FEBRUARY 2005 VK J THE SCIENCE f ICTIOH & FANTASY YEAR IN REVIEW!

THE MAGAZINE OF THE SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FIELD • ISSUE 528 • VOL. 54 NO. 2 • $5.95

NEIL GAI MAN Novelet /Comics Creator, Short Story Writer, Fim Meker:

A Conversation with Fantasy’s

Renaissance Man

WILL EISNER 1917-2005

■hThe 2004 Locus

RECOMMENDED
^READING LIST! FRANK KELLY FREAS 1922-2005
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 FRANK KELLY FREAS (1922-2005)
was in June 2001. A prolific artist, he produced Freas, but when he joined the army, he had to
hundreds of magazine covers, and his paint­ combine the two as Frank Kelly-Freas for offi­
ings have graced the covers of virtually every cial purposes. As an artist, he worked under the
magazine in the field, with interior illustrations name Kelly Freas, but when he reached Social
in most. He also painted book covers for many Security age, he switched back to Frank Kelly
SF pubfishers, including Ace, DAW, and Gnome Freas; most people just called him “Kelly.” He
Books, and he was the exclusive cover artist for attended Catholic University, where he studied
the Laser Books SF line during its two years of engineering, but when he failed the math he
publication in the ’70s. He was a founder and switched to premed at Georgetown, dropping out
first Coordinating Judge for the Illustrators of soon after to pursue a career as an artist. He did
the Future Contest, and served in that capacity freelance advertising illustrations, and worked
for seven years, after which he continued as a ►►I p. 83
quarterly judge. His collections of SF artwork
include the Advent Portfolio Frank Kelly Freas
(1957), books The Astounding Fifties (1971),
Frank Kelly Freas: The Art of Science Fiction
(1977), A Separate Star (1984), and Frank
Frank Kelly Freas (2001) Kelly Freas: As He Sees It (2000). He was the
first SF artist to sell prints of his work, and his
Illustrator FRANK KELLY FREAS, 82, paintings have appeared as both open and limited
died in his sleep January 2, 2005 at home in edition prints, on trading cards, and in many
Los Angeles. exhibitions and one-man shows. He was artist
With a career spanning more than fifty years, Guest of Honor at two Worldcons, Chicon IV
Freas is generally recognized as having been the in 1982 and Torcon in 2003. In 2004 his name
most popular SF artist, both among fans and pro­ appeared in the Professional Artist category on
fessionals, for the longest period of time. He en­ both the Hugo ballot and the Retro Hugo ballot
tered the SF field in 1950 with a cover for Weird (for 1953).
Tales, and his long association with John W. Born Francis Sylvester Kelly on August
Campbell and Astounding began in 1953 when 27, 1922 in Hornell, New York, he grew up
he started doing cover and interior illustrations in Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada, eventually
for the magazine, work he continued after the moving to Massilon, Ohio. He unoficially took
magazine became Analog', his last Analog cover his stepfather’s name to become Frank Sylvester

WILL EISNER (1917-2005)

many SF authors, particularly Neil Gaiman forward-thinking than most of his contempo­
and Michael Chabon. The highest honor in the raries, Eisner managed to retain the rights to
comics field, the Eisner Award, is named for his character.
him, and he has presented the award to winners Eisner stopped working on The Spirit in 1942
personally at every ceremony since the award’s when he was drafted into the Army - where he
creation in 1988. drew training cartoons for the government - and
William Erwin Eisner was born March 6, other artists kept the comic going. After World
1917 in Brooklyn, New York. His first comic War II he returned to work on The Spirit, writing
work appeared in 1936 in the short-lived WOW ►►I p. 86
What a Magazine! After that magazine closed,
he formed a partnership with Jerry Iger, the Eis-
ner-Iger studio, a “comics factory” where artists
(including future legends of the field like Jack
Kirby and Bob Kane) produced various strips.
Even then Eisner was a revolutionary, preferring
to create complete, self-contained stories as op­
posed to the ongoing, never-ending storylines
of other comics. While most people considered
comics cheap, disposable entertainment, Eisner
Will Eisner (2003) saw its potential as a true art form. Eisner was
remarkable for writing and drawing his own
Comic book artist and writer WILL EIS­ comics - a combination that is still rare today.
NER, 87, died January 3, 2005 in Fort Lauder­ His most notable work from the ‘30s is high-seas
dale, Florida from complications arising from adventure strip Hawks of the Seas.
quadruple bypass heart surgery he underwent The Eisner-Iger partnership ended in 1939
in December. when Eisner was approached by the Quality
A legend in the comics business, often cited Comics Group to do a syndicated weekly news­
as the first true “graphic novelist,” Eisner rose paper supplement. He responded by creating
to prominence with his long-running newspa­ his most famous work, The Spirit, often called
per supplement The Spirit, which began in the the Citizen Kane of comics. This detective
1940s. Eisner was responsible for great innova­ adventure about a hero with no superpowers
tions in the field of comics (or, as he preferred to transformed the nature of comics with innova­
call it, “sequential art”). His work influenced tions in both art and narrative strategy. More
TA BLE of CONTENTS
February 2005 • Issue 529 • Vol. 54 • No. 2 CHARLES N. BROWN
38th Year of Publication • 26-Time Hugo Winner Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Cover and Color Interviews Design by Arnie Fenner KIRSTEN GONG-WONG
Managing Editor
MARK R. KELLY
Electronic Editor-in-Chief
CAROLYN F. CUSHMAN
Senior Editor
TIM PRATT
Associate Editor
LIZA GROEN TROMBI
MELINDA R. HIMEL
Assistant Editors
KARLYN PRATT
Editorial Assistant
JONATHAN STRAHAN
Reviews Editor
TERRY BISSON
DAMIEN BRODERICK
NICK GEVERS
KAREN HABER
RICH HORTON
MARIANNE JABLON
RUSSELL LETSON
FAREN MILLER
GARYK. WOLFE
Contributing Editors
WILLIAM G. CONTENTO
Computer Projects
Jennifer A. Hall and Kirsten Gong-Wong finally receive their 2004 Hugo Rockets from Charles N. Brown in a special ceremony BETH GWINN
outside the spacious Locus offices Photographer
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 A LANDMARK ANTHOLOGY
SPANNING TWO DECADES OF
Ifif THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION
Sft

For over twenty years, The Year’s Best Science Fiction has been recognized as the premiere
collection of short science fiction writing in the universe. Now, Hugo Award-winning editor,
Gardner Dozois, selects the finest stories from the most esteemed practitioners of the form:

Ursula k. LGGuln • Michael suanuick • Bruce sterling

connie willis • Nancy Kress • william Gibson • Greg Gear
joe Haldeman • Gene wolfe • Robert Silverberg • stephen Baxter
plus many more!

“This is two decades of the best that

science fiction has to offer, chosen by the
most respected editor in the field.”
—George R.R. Martin

the best of the

“To have Gardner’s picks for THE BEST OF ■■■I MHM __
THE BEST collected all in one volume is ■■S ■■■ ■
■■■ wmP I W
beyond terrific! This is the cream of the 20 YEARS OF THE YEAR'S BEST

cream of the crop. And all in one place!” SCIGNCe FICTION

—Connie Willis Edited by Gardner Dozois
Foreword by Robert Silverberg
•A that trim tortHfy mnn Wt Ulm* !W« tetdtdn Mae.*

“A wondrous trove of great stories and an

archive that has immeasurable historical
significance.”
—Robert Silverberg

Available Wherever books are sold K?St Martin’s Griffin

 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS^
Short Fiction Reviews by Nick Gevers 114
Black Gate Fall ’04; Interzone 11-12/04; Sci Fiction 1/05; Asimov's 2/05; F&SF 3/05; Realms
of Fantasy 12/04; Amazing 1/05.

Short Fiction Reviews by Rich Horton /15

Interzone 11-12/04; Postscripts Summer ’04; Mayflower II, Stephen Baxter; F&SF 2/Analog
3/05; Sci Fiction 1/05; Strange Horizons 12/04; Challenging Destiny 12/04; Paradox Winter
’04; Oceans of the Mind 12/04.

Reviews by Gary K. Wolfe 117

Nebula Awards Showcase 2005: The Year’s Best SF and Fantasy, Jack Dann, ed.; The Limits
of Enchantment, Graham Joyce; TWOC, Graham Joyce; Black Juice, Margo Lanagan.

Reviews by Faren Miller / 21

Black Juice, Margo Lanagan; Tumbling After, Paul Witcover; Our Ecstatic Days, Steve Er­
ickson; The Mysteries, Lisa Tuttle; Harp, Pipe, and Symphony, Paul Di Filippo.

Reviews by Russell Letson 123

Hammered, Elizabeth Bear; Gaudeamus, John Barnes; Destroyer, C.J. Cherryh.

Reviews by Nick Gevers / 25

The House of Storms, Ian R. MacLeod; The Well of Stars, Robert Reed; Constellations, Peter
Crowther, ed.; Dogs in the Moonlight, Jay Lake.

Short Reviews by Carolyn Cushman / 27

Dreams Made Flesh, Anne Bishop; The Dark Ground, Gillian Cross; Girl Genius, Book
Two: Agatha Heterodyne and the Airship City, Phil & Kaja Foglio; Spirited, Nancy Holder;
Boneyard, Volume Three, Richard Moore; The Little Gentleman, Philippa Pearce; We Few,
David Weber & John Ringo; Tempting Danger, Eileen Wilks; Fables: March of the Wooden
Soldiers, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Craig Hamilton, P. Craig Russell, et al.; With
Red Hands, Stephen Woodworth.

Reviews by Divers Hands: Damien Broderick & Rich Horton / 28

Spin, Robert Charles Wilson; In the Palace of Repose, Holly Phillips; All-Star Zeppelin
Adventure Stories, David Moles & Jay Lake, eds.

Terry Bisson: This Month in History 115,19,22,25

Quoted Without Comment / 61,64,68

PHOTO LISTING
Neil Gaiman........................ (BG)1 Ellen Datlow....................... (TS)ll (CNB) Charles N. Brown, (IW) Island
Will Eisner............................... (F)l Jim Minz............................. (BG)12 Word, (ED) Ellen Datlow, (TS) Trevor
Frank Kelly Freas............... (BG)1 Arthur C. Clarke................. (JC)12 Stafford, (JC) John Coker, (ESA) Eu­
Jennifer A. Hall, Valles Marineris...... (ESA)44/45 ropean Space Agency, (CT) Cecilia
Charles N. Brown, Charles N. Brown, Dart-Thornton, (CS) Cat Sparks,
Kirsten Gong-Wong......... (LT)5 Peter Nicholls.............(CNB)80 (JHH) John-Henri Holmberg, (JKK)
Frank Kelly Freas............... (BG)4 Melbourne Crowd........... (CT) 80 Jay Kay Klein, (GB) George Beahm,
Will Eisner............................ (FF)4 Justine Larbalestier, Charles N. (RH) Rick Hawes, (F) Furnished
Graham Joyce..................... (CM)7 Brown, Cat Sparks......... (CS)80
Margo Lanagan....................... (F)7 Sydney Crowd.................... (CS)80 AD INDEX
Paul Witcover....................... (BG)7 W. Warren Wagar................ (F)81 Ace............................................ 18,82
Ian R. MacLeod............... (CNB)7 Sven Christer Swahn .... (JHH)81 Baen......................................... 24,59 Recently featured on Locus Online
Neil Gaiman........................ (BG)8 D.G.K. Goldberg............ (CNB)83 Clarion...........................................70 (<www.locusmag.com>):
Michael Moorcock......... (CNB)10 Frank Kelly Freas.......... (JKK)85 Clarion West................................. 71
• Best of 2004 essays by Claude
Matt Hughes....................... (IW)10 Frank Kelly Freas............. (GB)85 Classifieds..................................... 76
Lalumiere and Jeff VanderMeer
Kenneth Oppel...................... (F)10 Frank Kelly Freas, DAW........................................20,41
Justina Robson...................(BG)10 Ian Ballantine................. (RH)85 Del Rey......................................... 60
Plus, daily and weekly updates with -
Sarah Micklem.................. (BG)ll Frank Kelly Freas & Eos................................................. 2,3
Jon Courtenay Polly Freas.......................(RH)85 ISFiC Press................................... 63 • Breaking news
Grimwood.................... (CNB)ll Frank Kelly Freas................ (F)85 Locus........................................ 67,76 • “Blinks” to online reviews, articles,
Anna Genoese.................... (ED) 11 Laura Brodian Freas & Roc................................................. 30 and SFZF7H e-publications
Diana Wynne Jones..........(BG)ll Frank Kelly Freas......... (BG)86 Serendipity Books....................... 87 • Descriptions of notable new books
Elizabeth Moon.................(BG)ll St. Martin’s...................................... 6 and magazines, with links to online
Margaret Weis, Photo Listing: (BG) Beth Gwinn, Tor................................. 48,49,65,88 excerpts and reviews
Tracy Hickman............... (BG)ll (LT) Liza Trombi, (FF) Frank Trantor............................................ 66 • Up-to-date author event and
Michael Swanwick............. (TS)ll Flaesland, (CM) Cheryl Morgan, Warner Aspect......................... 16,46 convention listings
 Differed t Kinds
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of Pleasure

Neil [Richard] Gaiman was born “The writing is never an excuse to do

November 10, 1960 in Porchester, the research. What happens is, I get my little
England. He attended school in southern obsessions and when I obsess I research —
England before moving to London, where and then one day (or never), it’s time and
he worked as a freelance journalist in the suddenly that stuff becomes useful. (Terry
early 1980s. His first stories sold to gaming Pratchett is the same way. When we did our
and men’s magazines in 1984 and 1985, American signing tour for Good Omens, he
and his first work in the SFfield was as co ­ found a book on ice palaces and was fasci­
editor of Ghastly Beyond Belief, a book of nated. He finally used ice palaces in the last
humorous SF quotations (1985, with Kim of the Tiffany Aching books, 14 or 15 years
Newman). His career in comics began on!) Every now and again things will com­
with “Violent Cases” (1987), but he is pletely obsess me. The most recent was Jack
best known for his ground-breaking Benny. John Clute and I share this obsession,
“Sandman” comic/graphic series, which and I got to give him all the old Jack Benny
began in 1989 and includes “A radio shows in MP3 format and teach him
Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1990), the how to play them on the computer. I’ve now
only comic to win a World Fantasy read all the books and interviewed Benny’s
Award. Recent forays into comics include niece, and so on. I have no idea what I want
The Sandman: Endless Nights (2003) and to do with this. Maybe two years from now,
Mirrormask by Dave McKean.
miniseries “1602” (2004). His novels maybe 20, I’ll say, ‘You know, I think I know
include Good Omens (1990, with Terry Pratchett); where all this fits in,’ and I will do something.
Neverwhere (1996), the novelization of his BBC dark fanta­ “Back when I was starting out, I attached to my type­
sy miniseries; Stardust (1998); American Gods (2001), win­ writer (I haven’t had a typewriter since 1986) a quote from
ner of a Hugo, an International Horror Guild Award, and a Muddy Waters: ‘Don’t let your mouth write no check your
Locus Award; and children’s novel Coraline, winner of a tail can’t cash.’ Actually, my entire career has consisted of my
Hugo, a Nebula, a Stoker, and a Locus Award. Other books mouth writing checks and my tail having to figure out how to
include Don’t Panic: The Official Hitchhiker’s Guide to the cash them! When I look at stories of mine, I often compare
Galaxy Companion (1998); collections Angels and them to the Platonic ideal of the story I had when I set out to
Visitations: A Miscellany (1993) and Smoke and Mirrors write it, and they fall short. Which is fine. I think if I was sat­
(1998); anthology Book of Dreams, co-edited with Ed isfied with what I was doing, I would stop. But I love dis­
Kramer (1997); and two graphic children’s books with Dave covering and learning these skills. I like writing short stories
McKean, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish — the joy of making a well-written story is unlike anything
(1997) and The Wolves in the Walls (2003). He also directed else in the world — though I’m not yet good enough, so they
A Short Film About John Bolton (2003). He wrote the still have that quality of making a clay pot when you’re at
script for forthcoming film Mirrormask, directed by Dave school. Sometimes you’re going to get one that looks pecu­
McKean, and novel Anansi Boys is forthcoming. liarly lopsided and incredibly ugly, the kind of thing you
He lives with his wife Mary McGrath (married 1985) present to your grandmother, who will say, ‘Thank you, dear’
near Minneapolis. They have three children. and maybe put a rose in it if she knows you’re coming. Then
• sometimes you’ll make something and go, ‘Fuck, it’s a potY
“The power of being an author, the joy of it for me, “There’s that sort of quality to ‘A Study in Emerald’.
is that if one wasn’t an author one would be a really bor­ There is no rational reason why this peculiarly goofy idea,
ing person filled with peculiar bits of trivia, the sort you mixing bits of Sherlock Holmes and the Old Ones of H.P.
meet in a bar saying ‘Did you know that...?’ For an Lovecraft, should have become a story that was better loved
author, all of this ‘white knowledge,’ the kipple in the than anything else I wrote, yet it was. And I knew when I fin­
back of your head, no longer is old keys and broken bat­ ished it that I’d done something really cool. When I was writ­
teries, abandoned buttons, forgotten paper clips; it’s actu­ ing it, it was deeply frustrating (I started it a couple of ways
ally useful! Most authors I know, whether or not they that didn’t work), and now I’ve won a Hugo for it. That’s
went through a standard education in their fields, tend to wonderfully gratifying. And I’m convinced that if only I were
be autodidacts. And they tend to have that immense love a better writer, I could do it on demand, not make any more
of stuff of promiscuous and unbridled reading. of those lopsided pots that didn’t work.
Continued on page 77
People & Publishing
fantasy romances set in her Others
Milestones Side universe to Monique Pat­
terson at St. Martin’s via Ethan
MICHAEL MOORCOCK Ellenberg.
has announced that The White SUSAN SIZEMORE sold three
Wolf’s Son: The Albino in the vampire novels set in the world of
Middle March, recently delivered I Burn for You to Micki Nuding
to Warner Aspect, will be the last at Pocket Books via Ethan El­
prose Elric novel. The last couple lenberg.
will not appear in British editions. MARIE BRENNAN sold fan­
“It’s very hard to keep producing tasy Doppelganger and a second
fantasy novels which are faithful book to Devi Pillai at Warner As­
to readers’ expectations and are pect via Rachel Vater of the Donald
still original.... I have no interest in Maass Literary Agency.
merely adding new wrinkles to an SAM BUTLER sold a fantasy
existing genre.” He will continue to trilogy, beginning with Reiffen’s
write Elric stories for publication as Choice, to Patrick Lobrutto for Tor.
graphic novels. The Vengeance of TONY SHILLITOE sold his
Rome, the last of his Pyat novels, Demon Horses series to Stephanie
is being polished for Autumn 2005 Smith at HarperCollins Australia
publication. via Robert Stephenson.
SF author (and dentist) ROGER GLENDA LARKE sold tril­
LEVY was one of six people ran­ ogy The Miragemakers to Harp­
domly attacked by a knife-wield­ erCollins Australia via Dorothy
ing former psychiatric patient Lumley.
on December 23, 2004 in North New writer DAVID LOUIS
London. Levy suffered five stab EDELMAN sold Infoquake, first
wounds, and is now recovering at in the Jump 225 trilogy, to Lou
home after surgery. One of the other Anders at Pyr via Bruce L. Bortz
victims died. of Bancroft Literary.
MAUREEN F. McHUGH was STEPHEN JONES will edit
diagnosed with cancer of the lymph Another 100 Best Horror Books
nodes on November 11, 2004, and H.P. Lovecraft’s Book of the
and is currently undergoing che- Matt Hughes (2005) Kenneth Oppel (c. 2003) Justina Robson (2004) Supernatural for Carroll & Graf
motherapy. She told Locus, “It’s via Dorothy Lumley.
the most treatable, curable cancer from the American Library As­ the adult-to-kiddie-lit contingent ZORAN ZIVKOVIC sold
there is, and I expect to be fine.” sociation. with YA fantasy Vin Fiz, sold to “mega-collection” Impossible
She is keeping an online journal First novelist STUART HILL’s Michael Green at Philomel via Stories, featuring five of his story
about her experience, “Hodgkins YA fantasy The Cry of the Ice­ Peter Lampack. suites, to Peter Crowther at PS
& Me”, at <www.maureenmcq. mark won the first Ottakar’s Chil­ SHARON SHINN sold YA The Publishing via John Jarrold.
blogspot.com>. dren’s Book Prize of £1,000. The Dream-Maker’s Magic to Sharyn JAMES A. MOORE sold horror
Editor and naturist JOHN OR- winner was chosen by Ottakar’s November at Viking via Ethan novel Blood Red to Paul Miller at
DOVER has been organizing booksellers, head office staff, and Ellenberg. She sold a novella set Earthling Publications.
monthly Clothing Optional Dinners students from London high schools; in her new universe to Ginger The estate of PHILIP FRAN­
where New York City-area nudists only authors who have written three Buchanan at Ace, to be published CIS NOWLAN, the creator of
can gather at restaurants for relaxed or fewer books are eligible for the with forthcoming novel Mystic and Buck Rogers in 1928, sold recently-
dining. Their unofficial motto: “No prize. Rider, also via Ethan Ellenberg. discovered unpublished novel The
Hot Soup.” “Call us the Naked and Illustrator QUENTIN BLAKE, JOHN SCALZI sold The Ghost Girl from Nowhere to John Be­
the Well-Fed,” Ordover said. Any­ 72, who illustrated most of Roald Brigades, sequel to Old Man’s tancourt at Wildside Press. Nowlan
one interested in undressing for Dahl’s books, received a CBE War, to Patrick Nielsen Hayden at died in 1940.
dinner can find more information at (Commander of the British Empire) Tor via Ethan Ellenberg, and sold SIMON MORDEN’S novella
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ on the Queen’s New Year’s Hon­ SF novel Agent to the Stars to Another War went to Telos Pub­
CODINNERS/>. ours List. He became the first ever Subterranean Press. It will remain lishing.
MATT HUGHES is now repre­ Children’s Laureate in 1999. on his website as a free download. MATTHEW ROSSI sold essay
sented by Susan Protter. MICHAEL WRIGHT sold collection Bottle Demons to Sean
Scottish writer GORDON REN­
NIE is now represented by John
Books Sold Tolteca, “a historical novel with
fantasy elements,” to Wendy Bur­
Wallace at Prime.

Jarrold.
HWA treasurer JACK PAS-
PETER STRAUB’s two novels
sold to Steve Rubin at Doubleday
bank at Medallion Press via Ethan
Ellenberg.
Books Resold
SARELLA is stepping down from via David Gernert. “The first KIM ANTIEAU sold main­ ROBERT A. HEINLEIN’S
his position due to family illness. book will be a sort of update of stream YA Mercy, Unbound to Time for the Stars resold to David
He will be replaced by trustee LISA The Turn of the Screw.” Stacy Julia Richardson at Simon Pulse Hartwell at Tor via Eleanor Wood
MORTON. Creamer will edit. Anchor will do via Michael Bourret of Dystel & on behalf of the Heinlein Prize
the paperbacks. Goodrich Literary Management. Trust.
Awards LUCIUS SHEPARD collection
Eternity and Other Stories went
MARYJANICE DAVIDSON
sold a collection of werewolf stories
Reprint rights to H.P. LOVE­
CRAFT’S Watchers Out of Time
KENNETH OPPEL’s Airbom to John Oakes at Thunder’s Mouth to Cindy Hwang at Berkley via and The Horror in the Museum
received a Printz Honor for Excel­ Press. Ethan Ellenberg. went to Steve Saffel at Del Rey via
lence in Young Adult Literature CLIVE CUSSLER has joined AMY DOUGLASS sold three Joshua Bilmes on behalf of Arkham
House. at Tor. claimed director Hayao
WILL EISNER’s 14 graphic AL SARRANTONIO delivered Miyazaki based on her
novels resold to Robert Weil at Nor­ Sebastian of Mars, second in his eponymous novel. “Mi­
ton via Judith Hansen for publica­ Mars trilogy, to Ginjer Buchanan yazaki came in person,
tion in three omnibus volumes. at Ace, and turned in The Little carrying with him a tape
JUSTINA ROBSON sold North Yellow Book of Fevered Stories of the film, an interpreter,
American rights to earlier novels to Elizabeth Monteleone at Bor­ and sundry other shad­
Silver Screen and Mappa Mundi derlands Press. owy figures.” She calls
to Lou Anders at Pyr via John ANNE BISHOP turned in Al­ the film splendid and
Parker of MBA Literary Agents. tered Landscapes to Anne So­ breathtaking, and says
BRIAN LUMLEY resold wards at Roc. she “had a long talk with
Necroscope to William Schafer ROBERT RANKIN delivered Mr. Miyazaki and it be­
at Subterranean Press via Dorothy The Brightonomicon to Jo Fletch­ gan to seem that we were Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman (1991)
Lumley. Film rights to Necroscope er at Gollancz. soulmates.”
were optioned by Evolving Pictures IAN IRVINE delivered The ALICE SEBOLD’s The Lovely 2005 campus-wide reading selec­
via Shapiro-Lichtman Associates Gate to Nowhere, first in The Bones will be adapted as a film by tion for the State University of New
with Dorothy Lumley. Children’s War YA fantasy quin­ Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens York at Oswego, and Moon will be
SARAH MICKLEM sold UK tet, to Laura Harris at Penguin (two of the writing team behind The writer-in-residence there for a week
rights to first novel Firethorn to Australia. Lord of the Rings films). during the fall semester.
Voyager. Scribner published in GARY GIBSON turned in Film rights to KARL EDWARD MARGARET WEIS & TRA­
the US. Gravity’s Angel to Peter Lavery WAGNER’s Death Angel’s Shad­ CY HICKMAN are reuniting to
at Tor UK. ow were optioned by producer Lau­ write a new Dragonlance fantasy
Books Delivered ANDREY REMIC turned in
Warhead, third in the Spiral tril­
ren Moews via Kirby McCauley on
behalf of the Karl Edward Wagner
series, The Dark Chronicles, to
“tell the stories that until now re­
TERRY PRATCHETT deliv­ ogy, to Tim Holman at Orbit. Literary Group. mained hidden between the pages
ered Darwin’s Watch, his third LEE KILLOUGH delivered su­ Film rights to ELIZABETH of their original classic series, The
‘Science of Discworld’ book, to pernatural mystery Killer Karma MOON’s The Speed of Dark were Dragonlance Chronicles,” for Wiz­
Ebury Press. to Meisha Merlin. optioned by Stone Village Produc­ ards of the Coast via Matt Bialer of
ORSON SCOTT CARD turned tions via Justin Gotler at IPG and Sanford Greenberger for Hickman
in Shadow of the Giant, latest in Publishing Joshua Bilmes. The Speed of Dark
has been chosen as the Summer
and Christi Cardenas of the Lazear
Agency for Weis.
the Ender’s Shadow series, to Beth
Meacham at Tor. ANNA GENOESE has been
JON COURTENAY GRIM-
WOOD turned in 9Tail Fox to
promoted to editor at Tor.
MOSHE FEDER is now a con­
Koala Korner
Simon Spanton at Gollancz. “Ba­ sulting editor for Tor.
sically it’s the story of a San Fran­ ALAN RODGERS has left
cisco police officer who gets shot his position as editor at Wildside
at the beginning of the book and Press.
spends the rest of the novel inves­ Kensington founder WALTER
tigating his own death.” ZACHARIUS is passing control to
JANE JOHNSON, writing as his son STEVEN ZACHARIUS,
JUDE FISHER, delivered The who is rising from president to
Rose of the World, book three of CEO and chairman of the board.
her Fool’s Gold series, to Betsy The elder Zacharius will remain as
Wollheim at DAW. chairman emeritus and a consultant,
“ROBIN HOBB” turned in but plans to focus on his own fic­
Shaman’s Crossing, first in her tion writing.
new Soldier Son trilogy, to Jane
Johnson at Voyager.
STORM CONSTANTINE de­
Media
livered The Ghosts of Blood and DIANA WYNNE JONES at­
Innocence, third in her Wraeththu tended a secret screening of Howl’s Michael Swanwick looks apprehensive and Ellen Datlow looks happy as they cuddle
Histories trilogy, to Beth Meacham Moving Castle, the film by ac­ koalas during a break at Clarion South in Brisbane, Australia
 2004 ■ L \ L l U . -

Editor Jim Minz is leaving his position seven years in the New York office -1 can’t
Philip K. at Tor to become an editor at Del Rey. begin to describe how much I’ve gained
Minz will replace Chris Schleup, who from the experience, and I am very grateful
Dick Award is moving to Ballantine to handle more for the time I’ve spent there. That being
mainstream titles, though he will continue said, I am extremely excited about joining
Nominees to edit some genre authors, including Del Rey. Opportunities such as this come
The final ballot for the 2004 China Mieville and Richard Morgan. along all too rarely and this was clearly
Philip K. Dick Award has been Del Rey editor Betsy Mitchell told a moment I had to seize. Del Rey Books
released. Locus, ’’I’m delighted to welcome him, has such a grand tradition, from Betsy
The Coyote Kings of the of course; Jim has both commercial and Mitchell, who I’ve known and admired
Space-Age Bachelor Pad, literary tastes, both of which we’re eager for a number of years, stretching back to
Minister Faust (Del Rey) to put into use here at Del Rey. And his Lester and Judy del Rey and Ian and Betty
Stable Strategies and Others, sense of humor will fit right in as well.” Ballantine - not to mention their amazing
Jim Minz (2004) list of authors both past and present. I look
Eileen Gunn (Tachyon) During his association with Tor, Minz
Life, Gwyneth Jones (Aqueduct) edited authors including Catherine Asaro, Nancy Kress, forward to working closely with Betsy on nurturing and
Apocalypse Array, Laura Resnick, and Elizabeth Haydon. He says, “After growing this tradition well into the new millennium.”
Lyda Morehouse (Roc) working at Tor Books for more than a decade - the past Minz will start work at Del Rey on January 31.
Air, Geoff Ryman
(St. Martin’s Griffin)
City of Pearl, Karen Traviss Amazing Hiatus
(Eos) Lisa Stevens, co-owner and CEO of Though officials at Paizo would not
Banner of Souls, Liz Williams Paizo Publishing, which publishes the provide any specific information regarding
(Bantam Spectra) latest incarnation of Amazing Stories, Amazing's future or their circulation
The award will be presented announced the magazine will be going numbers, we can make some educated
March 25, 2005 during a on hiatus following #608, the February guesses. They probably put out between
ceremony sponsored by the 2005 issue. Gaming magazine Undefeated 20,000 and 50,000 copies of the first issue
Northwest Science Fiction Society will also suspend publication. “Despite on the newsstand, and likely only sold 8-
at Norwescon 28 in Seattle, respectable sales and increasing circulation, 10%. That percentage may have crept up to
Washington. both periodicals face substantial market 15-20% with later issues - still not enough
The Philip K. Dick Award, pressures and competition. Paizo intends to make a color magazine profitable.
presented annually, honors distin­ to use the break to explore unique Without aggressive advertising and paid
guished science fiction published opportunities to revamp and reposition placement on newsstands and bookstores,
as a paperback original in the each magazine.” Amazing Stories editor- February 2005 it’s nearly impossible to launch a major new magazine
US during the award year, and is in-chief Jeff Berkwits has said the hiatus is due to the successfully - just printing them up and sending them
sponsored by the Philadelphia Sci­ magazine becoming “unexpectedly successful,” which out isn’t enough. We’d like to believe Amazing Stories
ence Fiction Society. The winner sounds like PR. will come back bigger and better than ever, but it
receives a cash prize of $1,000.00 Since Paizo is still planning to publish both doesn’t look good.
and a trip to Norwescon. Judges magazines, subscriptions are not automatically being Jeff Berkwits was hired as editor-in-chief of the
for the 2004 award were Sherryl cancelled or transferred. Subscribers who wish to monthly magazine by Paizo Publishing in late 2004,
Vint (chair), Arthur Byron Cover, cancel their subscriptions can contact <customer. and the January 2005 issue was his first. At present,
Karin Lowachee, Syne Mitchell, [email protected]>. Paizo announced plans to Berkwits and associate editor Vic Wertz are the
and James Van Pelt. Award ad­ provide subscribers and visitors to <www.paizo.com> magazine’s only permanent staff. The Amazing Stories
ministrators are David G. Harwell with an “exclusive e-copy” of Amazing Stories #609 title is trademarked by Wizards of the Coast and is
and Gordon Van Gelder. in early February. licensed to Paizo.

