Science Fiction for May 2013
by Henry Leon Lazarus
When you cross international borders publishing rights
change so that a book published in England or Australia won’t make it here
without an American publisher. While this limits some of the good stuff
from making it here, Publishers are always looking for Fantasy and Science
Fiction for the American market.
Sara
h Pinborough’s noir, police procedural, A Matter of Blood (Trade
from Ace) was published in 2009 and has some internal dates that should
have been changed for the American edition. That’s only a minor annoyance
in her impossible-to-put-down thriller about a London Detective Cassius
Jones was working the case of murdered teenagers who were in the wrong
place when gun men tried to kill a gangster. Then he pulled into a serial
killer case who not only leaves fly eggs in his victims eyes but writes,
“Nothing is Sacred” in blood on their chests.. The third case is personal.
His brother is found as a murder/suicide victim and there are clues linking
the murder to Cass. To add to the complications are Bright and Solomon
who apparently are much older than they seem and are involved somehow in
all three cases. They are very interested in him because of his ability
to see the “glow”. In this England recession has hit hard and all cops,
including Cass, are on the take. In fact, Cass is friends with his mob
contact. Mystery fans will really enjoy this first book in the trilogy,
because the fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. The other two books
have already had English publication and should arrive her soon.
Kate
Atkinson answers the question of what a person’s life might be different
if they made different decisions. Ursula Todd, born in 1910 is reborn in
1910 every time she dies. In this Life after Life (trade from Reagan
Arthur Books which I bought electronically) Ursula dies from a cord choking
her at birth, drowning at four, the influenza in 1918, and often from bombs
during the blitz. Usually during World War II she works as a secretary
and dies either with her lover or in a bomb shelter. One life she marries
a high place lawyer in German and dies from US bombs. There’s a fascination
her, both to see how she can find a way to survive in the next version
of her life and a good look at the British middle class of the era. I guess
the ending from the beginning, but still remained fascinated.
Major
sf authors, Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter take a different look at
parallel Earths. A physicist posts plans on the Internet for a box
that allows one to ‘step’ onto parallel Earths. Soon kids are making the
box and social chaos Some people are natural steppers, but most find the
step nauseating. Soon human colonies are established across The Long
Earth (paper from Harper Collens which I got from the Library) Most
of the tale is about Joshua Valienté, a person who naturally steps
from earth to earth. The artificial intelligence Lobsang wants him along
on an exploration trip on a specially designed derigible. Humans are only
found on one world, but other stepping hominids are around and they are
fleeing something millions of Earths away. What they find on the trip provide
a tour of an amazing wonder. There is a sequel coming out this June.
L.
E. Modesitt, Jr. is one of my favorite authors because of the detail of
his magical worlds. After a trilogy set in a world where magicians image
things, he has begun a five part tale of the imager responsible for uniting
all of Lydar. Quaeryt has risen to the rank of Commander in this fourth
tale and is sent with his wife, the King’s sister, is sent on a diplomatic
journey to a northern kingdom to convince them to join the growing kingdom.
Coming back he realized that he needs to go south and face the horrible
Antiagon Fire (hard from Tor). I’ve really enjoyed this series,
but I wouldn’t want to start with this tale.
David
Webber’s long series set in the far future continues with Shadow of
Freedom (hard from Baen) in which the Manticore empire has to face
the huge, corrupt Sollies. The Solarian empire has contempt for neo-barbaric
worlds like Manticore, but they haven’t improved their technology in centuries.
The decades long war between Manticore and Haven has given Manticore such
an edge that they are practically invincible. This time there in involvement
with one Solarian governor who has seized Manticor commercial ships, and
a revolution that need Manticore help. Minor, but still fun. I’m still
enjoying this eighteen-book series
Charles
E. Gannon is really good with exciting action scenes, but the links in
Fire With Fire (trade from Baen) depends on logil links from very smart
people, that I didn’t always follow. Reporter Caine Riordan was found near
the Admiral’s quarters on a Lunar base with top secrets to hide. So they
put him in hibernation till they need him, thirteen years later. At that
point Earth has a ftl drive and several colonies. On one of them ancient
relics of a star-faring civilization have been found and Caine is sent
to investigate. After a number of assassination attempts he gives his report
to a secret meeting of Earth Government and then is sent as an envoy to
a stellar government considering Earth’s membership. Nothing is what it
seems. There’s enough information left unknown that there probably will
be a sequel. I just wish this one made more sense.
