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OtherRealms Issue 15 Part 02
Electronic OtherRealms #15
May, 1987
Part 2
Things Received
[editorial note: starting this month, Books Received is renamed and
expanded because I'm starting to get a constant flow of Small Press
magazines, fanzines, and other material that doesn't really fit under
the term book but still ought to be mentioned. I'll find time to
review the best of the stuff down the road as time and space
permits.Also, I'm going to start printing information on how to contact
some of the Bulletin Board Systems that carry SF related material. Note
that to access them you'll need a computer and a modem -- chuq]
Books
Ace Fantasy
Brust, Steven. Brokedown Palace, 270 pages, 1986, $2.95.
Brust, Steven. Teckla, 214 pages, January, 1987, $2.95.
Brust, Steven. To Reign in Hell, 269 pages, 1984, $2.95.
Brust, Steven. Yendi, 209 pages, 1984, $2.95.
Avon Science Fiction
Noel, Atanielle Annyn. Murder on Usher's Planet, 181 pages, April,
1987, $2.95.
Silverberg, Robert. Nightwings, 190 pages, $3.50. Reprint of a 1969 novel.
Zelazny, Roger. Unicorn Variations, 249 pages, $3.50. Reprint of a
1983 collection.
Bantam
Innes, Evan. City in the Mist, 374 pages, April, 1987, $3.95. Volume 3
in the America 2040 series.
Martin, George R.R. Wild Cards II: Aces High, 390 pages, April, 1987, $3.95.
Monoco, Richard. Unto the Beast, 473 pages, April, 1987, $3.95.
Fandom
Unlimited Enterprises
Larson, Randall. The Complete Robert Bloch, 126 pages, $10.00.
Limited edition (1000 copy) paperback that is an extensive
bibliography of the writings of Robert Bloch including Film,
TV, Movie and Fanzine material. Available from P.O. Box 70868,
Sunnyvale, CA. 94086.
Franklin Watts
Aldiss, Brian. The Year Before Yesterday, 256 pages, April, 1987, $16.95.
Bester, Alfred. The Stars My Destination, 197 pages, April, 1987,
$15.95. A new hardcover edition of the 1956 Hugo winning novel.
Koman, Victor. The Jehovah Contract, 277 pages, $16.95 hardcover, April, 1987.
Ocean View Press
P.O. Box 4148
Mountain View, CA. 94040
Boston, Bruce. Alchemical Texts, 16 pages, $3.00. Poetry Chapbook.
Richardson & Steirman
Strugatsky, Arkady and Boris. The Time Wanderers, 213 pages, March,
1987, $16.95. Translated from the Russian language by Antonina
W. Bouis. This is a Russian SF novel by, according to the
liner notes, two of the best authors in Russia.
Signet
Adams, Robert. Friends of the Horseclans, 284 pages, April, 1987,
$3.50. Anthology of stories in the Horseclans universe by
different writers.
McKiernan, Dennis L. Trek To Kraccen-Cor, 251 pages, April, 1987,
$2.95. Book one of the Silver Call duology.
Tor
Adventure
Morris, Jim. Spurlock: Sheriff of Purgatory, 320 pages, April, 1987, $3.95
Tor
Fantasy
Douglas, Carole Nelson. Keepers of Edanvant, 346 pages, May, 1987,
$15.95 hardcover. Sword and Circlet #1.
Moran, Daniel. Keys to Paradise Book 1: The Flame Key, 222 pages,
April, 1987, $2.95.
Roberts, John Maddox. Conan the Champion, 280 pages, April, 1987,
$3.50. First publication of this story. Includes chronology
of Conan stories and afterword by L. Sprague de Camp.
Tor
Horror
Armstrong, F. W. The Devouring, 284 pages, April, 1987, $3.95.
Farris, John. Nightfall, 311 pages, April, 1987, $3.95.
Sarrantonio, Al. The Boy with Penny Eyes, 278 pages, April, 1987, $3.50.
Tor
Science Fiction
Dalmas, John. The Yngling, 254 pages, $2.95. Reprint of a 1971 book.
Dickson, Gordon R. The Man From Earth, 288 pages, $2.95. Reprint of
a 1983 book.
Leiber, Justin. Beyond Humanity, 254 pages, April, 1987, $2.95.
Norton, Andre. Flight in Yktor, 251 pages, April, 1987, $2.95.
Williams, Walter Jon. Hardwired, 343 pages, April, 1987, $3.50.
