|
 Plus: We Review By Blood We
Live from Night Shade Books
With just about one month before the
release of The Gathering Storm, the 12th book of the late
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, Tor has announced the next volume.
Volume thirteen will be called “Towers of Midnight” and will be
released in 2010. The final volumne, Jordan’s own title, will
be called “A Memory of Light”. Of course, the final book is
going to be split into three volumes which absolutely screams of Tor
and Jordan’s widow of squeezing every last dime out of this series
which has already gone on for far too long.
No major releases out this week although
I do heartily recommend “Shootin’ the Sh*t with Kevin Smith” which
I reviewed here a couple of weeks ago. Just an irreverent and
entertaining book!
New In Fantasy
 The Grave Thief (Twilight Reign) by Tom
Lloyd (Pyr)
For Isak, the time for heartless decisions
and ruthless action has come if he is to save the land from its oppressors...
Scree has been wiped from the face of
the Land in a brutal demonstration of intent. While those responsible
scatter to work on the next step in their plan, the stakes are raised—all
the way to the heavens—as the Gods themselves enter the fray. Returning
home to a nation divided by fanaticism, Lord Isak is haunted both by
the consequences of his actions in Scree and by visions of his own impending
death. As the full extent of Azaer's schemes become clearer, he realises
prophecy and zealotry must play their part in his battle-plans if there
is to be any chance of surviving the coming years. As a white-eye, Isak
has had to embrace the darker parts of his own soul, but now the savage
religious fervour sweeping his nation must also be accepted and turned
to purpose, in the name of survival. With the battle lines vague and
allegiances uncertain, the time for heartless decisions and ruthless
action has come. Two figures oppose Isak and his allies: the greatest
warrior in history, who dreams of empire and Godhood, and a newborn
baby whose dreams have no limit.
 The Eyes of a King by Catherine Banner
(Doubleday)
Ten years have passed in war-torn Malonia
since the king and queen were murdered and the throne usurped by Lucien
and his rebel troops. The people believe the prince has been exiled
to a far-away land, saved by a prophecy that threatened those who would
harm him. But they ask themselves, Is the prince still alive? Has he
actually been murdered along with his parents? A country on the brink
of revolution awaits his return in silence.
Leo is a rebellious soldier-in-training
with secret powers. When wandering home one night, he stumbles upon
a mysterious black book lying in the snow. Its strange aura and empty
pages both frighten and fascinate him. Soon the pages begin to fill
with the stories of Anna and Ryan in England – a country that is only
a fairy tale in Malonia. When tragedy strikes, Leo tries to rid himself
of the book but its stories haunt even his dreams. In The Eyes Of A
King, a fast-paced novel with a unique style, these three fifteen-year-old
characters, and the parallel worlds of contemporary England and the
dictatorship of Malonia, become increasingly entangled.
 Dawnthief (Chronicles of the Raven)
by James Barclay (Pyr)
The Raven: six men and an elf, sword
for hire in the wars that have torn apart Balaia. For years their
loyalty has been only to themselves and their code. But, that
time is over. The Wytch Lords have escaped and The Raven find themselves
fighting for the Dark College of magic, searching for the location of
Dawnthief. It is a spell created to end the world, and it must be cast
if any of them are to survive. Dawnthief is a fast paced epic about
a band of all-too-human heroes.
 Evolution Expects: Pax Britannia Series
by Jonathan Green (Abaddon books)
When a deadly legacy returns, Ulysses
Quicksilver finds himself drawn into that pit of despair known as Bedlam.
With a dangerous masked vigalante stalking the streets of London, a
monster from Jewish myth on the loose in the East End and rival gangs
fighting for control of the city's underworld there may be nothing Ulysses
can do to prevent a catastrophic metamorphosis!
Strip Mauled (Supernatural Suburbia)
by Esther Friesner (Baen)
Werewolves and the suburbs are a natural
go-together. Okay, so they’re not the Obligatory/Iconic Suburban Golden
Retriever or Chocolate Labrador, but they’ve got a much better chance
of taking home the Best in Show ribbon than their Undead rivals, the
vampires. In some suburban households, if it brings home a trophy, who
cares if it also brings home bloody chunks of the neighbors every time
the full moon shines? And let’s not forget one more advantage to the
suburban werewolf: If his lupine side does something nasty on your lawn,
his human side can come by later with the Pooper Scooper. In your face,
Dracula!
New In Sci-Fi
 Tom Strong Deluxe Edition Vol. 1
by Alan Moore (DC Comics Hardcover)
Comics legend Alan Moore introduces science
hero Tom Strong in the first of three deluxe hardcover editions of the
popular series illustrated by Chris Sprouse and many of comics' greatest
artists. Tom's remarkable exploits over a nearly century-long career
feature an amazing cast of characters including his wife Dhalua (the
daughter of a mighty chieftain), their daughter Tesla, the enhanced
ape King Solomon and Tom's robotic valet, Pneuman.