2004 Preliminary Nebula Ballot

Sir Arthur C. Clarke, goes out to all those SFWA released the 2004 Preliminary Nebula Ballot, which contains
who lives in Sri Lan­ who lost family mem­ 30 nominees (eight fewer than last year): six novels, nine novellas, six
ka, was unharmed by bers or friends.” Some novelettes, six short stories, and three scripts. All the scripts have already
the catastrophic tidal of Clarke’s property, qualified for the final ballot. To be placed on the Preliminary Ballot, a
waves that struck the including his diving work must receive ten recommendations within 12 months of publication
island December 26, station at Hikkaduwa in North America. Works published electronically in a public forum are
2004. In a statement on and his holiday bun­ also eligible. Only active SFWA members are eligible to vote. Preliminary
his website he wrote, galows at Kahawa and ballots must be received by February 11 to be counted. Final ballots will
“I am enormously re­ Thiranaga, were in be mailed to members February 19. Final ballot deadline is March 25.
lieved that my family coastal areas that were Details at <www.sfwa.org>.
and household have badly hit, but none of Novels: Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold (Eos); Down and Out
Arthur C. Clarke (1999)
escaped the ravages of his staff members were in the Magic Kingdom, Cory Doctorow (Tor); Omega, Jack McDevitt
the sea that suddenly invaded most harmed. Most of his diving equip­ (Ace); Perfect Circle, Sean Stewart (Small Beer Press); Conquistador,
parts of coastal Sri Lanka, leaving a ment and boats were destroyed, S.M. Stirling (Roc); The Knight, Gene Wolfe (Tor).
trail of destruction.... But many oth­ but the full extent of the property Novellas: “Walk in Silence’’, Catherine Asaro (Analog
ers were not so fortunate. For over damage is still unknown. 4/03); “Off on a Starship”, William Barton (Asimov's 9/03);
two million Sri Lankans and a large Clarke called the earthquake “Time Ablaze”, Michael A. Burstein (Analog 6/04); “The Tangled
number of foreign tourists holiday­ and tsunami “a disaster of unprec­ Strings of the Marionettes”, Adam-Troy Castro (F&SF 7/03); “Ser­
ing here, the day after Christmas edented magnitude for Sri Lanka, geant Chip”, Bradley Denton (F&SF 9/04); “Arabian Wine”, Greg­
turned out to be a living nightmare which lacks the resources and ca­ ory Feeley (Asimov’s 4-5/04); “The Cookie Monster”, Vernor Vinge
reminiscent of The Day After To­ pacity to cope with the aftermath.” (Analog 10/03); “The Green Leopard Plague”, Walter Jon Williams
morrow. My heart-felt sympathy ►M p. 78 ►H p. 78
The Data File
Bloomsbury Acquires Walker • Blooms­ egory. The Interaction committee has exercised Boyd, and Hanif Kureishi among its members,
bury publishing chief Nigel Newton announced its right to add a new special category of Best sent an open letter to Britain’s Home Office
the UK publisher is buying Walker Publishing Website. Nominations close on March 11,2005 protesting legislation going into the Serious Or­
Company, a small independent publisher based at midnight GMT. All members of Interaction ganized Crime and Police Bill and requesting a
in New York, in a move to expand Bloomsbury’s will be eligible to vote in the final ballot. Mail meeting. The proposed new law, making inciting
US presence. A family-owned operation since your ballot to: Interaction Hugo Administrator, religious hatred an offense, expands on existing
its founding 45 years ago, Walker has printed 28 St. Johns Road, Guildford, GU2 7UH, United legislation limiting free speech from stirring up
many SF books through the years, including Kingdom, or Interaction Hugo Administrator, hatred of others based on their race. In a letter
titles by Asimov, McCaffrey, and Le Guin. At PO Box 58009, Louisville KY 40268-0009, signed by over 200 writers of various faiths,
around 55-60 titles annually, Walker’s list now USA. Do not e-mail your ballot. Questions the PEN expresses its fears that the legislation
includes mainly adult non-fiction and children’s may be directed to <HugoAdmin@interaction, will, in effect, allow for “censorship of a kind
books. worldcon .org .uk>. which would constrain writers and impoverish
After the $6.5 million sale, Walker will be­ cultural life.” The letter also pointed out that the
come a separate division of Bloomsbury USA, Atwood’s Inventions * If you’ve ever won­ amendment will “make it illegal to express what
retaining publisher George Gibson, who will dered if Margaret Atwood sits around thinking some might consider to be provocative views on
report to Bloomsbury USA publisher Karen up grim fates for humanity at large, you might be religion.” Recent events - the violent Sikh riot
Rinaldi. With Bloomsbury’s resources and right. In a recent Times Online article, Atwood, that cancelled the play “Bezhti” and threatened
global distribution through St. Martin’s, and author of The Handmaid’s Tale and Oryx and the life of its author, and the Christian group
Walker’s strong non-fiction list and its access Crake, details the storylines of several novels demonstrations against the BBC2’s showing of
to the children’s market, schools, and libraries, that she will not be writing soon, or ever. The “Jerry Springer the Opera” - have fueled the
the combination of the two companies should first, Worm Zero, entails the sudden death of group’s worries that this law will support anyone
benefit both. the entire phylum annelida (worms) plus all wishing to censor or ban anything “offensive”
of their grubby cousins, resulting in all dirt on the grounds of religion.
S&S Next On Block? • Sumner Redstone, becoming rock hard. Crops won’t grow, good Home Office minister Fiona MacTaggart
chairman of Simon & Schuster’s parent com­ people resort to eating their goldfish and dried issued a reply stating, “This is not religious ap­
pany Viacom, has outlined “an aggressive plan flower arrangements, and Chris and Amanda, peasement, but a responsible reaction to the tac­
to shake up the company’s mix of assets by a trim but passionate couple who had great tics of those, especially from the extreme right,
investing more in areas like the Internet and sex in Chapter One, move out to their country who would foster community tension by stirring
selling slower-growth operations,” which would cottage to eke out their survival. Spongedeath up hatred of members of a faith group.” She has
probably include Simon & Schuster publishing, involves an overgrown marine sponge slowly agreed to meet with Mr. Rushdie, vice-president
as well as Paramount theme parks, and small­ taking over Florida. Chris and Amanda are on of the English PEN, and other representatives of
market radio and television stations. Viacom’s the roof of their new condo, in which they had the group to address their concerns.
stock has been steady for the past few years, great sex in Chapter One, and now fearfully gaze
and Redstone hopes to boost stock prices by at the “monstrous bath accessory” threatening Bookseller Fired for Blogging • Longtime
investing in high-growth areas, including video to fall upon them in a “soft but deadly glop.” Waterstone’s bookseller and SF fan Joe Gor­
games and cable networks. In Beetleplunge, after Chris and Amanda had don was fired from the Edinburgh branch of
great sex in Chapter One, Amanda’s drunken the British bookstore in January for negative
Washington Post Buys Slate * The wash- husband appears, a road chase ensues, and the comments he made about the company in his
ington Post Company announced it is buying husband goes over the edge. Or maybe beetles personal weblog, The Woolamaloo Gazette.
Slate, the online news magazine, from Microsoft. plunge en masse over a cliff. Either way, these His dismissal has raised an outcry from authors
Founded in 1996 by Michael Kinsley (now an storylines are no place for a nice couple like including Neil Gaiman, Charles Stross, and
editor at the LA Times), the site is an outlet for Chris and Amanda. Richard Morgan, who all praise Gordon’s skills
cultural criticism and political analysis. Micro­ Atwood also made news with her new inven­ as a bookseller and event coordinator. Gordon
soft decided earlier this year the site was not a tion, a remote autographing device borne of wrote about being fired on his blog, and word
good fit for the company and its small revenue her frustration with the grueling circumstances quickly spread, soon leading to news articles and
was not enough to contribute meaningfully; of touring, that will allow authors to speak to radio interviews that brought far more public­
after years of losing money, Slate is now break­ readers and sign their books in real time without ity than his weblog - which only had about 20
ing even with revenue around $6 million. Jacob having to travel to distant locations. In develop­ regular readers - ever could have.
Weisberg, who will remain editor of Slate, said, ment at Atwood’s new company, Unotchit Inc., Gordon’s weblog, which he clearly marks as
“I couldn’t be more excited about this move. Mi­ the device includes a screen the author can see a personal, satirical site, made reference to his
crosoft has been a wonderful home for us since and talk to the reader through, as well as a tablet “Evil Boss” and called the company “Bas­
1996. It’s clear, though, that the Washington Post on which the author can write an inscription. A tardstones.” In late December 2004 Gordon’s
Company is the best place for Slate to continue second unit at a bookstore allows the reader to manager informed him he would face disciplin­
to grow and develop.” see and speak to the author and has a book holder ary action for “gross misconduct” and bringing
with an electronic arm and pen to write out, after “the company into the disrepute,” citing various
Hugo Nominations Open • Nominations for spell-checking, the identical inscription at the blog entries, some from years before. At a hear­
the 2005 Hugo Awards and John W. Campbell reader’s end. Atwood thinks the device won’t ing on January 5, Gordon was fired, despite his
Award are open. The nomination ballot was alienate authors from readers, while allowing willingness to remove offensive portions of his
mailed out to members of Interaction in Prog­ the lesser-known authors who don’t have tour website and refrain from such complaints in
ress Report 3 (December 2004), and a printable support to sign books worldwide. It’s hard to the future. There were no criticisms regarding
PDF version, as well as rules and information, is imagine that any reader would actually prefer his actual work, and by all accounts he was an
available online at <www.interaction.worldcon. this, as signings are, first and foremost, op­ excellent bookseller, spending 11 years in the
org.uk/hugovote.htm>. Nominations may also be portunities to meet the author face-to-face. And same branch and organizing many successful
made online at the website. Attending or support­ maybe to have great sex. events, especially for SF writers.
ing members of Noreascon 4, and attending or Charles Stross said he was “one of the key
supporting members of Interaction who purchase PEN Mightier Than the Law? • The English people to target if you wanted a new SF book
memberships by January 31, 2005, may nomi­ PEN society, a UK writers’ group boasting Salm­ launch in the UK to go down well,” and Neil
nate up to five works/individuals in each cat­ on Rushdie, Zadie Smith, Monica Ali, William ►►I p. 78
Black Gate Fall ’04 As for Mark Sumner, his “Leather Doll” colonists beat their heads against the cognitive
Interzone 11-12/04 constructs, and then inverts, a horrible plan­ brick wall of a gentle indigenous species, only
Sci Fiction 1/05 etary-colonization ethic: generations ago, to see the aliens comprehend our nature with
Asimov’s 2/05 a starship crashed on a nascently habitable wise facility. Given the discomfiting perspec­
F&SF 3/05 world, and the robot Proctors in charge of the tive of Bear and Waller, it’s hardly surprising
Realms of Fantasy 12/04 settlers divided their human charges - expedi­ that humankind manages to destroy Earth
Amazing 1/05 ently - into people and livestock, so that, in the many times over in Hugh A. D. Spencer’s
story’s present, a certain randy herdboy finds “Problem Project”, a barbed many-worlds
Of all the small press magazines, Black himself in control of a flock of perfectly hu­ speculation.
Gate is probably your best guarantee of liter­ manoid “cattle.” Consequences ensue as day In this issue, the only dud story is “Cry
ate, good quality sword & sorcery and science follows night, and intervention by a Proctor of the Soul” by David Memmott, in which
fantasy: strong imagination, strong narrative, places matters in a grisly, but disconcertingly Mayan religion and Virtual Reality are ambi­
much color and action. Issue Seven is particu­ just and logical, context. Sumner has crafted tiously mixed, only to curdle.
larly impressive: the lead story is by the sharp a nastily sarcastic fable here, and country life
and stylish Judith Berman. Todd McAulty will never seem quite the same. Sci Fiction’s January array features two
provides the most excitingly rancid tour of excellent fantasies of paradox and false ap­
Hell in a while, and Mark Sumner deftly I had some harsh things to say about the pearance. In the manner of his by-now famous
explores the idiocy of eugenics in a startlingly first InterzoTie issue (September-October) “The Empire of Ice Cream”, Jeffrey Ford’s
innovative cowboy context. to appear under the auspices of TTA Press; “A Man of Light” weaves an artful web of
Berman’s “The Poison Well” is straight but the good news is that the second is a lot dream and suspense, culminating in a series
secondary-world fantasy, but of unusual and better. Nicholas Waller’s excellent novelette, of disguised, but entirely shattering, revela­
involving complexity. An inquisitor and his “Enta Geweorc”, starts matters off with a tions. In a quasi-Victorian age of hierarchy
lackey-cum-bodyguard, the latter a magical penetrating appraisal of the human capacity and formal diction, a young reporter visits
adept, visit a remote manor to investigate a for self-delusion: in the relatively near future, the famous recluse who has remade the arts
couple of necromantic murders. The local Earth’s two major power blocs have fought an of illusion through his brilliant manipulations
aristocrats clearly have something to hide, apocalyptic war; a space pilot who evidently of light and shadow; the interview begins
there are ancient tensions surrounding their sparked the conflict by attacking the other grotesquely enough - the master is a floating
ancestors’ genocidal theft of the surrounding side’s outer-System colonies returns to his head - and thence evolves into an alarming
land, and ferocious supernatural energies are devastated home town in Somersetshire, and closed labyrinth of narrative, a quest for the
at work. In a superbly contrived atmosphere of there proceeds to reprise the stupidities he has meaning of Light and Darkness that rebounds,
menace, with skeletons emerging from family wreaked, on a smaller but telling scale. His circles itself, and culminates in nightmare.
closets and the dead knocking peremptorily on intention is suicide, but he is soon sidetracked Ford is a master of recursive, erudite surreal­
the doors of the living, issues of the repression from this (highly desirable) option; quoting ism, and this is an exceedingly fine example of
of women and of aboriginal land claims are self-exculpatory chunks of Anglo-Saxon, he that craft; Borges could not have done better.
intelligently explored; additionally, a surpass­ makes already terminal matters worse, and Eric Schaller is not at this technical level
ingly rich background history emerges amid stands as one of recent SF’s more memorable yet, but he orchestrates the tales-within-tales
the intrigues and confrontations. In “Amnes­ portraits of an utter dolt. Waller’s bleak vision of “The Five Cigars of Abu Ali” dexter­
ty”, McAulty, a notable regular of Black Gate, is moving and memorable. ously enough, relating how an old college
sets out in picaresque terms the existence of Also quite impressive is “Redemption, friend - a Pakistani rug merchant - visits
just a flicker of hope in Hell: on Tartarus, a Drawing Near” by Michael Jasper, in which an ordinary American family man, bringing
distorted worldscape dominated by demonic the US military calls in a Catholic priest to with him two seemingly casual girlfriends, a
armies, lordly vampires, hordes of ghouls, and help interrogate aliens who have landed on taste for whiskey, and outrageous anecdotes of
infinite other nasties, a small group of damned Earth, apparently seeking refuge, but who his encounters with a bottled jinn. Abu Ali’s
(but still embodied) souls sets out to locate a remain dangerously inscrutable, expressing nested stories summarize eloquently the lure
rumored aperture into Heaven, fighting mon­ a cultural complex requiring deep moral of exotic treasure, the nigh-irresistible tempta­
sters all the way in intriguing character-driven scrutiny. But on balance, Elizabeth Bear tion to throw all mundane certainties aside in
combat sequences which interrogate rather ef­ tackles human/alien perplexity more acutely search of riches and adventure; but Schaller’s
fectively the concept of Hell itself. Elsewhere, than Jasper in “When You Visit the Magoe- moral is otherwise, and his everyday Boston
there is counterpoint in the questioning of a baskloof Hotel, Be Certain Not to Miss the setting acquires a sober thematic significance.
deceased scientist by a chatty archdemon; Samango Monkeys”, which, despite its title, “Cigars” is in the nature of an affectionate but
despair, we learn, is glib indeed. is set on a bleak, distant planet, where human ►H p. 69
Interzone 11-12/04 future scientific progress as at the unexpected colorful adventure, just plain fun.
Postscripts, Summer ’04 social consequences of such progress - and the Analog's lead novelette for March is a strong
laws surrounding it. and thought-provoking story by Shane Tourtel­
Mayflower II, Stephen Baxter (PS Publishing) lotte, “Acts of Conscience”. This is part of a
October 2004 The publishing company behind Postcripts, series about a new technology that “overlays”
PS Publishing, also continues to issue outstand­ desirable brain patterns on people with the aim
F&SF 2/05 ing novellas in slim volumes. Their best offering of curing pathologies - as minor as stuttering,
Analog 3/05 this year, and one of the best novellas of 2004, as major as pedophilia. The main character,
Sci Fiction 1/05 is Stephen Baxter’s Mayflower II. This is the Lucinda Peale, urges cautious use of the technol­
Strange Horizons 12/04 story of a generation starship fleeing Port Sol, a ogy, while her foil, Pavel Petrusky, a politically
Challenging Destiny 12/04 distant habitat in the Solar System, doomed to be engaged leftist, urges aggressive use of overlays
Paradox Winter ’04 destroyed by the Coalition. The main character, to foster “virtuous” mental patterns. Their
Oceans of the Mind 12/04 Rusel, is forced to abandon his lover when he is disagreements come to a head when an actress
chosen to be part of the limited crew of the ship. asks Lucinda to overlay her with more politically
After a time of crisis, it appears we may hope He becomes an Elder, one of a select few chosen correct views - in order to help her career in
for the continued publication of two pretty solid­ to give the generations of starship inhabitants progressive Hollywood. Of course this is a more
ly established SF-oriented UK magazines. I have guidance and continuity of purpose. Through difficult problem than curing stuttering - and it
to hand the second issue of Peter Crowther’s the depths of time, however, both he and the is also an ethical minefield. The story - rather
Postscripts and the second Andy Cox-edited inhabitants change in curious and chilling talky but appropriately so - does a good job of
issue of Interzone. From Interzone I preferred ways. This is a striking and invigorating story, discussing the issues (though I can’t help feel
Nicholas Waller’s novelette, “Enta Geweorc”. a direct response to classic SF stories like Rob­ that real world scientists would be much readier
Peter Collard, who committed a war crime that ert Heinlein’s “Universe” and Brian Aldiss’s to ask, “Who chooses which political positions
may have led to the Cataclysm which has pretty Non-Stop, with perhaps nods in the direction to overlay, and what if my opponents get the
much destroyed the Earth, returns to his home of Poul Anderson’s “The Troublemakers” and chance to make that decision?”). I also liked
in Cheddar, England, which is part of Alfred even such a recent story as Ursula K. Le Guin’s this month’s Probability Zero piece, “Coper­
the Great’s kingdom of Wessex. Waller makes “Paradises Lost”. Baxter considers the many nican Principle” by Robert Scherrer, which
fine use of Old English poetry and history to problems raised in the history of the field’s treat­ takes the old question, “How do we know we’re
complement his tale of a devastated future in ment of this common idea, suggests answers for not a simulation?”, to a cute new level.
which Ais have mostly taken over, and are now some - and raises new problems.
trying to find a way into space. Only a few hu­ Jeffrey Ford’s “A Man of Light” (Sci Fic­
mans survive on Earth, and Collard encounters The highlights of the February F&SF are two tion, January 26) is a rather gothic story about
some of them. What future is there, though, for rather light-toned novelettes. “Inner Huff” by a young reporter interviewing a man who has
them, or him? Matthew Hughes is another story of Guth Ban­ made a fortune creating spectacular illusions
dar exploring the noosphere. This is the human by manipulating light in implausible ways.
Rhys Hughes’s “The Old House Under the collective unconscious - source of stories and He reveals to his interviewer that he has other
Snow Where Nobody Goes Except You and tropes. He is researching siren songs, but ends obsessions - a desire to actually communicate
Me Tonight”, from Postscripts, is a thoroughly up captured by a version of Circe, and turned with light, and a fear of light’s opposite, “the
weird story about a couple of men who decide into a pig. He escapes to another part of the creature of night”. The story spirals into strange
to explore a mysterious old house that they nobsphere - but as a pig - and there are some ►H p. 69
think is buried under snow. They find it, but interesting pig stories out there. “Queen of the
it has completely unexpected dimensions and Balts” is another of R. Garcia y Robertson’s THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
properties. Quite delightful odd stuff - Hughes Markovy tales. Princess Annya is our heroine. February 6, 2024. University rescinds
is less known than he should be: give him a try! Her father has just been killed and her home is honorary degree. Angry UC Berkeley
Brian Stableford does biological speculation as under siege. She must find a way to turn one of trustees “do this day cancel and de­
well as any writer. His latest is “A Chip off the her enemies in her favor, and fortunately one of lete” the posthumous honorary doc­
torate awarded to Beat author William
Old Block ”, in which young Stevie turns out to them is a promising young man, while Annya is
Burroughs in 2013. The action is in re­
have a potentially valuable genetic feature. But a beautiful young woman, and one with plenty
sponse to recently discovered letters
who owns his genes? Stevie becomes the focus of cards up her sleeves, including a hidden tree­ revealing that Naked Lunch was writ­
of a bidding war, complicated by the fact that his house, a helpful mercenary, and, to be sure, the ten on steroids and not, as previously
mother and father are going through a divorce. blatant villainy of her main enemies. As usual claimed, on heroin.
This is a first-rate look, not so much at near with Garcia y Robertson, this is a fast-paced and
 “A HEADY
MIX OF

NO HOLDS ORD
ADVENTURE
-NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW mBKbI

WILL THEY SURVIVE?

The spaceship Argo hurtles toward
the Galactic Center, now the only
hope for mankind’s survival.
But Captain Killeen’s desperate
gamble will test his crew and
his own son to their very limits.

“THE AUTHOR’S FANS WON’T

BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS
TAUTLY PLOTTED ENTRY IN
THE SERIES, WHICH BY NOW HAS
ECLIPSED EVEN ASIMOV’S
FOUNDATION SAGA IN AMBITION.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“WHEN IT COMES TO CONJURING

THE MARVELS OF SPACE AND
THE BIZARRE POSSIBILITIES
OF HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS,
BENFORD IS SECOND TO NONE.”
—Kirkus Reviews
BOOK 5 OF THE
AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK ART: DON DIXON

ASPECT

WHERE IMAGINATION KNOWS NO BOUNDS

Time Warner Book Group Read an Excerpt Online at www.twbookmark.com
Locus Looks at Books: Gary K. Wolfe
Nebula Awards Showcase 2005: The Year’s
Best SF and Fantasy, Jack Dann ed. (Roc 1-
451-46015-4, $14.95, 328pp, tp) March 2005.

The Limits of Enchantment, Graham Joyce

(Gollancz 0-575-07231-8, £12.00, 256pp, he)
January 2005; (Atria 0-743-46344-7, $22.00,
272pp, he) February 2005.

TWOC, Graham Joyce (Faber & Faber 0-571-

22513-6, £6.99, 225pp, tp) April 2005. Cover
by Ghost.

Black Juice, Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin

Australia 1-86508-826-9, $A17.99, 222pp, tp)
March 2004. Cover by Sandra Nobes; (Eos
0-06-074390-5, $15.99, 200pp, tp) March
2005.

The annual Nebula Awards anthology, now

approaching its fortieth year, has become
about the closest thing that the SF field has to
a nice floral arrangement. The main pieces to
be included must be selected from a relatively
narrow range of nominees - seventeen stories
in the case of the 2004 ballot, if one doesn’t
count novels and scripts - and it falls to the
editor to select a few of these tales, some of
which are already quite familiar, and then try
to lend texture and fullness to the volume with
various sprigs and branches and ribbons in the
form of poems, essays, memoirs, excerpts, and
older tales by Grand Masters and Emeritus
Authors (nearly all of whom can be faintly stories that were not actual winners, and that dialogues are going on, and (unlike most of the
heard muttering, “I’m not dead yet! ”). We’ve are not already overly familiar from year’s best gloomy “symposia” that have characterized
noted before in these pages the constraints anthologies. Richard Bowes’s “The Mask of some Nebula volumes in the past) actually add
that face any editor who agrees to undertake the Rex”, set largely on a wealthy resort island value to the volume.
this task - everything from questions about in Maine, covers several decades in the life As if to underline the genre’s capacity for
the balloting process to SFWA’s membership of a wealthy socialite married to a promising the unexpected as championed in these essays,
to eligibility rules to the chronic lateness of young politician who dies tragically young; Dann follows them with four tales that seem
the volumes - and it must be said up front by combining familiar elements of American to celebrate this capacity: Carol Emshwiller’s
that there’s not much an editor can do about political mythology with the more traditional “Grandmother”, whose title figure is a retired
these issues. For example, although this year’s fantasy of a magical portal to other times and superhero living quietly in the country with her
volume is called Showcase 2005 and subtitled places hidden on the wife’s family estate, granddaughter; Grand Master Robert Silver­
“The Year’s Best SF and Fantasy”, all but Bowes achieves an Elizabeth Hand-like tone berg’s “Sundance”, his stunning 1969 tale that
three of the stories date from 2002 or earlier of mythic/domestic realism. James Van Pelt’s echoes an earlier revolutionary movement in
(and the remaining three date from 2003, the “The Last of the O-Forms” also draws much the field (the story is preceded by a warm ap­
same year covered in the overview of films). of its power from its convincing setting, this preciation by Barry Malzberg); Molly Gloss’s
What does any of this have to do with 2005? time a rural Mississippi River valley trans­ sensitive, Sturgeon-like “Lambing Season”,
It made more sense when the volumes were formed by an unspecified mutagen which has in which a remote sheepherder encounters a
simply given sequential numbers, a practice wreaked havoc with the gene pool, creating an dying alien; and Cory Doctorow’s tech-savvy
that changed when the 34th volume was array of monsters and mutants, including the and idea-drenched “OwnzOred”, with a bril­
christened Nebula Showcase 2000. Well, it is protagonist’s own daughter, who for years has liant code writer brought back from the dead
a showcase, and like a showcase some of the maintained the appearance of a two-year-old by an information-controlling process that
items in it are already gathering dust. It’s just while her mind grew to adulthood. may revolutionize everything. The Doctorow
not a 2005 showcase. Having thus given us a tantalizing taste of the has to carry the torch for the whole post-Snow
Fortunately, Jack Dann is well aware of year’s Nebula field, Dann shifts gears entirely Crash, post-Vinge school of streetgeek apoca­
these issues - he edited the 1997 volume as with five short essays on recent movements lypse fiction, and it’s a fine representative of
well as this one - and he shows himself to in SF and fantasy - China Mieville on the both the strengths and weaknesses of the sub­
be an impressively skilled florist, not only in New Weird, Paul McAuley on the New Space genre, as the protagonist and his pal flee the
his selection of tales and ancillary materials, Opera, Ellen Kushner on Interstitial Arts, Jeff authorities at high speed while talking at each
but in their arrangement and sequencing. The VanderMeer on the Romantic Underground, all other in comically hip infodumps.
result, more than any recent Nebula volume, preceded by an overview by Bruce Sterling (for Following another intermission in which
actually conveys a sense of the vitality and the record, neither the piece by Mieville nor Lucius Shepard discusses insightfully (but
excitement that have characterized the field’s that by McAuley are the same as their pieces rather pointlessly) the films of 2003, and
internal dialogues and debates over the last few which appeared in Locus in 2003). Whatever Eleanor Arnason’s movingly understated
years. How he manages this might well serve one may think about the genre’s predilection “Knapsack Poems”, Dann finally gives us a
as a model for all future editors to keep in for t-shirt-ready labels, these mostly thought­ taste of actual Nebula winners with an excerpt
mind. He opens, for example, with two strong ful pieces lend the anthology a sense that real ►►I
 New this month from Ace
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W Gary K. Wolfe to make themselves seem relevant - and as in way to somewhere grand, he makes it in fine
the earlier novel, some of these women are form, giving the novel a resolution that pre­
from the opening of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline faced with the demise of a generations-old serves some of the old-fashioned satisfaction
(the novella winner) and Karen Joy Fowler’s way of life as government, science, and media of melodramatic resolution without sacrificing
“What I Didn’t See” (the short story winner), begin to reach into the lives of even the remot­ his broader themes of change and adaptation.
a beautifully imagined memory of a gorilla­ est villages. In both novels, for example, the In the end, The Limits of Enchantment may
viewing expedition which gains much of its regulation and licensing of midwifery plays not be as broadly ambitious as The Facts of
SF resonance from its allusions to the Tiptree an important role as a central symbol of these Life and may offer fewer impressive setpieces,
story that inspired its title. These stories are transformations. In The Limits of Enchant­ but it is as solid, balanced, and finely tuned as
followed by the oddest selection in the book, ment, the new regulations threaten Mammy’s anything Joyce has written, and that is tanta­
offered with no explanation whatsoever: Barry livelihood, and some of the most telling mount to saying it’s about as finely tuned as
Malzberg’s ironic memoir of working with the moments in the novel occur when the young any recent fiction we have.
Scott Meredith literary agency. Entertaining Fern, hoping to continue her grandmother’s
though it is, one can’t help but wonder what traditions but with proper licensing, attends The Limits of Enchantment is far from
it has to do with the Nebulas or the stories required classes in “scientific” midwifery, the first time Joyce has told much of his tale
included elsewhere in the volume. Together where the instructor finds herself challenged from the viewpoint of a youthful protagonist
with Emeritus Author Charles Harness’s story by local women with far more experience but - the daughter Jessie in The Storm Watcher
“Quarks at Appomattox” (and the George far less education. In another significant (and experiences a strange tutelage at the hands
Zebrowski appreciation which precedes it), rather funny) scene, university researchers visit of an apparently mad instructor, and in The
this section constitutes the most notable drift Mammy and Fern to collect bits of folklore and Facts of Life, much of the novel is carried by
from the anthology’s general tone of contem­ songs, as though their very lives have already the youthful Frank. Joyce’s most famous novel
poraneity. become the stuff of textbooks. prior to The Facts of Life, The Tooth Fairy,
But this tone returns with a vengeance with But the old ways represented by Mammy draws on childhood superstitions in tracing
Adam-Troy Castro’s “Of a Sweet Slow Dance involve more than folk medicine; they may the disturbed lives of three boys growing up
in the Wake of Temporary Dogs”, a post-9/11 involve magic as well, and in particular a in a village near Coventry, presumably similar
tribute to New York whose arch title is belied kind of mystical connection with the animal to Joyce’s own boyhood home; and similar
by moments of stunning brutality. The prem­ world. Fern knows that, in order to follow in autobiographical elements show up in recent
ise, concerning a utopian city which through Mammy’s tradition and gain certain powers, stories such as “Black Dust” - which again
“technological genius” suffers catastrophic she will have to undergo a ritual called the features adolescent boys for viewpoint. Given
disasters and tortures every tenth day - all of Asking, which will link her spiritually to a this apparent attraction to young viewpoints,
which have disappeared the following morn­ totemic nature spirit in the form of a hare. But it’s not surprising that Joyce should eventu­
ing - borrows somewhat from Le Guin’s “The Fern is also fascinated by the new kinds of ally try his hand at young adult fiction, and
Ones Who Walk Away from Ornelas”, but with magic that are entering the world: she follows in fact he did just that in the novella-length
a murkier philosophical premise. Following obsessively the news about the Gemini space­ Spiderbite in 1997. That story, however, was
this are Rhysling Award-winning poems by craft; she enjoys watching The Outer Limits, so constrained by the format and prescribed
Ruth Berman, Charles Saplak and Mike Allen, she’s fascinated by the hippie commune that’s plot elements of the series of which it was a
and Sonya Taaffe; Harlan Ellison’s fable-like moved into a neighboring farm and the strange, part that we couldn’t get a clear sense of what a
quest-parody “Goodbye to All That”; and an attractive music they bring with them. The con­ Joyce YA novel might look like. With TWOC,
excerpt from Elizabeth Moon’s winning novel flict between these worlds becomes manifest however, Joyce shows that his own interests
The Speed of Dark, prefaced by a moving when Mammy falls ill and is unwillingly taken and narrative strengths do indeed translate
but clear-headed account of her adopted son’s to a hospital, where she grows increasingly well for the YA audience.
autism. The final selection, Jeffrey Ford’s ex­ weak and confused. In a plot development that The title refers to a British law that defines
cellent winning novelette “The Empire of Ice borrows from sheer melodrama, Fern is faced such crimes as joyriding not as grand theft
Cream”, appears also to deal with an unusual with eviction when the villainous agent of the auto, but as Taking Without Owner’s Consent,
neurological disorder, synaesthesia, but turns wealthy landowner on whose property their or TWOC (the distinction seems to be that if
instead into a haunting tour de force of nar­ cottage is located reveals that Mammy has a stolen car is returned or abandoned, it’s a
rative point of view. It’s an excellent choice failed to pay rent for more than a year, and that lesser offense than if the intent is to keep or
to end one of the most entertaining Nebula eviction is immanent. Complicating matters sell it). Stealing cars seems to be the main skill
volumes in years. further, she learns that she lacks the credentials of the narrator Matt, who learned it from his
to continue in the midwifery class, and even older brother Jake, who himself was killed in
The Limits of Enchantment would make a her mental competence is challenged. There’s a fiery crash that Matt now blames himself for.
pretty good title for a critical study of fantasy always been a faint echo of D.H. Lawrence in He also blames himself for the disfigurement
(although it echoes Bruno Bettelheim a bit), Joyce’s settings and characters, but this time of Matt’s girlfriend Jools, who was burned in
and there is a bit of such critique in Graham he seems to be reaching all the way back to the same accident, and who now refuses to
Joyce’s almost perfectly balanced novel of the Thomas Hardy, or even earlier. answer his text messages. To make matters
same title. Joyce, who invented his own sort Can Fern find a way to live in the modern worse, Matt is haunted almost nightly by Jake,
of magic realism drawing on his own family’s world, prove her sanity, deal with her own blos­ who appears outside his bedroom window,
life in wartime and postwar Coventry in The soming sexuality, and save the cottage? Can sometimes dressed in odd outfits, sometimes
Facts of Life, continues his examination of the she, at the same time, survive the ritual that bringing him gruesome gifts, such as a bag full
profound shifts in English life in mid-century will secure for her the ancient powers that will of amputated body parts. It’s hardly surprising
in this coming-of-age novel, but moves the enable her to continue Mammy’s traditional ►H p. 70
action to a remote Midlands village and shifts ways? More important, can Joyce get out of this
the time frame forward to 1966, as rock music, Victorian-melodrama turn of his plotting with­ THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
hippies, and news of space exploration begin to out the whole structure collapsing into parody? February 25, 2066. UN outlaws fluency
penetrate the awareness of his narrator Fern, a Fern is such an attractive and solid character gum. The popular chewing gum Chomp-
young woman apprenticed to her grandmother that we not only want the developments of the sky, which provides several minutes of
fluency in a wide variety of languages, is
Mammy, a midwife and herbalist who has tale to work out for her, we want this to happen
banned by the world body after a Ukrain­
earned both the respect and fear of the local without excess contrivance - we want the tale ian diplomat spits out a wad of Russian
villagers. Like The Facts of Life, The Lim­ itself to emerge as strong as she is. The good gum during a Security Council debate,
its of Enchantment is built around a core of news is that, even though Joyce has set himself nearly causing an international incident.
strong women - the men in the novel struggle up a fairly rickety footbridge to cross on the
 New from Hugo A ward-Winning Author
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Locus Looks at Books: Faren Miller
Black Juice, Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin
Australia 1-86508-826-9, $A17.99,222pp, tp)
March 2004. Cover by Sandra Nobes; (Eos
0-06-074390-5, $15.99, 200pp, tp) March
2005.

Tumbling After, Paul Witcover (Eos 0-06-

105285-X, $24.95, 330pp, he) March 2005.
Cover by Jim Burns.

Our Ecstatic Days, Steve Erickson (Simon

& Schuster 0-7432-6472-X, $24.00, 318pp,
he) February 2005.

The Mysteries, Lisa Tuttle (Bantam 0-553-

38296-9, $21.00, 336pp, he) March 2005.

Harp, Pipe, and Symphony, Paul Di Filippo

(Prime 1-930997-80-9, $29.95, 208pp, he)
November 2004. Cover by Sir Edward Burne-
Jones.

The first two books I’ll deal with this time

are a bold collection that has some young
protagonists but should not have been labeled
as YA by its US publisher, and an adult novel
(from the same publisher) that plays on the
tropes of a nursery rhyme and almost seems
to masquerade as YA for much of its length,
until things get very dark indeed - one more
reminder that the original “fairytales” weren’t
G-rated.
The darkness in those old tales had room tyrannical cultist who built his own town and roleplaying games (back when gaming required
for plenty of unsavory goings-on: shudder­ religion in a chaotic modern land; a group of boards, maps and variously shaped dice, not
inducing activities like child abduction, rape, secretly sentient elephants enduring human a box with the latest in hi-tech animation),
murder, slavery, incest, and cannibalism. The exploitation until the last straw breaks; a and something like mainstream dysfunc­
genius (not too strong a word) of Australian place where monkeys, stripped of their skins tional-family Americana come together in Paul
writer Margo Lanagan is her ability to reach and cooked for humans’ dinners, coexist with Witcover’s Tumbling After, in an increasingly
into darkness and return with something both monsters. Anything “exotic” or “primitive” disturbing mix.
different and powerfully convincing. The in these tales becomes the intimate stuff of We meet 12-year-old Jack Doone and his
first story in Black Juice, “Singing My Sister life, however touched by the otherworldly or twin sister Jilly in the midst of his first fall,
Down”, offers an immediate example. We’ve sheer strangeness. This is equally true when from a towering wave she had dared him to try
heard about punishment by tar and feathers; Lanagan turns to Old World fantasy in “My to climb. Reality seems to get shaky soon after
here it’s tar alone, vividly portrayed at both its Lord’s Man”, goes more or less contempo­ he wakes up safe (just how big was that wave?),
best and worst: rary in the quasi-European city of “Wooden but before long the kids return to their everyday
In the winter you come to the pit to Bride” (where irony mixes with surrealism, version of existence with a touch of strange.
warm your feet in the tar. You stand long though the exact tone defies description), and Witcover portrays twinship from within and
enough to sink as far as your ankles leaps ahead to homegrown near-future SF in without, as an “effortless connection” that’s
- the littler you are, the longer you can “Perpetual Light”. an unwelcome reminder to others of how alone
stand. You soak the heat in for as long as
It’s astonishing enough to be introduced so they truly are, with nothing to anchor them in
the tar doesn’t close over your feet and
grip, and it’s as good as warmed boots abruptly to a writer this good, but even more the world, no one to ease the burden of every
wrapping your feet. But in summer, like extraordinary is her seemingly effortless mas­ bad thing or make every good thing better just
this day, you keep away from the tar, tery of the short form, and what she proceeds to by existing. It’s been plain to Jack and Jilly for
because it makes the air hotter and you do with it. If I had to pick a favorite from Black years that what the others want, on the most
mind about the stink. Juice it would be the story that seems to have basic level, is to inflict the same crippling on
Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to go. inspired the cover art, “Earthly Uses”, where them: to strip away what makes them special
But when it’s your own kin under sentence for in less than 20 pages the concept, physical and leave them no different than everybody
murder, the whole family has to come to the nature, and role of angels are transformed ut­ else, just two more mismatched socks in the
pits and enact the long, heartbreaking ritual terly - and the well-known tropes of “Jack and spinning dryer of a world that can cling to­
of “singing her down.” The young narrator the Beanstalk” will never be the same. While gether all they want but will never again make
must come to accept, understand, and finally the hero is young, his forced participation in a perfect pair.
participate in the rite - hard lessons, yet not a dangerous act of magic doesn’t lead to the Intercut with the narrative set in 1977 are
the kind that callus the soul for life. awakening of hidden powers so typical of YA scenes apparently taken from Mutes & Norms,
The setting of this opening story could be genre fiction. Here and throughout the book, the RPG that Jack and Jilly play with its proto­
a skewed, re-imagined version of any one whatever the characters may learn from their slacker inventor, Uncle Jimmy. In the game’s
of those places we tend to lump together as experiences, it’s the reader who undergoes a Otherworld, resentments like those in the
the Third World. Other tales (“House of truly radical (and thrilling) education. passage above are magnified a hundredfold
the Many”, “Sweet Pippit”, “Yowlinin”) into all-out war and a violent post-apocalypse
evoke elements from Africa and/or Asia: a A morbid nursery rhyme, the early days of ►H
 Faren Miller For the patient reader, that umbilical line time. In some ways this is a traditional book,
turns out to help counteract the overwrought but Tuttle handles her material well, and ends
where unchanged humans and mutants (many or unbelievable portrayal of femininity that with just enough complexity and ambiguity to
of whom resemble various fantasy elementals) came before. And toward the book’s midpoint, satisfy the modern imagination.
set out in hunting parties, aiming to kill each in a new narrative involving a woman known
other. The first Mutes to appear are appealingly as Doc who rows with a lost boy toward the According to the preface, Harp, Pipe, and
mundane despite some warped appearances: whirlpool at the center of the slowly receding Symphony by Paul Di Filippo was conceived
young, pizza eating, a little afraid of their lake (and the Hotel of the Thirteen Losses), when he was a teenager and originally writ­
parents. When they join with their fellows the jumbled prose finds some shape and bal­ ten while he was in his late twenties. Both of
from other magical races and embark upon ance, even as it flirts with poetry. Eventually, these past selves are now “charming and ec­
a quest, older readers and non-gamers may many of the nagging questions of history and centric strangers to the fifty-year-old writing
start to weary of them and their adventures, motivation which the previous sectional leaps this preface,” inevitably viewed “at a suitable
despite some emerging parallels with the world between decades had left dangling get an­ distance,” but he respects them enough not
outside: just as Jack finds increasing evidence swered, so the SFnal time scheme can work as to interfere too much with their work. The
that he might be developing uncanny powers it should - as a comment on our world and its result of this odd collaboration is Di Filippo’s
far beyond the moments of ESP and prescience possible futures. first published fantasy, retelling the old Celtic
that sometimes link the twins, that connection Our Ecstatic Days seems to echo the dif­ legend of Thomas the Rhymer with an inven­
threatens to shatter; meanwhile(?), personal fering moods of the two novellas in Michael tive brashness that seems very much the voice
relations get tense within the game - where Cisco’s The San Veneficio Canon (reviewed of youth.
the questers are inexperienced, yet old enough last month) in reverse, saving the dark lyric Tom, a remarkably well-educated peasant
for sex, angst, and paranoia - long before the clarity for the end while feverish imagery runs boy with his own well-thumbed copy of Dante,
enemy appears. amok at the start. But more than a novella’s doesn’t set out to be a bard. His great obsession
What managed to hold my attention (or re­ worth of chaos is awfully hard to take. involves not words but metaphysics: finding a
capture it) while all this transpired were flashes middle path that lies somewhere between Good
of wordplay and invention that go beyond the In The Mysteries Lisa Tuttle’s hero, Ameri­ and Evil (neither Heaven nor Hell attracts him)
rote, things like the game’s mysterious Holy can private investigator Ian Kennedy, is a but is equally remote from Dante’s Purgatory
Rollers and the metaphysics of “probability longtime expatriate working in the UK and of noble pagans. After two ruthless but clearly
theology.” But then Witcover goes on to play a specialist in finding missing persons. He’s symbolic troops of warriors in red and black
some much nastier tricks, as the twins’ bond fascinated by tales and anecdotes about disap­ destroy his old life, he sets off into the unknown
and the Otherworld change radically and the pearances, from the mundane or contrived to outside his village, where he will meet a woman
last traces of YA optimism or escapism van­ the genuinely uncanny, and some of these are he mistakes at first for the Virgin Mary. In
ish from both plot threads. Tumbling After interwoven into the book’s dual narratives of truth, it’s Queen Mab of Faerie. Could her
becomes more compelling but not in the least one past and one ongoing case involving a lost realm be that place he’s looking for?
comforting. At full strength, “the stuff of fairy girl. We also get glimpses of his earliest days She describes it in terms that tantalize him,
tales” can seem toxic. in Great Britain: getting used to driving on though the reader will notice a distinctly 20th-
the wrong side of the road, craving coffee and century tone when she speaks of “a harmony
An Otherworld intrudes upon the supposedly drinking peculiar tea, etc. This sympathetic between the individual and the world,” that
mundane even more blatantly in Steve Erick­ outsider with ancestral roots in the old coun­ should not be mistaken for “the eternal snooze
son’s Our Ecstatic Days (a kind of expansion try adds depth and texture to the elements of of heaven” but mixes violence and pain with
of his story “Lake Zed”, from Conjunctions fantasy, as in this passage: good cheer, for a “synchronization of the indi­
41), when an uncanny lake manifests in the vidual with the external empire of the senses.”
To anyone who has grown up in America,
vicinity of his favorite venue - Los Angeles Britain can appear almost ridiculously Mab herself isn’t satisfied with this description
- near the dawn of the 21st century. Or maybe small.... Yet although it is small in physi­ (“Oh, drat these paltry words!”), and through
that’s what happened, as the narrative lurches cal dimension, it is complex, nearly in­ much of the book seems more like a fussy
rapidly into the near future and the mad, finite in detail. Every field and hill has a wordsmith and philosophy tutor than the elvish
italicized inner ramblings of a desperate single name and a story behind it, and although seductress one might expect. Getting down to
most may have been forgotten in this age
mother who will change names and personae basics, though, Faerie is a green/blue/silver
of mass media, and the once-intelligible
in the course of tumultuous decades. place names long since corrupted into alternative to the chessboard hues of moral
This isn’t an easy book to get into. Horror nonsense sounds, with time and patience absolutes - which Tom will explore before he
buffs may think it too artsy and experimental, and a bit of imaginative research it was returns to the fateful fork in the road.
fans of dark weirdness may weary after almost possible to restore the original meanings Despite Mab’s efforts at tutelage, this is edg­
50 pages of relentlessly italicized inner tor­ and once again catch a glimpse of the ier than a YA morality play. Di Filippo is at his
magic lurking beneath.
ments, and mainstream readers used to intense most ingenious in his depictions of the realms
psychoanalyzing will probably be grossed The primary magic behind Ian’s most trou­ of red and black, turning away from Celtic
out by the imagery and obsessions. Though bling cases is Elvish glamor employed for the imagery or the work of Pre-Raphaelites like
the italics eventually let up, gaudy images of purpose of abduction. He didn’t really believe the book’s cover artist Burne-Jones in favor of
menstruation (“that night her uterus exploded in it until an experience on the job in Scotland something closer to the wild visions of Bosch.
in a tantrum of blood”) surround Kristin the forced him to accept the evidence of his own The writing combines boldness with artifice,
female protagonist, and inspire a wildly eccen­ eyes. That belief still wars against skepticism, as a collage of icons, metaphors, and some very
tric man from China to tout his own theory of for he remembers both the fantasy he made “non-period” similes, along with chapter-head
menstrual “divination” in relentless, sparsely out of his own father’s disappearance and the ►M p. 71
punctuated prose. Meanwhile, Kristin under­ unglamorous truth of it, which he uncovered
goes an unlikely transformation into Lulu the decades later. So he understands the skepti­ THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
dazed and frequently naked dominatrix, and cism of others, both obsessive rationalists and February 19, 2103. Lunar “oldies” trag­
symbolic owls keep cropping up. An apparently regular folks, but it can be maddening and - in edy. All 114 members of an Elderhostel
unrelated “umbilical cord” of run-on narrative the mother of his latest case - dangerous for tour of the Mare Sinus Iridum are killed
- the visions, memories, and experiences of the victim.
when their sled is hit by a Chinese test
a woman who may be drowning - breaks in
missile. The accident deals a death blow
While its modern and historical elements
to the already ailing off-world tourism in­
during all this and continues, italicized, for distinguish The Mysteries from the usual dustry, and leads many to question the
200-plus pages (then loses the italics but goes forms of Celtic fantasy, the specific myth at its moon’s status as a free-fire zone.
on). Huh? heart doesn’t really change with the passage of
Hammered, Elizabeth Bear (Bantam Dell 0-
553-58750-1, $6.99, 324pp, pb) January 2005.
Cover by Paul Youll.