Velocities
Andrew Joron
P.O. Box 5293
Berkeley, CA 94705
Boston, Bruce. All the Clocks are Melting, 38 pages, $3.00, 1984. Part
of the Velocities Chapbook series. Science Fiction Poetry.
Fan and
Other Zines
Controversy in Review #16. Richard Geis, P.O. Box 11408, Portland, OR
97211. Bi-monthly. 6/$9.00. Part reviewzine, part
personalzine, covers SF and whatever catches Geis' eye in the
new. Reincarnation of Science Fiction Review and The Naked Id.
Fantasy Review #98. Robert A. Collins, College of Humanities, Florida
Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431. Monthly.
$27.95/year. Fantasy oriented semi-pro news and review magazine.
File 770 #65. Mike Glyer, 5828 Woodman Ave. #2, Van Nuys, CA 91401.
Irregular. 5/$4.00. Newszine for fandom. Glyer won last years
Hugo for best Fan Writer.
Grue Magazine #4. Peggy Nadramia, Hell's Kitchen Productions, P.O. Box
370, Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108. $4.00, 3 issues
$11.00. Small Press Horror Fiction, lots of good art.
The Insider #129. St. Louis Science Fiction Society, P.O. Box 1058, St.
Louis, MO 63188. 16 page monthly newsletter for the SLSFS.
Lan's Lantern #22. George "Lan" Laskowski, 55 Valley Way, Bloomfield MI
48013. Irregular. Trade, articles, art, or $2.00/issue. Won
the Hugo for best Fanzine last year.
Ouroboros #5. Erskine Carter, P.O. Box 141, Mansfield Depot, CT
06251. $2.50. Small Press Horror Fiction.
Pandora. P.O. Box 625, Murray, KY 42071-0625. Irregular. $10/4 issues.
Small press innovative fiction magazine.
Scavenger's Newsletter #38. Janet Fox, 519 Ellinwood, Osage City, KS
66523. Monthly. $8.00/year.
Science Fiction Chronicle #91. Andrew Porter, Algol Press, P.O. Box
4175, New York, NY 10163-4175. Monthly. #23.40/year. Semi-pro
newsletter of information about SF, Fantasy, conventions,
publishing notes, and other things.
Short Form #1. Orson Scott Card, P.O. Box 18184, Greensboro, NC,
27419-8184. Quarterly. $12.00/year. Short Form is a
reviewzine of short fiction, and is attempting to cover
everything shorter than a novel published. Includes Card's You
Got No Friends in this World column from Science Fiction Review
as well as columnists Jane Yolen, Charles de Lint, Maia Cowan,
and Gloria Wall. The first issue is 60 pages of very small
type, hard to read but well worth doing so.
Twilight Zine #38. Janice M. Eisen, MITSFS, Room W20-473, 80
Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139. 4 times a decade
(decade defined as the time it takes to do four issues).
Trades, submissions, or because they like you. House organ of
the MIT Science Fiction Society.
Science Fiction BBSes
FSFNET.CSDAVE@MAINE.BITNET. Irregular. Available on BITNET, ARPA, CSNET
and UUCP networks. Experimental electronic fiction magazine.
P-1 Fido. Mike Bader, SYSOP. 313-545-1931. 300/1200/2400. 24
hours. SF Conference.
Terraboard. David Dyer-Bennet, SYSOP. 612-721-8967. 300/1200/2400. 24
hours. SF, Writers conferences. I hang out here (meaning well
run & highly recommended).
Pico Reviews
Amo, Amas, Amat and More by Eugene Ehrlich [***]
Perennial Library, $7.95
This is a dictionary of Latin phrases, useful for someone looking for
an exotic sounding comments to spice up your conversation (and confuse
your friends). Cute, not terribly useful unless you're a writer, but
unless you collect dictionaries, probably not going to make it onto
your buy list.
-- chuq von rospach
Anthonology by Piers Anthony [**+]
Tor, 1985, 381 pp, $14.95
Anthonology is a collection of short stories by Piers Anthony from his
early days as an author. Most of them have seen print before. The
stories range over a wide area of topics, both Fantasy and Science
Fiction, and vary in quality, though most are rather good. One warning
when reading this book, a number of the stories could be offensive or
upsetting to sensitive readers. Piers Anthony warns people very nicely
in his introduction to each story if he feels that it may offend
people, so heed his warnings or don't complain.
