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CONTENTS:

 
 

Coming Soon

Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carrey

"The Sword of Walleran and other tales" by Lord Dunsany

"Farmer Giles of Ham" by J.R.R. Tolkien

"Shardik" by Richard Adams

"Maia" by Richard Adams

"Children of the Jedi" by Barbara Hambley

"Planet of Twilight" by Barbara Hambley

"Shatterpoint" by Matt Stover

Contact by Carl Sagan

Fatal Revenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

The Sharing Knife Vol 1

The Sharing Knife Vol 2

More Reviews in Archives!


 

Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carrey

I've awaited this book for a year now, and am very happy to say that it did not disappoint! Though perhaps not the best book of the entire series, I couldn't stop turning the pages until the end.
Imriel, the son of his nations greatest traitor, and his love Sidonie, the heir to the throne of Terre D'Ange, begin the novel after announcing their love affair to the nation. The Queen proclaims that the only way Imriel will be allowed to marry Sidonie is if he finds his exiled mother and brings her to Terre D'Ange for her execution. As he prepares to embark on this journey, the story takes a dramatic turn with dark magic, madness, and betrayal. Imriel now must find his mother to beg for help, or the nation and the woman he loves will be destroyed.
All the familiar characters are here, though Phoebe, the heroine of the first three books has a relatively small part to play in this last book that will feature her.
Though the sex is vivid and borders on erotica, it does not overwhelm in any of these books, because at their heart they are adventures and love stories that expand the heart and make you catch your breath.
As I bid goodbye to Imriel, who I loved since he first spat in Phoebe's face, I can honestly say that I am looking forward to rereading all six of Jaqueline's Carrey's novels over and over again as the years pass.

"The Sword of Walleran and other tales" by Lord Dunsany

Five stars

The Wild Things are somewhat human in appearance, only all brown of skin and barely two feet high. Their ear are pointed like a squirrels, only far larger, and they leap to prodigious heights. They live all day under deep pools in the loneliest marshes, but at night they come up and dance.

Each Wild Thing has over its head a marsh-light, which moves as the Wild Thing moves. They have no souls, and cannot die, and are of the kith of the elf-folk.

All night they dance over the marshes, treading upon the reflection of the stars (for the bare surface of the water will not hold them by itself); but when the stars begin to pale, they sink down one by one into the pools of heir home, or if they tarry longer, sitting upon the rushes, their bodies fade from view as the marsh-fires pale in the light and by daylight none may see the Wild Things and the kith of the elf-folk. Neither may any see them even at night unless they were born, as I was, in the hour of dusk, just at the moment when the first star appears.

From "The Kith of the Elf-Folk


In the late 1800s Lord Dunsany established himself as a trailblazer of modern fantasy and an influence of many other great writers to follow. Collected in this little book are some of his best tales. His short stories feature exotic worlds of fantasy, suspense, occasional horror and comedy. His best works feature a blend of all.

Readers are invited to sample Lord Dunsany's beautifully written and masterfully crafted stories. by Bob DeFrank *****

 
"Farmer Giles of Ham" by J.R.R. Tolkien


From the creator of "The Lord of the Rings" comes this lesser-known story. Giles is a cantankerous farmer in the village of Ham and would've been content to stay that way if a clumsy, nearsighted giant blunders onto his property. With his house in danger of being trampled, Giles drives the monster off through a combination of courage, stubbornness and a large dose of sheer luck. Now finding himself a hero of the country, his troubles are just beginning. He will come to the attention of a wicked but cowardly dragon and a scheming, greedy king. Fortunately, there is no lack for gumption in this farmer. How Giles deals with these rater formidable problems will entertain readers of all ages. by Bob DeFrank *****


 
"Shardik" by Richard Adams (Author of "Watership Down")



A massive bear flees through the forest to escape a fire and finds refuge in the territory of an island tribe on the outskirts of the great Beklan Empire. A gentle young hunter discovers the bear and concludes that it is an avatar of Shardik, the tribal totem representing the power of the divine.

As the tribesmen and priestesses debate the great bear's presence and what it signifies, each with a different interpretation, madness seems to grip the people. Eventually greed and fanaticism win out and they declare a holy war against the empire.

Against all odds, and thanks to the rampaging power of Shardik, the tribesmen seize the Imperial capital. The people are then locked in bloody warfare, with Shardik held prisoner in the conquered temple and the young hunter who discovered him just as much a prisoner, thrust into the role of priest-king and figurehead and helpless to stop the insanity.

