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OtherRealms Issue 11 Part 02
OtherRealms
A Reviewzine for the Non-Fan
Where FIJAGH Becomes a Way of Life
Issue #11
December, 1986
Part 2
Pico Reviews
AN ALIEN HEAT by Michael Moorcock []
Harper SF, SFBC, 1972
Volume 1 of the "Dancers at the End of Time Trilogy," Moorcock attempts
to write about a dead, decadent society at the end of the Universe.
Immortal, any wish possible, with not a care in the world, a small
group of hopelessly adolescent brats attempt to party their way to
eternity. Rather than being about decadence, I found the work decadent
itself, and gave up halfway through. The companion volumes, "THE
HOLLOW LANDS" and "THE END OF ALL SONGS" were left unread. I just
don't seem to tolerate Moorcock's writing for some reason.
-- chuq von rospach
THE ARCHITECT OF SLEEP, by Steven R. Boyett [****]
Ace Fantasy, 290 pages, $2.95.
Alternate universe stories are common enough, but imagine, if you will,
a world populated by sentient racoons -- racoons who can't talk, but
have a rich and expressive sign language. Then imagine the plight of a
human who's mysteriously transported to that world, displayed as an
animal, etc. Add in powerful emotions, twisty court politics, and
believable characters (even if they are racoons, and possibly -- as a
friend of mine would describe them -- humans in zipper suits), and you
have a wonderful book. The only problem is that ARCHITECT is just the
first book of two or three -- and they *don't* tell you that. Nor do
they tell you when the next book is coming out, for which I seriously
fault the publisher.
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
ARIEL, by Steven R. Boyett [***]
Ace Fantasy, 325 pages, $2.95.
On the strength of THE ARCHITECT OF SLEEP, I picked up ARIEL, Boyett's
first novel. It's okay, though nothing special. The writing, and the
predictability of the plot, are very characteristic of first novels
(and it's amazing how much Boyett has improved by his second novel).
The book is a typical post-Apocalypse novel (i.e., lots of scenes of
character scavenging the stores from Before); this time, though, the
change is that technology has suddenly stopped working, in favor of --
you guessed it -- magic. The title character is a unicorn, who (of
course) will only associate with virgins; this time, thankfully, we
have a male virgin. Rate this book [**] if you're not willing to give
brownie points for a reasonable first effort by a new author.
(Translation: the book does have many strong sections, but doesn't
hang together as a whole.)
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT: A Plain and Literal
Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments
Translated by Richard F. Burton; Privately printed by The
Burton Club; $55; 10 Volumes
Any lover of fantasy should not be satisfied until they have read this.
Almost everyone has heard about the tales of Shahrazad but few have
actually read them. Most books only contain a few of the tales, and
these are usually censored greatly. The actual Burton translation is
10 volumes, including 6 extra volumes of additional tales. These have
it all! Great magic, mighty wizards and Djinni (Jinn), crafty heroes,
quests, betrayed lovers! The wealth of material here is astounding,
both for the fantasy within it, but also the insight into the
beginnings of arabian culture. Be warned that this is not for the
prudish! Burton translates the stories literally and he leaves in all
the parts which are removed from the childrens' edition you read when
young. You will probably have to mail order this. Mine was a gift
costing about $55, but I believe it has been released in a cheaper
edition lately.
-- John R. Mellby
jmellby%ti-eg@csnet-relay
THE COPPER CROWN by Patricia Kennealy [****+]
Signet, $3.50
Over a thousand years ago, Celts for whom Western Europe was no longer
a home settled on a number of planets [collectively Keltia] discovered
by St. Brendan the Astrogator. Over a thousand years from now an
expedition from Earth contacts them. The contact triggers a local
sword-and-spaceship war. This book is fun to read. Kennealy is of the
school of writers who paint their characters larger than life and spend
a lot of time describing what they wear. The science is very soft, but
she does a creditable job of describing a fusion of traditional Celtic
values and modern technology without ever descending to travelogue.
(And -- thank heaven -- she provides a usable pronunciation guide!) I'm
looking forward to the sequel[s].