--Jim Winner
winner@cua.bitnet
Bard by Morgan Llywelyn [**]
Tor Fiction, $4.50, 461pp, 1984
This is an overlong story of the settling of Ireland by the Celts. This
book appears to have been originally marketed as historical fiction,
and was resurrected to feed the current 'Celtic craze.' The characters
on the cover don't even meet each other until the book is 90% through,
and then only briefly. I kept waiting for something to happen; it took
over half the book to get the characters on the boat to Ireland, and
more chapters until they actually landed. The book is more accurately a
historical fiction about the lives of the Gaelician Celts than a
historical fantasy about Ireland.
-- Laurie Sefton
lsefton@sun.com
Beyond Sanctuary by Janet Morris [***+]
Ace Fantasy $3.75 Canada
I have never read a Thieves' World book before but I gather this one
sums the whole thing up anyway. The whole things opens in Sanctuary
(described in words my mother doesn't know) where a plot to overrun the
Rankan empire is uncovered. The hero(?) Tempus and his personal army
would not be too upset by this except that they are slated for
slaughter to prepare the way. Roxane, a witch of great evil and amazing
silliness, botches the elimination of Tempus but butchers enough people
to get herself in hot water. Good vanquishes over evil which is not
normal for Thieves' World I gather. I loved it.
--Richard Loken
ihnp4!alberta!auvax!tech
Blood Hunt by Lee Killough [***]
Tor Horror, $3.95, 319pp, 1987
I've always been a fan of the "vampire-detective" genre, and this book
is a solid example of it. Blood Hunt follows the standard plot;
detective gets bitten, detective becomes vampire, detective hunts down
vampire who did it to him. Killough manages to vary the vampire lore to
allow Garreth Mikaelian, the detective, to work within "normal"
society, while still allowing him to stand apart. Garreth undergoes a
lot of character development, at times to the detriment of the plot.
Unfortunately, this book is burdened by a terrible cover; the standard
large breasted female vampire has tan lines.
-- Laurie Sefton
Borderland created by Terri Windling & Mark Alan Arnold [***]
Signet, 252 pages, $2.95
The second volume in the shared world anthology series started by
Bordertown. This volume is full of good stories, but doesn't have the
intensity of the first volume. If you liked Bordertown, you'll want to read
this book, but otherwise, probably not.
-- chuq von rospach
City Of Sorcery by Marion Zimmer Bradley [**]
DAW, 1984, 423 pages
Continues Magda and Jaelle's story after Thendara House, but doesn't
really finish it, leaving unresolved questions at the end for yet another
sequel. Darkovans and Terrans are working together more at this time
than at any other. A Terran pilot claims to have seen a city beyond the "Wall
Around the World", an impassible mountain range, and sets out to find it
with Rafaella as her guide. Magda and Jaella lead a party trying to bring
them back. The city is the home of the Sisterhood of the Wise, who are
opposed by the Dark Sisterhood, but you never really find out what either
of those groups are or what there power is over Darkover. The recent
Darkover books keep getting longer while containing less and less plot.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
The Cyborg and the Sorcerers by Lawrence Watt-Evans [***-]
Del Rey paperback 1982
The Cyborg and the Sorcerers is "Space Opera meets Fantasy in the
Aftermath"; fortunately, that's not as bad as it sounds. A cyberneticized
human (termed Slant) and his computer are scouts for Old Earth in the
revolution of the space colonies. Despite the fact that Earth lost the war
three hundred years ago, the computer is programmed to blow the Slant
up should he attempt to "fraternize with the enemy" until such time as it
receives a release code. Of course, the computer defines any colonial
inhabitant as an enemy, especially the wizards who seem to have developed
a "new weapon" that might be used against Earth. The focus is on the
relationship between Slant and the computer, and the problems that arise;
therefore, the descriptions are sometimes lengthy, but they do manage not
to be too intrusive.
--Lisa Besnett
hi-csc!slocum@UMN-CS.ARPA
Darkover Landfall by Marion Zimmer Bradley [****]
DAW, 1972, 160 pages
This book is the first Darkover story chronologically, though written
about 10 years after MZB began publishing Darkover novels. It tells of
the 200 survivors of a 21st century Earth Colony Expedition Force ship
that crashes on an uncharted planet. The main families seen later in
the books have their origins in a small group of Gaelic speaking Scots
who have preserved their old Earth culture and the few surviving
members of the crew and technological advisors. They must adapt to the
harsh planet as attempts to preserve technology and knowledge fail.