In this volume, collecting issues #1-12,
Tom finds himself battling in different times, worlds and realms, facing
off against an eclectic group of enemies like the ruthless Paul Saveen,
the mechanized Aztechs and the prehuman Pangaean—in places as diverse
as New York , Venus, an alternate Earth and even the past!
 The Quiet War by Paul J. McAuley (Pyr)
Twenty-third century Earth, ravaged by
climate change, looks backwards to the holy ideal of a pre-industrial
Eden . Political power has been grabbed by a few powerful families and
their green saints. Millions of people are imprisoned in teeming cities;
millions more labour on Pharaonic projects to rebuild ruined ecosystems.
On the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, the Outers, descendants of refugees
from Earth's repressive regimes, have constructed a wild variety of
self-sufficient cities and settlements: scientific utopias crammed with
exuberant creations of the genetic arts; the last outposts of every
kind of democratic tradition. The fragile detente between the Outer
cities and the dynasties of Earth is threatened by the ambitions of
the rising generation of Outers, who want to break free of their cosy,
inward-looking pocket paradises, colonise the rest of the Solar System,
and drive human evolution in a hundred new directions. On Earth, many
demand pre-emptive action against the Outers before it's too late; others
want to exploit the talents of their scientists and gene wizards.Amid
campaigns for peace and reconciliation, political machinations, crude
displays of military might, and espionage by cunningly wrought agents,
the two branches of humanity edge towards war . ..
Rogue Dragon
by Avram Davidson (IDW Graphic Novel)
Rogue Dragon is the latest addition to
the growing New Classics of the Fantastic library, a series dedicated
to bringing great Sci-fi stories to a new generation of readers. Jon-Joras
came to Earth to oversee arrangements for a dragon hunt to amuse his
king. The dragons, brought to Earth centuries earlier as pets of an
alien race, were powerful but slow-witted - until now! Now, Jon-Joras
finds himself caught in the middle of an uprising that could shake the
powers of the galaxy! Featuring an Introduction by Harlan Ellison, Avram
Davidson's classic, Rogue Dragon, is reprised in this attractive package.
Stargate SG-1: Valhalla : SG1-15
by Tim Waggoner (Fandemonium Books)
SG-1 become enmeshed in a fierce battle
straight out of Nordic mythology. Although unwilling participants, SG-1
soon find themselves fighting with the Vanir against their ancient foe
- the brutal giants of Jotunheim - and feasting with them long into
the night. But when dawn arrives, the team find themselves in a very
different world. Although still at war, the Vanir and Jotunheim have
advanced a millennia and fight with weapons of the 18th century.
 Star Wars Omnibus: Menace Revealed
(Titan Books)
Set between "Star Wars Episode I:
The Phantom Menace" and "Episode II: Attack of the Clones",
discover Anakin Skywalker's earliest adventures...and see the first
shots fired in the Clone Wars! This bumper, never-before-collected volume
features stories including "Jedi Quest", where Anakin Skywalker
works to overcome his fears; "Starfighter: Crossbones", which
pits pirate against pirate, featuring the intimidating Captain Nym;
a Sith assassin's last stand in The Hunt for Aurra Sing; plus "Jedi
Quest", "Heart of Fire" and "Poison Moon"!
A host of top creators flesh out the lead-up to the epic, galaxy-spanning
Clone Wars, in a must-have collection reprinting many out-of-print and
rare tales.
New in Horror
The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror
20 by Stephen Jones (Running Press)
This annual collection of exceptional
horror and dark fantasy fiction stories is the essential must-have for
horror buffs. The 20th edition of this showcase of horror includes a
comprehensive overview of international selections, an impressively
researched necrology, and a list of indispensable contact addresses
for the dedicated horror fan and aspiring writer of true horror.
Widdershins by Eve Lestrange (Dailey
Swan)
Widdershins introduces a strong female
character in the horror genre-Christina Lafage, an eighteenth century
french girl who sells her soul for the fierce power of the black arts.
Christina's world is filled with spell casting, black magic, distant
lands and intense power. The story unfolds with Christina's introduction
into the black arts by a mysterious benefactor that she meets in a wooded
grove. This benefactor, Madame Duchamp, takes Christina under her wing
and teaches her to use the powers of the occult and bend the laws of
nature to her will as they provide spells and services for the wealthy
aristocrats of Paris . At first she struggles with her newly acquired
power and with her own feelings of doubt and apprehension until a grave
situation forces her to conquer fear and doubt. Christina's power continues
to grow and explodes into an electrifying series of events that lead
her to Egypt where her power is put to the ultimate test.