Gaudeamus, John Barnes (Tor 0-765-30329-

9, $24.95, 320pp, he) November 2004. Cover
by Jeff Soto.

Destroyer, C.J. Cherryh (DAW 0-7564-0253-0,

$24.95, 345pp, he) February 2005. Cover by
Michael Whelan.

The cover blurb for Elizabeth Bear’s first

novel, Hammered, indicates a line of dramatic
tension and suggests a subgenre: “They wired
her brain. Now they needed her soul....” OK, I
say to myself, cyberpunk? The cover painting her military career (including peacekeeping variety: hardboiled heroes, very nasty villains,
and first-chapter details confirm that much, duties in South Africa and a USA recovering lots of sex and violence (the “Timeline Wars”
with protagonist bionic-womanly Canadian from a “Christian fascist” period), her rela­ series [reviewed in April and August 1997],
ex-special forces soldier Jenny Casey, possessor tionship with her older sister, and the nature for example). What I take to be his more
of an electronic eye, a steel arm, an extensively- of the enhancements that saved her life; the “personal” books (Mother of Storms, Earth
rewired nervous system, and an unpleasant if discovery of alien starships on Mars; the real Made of Glass, or the Kaleidoscope Century
not entirely dark past. purpose of the virtual-reality game; the reason sequence) have many of the same elements as
The story unfolds its motifs and Ideas oh- for the contaminated doses of Hammer; the role the commercial stuff, except that they’re even
so-gradually, starting with Casey being visited of Barbara Casey; and finally the real reason scarier in their intensity and leave this reader
(separately) by top local gangster Razorface that Valens needs Casey to accept his offer of at least wondering where the hell that (insert
and vice cop Mitch Koslowski, the latter about upgrade surgery. your favorite harrowing scene here) came from.
a dead detective (who was also Koslowski’s All this takes place against a background of Add a Barnesian tendency to signal authorial
lover), and the former about illicit, fatally a 2060s world beset by global warming (dikes awareness of the machineries of fiction-making
contaminated doses of Hammer, a combat drug around Manhattan, hurricanes tearing up New even as said machineries operate (see Apostro­
that Casey knows very well. She is a classic England), geopolitical realignments (China phes and Apocalypses, reviewed in February
hardboiled loner, living reclusively in a grungy flexing its muscles, Canada a world police­ 1999) and you have a novel in which a writer
garage in a no-go neighborhood in decayed man), and now-familiar SF motifs (bionic named John Barnes, whose circumstances are
Hartford, Connecticut with Boris the cat, oc­ eyes, combat drugs, VR environments, orbital a decent match for those of the actual Barnes,
cupying an anomalous position where she can towers, corporations with quasi-governmental working on what sounds like a book of typi­
be friendly with both a cop and a gangster. powers, physically- and neurologically-en- cally Barnesian intensity, whose nearly blocked
But the relationships left over from Casey’s hanced assassins). It sounds ungainly-busy, writing labors are interrupted by a visit from
back-story - with the man who saved her life but Bear manages to keep it all under control, old friend and PI Travis Bismarck, who in turn
20 years earlier, the surgeon who supervised logistically because she is a skillful writer and tells a tale that is all intrigue, sex, and drugs (no
her reconstruction and enhancement, and her emotionally because she remains close to the rock & roll unless you count Alanis Morrisette
contract-killer elder sister Barbara - are even hardboiled/film-noir roots of cyberpunk, which on the stereo in the background), leading up to
more complex and difficult. depends as much on a cast of damaged and a revelation of something that has Bismarck
But before we get to those complexities we appealingly colorful characters as on science- scared spitless and on the run.
see AI researcher Elspeth Dunsany getting fictional ingenuity. And like much hardboiled Bismarck’s story (told in his first-person
sprung from a dozen years’ incarceration for fiction, there’s a soft underbelly, a role for love voice) starts when he is hired to find and
violations of Canada’s draconian Military lost-but-not-forgotten, for loyalty, for self-sac­ plug a leak in a highly secret and dangerous
Powers Act, and promptly finding herself rifice, and for ordinary friendship and decency military-industrial skunk-works project at
once again working under the supervision of - Razorface, for example, will not only cover a Xegon Corporation. At first this works like
Colonel Fred Valens, M.D., the bastard who friend’s back, he looks after Boris the cat. You a regulation PI story, carried off with a good
put her away to begin with (and who was also have to love a tough guy with stainless-steel deal of interesting/sleazy detail about setting
responsible for Jenny Casey’s modifications dentures who will change a litterbox. And since up surveillance on a grad-student/call girl’s
20 years earlier) and alongside programmer this is clearly the first of a series, we will get to business dealings with Xegon researchers and
Gabriel Castaign (who once pulled Casey out of see not only the outcomes of Valens’s machina­ trying to figure out whether and how she is
a burning armored personnel carrier). Valens’s tions but who gets to keep the cat. passing information. Then the “weird stuff”
recruiting doesn’t stop there - he also wants to starts up, and it accumulates and elaborates for
get Casey to come to Canada for repairs and One challenge in reviewing John Barnes’s the rest of the book. Travis keeps disappearing
upgrades to her neurological enhancements, Gaudeamus is figuring out how much I and popping in on Barnes, each time telling
and there is clearly at least one hidden agenda should give away in a review. First, it’s an another chunk of the story and ratcheting up the
behind his offer. Meanwhile, an AI that calls honest-to-god puzzle-thriller, and as with weird stuff level - a “giant ass-kicking Indian,”
itself Richard Feynman, created and liberated Hammered, many of its pleasures depend on the world’s worst Indian punk band (playing a
by Dunsany years earlier, is hanging around the gradual revelation and fitting-together of the dive called The Mutilated Cow), Men in Black,
a virtual gamespace frequented by Castaign’s puzzle parts. Second, the puzzle-thriller core is Identified Flying Objects, and other Area 51-ish
older daughter while also trying to worm his embedded in a kind of postmodern quasi-fic- stuff. And all the while Barnes (the character)
way through the firewall of the facility where tional (or maybe fully-actual) autobiographical has to wonder whether it might be a bunch of
Castaign and Dunsany work. Something Big frame, and the relationship between core and bull and his old pal is just Piling it Higher and
is afoot. frame is one of the book’s meta-puzzles. Deeper.
The plotlines and casts of the back- and front­ Anyone who has followed Barnes’s work At this point I must start to tread lightly, but
stories gradually unfold and converge like the knows that he can write a perfectly good com­ I can say that part of the puzzle (and of the
elements of a caper story: Casey’s childhood, mercial thrill-ride book of the men’s-adventure ►M p. 71
 Marvelous.”—David Weber

Ringo’s army background gives [the

story] all the flavor and excitement o

Hu01 the liveliest military SF. Fans of... blood-

and-guts science fiction will enjoy this."
—Publishers Weekly on John Ringo's Gust Front.
www.baen.cQm
Baen Books is distributed
by Simon & Schuster "Practically impossible not to read in one sitting."
—Booklist on John Ringo's A Hymn Before Battle.

THE TIME: Right Now THE PLACE: Central Florida

When what seems to be an atom bomb is lit off in

Eustis, Florida, everyone's first thought is
"Terrorist Attack!" But they were wrong; it was
the first thrust of a full-scale alien invasion.
For the elusive Higgs boson particle has been isolated and gates to
other worlds are spreading in fractal courses from the detection
site. Some gates lead to seemingly benign locales with helpful
aliens. But from others, the Titcher burst forth: bioengineered
swarms of giant, spike-covered wolves and parasitic mosquitoes
is that only armor-penetrating weaponry can bring down. Behind
them are rhinoceros-tanks nearly impervious to artillery fire. More
frightening still, these are only the vanguard of a massive force
gathering on the other side of the gate, spoiling for a new world to
conquer. But in the quick-thinking of fighting
physicist William Weaver and the resolute
professionalism of Navy SEAL Master
Chief Robert Miller, the Titcher have met
their match.

For though reality may be twisted on the

other side of the quantum looking
glass, a few things remain
immutable: human gumption,
technological savvy, and the
gritty courage to face down
a marauding swarm!
0-7434-9880-1 *288pp *$24.00/35.00

Alsizzlinglrnihtar;
■[e w Yorkffjmes]
Locus Looks at Books: Nick Gevers
The House of Storms, Ian R. MacLeod (Simon
& Schuster UK 0-743-25672-7, £12.99, 457pp,
he) February 2005. Cover by Larry Rostant;
(Ace 0-441-01280-9, $24.95, 457pp, he) May
2005. Cover by Steve Stone.

The Well of Stars, Robert Reed (Orbit UK 1-

84149-256-6, £6.99,474pp, pb) December 2004.
Cover by Lee Gibbons; (Tor 0-765-30860-6,
$25.95, 352pp, he) April 2005.

Constellations, Peter Crowther, ed. (DAW

0-756-40234-4, $6.99, 320pp, pb) February
2005.

Dogs in the Moonlight, Jay Lake (Prime 1-

930997-56-6, $29.95, 156pp, he) November
2004. Cover by J T Lindroos.

The two novels under review this month are

both follow-ups to well-regarded earlier books,
and face the habitual challenges of the sequel:
the need to recapitulate the action of the open­
ing volume without plethoras of cumbrous
infodumping, and the imperative to justify the
act of sequelizing itself by building materially
and consequentially on the preceding setting
and events. There are various strategies in this
regard, usefully illustrated by The House of
Storms and The Well of Stars.
In The House of Storms, sequel to The Light
Ages (2003), Ian R. MacLeod avoids repeti­
tious backgrounding, keeping his continuing any move towards open parliamentary govern­ people transformed into fairy-like Changelings
alternate history tantalizingly vague, a matter ment. In the same atmosphere of hierarchical by aether poisoning, is, significantly, quite
of hints and personal interpretation, with only torpor, little effort was made to colonize the nearby, but forces of the old order, its vested
occasional recourse to an authoritative historic Americas, stunting the growth of the global interests and reflex conservatism, will have none
narration. Further, The House of Storms oc­ economy. As the Third Age of Light (each Age of this threat to repressive normality.
curs a full century after The Light Ages, in lasts a century or so) approached its terminus, The plot of The House of Storms largely
the death throes of the Age to which The Light there was an attempt at popular revolution, but, concerns how Alice Meynell, a murderous social
Ages gave revolutionary birth; the characters are as The Light Ages very movingly suggested, climber and formidable witch, selfishly shatters
new and its specific concerns different, however little genuine progress was made - some lib­ the promising chemistry between Ralph and
much socio-economic inertia remains the series’ eralization, some adoption of electricity to Marion, safeguarding her Guild and personal
grounding theme. In The Light Ages, the axis of bolster aether, but no curb on Guild authority, power but dooming England to regress and
plot was North to South, Yorkshire to London, the tenor of existence remaining slow, back­ civil war. Individual human disasters are simply
the narrative first-person, introspective, and ward, and ritualistic. In The House of Storms, the beginning - deaths, betrayals, desertions,
intimate; The House of Storms swings ninety a hundred years on, the seeds of a much more disappointments, and disillusion; in time, as
degrees, its focus East and West, its narration drastic upheaval are being planted, but quietly, the sclerotic Fourth Age refuses to end, wider
third-person, collective, and, however sensitive gently. In the countryside of Somersetshire an political tensions erupt, the Western counties,
in nuance, quite determinedly objective. The old manor house and surrounding estate called centered on Bristol, rebelling against London’s
House of Storms is, formally, very much its own Invercombe has fallen into comfortable disuse; interference in their laissez-faire commercial
novel; and its perspective on the essence of rural but it remains the property of the powerful ways and in the slave trade, and armed conflict
and provincial English life handily complements Telegraphers’ Guild, and one day a certain raging back and forth from Reading to Hereford.
the industrial, urban or Dickensian, emphasis of Greatgrandmistress Alice Meynell brings her The irony of all this is Alice’s own humble
The Light Ages. The House of Storms effec­ ailing son, Ralph, to Invercombe for rest and origins: her unaging aristocratic exterior is a
tively stands alone; and yet, it sustains important country air. Quite quickly, an alchemy of the sham, masking the desperate expediency of a
earlier arguments, and thereby observes the New approaches critical mass: recovering his scheming criminal who has killed and slept
perfect balance of an Independent Sequel. health, Ralph, a budding scientific genius, falls her way to eminence; her presence on the side
MacLeod’s scenario is that of magic trump­ in love with Marion Price, a local beachcomber ►H
ing science. The Light Ages sketched how the turned housemaid, and together, combining his
discovery in the late 17th century of aether - an theorizing with her observation, they begin to THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
energetic substance enabling and powering codify a Theory of Evolution which may over­ February 12, 2116. First east-west winter
magical spells and mechanisms - distorted the throw all accepted dogmas. They conceive a son, solo kayak Atlantic crossing by a blind
course of England’s Industrial Revolution. In the symbolic of a new alliance across classes and gay female graduate of an Ivy League
place of rigorous Victorian engineering stan­ regions, guild elite joining with village dwellers, college other than Yale. Guided by a
dards, a fundamental sloppiness played out, as opulent London reaching out to parochial Bris­ wrist-beeper and buoyed by a rising tide,
Hu-ling Hernandez Biddle (Princeton
thaumaturgy permitted even the most rattletrap tol; Invercombe - semi-sentient, with its own
’09) paddles briskly into Montauk harbor,
contraption to function irrespective of its flaws; separate weather system - is strongly charged where she is greeted by cheers from a
social change slowed, ensuring the survival of with aether, potentially lending potency to this crowd of six, two of them harbor police.
powerful medieval Guilds and short-circuiting miracle of fusion. Einfell, the reservation for
 m NickGevers of the Ship’s origins, its makers, destination, and poses a lethargy, a fatal gradualism, on the novel;
possible pursuers. Mere, a recent chapbook nov­ events are decades apart, and for economy’s
of official Reaction runs counter to her own elette serving as prequel to The Well of Stars, sake, Reed is forced to summarize a lot, draining
radical insights and methodologies. MacLeod, was one of the best stories of 2004, lending The situations of their tension. Hyperkinetic space
then, is exploring the self-defeating charac­ Well of Stars valuable momentum. And The opera this is not. The Great Ship is a curiously
ter of coercive resistance to inevitable (and Well of Stars exploits this: having escaped the static location through everything, devoid of
benign) change, its appalling contradictions, black hole and attendant dangers, the Ship now authentic politics and real intellectual ferment;
the manner in which it turns modest dangers finds itself on a (seemingly) inadvertent and and when it encounters the Inkwell, one is unfor­
into general cataclysms, peaceful protest into unavoidable collision course with a large nebula tunately reminded of all those episodes of Star
violent revolution. A calm pastoral novel, flush known as the Inkwell. Reed’s huge revelation Trek in which the Enterprise or Voyager crew
with the scenic and romantic delights of Spring, (and it is impressive to contemplate) is that crosses swords with god-like space-dwelling
becomes savagely turbulent; the adventures of the Inkwell is home to planet-sized organisms foes, megalomaniacal eaters of worlds that have
Marion, the Florence Nightingale of the West, that, linked by inconceivably massive chains of to be deconstructed, sabotaged, or talked down
of her alienated lover Ralph, the East’s Darwin communication and supply, constitute a gestalt - Reed’s ingenuity cannot overcome a rather
and Ulysses S. Grant in one, and of their aban­ civilization light-years across. And there is the banal association. And finally, the concluding
doned son Klade, the only human in Einfell, are puzzle of the precise nature and motivations episode of the novel, in which the enigma of
traumatic, always sadly hinting at the family, of the Inkwell: it is powerful enough to have who or what originally crafted the Ship leaps
and national, happiness that might have been; a suppressed normal stellar evolution within its to the fore, is too abrupt, too incompletely fore­
tragic fission has displaced harmonious fusion, nebula, and has made the intelligent species of shadowed, to appear as much more than a deus
and the Fourth Age can only end in bloodshed neighboring solar systems revere it as a god, ex machina designed to cap the Inkwell plot
and an astonishing turn of fate. but it seems friendly to the Great Ship; what are and generate momentum for Volume Three. It’s
But this commanding polemical thread, how­ its intentions, disguised behind its dust clouds? hard to leave The Well of Stars without a sense
ever central, is by no means the only attraction And is the culture of the Inkwell a natural de­ of disillusion and alienation; even with the best
of The House of Storms. MacLeod is one of velopment, indigenous to the nebula, or derived, of intentions and techniques, some sequels are
the finest prose stylists around, and - borrowing more sinisterly, from without? The Captains of gratuitous.
as he does much of the melodrama of Victorian the Great Ship realize that if the Inkwell harbors
literature, along with the revisionist modern­ a single thinking entity, an insane, solipsistic Peter Crowther has already edited two key
ism of later authors like D.H. Lawrence - his deity, the Ship’s passage through its space will original theme anthologies - Moon Shots and
writing is unfailingly elegant, full of brilliantly seem an intolerable intrusion, a challenge to the Mars Probes - and now, with Constellations,
realized English landscapes, deftly sensitive dweller’s hubris; the Ship, the greatest artifact in his editorial canvas is greatly expanded, to the
characterizations, luminously reworked fairy the Galaxy, will then surely be destroyed, and a stars themselves. Some of his contributors have
tales, and poetic elegies to lives and opportuni­ hundred billion lives with it. construed the title as an invitation to consider
ties lost. Some of MacLeod’s set-pieces, such as A spectacular voyage into darkness, the how human beings pattern the night skies for
the history of Somerset from the viewpoint of need to resolve the psychology of something astrological, symbolic, and psychological
Invercombe itself, Alice’s disembodied expedi­ vastly Other: these propel a plot brimming with purposes; others have embraced the implicit
tions down the telephone wires, Klade’s weirdly opportunities for sheer sense of wonder. The agenda of space opera; this induces a pleasing
skewed perceptions and entry into the human officers effectively in command of the Great variety among the stories. And all 15 authors are
estate, the transmogrified architecture of Bris­ Ship, Washen and her laconic lover Pamir, hatch British, making Constellations an interesting
tol, customs boats catastrophically intercepting schemes defensive and offensive. A refugee from national sampler.
aether smugglers, London’s baroque equivalent earlier crises aboard the Ship, named O’Layle, All the same, Constellations is not as strong
of 9/11, and many others, are amongst the best has defected to the Inkwell, providing it with as Moon Shots or Mars Probes: less focused,
fantastic writing today. The House of Storms comprehensive intelligence as to human nature more whimsical. Some of its stories are silly
is that uncommon thing, a sequel to be treasured and intentions; to counter this, Pamir leads an and half-baked, unpromising ideas carried much
as much as its precursor. embassy to a world within the Inkwell, and too far. There’s Brian Aldiss’s “Ten Billion of
trailing behind him covertly is Mere, who can Them”, essentially a feeble joke about infectious
Robert Reed’s The Well of Stars, following achieve near-perfect empathy with alien species. diseases; “Star!” by Tony Ballantyne, nonsense
up Marrow (2000), is less of a blessing. This is The ordeals of Mere and O’Layle are epics in about a woman assuming stellar proportions;
surprising, because Reed is a writer of great con­ themselves; when the Inkwell becomes overtly “The Navigator’s Tale”, by Ian Watson, an
sistency and seriousness; further, his strategy in hostile, the Great Ship has to weather an ex­ overripe trudge through virtual reality conducted
constructing his sequel is sensible, workmanlike, traordinary assault, from lemming water-comets, in the unctuous tones of a religious pedophile.
and does add vistas of awe to match, or exceed, targeted black holes, and a gigantic weapon that Some efforts are slapdash: Paul McAuley’s
those in Marrow. Match grandeur of concept beggars description. Meanwhile, the mentality “Rats of the System” is a formulaic tale of
with something even grander: surely this is a of the Inkwell is under a contrasting sort of pres­ two spacefarers, man and woman, outrunning
winning formula in serial Hard SF? sure, subtle and probing. As a wide-screen space ghastly crusaders and bonding in the process;
Well, it should be. Marrow and associ­ opera, The Well of Stars has majesty aplenty, at and Stephen Baxter’s “Lakes of Light”, however
ated novellas have explored the Great Ship: a least in outline. And its specifics are sometimes characteristically inventive in its depiction of hu­
colossal space vessel, many times the size of awe-inspiring: the italicized narrative of the man colonies studding the artificially shrouded
Earth, possibly as old as our universe. Within Great Ship’s own nascent mind, Mere’s painful surface of a star, is hurried and disinterested
its innumerable continent-sized caverns and metamorphoses, the battle of the black holes. Yet in tone. Two generally excellent authors seem
recesses dwell varied billions of sentient beings, The Well of Stars is curiously flat, affectless, mired in stodgy concept: Adam Roberts in “The
paying passengers invited on board by the hu­ uninvolving. This is, truly, most peculiar. Order of Things” and Ian McDonald in “Written
man operators who discovered the Ship drifting But on reflection, concrete explanations for in the Stars” both portray societies grounded
through the Milky Way a hundred thousand The Well of Stars’s creative failure do emerge. in ritualistic astrology and thereby directed
years ago. The Titanic times a trillion: not a bad One factor is Reed’s insistence on carrying over into humdrum fatalism and mechanical torpor;
opening gambit; and its near-fatal equivalent of major characters from Marrow: by the time of there’s good writing each time, but a depress­
the iceberg - a mutiny originating on a planet The Well of Stars, Pamir, Washen, and others ingly predictable moral as well.
at the Ship’s heart, inducing near collision with are tens of thousands of years old, surely beyond Still, eight fine stories remain, and at the price,
a black hole - made Marrow very compelling their narrative sell-by dates, hanging on wearily, Constellations is still good value. Alastair Reyn­
indeed. The Ship’s cornucopia of well-devised redundantly; Mere, new to the scene, is infinitely olds is in superb form in “Beyond the Aquila
aliens has served as a fecund source of diversion fresher. The passage of centuries even within the Rift”, a thoroughly moving depiction of a space
all along the way, and there remains the mystery chronology of The Well of Stars itself also im­ ►M p, 72
Short Reviews by Carolyn Cushman
Anne Bishop, Dreams Made Flesh (Roc 0- this volume is a brief story of the legendary killed the rest of his family in a coup attempt.
451-46013-8, $16.00, 425pp, tp) January 2005. British spark Trelawney Thorpe, an adventure They come up with a crazy plan that involves
Cover by Larry Rostant. with Arthurian elements written by the Foglios starting a Mardukan restaurant on Earth. It’s
Fans of Bishop’s “Black Jewels” trilogy won’t and illustrated by Cheyenne Wright. Foglio has not as much gonzo fun as it sounds; the authors
want to miss this new collection of four loosely lots of fun with this world of mad science and spend way too much time pontificating on tactics
linked pieces of Jaenelle, Saetan, and their over-the-top adventure, a delight for fans of SF and military history, so action is minimal and
families and friends. The stories are relatively and comics alike. continually disrupted, split up between far too
light, lacking some of the grim sadism of the many characters. Still, there are plenty of excit­
series. The first is a brief, image-filled, vaguely Nancy Holder, Spirited (Simon Pulse 0-689- ing bits and a truly affecting finale that finally
poetic account of how the Jewels of power came 87063-9, $5.99, 255pp, pb) November 2004. brings Roger home, despite leaving lots of loose
to be. Far more satisfying is the second piece, Cover by Kinuko Y. Craft. ends for future volumes.
a sweet, romantic novel set between the second The latest novel in the Simon Pulse series of
and third books in the trilogy, showing how fairy tales retold for teens is a mix of “Beauty Eileen Wilks, Tempting Danger (Berkley Sen­
Lucivar came to marry his housekeeper. The and the Beast” and The Last of the Mohicans. sation 0-425-19878-2, $6.99,301pp, pb) October
following story, set in the distant past, tells what Isabella Stevens is a young Englishwoman trav­ 2004. Cover by John Blackford.
an angry Saetan did to the land of Zuulaman. eling with her father on the American frontier The latest contender among supernatural
The novel that follows is the meat of the matter during the French and Indian War. She is taken detectives is Lily Yu, a homicide detective in
for fans of the series, finally telling how Jaenelle captive by a powerful young shaman, Wusame- San Diego, where werewolves (or to be politi­
recovers from the events of the trilogy and learns quin, still angry over the death of his wife and cally correct, lupi) are legal. Murder, however,
what her new Jewel, Twilight’s Dawn, can do. It child at the hands of the British. It’s a moving remains a crime, and a grisly killing leads Lily
oddly ends up being another romance, sort of a story of cross-cultural prejudice that grows into to the lupus “prince,” Rule Turner, a celebrity
twisted Regency, and quite rewarding for anyone love, enlivened by some quirky twists on Native playboy with whom Lily has a strange bond.
following the series. American magic and beliefs. Someone is trying to make trouble for the weres,
and it’s up to Lily find the real killer and clear
Gillian Cross, The Dark Ground (Oxford Richard Moore, Boneyard, Volume Three Rule - and figure out just how hot and passion­
University Press 0-19-271925-4, £9.99, 242pp, (NBM 1-56163-405-0, $9.95, unpaginated, tp) ate she wants to get with him. It’s a fun mix of
he) April 2004. Cover by Paul Young; (Dutton November 2004. Cover by Richard Moore. mystery and the supernatural, definitely worth
0-525-47350-5, $15.99, 264pp, he) September Swimsuit issues are sort of a running gag a look from fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and
2004. Cover by Jonathan Barkat. in the comics industry, but Moore manages to Charlaine Harris.
Robert finds himself in a strange world with make it work as part of his ongoing story in this
no memory how he got there and struggles to b&w comic series about an ordinary guy who Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Craig
survive in this powerful young-adult fantasy inherits a cemetery full of monsters who turn out Hamilton, P. Craig Russell, et al., Fables:
thriller, the first book in “The Dark Ground” to be a nicer bunch than the folks who want to March of the Wooden Soldiers (DC Comics
trilogy. It turns out he has somehow shrunk to buy the cemetery. Michael Paris makes friends 1-4012-0222-5, $17.95, 237pp, tp) November
bug size and there are others like him, living with the monsters (especially the lovely vampire 2004. Cover by James Jean.
like primitives in a monster-filled “wilderness” Abbey) and decides to keep the cemetery, but This fourth graphic novel in the contemporary
that’s really a city park. But Robert’s not willing needs money to pay the taxes - so in this graphic fairy-tale comics series collects issues 19-21 and
to accept this new life, and sets off on a desper­ novel our heroes set out to make money with a 23-27 of “Fables”, plus one-shot Fables: The
ate quest to find help. There’s no explanation swimsuit issue featuring monsters on the beach. Last Castle, which opens the collection with
of the shrinkage, and Robert’s nowhere near a The result is a hilarious photo shoot and layout, the story of the fairy-tale characters’ last days
solution at the end of this volume, but he learns a followed by revelations of ulterior motives and in their homelands, in their last stronghold and
good deal about perception and self-knowledge dark schemes to provide a little action, too. under attack by the armies of the unknown Ad­
in the course of this splendid YA survival tale. Seldom have so many monsters been so much versary. It’s a painful, moving tale which greatly
fun, or so engaging. intensifies the impact of the following story of
Phil Foglio & Kaja Foglio, Girl Genius, Book a new attack by the Adversary - on Fabletown,
Two: Agatha Heterodyne and the Airship Philippa Pearce, The Little Gentleman (Green­ the fables’ stronghold in New York City. The
City (Airship Entertainment 1-890856-31-2, willow 0-06-073160-5, $15.99, 200pp, he) two parts work together dynamically, creating
$32.95,112pp, he; -30-4, $19.95, tp) December October 2004. Cover by Tom Pohrt. a gripping story full of mythic overtones and a
2004. Cover by Phil Foglio. A neighbor with a broken leg asks young Bet real sense of magic.
Steampunk fans with a sense of humor to read for him, but not to him - to a mole out
shouldn’t miss Foglio’s delightful “Girl Ge­ in the field. The mole turns out to be over 300 Stephen Woodworth, With Red Hands (Dell
nius” series. This second graphic novel collects years old, the victim of a Jacobite plot and a 0-553-58645-9, $6.99,307pp, pb) January 2005.
issues 4-6 of the comic (the first issues in the witch’s spell. Bet gradually learns more about Cover by Tom Hallman.
series published in full color). The heroine, moles and their underground world, but reveal­ The sequel to Through Violet Eyes brings
Agatha, is unaware that she is one of the genius ing this mole’s past barely touches on the history back Natalie Lindstrom, one of the rare Violets
mad scientists called sparks, her abilities hav­ involved; this is a story more about friendship who can contact the dead and provide court
ing been held in check by a locket she always and trust, a charming but slight fantasy for a testimony from murder victims. Natalie’s try­
wore - a locket stolen back in issue one. Now, younger audience. ing to get away from such cases, but gets caught
she’s a prisoner on the floating dirigible-castle up in one in which the Violet hired to contact
of Baron Wulfenbach, a powerful spark who David Weber & John Ringo, We Few (Baen the murder victims is suspected of somehow
controls most of Europe. Agatha’s kept with an 0-684-03540-5, $26.00,391pp, pb) April 2005. lying, something believed to be impossible. At
engaging bunch of young people, all hostages Cover by Kurt Miller. the same time, an executed serial killer - one
for their parents’ good behavior - and excellent Prince Roger returns in the fourth volume of Natalie’s mother helped convict - seems to be
sources of information on the strange world in the military SF series begun in March Upcoun- back. This lacks some of the novelty of the first
which Agatha finds herself, and the possible try. For the first time, Roger and his men aren’t book, for the most part a pretty standard serial
threats she faces. At this stage, the mystery of slogging cross-country on the unfriendly planet killer ghost story, but the killer’s got some inno­
who or what Agatha really is drives the story Marduk; now they’re trying to figure out how vatively nasty quirks and the plot takes enough
more than anything else, and plenty of tanta­ to rescue Roger’s mother, the Empress, when convoluted twists to keep things involving.
lizing hints are dropped. The only new bit in the whole empire thinks Roger’s the one who -Carolyn Cushman ■
 DAMIEN BRODERICK
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson (Tor 0-765-30938-
6, $25.95, 352pp, he) April 2005.
For some years, ambitious but quiet SF novels
by American-Canadian Robert Charles Wilson
have established him as one of the finest writers
in the genre, his books at once as beautifully
written and moving as any mainstream work,
yet impelled by well-conceived SF specula­
tions. Increasingly, these have taken a power­
fully audacious cosmogonic turn, especially in
Darwinia, with its dizzying conceptual break­
throughs; The Chronoliths; and in this new
book. As always with truly sophisticated SF,
we tussle with a disconnect between the small
intimate scale of human lives, motives, joys, and
agonies, and the immensity of cosmos and deep intuitive human scale - in the reflecting life of trillion years in the future, long after the ac­
time. Perhaps the wisest technical solution for an a handful of people, most of whom are neither celerating universe had gusted into a blackness
SF writer is to display the latter’s grandeur and the rulers of the world nor SF’s frequent secret deeper than the Spin’s shell. What’s meant (and
sublimity through the confusions and evasions mutants destined to rule the sevagram (although what I hope will appear in the finished book) is
of ordinary people faced with shocking insight Jason verges on both conditions). “4 x 109 A.D.”, a mere four billion years hence
and life changes. Perhaps Canada’s literary ambiance, poised as - as far into the future, very nearly, as we are
A year or two from now, the sky goes utterly it is between a languid Commonwealth tradition now from the accretion of our planet. How Ty­
black. A dark shell has enclosed the entire globe, and the hegemonic impact of its great boisterous ler fetches up there with Diane, racked as he is
blotting out stars, moon, infalling meteorites, southern neighbor, and perhaps by the curious with an alien disease in a drastically changed
and luckless astronauts in orbit. Satellites fall flavorings from its Francophone regions, holds social order, comprises the curve of the tale,
from the sky in shreds. Yet the sun also rises in on to forms of writing that in the US have been like an arch across the heavens, which alter­
its accustomed celestial clockwork. Or does it? replaced by a more headlong melodramatic nates between this deep future where the sky
The sunspots are gone. This solar disk, or rather brutality. It struck me that there was a sort of is clear again, and the back story beginning
its emulation, radiates like a dream of pre-Gali- Evelyn Waugh or Anthony Powell elegiac qual­ in the second chapter titled, suitably, “The
lean Plato. Yet the tides sway in the lost moon’s ity suffusing Spin. That’s not only found in Big House”. Tyler’s mother is housekeeper
embrace. Someone up there likes us enough to Commonwealth writing, of course; there’s also to wealthy Carol and E.D. Lawton; E.D. is a
keep the planet’s ecology ticking over. For what more than a touch of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The ruthlessly Campbellian competent man whose
reason? Who are these Hypotheticals? The first Great Gatsby here. Tyler Dupree, a physician aerostat company forges vastly profitable glob­
glimmerings are not gained for several years. of modest gifts, writes much of this book in a al communications links once GPS and comm-
The gateway in the sky is permeable, it turns graphomanic surge, driven by a healing virus sats have been smashed by the Spin. Tyler’s
out, but the universe beyond is running faster that is making him more than human, in, pre­ late father Marcus was once E.D.’s partner, but
than our daily round. A hundred million times dictably, a modest way. now the orphaned boy watches the world of his
faster. Or rather, the world’s time has slowed, Tyler’s voice is placid, resigned, displaced lost heritage from across the lawns to the Big
and the shield protects life from the storm of from center yet with a deepening assurance of House. Just so, of course, humankind watches
blue-shifted radiation outside. his own. He opens with words borrowed from the cosmos, small fry at the edge of an expanse
It is as if the entire world were trapped in orbit his brilliant friend, the Odd Johnish Jason Law­ crowded with godlike Hypotheticals who grad­
at the event horizon of a black hole, appalling ton: “Everybody falls, and we all land some­ ually come into some sort of numinous focus,
gravity braking the planet’s time in a demonic where.” This is more Maugham or the Waugh perhaps more Gregory Benford than Arthur C.
demonstration of relativity theory. But this ter­ of Brideshead Revisited than, say, Kevin J. Clarke, as the entwined narrative threads strive
rifying anomaly is the tool of a science beyond Anderson, David Brin, or (that other Canadian toward maturation and completion.
anything we know. The media start calling it the SF success) Robert Sawyer. Indeed, during his Tyler, perhaps inevitably for this kind of role,
Spin; everything customary, it seems, is spin­ harrowing, Tyler finds a batch of “swayback seems a bit of a sap much of the time, tending his
ning out of control. Beyond its opaque shroud, Somerset Maugham novels more tempting” hopeless lifelong crush on Diane, duped (for the
the entire universe spins like a crazy playground than a biography of his famous friend, with a greatest good, naturally) by Lawton pere andfils
carousel. Cosmic time sleets through its hour­ measly five references to himself in the index. alike, witness to great doings, and even, amanu­
glass. Within decades, by shroud time, the sun “We’re as ephemeral as raindrops,” Jason tells ensis and handy factor to some of those pushing
is doomed to boom into red giant expansion, him, in a posthumous letter. When stoical, good- the levers of world historical change, playing
presumably obliterating the world. The galaxy hearted, perhaps faintly Aspergerish Tyler falls, his obliterated part. At the end, he has earned
itself will age and wane as children like youthful he picks himself up and trudges on to the end of hope, and perhaps finds it. I can’t say more
Tyler, Jason and Diane (we meet them first in the world, driven perhaps by his dogged, dog­ without destroying the surprises and pleasures
budding adolescence, as the stars go into hid­ gish, heartbreaking devotion to Jason’s gifted of unfolding discovery. It is enough that Wilson
ing) grow up, fall in and out of love and power, sister Diane. She traps herself in despairing writes like an autumnal, melancholy angel, and
human lifespan matched finally to the aging of commitment to just the sort of mad fundamen­ will deservedly be a strong candidate once more
the cosmos, or our corner of it. talist dogma people fall into when the world for the Campbell Memorial Award.
It’s a conceit that echoes Greg Egan’s first seems to fail their heartfelt longings. We see it -Damien Broderick
SF novel Quarantine, but while Egan’s was a today in murderously militant Islam, and in the
dazzling noir exercise in quantum prestidigita­ crusader resurgence of elements of Christianity RICH HORTON
tion, Wilson’s moves with a lovely melancholy that echo, in power and in powerlessness alike, In the Palace of Repose, by Holly Phillips
through three decades of terror, accommoda­ its grieving bluster. (Prime Books 1-894815-58-5, $29.95, 208pp,
tion, power ructions, Faustian ambition (Mars is We guess at the outset that time will be the he) February 2005.
seeded with life as we watch), dreadful insight, hero of this novel, for the opening chapter is It is really exciting to see a debut collection
contained apotheosis. And all of this history headed (at least in the Uncorrected Proof) “409 of this quality. In the Palace of Repose collects
is wrought small - or rather, at a meaningful, A.D.” That would be an impossible distant 260 ►►I p. 72
 I he Lite of the
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 2004: The Year in R eview / 3
2004: The Year In Review These three are chock full of ideas. Doctorow’s
Eastern Standard Tribe is a middle-of-next week
novel also full of ideas about tomorrow, razor-thin
close to reality. Haldeman’s Camouflage, a secret­
Table of Contents NickGevers....................... ....................... ..12 alien mainstreamy novel, is extremely well written,
Rich Horton................................. 29 but a bit light on new ideas.
2004 Recommended Reading Carolyn Cushman.......................................... 30 We had some arguments that Heinlein’s For Us,
Charles N. Brown... ........................................3 Karen Haber............. .............. 30 The Living should have been on the first (or maybe
Mark R. Kelly.................................................5 worst) novel list. Everyone who read it thought
Gary K. Wolfe................................................. 5 2004 Recommended Reading List................ 14 it was a bad novel, but they were also fascinated
Faren C. Miller...................................... 7 and thought we couldn’t publish our list without
Jonathan Strahan........................................... 8 2004 Book Summary.................................. 22 including it. Heinlein’s Sleeper Awakes satire is
Russell Letson............................................. 10 a polemic, not a novel, but oh, the ideas! Nearly
everything Heinlein wrote in his illustrious career
Gardner Dozois............................................ 10 2004 Magazine Summary............................. 26
is here in miniature. Heinlein in 1938 was a true
radical. I’m glad to have read the book now, and
2004 Recommended Reading am glad it was rejected in 1938. Heinlein’s writ­
ing career would have been far different if it had
Our nine reviewers, looking at the year in SF made the final list; some had six mentions. Pro­ been published.
and fantasy, are like blind men trying to describe fessional magazine editors got to add a few titles It was a good year for the New Space Opera,
an elephant. They can figure out it’s big, that it has on their own. Eligibility for the Locus list isn’t which contains both spaceships and sophisticated
appendages, rough skin, etc., but they’re not sure quite the same as for any other award. We count ideas. Stress’s Iron Sunrise and McCarthy’s Lost in
what’s happening at the center. Hence, they are books seen in 2004 regardless of copyright date or Transmission finish (I hope) series by taking their
always talking about New Weird, Slipstream, in­ publisher’s release date. There were a number of ideas to logical conclusions. I really liked the Stress.
terstitial deghettoization (any names you can think 2003 books, including non-fiction titles, we didn’t Baxter’s Exultant is a middle book in his endless
of), and those valiant few that make the general see until 2004. Xeelee sequence. It has a bog-standard military SO
bestseller lists. The truth is the center is holding, and “Publication” itself is not an exact term. We try plot, but some startling ideas about time travel, etc.,
even expanding. Our SF elephant, neither Indian to follow the Tom Clancy court case, which says and a great novelette about the beginning of the uni­
nor African, is large enough to contain multitudes. a book is published when it is offered for sale. verse buried in it that really made me sit up and take
SF is alive and well, thank you. It’s just so big, the American trade books used to appear one month notice. Banks, MacLeod, and Reynolds, who usually
audience is unable to view it overall. before their official publication date, but this has write series books, all have one-offs to excellent re­
We’ve made the Year in Review a pullout section been changing, and books now mostly appear sults. Reynolds’s Century Rain starts out seemingly
because of overwhelming letters (two), and because in their month of publication, although several an alternate-world near-past noir adventure, but it’s
it seemed a neat thing to do. publishers still appear early. British books have a lot more complicated than that. Nothing can be as
This year we’re recommending 148 books in 151 always appeared during their official publication complicated as an Iain M. Banks’s space opera, and
volumes, up from 142 last year, but down from 158 month, and small-press books usually after their The Algebraist does not disappoint. I liked it more
for 2002. This year’s list includes three novellas announced month - sometimes way after, if ever. than the most recent Culture books. Ken MacLeod’s
and a novelette published in book form, and three We are holding some books dated January 2005 Newton’s Wake is a fine outstanding MacLeodian
novels published in two volumes each. until next year for recommendation, even though political space opera.
We’ve listed a record 1,414 new books, exclud­ we saw and listed them as appearing in November There are three otherworld adventures: Hughes’s
ing pamphlets, subsidy publishers, associational or December 2004. Black Brillion may take place on a future Earth,
books, etc., with 814 novels (last year, we listed British as well as Canadian or Australian works but this Vancian pastiche feels like it happens in
1,271 books with 701 novels). We know we’ve are eligible when published. We also include any the Gaean Reach; Kress’s Crucible, sequel to
missed several hundred, including small-press books first appearing in the English language from Crossfire, is a good colonist/native series adventure
limited editions (mostly horror), print-on-demand other countries. There are examples of most of them with added philosophical ideas; Kirstein’s The
books, mainstream books with fantasy elements, on our final list. Language of Power, fourth in her Steerswoman
etc. We’ve dropped various subsidy publishers from For short fiction, we use cover date for maga­ series, is more in the Andre Norton vein, but very
the final publishers lists - Xlibris, iUniverse, etc. zines, but publication date for books. well done.
- although it’s hard to tell a vanity publisher from As usual, there are arguments about where to put Baker’s The Life of the World to Come, latest
a self-published book. We will continue to list their novels. Is it SF or fantasy or horror? Is it all three? in her Company series, goes back and forth through
books in our monthly descriptive lists; we’re only We’ve picked as best as we can and squeezed vari­ time as does Grimwood’s brilliant Stamping But­
dropping them from our publisher end-of-the-year ous round pegs into square holes. terflies, his best book yet. Liz Williams’s Banner
numbers since we think of them as printers, not We listed 253 SF novels in 2004, up from 236 in of Souls, also her best book so far, is a wonderful
publishers. 2003. We’re recommending 27, up from 21. Near Leigh Brackett adventure, with both SF and fantasy
We’ve dropped many of the print-on-demand future (or current day) Earth dominated the SF list. underpinnings, covering exotic futures for Earth
publishers because they don’t actually publish Three, McDonald’s River of Gods, McAuley’s and Mars. One of my favorites this year. It sent me
books, they make them available. Wildside, which White Devils, and Ryman’s Air, take place in what back to reread all her earlier novels.
does both, and is very important when it comes to are now third world countries: India, Africa, and a The two oddities here are European-flavored The
collections and first novels, does POD and offset remote Asian village. I enjoyed all three. We need Fourth Circle by Zivkovic, a must for those who
books (but in small numbers). We’ve split the baby more fiction set in near future non-English-speak- enjoy Lem, and Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas for those
by not listing Wildside per se but listing their Prime ing countries. who enjoy really strange books. And that’s it for
imprint, which is mostly new offset books. Neither There are two satirical comedies - Rucker’s Frek SF this year!
of us is happy with this, but then, most of us aren’t and the Elixir and Di Filippo’s Spondulix - and There were 389 fantasy novels, up from 340 in
happy anyway. only one alternate-world novel - Roth’s The Plot 2003, thanks to 118 YA fantasies. There were 172
Our Recommended Reading List - see pages 42, Against America - although Stephenson’s two horror novels, up from 171 last year, but not enough
43, and 47 - is a consensus by the reviewing staff, Baroque Cycle volumes,The Confusion and The recommended novels for a separate category. We’re
outside reviewers, other professionals, other lists, System of the World, could be called alternate past. recommending 20 books in 22 volumes, up from 18
etc. We’ve obviously not read or even looked at I loved them both, and yes, they are definitely SF, last year. They don’t break down into sub-categories
everything eligible, since the collective “we” can not “just” great historical novels. Easily my favorite as easily as SF.
only look at material sent to us, and only read a books this year. Some readers were annoyed by the Stephen King finally finished The Dark Tower
portion of even that. Despite cavils and limitations, length of the long asides, but they’re what made septology with two volumes - Song of Susannah
we’re happy with the final list, and are willing to the books for me. and The Dark Tower. It’s taken him since 1978
bet only a few winners got away. To make the final There are three present-day books, more main­ - almost 30 years - to complete this series! The
list, it took at least two positive mentions. stream than SF: Robinson’s Forty Signs of Rain, books kept getting bigger, if not necessarily better.
The short fiction list is based on material pro­ a passionate book about politics and science is the (He started out with a short story.) I don’t know if
vided by Jonathan Strahan, Gardner Dozois, David best, although it would work better with more plot; I’m capable of going back and rereading all seven
G. Hartwell, Richard Horton, Nick Gevers, Ellen Sterling’s The Zenith Angle would probably be volumes now. China Mieville finished his New
Datlow, Kelly Link & Gavin Grant, and others. better with less of its comic-book satirical plot; and Crobuzon trilogy in a mere three books with Iron
Stories with three mentions, and some with two, Jones’s Life is almost entirely a mainstream novel. Council, another excellent New Weird adventure.
4 2004: The Year in Review
!<◄ Recommended Reading of a new fantasy series while the Jones is a fantasy to cheer.
with a forensic mystery set in a regular imaginary The other ten recommended books cover a large
Terry Pratchett continued his inexhaustible hu-' fantasy world. It’s also first in a series. amount of ground. Try them. Some of our reviewers
morous Discworld series with Going Postal, and The three non-series first fantasies are the most cover them (and anthologies) better than I can.
Charles Stross started a Zelazny-like series, which interesting and varied. Valente’s The Labyrinth is There were 112 anthologies last year, up from
is more SF than fantasy, in The Family Trade. beautifully written poetic, mostly plot-free, dream 97. We’re recommending 16, (plus three in the YA
It’s very7 good. fiction, What’s Olympic Games gives us a humor­ section) way down from 27.
Two outstanding lyrical fantasies were Alphabet ous tale of the Greek gods today, and Stevenson’s There was divided opinion whether we should list
of Thorn by McKillip and Mortal Love by Hand. Trash Sex Magic is a trailer-park earthy humorous The Locus Awards, or even the three Bests edited
The latter is one of my favorite fantasies. novel. All three are fine in completely different or co-edited by Jonathan Strahan since he’s reviews
America as mythology is the subject of Irvine’s ways. editor of Locus. Outside opinions we respect (Hi
/