They meet and learn from one indiginous race - the Chieri. A basic
stranded colony story, it sets up a necessary foundation for the rest
of the series. A good place to start if you are new to Darkover, though
very different from the rest of the books.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Enterprise by Vonda McIntyre [*]
Pocket, $3.95, 1986, 371 pages
This could have made a good story set in a original universe and an even
better one set in the Star Wars universe (Corellians are mentioned in
passing), but even I don't have enough suspension of disbelief to take this
as a part of the Star Trek universe. It took all my self control not to throw
the book out in disgust before I got 100 pages into it. Not only does the
author get trivia-type details wrong, (which may be understandable but
doesn't anybody edit these books?) but the whole tone is just right for Star
Wars and totally out of character for Star Trek. I've liked McIntyre's other
Trek work and I don't expect continuity between Trek novels, but I do
expect them not to contradict known background too completely. The only
thing saving it one star is the nice presentation of a very alien culture. If
she had kept the story to just the first contact part that makes up the last
quarter of the book, it would have gotten a much higher rating from me.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
The Forbidden Tower by Marion Zimmer Bradley [****]
DAW, 1977, 364 pages
Continues the story of Andrew Carr and the Darkovan family he has
joined. Much detail on laran powers and how they are used in and out of
the towers is included. The towers' power over Darkover is diminishing as
fewer Comyn psi powers remain in each new generation. This is mainly a
love story set in a very alien culture.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Friends of the Horseclans edited by Robert and Pamela Adams [***+]
Signet Books, 284 pages, $3.50
Not just for Horseclans fans, this is an anthology of 12 stories by authors
such as Andre Norton, George Alec Effinger, Joel Rosenberg, Steven
Barnes and John F. Carr. All of the stories are set in the Horseclans
universe, making this sort of a shared world anthology.
-- chuq von rospach
Gloriana by Michael Moorcock [**]
Popular Library, $3.95, 1978, 378 pages
In a word -- boring, though it picks up a little for the last 100 pages,
which saved it from one star. I usually like Moorcock and since this is an
alternate universe fantasy version of the court of Elizabeth I, I was
predisposed to like it. Unfortunately, he never uses 2 words where 25 can
be substituted, resulting in a book that is overblown, over-long and under-
interesting. Some parts may offend but even the implied sex in this book
doesn't liven it up.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Hawkmistress by Marion Zimmer Bradley [****]
DAW, 1982, 336 pages
Later in the Ages of Chaos, during the time of the "Hundred Kingdoms,"
this is the story of Romilly, a young girl who inherits the MacAran laran to
relate to animals. She runs away from her family, who will not acknowledge
her powers because she is female. She would use her talent to heal and
protect animals but finally must use it to bring an end to one of the inter-
family wars of the period. The Sisterhood of the Sword, who later become
part of the Guild of Renunciates, are introduced here. One of my favorite
books out of the series, though it has its down spots.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
The Jehovah Contract by Victor Koman [*****]
Franklin Watts, 277 pages, $16.95
Phil Dick is dead, but not to worry. Victor Koman is still alive and in his
latest novel carries on the tradition of Phil's final, wildest, weirdest, most
profound work in fine style. Dell Ammo, professional hit-man, takes on the
biggest assignment of his life. The victim? God. The Question? Which
award will this book rip off... The Nebula? The Hugo? The Edgar? Or the
Big Bird? Not even The Fat Man knows.
-- Ray Faraday Nelson
Lythande by Marion Zimmer Bradley [****]
DAW, $3.50, 1986, 237 pages
This book collects the stories about MZB's Thieves World character, the
magician Lythande. You don't need any background knowledge of the
Thieves' World books, I've never read them, to enjoy these stories. Though
occasionally serious, these are light fantasy stories of magical adventures. A
story by Vonda McIntyre that features Lythande is also included.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Mindkiller by Spider Robinson [**]
Berkley Books $2.95 246 pages
This is the first Spider Robinson I have read and if I hadn't been on a
train with time on my hands I would have dropped it. The science premise
of a new addictive electronic drug is good -- I can buy every word of it and
thats it. As for the stunningly complex, multitalented body as a hero and
his inscrutible indestructible enemies, forget it.