--Dani Zweig
haste@andrew.cmu.edu
THE CUNNINGHAM EQUATIONS by G.C. Edmondson and C.M. Kotlan [****-]
Del Rey, $2.95, 1986, 295 pages
This is mystery, with our Nobel prize winning drunken protagonist
trying to find out what a gene-splicing company is doing, and why the
they are hiding it. At a deeper level, it's a lecture on the evils of
loosing untested technology on the public. The writing is very good,
except for the occasional slips into lecturing on the technology. For
many, a worse flaw will be that this is a VERY depressing novel.
*SPOILER WARNING* All the characters - which you know and
like/dislike/detest - die or will soon be dead by the end of the book.
-- Mike Meyer
mwm@berkeley.edu
DINNER AT DEVIANT'S PALACE by Tim Powers [**]
Ace Science Fiction, 1985, $2.95
DINNER is a grittily realistic view of post-Bomb Los Angeles. Powers
writes a strong story about a society on the edge, supported by
decadence, drugs, and the hyper-Fundamentalist Jaybush cult, a
combination Reverend Moon, Jim Jones, and Crystal Cathedral.
Unfortunately, Powers lost me when he moved the story towards the
extraterrestrial alien evil influence, but the book will probably work
for most people who follow Gibson and the Cyberpunk people.
-- chuq von rospach
ENGINES OF CREATIONS by K. Eric Drexler [****]
Doubleday, $17.95, 1986, 298 pages
Space Systems scientist Drexler extrapolates developments in the
molecule building and expounds a method for defining the limits and
potentials of any future development in any science. Non-fiction, but
a must-read for SF authors and would be SF authors.
-- Ray Farraday Nelson
THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD by Patricia McKillip [*****]
Like her Starbearer trilogy, this is a work rich in legend and lore
with significant development of the main characters, and good insights
into human nature without lessoning or lecturing. A basic Name-based
magical world with knights, magicians, and the fantastic beasts of
legend, all woven together with language and descriptions appropriate
to the story and the setting. It follows a white haired witch raised
in the solitary silences and power of magic through her discoveries of
love, hate, revenge, fear, and self-knowledge. A very well crafted
work that is one of my favorites.
-- Phyllis Li
li@uw-vlsi.arpa
FORTUNE OF FEAR by L. Ron Hubbard [*****]
Bridge, $18.95, 1986, 365 pages
Ron Hubbard, by his own admission, learned from Jack London the way to
combine profound philosophical concepts and non-stop action adventure.
In FORTUNE OF FEAR Hubbard continues the ten-book "Mission Earth"
series. Where the over-rated Asimov turns the whole galaxy into a
Manhattan Island, Hubbard finds in Manhattan Island a whole seemingling
infinite galaxy. Almost unheard of in the SF ghetto is his still more
amazing feat; he starts out funny... and stays that way!
-- Ray Farraday Nelson
THE GAME OF FOX AND LION by Robert R. Chase [****+]
Del Rey
A very good intricate-political-games-during-wartime novel. This book
is *very* well done, and kept me turning pages, as well as thinking.
It does one of my favorite themes (the superman theme... the main
character has artificially enhanced intelligence), but with less
sophomoric concentration on the flash-and-dazzle, and more on serious
human consequences of the imagined situation. Background material is
sometimes a little clumsily inserted, but never implausibly. And, as I
say, it kept me flipping pages and thinking, things that don't normally
happen for me together in a book.
-- Wayne Throop
dg_rtp!throopw
THE HEIRS OF BABYLON by Glen Cook [***]
Signet, 1972, $.95, 192 pp.
The bombs were dropped decades ago. The US and USSR are no more. What
is left of the world's population is engaged in ritual world war. Once
every 10 years the call goes out to each region to patch together the
creaking remnants of the old naval fleets and set out for the
Gathering. Will this be the last time? Why must we continue to fight?
This is an early foreshadowing of Cook's gift for bringing characters
to life, from the naive young fisherman turned navigator to the aging
and sinister political officer charged with maintaining their zeal for
war. A rather depressing story, as many post-holocaust stories are,
but told with skill and imagination.
-- Kirk Webb
HER MAJESTY'S WIZARD by Chrisopher Stasheff [**]
Del Rey, $3.50
A university student is transported to a medieval world where magic
works. His knowledge of poetry and technology make him an unbeatable
wizard. The gimmick has been done to death (best by Platt and de Camp)
and is not redeemed here by good handling. One interesting aspect of
the world in question is that not only does magic work, but many other
aspects of the medieval world view hold true, such as the divine right
of kings. This book does not particularly resemble the Warlock books
by the same author.