Fisher King-Baseball novel One King, One We listed 165 new YA novels (117 fantasy, 28 Gardner!) were we couldn’t leave them out since
Soldier, Shepard’s American messiah novel, A horror, 20 SF), up from 155 last year (116 fantasy, both Bests and Retrospectives are the types of
Handbook of American Prayer, and Kiernan’s 23 horror, 16 SF). For recommendations, we’ve books we automatically recommend. Take this as
horror/i magi nary-world Murder of Angels. combined the novels with YA-specific anthologies a minor disclaimer.
There were two Norse or quasi-Norse sagas this and collections to help highlight the category. We’re Among the automatically recommended are
year. Holland’s The Witches’ Kitchen, second in recommending 15 titles (including three anthologies the seven Bests (to expand to ten next year) plus
a trilogy, is real Norse while Kay’s The Last Light and one collection) down from 16 last year. the Nebula volume. We might have to make this a
of the Sun is set in his not quite Europe world. Both At the top are Gifts, a new volume by Le Guin, a separate category for 2005. The Locus Awards
books are excellent, with Holland the sharper and fable about power that only she could have written, was the only large retrospective volume. The other
Kay the more lyrical. and Pratchett’s A Hat Full of Sky, a Discworld YA seven volumes are all original anthologies, from the
Two of the very best fantasies of the year are sequel to The Wee Free Men. Oppel’s Airborn, an gigantic Flights to the slipstream Polyphony 4, to
Stewart’s Perfect Circle, a humorous Texas alternate world with airships, is first in a trilogy, as the space opera Between Worlds to the sometimes
gothic/horror/magic realism novel and Straub’s In is Farmer’s wonderfully written Norse adventure, silly All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories to vari­
the Night Room, a sort-of sequel to lost boy lost The Sea of Trolls. (Is this the year of the Viking?) ous theme anthologies.
girl which plays with reality and narrative voice as Other beginnings of series include Westerfeld’s We listed 77 non-fiction books, down slightly
only Straub can do. I loved them both for entirely spooky Midnighters: The Secret Hour and from 80 the year before. We’re recommending 13,
different reasons. Browne’s Basilisk, an imaginary world adventure down from 18.
Gene Wolfe writing a multi-volume imaginary with an underground civilization and the tyrannical This year we have, not one, but two books explor­
world saga? Of course not. The Wizard Knight, abovers. Although not quite a sequel, de Lint’s The ing the labyrinthian ways of Gene Wolfe’s Book
published as two volumes, might look like average Blue Girl, one of his best books in recent years, of the New Sun. Borski’s self-published Solar
fantasy, but it’s anything but. Only Wolfe could take takes place in his imaginary town of Newford. Sec­ Labyrinth is a more detailed look at a number of
all the fantasy tropes and turn them upside down ond books in a series include Allende’s Kingdom of characters and their relationships while Wright’s
- or at least sidewise. the Golden Dragon, Barker’s profusely illustrated Attending Daedalus, the more academic book, is
More traditional fantasy, but definitely not Days of Magic, Nights of War, Nix’s Grim Tues­ general and philosophical. Start with the Wright,
white-bread commercial imaginary world material, day, and Stroud’s The Golem’s Eye. and go to the Borski and various other small-press
includes Williams’s Shadowmarch and Wright’s The three YA anthologies include two with origi­ books and pamphlets if you want more details. The
The Last Guardian of Evemess, both beginnings nal stories - Datlow & Windling’s The Faery Reel, best place to start is John Clute’s Wolfe reviews
of series, and middle-books Dragon’s Treasure by one of the best original anthologies this year (yes, collected in Scores and Look at the Evidence.
Lynn, The Charnel Prince by Keyes, and Glass you can list it in that category also), with excellent Wolfe’s series is deservedly the most analyzed SF
Dragons by McMullen. work by Link, McKillip, and Ford, plus 16 oth­ book of all time.
Finally, Greg Bear has an SF flavored ghost/hor- ers; and Noyes’s Gothic! with good work by Nix, There’s much more literature on Stephen King’s
ror novel in Dead Lines that may make you trade Gaiman, and eight others. The reprint anthology work, but most of it can be skipped. Not so with
in your mobile (cell phone to Americans). was Nielsen Hayden’s New Magics. Vincent’s The Road to the Dark Tower, the
We counted 69 first novels in 2004, down slightly The collection, Jones’s Unexpected Magic: Col­ first full-length study of King’s 30-year opus, a
from 73. We’re recommending 15, up from 12. lected Stories, isn’t quite a collected stories since book-by-book summary with explanations and
Seven are fantasy, five SF, and three horror. Eight it skips a number of them from other collections, commentary.
are by women, seven by men. but it could easily be called Best Short Fiction. Ray Bradbury’s work, which has also been writ­
There isn’t any doubt by our reviewers about the Need we say more? ten about at great length, is the subject of Eller &
best first novels. Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr We listed 113 full-size collections in 2004, the Touponce’s Ray Bradbury: The Life of Fiction,
Norrell and Swainston’s The Year of Our War same as the year before (short pamphlet collec­ a 600-page tome which describes itself as “the first
probably should be on the best fantasy novel list tions were dropped). We’re recommending 24, comprehensive textual, biographical, and cultural
(you can vote for them there also if you choose). down from 26. study of sixty years of Bradbury’s fiction.” It may
The only real problem with the Clarke is that the Career retrospectives of major authors are nearly tell you more than you’d want to know about an
American print media insists on putting a period always recommendable, and we have five this year: author whose stories are mostly famous for their
after Mr that doesn’t belong, if you just look at Crowley’s Novelties & Souvenirs is almost a col­ emotional content, but there are certainly over­
the book, which uses British spelling and punctua­ lected stories - just missing one great story from whelming details about his life and work.
tion. The Swainston is the start of a series. Most last year - it’s astonishing reading; The Collected On the other hand, Carmien’s The Cherryh
reviewers preferred the Clarke although it was the Short Fiction of C.J. Cherryh is actually a “best” Odyssey, an anthology of articles, runs the gambit
Swainston that really knocked me out. since it drops all of her shared world work; The from professional praise to fannish praise to some
Lovecraft is big in the first-novel horror books, John Varley Reader is a fine retrospective of an critical work. It’s a first book on its subject, but
with the Cthulhu mythos featured in Mamatas’s author who changed the field for the better. Two probably not the last.
Move Under Ground, where Jack Kerouac, Neal of our elder statesmen had big volumes last year: Le Guin’s The Wave of the Mind isn’t about
Cassidy, and William S. Burroughs battle Old Silverberg’s Phases of the Moon contains work SF or fantasy per se, but it’s about writers, readers,
RTuyeh, and in Wheeler’s The Arcanum where a from over six decades, with fascinating commen­ and the imagination. How could it miss? Tenn’s
secret society with A. Conan Doyle, H.P. Lovecraft, tary; but Williamson’s Seventy-Five covers nine Dancing Naked is one of the most delightful
and Harry Houdini battle nameless horrors in early decades with many fascinating sidebars. memoirs/essays/whatever I’ve ever read. It isn’t as
20th-century New York. Woodworth’s Through First collections by interesting authors are also good as listening to Phil tell the stories (despite the
Violet Eyes is a horror/SF/fantasy/police proce­ self-recommending, and this year we have first subtitle, they had to be expurgated) but it’s as close
dural, first in a series. collections by Adam Roberts, Eileen Gunn, Joyce, as most of us can get.
Of the SF, the Judson and Birmingham are Duchamp, Liz Williams, and Chamas(!). In our field, writers usually make the most
both military SF, with the Judson a future post- The outstanding discovery this year is Aus­ penetrating (and acerbic!) of critics (c.f. Damon
catastrophic Earth reconquered book, and the tralian Margo Lanagan, whose Black Juice has Knight, James Blish, and George Turner). Damien
Birmingham a future armada in WWII novel - first ten astonishing new stories. The volume will be Broderick is another. His collection of critical es­
of a trilogy. The Faust is weird SF humor, and the appearing in the US in the spring: don’t miss it. says and reviews x,y,z,t: Dimensions of Science
McGann alternate world adventure. TheTraviss, the We’re recommending a record four stories from it Fiction has something to amuse, inflame, and in­
best of the SF, and in any other year an easy winner, on our short fiction list. form you, all at the same time. Ashley & Lowndes’s
is alien world adventure and the first in a series. And the old master, Gene Wolfe, gave us 22 The Gernsback Days is really two books: Ashley
Back in fantasy, the Micklem is the beginning fantasies in Innocents Aboard - certainly cause about Gernsback, with much original research, and
 2004: The Year in R eview / 5
Lowndes covering the fiction, issue by issue, much Blood. Caniglia’s creepy powerful art is at its best for the day when they can get their hands on those
as Bleiler did in The Gemsback Years. The Ashley in As Dead As Leaves. European artist Francois Big Macs just over the wall (I shouldn’t be writ­
part, written in a Moskowitzian style, is probably Schuiten was unknown to me before The Book of ing this after skipping dinner), but in some ways
the last word we need on Gemsback. Lowndes’s Schuiten but I won’t forget him quickly. The book 2004 seemed to promise measurable, if tentative,
view of the fiction of the period (he also mentions features his non-comic work and is an eye-opener. advances in the deghettoization process. Or at least
Astounding) is interesting because he can remem­ Although some of Ilene Meyer’s work has appeared a few chunks of wall could be found in the street.
ber how he reacted when they appeared along with on book covers, she is primarily a gallery painter The year began with a fantasy movie based on
his second thoughts. Altogether, it’s a fine addition of sumptuous colored surrealist art. Paintings, an actual fantasy book (and showing some respect
to SF history. Drawings, Perceptions highlights her work in to that book) not only nestling atop the box office
Joshi’s The Evolution of the Weird Tale collects Meyerworld, her invented landscape. receipts, but eventually corralling an unprecedented
a series of articles and introductions, substantially The Best of Gahan Wilson should be automati­ number of Oscars. Nor was the original The Lord
rewritten, about 18 authors, most pre-1940, who he cally recommendable, but it should be a large slick­ of the Rings trilogy overlooked; again, it made its
feels influenced “the golden age of weird fiction” paper coffee-table book, not a cut-rate paperback. way to the top of various popular surveys (including
(1880-1940). The post-1940 authors are the weak­ We’ll recommend it anyway as a good collection German and Australian ones!) of the best fiction ever,
est part of the book. Joshi is the leading expert on (not his best) of his art, and hope he gets the volume or the best fiction of the century, or at least the best
early weird fiction, and the book is a fine addition he deserves soon. book whose title survey-responders could actually
to his work. We’re recommending 19 novellas, the same as remember. In mid-year, another, entirely new fantasy
Schweitzer’s Speaking of the Fantastic II col­ last year, 52 novelettes, down from 56, and 73 short novel - Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr
lects his interviews with authors such as Farmer, stories, way up from 54 in 2003. I’ll leave the rest Norrell - began to dominate the buzz at publishers’
Hamess, Wolfe, and Walton. There’s too much of of the short fiction commentary to others. enclaves and finally spent several weeks on national
Schweitzer and too little of the authors here, but -Charles N. Brown bestseller lists, gamering rave reviews both in and
there is enough new material to make the book out of genre. Another writer with genre roots, Karen
worthwhile. 2004 SHORT FICTION STATISTICS Joy Fowler, successfully crossed into mainstream
Ginway’s Brazilian Science Fiction discusses by Mark R. Kelly bestseller status with The Jane Austen Book Club,
work from 1960-2001, and how it differs from Statistics tell an optimistic picture again this as did Neal Stephenson with the second two bench-
its Anglo-American counterpart. It’s the first full- year, despite the interruption in publication of one pressable volumes of his Baroque Cycle trilogy.
length study in English and it’s fascinating. (She major magazine title, Interzone, with only three And of course Stephen King was already there,
takes most of her paradigms from our own Gary 2004-dated issues; the on-again off-again behavior although this time with an ambitious conclusion
K. Wolfe). of revived titles Argosy and Amazing Stories; and to a complicated fantasy series, not an easy horror
Finally, Maria Tatar has both retranslated and the seeming sparseness of really major anthologies. read. PMLA, the aging doyenne of American aca­
annotated the early fairy tales in The Annotated Short fiction in magazines (and webzines) came demic literary journals, devoted its first full issue to
Brothers Grimm along with some of the beautiful most reliably from the core set of venerable pub­ sometimes murky essays about SF, and Paul Allen’s
color illustrations by Rackham, Neilson, et al. This lications, Analog, Asimov’s, F&SF, and Realms of well-funded museum opened in Seattle, bringing
includes the most common 37 tales for children plus Fantasy, the relative upstart Andromeda Spaceways another modicum of national attention (i.e., tourists)
nine for adults. It is far more accessible than Zipes’s Inflight Magazine, and online ’zines Sci Fiction and to the history and traditions of the field.
more academic translations in The Complete Fairy Strange Horizons. But there were nearly as many More fantasy movies dominated the summer
Tales of the Brothers Grimm, which included 250 different titles of print and electronic publications blockbuster schedule (though this was hardly new,
(!) tales, and is a great introduction to the impor­ seen by Locus magazine and/or Locus Online in this year’s batch seemed fairly imaginative), and
tance of the tales in both a cultural and fantastic 2004,53, as there were in 2003 (54); and this year even Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea tales came in
way. You’ll probably need both books. I added several webzines covered by Locus short for the Sci-Fi Channel treatment (though the bits of
We saw 44 art books in 2004, way down from fiction reviewers, among them Ideomancer and it I saw when periodically waking up looked a lot
57 the year before, but we found 14 to recommend, Fortean Bureau, to the overall totals, that were not like Hogwarts or Middle-earth). Another canonical
up from eight. included last year. Overall, I counted 914 stories in mainstream novelist, Philip Roth, turned to a famil­
As usual, the Fenners’ annual survey book, Spec­ 2004 periodicals, compared to 1,003 in 2003, a dif­ iar SF device with the bestselling and well-reviewed
trum 11: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic ference which can be accounted for, despite pluses The Plot Against America, which in my view was
Art, is the very best overview of the field showing and minuses in other areas, by the 80 short-shorts a far more successful novel than the previous year’s
everything from commercial book illustration to published in ’03 by The Infinite Matrix, the online canonical-writer-does-SF, Margaret Atwood’s
advertising to sculpture to comics to whatever. ’zine that published only a single story in ’04. Oryx and Crake. (For her part, Atwood hastened
You can’t follow the fantastic art field without it. There were more anthologies with original stories to explain, in that same issue of PMLA mentioned
I always find work by artists unknown to me, who in 2004 than in 2003, just as there were more in ’03 above, that she never meant any disrespect for SF
quickly become favorites. than in ’02, counting those I saw as well as others in remarks she’d made earlier about that novel, but
Digital Art for the 21st Century: Renderos- gleaned from this magazine’s Books Received was merely trying to draw a distinction between SF
ity by Grant & Vysniauskas is even more cutting listings: 85, compared to 69 in ’03 and 54 in ’02. and “speculative fiction.” Roth, meanwhile, wrote
edge, showing the art of 28 artists connected with The trend in ’04 was anonymously edited antholo­ in a New York Times piece that he had no literary
renderosity.com, a meeting place for graphic artists. gies of erotic horror novellas, of which there were models for writing alternate history, thus attest­
The book has some amazing work from commercial ten by my count, contributing to a total number ing to the continuing below-the-horizon status of
illustrations to gallery “fine” art. of horror anthologies, about 30, that exceeds the even certified SF classics.) Younger writers clearly
Hardy and Moore’s Futures: 50 Years in Space number of anthologies with a focus on fantasy sympathetic to genre writing, such as Jonathan
highlights Hardy’s half-century of astronomical art, (about two dozen) or SF (also about two dozen, Lethem and Michael Chabon, made effective use
showing why he inherited the mantle of Chesley including alternate-history-themed books). The of their official young turkdom commissions to
Bonestell. Richardson’s Those Macabre Pulps is total number of stories from books, counting the open up dialogues, and Chabon produced not only
both a bibliography and art book, reproducing the 85 anthologies and a handful of author collections a compelling Holmesian mystery novel, but a sec­
covers and indexing the minor Macabre pulps from with significant original content, was higher than ond volume of original tales by writers in genre
the ’30s to the ’60s. The older covers have never been last year: 1,213 stories, compared to 1,023 in ’03 cross-dress, McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber
produced so perfectly in all their garishness. and 892 in ’02. of Astonishing Stories. (The best pieces in it,
The rest of the books are single-artist collections Overall totals: 2,127 stories published in 2004, though, were by genre-associated writers like King
showing what the artists do best. Paul Kidby’s up from 2,026 in 2003. or Peter Straub.) Lethem, for his part, paid tribute
The Art of Discworld owes everything to Terry -Mark R. Kelly to comics as well as SF in his late-season story col­
Prachett, which is why Prachett’s name is largest lection Men and Cartoons. In many ways, things
on the book, even though it’s an art collection (it YEAR IN REVIEW 2004 were looking up.
also sells much better this way). Leo & Diane Dillon by Gary K. Wolfe And yet beneath the fanfares, if you listened
have taken Virginia Hamilton’s famous folktale The As I write this it must be shortly after the 15th closely, you could also hear the gentle hiss of lines
People Could Fly and turned it into a sumptuous anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and it oc­ being drawn in the sand. If the 2003 National Book
illustrated volume - one of their best. The volumes curs to me that there’s a whole generation of col­ Awards ceremony had to listen to chastisements
by Richard Hescox, Keith Parkinson, and Luis Royo lege students for whom the mid-century’s handiest from honoree Stephen King about ignoring popular
show what these three commercial fantasy artists metaphor retains about as much power as a pot of literature, the 2004 committee (chaired by Rick
do best. Work that sells books! stale cream cheese. This is a loss for those genre- Moody, one of the more SF-savvy contributors
Alan M. Clark, part illustrator and part gallery delimited SF and fantasy writers who still see them­ to the first McSweeney’s, and including King’s
artist, shows what he can do in The Paint in My selves as sipping thin beer and gruel while waiting ►►I
6/2004: The Year in Review
l« Recommended Reading siderable mainstream appeal, while Charles Stross the unity of his narrative. The most promising and
continued to emerge as the most significant “new” original debut novel I saw in America, in 2003, was
pal Stewart O’Nan) seemed almost to answer (or at least newly prominent) British writer with Mark Budz’s biopunk Clade, although - as with
him by nominating for its finalist list five virtu­ the novels Iron Sunrise, The Family Trade, and Traviss in England - the sequel Crache extended
ally unknown novels, all by women living in New the collection The Atrocity Archives, of which I the ideas of the original without really showing us
York, all of which numbered sales in the hundreds, read only the latter. Among British novelists who what else the author could do.
all of which pointedly celebrated the scrimshaw actually are new, one of the most promising is As in England, the year seemed to produce a
delicacy of a certain variety of literary fiction; not Karen Traviss, whose assured debut City of Pearl higher proportion of first-rate fantasy works than
even the Roth novel, with its SF premise, made the was followed by the somewhat less striking (but SF, with several important writers producing novels
final cut. In England, Clarke’s Jonathan Strange still fully competent) sequel Crossing the Line. that are among the strongest of their careers. Peter
& Mr Norrell did make it onto the Booker long Stephen Baxter’s Exultant, the second novel in Straub’s In the Night Room was part sequel to last
list, but was dropped from the short list. David his “Destiny’s Children” series, also seemed to me year’s lost boy lost girl, part serial killer thriller,
Mitchell’s ambitious Cloud Atlas even made the less compelling than last year’s Coalescent, in part but largely a bold rethinking of narrational space
short list - but lost to another novel of far more because it moved more into familiar Baxter terri­ which easily qualifies as fantasy as much as horror,
traditional literary provenance. Some of the reviews tory after the historical-novel adventurousness of and is one of his most strikingly original novels
of Mitchell’s novel commented that it was pretty the earlier title. Although not a new novel, M. John to date. Elizabeth Hand’s gorgeously written and
fine, except for the bits that looked too much like Harrison’s remarkable The Course of the Heart, sensual myth-fantasy Mortal Love probably is
SF. And the paranoid (and probably unverifiable) having already achieved nearly classic status as her best novel, despite the growing iconic status
rumors continued that Doris Lessing’s continuing one of the seminal works of just about every new of her earlier Waking the Moon. Sean Stewart’s
Nobel Prizelessness may have had something to movement in British speculative fiction, finally saw Perfect Circle is a comic regional ghost story of
do with her ventures into SF. I’m not aware of any print in the United States. surprising power, bringing together in a tight and
major pieces by mainstream critics as radically British fantasy also saw two stunning debut elegantly constructed tale the narrative strengths he
dismissive of SF’s potential as 2003’s famous Sven novels, Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & has demonstrated throughout his career. And Gene
Birkets claim, in a review of Oryx and Crake, that Mr Norrell (perhaps the biggest “event” novel for Wolfe’s The Wizard Knight, finally available in its
“science fiction will never be Literature,” but it’s all of fantastic literature this year, and deservedly entirety, is not only a complete reinventing of clas­
probably only because I wasn’t looking. so) and Steph Swainston’s The Year of Our War, sic fantasy tropes but one of Wolfe’s most accessible
So we ended the year, much as we had ended each of which demonstrated in its own unique novels (but without sacrificing the complexities of
many earlier years, with most of the mainstream way that first-rate epic-scale fantasy need bear no narrator reliability and unstated narrative elements
discussion of SF concepts centering on yet another relation whatsoever to the post-Tolkien template that have long been characteristic of his best work).
frozen pizza of a Michael Crichton novel, while - although China Mieville has been demonstrat­ Gifts, Ursula K. Le Guin’s spare but moving young
important books by 'far more original writers ei­ ing this for a few years now, and continued to do adult novel, was an elegantly realized chamber
ther ended up with small presses (Lucius Shepard, so with his most overtly political novel to date, piece disguised as a young-adult novel - a field
Sean Stewart, Eileen Gunn, Graham Joyce, James The Iron Council. While there were strong story increasingly arbitrary and permeable in its boundar­
Morrow), or clumsily and inadequately marketed collections from Graham Joyce and Mary Gentle, ies. Another notable YA novel I saw this year was
by major presses (Elizabeth Hand, Peter Straub), the most exceptional story collection came from Scott Westerfeld’s Midnighters: The Secret Hour,
or split into series and packaged to look far more an Australian writer known for young adult fiction, the first in a very promising series.
formulaic than they really were (Gene Wolfe). Margo Lanagan (reviewed in this issue), whose The year was not a particularly strong one for
Even those writers who ventured successfully into brilliant but unclassifiable Black Juice consisted anthologies, with the notable exception of the vari­
Crichton thriller territory with novels that might entirely of original stories. ous “year’s best” series. For the first time in recent
have garnered similar degrees of public discussion American SF seemed to have something of a memory, the field (including SF, fantasy, and hor­
seemed to come and go (though I suppose they did retrospective feel to it, not only because 2004 saw ror) yielded no fewer than seven such anthologies,
well enough for genre titles). The most violent and the collected stories of C.J. Cherryh, Eileen Gunn, not even counting the Nebula volume, which has
sensational of these was probably Paul McAuley’s and John Crowley (whose Novelties & Souvenirs become a kind of weirdly time-warped year’s best
delicious White Devils, which seemed to partake is as much a part of the canon of the new fantastic (the reasons for which are discussed in my review
of the body-count school of thriller writing but in the US as M. John Harrison’s work is in the UK) of the 2005 volume elsewhere in this issue). Dozois
contained real ideas of some complexity beneath its and important retrospectives by John Varley, Lucius and Hartwell/Cramer remained reliable staples,
garish surface. Bruce Sterling’s The Zenith Angle Shepard, Suzy McKee Chamas, and Jack Wil­ but the Haber/Strahan SF series also emerged as a
could be counted as among the most thoughtful of liamson (whose Seventy-Five was an impressive very creditable alternative this year, with Strahan’s
the post 9/11 systems novels (and was very nearly but impossible attempt to encapsulate SF’s longest own novella anthology helping to make up for
a mainstream novel itself), while Kim Stanley career in a coffee-table book), but also because one some of the length constraints imposed by on the
Robinson’s Forty Signs of Rain had all the neces­ of the most discussed titles of the year was a first Haber/Strahan volume. Kelly Link & Gavin Grant
sary earmarks of a serious political-ecology thriller, novel - by Robert Heinlein! For Us, The Living replaced Terri Windling on the fantasy half of The
including both a fair amount of lecture notes, some may not be quite worth recommending, and very Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, with Ellen
solid characters, and a smashingly catastrophic possibly should not even have seen print (both Datlow continuing her superb editing of the horror
climax - but perhaps not catastrophic enough to Heinlein and his widow Virginia had apparently half, and their sensibilities brought some changes
match the smashingly dumb ideas and pretty special hoped it had been lost), but it provides a way of and some improvements to that characteristically
effects of the year’s blockbuster “ecology” movie, rethinking how different SF history since the early eclectic volume. The best original anthology I saw
The Day After Tomorrow. (There may be an object 1940s might have been. was Al Sarrantonio’s Flights: Extreme Visions
lesson here: how can you market a serious ecologi­ Another hard SF master, Joe Haldeman, also of­ of Fantasy, which, despite its bullhorn-on-the-
cal novel to people who get their ideas of global fered a tale with an oddly retro feel to it, although streetcomer rhetoric, featured outstanding stories
warming from Dennis Quaid’s movie dialogue?) the clarity and precision of the storytelling in by Gene Wolfe, Kit Reed, Elizabeth Hand, Eliza­
In looking over Locus's recommended list, I’m Camouflage lent it a distinctive flavor of some­ beth Lynn, and several others. The best anthology
struck as I am every year with the number of titles thing new - but then, Haldeman has always had for coming to terms with the last few decades of
I haven’t gotten around to yet, and thus my annual a talent for treating SF tropes (in this case, two SF history was our own anthology, The Locus
disclaimer that what I discuss here is what I can aliens surviving on earth through centuries, and Awards. It may be self-serving to say so, but it
discuss, and what I recommend is only from what arriving at opposite conclusions about humanity) would be coy not to.
I know. Among SF novels, it seemed generally a as though he’d invented them. Yet a third master of Although Locus doesn’t have a formal category
stronger year for British titles, with not only the hard SF, Greg Bear, turned away from SF altogether for this, a number of publishers over the years
McAuley novel, but also accessible non-series with the quite competent ghost story Dead Lines, have deserved recognition for bringing into print
titles from politically astute novelists Ken MacLeod executed with the same kind of logic and discipline - sometimes for the first time in English - earlier
(whose Newton’s Wake manages to be his funniest he brings to his SF (and with a few SF gimmicks classics of science fiction, always a risky marketing
novel without forgoing his characteristic philo­ as well). Jack Dann (whom I persist in listing as an proposition, but now more than ever, with library
sophical complexity) and Jon Courtenay Grimwood American author despite his choice of residence) budget cuts shrinking the academic market. Two
(whose Stamping Butterflies provides an excel­ recreated a subtly altered 1950s in his altemate- university presses in the US which have made par­
lent introduction to his work while extending the James Dean novel The Rebel, turning to an earlier ticular efforts in this regard featured an eclectic mix
period of maturity that began with his “Arabesk” era of American mythography for his subject mat­ of new titles this year, the most important of which
trilogy, which is finally making its way into print ter. Tony Daniel’s Superluminal, a sequel to his was Albert Robida’s oft-cited but seldom-read 1882
in the US) Geoff Ryman’s Air was a remarkably earlier Metaplanetary, is worth recommending for classic The Twentieth Century, newly translated
original take on information technology, with con­ the bravura of Daniel’s cosmic setting, if not for and reprinted in Wesleyan University Press’s “Early
 2004: The Year in R e vie w / 7
Classics of Science Fiction” series. An almost Gunn’s Stable Strategies and Others, and John Kay and Dragon’s Treasure by Elizabeth Lynn
equally important Wesleyan discovery was Emile Crowley’s Novelties & Souvenirs. I don’t know if both do this, and I’d add two other books: Judith
Souvestre’s sprightly 1846 satire The World As It each of these is best in show, but none will come Marillier’s trilogy-concluding Foxmask (Tor)
Shall Be, translated into English for the first time. back to bite you if you foist them off on bright and the excellent first novel Firethorn by Sarah
Other Wesleyan titles included Stapledon’s Star friends. -Gary K. Wolfe Micklem (Scribner).
Maker, Merritt’s The Moon Pool, a new edition Humorous fantasy still manages to thrive,
of Delany’s Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of 2004: COMBINATIONS & CONTRADICTIONS largely thanks to Terry Pratchett - Going Postal is
Sand (obviously not one of their “early classics,” by Faren C. Miller yet another Discworld gem. I also urge you to check
but part of a worthwhile program of reprinting While the official Recommended List in this out the underrated comic genius of Andrew Fox
Delany), and critical studies by Warren Wagar on issue looks like a kind of consensus, as always it’s in Bride of the Fat White Vampire (Del Rey), a
H.G. Wells, Peter Fitting on subterranean worlds a patchwork of individual opinions and reading delightful sequel to last year’s Fat White Vampire
in fiction, and Jeffrey Allen Tucker on Delany. experiences, no two quite alike. Here’s my piece Blues. And, although Christopher Moore’s The
The University of Nebraska Press’s Frontiers of of that patchwork. Stupidest Angel is more of an irreverent holiday
Imagination series has focused mostly on 20th- The debate over labels for Weird, Slipstream, treat than a full-blown exercise in the fantastic
century works, but this year they also reached into etc. so prevalent last year seems to have died down, like his earlier novels, he can be as sophisticated
SF ur-history with Ludwig Holberg’s The Journey perhaps because whatever-it-is has been assimilated a trickster as Pratchett.
of Niels Klim to the World Underground; their enough into genre fiction that it no longer needs a First novels? What a year! I’ve already mentioned
other significant reprints included Philip Wylie’s name. I did see plenty of admirable strangeness, but Susanna Clarke, Jennifer Stevenson, and Sarah
Gladiator and The Disappearance, H.G. Wells’s also an unusual number of hybrids where SF and Micklem. Minister Faust, Oism McGann, and Kar­
The Croquet Player, and - certainly the most fantasy meet without altogether merging, as well as en Traviss also had fine debuts. Thomas Wheeler’s
populist academic reprint of all - Edgar Rice some books where the “wolf” of profoundly adult The Arcanum - another SF/fantasy hybrid that
Burroughs’s Lost on Venus. Both series deserve themes emerges from the “sheep’s clothing” ofYA. works. Meanwhile, the good collections just keep
wider attention and, I would guess, wider sales Another sign of the times seems to be works that on coming. Margo Lanagan’s Black Juice arrived
than they have so far received. I saw very few other move between decades and modes with no fanfare, just in time to complete my Top 5 and blow away
university press books on SF, and of the ones I saw as the past or present naturally evolves into the fu­ the competition, but Ian MacLeod, James Morrow,
M. Elizabeth Ginway’s Brazilian Science Fiction ture without the open surrealism of the Weird or the Lucius Shepard, Jeff VanderMeer, Liz Williams
probably did the most to add to our understanding full set of tropes that commonly distinguish SF. and Gene Wolfe also had excellent compilations. I
of SF as a multicultural phenomenon. The most notable examples of this last were would add John M. Ford’s Heat of Fusion (Tor),
Although I didn’t see a good deal of non-fic­ two SF novels that made it into my personal Top which includes both stories and poetry but certainly
tion, the most interesting critical book to come Five, Life by Gwyneth Jones (an interplay of sci­ didn’t alienate me with its variety.
my way was Damien Broderick’s collection x, entific theories, character studies, and hints of the As noted above, some of the ostensibly young­
y, z, t: Dimensions of Science Fiction, which supernatural in future Indonesia) and Cloud Atlas adult books this time have a very mature force -
revealed both a reader’s joy and a scholar’s sen­ by David Mitchell (an astonishing Chinese box of both Frek and the Elixer and Black Juice should
sibility despite being packaged to appear more supposedly unconnected tales from many earthly appeal most to readers who can legally drink hard
unified than it actually was. Ursula K. Le Guin’s eras). Aside from them, my other picks from the liquor. That doesn’t mean the works that remain on
The Wave in the Mind: Talks and Essays on Locus list in this category are a disparate bunch that the YA list are dumbed- or watered-down; they’re
the Writer, the Reader, and the Imagination roam all over time and space: Cory Doctorow’s neo­ just more appropriate for bright teens and preco­
for the most part didn’t deal much with SF or cyberpunk USA in Eastern Standard Tribe, Ian cious tweens. Horror and offbeat humor mingle in
fantasy, but whatever Le Guin says about writing McDonald’s appropriately vast and complex take on both the text and the illustrations of Clive Barker’s
is worth reading. There were only a handful of future India in River of Gods, and Rudy Rucker’s Abarat books (the new one a potential classic),
single-author critical studies, two of which were wild hybrid of far-future SF and what seems like while some stories in anthology The Faery Reel
about Gene Wolfe (Attending Daedalus: Gene YA fantasy in Frek and the Elixir. To those I can be as dark as the Brothers Grimm. Ursula K.
Wolfe, Artifice and the Reader, Peter Wright; would add another SF/F hybrid, Jim Grimsley’s Le Guin and Terry Pratchett still write superbly
Solar Labyrinth: Exploring Gene Wolfe’s The Ordinary (Tor), as daring and almost as much for younger readers - in their very different ways
Book of the New Sun, Robert Borski), both of of an improbable success as the Rucker. There’s - and both Scott Westerfeld and Kenneth Oppel
which focused almost entirely on The Book of a vein of the fantastic in nearly all these books, a contributed fine books as well.
the New Sun; by now Wolfe could understand­ willingness to play with tropes that often extends to In the other categories, the only non-fiction book
ably be wondering if academics are ever going to experiments in narrative structure. Compared with I saw was The Road to the Dark Tower by Bev
read anything else he’s written. I didn’t see Bev even the most devious of the genre’s Old Masters, Vincent (an excellent and maybe even vital guide
Vincent’s book on King’s Dark Tower series, Ed these writers constitute a new breed - but while to King’s grand opus).
Carmien’s on C.J. Cherryh, or Jonathan R. Eller they may like to challenge the reader, they’re quite One last thought: Every year, more and more of
& William F. Touponce’s on Bradbury. In general capable of telling a ripping good yam. the best work seems to gravitate to the small press;
(with the exception of the Cherryh book, part of I didn’t see enough of the SF list to offer a real in 2004, neither well-known and respected writers
the resurrected Borgo line), one could conclude overview, but it was an excellent year for many like Gwyneth Jones and Sean Stewart nor talented
that the approved list of authors for academic study types of fantasy. Elizabeth Hand’s Mortal Love newcomers like Nick Mamatas and Jennifer Ste­
has not advanced much beyond past years, and that may be the closest counterpart to Gwyneth Jones’s venson could tempt the big houses to buy some
the number of unexamined but major writers in shifts between eras, moods, and styles in Life; high-quality work. On the other hand, 2004 was
the field continues to grow. it’s a deeply unconventional tale where haunted unusual for two books that did find a place amid the
In general, I’m as skeptical of “best” lists romanticism makes it nearly into the modern well-publicized (and well-reviewed) literary main­
as I am of awards ballots, since they compel us era. Small Beer Press gave us two writers who stream. David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas reached us
to consign writers and books to categories and deserve acclaim (and wider recognition) for the after it had already received widespread attention
to overlook as second best books that might be way they temper the bizarre with grittily realistic elsewhere, but its science-fictional aspect proved
the best in any other year. Is Susanna Clarke’s Americana, raw yet complex, Sean Stewart in to be more crucial than expected and I loved the
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell the best fan­ Perfect Circle and Jennifer Stevenson in first novel whole thing. Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange
tasy novel of the year, or merely the best first Trash Sex Magic - both went straight into my & Mr Norrell arrived with an even bigger splash
novel? The same might be said of the other likely Top 5. (Wylene Dunbar’s My Life with Corpses - astonishing for a first novel that challenges the
contender, Steph Swainston’s The Year of Our (Harcourt) also deserves mention in this loose reader with both its length and its multitude of
War. So instead of arbitrary qualitative rankings, subcategory, though it isn’t as striking.) footnotes - but succeeds as a genre work as well.
this year I’ve decided to end with a list of books Two of the big names in horror were in good And that’s the most contradictory aspect of the
which, for whatever reason, I’ve tried to persuade form: Stephen King brought the Dark Tower sep­ previous year in publishing. I have no idea what it
other people to read (keeping in mind that not tet to a moving conclusion with two volumes that portends for the future!
everyone I talk to is an SF reader). Both Clarke combine elements of the modern, epic, metafic- My Top 5 (alphabetical by author):
and Swainston would be on that list, as would tional, and metaphysical, while Peter Straub’s In Life, Gwyneth Jones
Elizabeth Hand’s Mortal Love, Sean Stewart’s the Night Room was a more intimate metafiction. Black Juice, Margo Lanagan
Perfect Circle, Peter Straub’s In the Night In comparatively straightforward epic fantasy, Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
Room, Gene Wolfe’s The Wizard Knight, Joe the most welcome trend appears to be a rejection Trash Sex Magic, Jennifer Stevenson
Haldeman’s Camouflage, Paul McAuley’s White of overblown pomp and tired cliche in favor of a Perfect Circle, Sean Stewart
Devils, Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s Stamping stripped-down leanness with its own kind of gritty - Faren Miller
Butterflies, Margo Lanagan’s Black Juice, Eileen realism. The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel ►M
8 /2 0 0 4 : The Year in Review
l« Recommended Reading from Singularity Sky, Iron Sunrise is a smart, dream of, or at least I did. I’d also recommend Sean
lean space opera filled with things interesting and Williams’s deceptive and interesting The Crooked
2004: A CONSTANT READER RESPONDS strange. While it has some real flaws, it is also the Letter; Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Last Light of
TO THE YEAR THAT WAS most fun I had between the pages of a SF novel all the Sun - the finest epic fantasist working today
by Jonathan Strahan year. The Family Trade, on the other hand, is an showing his many strengths; and Peter Straub’s
I read fewer books in 2004 than in any other year action-filled confection, combining SF and fantasy In the Night Room, which inverts last year’s lost
for more than a decade: there are major novels I in a book that echoes Zelazny’s Amber novels. I boy lost girl and ends up being the year’s most
didn’t see, couldn’t find time for, or simply wasn’t was remarkably impressed with Jon Courtenay disturbing novel.
interested in, books that made it onto the Locus Grimwood’s Stamping Butterflies, which manages If Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr
final recommended reading list. On the other hand, to intermingle the tale of a presidential assassin in Norrell was the biggest first novel I saw all year,
I read more short fiction in 2004 than in any other a Marrakech jail in the ’70s and with the story of it certainly wasn’t the only good one. The other
year of my life, and I have some definite opinions the emperor of a galactic civilization 4,000 years standout, Steph Swainston’s remarkable The Year
on what I read. Before that, though, I should in the future. Strong, startling, and humane, it is a of Our War, refuses to commit to being SF or
mention the three anthologies I worked on that must read. I also liked Ken Macleod’s Newton’s fantasy, and delivers a triumph of treachery and
were published in 2004. It was a pleasure to help Wake which seems to distil the concerns of his heroism. The funniest first novel of the year, and one
compile The Locus Awards and Science Fiction: earlier novels into one neat, concise book, and Paul that deserved much more attention than it got, was
Best of 2003, and to edit Best Short Novels: 2004, Di Filippo’s Spondulix (which also is enormous Leslie What’s delightful Olympic Games, which
and I’m flattered my colleagues feel they belong on fun). deliciously brings Zeus and Hera into the modern
this list. While I’m proud of all three books, were it While I have a notion of what may be happening era via Thome Smith. Others that stood out were
my choice I wouldn’t include them for the simple in SF, the year in fantasy seemed much less clear. John Birmingham’s perceptive Weapons of Choice,
reason that I work directly on preparing Locus’s final There is little doubt that we’re experiencing a Minister Faust’s goofily titled and goofily executed
Recommended Reading list, but I was overruled. golden age for fantasy novels, and I take perverse The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor
There is little doubt in my mind that science pleasure that few of the best are parts of series, but Pad, and Jennifer Stevenson’s earthily sexy Trash
fiction is at a crossroads, looking for ways to I’m still working on understanding what’s actually Sex Magic.
rejuvenate and redefine itself. Four novels published happening. The best fantasy novel of 2004 was And that leaves only one thing to do. Each year
in 2004, despite some failings, grabbed the bit Gene Wolfe’s impressive tale of honor, chivalry, I’ve nominated my top five or so books of year. This
between their teeth, and tried to come to terms and all that stuff, The Wizard Knight. Engrossing, year, something a little different. First, my top five
with what SF should be doing next. The best of delightful, and disconcertingly accessible, it takes novels of the year:
those books, and easily the best SF novel I read all the tropes of fantasy and makes them new. Patricia Perfect Circle, Sean Stewart
year, was Geoff Ryman’s Air: or Have Not Have. A. McKillip has been mining similar territory, in her Air, Geoff Ryman
Ryman had already set the bar for excellence with own miniaturist romantic way, for some years now, The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe
earlier novels The Child Garden and Was, but and Alphabet of Thom was one of the delights of Alphabet of Thorn, Patricia A. McKillip
Air is his masterwork. It tells of the impact of the year. Filled with love, war, conquest, and words Going Postal, Terry Pratchett
information technologies on the so-called Third of power, it confirms again her place as one of the
World. Its novelistic virtues are considerable best fantasists working today. My favorite fantasy of Millions of words of original short fiction were
- Ryman puts real people in real situations in a way the year, and my favorite novel of the year, though, published in 2004 and, while the gnomes of Geneva
that is utterly convincing - but just as impressively was Sean Stewart’s Perfect Circle. A tale of family, may have puzzled over the vagaries of ink-dots vs.
he is attempting to come to terms with the future the failings, ghosts, and personal darknesses; it is utterly phospor-dots, what constituted “publication” and so
world we live in might face. This is fiction about the engaging and should be the first book you pick up on and so forth, the seething, swirling conversation
Way the Future Might Be, not the Way the Future after reading this essay. that is genre fiction went on regardless. There were
Was. Not quite as impressive, but almost equally The biggest book I read in 2004 was both a fantasy books of stories published that were thick as your
important, Kim Stanley Robinson’s Forty Signs of and the best first novel of the year. Susanna Clarke arm, wafer-thin chapbooks, and websites both major
Rain is a passionately involved piece of ecological had published a handful of well-regarded short and minor. All of them counted, and if those of us in
activism dressed up as a technothriller. The thriller stories, all of which clearly spelt out the territory the Taxonomy & Taxidermy Dept, wondered what
elements about the impact of global warming are that her debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr was going on - was SF blending with fantasy here,
good enough, but its real strength lies in the fervor Norrell would take. Melding magic and magicians or is that a new movement there (or simply an old
behind the message it delivers, probably the most with the stuff of Jane Austen, it is a big, roomy, motion?) - for readers it was a grand time. But what
ardent attempt in 30 years by a major SF writer and strangely simple novel. While it takes forever kind of time was it? Well, the thing that struck me
to change the world he lives in (for a moment, it to get about its business, and seems to never be in a while reading hundreds of short stories was that
felt like the ’60s). Bruce Sterling has been moving hurry to do what it has to until it is almost over, it is genre fiction is both healthy and in an enormous
further and further away from the SF of Schismatrix nonetheless engrossing. Clarke can write and, even state of flux. There wasn’t a lot of strong traditional
over the past years, and reached some kind of a with its flaws, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell short SF that stood out, but there was a lot of good
turning point with The Zenith Angle. In many is a considerable achievement. Even though Terry SF that added elements of this or that to the mix,
ways a lousy novel - it takes almost no interest in Pratchett has an enormous readership, he remains and a lot of fiction that was fantasy, or fantasy and
character and reads like it was plotted by someone critically under-regarded. Pratchett published two a bit of this or a bit of that.
suffering from Asperger’s - The Zenith Angle is top-notch novels in 2004. Going Postal is a major That said, the best SF story I saw all year was
a terrific book. It firmly and convincingly grasps new Discworld novel that brings his mordantly Christopher Rowe’s extraordinary novelette, “The
important questions about information security, humorous worldview to the stuff of bureaucracy Voluntary State”. Set in a dystopian near future
our dependency on information technology, and and emphasizes that freedom of choice should be Kentucky, it takes the same kind of biotech and
how Western society is actually constructed in a tempered by an awareness of consequences. Equally cyberstuff that Kathleen Ann Goonan played with in
way that is breathtaking. Urgent, intelligent, it is impressive, the second Tiffany Aching novel A Hat Queen City Jazz and creates the kind of dislocating
essential. And then there is Gwyneth Jones’s Life. Full of Sky is touching, funny, perceptive, and tale that is what the best SF is all about (although
In amongst spinning tales of her Rock ’n’ Roll Reich wonderful. Pratchett is a treasure. nothing like it, reading “The Voluntary State” was
Jones found time to produce an engrossing novel of I was unexpectedly impressed by Clive Barker’s not unlike reading “Scanners Live in Vain” for the
gender, sex, and biochemistry that runs perilously Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War. While I first time - you were either jazzed or mystified). It
close to the mainstream (it arguably should have felt that its predecessor, Abarat, relied overly on was the best story on Ellen Datlow’s Sci Fiction
been a mainstream novel), but also shows that if SF Barker’s illustrations for effect, this is a convincingly website, which had its best year yet and is clearly
is about real tomorrows, then it’s more about sex weird piece of fantasy that suggests Barker really is one of the top three magazines in the field today (and
and gender than cute tech toys. on to something. I look forward to heading back to yes, it really should be counted as an SF magazine).
While those four books are the most important the Islands once more. Charles de Lint had his best The SF story that stayed with me the most this year,
SF novels of 2004, they aren’t the only ones I year in a long time, delivering two strong books. though, was Jeff VanderMeer’s quite wonderful
enjoyed. Cory Doctorow, who arguably could Novella Medicine Road is a sequel to Seven Wild “Three Days in a Border Town”, about a search for
stand amongst the company mentioned above, Sisters, but is a better, more magical, book, while a mythical ambulatory city set against the far-future
delivered a thoroughly entertaining yam about YA ghost story The Blue Girl - it was a good backdrop of VanderMeer’s Veniss Underground.
cultural drift, information sharing, and circadian year for ghost stories for some reason - is his best It’s hauntingly ethereal. Relative newcomer Paolo
rhythms in Eastern Standard Tribe which is book in years. The best YA novel I read this year, Bacigalupi delivered two impressive novelettes,
totally of the now, while his sometime collaborator, though, was Scott Westerfeld’s Midnighters: The the disturbingly effective “The People of Sand
Charles Stross, delivered two novels of interest, Secret Hour, which is filled with the kind of secret and Slag”, and the Dzm^-like “The Pasho”, while
Iron Sunrise and The Family Trade. Follow-on moments and unexpected magics that teenagers Daniel Abraham published a small handful of
 2004: The Year in R eview / 9
excellent short SF stories, the best of which, “Flat grandmother who keeps her village in her handbag a number of other books really stood out. The
Diane”, takes schoolkid’s “Flat Stanley” project is beautifully written and touches on everything I best original anthology of any kind this year is
and turns it into something dark and disturbing, love about fantasy. Relative newcomer M. Rickert Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling’s The Faery Reel:
though the spy-game hugger-mugger of “Leviathan has published some fine stories of late, but her Tales from the Twilight Realm. Unlike the also-
Wept” is also impressive. Bradley Denton has “Cold Fires” is her best work yet, and deserves worthwhile Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy
published relatively few stories of late, but his to be ranked among the year’s best. This subtly from Al Sarrantonio, it has a handful of excellent
novella “Sergeant Chip”, about an augmented moving tale intertwines two tales of love, romance, stories (see the Link and Ford stories mentioned
dog serving in a future military campaign, ranks and magic. Fellow newcomer Theodora Goss also above, for example), some very strong ones and no
amongst the best of 2004, as do John Kessel’s “The had an excellent year. Her “The Wings of Meister real duds. It would be my pick for the World Fantasy
Baum Plan for Financial Independence ” and David Wilhelm” and “Miss Emily Gray” are both Award this year. The urgent need for SF to explore
Moles’s “The Third Party”. Eleanor Arnason, who beautifully constructed, haunting tales, though I new directions was evident in Robert Silverberg’s
has been cruelly overlooked (a book collecting preferred “Wings” somewhat. . Between Worlds, the best SF anthology of the
her best short fiction is long overdue), published It was impossible to overlook Jeffrey Ford, who year, which contained six strong novellas, most
an excellent new Hwarhath story “The Garden”, had three outstanding stories published. “A Night of which could have been written 30 years ago.
while Michael Flynn’s “The Clapping Hands of at the Tropics” and “Jupiter’s Skull” are both Gregory Benford’s Microcosms, which featured
God” was one of the two best stories published in first-rank, but I especially loved “The Annals of strong short stories by Stephen Baxter and Pamela
Analog, SF’s most traditional of venues. Several Eelin-Ok”, about the tragic, short lives of faeries Sargent, was also worthwhile. Deborah Layne & Jay
worthwhile stories appeared in odd places that were that live only in the moments between a child Lake’s Polyphony 4 was the best of the slipstream
easy to overlook. M. John Harrison’s “tourism”, a finishing building a sand castle at the beach and anthologies, though All-Star Zeppelin Adventure
tour de force piece of SF set in his Light universe, its destruction by incoming tides. Almost perfect. Stories was fun. As mentioned above, the best short
was published as a promotional item by Amazon, The ever-versatile Neil Gaiman plays games with story collection of the year was Margo Lanagan’s
com, Cory Doctorow’s “Anda’s Game”, an alternate gothic stuff in the very funny “Forbidden Brides of Black Juice, but I’d strongly recommend Lucius
take on Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game”, was the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Shepard’s fine, if somewhat overstuffed, Trujillo
at Salon.com, and Vernor Vinge offered up a solid Night of Dread Desire” and interestingly works and Other Stories, and Jeff VanderMeer’s excellent
piece of his upcoming novel in “Sympathetic out his frustrations with C.S. Lewis in Narnia tale Secret Life. The best retrospectives were John
Serendipity” at IEEE Spectrum Online. “The Problem With Susan”. Kelly Link’s masterful Crowley’s Novelties and Souvenirs, John Varley’s
Three writers deserve special mention here. “Stone Animals” is probably the best ghost story The John Varley Reader, and Robert Silverberg’s
The ever-prolific Charles Stross completed his I read all year, though Tim Powers’s fine novelette Phases of the Moon. Numerous chapbooks and
Accelerando cycle with “Elector” and “Survivor” “Pat Moore” is a strong contender. China Mieville pamphlets were published during the year, and two
(Asimov’s), surely one of the most inventive wrote my favorite piece of gentle weirdness in of them were essential: Richard Butner’s Horses
and energetic SF story cycles ever published, “Reports of Certain Events in London”, though Blow Up Dog City and Other Stories collected the
delivered two entertaining collaborations with Cory I was also taken by the sheer weirdness of Joyce best early stories from this interesting writer (“The
Doctorow, and also managed a highly entertaining Carol Oates’s “The Fabled Light House at Vina Del Rules of Gambling” stands out), and Theodora
sequel to his Lovecraftian spy novel with “The Mar”. Locus staffer Tim Pratt has developed into Goss’s The Rose in Twelve Petals & Other
Concrete Jungle”. Stephen Baxter, who has been one of our most interesting new short story writers, Stories gathered together a number of poems and
working towards the end of his Xeelee cycle, had something evidenced by his Campbell nomination short fantasies from a writer with the potential to
a strong year. Weird hard SF “PeriAndry’s Quest” this year. Short story “Life in Stone” is a powerful be one of our best.
is a romance set on a world where time changes take on the dangers of long life and the failings As this highly personal, far-too-long-but-still-
the higher up you live on the cliff-like world, while of memory, and is close to his best story to date. too-short overview makes clear (I hope), there was
Xeelee novella Mayflower II is one of the major It deserves a wider audience. The best traditional a lot of interesting short fiction published in a lot
novellas of the year and an important addition to the fantasy story I saw was Elizabeth A. Lynn’s of different places. It was almost impossible to
generation starship oeuvre. James Patrick Kelly had masterpiece of economy, “The Silver Dragon”, keep up, and I know I’ve overlooked mentioning
one of the best years of his career, publishing strong which elegantly manages to cover the ground of an worthwhile fiction, but I think any reader would
novella “The Wreck of the Godspeed”, hardboiled entire epic fantasy about dragons, transformation, have found something that would delight. And now,
far-future novelette “Men Are Trouble”, and dark and romantic love in a single novelette, though I did finally, to my personal Top 10 of the year, along
SFnal Christmas tale “The Best Christmas Ever”. very much like Deborah Roggie’s equally traditional with a little cheat. Herewith, a Top 10 Stories (in
No writer dominated the scene the way Lucius “The Enchanted Trousseau”. I also enjoyed Terry alphabetical order by author) and my Top 2 Books
Shepard did in 2003, though several writers made a Dowling’s “Clownette”, Simon Brown’s “Water of short fiction. Enjoy!
good try. Gene Wolfe published no fewer than nine Babies”, Richard Butner’s “The Wounded”, and
new stories, four of which made our final lists. Of Michael Swanwick’s “The Word that Sings the Top 2 Books
those, SF story “The Lost Pilgrim”, about a far- Scythe”. Black Juice, Margo Lanagan
future traveler journeying back in time to voyage There were some outstanding long fantasy stories. The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight
on the Argo was possibly the best, though fantasies Gregory Feeley’s “Arabian Wine”, about coffee Realm, Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, eds.
“The Little Stranger” and “Golden City Far” were imports to Europe, is probably the fantasy novella
first-rate, and stand as further evidence of Wolfe’s of the year, though Ian McDowell’s pirate fantasy Top 10 Stories
current interest in the stuff of fantasy. Robert Reed, “Under the Flag of Night”, Patricia A. McKillip’s Bradley Denton, “Sergeant Chip”
the writer who probably appears most regularly in gentle romance “The Gorgon in the Cupboard”, Jeffrey Ford, “A Night at the Tropics”
the majors, published 11 stories, three of which made and Peter. S. Beagle’s fine “Quarry” were all Margo Lanagan, “Singing My Sister Down”
our list. The best of them is fantasy novelette “The outstanding. Kelly Link, “The Faery Handbag”
Dragons of Summer Gulch”, about disreputable I’d be remiss not mention a few stories that didn’t Elizabeth A. Lynn, “The Silver Dragon”
folk fighting over commercially desirable dragon quite fit elsewhere. I couldn’t see a way to count M. Rickert, “Cold Fires”
remains, but “Opal Ball” and “A Plague of Life” Stephen King’s excellent novelette “Lisey and the Christopher Rowe, “The Voluntary State”
are also worth seeking out. Charles Coleman Finlay Madman” as a genre story, but it was one of the Lewis Shiner, “Perfidia”
published half a dozen stories during the year, and I best things I’ve seen from him in some time, and Michael Swanwick, “The Last Geek”
was most taken with “After the Gaud Chrysalis” and certain to be of interest to genre readers. Michael Jeff VanderMeer, “Three Days in a Border Town”
“The Seal Hunter”; Carol Emshwiller had another Swanwick’s short story “The Last Geek” also -Jonathan Strahan
extraordinary year, with two excellent tales, “All wasn’t really genre, but is an almost perfect gem of
of Us Can Almost...” and “Gliders Though They a tale about the last of the carnival geeks lecturing The following stories received five or more recom­
Be”; and Walter Jon Williams published a number to university students. My favorite borderline story mendations, and constitute our “best of the best”
of good long SF stories; the best was “The Tang though, and probably the biggest cheat on this list, list: “Leviathan Wept”, Daniel Abraham; “The Gar­
Dynasty Underwater Pyramid”. is Lewis Shiner’s “Perfidia”. It’s been some years den”, Eleanor Arnason; “Quarry”, PeterS. Beagle;
The best fantasy story of 2004 was Margo since we saw any new fiction from Shiner, and this “The Fear Gun”, Judith Berman; “A Night in the
Lanagan’s extraordinary “Singing My Sister haunting novelette about a modem day researcher Tropics”, Jeffrey Ford; “Men Are Trouble”, James
Down” from her collection Black Juice. The best uncovering a lost final recording by Glenn Miller is Patrick Kelly; “Under the Flag of Night”, Ian Mc­
story in the best collection of the year, it’s about a more secret history than anything else, but it’s totally Dowell; “Pat Moore”, Tim Powers; “Cold Fires”,
tribal family forced to witness a sentence carried essential and I wish I could have shoehorned it into M. Rickert; “The Voluntary State”, Christopher
out on a loved one. My favorite story of the year, one of my Year’s Best collections. Rowe; “The Word that Sings the Scythe”, Michael
though, was Kelly Link’s delightful “The Faery While the simplest way to get hold of excellent Swanwick; “The Lost Pilgrim”, Gene Wolfe.
Handbag”. This affectionate story of an eccentric short fiction is in the various Year’s Best annuals, ►H
10 /2004: The Year in Review
l<< Recommended Reading big, cold universe, but the scale of Coyote Rising The best stories are those by Nancy Kress, Walter
is merely planetary, though when you’re afoot, Jon Williams, and James Patrick Kelly, but there’s
BIG FUN AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS that provides plenty of room for a colonial-revolt nothing in the anthology less than good, and I
by Russell Letson story with a cast of normal-scale humans solving would expect to see most of these novellas (the
The annual meeting will please come to order. human-scale problems. others are by Stephen Baxter, Mike Resnick, and
Old Business: Not enough time again this year; Another physically as well as conceptually big Silverberg himself) turn up on one Best of the Year
more good books than I could get to; really enjoyed book this year was the career-summarizing The list or another. (As an old dinosaur, solidly retro and
everything I did manage to read; still haven’t fin­ John Varley Reader, which I venture to suggest uncool in his tastes, it struck me as a nice change
ished writing my own book; et tediously familiar belongs in every SF library. Varley’s kind of Big to see an anthology that featured nothing but solid
cetera. You’ve heard all the traditional disclaimers addresses the apparently endless possibilities open center-core SF, instead of the trendy genre-bending
and whining a dozen times or more. to a technologically and emotionally liberated hu­ and mixing that many of the year’s other antholo­
New Business: 16 of the 20 2004 titles I reviewed mankind, which makes him a literary godfather to gies attempted to one extent or another.)
between January 2004 and this month were series several of my other favorite writers. Larry Niven It’s harder to come up with a clear follow-up
entries (wait, shouldn’t that be in Old Business?), is another godfather of this varied family, and if I candidate for best original SF anthology, although
and I’m not sure whether this says more about had really short hair, a lip beard, and an all-black all the anthologies I’m about to mention are worth
science-fiction book-biz conditions or my reading wardrobe, I might think that Ringworld’s Chil­ reading. Synergy SF: New Science Fiction, edited
habits. I suppose if I had pursued more first nov­ dren is, like, so 20th-Century. But I’m an old fart by George Zebrowski, and Microcosms, edited
els, I would be seen to be expanding my horizons, who was around when a ringworld was a hot new by Gregory Benford, are both anthologies that
but the new stuff would have to get in line behind Idea, and I think this chapter of the cycle holds its have spent several years on the shelf in Publishing
books that I wish I’d been able to read from Greg own pretty well among its upstart descendants. Limbo before finally being published (since 1996 in
Bear, Joe Haldeman, Paul McAuley, Kim Stanley And speaking of old farts, two of our most senior Synergy’s case!), and it shows to some extent - still,
Robinson, and Bruce Sterling. Life, as we keep surviving writers turned in books that retain their Synergy SF features an excellent novelette by Elea­
discovering, is too short. unmistakable voices. Both Frederik Pohl’s The nor Amason and good work by Charles L. Hamess,
The first novelist I did read turned out to be a Boy Who Would Live Forever and Jack Vance’s Damien Broderick, Jan Lars Jensen, and others,
real keeper. Karen Traviss produced nvo volumes Lurulu are loose-jointed, episodic tours of well- and Microcosms features a first-rate novelette by
of a series about multi-species cultural collisions established territories, and I’ll happily listen to Pamela Sargent, as well as good work by Tom Pur-
and very close encounters with the Other. (She also these geezers as long as they care to keep talking. dom, Stephen Baxter, Jack McDevitt, and others.
produced a Star Wars novel that I consider off my Then there’s the Old Man himself. Heinlein’s lost The best story in Space Stations, edited by Martin
beat). I’ve already compared Traviss to Neal Asher, first novel, For Us, The Living, is at the other end H. Greenberg & John Helfers, is by newcomer
Eleanor Amason, C.J. Cherryh, Nancy Kress, and of the career arc, a failed novel that shows much of Brendan DuBois, but the anthology also features
Ursula K. Le Guin, and if that’s not enough to send what would emerge just a few years down the line. strong work by James Cobb, Pamela Sargent, Jean
you looking for City of Pearl and Crossing the Still, I’m glad to have read it. Rabe, Julie E. Czemeda, Jack Williamson, Gregory
Line, you’re reading the wrong reviewer. Other Business (that is, the inevitable category­ Benford, and others, and at mass-market prices is a
Everything else I read, I was fairly sure of liking defying items): Sean McMullen’s science-fantasy good value for your money. Much the same could
before I even saw the proofs. That might make me Glass Dragons isn’t quite Big, but it does echo be said, although it’s not quite as strong overall, for
less than adventurous, but see comment re: Life, some of the motifs of transformation and post-hu­ Cosmic Tales: Adventures in Sol Space, edited by
above. Among these, I suppose Neal Stephenson manity that often accompany its straight-SF cous­ T.K.F Weisskopf, which featured good work by Al­
deserves the biggest accolade, only partly for pro­ ins. Charles Stress’s The Family Trade switches len M. Steele, Jack McDevitt, James P. Hogan, Wes
ducing the physically-heaviest objects. The second from the horizontal expanses of space opera to the Spencer, Gregory Benford, and others, as well as
and third volumes of the Baroque Cycle, The verticals of parallel worlds, but retains his gift of a posthumous story by Charles Sheffield. A mixed
Confusion and The System of the World, come exhaustive and exuberant exploitation of all aspects fantasy and SF (mostly fantasy) anthology about
in at more than 800 pages apiece, and aside from a of its milieu. And John Barnes’s Gaudeamus goes dogs, Sirius, The Dog Star, edited by Martin H.
nagging, extra-literary anxiety about meeting my here because he made his book uncategorizable (a Greenberg and Alexander Potter, was weaker than
deadlines, their length and complexity were never roman a clef? a weird detective-thriller? an Area either of the last two books named, but still had
an issue. In fact, Stephenson is one of the few writ­ 51 comedy? a mock-schlock men’s adventure?) interesting work by Tanya Huff, Kristine Kathryn
ers in or out of our field (and he seems to be both on purpose. (See my review elsewhere in this issue Rusch, Michelle West, and others. Visions of Lib­
simultaneously) whose scope of vision, inventive­ for an elaboration of my mystification and why I erty, edited by Mark Tier and Martin H. Greenberg,
ness, and writing chops justify the doorstop mass like it anyway.) was a bit too didactically libertarian for my taste,
of his output. I don’t care whether it’s “really” SF As usual, I recommend all these books, after all although your mileage may vary. A few years back,
or fantasy or just a twisted, postmodern historical they survived and even thrived in the miserably I criticized the “black SF” anthology Dark Matter
saga, it’s hugely enjoyable in every way that fic­ crowded environment of my reading schedule. If for not having much actual science fiction in it, but
tion should be. constrained to choose a subset, I would offer the that’s a charge that can’t be laid against So Long
Come to think of it, my particular 2004 might dozen below. Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction &
turn out to be the Year of Big. There certainly were Fantasy, edited by Nalo Hopkinson & Uppinder
enough Big Idea-Widescreen Adventures: Neal Cowl, Neal Asher Mehan; although it contains some fantasy and some
Asher’s Cowl, Ken MacLeod’s Newton’s Wake, Crucible, Nancy Kress fabulism (mostly flavored with Caribbean folklore),
Larry Niven’s Ringworld’s Children, Charles Newton’s Wake, Ken MacLeod So Long Been Dreaming also features some strong
Stress’s Iron Sunrise (paradoxically downsized to Lost in Transmission, Wil McCarthy science fiction, just as promised, and, what’s more,
near-chamber proportions), Wil McCarthy’s Lost in The Confusion and The System of the World, SF infused with a cultural perspective rarer than it
Transmission, and Sean Williams & Shane Dix’s Neal Stephenson should be in the genre - the standout story here is
Heirs of Earth careened around space-time, spray­ Iron Sunrise, Charles Stross by Vandana Singh, but there’s also powerful work
ing magical technology in all directions, often with The Family Trade, Charles Stross by Nisi Shawl, Andrea Hairston, Karin Lowachee,
substantial helpings of post-humanity and creepy- City of Pearl, Karen Traviss Greg van Eekhout, devorah major, Tobias S. Buck-
alien menace. In the middle of writing this essay, Crossing the Line, Karen Traviss ell, and others.
some online acquaintances were wondering where Lurulu, Jack Vance Some of the most interesting anthologies of the
the Good Old Stuff had gone, and all I had to do was The John Varley Reader, John Varley year were alternate-history anthologies, most of
cut and paste that list of titles, along with the now-fa­ - Russell Letson which mixed alternate-history with fantasy (in fact,
miliar suggestion that we may be in another Golden alternate-history fantasy seems to be emerging as a
Age (pace my colleagues in other venues who have RECOMMENDED READING sub-sub-genre of late) and/or fabulism/slipstream/
more postmodern yearnings for the genre). by Gardner Dozois Magic Realism/whatever we’re calling it this year.
Nancy Kress has a knack for taking Big and mak­ It wasn’t a bad year overall for original antholo­ The First Heroes: New Tales of the Bronze Age,
ing it intimate as well as immediate. The issues in gies, with one major SF and one major fantasy an­ edited by Harry Turtledove and Noreen Doyle,
Crucible are certainly world-shaking, but Kress’s thology; as for the rest of this year’s anthologies, features one SF story (appropriately enough, a
art is in drilling down to the moral core of alien most may have contained only a few really good time-travel story by the late Poul Anderson; I’ve
encounters or miraculous technologies, and into stories apiece, but there were a lot of them pub­ seen the Gene Wolfe story here listed as an SF story
the human heart as well. Jack McDevitt can make lished, especially in SF, an encouraging sign. too, but although it’s true that it’s also a time-travel
Big positively cozy, as demonstrated by Polaris, The best original SF anthology of the year was story, it’s a time-travel story that a Iso features the
which is more cold-case murder mystery than space undoubtedly Between Worlds, edited by Robert literal physical existence of gods and man-eating
adventure. And Allen Steele knows all about the Silverberg, a collection of six original novellas. giants, which stretches the definition a bit), and one
 2004: The Year in Review /1 1
nearly-impossible-to-categorize story (by Gregory anthology of the year is probably Flights: Extreme Adventure Stories comes a good deal closer), but
Feeley), with the rest falling pretty solidly into Visions of Fantasy, edited by Al Sarrantonio. any anthology with stories by Stephen King, Peter
the alternate-history fantasy camp; overall, it’s a There’s nothing either particularly “dangerous” Straub, and China Mieville in it is probably going
strong anthology, with the best stories being the or “extreme” here (Neal Barrett, Jr.’s story may to be worth reading, and this one is too, especially
aforementioned stories by Anderson, Wolfe, and be the most “dangerous,” and it contains nothing at trade paperback prices.
Feeley, although the book also has good work that wasn’t in Dante hundreds of years ago, while There were also several cross-genre anthologies
by Lois Tilton, Brenda Clough, Judith Tarr, and any issue of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet this year: Irresistible Forces, edited by Catherine
Turtledove himself. A similar mix of alternate his­ or Polyphony - or the Year’s Best Fantasy and Asaro, which mixed SF/fantasy with romance, and
tory, fantasy, and hard-to-classify stuff characterizes Horror, for that matter - will contain experiments Murder by Magic, edited by Rosemary Edghill,
Conqueror Fantastic, edited by Pamela Sargent; the with the fantasy form considerably more “extreme” and Powers of Detection: Stories of Mystery and
best work here is probably by Sargent herself (one of than anything in this anthology), the book contains Fantasy, edited by Dana Stabenow, both of which
the fantasies) and James Morrow (one of the unclas- too much horror for my taste (just as Redshift did), mixed fantasy with the mystery story.
sifiables), but the anthology also features good work and too many of the stories are minor or weak By this point, it shouldn’t come as a surprise
by Kij Johnson, Jack Dann, Stephen Dedman, the late - but it’s such a huge anthology, that, all that be­ to anyone that some of the best stories of the
George Alec Effinger, and others. ReVisions, edited ing said, the good stories that are left behind once year appeared on Ellen Datlow’s Sci Fiction on
by Julie E. Czemeda and Isaac Szpindel, sticks a little you toss the others out still make up into a large the Internet, including stories by Pat Murphy,
more closely to core alternate history; although some anthology of first-rate fantasy stories by Gene Christopher Rowe, Terry Bisson, Robert Reed,
of the alternate history scenarios featured are pretty Wolfe, Elizabeth Hand, Tim Powers, Thomas M. George R.R. Martin, Daniel Abraham, Michaela
unlikely, none stretch as far as giants or centaurs or Disch, Patricia A. McKillip, Neil Gaiman, Orson Roessner, Walter Jon Williams, Mary Rosenblum,
ghosts - best stuff here is by Geoffrey A. Landis and Scott Card, Elizabeth A. Lynn, Jeffery Ford, the Alex Irvine, Howard Waldrop, and others. Eileen
Kage Baker, although there’s also entertaining sto­ beforementioned Barrett, and a number of others. Gunn’s The Infinite Matrix hung on for another
ries by Laura Anne Gilman, John G. McDaid, Cory Another good original was a YA fantasy anthology year, although in a somewhat diminished state due
Doctorow and Charles Stress, the editors themselves, called The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight to budget problems, although there was still a lot
and others. All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, Realm, edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, of interesting, quirky stuff to read there, including
edited by Jay Lake and David Moles, is not so much which had good work by Tanith Lee, Gregory Frost, columns by Howard Waldrop, David Langford,
a sober alternate-history anthology as (as the cover Jeffrey Ford, Patricia A. McKillip, Kelly Link, and John Clute, stories by Karen D. Fishier, Leslie
makes clear, if the title didn’t) an attempt to create Katherine Vas, and others. Other original fantasy What, and others, and a whole archive of good stuff
a collection of stories infused with a sort of playful anthologies, not operating on the level of these from previous years. Strange Horizons continues to
retro-pulp sensibility, in worlds where zeppelins first two but still worthwhile, included Masters of “publish” (we really do need a new term for this!)
continued to fulfill a major role in international affairs Fantasy, edited by Bill Fawcett, The Magic Shop, a lot of good professional-level stuff, although very
after World War II; some of the authors included play edited by Denise Little, and Faerie Tales, edited little of it is science fiction, the majority of it be­
this fairly straight, speculating on social/economic by Martin H. Greenberg and Russell Davis. (Plus, ing fantasy, slipstream, and soft horror, including,
factors that might have helped the zeppelin endure, as indicated, good fantasy stories could be found this year, worthwhile work by Vandana Singh, Liz
while others push it well beyond “plausible” to a this year in ostensible SF anthologies such as The Williams, Brenda Cooper, Ellen Klages, Daniel
heightened deliberate absurdity, including tales of First Heroes and Conqueror Fantastic.) Starr, Kate Bachus, Bill Kte’pi, and others; sure
zeppelin-bome civilizations that must remain forever As the newly emerging slipstream/fabulism/New like to see them publish more science fiction,
aloft and stories that feature living mile-long zep­ Weird/interstitialist/postransformationist sub-genre though, especially rigorous hard SF, which isn’t a
pelins that darken the skies in great herds over the continues to precipitate out from the parent body description that can really be applied even to the
American plains. Fortunately, few of the stories take of genre SF/fantasy, further individual sub-varieties few SF stories that do appear on the site. On the
themselves too seriously, and the anthology is a lot are already beginning to differentiate themselves, other hand, Oceans of the Mind, which is avail­
of fun in a sly, sardonic way; the best stories here are so that although one may not be able to define the able by electronic subscription, publishes mostly
by David D. Levine and Benjamin Rosenbaum, but differences precisely, it’s pretty easy to discern a core science fiction, with only the occasional slip
there’s also good work by James L. Cambias, James difference in flavor between, say, the Polyphony into something else; overall quality here seemed
Van Pelt, Paul Berger, Tobias S. Buckell, and others, camp and the Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet a bit lower than last year, but they still featured
plus a classic reprint by Howard Waldrop. (There camp or The Third Alternative camp, and a differ­ interesting stuff by Russell Blackford, Mark W.
were several other zeppelin stories published here ence between all of them and what China Mieville Tiedemann, Paul Marlowe, K.D. Wentworth, and
and there this year, including a long one in Sci Fiction seems to mean when he talks about the “New others. New electronic magazines continue to pro­
by Gary W. Shockley, although whether they were Weird.” I think at this point I tend to prefer the liferate like (what’s a polite metaphor? Like flies?
originally intended for All-Star Zeppelin Adventure more robust and muscular “interstitialism” of the Like maggots?) like quickly proliferating things on
Stories and were rejected or missed the deadline or Polyphony books and All-Star Zeppelin Adven­ the Internet, and many of them won’t last out the
whether it’s just “zeppelin time” this year, as last year ture Stories, with its mixing of tropes from various year ahead. One new electronic magazine which is
seemed to be “dragon time,” is difficult to say.) genres (which usually means that the stories at least already operating on a reliable professional level
There was a long-delayed “regional” anthology have plots and action), to the more abstract and of quality, though, and which seems quite promis­
finally published this year, after having changed surreal stuff you usually find in Lady Churchill’s ing, is Aeon, whose first issue this year featured an
publishers several time, Crossroads: Tales of and some of its imitators - but it’s early days yet almost novel-length story by Walter Jon Williams,
the Southern Literary Fantastic, edited by F. for this whole area, and I’ve heard readers argue it plus strong work by John Meaney, Jay Lake, Lori
Brett Cox and Andy Duncan, a mixed reprint and exactly the other way around, for reasons exactly Ann White, and others.
original anthology that features a mixture of SF, opposite the reasons for my own preferences. At any And SF stories continued to spread across the
fantasy, slipstream/fabulism, and what more-or- rate, my favorite anthology this year among those Internet, appearing in places where it wouldn’t
less amounts to straight mainstream stories. My that dance on the edge of genre (considering it to seem intuitively logical to look for them. Salon,
biggest complaint about Crossroads, oddly, is that be a slipstream/fabulism anthology rather than an for instance, now features several SF stories per
it’s not regional enough; quite a few of the stories alternate-history anthology, which in some ways is year, including, this year, strong stories by Cory
here don’t feature much in the way of Southern a better fit for it anyway) was the beforementioned Doctorow, D. William Shunn, Alex Irvine, and oth­
local color, a flavor you’d have thought would be All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, followed ers; and stories, including a few of the year’s best,
strong in the stew, and might just as well take place by Polyphony 4, edited by Deborah Layne & Jay showed up in such peculiar places as the website
anywhere as in the South. Still, although some of Lake, which features strong and quirky work by of an organization of electrical engineers (Vernor
the contents are disappointing, there is also a lot of Lucius Shepard, Alex Irvine, Tim Pratt, Theodora Vinge’s “Synthetic Serendipity”) and as, of all
strong stuff here; the best story is by Jack McDevitt, Goss, Jeff VanderMeer, Greg van Eekout, and oth­ things, an advertisement for a novel being sold on
but the anthology also has good original work by ers. Leviathan 4: Cities, edited by Forrest Aquirre, Amazon.com (M. John Harrison’s “tourism”)!
Michael Swanwick, James L. Cambias, Don Webb, is a good deal more surreal and self-consciously Three new print magazines debuted in 2004,
Scott Edelman, and others, plus good reprints by decadent, but still features interesting if sometimes Argosy, Postscripts, and the revived Amazing, but
Gene Wolfe, John Kessel, Ian McDowell, Kelly somewhat abstract work by Jay Lake, Stephen by the end of the year, Argosy was in limbo, its
Link, Andy Duncan himself, and others. Chapman, Ursula Pflug, and others. McSweeney’s editor, Lou Anders, having left to edit the new Pyr
2004 was another good year for fantasy antholo­ Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories, SF line for Prometheus Books, and Amazing was
gies. Annoying as the over-heated editorial copy is edited by Michael Chabon, a follow-up to last announced to be “on hiatus”; the future of both of
(almost as annoying as in 200l’s Redshift, which year’s McSweeney’s Mammoth Treasury of these magazines, I’m afraid, has to be considered
was going to be the Dangerous Visions of science Thrilling Tales, again promises to deliver a kind to be in doubt. Let’s hope that Postscripts, which is
fiction, just as Flights is supposed to be the Dan­ of Retro Pulp sensibility that most of the stories produced by two of the sharpest people in the busi-
gerous Visions of fantasy), the best overall fantasy don’t really manage to deliver (All-Star Zeppelin ►M
12/2004: The Year in Review
l« Recommended Reading blundering somehow to a sort of victory; Elizabeth by space and time.
Hand’s decorous yet transgressive Mortal Love 2004 was a vintage year for single-author col­
ness, Peter Crowther and Nick Gevers, has better examined the wellsprings of artistic inspiration in lections. Lucius Shepard had two: Two Trains
luck. The small-press magazine Talebones had a contexts contemporary and Pre-Raphaelite, deliv­ Running, addressing American hobo culture, partly
good year, with its especially strong Summer issue ering passages of astonishing epiphany; and Sean in journalistic wise, partly through fantastic hy­
featuring work by Paul Meiko, David D. Levine, Stewart’s Perfect Circle was perfection indeed, an pertrophication; and Trujillo, a massive, brooding
and Devon Monk. understated, down-at-heels ghost story cum family volume of novellas which anatomized the human
Good novellas in individual chapbook form con­ saga overflowing with life and wry insight. And then present in terms fuliginous, hallucinated, ferocious­
tinued to be published. PS Publishing brought out there was Lucius Shepard, with Viator, an extraor­ ly moral (and included the original title novel, the
Mayflower II, by Stephen Baxter and No Traveller dinary sustained riff on an existence poised above equal of Viator for concentrated menace). (I edited
Returns, by Paul Park; Golden Gryphon brought the alluring, poisonous abyss, and A Handbook Trujillo, and must acknowledge a personal inter­
out Mere, by Robert Reed; Night Shade brought out of American Prayer, an evisceration of celebrity est in it; it is, nonetheless, and very deliberately, a
Viator, by Lucius Shepard; and Subterranean Press culture that - understated by Shepard’s standards landmark book.) Jeff VanderMeer’s retrospective,
brought out Liar’s House, by Lucius Shepard. - was also a touching love story and a celebration Secret Life, a glittering repository of experimental
In addition to the usual Best of the Year and award of things ordinary. (The book edition of Shepard’s tales told in penetratingly precise prose, especially
anthologies, there were a couple of good stand­ novella Liar’s House should also be mentioned notable for its fabulations located in Latin America
alone reprint SF anthologies this year, providing an here.) Lindsay Clarke wrote a sterling revisionist and the desiccated, mutant future of Veniss Under­
overview of recent work in the genre. The best of account of The War at Troy, capturing beauti­ ground, and Breathmoss and Other Exhalations
them was probably The Locus Awards, edited by fully the vast tragedy of the conflict, even while by Ian R. MacLeod, an assemblage of long stories
Charles N. Brown and Jonathan Strahan, but The leaching it of some of its fantastic coloration; and full of long-breathed evocations of England in the
James Tiptree Award Anthology 1; Sex, the Fu­ Greg Bear’s Dead Lines inculcated genuine fright first half of the 20th century and similarly stately
ture, & Chocolate Chip Cookies, edited by Karen with its conceit of the mobile phone industry, end­ alien landscapes, majestically exotic yet familiar
Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey lessly greedy for bandwidth, becoming a conduit as home, were both of the first rank. John Crowley
D. Smith, provided an interesting overview of re­ for the multitudinous dead. Fantasy, then, had an at last compiled a Collected Stories (though not
cent years in the field as well. Good fantasy reprint exceptional year. quite complete) in Novelties & Souvenirs, replete
anthologies included In Lands That Never Were: For science fiction, affairs were more average. with elegant description and elliptical formal wiz­
Tales of Sword and Sorcery from the Magazine But that still leaves a lot to applaud. Kim Stanley ardry; Gene Wolfe’s fine Innocents Aboard was
of Fantasy & Science Fiction, edited by Gordon Robinson’s Forty Signs of Rain, first in a trilogy likewise subtle, deft, a compendium of virtuosity,
Van Gelder, and New Magics, a YA fantasy anthol­ concerning global warming, was an extremely in­ and a very oblique guide through the trammels of
ogy edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden. teresting narrative experiment, a thriller with little the unbelieving world. Also most worthy of men­
- Gardner Dozois overt plot which concentrated instead on the culture tion: among long-established authors, John Varley
of science in America, its corporate and public sampled his distinguished career in The John Var­
2004: THE YEAR IN REVIEW administration, the supreme difficulty of knocking ley Reader, a vivacious volume further enlivened
by Nick Gevers environmental sense into conservative heads on by excellent introductory essays; Gardner Dozois
Before it began, 2004 was, for me at least, an Capitol Hill, and on the intense private lives of some gathered an impressive range of his intensely felt
impending annus mirabilis in SF and fantasy: many key individuals racing to understand the dynamics SF and fantasy in Morning Child; and Mary
of my favorite writers were publishing new books of a changing climate. The final chapters formed a Gentle’s penchant for epigram and swordplay was
- sometimes more than one (three for Gene Wolfe, magisterial climax and wake-up call. In River of attractively exhibited in Cartomancy. Among
five for Lucius Shepard!) - and, although a few of Gods, Ian McDonald also captured a near-future newer names, there were the beguiling Mother
the planned volumes ended up postponed into ’05, of rising temperatures and tensions, embroidering Aegypt by Kage Baker, featuring the Company
the feast was indeed served up, the table groaned it about with pungent evocations of Indian life, and Lord Ermenwyr in all their self-aggrandiz­
with wonders. It was a damned fine year. much political intrigue, the rise of godlike Ais, ing vigor; The Atrocity Archives, adding a new
The finest novel of 2004 was Gene Wolfe’s The and an alien visitation, all witnessed through the novella and essay to Charles Stress’s previously
Wizard Knight, split into The Knight and The elaborate prism of ten idiosyncratic and active serialized The Atrocity Archive; and Jay Lake’s
Wizard. Intricate, ingenious, and eloquent, this personal lives, some evil or aberrant, some incipi- American Sorrows, a quartet of well-written and
large book reached back to the ancestral materials of ently heroic, all consumingly interesting. Charles luminously imagined long stories. In addition, The
fantasy, reinventing Norse and other bodies of myth, Stross continued to wax prolific: his Iron Sunrise, Rose in Twelve Petals, a chapbook collection,
and crafted a fabulous hierarchy of worlds, domains a sequel to Singularity Sky, was a complex and marked Theodora Goss as an emerging talent of
where a boy from contemporary America rose from funny space opera, postmodern eschatology brush­ vast potential: her rewritten fairy tales are models
rousing innocence to a yet more rousing heroism, ing shoulders with witty old-fashioned hokum of of graceful writing and surreal poise.
his journey packed with vivid incident, fascinating Nazis among the stars; beginning another series, Moving to the year’s markets for original short
introspection, and profound symbolism. Wolfe’s The Family Trade, labeled fantasy but actually fiction: 2004 seemed a little disappointing in
glorious prose and exacting moral vision make SF, absorbingly placed our timeline in close contact respect of anthologies, although the fact that I
The Wizard Knight one of the greatest fantastic with a shabby medieval one, assessing keenly the missed some of the more highly praised volumes
epics ever. Also in the first ranks of fantasy this year resulting clashes of technology, political ethics, and may have left me in blighted ignorance of a
must stand China Mieville’s superb Iron Council, individual morality. And talking of alternate worlds, bumper crop. What I can say is that I particularly
the third of his Bas-Lag novels, which, in a setting 2004 contributed richly to the canon of counter- enjoyed Polyphony 4, edited by Deborah Layne
teeming with transformative magics and maimed factual SF; there were: Jack Dann’s exemplary & Jay Lake, a generous panoply of high-quality
souls, set out a grand allegory of the struggle for novel The Rebel: An Imagined Life of James slipstream stories; The First Heroes, edited by
social justice that also functioned as perilous meta­ Dean, a crafty, charismatic, and often harrowing Harry Turtledove & Noreen Doyle, a treasure chest
physical quest, hugely grotesque Gothic Western, biography of Jimmy Dean as he might have been of engrossing and thought-provoking historical
and a darkly brilliant interrogation of the mentality had he lived longer, a figure angry, ambitious, and fantasy; Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy,
of the Victorian engineers. The book’s final political still certainly doomed; Century Rain, Alastair edited by Al Sarrantonio, which, if not entirely
motif was powerfully wrought. I was enormously Reynolds’s atmospheric and innovative marriage fulfilling its radical editorial agenda, certainly de­
impressed with Sean McMullen’s Glass Dragons, of alternate history with space opera, including a livered a full freight of fine supernatural fiction; and
second in the Moonworlds series, a ruthless, auda­ moody evocation of a Paris unconquered by Hitler Conqueror Fantastic, edited by Pamela Sargent,
cious incursion of outlaw Australian humor and in 1940; and Harry Turtledove’s Days of Infamy, a home to some of the quirkiest and most bizarre
martial-arts farce into the territory of High Fantasy, highly credible portrait of the Pacific War changing tales of the year.
where preposterous hierarchies, unchivalrous aris­ direction following a Japanese invasion of Hawaii. More generally in the original short fiction area,
tocrats, and bumbling sorcerous conspiracies were There was an entire nest of uchronias in Zoran 2004 was full of evidence of creative vitality and
little match, in the end, for the author’s coterie of Zivkovic’s The Fourth Circle, a book finally keen editorial discrimination. Gardner Dozois, the
cunning, conflicted, picaresque warriors; with a available in its definitive translation; here, dazzling king of SF editors, left Asimov fs, and David Pringle
whimsical savage authority, McMullen is making metaphysical choreography united a multitude of relinquished control of Interzone; but the full effect
the niche once occupied by L. Sprague de Camp subplots, culminating in a deeper comprehension of of those changes will only be felt in 2005. Speaking
and Jack Vance his own. With a comparable bluster, the universe. Demonstrating British SF’s continued for 2004, the picture remained, and remains, posi­
but entirely his own man, John C. Wright crafted a fecundity of new authors, there was Recursion tive. There were innumerable individual highlights,
magnificently offbeat fantasy of apocalypse in The by Tony Ballantyne, which echoed the complex stories of grandiose vision, immediate heartbreak,
Last Guardian of Everness, in which demonic structure of The Fourth Circle in its bravura in­ and awesome originality; unfortunately, in the space
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14 /2004: The Year in Review
2004 Recommended Reading List
Novels - Science Fiction
The Life of the World to Come, Kage Baker (Tor) River of Gods, Ian McDonald (Simon & Schuster UK)
The Algebraist, lain M. Banks (Orbit) Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell (Sceptre; Random House)
Exultant, Stephen Baxter (Gollancz; Del Rey) Century Rain, Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz; Ace 2005)
Spondulix, Paul Di Filippo (Cambrian) Forty Signs of Rain, Kim Stanley Robinson (HarperCollins UK;
Eastern Standard Tribe, Cory Doctorow (Tor) Bantam)
Stamping Butterflies, Jon Courtenay Grimwood (Gollancz) The Plot Against America, Philip Roth (Houghton Mifflin)
Camouflage, Joe Haldeman (Ace) Frek and the Elixir, Rudy Rucker (Tor)
For Us, The Living, Robert A. Heinlein (Scribner) Air, Geoff Ryman (St. Martin’s)
Black Brillion, Matthew Hughes (Tor) The Baroque Cycle: The Confusion; The System of the World,
Life, Gwyneth Jones (Aqueduct) Neal Stephenson (Morrow)
The Language of Power, Rosemary Kirstein (Del Rey) The Zenith Angle, Bruce Sterling (Del Rey)
Crucible, Nancy Kress (Tor) Iron Sunrise, Charles Stross (Ace)
Newton's Wake, Ken MacLeod (Orbit; Tor) Banner of Souls, Liz Williams (Bantam Spectra)
White Devils, Paul McAuley (Simon & Schuster UK; Tor) The Fourth Circle, Zoran Zivkovic (Ministry of Whimsy)
Lost in Transmission, Wil McCarthy (Bantam Spectra)

