-building and stimulating speculative storytelling. A richly textured, harsh yet ultimately redemptive vision of vision of a bleak and corrupt civilization in decline. (****) http://www.sfreviews.net/bowers_prison_ship.html http://www.sfreviews.net/bowers_prison_ship.html Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:08:00 CST Military SF in which a disgraced commanding officer gets a chance to turn the tables on the treasonous admiral who set him up. Way too hackneyed in the setup, though it does deliver satisfying action in its final third. Bowers needs at least one more novel to smooth out his rough edges before he can be considered a milSF player. (**1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/ggkay_under_heaven.html http://www.sfreviews.net/ggkay_under_heaven.html Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:11:00 CST Canada's master of literary historical fantasy returns with an absolutely magisterial effort that may well be his finest novel. In Xinan (analogue for Tang Dynasty China), the son of an honored general finds himself at the fulcrum of events that will shape the course of the entire empire's future. Written with Kay's signature sense of awe towards the grandeur of civilization and the forces that shape it and the lives of those with roles, large or small, to play in the drama of history, this is an unforgettable and essential epic from one of the field's titans. (*****) http://www.sfreviews.net/scalzi_god_engines.html http://www.sfreviews.net/scalzi_god_engines.html Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:10:00 CST Scalzi's Nebula-nominated novella, published as a stand-alone hardcover, is a major change of pace, a space opera/fantasy/horror hybrid about a spacefaring human civilization learning a thing or two about the deities they revere. A bit pretentious and heavy on expository dialogue, but its premise is striking, and its final third contains some of Scalzi's darkest and most visceral storytelling. Not a complete success, but what it does right, it does very right. (***1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/yolen_except_the_queen.html http://www.sfreviews.net/yolen_except_the_queen.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:27:00 CST Two faerie sisters are exiled to the mortal world after witnessing scandalous behavior by their Queen. But it's soon evident there's more going on than meets the eye, as they become protectors of a young woman with secrets of her own. Your appreciation of this leisurely, often beautifully written book will solely depend on your fondness for Fae mythology. Much better at establishing mood and character than offering solid plotting. (***) http://www.sfreviews.net/willis_uncharted_territory.html http://www.sfreviews.net/willis_uncharted_territory.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:25:00 CST A tasty little truffle of a story in which Connie Willis manages to lampoon everything she can get her hands on in a scant 150 pages. Lightweight fare by her standards, which still means it's more substantial than many writers produce. (***1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/willis_blackout.html http://www.sfreviews.net/willis_blackout.html Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:40:00 CST Connie Willis returns with an epic time-travel saga so rich in scope that it's taking two volumes to tell, yet so intimate in its observation of character. One theme is driven home throughout: time is the most precious commodity we have. (****) http://www.sfreviews.net/vaneekhout_norse_code.html http://www.sfreviews.net/vaneekhout_norse_code.html Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:30:00 CST It's Ragnarok over southern California, and only a renegade Valkyrie and the wayward son of Odin can stop it. A chaotic, interminable mess over which debut novelist Greg van Eekhout exerts little storytelling discipline. (*1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/edelman_infoquake.html http://www.sfreviews.net/edelman_infoquake.html Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:15:00 CST Debut hard SF novel for programmer Edelman, and the first in his Jump 225 Trilogy, is a compelling study of the relationship between politics, markets and technology, and the ways in which people preserve their fundamental humanity in a future where it would be all too easy to let it go completely. (****) http://www.sfreviews.net/boyett_architect_of_sleep.html http://www.sfreviews.net/boyett_architect_of_sleep.html Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:15:00 CST Boyett's sophomore novel is an inventive tale about a young slacker who finds himself transported to an alternate Earth, where bipedal raccoons, of all things, have evolved intelligence and civilization, and warfare plus potential natural disaster are on the verge of erupting. A terrific idea about contact with an alien culture, with impressively complex world-building and plotting...all for naught, as it was clearly meant as the first novel of a series, and the sequels never came. Reading this is like getting addicted to a cool TV show that the network cancels right as it's getting good. (**1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/boyett_elegy_beach.html http://www.sfreviews.net/boyett_elegy_beach.html Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:33:00 CST After 26 years, Boyett offers the sequel to his cult favorite 'Ariel,' and while its plot is much the same (a quest to vanquish an uncontrollable foe), Boyett has different thematic concerns. Pete Garey, the first novel's hero, now travels with his son on a mission both to save the world and mend their own fences. All about accepting and moving on from loss, this novel hits many of the same emotional marks as 'Ariel,' though some readers may find its somber tone oppressive. (***1/2) http://www.sfreviews.net/boyett_ariel.html http://www.sfreviews.net/boyett_ariel.html Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:31:00 CST Boyett's 1983 debut novel, a fantasy bildungsroman (that's fancy German for "coming-of-age story") about a young man and his unicorn familiar set against an America where magic has suddenly replaced technology by an explained apocalyptic event (a premise wholly swiped by S.M. Stirling for his later Change series), returns to print after decades as an obscure cult favorite. Allegorically rich, emotionally powerful quest epic is not one easily forgotten, and its rough edges (Boyett was 19) only add to its sense of authenticity. (****) http://www.sfreviews.net/rogue_angel_05.html http://www.sfreviews.net/rogue_angel_05.html Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:30:00 CST Fifth Rogue Angel adventure reinforces the dictum that the only books in the series worht reading so far are those by Mel Odom. Annja Creed ends up on another tresure hunt, this time in the Gobi Desert, with a ruthless Chinese tycoon and his Triad henchmen on her tail. Silly but entirely servicable popcorn fun. (***)