-- Dani Zweig
haste@andrew.cmu.edu
MATADORA by Steve Perry [***+]
A wonderfully written, fast-paced action story with brains, a
conscience, and character. I read this book first, and found out about
the trilogy at the end. After buying and reading the other books I
found this one to be far more to my tastes than the other two, rare in
a second, transition book of a trilogy; but, Drisha, the black, lady
martial artist, steals the show with her steadfast inclinations for
survival and sheer dimensionality. Almost all of the other characters
pale in comparison, and my only motivation to get through the other two
were for incidents of her. I enjoyed the philosophy of the Maradors in
this book much more than in either of the somewhat heavy handed
presentations of that philosophy in the other two books. Perhaps the
bias towards this book is that I could identify a lot more with an
independent, survival motivated protagonist than one who is in it
because of a Vision. In any case, not a deep book, but it is fun.
-- Phyllis Li
li@uw-vlsi.arpa
A MATTER OF TIME by Glen Cook [**]
Ace, 1985, $2.95, 268 pp.
This book is just a gritty detective novel with the villains being time
travellers from the future. I say "just" because the main characters
never rise above their drab caricatures and grab your interest. The
hero is hopelessly outclassed by the clever villains through the entire
book. As he often tells his companions, it's not the brilliance of
Sherlock Holmes, it's just dogged detective work. A disappointment
from Cook, usually a master of characterization.
-- Kirk Webb
THE MEMORY OF WHITENESS, by Kim Stanley Robinson [***]
TOR, 351 pages, $3.50.
MEMORY is rather disappointing. It takes effort to read the book
(which is not at all bad, but don't expect to breeze through it before
bedtime one night), but doesn't reward the effort. It portrays music
as a universal means of communication -- everyone in the societies is
far more musically literate than almost anyone today -- but spends most
its time on music as a metaphor for physics, and from it life, the
universe, and everything. But the central theme is ultimately
mystical, and I have little feel for other people's mysticisms. Worse
yet, since the music and the mysticism are the major forces acting on
the characters, I found it difficult to understand why they acted as
they did. He does introduce one sparkling concept: metadrama, which
consists of players interacting with random, unknowing people, trying
to steer their actions into a desired course.
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
MOONFLASH by Patricia McKillip [**]
A disappointment, it seems an attempt by a fantasy author to give a
science fiction explanation to a fantasy society. Scientifically
consistant the book has none of the richness in character development
that I have come to expect from McKillip's works. The protagonists are
likable, but barely two-dimensional; practically all the scientists are
only one-dimentional; and the premise for the societys of the world is
only a single point flash. It can be read through, but I took four
days to finish it, a real rarity for someone that almost always
finishes books in a single sitting.
-- Phyllis Li
li@uw-vlsi.arpa
NOTES TO A SCIENCE FICTION WRITER: THE SECRETS OF WRITING SCIENCE
FICTION THAT SELLS by Ben Bova, [****]
Houghton Mifflin tradeback, 1981, $5.95, 193 pages.
This book is basic intro to writing SF that uses an interesting format.
The book is divided into four parts: Character, Background, Conflict,
and Plot. Each section has a Theory chapter, a example short story,
and a Practice chapter that discusses how the story uses the principles
of the Theory chapter. These are Bova's own story and the book is
almost worth it just for the stories. Nothing fancy, just good simple
SF. This book is a good one for the beginning writer who wants to write
SF The expert will enjoy the stories.
-- Brett Slocum
PASSAGE AT ARMS by Glen Cook [***]
Questar, 1985, $2.95, 265 pp.
Just as an old time space opera was a typical western novel with
sixguns transformed to blasters and horses traded for spaceships, this
future war yarn must have started life as a World War II U-boat novel.
The sheer inventiveness of the translation into space is captivating.
If you can't find Lothar-Gunther Buchheim's The Boat (Das Boot), this
book is a good substitute. It is a tension-packed voyage accompanied
by fear and misery as you watch the crew slowly disintegrate under the
pressure of the inhuman living conditions, the menacing enemy ships and
the indifference of high command. Claustrophobes and weak stomachs
beware!
-- Kirk Webb
REALITY MATIX by John Dalmas [****]
Baen Books, 310 pages, $2.95.