Novels - Fantasy
Dead Lines, Greg Bear (HarperCollins UK; Ballantine) Glass Dragons, Sean McMullen (Tor)
Mortal Love, Elizabeth Hand (Morrow) Iron Council, China Mieville (Del Rey)
The Witches' Kitchen, Cecelia Holland (Forge) Going Postal, Terry Pratchett (Doubleday UK; HarperCollins)
One King, One Soldier, Alexander C. Irvine (Del Rey) A Handbook of American Prayer, Lucius Shepard (Thunder’s Mouth)
The Last Light of the Sun, Guy Gavriel Kay (Viking Canada; Roc) Perfect Circle, Sean Stewart (Small Beer)
The Charnel Prince, Greg Keyes (Del Rey) In the Night Room, Peter Straub (Random House)
Murder of Angels, Caitlin R. Kiernan (Roc) The Family Trade, Charles Stross (Tor)
The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah; The Dark Tower, Shadowmarch, Tad Williams (DAW)
Stephen King (Grant/Scribner) The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe (Tor - 2 Volumes: The Knight,
Dragon's Treasure, Elizabeth A. Lynn (Ace) The Wizard)
Alphabet of Thorn, Patricia A. McKillip (Ace) The Last Guardian of Everness, John C. Wright (Tor)