-- Richard Loken
ihnp4!alberta!auvax!tech
Modesty Blaise: The Xanadu Talisman by Peter O'Donnell [***+]
Tor Books, 278 pages, $3.50
Not Science Fiction, but who cares. At the beginning of the book,
Modesty is buried under the rubble of a hotel by an earthquake. After that,
things get interesting. Good, solid spy escapism from the female version of
James Bond.
-- chuq von rospach
Murder on Usher's Planet by Atanielle Annyn Noel [**-]
Avon, 182 pages, $2.95
A disappointing murder mystery set in a strange house on a faraway
planet. The book reads as if the author was watching Thin Man detective
movies, the main characters are very thin and try to attain a dry wit --
without quite making it. They stumble their way through the plot, making a
hash of any number of Poe stories along the way. If they hadn't been quite
so stupid, the book would have been half this size. Not recommended.
-- chuq von rospach
M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link by Robert Asprin [***]
Donning/Starblaze, $7.95, 1986, 150 pages
A seventh volume of adventures with the Myth crowd. This begins new
stories about M.Y.T.H. Inc., the company Skeeve and associates form. Each
chapter tells a different character's adventure, linked together by Skeeve
as he gives them their assignments. Gleep's view of his pet (Skeeve) and
friends was the most fun. There's a lot of thought behind his one word
vocabulary. Numerous references are made to past adventures that would
probably be confusing to new readers so it helps to know the series so far.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Night's Master by Tanith Lee [****]
DAW 1978
Tanith Lee is a master of the heroic fantasy epic; she writes in the style
of legend and myth. Her use of language is exquisite; her descriptions are
magical. She paints with words and captures the emotion and power of a
magical era. This books tells three stories about Azhrarn, Prince of Demons
and the heroic and tragic lives of the mortals whose fates were intertwined
with him. This is adult fantasy; some scenes may offend the prudish, but
passion is essential to true legend. If you want to read of imagination and
dreams, read this.
--Brett Slocum
hi-csc!slocum@UMN-CS.ARPA
The Other Side of the Mirror
by Marion Zimmer Bradley with Friends of Darkover [**+]
DAW Fantasy, $3.50, 303pp, 1987
This presents more stories from Darkover, with the bulk of the book
taken up by Bradley. All of the stories appear to be trying to patch Darkover
continuity; some by providing more information on a character, others by
providing more background information on the planet and its inhabitants.
The stories by the Friend of Darkover suffer from giving the reader too
much information. You don't need to be given the recent bloodline of a
character or mention already known characters as to give the period to
enjoy the story.
-- Laurie Sefton
The Shattered Chain by Marion Zimmer Bradley [****]
DAW, 1976, 287 pages
Beginning in the Dry Towns, this story takes place around the same
time as the Andrew Carr stories. Dry Town culture is very different from
the rest of Darkover (the Domains), and is the home of bandits and traders.
The first part of the story tells of the rescue of a kidnapped Comyn lady,
Melora, and her daughter Jaelle by a group of Free Amazons hired by Lady
Rohana Ardais and Jaelle's fostering to the Free Amazon Kindra. Part two
introduces the Terran characters Magda Lorne and Peter Haldane, both
raised on Darkover and working for the Terran Spaceport. When Peter is
captured by bandits who mistake him for Kyril Ardais, Magda goes in
disguise to rescue him. When she meets real Amazons, including Jaelle, in
the Hellers during a storm, she is forced to take the Guild oath herself.
She is the first Terran to learn any details about the Guild of Renunciates
and gets permission to go to the Guild House to fulfill the terms of her oath
and continue her work on languages and customs of Darkover from within
the culture. A true exchange program is set up as Guild craftswomen gain
Hastur's permission to work for the Terrans. This period is one of the rare
times Darkover and the Empire try to work together.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
The Spell Sword by Marion Zimmer Bradley [****]
DAW, 1974, 156 pages
One hundred years after the Terran Empire rediscovers Darkover, they
have set up a space port and trade city. The rest of the planet is closed to
off-worlders but some mapping and exploration has begun. Andrew Carr
survives the crash of a mapping plane, is taken in by a local family and
learns of Darkovan life, including the acceptance of laran powers and
matrix technology. The plot is a straight forward adventure story of fighting
the native Catmen to rescue a kidnapped keeper but The Spell Sword and
its sequel, The Forbidden Tower, include lots of information of Darkovan
life outside of Terran influence.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Stormqueen by Marion Zimmer Bradley [**]
DAW, 1978, 364 pages
Set during the "Ages of Chaos", the lost period in Darkover's history.