I'm not normally fond of "psi" books, even when the paranormal powers
are wrapped in a scientific cloak, but I'll make an exception for this
one. (If you're wondering why I bought it, it's because the cover and
blurb make no mention of psi, probably with malice aforethought.)
There are themes drawn from Heinlein's "Year of the Jackpot" (with
explicit acknowledgement), and some vague similarity to some of
Chalker's works, but on the whole we have an original, fun book. Be
warned, though -- this book may call for not just suspension of
disbelief, but suspension of distaste. But give it a try.
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
SOULSTORM by Chet Williamson [**]
Tor Horror, 1986, $3.95
One of the recent titles in Tor's new Horror line, Williamson writes
well but puts together such a hodgepodge of classic Horror kitsch that
the book collapses into itself like the House of Usher. We meet the
rich man, impotent and dying of cancer; his pretty wife, and three
mercenary down-and-outs, offered a million dollars apiece to spend 30
days in a haunted house with the rich man, who hopes to sacrifice them
to the evil beings in return for immortality. It doesn't work, of
course, as the evil beings have their own ideas. The book doesn't
work, either, but if Williamson can find his own Horror voice instead
of kludging together from everyone else he'll be a name to reckon with.
-- chuq von rospach
SPIDER PLAY, by Lee Killough [**]
Questar, 232 pages, $3.50.
More adventures of Janna Brill and Mama Maxwell, law enforcement
officers extraordinaire. Unlike DOPPELGANGER GAMBIT, there's
(understandably) less attention paid to detailing the culture. Too
bad, because it was a fascinating culture indeed. And the clash of
honor and instinct versus police regulation doesn't carry any weight
this time around. I have to score this one a miss -- too bad, because
DOPPENGANGER GAMBIT was Killough's best work.
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
THE SPIRAL DANCE by Starhawk [*****]
Harper & Row, 1979, trade paperback, $10.95
A book that details the practice, ritual, and meaning of Witchcraft in
modern society. A thorough examination of Goddess worship from the
ground up. A wonderful reference work, a good introduction into the
world of Wicca.
-- chuq von rospach
THE SWORDBEARER by Glen Cook [****]
Timescape, 1982, $2.75, 239pp.
From a smorgasbord of unoriginal plot devices, Glen Cook has produced
an exciting well-crafted fantasy adventure. With the demon sword that
drinks souls, the silent but stout-hearted dwarf companion, the evil
undead warriors on their winged dragon mounts and the naive young hero
unaware of the growing feelings of the beautiful princess, you just
know you're in for a boring Shannara lookalike! But Cook lets you look
inside each of these characters, from the ambitious emperor to the
undead warriors and brings their hopes and fears, joy and despair to
life and makes you care about each one. While the final outcome is
never in doubt, you will enjoy every step of the way! -- Kirk Webb
TERROR, by Fredrik Pohl [**]
Berkley Science Fiction, 220 pages, $2.95.
I expect better of Pohl. Although superficially an exploitation book
about terrorism, it's actually somewhat broader in theme. Pohl is
interested in military/political evil. To do this, he paints all sides
-- terrorists, the U.S. government, the Soviet government, assorted
other governments (in cameo roles) -- in short, just about everyone --
as evil. You get at most a cursory set of motivations for why the
different folks act evilly (except for the Hawaiian nationalists -- is
there such a movement?), but Pohl is so interested in speaking ill that
he never explores the larger questions the book raises (or could raise,
to be more precise). I'm thinking of questions like these: is
violence ever moral? is a pre-emptive strike ever moral? Are all
governments really on the same moral plane? Call the book preaching,
and not very good preaching at that.
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
TOM O'BEDLAM by Robert Silverberg [***]
Donald I. Fine, Inc., ISBN 0-917657-31-4, 320 pp., $16.95
In a future California ravaged by refugees from the Dust War, roving
bands of outlaws, and the excesses of the past, poor, crazy Tom
transmits his visions of a wondrous intergalactic civilization to those
around him. But are the aliens the saviors of mankind, or is Tom
merely hallucinating them? Silverberg juxiposes his characters' vivid
dreams of better worlds with the reality of their decaying civilization
to great effect. The characters are well-drawn and believable. I
could sympathize with them all, no matter how disagreeably they
behaved. Recommended.