First Novels
Weapons of Choice, John Birmingham (Del Rey) Firethorn, Sarah Micklem (Scribner)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury) Trash Sex Magic, Jennifer Stevenson (Small Beer)
The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, The Year of Our War, Steph Swainston (Gollancz; Eos 2005)
Minister Faust (Del Rey) City of Pearl, Karen Traviss (Eos)
Ghosts in the Snow, Tamara Siler Jones (Bantam Spectra) The Labyrinth, Catherynne M. Valente (Prime)
Fitzpatrick's War, Theodore Judson (DAW) Olympic Games, Leslie What (Tachyon)
Move Under Ground, Nick Mamatas (Night Shade) The Arcanum, Thomas Wheeler (Bantam)
The Gods and Their Machines, Oisin McGann (Tor) Through Violet Eyes, Stephen Woodworth (Dell)

Young Adult Books

Kingdom of the Golden Dragon, Isabel Allende (HarperCollins) Gifts, Ursula K. Le Guin (Harcourt)
Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War, Clive Barker (HarperCollins) New Magics, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, ed. (Tor)
Basilisk, N. M. Browne (Bloomsbury) The Keys to the Kingdom: Grim Tuesday, Garth Nix (Scholastic)
The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm, Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales, Deborah Noyes, ed. (Candlewick)
Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, eds. (Viking) Airborn, Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada; Eos)
The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint (Viking) A Hat Full of Sky, Terry Pratchett (Doubleday UK; HarperCollins)
The Sea of Trolls, Nancy Farmer (Atheneum) The Golem's Eye, Jonathan Stroud (Hyperion)
Unexpected Magic: Collected Stories, Diana Wynne Jones Midnighters, Vol. 1: The Secret Hour, Scott Westerfeld (Eos)
(Greenwillow)

Collections
Mother Aegypt and Other Stories, Kage Baker (Night Shade) (Golden Gryphon)
Stagestruck Vampires & Other Phantasms, The Cat's Pajamas & Other Stories, James Morrow (Tachyon)
Suzy McKee Charnas (Tachyon) Swiftly, Adam Roberts (Night Shade)
The Collected Short Fiction of C.J. Cherryh, C.J. Cherryh (DAW) Thumbprints, Pamela Sargent (Golden Gryphon)
Novelties & Souvenirs: Collected Short Fiction, John Crowley Trujillo, Lucius Shepard (PS Publishing)
(Perennial) Two Trains Running, Lucius Shepard (Golden Gryphon)
Neutrino Drag, Paul Di Filippo (Four Walls Eight Windows) Phases of the Moon: Stories of Six Decades, Robert Silverberg
Morning Child and Other Stories, Gardner Dozois (ibooks) (Subterranean; ibooks)
Love's Body, Dancing in Time, L. Timmel Duchamp (Aqueduct) Secret Life, Jeff VanderMeer (Golden Gryphon)
Cartomancy, Mary Gentle (Gollancz) The John Varley Reader, John Varley (Ace)
Stable Strategies and Others, Eileen Gunn (Tachyon) The Banquet of the Lords of Night and Other Stories,
Partial Eclipse and Other Stories, Graham Joyce (Subterranean) Liz Williams (Night Shade)
American Sorrows, Jay Lake (Wheatland) Seventy-Five: The Diamond Anniversary of a Science Fiction
Black Juice, Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin Australia; Eos 2005) Pioneer, Jack Williamson (Haffner)
Breathmoss and Other Exhalations, Ian R. MacLeod Innocents Aboard, Gene Wolfe (Tor)
 2004: The Year in R e vie w / 15
Anthologies
Microcosms, Gregory Benford, ed. (DAW) eds. (Eos)
The Locus Awards: Thirty Years of the Best in Science Fiction The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror: Volume Fifteen,
and Fantasy, Charles N. Brown & Jonathan Strahan, eds. Stephen Jones, ed. (Carroll & Graf)
(Voyager Australia; Eos) Polyphony 4, Deborah Layne & Jay Lake, eds. (Wheatland)
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Seventeenth Annual Nebula Awards Showcase 2004, Vonda N. McIntyre, ed. (Roc)
Collection, Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link & Gavin Grant, eds. All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, David Moles & Jay Lake, eds.
(St. Martin’s) (Wheatland)
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-First Annual Conqueror Fantastic, Pamela Sargent, ed. (DAW)
Collection, Gardner Dozois, ed. (St. Martin’s) Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy, Al Sarrantonio, ed. (Roc)
Science Fiction: The Best of 2003, Karen Haber & Between Worlds, Robert Silverberg, ed. (SFBC)
Jonathan Strahan, eds. (ibooks) Best Short Novels 2004, Jonathan Strahan, ed. (SFBC)
Year's Best SF 9, David G. Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer, eds. (Eos) The First Heroes: New Tales of the Bronze Age, Harry Turtledove
Year's Best Fantasy 4, David G. Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer, & Noreen Doyle, eds. (Tor)

Non-Fiction
The Gernsback Days, Mike Ashley & Robert A. W. Lowndes The Evolution of the Weird Tale, S.T. Joshi (Hippocampus)
(Wildside) The Wave in the Mind, Ursula K. Le Guin (Shambhala)
Solar Labyrinth: Exploring Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun, Speaking of the Fantastic II, Darrell Schweitzer (Wildside)
Robert Borski (iUniverse) The Annotated Brothers Grimm, Maria Tatar, ed. (Norton)
x, y, z, t: Dimensions of Science Fiction, Damien Broderick Dancing Naked: The Unexpurgated William Tenn, William Tenn
(Borgo) (NESFA)
The Cherryh Odyssey, Edward Carmien, ed. (Borgo) The Road to the Dark Tower: Exploring Stephen King’s Magnum
Ray Bradbury: The Life of Fiction, Jonathan R. Eller & Opus, Bev Vincent (NAL)
William F. Touponce (Kent State) Attending Daedalus: Gene Wolfe, Artifice and the Reader,
Brazilian Science Fiction, M. Elizabeth Ginway Peter Wright (Liverpool 2003)
(Bucknell University)

Art
Caniglia, As Dead As Leaves: The Art of Caniglia (Shocklines) Paul Kidby, Terry Pratchett: The Art of Discworld, Terry Pratchett
Alan M. Clark, The Paint in My Blood (IFD) (Gollancz; HarperCollins)
Leo & Diane Dillon, The People Could Fly: The Picture Book, Ilene Meyer, Ilene Meyer: Paintings, Drawings, Perceptions
Virginia Hamilton (Knopf) (Underwood)
Spectrum 11:The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, Keith Parkinson, Kingsgate:The Art of Keith Parkinson
Cathy & Arnie Fenner, eds. (Underwood) (SQP/Fanfare)
Digital Art for the 21st Century: Renderosity, John Grant & Those Macabre Pulps, Darrell C. Richardson
Audre Vysniauskas (APPL; Harper Design International) (Adventure House)
Futures: 50 Years in Space: The Challenge of the Stars, Luis Royo, Fantastic Art: The Best of Luis Royo (NBM)
David A. Hardy & Patrick Moore (Harper Design International) Frangois Schuiten, The Book of Schuiten (NBM)
Richard Hescox, The Deceiving Eye: The Art of Richard Hescox Gahan Wilson, The Best of Gahan Wilson (Underwood)
(Paper Tiger)

Novellas
Baxter, Stephen, Mayflower II (PS Publishing) Kelly, James Patrick, “The Wreck of the Godspeed”
Cowdrey, Albert E., “The Tribes of Bela” (F&SF8/04) (Between Worlds)
Denton, Bradley, “Sergeant Chip” (F&SF9/04) McDowell, Ian, “Under the Flag of Night” (Asimov’s 3/04)
Dozois, Gardner, George R.R. Martin & Daniel Abraham, McKillip, Patricia A., “The Gorgon in the Cupboard”
“Shadow Twin” (Sci Fiction 6/9/04) (To Weave a Web of Magic)
Duchamp, L. Timmel, “The HeloTse Archive” Park, Paul, No Traveller Returns (PS Publishing)
(Love’s Body, Dancing InTime) Roberts, Adam, “Eleanor” (Swiftly)
Feeley, Gregory, “Arabian Wine” (Asimov’s 4-5/04) Shepard, Lucius, Viator (Night Shade)
Feeley, Gregory, “Giliad” (The First Heroes) Stross, Charles, “The Concrete Jungle” (The Atrocity Archives)
Garcia y Robertson, R. “Long Voyage Home” (Asimov’s 2/04) Stross, Charles, “Elector” (Asimov’s 9/04)
Jarpe, Matthew & Jonathan Andrew Sheen, Stross, Charles & Cory Doctorow, “Appeals Court” (Argosy 5-6/04)
“The Bad Hamburger” (F&SF 12/04) Wolfe, Gene, “Golden City Far” (Flights)

Novelettes
Abraham, Daniel, “Flat Diane” (F&SF 10-11/04) Beagle, Peter S„ “Quarry” (F&SF5/04)
Abraham, Daniel, “Leviathan Wept” (Sci Fiction 7/7/04) Berman, Judith, “The Fear Gun” (Asimov’s 7/04)
Arnason, Eleanor, “The Garden: A Hwarhath Science Fictional Bisson, Terry, “Super 8” (Sci Fiction 11/24/04)
Romance” (Synergy SF) Brown, Simon, “Water Babies” (Agog! Smashing Stories)
Bacigalupi, Paolo, “The Pasho” (Asimov’s 9/04) Cambias, James L., “The Ocean of the Blind” (F&SF4/04)
Bacigalupi, Paolo, “The People of Sand and Slag” (F&SF2/04) Claxton, Matthew, “The Anatomist’s Apprentice”
Baker, Kage, “The Catch” (Asimov’s 10-11/04) (Sci Fiction 7/14/04)
Baker, Kage, “Leaving His Cares Behind Him” (Asimov’s 4-5/04) Di Filippo, Paul, “Observable Things” (Conqueror Fantastic)
Barron, Laird, “Bulldozer” (Sci Fiction 8/25/04) Finlay, Charles Coleman, “The Seal Hunter” (F&SF 1/04)
Baxter, Stephen, “PeriAndry’s Quest” (Analog 6/04) P- 47
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 2004: The Year in R e vie w / 19
l« 2004 Recommended Reading List
Novelettes, cont
Flynn, Michael E, “The Clapping Hands of God” (Analog7-8/04) (All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories)
Ford, Jeffrey, “A Night in the Tropics” (Argosy 1 -2/04) Rosenblum, Mary, “Songs the Sirens Sing” (Asimov’s 1/04)
Grant, John, “Q” (Sci Fiction 10/20/04) Rosenblum, Mary, “Tracker” (Asimov’s 4-5/04)
Irvine, Alex, “Volunteers” (Sci Fiction 7/28/04) Rowe, Christopher, “The Voluntary State” (Sci Fiction 5/5/04)
Kelly, James Patrick, “Men Are Trouble” (Asimov’s 6/04) Shea, Michael, “The Growlimb” (F&SF 1/04)
Kiernan, Caitlin R., “Riding the White Bull” (Argosy 1 -2/04) Sherman, Delia, “CATNYP” (The Faery Reel)
Klein, Sean, “Five Guys Named Moe” (Sci Fiction 2/23/04) Shiner, Lewis, “Perfidia” (Black Clock #2)
Link, Kelly, “The Faery Handbag” (The Faery Reel) Stoddard, James, “The Battle of York” (F&SF 7/04)
Link, Kelly, “Stone Animals” (Conjunctions 43: Beyond Arcadia) Straub, Peter, “Mr. Aickman’s Air Rifle”
Lynn, Elizabeth A., “The Silver Dragon” (Flights) (McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories)
Mieville, China, “Reports of Certain Events in London” Swanwick, Michael, “The Word that Sings the Scythe” (Asimov’s 10-11/04)
(McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories) Tilton, Lois, “The Gladiator’s War: A Dialog” (Asimov’s 6/04)
Moles, David, “The Third Party” (Asimov’s 9/04) Utley, Steven, “Invisible Kingdoms” (F&SF2/04)
Morrow, James, “Martyrs of the Upshot Knothole” (Conqueror Fantastic) VanderMeer, Jeff, “Three Days in a Border Town” (Polyphony 4)
Murphy, Pat “Inappropriate Behavior” (Sci Fiction 2/11/04) Watson, Ian, “An Appeal to Adolf” (Conqueror Fantastic)
Powers, Tim, “Pat Moore” (Flights) Wilce, Ysabeau S., “Metal More Attractive” (F&SF2/04)
Reed, Robert, “The Dragons of Summer Gulch” (Sci Fiction 12/01/04) Williams, Walter Jon, “The Tang Dynasty Underwater Pyramid”
Reed, Robert, Mere (Golden Gryphon) (Sci Fiction 8/04/04)
Rosenbaum, Benjamin, “Biographical Notes to ‘A Discourse on the Wolfe, Gene, “The Little Stranger” (F&SF 10-1 1/04)
Nature of Causality, with Air-Planes’ by Benjamin Rosenbaum” Wolfe, Gene, “The Lost Pilgrim” (The First Heroes)