Sarah
A. Hoyt tells of the rebellion against A Few Good Men (trade from
Baen) which is set in the same world as her Darkship Thieves (paper)
tales. Lucius Keeva was the son of a Good man who found himself in the
wrong place and time and ended up in solitary confinement for fourteen
years. Coming out he discovers that his brother and father are both dead.
So he goes to the island his father ruled and takes control to protect
it from other ‘Good Men’. But he doesn’t know that the other ‘good men’
are genetically modified mules who have been using brain transplant on
their cloned sons to survive three centuries. Lucas is modest and tries
to downplay his role in the revolution that follows, but the tale is still
lots of fun.
Super
heroes and comedy rarely mix well, but when they do it is really great.
Seanan McGuire sets the tale of Velma Martinez in a world where super
heroes are dominated by a few large companies. When her talent to bring
toys to life manifested at a trip to the museum and her parents effectively
sold her to the Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division. At eighteen
she quit and worked a series of part time jobs avoiding use of her super
powers. Then, at twenty-five, she starts driving to Oregon for a interview
for a full time job. First there was the crawfish festival which a super-villain
Claw was sending crawfish to attack. Then when her car broke down and she
took a part time job waitressing, there was a coffee club determined to
warp reality. That brought her to the notice of the current junior super
heroes and it’s a fight: Velveteen vs. The Junior Super-Patriots (trade
from ISFiC Press which I bought electronically) In back story we learn
how she save Halloween, and of her lost love in the Super Patriots. I can’t
wait for the sequel.
John
Mackie tells a tale about Donnie Elder who lost a executive position and
put his extra money into buying a partnership in Arcane Transport, a successful
business transporting magical items whose owner, a friend of the family,
is near retirement. Donnie doesn’t really believe in magic, even after
he is robbed at gun point on his first day. Then there’s the magical ring
that one of his drivers was tricked into putting on and ended up cursed,
the eighty-year-old witch that magically threw a refrigerator at him, the
stone that causes people to see their worst fears, and the love potion
that drove his cute secretary nuts. Getting involved in transporting
very Hazardous Goods (paper from Storm Cloud Press, Inc. which
I bought electronically) might have some advantages but it takes a tough
guy to master them. It helps that Donnie is immune to magic. I really like
the details of running a business in Toronto. Mr. Mackie makes Arcane Transport
seem quite real and I’m looking forward to the sequel.
Mary
Robinette Kowell wonders what the politics of the 1816 year Without
A Summer (hard from Tor) if some young men had the magical ability
to create cool spaces. Jane and David Vincent go to London for a commission
to add permanent glamour to a ball room. In the previous adventures, which
I haven’t read, they had been worked with the Prince Regent and that gives
them a leg up in society. They bring Jane’s sister Melody with them to
introduce her to society and maybe find her a husband. Alas, a plot to
use coldmongers, who are mostly out of work because of the continual colder
weather, gets them involved and arrested for treason. This is an enjoyable
look at a magical version of Jane Austin world and is well suited for both
adult and teen readers.
Jesse
Petersen has a self-help group of monsters in New York. Club Monstrosity
(electronic from Pocket Star) was set up by the Blob and its members are
working a being human. Natalie, the last of Dr. Frankenstein’s monsters
works night shifts at a morgue and has been hiding in plain sight for years.
Then someone murders the Blob and the Invisible Man. Thsi group, mainly
Drake (Drakula), Kai the mummy woman, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Alec
the wolfman are soon looking up Van Helsing and his descendants, and hacking
the internet. The perpetrator is quite mad and willing to go great lengths
for vengence. Lots of fun, but a dash too silly. I liked it well enough
to wait for the sequel.
Wilmar
Luna has a satisfying tale of a super heroine. Cindy Ames was once a cop,
and now runs a gymnastic school with her sister. Her husband Jonas has
a top secret lab losing funding, but they have a prototype of a nano-tech
super suit, which somehow manages to attach itself to Cindy. Think of an
Iron man suit that can melt off her body, creating clothes as it does.