The novel continues in a beautiful, tragic tale of the power of symbolism and belief, and the ways conviction can be utilized both for good and ill. It is the story of the great bear from the varied perspectives of all who witness it.

Shardik has a different meaning for all who encounter it, but it leaves no one unchanged. The animal even proved an influence on Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series.

Caution: the book contains some graphic scenes of a slaver torturing his young captives. In the foreword the author points out that he has drawn these particular passages from real events.  By Bob DeFrank *****

 
"Maia" by Richard Adams

Rated: R
 

Growing up on her mother's farm, Maia is a selfish, lazy, empty-headed dreamer, but she is also extraordinarily beautiful, so much so that she catches her new stepfather's
roving eye.

In jealousy and anger, Maia's own mother sells her into slavery and through her beauty she finds herself owned by the Beklan Empire's premiere dealer in pleasure slaves, in a life more complicated, luxurious, exciting and perilous than anything she has ever known.

She is taken under the wing of another pleasure slave, one of a conquered race who has sworn revenge against her family's murderers, and Maia is drawn into a rebel conspiracy against the cruel and corrupt rulers of the empire.

In this prequal to "Shardik," Adams continues to explore his earlier themes in new ways and demands readers look at the story from different points of view. "Maia" is, in many ways, a forerunner of Jacqueline Carey's brilliant "Kushiel" series, though Maia herself is not especially interesting or even likeable for most of the book. The interesting aspect is how she fits into the greater tale, and the way in which different characters impose meaning and significance to her until she learns to utilize and manipulate this
herself, to some extent.

Especially interesting is how the author constructs an intense, exotic, realistic and beautifully drawn world with a rich history and culture.

However, frank and bawdy depictions of sexuality make it a poor choice for young readers.  By Bob DeFrank *****


 
"Children of the Jedi" by Barbara Hambley


While on a diplomatic visit to a friendly planet, a madman's unexplained attack on Han Solo leaves a clue for Jedi Master Luke Skywalker concerning the long-lost children of the Jedi.

Now on the opposite end of the spectrum from the rag-tag rebels who overthrew the tyranny of the Emperor, the Skywalker/Solo clan and their friends are now leading figures struggling to heal a civilization ravaged by brutal powers, to build a New Republic, and to preserve the principles of freedom and justice.

Now, Chief of State Leia, Jedi Master Luke and their friends stumble on a dark conspiracy centering on one of the defeated Emperor's plans: the monstrous battlecruiser the Eye of Palpatine commissioned to hunt down and destroy the last remnants of the Jedi. Though a daring sabotage mission decades ago succeeded in thwarting the ship, its artificial intelligence system - the Will - has inexplicably come on-line and is intent on completing its program of destruction.

Trapped onboard the world-sized, automated ship, Luke encounters the spirit of Calista, the beautiful, dedicated Jedi who gave her life to stop the war machine in the waning days of the Clone Wars, and the two lonely souls form a bond deeper than friendship.

Meanwhile, Leia confronts her own fears and the pain in her past while trying to unravel a deadly plot to unleash a new and terrible war across the galaxy.

This is one of those books you either love or you hate. I loved it. Written in 1995, "Children of the Jedi" stands head and shoulders over most of the Star Wars books written in its day and skyscrapers above the current offerings. The prose is beautiful, the characters vibrant, and the issues that plague them are heartfelt and complex. The work brings a level of depth and style worthy of the Galaxy Far Far Away so many of us grew up loving.

The book hearkens back to a simpler time, when writers were still exploring the nooks and crannies of the universe only hinted at in Lucas' original trilogy with a sense of wonder in what they've found. A time before Star Wars became the unabashed cash cow it is today.

Best of all, though the plot concerns massive conflicts and refers to events in other books, it is primarily the journeys of Luke and Leia in the wake of "Return of the Jedi," so a reader who's only viewed the original, unaltered trilogy can pick this one up and get started without being confused by the continuity of the ever-expanding universe of Star Wars novels and comics.

So forget that some of the stuff mentioned in the book goes against later established Star Wars canon. Forget checking every little fact against your copy of the Star Wars Encyclopedia. Forget that Jedi aren't allowed to have children. Get it and enjoy the story for what it is. by Bob DeFrank ****


 
"Planet of Twilight" by Barbara Hambley


WARNING: Spoilers for "Children of the Jedi"

Picking up after Kevin J. Anderston's "Darksaber" (trust me, no need to read that one) in which Calista, who is granted a new living body in the aftermath of "Children of the Jedi" is unable to function in her relationship with Luke and regretfully leaves on a journey of self-discovery, Luke receives a warning from his vanished love cautioning him and Leia to shun a recent invitation to meet with the mysterious Seti Ashgad, new leader of the frontier world of Nam Chorios.