Short Stories
Aegard, John, “The Golden Age of Fire Escapes” (Rabid Transit: Petting Zoo) Lanagan, Margo, “Rite of Spring” (Black Juice)
Anderson, Barth, “Alone in the House of Mims” (Strange Horizons 4/26/04) Lanagan, Margo, “Singing My Sister Down” (Black Juice)
Anderson, M.T., “Watch and Wake” (Gothic!) Levine, David D., “Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely”
Asher, Neal, “Strood” (Asimov’s 12/04) (Realms of Fantasy 6/04)
Attanasio, A.A., “Zero’s Twin” (F&SF6/04) Maguire, Gregory, “The Oakthing” (The Faery Reel)
Barton, William, “The Gods of a Lesser Creation” (Asimov’s 8/04) McAllister, Bruce, “The Seventh Daughter” (F&SF4/04)
Bisson, Terry, “Scout’s Honor” (Sci Fiction 1/28/04) McDevitt, Jack, “The Mission” (Crossroads)
Black, Holly, “The Night Market” (The Faery Reel) McHugh, Maureen E, “Oversite” (Asimov’s 9/04)
Blaylock, James P., “Hula Ville” (Sci Fiction 11/3/04) Meiko, Paul, “Fallow Earth” (Asimov’s 6/04)
Butner, Richard, “The Wounded” (Crossroads) Meiko, Paul, “Ten Sigmas” (Talebones Summer ’04)
Counihan, Elizabeth, “The Star Called Wormwood” (Asimov’s, 12/04) Mieville, China, “’Tis the Season” (Socialist Review 12/04)
DeNiro, Alan, “A Keeper” (Electric Velocipede Spring ’04) Moles, David, “Five Irrational Histories” (Rabid Transit: Petting Zoo)
Dowling, Terry, “Clownette” (Sci Fiction 12/15/04) Mueller, Richard, “Jew if by Sea” (F&SF5/04)
Duncan, Andy, “Zora and the Zombie” (Sci Fiction 2/4/04) Palwick, Susan, “Beautiful Stuff” (Sci Fiction 8/18/04)
Emshwiller, Carol, “All of Us Can Almost...” (SciFiction 11/17/04) Pratt, Tim, “Life in Stone” (Lenox Avenue 11-12/04)
Emshwiller, Carol, “Gliders Though They Be” (Sci Fiction 6/2/04) Reed, Kit, “Family Bed” (Sci Fiction 5/12/04)
Finlay, Charles Coleman, “After the Gaud Chrysalis” (F&SF6/04) Reed, Robert, “Opal Ball” (F&SF 10-11/04)
Fintushel, Eliot, “Gwendolyn Is Happy to Serve You” (Asimov’s 7/04) Rickert, M., “Cold Fires” (F&SF 10-11/04)
Fintushel, Eliot, “Women Are Ugly” (Strange Horizons 6/21/04) Rickert, M., “Many Voices” (F&SF3/04)
Ford, Jeffrey, “The Annals of Eelin-Ok” (The Faery Reel) Roberson, Chris, “Red Hands, Black Hands” (Asimov’s 12/04)
Gaiman, Neil, “Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless Roggie, Deborah, “The Enchanted Trousseau” (Lady Churchill’s
House of the Night of Dread Desire” (Gothic!) Rosebud Wristlet 6/04)
Goonan, Kathleen Ann, “Dinosaur Songs” (Asimov’s 7/04) Rosenbaum, Benjamin, “Embracing-the-New” (Asimov’s 1/04)
Goss, Theodora, “Miss Emily Gray” (Alchemy 2) Rosenbaum, Benjamin, “Start the Clock” (F&SF8/04)
Haldeman, Joe, “Faces” (F&SF6/04) Schutz, Aaron, “Being With Jimmy” (Asimov’s 12/04)
Hand, Elizabeth, “Wonderwall” (Flights) Singh, Vandana, “Delhi” (So Long Been Dreaming)
Harrison, M. John, “tourism” (Amazon.com, 8/04) Skillingstead, Jack, “Scatter” (Asimov’s 10-11/04)
Hughes, Matthew, “A Little Learning” (F&SF 6/04) Sterling, Bruce, “Luciferase” (Sci Fiction 12/22/04)
Jennings, Phillip C., “The Saint” (Asimov’s 3/04) Swanwick, Michael, “The Last Geek” (Crossroads)
Johnson, Kij, “The Empress Jingu Fishes” (Conqueror Fantastic) Taaffe, Sonya, “Featherweight” (Say... Why Aren’t We Crying?)
Kelly, James Patrick, “The Best Christmas Ever” (Sci Fiction 5/26/04) Tiedemann, Mark W., “Rain from Another Country” (F&SF9/04)
Kessel, John, “The Baum Plan for Financial Independence” Van Pelt, James, “Echoing” (Asimov’s 12/04)
(Sci Fiction 3/24/04) Vinge, Vernor, “Synthetic Serendipity” (IEEE Spectrum Online 7/7/04)
Klages, Ellen, “The Green Glass Sea” (Strange Horizons 9/6/04) Vukcevich, Ray, “Gas” (F&SF4/04)
Kress, Nancy, “My Mother, Dancing” (Asimov’s 6/04) Vukcevich, Ray, “Glinky” (F&SF6/04)
Laidlaw, Marc, “Flight Risk” (Sci Fiction 4/21/04) Waldrop, Howard, “The Wolf-man of Alcatraz” (Sci Fiction 9/22/04)
Lake, Jay, “The Angel’s Daughter” (Realms of Fantasy 8/04) Williams, Liz, “Skindancing” (The Banquet of the Lords of Night)
Lanagan, Margo, “Earthly Uses” (Black Juice) Wolfe, Gene, “Pulp Cover” (Asimov’s 3/04)
Lanagan, Margo, “Red Nose Day” (Black Juice)

Have You Missed These Earlier Locus Recommended Lists & Poll Results?
Recommended Reading/Year in Review: Awards/Poll Results:
#253(1982) - $2.50 #349(1990) - « #445(1998) - $4.95 #258(1982) - $2.50 #355 (1990) - $3.50 #451 (1998) - $4.95
#265(1983) - ♦ #361(1991) - $3.50 #457(1999) - $4.95 #270(1983) - $2.50 #366(1991) - $3.50 #463(1999) - $4.95
#277(1984) - * #373(1992) - $3.95 #469(2000) - $4.95 #282(1984) - $3.50 #379(1992) - $3.95 #475(2000) - $4.95
#289(1985) - $3.50 #385(1993) - $3.95 #481(2001) - $4.95 #293(1985) - $3.50 #391(1993) - $3.95 #487(2001) - $4.95
#301(1986) - $3.50 #397(1994) - $3.95 #493(2002) - $4.95 #305(1986) - $3.50 #403(1994) - $3.95 #499(2002) - $4.95
#313(1987) - * #409(1995) - * #505(2003) - $5.95 #318(1987) » #415(1995) - $3.95 #511(2003) - $5.95
#325(1988) - $3.50 #421(1996) - $4.50 #517(2004) - $5.95 #332(1988) - $3.50 #427(1996) - $4.50 #522(2004) - $5.95
#337(1989) - * #433(1997) - $4.50 #343(1989) - $3.50 #439(1997) - $4.50
WSA
*lssue is sold out; however, photocopy of relevant pages available for $2.50. Please note: Each year’s Recommended List and zc
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 Groundbreaking
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0-765-30619-0 • $25.95/$35.95 Can. 0-765-30791-X • $ 14.95/$21.95 Can.

In hardcover 0-765-30973-4 • $ 14.95/$21.95 Can. In trade paperback

March 2005 In trade paperback March 2005
March 2005
The new sequel to A collection of twenty-two
The Getaway Special from the The sequel to Far-Seer short stories from one of the
Nebula Award-winning author which further illuminates the most renowned writers
of Abandon in Place. world of intelligent and civilized of literary fantasy.
dinosaurs: Quintaglio.
“Jerry Oltion pulls off a ★“The 22 short works
miracle that’s rare in this ★“The characterization is of horror and fantasy
genre—at the same time brilliant, the plotting (and ‘magic realism’ if
he writes great science enviable, and the narrative one disdains genre
stories with people in technique tight and fast- labels) collected here
them ***and he also writes paced. This is a completely are further proof that
great people stories successful novel...Fossil Wolfe ranks with the
with science in them* Hunter, like Far-Seer before finest writers of this or
His work is always a it, is not just wonderful SF; any other day.”
pleasure to read*” it’s wonderful fiction.” —Publishers Weekly,
—Kevin J. Anderson —Quill & Quire, starred review starred review
22/2004: The Year in Review

2004 Book Summary

Last year’s complaint of “too many books, too Cumulative Book Survey
little time and space” was even more true in 2004,
as we listed over 2,500 books for the first time, our HARDBOUND TRADE PB MASS MKT. PEI ALL BOOKS %NEW
fourth record year in a row. Unfortunately, it made
for a bad year for specialty stores, with those that 1994 New 432 (-5%) 223 (+3%) 453 (-9%) 1109 (-5%)
remained having to cope with overflowing shelves. Reprint 148 (-17% 116 (-13% 363 (+8% 627 -3%
Total 580 (-9%) 339 (-3%) 816 (-2%) 1736 (-5%) 64%
The publishing field saw mostly minor changes.
Avalon Publishing Group acquired Four Walls 1995 New 485 (+12%) 282 (+26%) 483 (+6%) 1250 (+13%)
Eight Windows, folding them into their Thunder’s Reprint 160 (+8% 159 +37% 388 +7% 707 +13%
Mouth imprint; other imprints include Carroll Total 645 (+11%) 441 (+30%) 871 (+7%) 1957 (+13%) 64%
& Graf and Seal Press. Meisha Merlin acquired
Marietta Publishing early in the year, but we only 1996 New 456 (-6%) 242 (-14%) 423 (-12%) 1121 (-10%)
saw a combined total of three books from them in Reprint 147 -8% 168 (+6%) 393 (+1% 708
Total 603 (-6%) 410 (-7%) 816 (-6%) 1829 (-6%) 61%
2004; in December, they announced that a switch
to Diamond Book Distributors had forced them to 1997 New 410 (-10%) 222 (-8%) 367 (-13%) 999 (-11%)
push back all their 2004 titles to 2005. Prime Books Reprint 144 (-2% 248 (+48% 425 (+8% 817 (+15%
joined Cosmos and Borgo as an imprint of Wildside Total 554 (-8%) 470 (+15%) 792 (-3%) 1816 (-1%) 55%
Press, with Sean Wallace remaining as senior editor.
Wildside also entered into a sub-licensing agreement 1998 New 497 (+21%) 274 (+23%) 351 (-4%) 1122 (+12%)
with ibooks, which will publish some Wildside titles Reprint 163 (+13%) 254 (+2% 420 -1% 837 (+2%
in trade paperback and mass market paperback Total 660 (+19%) 528 (+12%) 771 (-3%) 1959 (+8%) 57%
starting in 2005. Wildside plans to focus more on 1999 New 479 278 (+1%) 350 1107 (-1%)
(-4%) (+1°J
their pulp-related and genre titles in 2005, moving Reprint 164 (+1% 262 (+3%) 426 852 (+2%)
away from the large numbers of reprints of classic Total 643 (-3%) 540 (+2%) 776 (+1%) 1959 57%
mainstream literature which had been spearheaded
by Alan Rodgers, who has left the company. Tor 2000 New 439 (-8%) 264 (-5%) 324 (-7%) 1027 (-7%)
started a supernatural romance line. Dorchester Reprint 199 (+21% 288 (+10%) 413 -3% 900 (+6%
made a tentative launch of a new fantasy imprint, Total 638 (-1%) 542 737 (-5%) 1927 (-2%) 53%
Vortex, with one title. New 493 (+12%) 370 (+40%) 347 (+7%) 1210 (+18%)
2001
Changes pending for 2005 include the launch of Reprint 205 (+3% 390 +35% 353 (-15% 948 (+5%
Prometheus Books’ new SF/fantasy imprint Pyr, Total 698 (+9%) 760 (+40%) 700 (-5%) 2158 (+12%) 56%
and Phobos Books announced plans for significant
expansion in 2005. 2002 New 548 (+11%) 379 (+2%) 344 (-1%) 1271 (+5%)
Print-on-demand publishing remains problematic. Reprint 209 (+2% 386 (-1% 375 (+6% 970 +2%
It’s often hard to tell if a book is POD. The stigma Total 757 (+8%) 765 (+1%) 719 (+3%) 2241 (+4%) 57%
attached to POD has most publishers trying to avoid
2003 New 620 (+13%) 386 (+2%) 369 (+7%) 1375 (+8%)
the label; smaller publishers may do a small initial Reprint 240 +15% 368 (-5% 446 (+19% 1054 +9%
print run, then use POD after those copies are gone, Total 860 (+14%) 754 (-1%) 815 (+13%) 2429 (+8%) 57%
making it impossible to track reissues. Major pub­
lishers seem to be reserving print-on-demand for 2004 New 653 (+5%) 410 (+6%) 354 (-4%) 1417 (+3%)
backlist titles, if that. Original POD books continue Reprint 224 (-7% 418 (+14% 491 (+10% 1133 +7%
to appear from small presses, or companies that aid Total 877 (+2% 828 +10% 845 (+4% 2550 (+5%) 56%
self-publishers, many of which are perilously close
to vanity presses. We try not to list books we know of no real SF interest, chapbooks, and UK books to POD reprints with their lower profit margins
are from vanity presses, but it’s gotten very hard to distributed in the US. Books published in 2003 but and nebulous “printings.”) There were almost
be certain. not seen until 2004 are included, as are January certainly more reprints than we counted, since reis­
Because POD books don’t really exist until a copy 2005 books seen in December 2004. Where there sues are hard to spot unless the price goes up or the
is ordered and printed, they don’t really compare are simultaneous hardcover and trade paperback cover changes; even publishers don’t always know
to books published in the traditional manner. We editions, we count only the most common or earliest whether the book has actually been reprinted or
don’t include POD publishers on most of our main one, usually the trade paperback. If there are two just unearthed from a warehouse. Graph #1 show
lists, and limit our listings of POD books to those different publishers, we count both. If we only see the publishing history for new and reprint books for
we’ve actually seen here at Locus. Publishers are one state or edition, we note the possible existence the last two decades. The number of books has more
often reluctant to send us the relatively expensive of the other(s) in “Books Received”, but don’t count than doubled in that time.
review copies, especially for reprint books we won’t them. Editions with multiple bindings and states are Hardcovers set new records with 877 titles, but
actually review. counted only once, unless there are differences in were up only 2%, the smallest increase in four years.
Wildside Press remains our biggest POD pub­ the text. Completely rewritten books are counted as Hardcover originals were up 5% to 653; reprints
lisher. We saw 50 titles, but they probably did many new, but those with minor revisions or corrections actually dropped 7% to 224. Tor continues to lead
more. They have been doing some non-POD books, are considered reprints. First American editions are in original hardcovers with 109, up from 102. 96%
but it’s impossible for us to tell exactly how many, considered new, even if the British editions have been of their original books are hardcovers, up from 91%.
and this year they threw us a curve by adding Prime previously listed in the “British Books” column. Of the major publishers, only the SFBC has a higher
Books, which does a number of original, non-POD Omnibus volumes are counted as new, even if all percentage of original hardcovers (100%), but had
books, including some on our Recommended Read­ the contents have previously appeared; however, only 21 original books. Five of the top ten publishers
ing list. Wildside as a whole remains primarily a if a book is broken down into multiple volumes, had hardcovers as more than 50% of their original
POD publisher, so we didn’t break it out with the it’s considered a reprint unless there is significant books, the same as the last three years: SFBC with
other larger publishers on our chart of Total Books additional material. 100%, Tor 96%, Baen 85%, HarperCollins 69%, and
Published; with just the titles we saw they would We distinguish between trade and mass market Random House/Ballantine/Del Rey 62%. Overall,
have placed above Warner and below DAW. It would paperbacks based (almost) purely on the physical hardcovers were 46% of all original books, up
be unfair to other POD publishers if we put them size of the book, rather than the returnability of the from 45% the year before. On-demand books are
on the main list, either in whole or in part. We did product, the criterion used by most publishers and theoretically all available in both hardcover and
include Prime on our list of Total Books Published booksellers. Anything larger (or smaller) than a stan­ trade paperback, but most publishers only send trade
by SF Imprint, with 13 titles. Other primarily POD dard mass market rack size is considered a trade pa­ paperbacks; we saw only seven POD hardcovers
publishers that would otherwise have made the list perback. Some publishers produce essentially mass in 2004.
are Black Coat Press and Hippocampus Press, both market-size books marketed as trade paperbacks, but Trade paperbacks increased in 2004 with 828
with eight titles. we generally count them as mass market. titles, up 10%. Reprints were up 14% to 491, while
We saw 2,550 titles of interest in 2004, up 5% There were 1,417 new titles listed, a new record, originals rose 6% to 410, staying ahead of mass
from 2003. We listed 2,696 in our monthly “Books up 8% over the previous year. Reprints also set a market originals (354) but still well behind hardcover
Received” column, but those figures are adjusted new record at 1,133, up 7%. The percentage of new originals (653). Penguin Group USA took over as
at the end of the year. All the books counted here books dropped slightly to 56%. In theory, a 50/50 leader in trade paperbacks, with 87, followed by
have been listed there, but not everything listed split would be ideal, since many originals only earn Random House/Ballantine/Del Rey with 60, and
there is counted here. We delete associational books out their advances if reissued. (This doesn’t apply ►M
 2004: The Year in R eview / 23
Total Books Published 2004 Total Books Published By SF Imprint, 2004
PUBLISHER HC TP PB TOTAL PUBLISHER HC TP PB TOTALS
New Repr. New Repr. New Repr. New Repr. New Repr. New Repr. 2004I ’03 ’02
Penguin Group USA 59 6 24 I63 83 74 309 Tor 93 5 1 46 3 86 234 254 229
Tor 109 6 1 '50 3 88 257 SFBC 21 152 7 180 193 158
HarperCollins 60 5 10 -48 17 51 191 Ace 14 2 11 6 22 38 93 93 89
Bookspan/SFBC 21 156 - 9 - 186 Del Rey 17 9 8 12 34 80 96 76
Random/Ball/Del Rey 46 3 16 -44 12 53 174 Baen 34 2 1 6 24 67 72 65
S&S/Pocket 22 - 12 14 57 25 130 Wizards of Coast 7 6 9' 1 21 17 61 60 46
ibooks 8 1 8 ;36 10 56 119 Eos 17 1 3 6 14 13 54 50 38
Bantam D’day Dell 16 2 4 10 19 24 75 DAW 12 22 18 52 49 46
Baen 34 2 - 1 6 24 67 Roc 6 4 1 27 9 47 43 41
Wizards of the Coast 7 6 9 1 21 17 61 Bantam Spectra 3 1 3 3 15 20 45 22 27
DAW 12 - - - 22 18 52 Black Library US 4 4 31 4 43 36 26
Warner/Little, Brown 10 2 4 5 5 18 44 Warner Aspect 6 4 1 3 9 23 24 26
Scholastic 15 2 4 12 2 9 44 Firebird 18 4 22 21 12
BL Publishing US 4 - 4 - 31 4 43 White Wolf 5 1 12 18 16 21
Gale Group/Five Star 32 2 - 2 - 36 Night Shade 15 1 16 13
Harcourt 10 2 2 11 4 29 BenBella Books 5 9 14 9
Leisure/Dorchester - - 1 - 19 8 28 Luna 1 11 1 13
Harlequin/Worldwide 3 - 12 - 10 1 26 Wildside/Prime 5 6 1 1 13 12
Hyperion 14 - 3 4 1 4 26 NESFA Press 6 3 1 1 11 6 8
St. Martin’s 7 - 6 7 4 2 26 Gryphon Books 10 10 3 6
Kensington - - 5 1 12 6 24
- - Totals: 261 173 86 110 189 277 1,096 1,072 914
White Wolf 5 1 12 18
Bloomsbury USA 10 1 - 2 3 16
Night Shade 15 1 - - - 16 Graph 1: Publishing History
Houghton Mifflin 8 1 1 5 - 15 3000
Avalon Publishing Group 3 - 10 1 - 14
BenBella Books - - 5 9 14 2500 -
NESFA Press 6 3 1 1 - 11
Gryphon Books - - 10 - - 10 2000 -
Subterranean Press 9 - - - 9
Golden Gryphon Press 7 - - 1 - 8
- - - 1500 -
Llewellyn 4 4 8
Overlook Press 2 - 1 5 - 8
Borders 2 5 - - - 7 1000 -
Candlewick Press 3 3 1 - 7
Delirium Books 7 - - - - 7 500 -
Tachyon Publications 3 - 3 1 - 7
Wesleyan University Press 2 - 2 3 - 7
University of Nebraska Press - 1 5 - 6
Ash-Tree Press 5 - - 1 - 6
Barnes & Noble Books - 1 - 4 - 5
ColdSpring Press - - 4 1 - 5 New Books - - Reprints —Total
Grove/Atlantic - - 2 3 - 5
Haworth/Harrington Park - - 4 1 - 5
Graph 2: Subject History
- - - 450
Old Earth Books 4 1 5
Red Jacket Press - 2 - 3 - 5 400
Vertical 3 - 1 1 - 5 350
Total Mise: 201 Pubs______ 79 8 230 <47 8 2 374
653 224 410 418 354 491 2550 300
250
CHART 1: ORIGINAL BOOKS
2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 200
SF Novels* 253 236 256 251 230 251 242 229 253 150
Fantasy Novels* 389 340 333 282 258 275 233 220 224 100
Horror Novels* 172 1 71 112 151 80 95 110 106 122
Anthologies 112 97 84 82 67 74 105 104 103 50
Reference 32 27 18 25 16 20 34 21 28 0
Collections 113 1 13 104 119 77 73 79 71 76
Media-Related 199 213 200 172 183 191 193 149 183
Art/Humor/Poetry 44 57 44 45 35 38 30 26 29
—SFNovels —Fantasy - - Horror
History/Criticism 45 53 50 30 32 39 43 34 43
Omnibus 51 67 68 54 44 42 49 34 35
Mise. 4 2 2 2 3 8 5 4 29 CHART 3: TOP PUBLISHERS ORIGINAL BOOKS 2003
* includes YA 2004 ’03 ’02 ’01 ’00 ’99 ’98 ’97 ’96
Penguin Group (USA) 166 139 135 132 111 126 141 149* 156*
Tor 113 112 96 119 101 99 85 99 117+
CHART 2: TOP PUBLISHERS TOTAL BOOKS*** S&S/Pocket 91 125 110 102 93 111 86 77 79
2004 ’03 ’02 ’01 ’00 ’99 ’98 ’97 ’96 HarperCollins 87 63 70 81 71 117° 116° 112° 115°
Penguin Group (USA) 309 264 253 226 215 229 255 259* 262* Random/Ballantine 74 82 72 64 67 57 55 69 56
Tor 257 281 254 277 248 263 218 239 246+ Baen 40 43 36 36 38 33 39 39 47
HarperCollins 191 156 155 157 158 203 ° 216° 188° 178° Bantam/D’day/Dell 39 27 27 23 41 53 47 56 70
SF Book Club 186 197 158 163 165 135 138 123 112 BL Publishing 39 28 26 14 14 - - - -
Random/Ballantine 174 169 153 157 140 122 123 175 118 Wizards of the Coast 37 32 32 39 37 34 38 11 41
S&S/Pocket 130 171 149 140 126 153 104 93 101 DAW 34 37 35 37 28 30 33 29 35
ibooks 119 78 46 29 19 3 - - - - - -
Gale Group 32 20 13 1 1
Bantam/D’day/Dell 75 40 54 49 74 103 100 106 113 ibooks 26 26 28 12 12 1 - - -
Baen 67 72 65 60 62 59 53 52 59 Hyperion 25 6 7 8 5 6 4 - 3
Wizards of the Coast 61 60 46 47 48 39 ' 45' 12' 44' SF Book Club 21 31 24 20 20 25 24 16 12
DAW 52 49 46 45 58 42 59 61 55 Scholastic 21 29 19 25 22 17 12 9 1
Warner/Little Brown 44 47 50 46 34 39 39 37 42 Leisure/Dorchester 20 12 12 18 9 8 6 - 1
***Does not include Print-on-Demand books; Wildside had 50 titles Warner/Little Brown 19 29 37 26 19 22 26 22 30
* combined Penguin Putnam Combined HarperCollins/Morrow/Avon ‘combined Penguin Putnam ° combined HarperCollins/Morrow/Avon
♦includes St. Martin’s 'includes TSR ♦includes St. Martin’s
24 /2004: The Year in Review
K< 2004 Book Summary don’t include non-supernatural horror, or books for but lately there has been a trend towards anonymously
pre-teens. R.L. Stine is back, but so far he’s not hav­ edited SF/fantasy/supernatural erotic/romance an­
HarperCollins with 58. Tor, previously the clear ing much impact on our numbers.) Of the YA horror thologies from non-genre imprints. We saw nine this
leader in trade paperback publishing, was fourth with novels we did list, at least five, or 18%, were part of year, averaging four novellas each, with titles such as
only 51. Three of the top ten publishers decreased series, down from 52%. More horror lurks in media Immortal Bad Boys, Cravings, and Hot Blooded.
their number of trade paperbacks: Tor, Simon & tie-in series such as Buffy, Angel, and Charmed, as More interesting anthology titles included The Four
Schuster/Pocket, and Baen. We saw 119 trade pa­ well as gaming tie-ins from White Wolf’s World Bubas of the Apocalypse: Flatulence, Halitosis,
perbacks clearly identifiable as POD, up from 105 in of Darkness. Vampires remain popular; we saw 46 Incest, and ... Ned, Turn the Other Chick, and
2003; 104 were original books, up from 85. original vampire novels, up from 44, and 44 reprint the nostalgic McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of
Mass market paperbacks were up 4% to 845. Origi­ vampire novels - and that doesn’t count the tie-ins, or Astonishing Stories, All-Star Zeppelin Adventure
nals were down 4% to 354, while reprints rose 10% to some of the romances and mysteries in which vampir­ Stories, and Weird Trails, April 1933 (a mock
491. Mass market paperbacks were 33% of the total ism is little more than an inconvenience. Weird Western pulp magazine).
books published, down from 34%. They were 25% The flood of YA books continues. Fantasy domi­ Collections came in with 113 new titles, the same
of the original books published; of those, 40% (142) nated the new YA novels for the ninth year in a row. as last year. We don’t categorize collections as SF,
were media tie-ins. Some major publishers still bring We saw 165 YA novels, up from 155 in 2003; 117 fantasy, or horror, but there were ten YA collections,
out more than 50% of their originals in mass market: (71%) were fantasy, 28 (17%) horror, and 20 (12%) up from five last year. Small presses were responsible
DAW (65%), Simon & Schuster/Pocket (63%), and SF. In 2003 we had 75% fantasy, 15% horror, and for 75, or 66% of the collections, up from 59% last
Wizards of the Coast (57%); Penguin Group USA 10% SF. Publishers are still riding the Harry Potter year. Wildside Press had the most with 13, followed
comes close with exactly 50%. Numerically, Pen­ wave, with new YA imprints from a number of pub­ by Night Shade Books with eight, Penguin Group
guin Group USA leads with 83, followed by Simon lishers; Wizards of the Coast launched Mirrorstone USA with seven, Gale Group/Five Star and Golden
& Schuster/Pocket with 57, BL Publishing/Black in June. Other new lines that will include fantasy Gryphon both with five, and Ash-Tree Press (all from
Library US with 31 (all tie-ins), DAW with 22, and and SF are Abrams’ Amulet, Penguin’s Razorbill, 2003), Black Coat, Delirium, HarperCollins, and
Wizards of the Coast with 21 (all gaming tie-ins). Houghton Mifflin’s Graphia, and Dorchester’s girl- Subterranean all with four.
Baen continues to reduce the percentage of their oriented Smooch. There were 32 reference books, up from 27. His-
originals in mass market, down to 15% from 21% in First novels dropped slightly with 69 titles, down tory/criticism had 45 titles, down from 53. We saw
2003. Tor tripled their mass market original output from 73. It’s difficult to determine how accurate this 52 omnibus titles, plus another 17 listed as media
with three titles, two part of their new supernatural figure is; some publishers won’t admit a books is a tie-ins.
romance line. first novel, while others repackage authors with sag­ Charts #2 and #3 show the top publishers for total
Penguin Group USA took the lead with the most ging sales by announcing a pseudonymous “debut.” and original books. The Total Books Published list­
books in the genre, their total of 309 a 17% increase Fantasy led with 40 books, up from 33; SF followed ing gives the large picture; it includes all publishers
over 2003. Their total output was 21% hardcover, with 18, down from 27; horror had ten, down from with five or more books. In the charts, we try to make
28% trade paperback, and 51% mass market; their 13; and there was one tie-in first novel (Star Trek), the current figures more comparable by adjusting past
original books were 36% hardcover, 14% trade pa­ up from none. We identified three first novels as figures for mergers and new combinations. The only
perback, and 50% mass market. Tor, knocked out of POD, down from 17 in 2003. Major publishers were significant changes this year were the merging of
first place after leading for six years in a row, dropped responsible for 44, or 64%, of first novels. Harper­ Four Walls Eight Windows with the Avalon Publish­
back to second with 257 titles, a 9% drop. Their out­ Collins led with seven, followed by Penguin Group ing Group and Wildside’s acquisition of Prime.
put was 45% hardcover, 20% trade paperback, and USA and Tor with five each, Bantam/Doubleday/Dell Not all the Miscellaneous publishers are small
35% mass market; originals were 96% hardcover, 1% with four, and Random House/Ballantine/Del Rey press, but most of the small press is under Miscel­
trade paperback, and 3% mass market. HarperCol­ with three. laneous. Of the small presses, 12 made it out of
lins moved up into third place with 191 books total, Media-related books were down with 199 new Miscellaneous this year: Ash-Tree Press, BenBella
34% hardcover, 30% trade paperback, and 36% mass titles, 14% of the new books total, down from 15% Books, Cold Spring Press, Delirium Books, Golden
market; originals were 69% hardcover, 11% trade in 2003. This number is all fiction, with 168 novels Gryphon Press, Gryphon Books, NESFA Press,
paperback, and 20% mass market. Overall, original plus omnibuses and anthologies. We stopped count­ Night Shade Books, Old Earth Books, Red Jacket
books were 46% hardcover, 29% trade paperback, ing media-related non-fiction eight years ago, except Press, Subterranean Press, and Tachyon Publications.
and 25% mass market. for a few items of special interest in other areas (art, New to the list are Gryphon Books, Llewellyn, Bor­
The new titles are broken down by subject in Chart literary criticism) counted as regular non-fiction. ders, Candlewick Press, Delirium Books, Tachyon
#1. The count total doesn’t quite match our count by Star Trek continues to lead the media-related books Publications, Ash-Tree Press, Cold Spring Press,
publisher, as usual; the two are compiled separately, with 26 new titles, down from 35. Star Wars had Grove Atlantic, Haworth/Harrington Park, Old Earth
and discrepancies usually creep in. eight new titles, down from ten. Buffy, the Vampire Books, and Red Jacket Press. POD publishers are
Of the new titles, 814 were novels, up 9% from Slayer had six, one a tie-in with spin-offAngel, which included in Miscellaneous regardless of the number
747 last year. (Not included in this figure are 168 had five titles. Smallville had three, down from nine. of titles published.
new novels in the media-related category.) Novels Among other YA series, Charmed had six titles; we Chart #2 shows the top publishers’ totals for the
were 57% of new books, up from 54% last year. saw no new titles from either Roswell or Sabrina, past nine years. The same publishers made the chart
Numerically. SF, fantasy, and horror all increased. the Teenage Witch. Wizards of the Coast continues this year as last, but there was considerable shifting
SF novels were up 7% to 253 books, 18% of the new to dominate gaming titles with a total of 37 titles in around. Penguin Group USA moved into top spot
books total. Fantasy beat SF for the sixth year in a four series: 15 DragonLance, 13 Forgotten Realms, with 309 titles, knocking long-time champ Tor back
row, up 14% to a new high of 389 books, 27% of four in the new YA Dungeons & Dragons series, into second place with 257. HarperCollins moved
the new books total, up from 25% last year. Horror and three Magic: the Gathering. BL Publishing had up to third with 191, followed by SFBC with 186;
novels were up a slim 1% to 172 books, or 12% of the 25 new titles in their Warhammer and Warhammer Random/Ballantine held steady in fifth place with
new books total, the same as last year. Media tie-ins 40,000 series, plus another 13 comics and media tie- 174. Seven of the top publishers increased their output
were down 7% to 199, or 14% of the new books total, ins under the Black Flame imprint. White Wolf had while five decreased theirs.
down from 15%. Non-fiction was 9%, down from 14 new titles in their World of Darkness series, and Chart #3, Top Publishers of Original Books, shows
10%. Omnibuses were down 24%, making 4% of another two in their related Exalted series. WizKids Penguin Group USA holding onto the top spot. Tor
the new books total. had six new titles in their MechWarrior series. moves up into second place, knocking Simon &
The 253 original SF novels include 20 YA novels, Our “Art Books” section racked up 44 new titles Schuster into third, followed by HarperCollins in
8% of the total, up from 7% last year. There were in 2004, down from 57 in 2003, but the same as in fourth, swapping places with Random/Ballantine
also 18 SF first novels, 7% of the SF total, down 2002. This mixed category combines art, humor, in fifth; Baen held steady in sixth place. Below that
from 11% in 2003. poetry, and other occasional oddities. This year’s we saw the usual shifting around. New to the list are
Fantasy had 389 original novels, including 117 YA listing includes ten graphic novels, eight children’s Hyperion in 13th place and Leisure in 16th.
novels, 30% of the fantasy total, down from 34%. (It’s picture books, and two Tolkien-related books. There The percentage of reprints for each major publisher
still Harry Potter’s fault.) There were 40 fantasy first were 12 books focusing on specific artists, and two can give an indication of publishers’ profits. Hard/
novels, 15% of the fantasy total, up from 10%. Fan­ overviews of the field. soft deals and other variables complicate matters, but
tasy romances remain popular (even Tor has added a We saw 112 anthologies in 2003, up from 97 in even then it’s usually cheaper to do a reprint than buy
supernatural romance line) but we don’t count them 2003; 66 had mostly original stories, while 46 had a new book. Graph 1: Publishing History shows the
unless the fantasy elements significantly outweigh the mostly reprints. An additional 11 anthologies were relative numbers of new books and reprints, with a
romance - a hard call to make, sometimes. counted as media tie-ins, down from 12. It’s hard to sizeable gap between them starting in the late ’80s,
We saw 172 original horror novels, but our count define a “theme” anthology, since it’s rare to find though it narrowed somewhat in 2000. The number
is likely low - there are a lot of small-press limited any without a theme of some sort - the editors need of reprints has generally remained quite steady, while
editions that we never see. We try to restrict our some reason for their choices - but not counting the the proportion of original (new) books and total
count to supernatural horror, leaving out the strictly tie-ins, there were at least 56 anthologies with specific books has fluctuated. The proportion of reprints (the
non-fantasy books, but some inevitably slip in. Our themes. Ten books had “Best” in their titles, seven of opposite of the percentage of new books shown on the
total this year includes 28 YA titles, 16% of the horror them year’s bests. Erotic horror is common enough it Cumulative Book Survey) went up slightly to 44%
total, up from 13% the year before. (These figures doesn’t qualify as a theme without added qualifiers, percent. Of the top ten SF publishers, five increased
 2004: The Year in R eview / 25
their proportion of reprints. The SFBC CHART 4: RECOMMENDED BOOKS (Bradbury really shouldn’t have been
led with 89% reprints (up from 84% in 2004 ’03 ’02 ’01 ’00 ’99 ’98 ’97 ’96 ’95 upset about the name.)
2003), followed by ibooks with 78% (up HarperCollins US 19 11 18 15 17 18° 32° 24° 17° 14° We don’t include the media- and
from 67%), Random House/Ballantine/ Tor 16 13 24 33 29 30 26 26 37+ 30+ gaming-related titles because they’re
Del Rey with 57% (up from 51%), Tor Penguin Group (USA) 13 13 14 14 9 6 12 19* 15* 9* usually foregone conclusions. A cursory
with 56% (down from 60%), and Harp­ Random/Ballantine 12 13 9 5 10 8 5 6 7 6 examination of the year’s lists shows
erCollins with 54% (down from 60%). Orion/Gollancz 6 5 9 6 8 7 9 5 5 9 results very similar to last year’s, with
The rest had reprints as less than half Night Shade Books 6 3 2 1 2 Ballantine/Del Rey {Star Wars) and
their total. Simon & Schuster/Pocket DAW 5 4 2 2 1 3 4 5 4 4 Pocket {Star Trek) duking it out with­
trailed the pack with only 30% reprints,
Golden Gryphon 5 6 5 4 5 2 11-- out any real competition. The gaming
Wildside/Borgo/Prime 5 7 2 1 - tie-ins are a bit of a surprise, with the
though that may be misleading, since -
S&S/Scribner 4 2 3 1 12 2 12 usual heavyweight Wizards of the Coast
we seldom spot reissues of their many Bantam/Doubleday/Dell 4 5 4 3 8 5 7 7 12 14
Star Trek titles, even though they’re (DragonLance, Forgotten Realms,
Tachyon 4 - - - - - 112 1
generally kept constantly in print. Magic: the Gathering) having to fend off
Avalon Pub. Group 3 1 3 1 1 12-32
We saw genre material from 248 - - - Ballantine Del Rey’s Halo books, based
ibooks 3 1
publishers, down from 252 last year. PS Publishing 4 - 1 on the very hot computer games. We had
3 5 5
We had 201 miscellaneous publishers, St. Martin’s 3 3 5 4 6 6 7 ++ ++ ++ to actually count the votes to determine
down from 222; we’re not sure just how Underwood 3 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 a winner. Wizards beat Del Rey on the
many of these are POD publishers. Wheatland 3 1 1 - - Locus lists by only two bestseller places;
The chart of Total Books Published the results were reversed on the chain
Combined Penguin and Putnam including St. Martin’s list, with Del Rey taking 53% of the
by SF Imprint shows figures for the °combined HarperCollins/Morrow/Avon ++combined with Tor places, Wizards 45%, and Black Library
separate imprints without all their cor­
porate affiliates or non-specialty lines. a distant third with 2%. Since we only
The imprints remain the heart of the field, with the of commercial success. Charts #5 and #6 show which list the top five gaming tie-ins on any of the lists, the
publishers and editors committed to the genre, and publishers dominated the lists, with percentages three Halo titles take up a disproportionate amount
may give a better idea of the state of SF than the big­ based on the number of times each publisher had a of space, but it’s still an impressive performance for
ger publishing picture. Tor and the SFBC remain the book appear. The chain lists are kept separate from books that came out before 2004.
biggest imprints, well ahead of the rest of the pack. the Locus list to help track variations in buying pat­ CONCLUSION
Ace and Del Rey yet again swapped places in third terns. The Locus list is based primarily on reports Publishers are putting out too many books. The
and fourth. Most of the remaining imprints held onto from specialty bookstores, and thus should reflect a big publishing corporations care less about break­
their relative positions. We added four imprints: more knowledgeable and selective readership. The ing even than about increasing sales every year,
BenBella Books, Luna, NESFA, and Gryphon figures here do not include media- and gaming-re­ and they’re doing it by pumping out titles in greater
Books. The closest runners up were Subterranean lated titles, which are overwhelmingly dominated quantity. We seem to have gotten past the notion
(nine titles) and Golden Gryphon (eight). Meisha by just a few publishers. that big losses are a good thing (the dot-com boom
Merlin dropped off the list with only two titles. Six The Locus list saw the usual players shuffling and bust did that one in), but the idea that quantity
of the imprints decreased their output, including around a bit. Penguin Group USA and Random is more important than quality or even solvency is
four of the top five. Ace held steady, while the rest House/Ballantine/Del Rey tied for first place, knock­ dangerous. In the past, publishers increased their out­
of the imprints increased their number of titles. ing Tor back to third, followed by HarperCollins in put by acquiring competitors, which increased their
(Night Shade also held steady if you deduct their fourth. Houghton Mifflin dropped down to eighth numbers, but usually didn’t dramatically increase
three Ministry of Whimsy titles. Black Library’s place as the Tolkien tide continued to ebb. Warner the total number of books on the market. Lately
total includes 13 media tie-in titles under their new dropped off the list and was replaced in ninth place publishers seem more focused on internal growth,
Black Flame imprint; without them, Black Library’s by Simon & Schuster, given a boost by Stephen adding a new imprint to meet every new trend. Add
output actually dropped, though they would retain King’s Dark Tower novels. a general increased interest in fantasy (especially in
their relative position on the chart.) The chain bestseller lists represent the broader the romance, YA, and mystery fields) and the field is
QUALITY book market. (Even though we call them “chain” getting flooded, and there’s hardly shelf space for all
The only fair basis we have forjudging a publish­ lists, for the first nine months of 2004 we included the major players, much less the small press.
er’s quality is through the number of their books that the BookSense.com list, compiled from over 350 Print-on-demand books have a particularly hard
make the Locus Recommended Reading List (pp. independent booksellers.) There were fewer changes time getting into stores, thanks to high prices and
42,43,47) as shown in Chart #4. We recommended on this chart, with Random/Ballantine staying firmly the perception of low quality, so they have to rely
148 books, up from 142 last year. This year’s count in first, followed by Tor in second. HarperCollins on the Internet - making it impossible for us to ac­
includes three novellas and a novelette published as moved up to third place, while Penguin Group USA curately count them, or get any idea of sales. Some
separate books. There are also three cases in which held steady in fourth. The Tolkien books were more small presses with strong niche markets find POD
two books are counted as only one volume, since of a presence on the chain lists than the Locus lists, publishing a workable solution, but it hasn’t revolu­
they were originally single novels split into two to but lost enough ground to drop Houghton Mifflin to tionized the market the way some pundits predict­
meet marketing demands. If a book had a UK edition fifth place, down from third last year. Below that, ed. (It might help if there were some way to stop all
and a later US one, we gave credit to both publishers. publishers maintained their relative positions. the deluded self-publishers out there.)
We recommended books from 54 publishers, down Movie tie-ins affected more than just Tolkien titles No new trends come to mind. The biggest phenom­
from 60 last year, including eight from the UK, two on the main chain lists. Bantam picked up points for enon this year seems to be Susanna Clarke’s Jona­
from Australia, and two from Canada. There were both Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot and Ursula K. Le Guin’s than Strange & Mr Norrell, but it doesn’t seem to
18 small presses represented by 42 titles. A Wizard of Earthsea; the movie versions were be the sort of thing to spark a trend. Supernatural
12 publishers had four or more recommended disappointing, but it’s hard to complain if they inspire romances are big, but they’ve been growing for some
titles, one more than last year. HarperCollins took new readers to read good books. Ray Bradbury’s years. YA fantasy is booming, but we’ve been noting
top place with 17 titles. Tor came in second with classic Fahrenheit 451 (Del Rey) normally reappears this phenomenon, and blaming it on Harry Potter,
16. Penguin Group USA and Random/Ballantine, sporadically on chain lists, possibly because many for a while now. So, it looks like 2004 was the year
tied with Tor for first place in 2003, came in third schools use it in classes, but was a fixture on all the of “more of the same” - with the emphasis on more.
and fourth. chain lists mid-2004 (in both mass market and trade Let’s just hope that when the boom ends, the SF field
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS paperback), quite possibly thanks to the unexpected isn’t too badly busted up.
Bestseller lists give us the best indicators we have publicity from Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. -Carolyn Cushman/C.N.Brown S