This time is the height of power for the Towers, before Comyn rule was
unified, when talents were being bred into the ruling families. This in-
breeding and ever more dangerous psi powers can bring catastrophe to
those involved. A rather depressing story, this fills a historical gap but is
better read after some of the chronologically later books so you know
where the culture is headed and don't just get depressed and give up on
the series.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Teckla by Steven Brust [****]
Ace, $2.95, 1987, 214 pages
This story is more serious in tone than Jhereg and Yendi, the other
books in the series so far, but no book that uses the main character's
laundry list as the table of contents can be entirely serious. It is
introspective, more about Vlad's thoughts on what is going on around him
than on the events themselves though he does put himself into the thick of
things, as usual.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Thendara House by Marion Zimmer Bradley [*]
DAW, 1983, 414 pages
Very little happens in this book. You learn more of how the Terran and
Darkovan cultures see each other but not much else. There are lots of
details about Magda's housebound time learning the ways of the
Renunciates (this is the more interesting part) as in the Terran Zone
Jaelle learns things she'd rather not about the Empire. I had "suspension of
disbelief" problems with this one - here and now a married woman can
chose to retain her maiden name and make the bureaucracy go along with
it, I don't see how an interplanetary federation government could insist
that Jaelle only use "Mrs. Peter Haldane" as her official name. The story
intersects with The Forbidden Tower. The Terrans had believed Andrew
Carr dead, when they discover he is alive and living as a Darkovan, officials
try to force him back into the Empire's service. The Empire begins trying
to turn Darkover into a standard colony, with a culture and government to
match the rest of the Empire that Darkover has so far successfully resisted.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
The Third Apple by Jean-Louis Gassee [****]
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, March, 1987, $14.95
Part personal memoir, part discussion of the computer industry, and
part analysis of society, Jean-Louis Gassee, the lead Marketing Guru for
Apple Computer, uses the thread of the computer being the cornerstone of
the third societal revolution. His comparisons of French and American
cultures are very interesting, and while you may agree or disagree with his
views, the book will leave you with a number of things to think about.
-- chuq von rospach
The Trillion Year Spree by Brian Aldiss [*****]
Atheneum, 444 pages plus footnotes and index, $24.95
Subtitled "The History of Science Fiction" this update of Aldiss' The
Billion Year Spree is a literary history of the Science Fiction genre. This
will be the single most important research tool for anyone studying
Science Fiction for years to come. Starting with Mary Shelley and
Frankenstein, Aldiss examines Science Fiction's history and looks at the
important milestones of the genre. His research looks impeccable,
although you won't always agree with his conclusions. A must for anyone
serious about the genre.
-- chuq von rospach
Tuf Voyaging by G.R.R. Martin [****]
Baen Books, March 1987, 376 pages
This book is a collection of stories about a man who aquires a mobile
space-based biowarfare laboratory, and what he does with it. It has a strong
ZPG subtext, and gets somewhat preachy at times, but is a good read
nevertheless. It is hard to put my finger on just why I like this book so
much. I suspect it is because in some ways the protagonist, Haviland Tuf, is
a sort of Lt. Columbo analog. Columbo comes across as a fuzzy minded slob,
but under this appearance he has a quick mind and a keen eye. Haviland
Tuf comes across as an effete incompetent, but when the going gets tough,
Tuf gets going. (You didn't imagine for a moment I'd skip that pun, did
you?) In essence, what caught my interest was the continual question of
"what does Tuf have up his sleeve THIS time?" And Martin provides
interesting answers every time.
-- Wayne Throop
Two To Conquer by Marion Zimmer Bradley [***]
DAW, 1980, 335 pages
The story of a Terran on early Darkover, before Earth knows of the lost
colony's existance - Paul Harrell, a criminal in the civilized Confederated
Worlds, is brought to Darkover by "sorcery" because he is the astral twin of
Bard diAsturien. This time sees the beginning of the Compact as a treaty
barring the use of sorcery for war. This develops into the major Darkovan
law forbidding weapons that go beyond the wielder's reach. The
Priestesses of Avarra and the Sisterhood of the Sword join to form the
Order of Renunciates. A good adventure story. Including a Terran character
as an outsider that 'common knowledge' must be explained to gives the
reader a familiar reference point and highlights how different Darkovan
culture has become from its Earth origin.