New in Non-Fiction
Shootin' the Sh*t with
Kevin Smith: The Best of the SModcast by Kevin Smith (Titan books)
Following on from the New York Times-bestselling
My Boring-Ass Life, Kevin Smith is back!
In freewheeling conversations with his
friend and producer Scott Mosier (as heard on their top-rated podcast,
known as SModcast), we discover — to pick just four random examples
of the riches therein — the genesis of Stalin’s Monkey Soldier army,
the horrifying tale of Kevin vs. Steak Tartare, how to make bukkake
eggs, and how Kevin was once willing to let Alanis Morissette get mugged...
Defiantly lewd, crude and hilariously rude, Shootin’ the Sh*t with
Kevin Smith is a must for all his fans! Adults Only!
Reviews
 By Blood We Live Edited by John Joseph
Adams (Night Shade Books)
By Blood We Live is a massive anthology
of vampire fiction clocking in at 500 pages and nearly a quarter of
a million words. The book features stories by some of the top
names in horror/fantasy literature including Stephen King, Anne Rice,
Neil Gaiman, Harry Turtledove, Tanith Lee, Brian Lumley, and more.
However despite the star-power of the authors it fails to escape being
labeled “uneven” as is the fate of so many anthologies with such
a diverse group of authors.
Adams, who edited Night Shade’s “The
Living Dead” has proven himself to be a capable anthologist and he
presents many outstanding stories culled from over the past few decades
(although most are fairly recent). Stephen King’s “One for
the Road” is the oldest story in the collection, originally published
in 1977 and collected in King’s “Night Shift”. It is a short
side story to King’s vampire epic “ Jerusalem ’s Lot ” relating
the tale of a battle with vampires on a lonely road during a snowstorm.
Harry Turtledove’s “Under St. Peter’s”
is one of the more interesting stories in the book although not as controversial
as some claim. The master of the alternate history genre presents
a tale in which Jesus did not die on the cross but rather became a vampire
and is imprisoned beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
Norman Partridge’s “Do Not Hasten
to Bid Me Adieu” is a sequel/continuation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula
and deals primarily with the character of Quincey Morris, the Cowboy
who helped kill the vampire in the original novel.
“Child of an Ancient City ” by Tad
Williams looks at the vampire mythology from a different stance.
William’s vampire is from the Middle Eastern mythology and a far cry
from the seductive, sexy vampires of most modern tales.
By Blood We Live’s strength is its
diversity of tales ranging from the Gothic to the Sci-Fi themed stories
of Garth Nix to the revisionist fairy tale of Neil Gaiman. Many
of the stories here have been oft-reprinted so there’s a good chance
you’ve encountered some of these along the way. A few too many
of the hunky sexy vampires for my taste but a solid anthology overall.
Grade B
 Captain Action the Original Super-Hero
Action Figure by Michael Eury (TwoMorrows Publishing Hardcover)
Among the old photos I have is a black
& white picture from the 1960s. It’s Christmas morning and
my older brother is proudly holding up the new Captain Action set he
just received from Santa…err…mom and dad. Captain Action was
one of the great toys of the 1960s and history of the toy line is related
in this fantastic book, filled with outstanding photography, and written
by comic book historian Michael Eury.
Ideal was one of the iconic toy companies
of particularly the 1950s through the 1970s. In an effort to compete
with Hasbro’s GH.I. Joe, Ideal created Captain Action in 1966.
Like G.I. Joe Captain Action was an articulated, 12” action figure
but it had one thing that made it unique to G.I. Joe and that was Captain
Action could become anyone of a number of different comic book characters.
Through the issue of uniform sets, complete with alternate heads, Captain
Action could become Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Captain America, The
Lone Ranger, Sgt. Fury, Spider-Man, and more.
Eury traces the evolution of the development
of the toy through vintage Idea; documents from the 1960s and interviews
with various toy executives including creator Stan Weston, who also
created the initial concept of G.I. Joe. Weston provides insight
on went what right and what went wrong for the toy. The highlight
of the book is Eury;s look at all of the different Captain Action uniform/alter
identity sets which include a history of each character, the accessories
that came included, uniform variations, and common defects with each
set. Thus the book not only works as a detailed history of the
figure, but also a tremendously useful guide to toy collectors who will
value the information about the accessories and variations.
The book also has chapters on Captain
Action’s arch-enemy Dr. Evil, the various female action figures introduced,
accessories and vehicles, and fan-created custom outfits. A ton
of fun and a classic toy! Grade A |
Loading comments section...