However, Luke is irresistibly drawn to discover Calista's fate and voyages to the backwater planet. Leia meanwhile is unable to avoid her responsibility to meet with Ashgad in an effort to settle a complex political dilemma involving a conflict between settlers who wish for trade with the rest of the galaxy and the native population who demands the world remain in isolation.

But Ashgad proves treacherous and the meeting is merely bait for cunning trap.

While Luke makes his way across the blasted face of the planet, meeting with the settlers and sharing in their harsh lives and the conflicts with the natives on a world where any use of the Force has deadly consequences, Leia discovers the secret behind Ashgad's plans to unleash a deadly plague that once ravaged the galaxy (sort of like the Black Death of the Middle Ages) and was only barely contained. A plague that feeds on a victim's very life-force.

A plague that is intelligent.  And hungry.

This was a book that had to be written. Having written Luke a soul-mate and love interest in the prior Hambley book, later writers could think of nothing better to do than act as Change Police and ruin their relationship, shoving Luke back into the role of lonely wise old-before-his-time hermit. Having banished Calista at the end of "Darksaber" - though lacking the guts to actually kill her off - it was necessary to have a concluding adventure to add closure, as well as the possibility of a reconciliation.

Sorry Luke and Mara fans, I was rooting for Luke and Calista up until the wedding.

Best of all, the book features a new and even better storyline. It is a far-ranging, complicated plot with action, intrigue and high concepts that still focuses on Hambley's primary skill of character building. The tale breathes life into the characters of the Skywalkers and Solos as they strive through their separate, interweaving threads of storyline.

Incidentally, Threepio and Artoo's subplot is among the most entertaining. The interrelation and banter of the droids is captured perfectly and neither breaks character.

Also, the book features one of the most original and grotesque villains I'd ever read.

The book and its predesessor are perfect examples of an author playing in another artist's house, treating all the 'toys' respectfully, and still having fun.  In other words, she adds to the story while staying true to the themes and then-established canon of Star Wars.

"Planet of Twilight" is a magnificent, dark epic with the light of hope shining through at the end and a story (along with "Children of the Jedi") I would gladly reread. By Bob DeFrank ****

 
"Shatterpoint" by Matt Stover


Mace Windu is a living legend and a hero of the Jedi and the Republic. All his life he has upheld peace, justice and rule of law and he has done his best to pass those ideals on to the latter generation.

Now, in the midst of the Clone Wars and the crumbling of everything he had struggled to preserve, news arrives that shakes him to the very core of his being.

Depa, his one-time apprentice and now a powerful Jedi in her own right, had been dispatched to Mace's home planet, a harsh jungle world in the grips of civil war.  But her reports have become erratic.  There have been reports of massacres and atrocities that only a Jedi could have committed.  The Jedi council fears that Depa has fallen to the dark side.

Mace is dispatched to go after Depa.  She is the daughter he could never have.  He trained her. He knows her. Only he can stop her.

But in confronting the brutality of the jungle and the raw savagery of a war that strips away all honor, decency and civilization Mace will face the same impossible choice as Depa: to give in to the darkness or be destroyed by it.

What can a keeper of the peace do when all the galaxy is at war?

Stover has produced another intense piece in "Shatterpoint." It is a meeting between Star Wars and Heart of Darkness featuring one of the more intriguing characters of the Galaxy Far Far Away. Stover fleshes out Mace Windu and gives the Jedi Master a full fleshing out.

Stover also shows his skill in storytelling through conflict.  Mace faces one impossible moral dilemma after another and is forced to question everything he believes in.

Best of all, it is an adventure that doesn't require an encyclopedic knowledge of Star Wars minutia from the reader for a book that Star Wars superfans and those with only a passing familiarity with the franchise will love equally.  By Bob DeFrank *****

 
“Fatal Revenant” by Stephen R. Donaldson


Linden Avery the Chosen has been snatched back to the Land she had grown to love, only to find the world and its peoples beset by a host of threats old and new from every era courtesy of the machinations of Lord Foul the Despiser.

Now Linden’s love Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever and her stepson Jeremiah, once a prisoner of the Despiser’s malice, have escaped to rejoin the besieged heroes at Revelstone. The news they bear will send Linden and her allies, antagonists and outright foes on a new and deadly quest into the Land’s past and back to its turbulent present in an adventure that will test every character to the breaking point and beyond.