--Mary Anne Espenshade
mae@aplvax.arpa
Ubik by Philip K. Dick [***]
Dell SF 1970
How can one adaquately describe a Philip Dick book. He is one of the
most unusual authors in the genre. His descriptions are top-notch, and his
plots are unique, to say the least. In UBIK, Joe Chip is a tester for a
company that protects people from psionics by employing 'inertials', those
with an anti-psionic talent. After his boss dies, Joe's 1990's reality seems
to be decaying into 1939, piece by piece. And someone is killing off all the
inertials. And Joe had better find some UBIK or he'll be next. The style is
straight forward; just the events are confusing. Definately a fuse-blower.
--Brett Slocum
hi-csc!slocum@UMN-CS.arpa
Under the Wheel created by Elizabeth Mitchell [***]
Baen Books, 272 pages, $2.95
Three anti-utopian novellas, all original to this volume. Authors are
Gregory Benford, John M. Ford, and Nancy Springer. Volume III in the
Alien Stars anthology series.
-- chuq von rospach
Vamps edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh [***]
DAW Horror, $3.50, 365pp, 1987
A collection of short stories about female vampires, 1/3 of which are
good, 1/3 are average, and 1/3 are wretched. The best, by Stephen King, is
"One for the Road", which had previously appeared in his own collection of
short stories, "Night Shift." However, the editors have also included stories
that were written from the 1800's to the 1930's, and these stories suffer
from their style. The cover, while not presenting the standard large
breasted female vampire, does have one who looks slightly potted.
-- Laurie Sefton
Wielding A Red Sword by Piers Anthony [**]
Del Rey (SFBC), 1986, 249 pp.\
This is Book Four of Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality"
series. In this book we see the struggle of a prince who becomes the
Incarnation of War, or Mars if you prefer. Unfortunately, this books lacks
the characteristic which gave such hope to this series. There is no clear
personality of War itself. What I would expect to be sidelines in the story
(Mars' journey through Hell) seem more important than the concept of
War. It's a nice story but, for me, it missed its potential and promise. There
is also, of course, an entertaining 26 page (pp. 250-276) Author's Note for
those who are familiar with Mr. Anthony's books.
--Jim Winner
Wild Cards II: Aces High edited by George R.R. Martin [***+]
Bantam, 390 pages, $3.95
The second volume in the Wild Card "mosaic novel" series. This volume
focuses on the Aces, the folk who were given special powers by the Wild
Card virus, as they fight a giant, intelligent yeast infection from outer
space. This definitely deserves the term mosaic novel instead of shared
world anthology because all of the stories intermingle instead of being read
sequentially. The format is quite successful, and shows the strength of
Martin as an editor. I'm not as happy with this volume, though, because of
the growing use of graphic violence, language, and sex. It is a very good
book, but somewhat of an anticlimax after the wonderful first volume.
-- Chuq Von Rospach
With a Single Spell by Lawrence Watt-Evans [***]
Del Rey, March 1987, 263 pages
This book is the story of an apprentice wizard, who's master dies before
instructing him in more than the rudiments of his profession. In fact, he
has learned a single spell. Most of the book deals with his search for a way
to make a living at his profession despite his sketchy education, and
towards the end, how he deals with a windfall legacy with some catches. A
light read with nothing profound happening. It compares well with the
earlier book with the same setting, The Misenchanted Sword.
-- Wayne Throop
Wolves Of The Dawn by William Sarabande [***+]
Bantam, 1986 450 pp, $4.50
This story has one major flaw, it needs a sequel. It actually should be the
first of a two book series since the story does not really end. The story
centers around the son of the chief of a tribe at the very beginning of the
Bronze Age. It shows they young Balor's struggle to learn his father's
wisdom in the face of more glorious possibilities. The characters in this
book come to life and perform their story in front of you, though you often
know what the performance will be before it is done. The author almost
lost me when, at page 400, I realized that there is obviously (I hope) a book
two planned, though this very needed conclusion is not mentioned
anywhere. In the class of Clan Of The Cave Bear, look for this in the fiction
section as a novel.
--Jim Winner
winner@cua.bitnet
OtherRealms #15
May, 1987
Copyright 1987
by Chuq Von Rospach.
All Rights Reserved.
One time rights have been acquired from the contributors.
All rights are hereby assigned to the contributors
OtherRealms may be reproduced in its entirety only
for non-commercial purposes. With the exception of
excerpts used for promotional purposes, no part of
OtherRealms may be re-published without permission.