--Roger Goun
goun%cadlac.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
TWISTING THE ROPE by R.A. MacAvoy [***]
Bantam, $3.50
A disappointing sequel to Tea With the Black Dragon. A man is killed
and everyone who knew him turns out to have had motive means and
opportunity. Generic murder mystery number 17. The charm of TWtBD
resided largely in the characters of its protagonists--especially the
Dragon. In this book we know that Long is the Black Dragon only
because we have read the prequel. We know that he is extraordinary
only because we are told that he is. The third star is partly for
highly competent writing and partly for the pleasure of meeting old
friends. If you haven't read TWtBD, or didn't enjoy it, don't read this
book.
--Dani Zweig
haste@andrew.cmu.edu
THE VAMPIRE LESTAT by Anne Rice [*****]
Ballantine, $4.50, 1986, 552 pages
From Clark Ashton Smith to Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, the California School
of Horror has specialized in the rational exploration of the irrational
realms of the supernatural. Now San Francisco Novelist Anne Rice
writes the best book yet in this tradition. Instead of lurking
offstage, as in DRACULA, the vampire becomes not only the protagonist,
but the narrator, and he heads us into the deepest exploration yet of
the dark continent of the Living Dead.
-- Ray Farraday Nelson
THE WARLOCK IS MISSING by Christopher Stasheff [***]
While the Warlock is Wandering, all the baddies on Gramarye emerge to
take advantage of his absence. Unfortunately for the baddies, and
fortunately for the reader, the Warlock's four children have grown old
enough to be interesting and formidable characters themselves. (They
are powerful, but they are still children. They make a number of bad
misjudgements that will come back to haunt them.) Readers of the
Warlock series will not be disappointed. Those who haven't read the
excellent Warlock in Spite of Himself should read it and then the
adequate King Kobold Revived -- and be warned that the many sequels
tend to resemble the latter book.
--Dani Zweig
haste@andrew.cmu.edu
THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE, by Lois McMaster Bujold [***]
Baen Books, 315 pages, $2.95.
THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE is a sequel (or, more properly, a follow-up)
to SHARDS OF HONOR. Unlike the earlier work -- a powerful study of
cultural clashes and strong emotions -- this one follows a young man as
he stumbles and gropes his way to adulthood. Part of the book is comic
-- I rarely laugh out loud while reading, but I did here -- and part of
it is fairly gory, as if Bujold couldn't decide what she wanted to do.
The strict codes of Barrayar come into play, of course, but it isn't
clear that they make much sense to anyone who hasn't read SHARDS OF
HONOR. Still, a pleasant few hours.
-- Steven Bellovin
ulysses!smb
WARRIOR WOMAN by Marion Zimmer Bradley [*]
Great premise, bad writing. Bradley gives a classic example of how not
to use the first person. The book feels cramped by the severe
limitations she puts on communication of the story through her
protagonist. The idea of a woman warrior is fascinating to me and the
premise that she gives for the existence of that woman on the planet is
great, the only reasons that I gave this book a single star; however,
she does not use the premise for anything other than a deus ex machina
to drop the heroine in and out of the story. There is also a great
amount of preaching done. A very disappointing work from a lady that
has done such wonderful writing.
-- Phyllis Li
li@uw-vlsi.arpa
YARROW by Charles de Lint [***+]
A fantasy writer whose inspirations come from her [true?] dreams of
another realm is victimized by a psychic vampire who feeds on dreams.
The story is almost entirely based in Ottawa, with little of the
folklore/fantasy element which the author handles so effectively. One
senses that the author is deliberately trying to develop new skills.
His success will be well worth waiting for. In Yarrow, though, he is
writing to his weaknesses. Most of his characters are shallow. (This
is not a problem with the mythical or mythologized characters he is
used to portraying, because we know so much about them the moment we
encounter them.) His parasite, too, is a dull thing, but his portrayal
of the pain of being deprived of dreams is powerful.
--Dani Zweig
haste@andrew.cmu.edu
OtherRealms is Copyright 1986
by Chuq Von Rospach
All rights reserved
One time rights have been acquired from the contributors. All rights
are hereby assigned to the contributors.
Reproduction rights: OtherRealms may be reproduced only for
non-commercial uses. Re-use, reproduction or reprinting of an
individual article in any way on any media, is forbidden without
permission.