In the final scene, Linden will make a desperate move, risking everything to counter the forces that have been set in motion by various plotters.  But is even this a part of the Despiser’s plan?

Donaldson has outdone himself in this latest offering, in which readers are treated to a tour of all the Land’s rich history and achieve a deeper understanding of the forces that have shaped the world they were introduced to in “Lord Foul’s Bane.” Linden’s own quest continues to take her and the characters to new realizations that still contribute to the vivaciousness of the legendary tale.

Readers should welcome this second volume to the final Chronicle of one of fantasy literature’s most beautiful worlds. ***** by Bob DeFrank
 
Contact by Carl Sagan


Carl Sagan, who’s groundbreaking series “Cosmos” gave humanity a fresh look at science and its progress through the ages now shares his own personal dream of what the future might hold with this tale. The beginning is humble, with the interception of a radio signal from deep space by the SETI research station, but this signal bears paradigm-shattering news with its implications: the signal is undoubtedly from
extraterrestrial, intelligent origins.

We are not alone.

The story is told from the point of view of Dr. Ellie Arroway, one of the scientists determined to unravel the aliens’ message to Earth while the world’s governments, institutions and the population at large struggle to make sense of this revelation. Layreaders are given an insider’s perspective to the scientific process and all the politics and power games that accompany a new project of this magnitude.

Sagan also shares a vision of humanity, our nature and our potential that is inspiring and humbling, but above all is the speculation of encountering and conversing with a truly alien consciousness and the promise that before the end we will make Contact. ***** By Bob DeFrank

 

The Sharing Knife Vol 1 (Beguilement) by Lois McMaster Bujold

I’m a huge fan of Ms. Bujold, though I don’t love all her books with equal devotion.  She creates very strong, character driven novels that never ring false or melodramatic.  Her fantasy worlds tend to avoid the most obvious clichés and involve a subtle, mature world-building that never hits the reader over the head, but instead surrounds one with confident realism.  The Sharing Knife series (so far there are four announced) sneak up on you.  I took about three chapters to really get involved, but by then I was hooked.  Fawn Bluefield is “Farmer”, young, pregnant, and running away from home when she’s accosted by bandits on the road.  Dag Redwing is “Lakewalker”, a hunter-mage devoted to killing the horrors that threaten their world.   When Fawn is pulled into the terrible fight against the evil that infects their land, she and Dag grow close, despite the acrimony between Farmers and Lakewalkers.  A sort of Romeo and Juliet romance blossoms between these two, and I couldn’t help but cheer them on, and hope it doesn’t turn out like that other more famous story.  (It doesn’t.)  At first, this book looks like nothing more than a small, sweet romance between two hurt people coming together.  Behind that though is a slowly exposed, yet fascinating fantasy world.  I would recommend this more for people who like romance in their fantasy, rather than fantasy in their romance.   By C.C. Moore ****1/2

 

The Sharing Knife Vol 2 (Legacy) by Lois McMaster Bujold

After finishing Vol 1, I rushed out to buy Vol 2.  In the first book Dag and Fawn tackle Fawn’s family and their own hesitations.  In this one, they go to Dag’s home camp and meet the Lakewalkers.  Dag’s mother and brother are horrified by Dag’s marriage to a “Farmer whore”, and immediately threaten to take the two newlyweds to camp council and force their bands to be cut (a divorce, in fact).   As Fawn struggles to make progress in the strange and hostile environment among the Lakewalkers, all of whom have talents she will never possess, Dag is called off to fight against an evil that has risen up right underneath a Farmer town in the north.   The crises will force both of them to confront horrors and terrible choices.  I really enjoyed this book, though I felt Fawn was at times too accommodating to the Lakewalkers.  I think I would have told them all where to stick it, and sometimes wished that she would too.  Still, I’m eager for the next book (to be published in Spring of 08).   By C.C. Moore ****

 

 

Coming Soon:

 

 Tangled Webs: A Black Jewels Novel (Black Jewels Trilogy) by Anne Bishop (Author)
Release Date: March 4, 2008
 

 When the Tide Rises (Lt. Leary)by David Drake (Author)
Publication Date: March 4, 2008

The Sharing Knife, Volume Three: Passage (The Sharing Knife) by Lois McMaster Bujold (Author)

Publication Date: April 22, 2008
 

Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey (Author) Publication Date: June 12, 2008
 


 

 

 

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