She may nto be able to fly but she can swing like spiderman. The villain
convinces The Silver Ninja (trade from Createspace Independent Publishing
Platform) to assassinate his enemies, but when she finally refuses
one victim, attacks her with an improved version of her suit. Her husband
has disappeared, working for a top secret firm. The tale has logic holes
and a cardboard villain, but it is still fun and very satisfying to anyone
raised on comic books.S
Deanna
Chase has a fun tale set in an alternate New Orleans where vampires are
very powerful and kept in check by the Arcane agency. Willow Rhoswen is
a fairy with very Influential Magic (paper from Bayou Moon Publishing).
The Arcane wants her because she has a very rare talent of sensing vampires
though the side effect can make her very sick. She also owns a bakery,
the Fated Cupcake where her magical abilities to enhance plants has created
a delicious varieties of cookies with strong effects. One, Influence, is
restricted because it can make people do what they are ordered to do. Returning
to New Orleans from California, she finds her ex, who had dropped her suddenly,
has become a vampire. People are illegally selling influence as a drug,
and two many people want her dead, including her Aunt, the director of
the Arcane Zone division. There’s also the question of her twin brother’s
death four years ago. In fact there are more puzzles than Willow can shake
a wing at. She has the help of her roommate, a witch, and Link her shih
Tzu dog who can transform into a deadly wolf. Lots of fun and I’m eager
for more adventures.
I’ve
said for a long time that Carrie Vaughn’s tales of Kitty, a werewolf who
has a radio show, would make a great televison series. Kitty Rocks the
House (paper from Tor) is a minor addition. A vampire catholic priest
comes to town, a member of an ancient order that can only attend non-sanctified
churches. He is being chase by an evil demon. At the same time a new werewolf
comes to Denver and wants to take over Kitty’s pack. I always look forward
to these.
I’ve
been enjoying Sierra Dean’s five tales of Secret McQueen, an extremely
rare half-vampire/half-werewolf. Originally she earned a living killing
vampires for the Vampire tribunal, and ignored her werewolf heritage. A
few books back she killed one of the three members of the tribunal and
became one of them. In the last tale Lucan a billionaire in the human world
and head of New York’s werewolves jilted her at her huge society bash
wedding. Now his very human sister has gone missing and the trail leads
into a literal fairy land where she has to make promises to get the girl
back. That leaves her with a love-lorn girl wanting to go back to her fae
lover, and a Grave Secret (ebook from Samhain Publishing, Ltd which
I bought) which could get her killed. I’m buying the next one as soon as
it comes out.
Mark
All has a tale of a witch, Trish Sinclair, who’s written two volumes of
The
Spellcaster's Grimoire (trade from ImaJinn Books Inc) She got
the spells from the warlock living next door and from her late mother’s
books. Alas, she’s given away the fact that there is a power enhancing
crystal in the heart of Maynard, Georgia. Kate comes to town looking for
an ancient grimoire with a spell to tap the crystal energy. She murders
the warlock next door in Trish’s kitchen and starts chasing Trish around.
Trish’s only hope is a teenager with photographic memory and a warlock
her age who had given up magic because he thought it was evil. Soon flying
energy balls are fighting freezing spells and burning buildings down. Trish
may have gotten herself into a lot of trouble, but I kept giggling the
whole tale. Fun but a bit light.
Richard
Kadrey has a short tale about a murdering truck driver, Suspect Zero
(electronic from Harper Voyager) and a young man who wants to be
his protegé. Needless to say the driver is far more than he seems
and the young man helplessly outclassed.
Baen has reprinted in paper Tony Daniels fun Guardian
of Night; David Drakes’s last Leary and Mundy tale The Road of Danger;
and two collecte Andre Norton tales, Forerunner Factor. Harper voyager
has paperback reprints of the earlier dragon tales from Robin Hobb,
Dragon Keeper; Dragon Haven; and City of Dragons.
Look for the Nebula Awards Showcase 2013
(trade from Pyr and edited by Catherine Asaro) for of some of the award
nominations and winners from last year.
The Science Fiction Society will have its next meeting
on May 10th at 8 p.m.at The Rotunda on the University of Pennsylvania.
Campus. Small press editor Mike Allen will speak. . As usual guests are
welcome.
Hugo nominations this year include: 2312
by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit); Blackout by Mira Grant (Orbit);
Captain
Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen); Redshirts:
A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi (Tor); and Throne of the
Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed (DAW). I’ve only read one.
Dr. Henry Lazarus is a local Dentist and the author
of A Cycle of Gods (Wolfsinger Publications) and Unnaturally
Female (Smashwords)