CHART 5: Locus Bestsellers CHART 6: Chain Bestsellers

TOP PUBLISHERS LOCUS BESTSELLERS TOP PUBLISHERS
B&N/B. DALTON, BORDERS/WALDEN, BOOKSENSE.COM
2004 ’03 ’02 ’01 ’00 ’99 ’98 ’97
1. Penguin Group (USA) 19% 14 10 12 13 10 13 1T 2004 ’03 ’02 ’01 ’00 ’99 ’98 ’97
2. Random/Ball/Del Rey 19% 16 24 24 13 19 17 17 1. Random/Ball/Del Rey 25% 27 33 22 24 29 30 28
3. Tor 17% 20 17 16 18 19 20 21 + 2. Tor 18% 18 17 20 21 21 21 21 +
4. HarperCollins 16% 15 12 15 17 21° 16° 13° 3. HarperCollins 15% 10 6 8 13 12° 11° 7°
5. Bantam/D’day/Dell 6% 6 5 7 10 11 8 14 4. Penguin Group (USA) 14% 12 8 13 14 11 13 13*
6. Baen 5% 9 10 9 10 6 9 7 5. Houghton Mifflin 8% 14 19 19 6 4 2 2
7. DAW 4% 5 4 4 5 6 6 6 6. Bantam/D’day/Dell 6% 5 6 11 10 11 7 9
8. Houghton Mifflin 4% 8 13 9 2 - - - 7. Baen 3% 4 5 3 4 4 5 4
9. Simon & Schuster 2% - 8. DAW 3% 3 2 3 3 5 6 8
♦includes St. Martin’s books 'combined Penguin and Putnam °combined HarperCollins/Morrow/Avon indicates a figure less than 2% Tie
26/2004: The Year in Review
2004 Magazine Summary
The circulation numbers continued their downward 2004 Magazine Circulation Summary
spiral this year and we lost more specialty bookstores. Newsstand % Newsstand Paid Paid Circ.
The total number of issues for professional magazines Subscriptions Sales Returns Copies Sold Circulation Change
Year
dropped from 47 to 44 (mostly because Interzone
halted production during the sale of the magazine). Analog
But even as the numbers fell, the quality of the content 1991 67,475 12,250 30,133 29% 79,725 -4.2%
in the various professional, semi-pro, minuscule, and 1992 66,000 12,000 27,800 30% 78,000 -2.2%
online magazines was excellent. Asimov’s and Analog 1993 67,000 11,000 41,000 21% 78,000 0.0%
each published their scheduled ten issues, two being 1994 65,000 10,000 38,000 21% 75,000 -3.8%
double issues. Argosy and Amazing Stories were 1995 61,000 9,000 19,400 32% 70,000 -6.7%
resurrected with much fanfare, though their fates are 52^562 7,086 17,140 29% 59,648 -14.8%
1996
uncertain at present with Argosy on an entirely irregu- 14,754 32% 53,372 -10.5%
1997 46,324 7,048
lar schedule and Amazing Stories going on “hiatus.” 12,422 51% 59,657 +11.8%
1998 46,707 12,950
Interzone changed hands (and looks) and may have a 51,663 -13.4%
1999 40,731 10,932 16,093 41%
more regular schedule and certain future now. 39^270
2000 8,497 17,137 33% 47,767 -7.5%
So it’s not all bad news. There is still more fiction
2001 34,811 8,318 8,950 48% 43,129 -9.7%
out there than anyone could hope to read, and the
2002 33,307 8,808 7,164 55% 42,115 -2.4%
energy and enthusiasm in the field holds strong.
2003 31,715 8,883 5,729 61% 40,598 -3.6%
AMAZING STORIES
Amazing Stories was brought back to life in 2004, 2004 27,816 5,456 5,532 50% 33,272 -18.0%
continuing its numbering from the previous incarna- Asimov’s Science Fiction
tion with Issue #603. Paizo Publishing’s high-quality 27,224 26% 74,015 -7.3%
1991 64,377 9,638
glossy magazine retailed for $5.99, with Dave Gross 72,000 -2.7%
1992 63,000 9,000 26,900 25%
as the editor. While sporting slick, commercial
1993 64,000 9,000 40,000 18% 73,000 +1.4%
covers with media images like Spider-man, Sky
1994 61,000 8,000 32,000 20% 69,000 -5.4%
Captain, Star Wars, and The Incredibles to lure TV
1995 52,000 7,000 17,000 29% 59,000 -14.5%
and movie fans, the magazine’s editorial philosophy
was clear about the importance of stories; about a 1996 41,230 4,679 13,134 26% 45,909 -22.2%
third of the magazine was fiction, a third media, and 1997 37,488 5,040 12,151 29% 42,568 -7.4%
a third columns. Short fiction included stories by 1998 35,273 11,982 11,094 52% 47,255 +11.0%
Bruce Sterling, Harlan Ellison, Gene Wolfe, Paul Di 1999 29,265 6,606 16,173 29% 35,871 -24.1%
Filippo, Leslie What, Jack Williamson, etc. There 2000 25,917 5,544 16,091 26% 31,461 -12.3%
were also interviews with Robert Silverberg, George 2001 23,727 8,658 8,510 50% 32,385 +2.9%
R.R. Martin, Larry Niven, etc.; features; and reviews. 2002 24,231 7,600 6,001 56% 31,831 -1.7%
September, October, November, and December issues 2003 22,933 7,668 5,088 60% 30,601 -3.9%
were delivered on schedule with a total of 19 pieces 2004 23,928 3,936 7,564 34% 27,864 -8.9%
of short fiction.
Then came the “hiatus.” At this time, we have no The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
information on publication of the magazine past the 1991 56,550 12,329 12,960 49% 68,879 +30.9%
February 2005 issue, nor any circulation figures for 1992 43,999 12,079 10,770 53% 56,078 -18.6%
the last four months of 2004. As such, we can only 1993 47,598 9,857 11,123 47% 57,455 +2.5%
speculate (see page 12). 1994 43,412 8,354 10,758 44% 51,766 -9.9%
ANALOG 1995 43,803 7,754 9,735 44% 51,557 -0.4%
Analog’s paid circulation hit another new low, 1996 38,442 7,144 10,186 41% 45,586 -11.6%
dropping 18%. Subscriptions fell by 3,899 to 27,816. 1997 31,703 7,953 8,857 47% 39,656 -13.0%
Newsstand and bookstore sales fell from 8,883 to 1998 27,310 7,458 12,744 37% 34,768 -12.3%
5,456, with sell-through down to 50%. Analog pro­ 1999 26,909 5,716 9,318 38% 32,625 -6.3%
duced ten issues in 2004: eight singles with 144 pages 2000 25,615 4,356 9,814 31% 29,971 -8.1%
and the two promised doubles, January/February and 2001 22,316 4,168 9,940 30% 26,484 -11.6%
July/August, with 240 pages each. The covers are a 2002 19,278 4,542 7,609 37% 23,820 -10.1%
mix of space scenes with explorers on four covers, 2003 16,562 4,881 6,239 44% 21,443 -10.0%
aliens gracing three, spaceships blasting across two, 2004 15,033 3,886 5,799 40% 18,919 -11.8%
and even a pterodactyl on one. They printed two
serials (a three-part and a four-part), five novellas, Locus
1991 5,169 3,224 134 96% 8,393 -4.1%
PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINES 1992 5,111 3,238 131 96% 8,349 -0.5%
ISSUES PUBLISHED (ALL FICTION ONLY) 1993 5,006 3,416 251 93% 8,422 +0.9%
TITLE________________________________ 2004 1994 4,993 3,061 372 89% 8,054 -4.4%
Amazing Stories.................................................... 4 1995 5,073 3,172 348 90% 8,245 +2.4%
Analog ........................................................ 10 1996 4,998 3,081 449 87% 8,079 -2.0%
Asimov’s SF......................................................... 10 1997 4,898 3,097 744 81% 7,985 -1.2%
F&SF..................................................................... 11 1998 4,877 2,793 956 74% 7,670 -3.9%
Interzone...................................................................3 1999 4,825 2,636 926 74% 7,461 -2.7%
Realms of Fantasy................................................. 6 2,466 1,229 67% 7,201 -3.5%
2000 4,735
Total....................................................................... 44
2001 4,788 2,551 1,298 66% 7,339 +1.9%
TOTAL ISSUES 2002 4,798 2,189 1,467 60% 6,987 -5.8%
2004 6 fiction titles 44 issues 2003 4,792 2,339 1,527 61% 7,131 +2.1%
2003 5 fiction titles 47 issues 2004 4,623 2,173 1,551 58% 6,796 -4.7%
2002 5 fiction titles 49 issues
2001 5 fiction titles 51 issues Realms of Fantasy
2000 7 fiction titles 58 issues 1994 i 19,549 34,125 58,125 37% 53,674 —
1999 7 fiction titles 61 issues 1995 20,449 22,880 66,567 26% 43,329 -19.3%
1998 8 fiction titles 63 issues 1996 24,940 19,408 54,828 26% 44,348 +2.4%
1997 7 fiction titles 59 issues 1997 24,789 19,308 43,922 31% 44,097 -0.5%
1996 6 fiction titles 58 issues
1998 25,306 19,517 34,989 36% 44,823 +1.6%
1995 6 fiction titles 61 issues
1994 8 fiction titles 61 issues 1999 23,339 16,718 36,676 31% 40,057 -10.7%
1993 7 fiction titles 71 issues 2000 25,652 9,561 30,706 24% 35,213 -12.1%
1992 7 fiction titles 65 issues 2001 24,031 6,405 21,176 23% 30,436 -13.6%
1991 6 fiction titles 64 issues 2002 20,541 5,472 19,862 22% 26,013 -14.5%
1990 6 fiction titles 60 issues 2003 18,337 8,995 55,499 14% 27,331 +5.1%
 2004: The Year in Review 727
25 novelettes, 30 short stories, and eight vignettes, With all the changes, circulation numbers aren’t quite
for 70 pieces of prose fiction, down from 74 last year clear, but we suspect they are between two and three
but good overall with ten issues. Stanley Schmidt has thousand. The issues had 66 pages, and were priced
been editor for 25 years. Trevor Quachri is associate at £3.50 (about $7.00), retaining their mix of quality
editor and acting managing editor, taking over much fiction, author interviews, film reviews, and book
of the work since Sheila Williams, executive editor, reviews. Interzone had 15 pieces of fiction this year,
took the editorial helm at Asimov’s. down from 45 in 2003. Next year, we will either put
The magazine’s price stayed at $3.99 for the single Interzone with the semi-pro market (it doesn’t really
issues, $5.99 for the doubles. qualify in the above-10,000 pro market) or move up
ASIMOV’S TTA. We haven’t decided yet.
Asimov’s paid circulation dropped 8.9%. Their REALMS OF FANTASY
subscription numbers rose to 23,928 (a bright spot in RoF hasn’t released their circulation figures yet,
the field) from 22,933, but newsstand and bookstore but we understand they are about the same as 2003.
sales were down to 3,639 from 7,688 in 2003, and According to the numbers they printed in their April
sell-through dropped from 60% to 34%. The numbers 2004 issue, their subscription numbers in 2003 were
suggest that Asimov’s may be headed toward subscrip­ down 1,988 to 18,273, a smaller difference than the
tion only, which can be profitable, but makes any previous year, and their newsstand sales rose over
growth difficult. Fiction magazines need to maintain 3,000 to 8,995. Sell-through was 14%, down 8%, due
Asimov’s SF
a presence on the newsstand and bookstore shelves in large part to a shifting focus into newsstand sales
to survive. Without that footprint in the market and (over 55,000 unsold copies - expensive, but good
its visibility to new readers and advertisers, they run advertising on the shelves). It worked for them, with
the risk of disappearing altogether. paid circulation picking up 5.1%. Realms of Fantasy
Asimov’s produced ten issues in 2004. Page count met their schedule, with six bimonthly issues in 2004.
remained 144 pages for the eight regular issues and The cover price remained $3.99; issues ran from 82-98
240 pages for their April/May and October/November pages. They published 41 pieces of fiction, up three
doubles. They printed seven novellas, 26 novelettes, from the year before, with considerable amounts of
and a whopping 50 short stories, for 83 pieces of prose, color ads. They had two covers with photos from The
up from 70 in 2003. They also ran 31 poems. Covers Lord of the Rings movies, three with underdressed
were mixed, most clearly SF with about three-quarters female warriors, and one fair maiden/wise king
showing space scenes or planetscapes. The newsstand tableau. The non-fiction is mostly well written, with
price, like Analog, stayed at $3.99 for the single issues, book reviews, the Art Gallery, and a folklore feature.
$5.99 for the doubles. Shawna McCarthy continues as editor, there since
After 18 years and over 200 issues with the maga­ the beginning in 1994. Joe Varda is off the masthead
zine, Gardner Dozois officially stepped down from his as Publisher and Carl Gnam, Editorial Director, F&SF
editorship at Asimov’s at the end of 2004. He actually is running the magazine. Former managing editor
left in mid-2004, but all the fiction for the year was Laura Cleveland has moved to the Sovereign side and
picked by him. Sheila Williams, who was executive Christopher D’Amore is now Assistant Editor.
editor and has worked at Asimov’s even longer than LOCUS
Dozois, took over in mid 2004, and officially in Janu­ We include Locus here even though it isn’t a fiction
ary 2005. Brian Bieniowski is Assistant Editor. magazine, isn’t a “professional” magazine - defined
Both Asimov’s and Analog have seen success with by SFWA as having a circulation of over 10,000,
this ten-issue printing year, maintaining the amount which eliminates Interzone and TTA as well - and
of fiction pieces published while freeing up space (and doesn’t really belong. We do it because we’re the only
time) to focus on longer pieces twice a year. other magazine with a periodical-class postal permit,
F&SF so we have to publish the figures anyway.
F&SF’s circulation dropped 11.8%, due equally to Our circulation was down this year 4.7%. Subscrip­
falling numbers of subscribers and newsstand sales tions dropped 169 to 4,623 and newsstand sales fell
- subscribers are down about 1,500 to 15,033 and slightly. Our sell-through went down to 58%, since
newsstand sales dropped just under 1,000 to 3,886. we sell almost solely through bookstores, not news­
Sell-through dipped slightly to 40%, still well within stands; we’d like it to be higher. We lost more of our Locus
their average for recent years. They published four specialty bookstores this year, and others are hanging
novellas, 28 novelettes, and 46 short stories, for a on by only a thread, further constricting access to our
total of 78 pieces of prose fiction, down from 82 the small, specialized audience.
previous year. It was a great year for fiction at F&SF, We produced our usual 12 issues, averaging 82
with a notably strong set of novelettes. Covers were pages each, all on time. We made some changes in
the best in the field, split about equally between SF format earlier in the year that caused a few obstacles,
and fantasy. but things are running smoothly again. The cover
F&SF brought out 11 issues in 2004, with one price stayed at $5.95.
double issue in October/November. Regular issues Editorial Director Jennifer Hall left the magazine in
had 162 pages, the October/November double 242. July to pursue other interests. Founder and publisher
Cover price stayed $3.99 in 2004; the double was Charles N. Brown came out of semi-retirement and is
$4.99. These prices should remain steady for 2005, again Editor-in-Chief; Kirsten Gong-Wong remains
but continuous postal hikes are an added concern. managing editor.
The magazine raised the rate it pays authors by half a SEMI-PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINES
cent a word. Gordon Van Gelder is in his eighth year We define semi-professional magazines as fiction
as editor (completing his seventh with the June 2004 magazines with no national newsstand distribution
issue) and his fourth year as owner and publisher. (I but which do have bookstore sales. They have circu­
think we finally got it right!) lations under 10,000 but are otherwise professional.
INTERZONE They have color covers, publish mainly fiction, pay
Interzone had three issues in 2004. The spring at least 20 a word on acceptance, and appear at least
issue, #193, marked the end of an era, the final issue quarterly - the kicker! Others are irregular serials,
under publisher and editor David Pringle, who ran the small-press magazines, or fanzines.
magazine for 22 years. Pringle then sold the magazine Frequency is, as usual, the sticking point. Very
to Andy Cox and TTA Press, who revamped the look few small-press magazines can get out four quarterly
and began a new bimonthly publishing schedule with issues.
the September/October and November/December This was a good year for The Third Alternative,
issues. The “new” Interzone is more contemporary, receiving their first Hugo nomination as well as
with futuristic females gracing both 2004 covers, celebrating their tenth year in print. The large-sized
new fonts, and a streamlined look; the dimensions magazine from the UK had slick color covers rang­
changed to match TTA’s larger size. The first issue of ing from matte to high-gloss. They produced four
Interzone under Cox had a high-gloss cover, as did the quarterly issues in 2004, all with 66 pages. The covers
simultaneous issue of TTA, though they both reverted were excellent with compelling art; human-featured PAID CIRCULATION
to a semi-gloss cover for their final issues of the year. ►H --------NEWSSTAND SALES ---------- SUBSCRIPTIONS
28/2004: The Year in Review
K< 2004 Magazine Summary considerably. Fantastic Stories of the Imagination, Talebones, the digest-size “Magazine of Sci­
edited by Edward J. McFadden III, published one is­ ence Fiction and Dark Fantasy” edited by Patrick
phantasms graced the four issues, with doe-eyed sue. H.P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror, edited by and Honna Swenson, had two issues, Summer and
spheres, torso-ed syringes, and other surreal images. Marvin Kaye, published two issues in their premiere Winter 2004, at 92 and 104 pages respectively. They
The price rose to £4 for the first three issues, then year, with a print-run of 5,000 for the first issue. Issue published 16 stories and nine poems, plus interviews,
dropped back to £3.95 in the UK with the Winter 1.5 only went to their around 1,000 subscribers with reviews, and regular columns. Their circulation is
2004 issue, and stayed $7.00 in the US. The last figure a print-run of 2,000. There were 15 pieces of fiction approximately 650, based on 2003 figures. They
we had for circulation, from 2002, was about 6,000 and four poems. switched to a single-column format this year. The
(probably before returns); sales were probably in the Though scheduled bimonthly, we only saw three cover price was $6.00.
3,000-4,000 range. Andy Cox is the editor. Stories issues of Cemetery Dance, who celebrated their 15th MINUSCULE PRESS
tended towards horror and the surreal and will con­ year in print and their 50th issue in 2004. Richard Kelly Link & Gavin Grant’s legacy continues to
tinue in the dark fiction/horror vein, not competing Chizmar is Publisher/Editor-in-Chief and Robert grow as minuscule press publications are sprouting up
for the science fiction market against TTA Press’s Morrish is editor. Issues were 112, 114, and 144 pag­ everywhere - they started an oddity a few years ago,
Interzone. They published 25 pieces of prose fiction es (for the special 50th issue); the cover price went a magazine that didn’t look like much but had quality
in 2004 (same as 2003), three of them novelettes, plus up at the beginning of the year to $5.00. They pub­ fiction and non-fiction by mostly professional-level
interviews, reviews, and commentary, with a refresh­ lished 23 pieces of fiction, down from 29 the year writers. We only saw one issue of Lady Churchill's
ing lack of advertising. We may move them up to the before, along with author interviews and non-fiction Rosebud Wristlet last year, issue #14 running 68 pages
professional, if they would only send in stats! by a notable group of horror writers and critics. CD with 12 pieces of fiction, three poems, and several
There were five issues of quarterly Canadian maga­ claims a print-run of 10,000 copies, with half of that essays. The price was $5.00.
zine On Spec in 2004; both Fall and Winter 2003 newsstand sales; they don’t mention sell-through or Alchemy had one issue in 2004, immaculately
issues weren’t received until 2004. The digest-sized subscriptions. The covers are color, with a variety of packaged, perfect-bound with a whimsical, glossy,
magazine is produced by non-profit collective the dark and ghoulish scenes; the inside is newsprint. full-color cover with six pieces of fiction by a strong
Copper Pig Society, headed by general editor Diane OTHERS set of authors; the issue cost $7.00, and ran 87 pages.
L. Walton. Jena Snyder, production editor for 16 years, From Australia, we received all of the six is­ Steve Pasechnik is the editor; he used to do Strange
left in the summer of 2004 to focus on writing; she sues of bimonthly Andromeda Spaceways In-flight Plasma. Say... also only got one issue out in 2004,
was replaced by Lynette Bondarchuk. The covers are Magazine. As a cooperative, the editor changes every with the second, issue #5, scheduled and copyrighted
slick, with varied, interesting art. On Spec printed issue. The price stayed at AUS $7.95 in 2004. Issues in 2004, but unseen so far. Each issue of the quirky
21 pieces of short fiction and two poems in the two run 128 pages and are digest sized with slick covers semiannual ’zine is themed around a question - issue
2003 issues, and 33 pieces of fiction and two poems featuring mostly fantasy scenes. Of other antipodean #4’s is Say... why aren't we crying? Filled with qual­
in the 2004 issues, all 112 pages, with a cover price publications, we received both digest-sized issues ity stories, poems, and non-fiction, Say... has a strong
of C$5.95. Circulation was around 1,200. of semiannual Aurealis. Issue #32 was 152 pages in mix of interesting professional and professional-qual­
ALMOSTS length and cost AUD$12.50. Issues #33, #34, and ity authors, purposefully striving for diversity in their
The following magazines would have been in the #35 arrived as a compilation in January 2005, with a contributor base. The editor is Christopher Rowe.
previous category if they had gotten out their requisite 2004 publication date, due to the abundance of mate­ Flytrap, “a little ’zine with teeth,” produced issues #2
four issues. rial chosen by Stevenson before he stepped down as and #3 in 2004, in which editors Tim Pratt & Heather
The new Argosy, launched by James Owen and Lou editor at the end of the year. It’s 282 pages in length, Shaw featured/crammed 17 fiction pieces, 12 poems,
Anders, put out two issues, though we saw the first retailing for AUD$34.50, and names Ben Payne, and a few “actual” musings into its dual printings
in October 2003 dated January/February 2004. The formerly of Andromeda Spaceways, and Robert Hoge of 53 pages, all for just $4.00. Full Unit Hookup: A
first digest-sized, perfect-bound issue came out in a as Aurealis's new editors. Total fiction count for the Magazine of Exceptional Literature had two issues;
set of two shrink-wrapped, slipcased volumes, one year is 26 stories. we saw #6, Winter 2004 which had fiction, poetry,
with short fiction and interviews in 80 pages and the In its second year, we saw both issues of bi-annual and articles. The editor was Mark Rudolph.
other with a novella in 144 pages. The muted tones Paradox, the winter issue in January. The full-size CRITICAL MAGAZINES
on the color covers lent to its vintage effect. After a slick-covered magazine features historical and The New York Review ofScience Fiction produced
miserable time with distribution and handling of the speculative fiction, with healthy doses of fantasy their 12 regular issues, a uniform 24 pages in length.
magazine by chain stores, they put out the second and science fiction. Cover price is $6.00, up from Their circulation is in the 500s for subscribers and
issue in both the double volume, then called the $5.00 in 2003, and the issues ran 57 pages with 15 they send out about 50 non-returnable newsstand
“connoisseur” edition with 112 and 144 pages, and pieces of original fiction, non-fiction features, poems, copies. Their format remains a mix of critical reviews
a single volume, the “proletariat” edition with 112 interviews, and reviews. and articles, and the focus is academic SF-type criti­
pages. The ambitious venture created quite a stir, This year we saw the debut of Postscripts, a new cism and articles.
but seemed to fizzle out when the third edition never publication by PS Publishing. Issue #1, Spring 2004’s Of the academic journals, we saw two issues of
materialized. Anders left in the middle of the year to cover featured a watercolor of a vaguely disturbing Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, after catching
work at Pyr, and we heard nothing from Owen till a family trip in a modern station wagon towards a red­ up their issues last year. We saw three issues from
recent press release announcing a third issue, not yet dish dome in the horizon- what does it all mean? #2 Extrapolation, one a 2003 issue seen in January.
seen. The cover price was $12.95, but will be $20.00 was also ominous with what appears to be a moun­ Foundation and Science Fiction Studies produced
in the future. taintop ablaze. With 24 pieces of fiction in 2004 by a their scheduled three issues each. Utopian Studies had
Black Gate is scheduled quarterly, but we only saw respectable list of authors - Jack Dann, Jeff Vander- two issues, one a delayed 2003 (same as last year).
the fall issue in 2004. The magazine is perfect-bound, Meer, Zoran Zivkovic, Gene Wolfe, Brian Aldiss, etc. We saw two issues of Peake Studies.
slightly larger than the old pulp magazines, and runs - Postscripts is a promising publication. Cover price The Heinlein Journal was seen twice this year,
208 pages in length, with a cover price of $9.95. The is £6/$ 10 and the issues had 174 and 176 pages. up from one last year. We also saw an issue of SF
cover featured good fantasy art. Primarily an “epic Commentary 79; The Tucker Issue on - you guessed
fantasy” magazine, they published six pieces of LOCUS RECOMMENDED SHORT FICTION it-Wilson “Bob” Tucker.
fiction, including one classic reprint, plus reviews, QUALITY
articles on fantasy and gaming, etc. 2004 ’03 ’02 ’01 ’00 ’99 ’98 Our measure for quality is our short fiction Recom­
anth./coll. 42 42 28 27 21 19 24
We only saw three issues of “bimonthly” Weird mended Reading List, broken down in Chart #3. In
Asimov's 29 29 33 31 31 37 42
Tales in 2004, each running 60 pages. Now in their F&SF 2004, we recommended 144 pieces of short fiction,
25 21 23 25 20 20 18
81st year, they had slick covers featuring mythical Sci Fiction 25 17 14 20 14 - - up by leaps and bounds from 128 last year. Seventeen
creatures, maidens, etc. - as always colorful and Argosy 3 - - - - - - magazines (including online Sci Fiction, Amazon,
creative. They published 17 pieces of prose fiction, Strange com, IEEE Spectrum, and Strange Horizons) had
down from 23 the year before, and 15 poems. The Horizons 3 2 - - - - - recommended stories, up from 12 last year. The same
price remained at $5.95. George H. Scithers & Dar­ Analog 2 1 8 6 5 13 8 top four sources stayed on top, but last year’s leader,
rell Schweitzer are the editors; the magazine is co­ Realms of Asimov's, lost first place. Instead, original anthologies
owned and co-published by Warren Lapine & Angela Fantasy 2 4 2 2 2 - 2 and collections led with 42 recommendations, the
Kessler’s DNA Publications and John Betancourt’s Alchemy 1 1 - - - - - same as last year - anthologies The Faery Reel had
Wildside Press. Still no circulation figures from Amazon.com 1 - - - - - - five recommendations, followed by Flights and Con­
Lapine; for 2002 they had a paid circulation of about Conjunctions 1 - - - - - - queror Fantastic with four. Crossroads: Tales of
5,300, but they are probably well down from that Elec. the Southern Fantastic had three. Asimov's as usual
now. They changed distributors twice in 2004, which Velocipide 1 - - - - - -
had the most from one source, with 29 recommended
IEEE Spec. 1 - - - - - -
caused some unforeseen problems, but are optimistic stories (35% of their fiction), the same number rec­
LCRW 1 - - - - -
about the 2005 production schedule. - - - - - - ommended last year; F&SF tied for third with 25, up
Weird Tales almost made its publication schedule, Lenox Ave. #3 1
from 21, with Sci Fiction, who jumped up to meet that
Say- 1 - - - - - -
as noted above, but other DNA fiction magazines Socialist 25 from 17 last year. Argosy and Strange Horizons
didn’t. We were unable to get new circulation figures Review 1 - - - - - - each had three recommendations, for fifth and sixth
for any DNA Publications, but they’re probably down place on our list. Realms of Fantasy and Analog had
 2004: The Year in R eview / 29
two. Alchemy 2, Electric Velocipede, Amazon.com, to be our mainstay for good-quality, innovative fic­ publishing fiction elsewhere. Online ’zines continued
Talebones, The Socialist Review, Lenox Avenue #3, tion and informative articles. Changing editors and to become more prevalent and produce quality work,
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, Say..., Conjunc­ magazine looks may raise eyebrows, but it keeps the most notably Sci Fiction, but others have also caught
tions 43: Beyond Arcadia, and IEEE Spectrum each field fresh and alive, while the smaller publications our attention, and the web has unlimited potential for
had one recommendation. work on surviving. growth. And though we are dismayed by the constant
CONCLUSION The revivals, Argosy and Amazing Stories, have shrinking of the professional magazine market, there
We made it through the year without losing any yet to prove their longevity - next year may decide is still an undying enthusiasm for magazines that
major magazines, and the larger ones all success­ their fate. Though the “minuscules” didn’t quite get keeps the home fire burning.
fully produced on schedule. With old favorites and out as many issues as expected, we hope it was be­ -C.N. Brown/Karlyn Pratt/Liza Trombi ■
new interpretations of old favorites, they continue cause the authors and editors were busy writing and

Recommended Reading Zeppelin Adventure Stories. From the trade press her boyfriend.
M<p. 40/12 the standouts were The First Heroes, Flights, Michael Flynn’s “The Clapping Hands of God” is
Crossroads, The Faery Reel, and the SFBC offering a tragic look at good people caught up in a situation
available, I can only mention a few. So here, in alpha­ Between Worlds. PS Publishing, as usual, featured with no good choices. An exploration team is study­
betical order, is my Top Ten Stories list for 2004: several strong novellas published as slim books: my ing a beautiful planet and the fascinating locals when
favorites were by Stephen Baxter, Paul Park, Lisa an invasion force arrives. All the rules say they must
Judith Berman, “The Fear Gun” Tuttle, and Gary Greenwood. That format seems to not intervene, but how can they let an atrocity go
Terry Bisson, “Scout’s Honor” be spreading - notable “novella chapbooks” were unstopped? Stephen Baxter’s “PeriAndry’s Quest”
Gregory Feeley, “Arabian Wine” also published by Golden Gryphon, Aqueduct, Subter­ takes a fresh idea and uses it provocatively. People
Theodora Goss, “Miss Emily Gray” ranean Press, and Soft Skull Press. live on a cliff where time moves at different rates
Ian McDowell, “Under the Flag of Night” What then of the individual short fiction? Among depending on altitude, and the faster-aging people up
Tim Powers, “Pat Moore” the novellas my two clear-cut favorites came from high are servants to the slower-agers below. One of the
Robert Reed, Mere one writer: Gregory Feeley. “Giliad” features sev­ “aristocrats” falls in love with a servant girl... with
Lois Tilton, “The Gladiator’s War: A Dialogue” eral seamlessly integrated threads: a contemporary predictably sad results.
Ian Watson, “An Appeal to Adolf” woman studying Sumer (while her husband beta-tests David Moles, in “The Third Party”, matches social­
Gene Wolfe, “The Lost Pilgrim” a computer game set there), the woman’s dreams of ist and mercantilist envoys to a newly rediscovered
- Nick Gevers a Sumerian girl in the midst of war, James Blish in planet - along with the “third party” of the title. It
the bomb-haunted 50s - all as the events of 9/11 play reads strikingly like a 50s Astounding story, yet with
RECOMMENDED READING, 2004 out. “Arabian Wine” is about a man in 17th-century a 21st-century sensibility. Benjamin Rosenbaum’s
by Rich Horton Venice, trying to introduce coffee to that city, but metafictional alternate history “Biographical Notes
Two very long fantasy novels seem clearly the land­ frustrated by the impersonal apparatus of the autocratic to ‘A Discourse on the Nature of Causality, With
mark works of 2004. One is by an old master of the Venetian state. The aftermath of 9/11 also informs Air-Planes’ by Benjamin Rosenbaum” has fun with
field. This is Gene Wolfe’s diptych The Wizard Knight, Bradley Denton’s “Sergeant Chip”, a powerful story a serious point in telling of a Plausible Fabulist in a
consisting of two volumes: The Knight and The Wizard. of an enhanced dog working for the military who has world of zeppelin travel speculating about heavier-
The story concerns a boy transported to a fantasy world his loyalties tested during an Iraq-like occupation. than-air flight - all while engaging in unplanned feats
wherein he gains the body of a powerful adult. Put thus, Stephen Baxter’s Mayflower II, by contrast, tackles a of derring-do.
it seems nothing but adolescent wish-fulfillment fantasy very traditional SF theme - the generation ship - with Short stories that stood out for me included Robert
at the most extreme: but canny old Wolfe has much differ­ knowing references to classic examples by the likes Reed’s “Opal Ball”, about using wagering pools to
ent plans. The other top novel is a first novel: Jonathan of Heinlein, Aldiss, and Anderson. Baxter’s story is predict the future - even of love affairs. Benjamin
Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke. This is a about a man chosen to be nearly immortal in order Rosenbaum had one of the best short-shorts I’ve seen
leisurely-paced but always satisfying novel in which to help maintain the mission focus of the ship, and recently: “Night Waking” (Flytrap, 11/04), about a
the two title magicians, at first student and teacher, then how things don’t work out as expected anyway. It’s a child waking afraid in the night - for all too good a
rivals, try to restore magic to England. Of pure science great example of an SF story that is very much part of reason. He also contributed a couple of strong pure
fiction novels, my favorite was Wil McCarthy’s Lost in the ongoing “conversation” between SF writers, and SF stories: “Embracing-the-New” is about an alien
Transmission, the third in his series about the Queendom which adds some fine new ideas to the mix. artist trying a new style in a conservative culture,
of Sol, and the problems caused by life-extension and As often seems to be the case, the novelette category while “Start the Clock” posits a plague that keeps
programmable matter technology. is replete with excellent work. (Though I sometimes people’s physiological ages frozen - and the effect of
Magazine publishing news in 2004 was ambiguous. think it rather artificial, a combination of long short a possible cure.
In the UK, only three issues of Interzone appeared, stories (e.g. “PeriAndry’s Quest”) and short novellas Eliot Fintushel also had two strong short stories.
as David Pringle, an editor of the magazine from the (e.g. “The Clapping Hands of God”).) Best of a great About “Gwendolyn Is Happy to Serve You” it is per­
beginning, sold the magazine to Andy Cox (also edi­ list, a story that simply surprised and delighted me, haps sufficient to say that any story with a were-moose
tor and publisher of The Third Alternative). One new was Christopher Rowe’s “The Voluntary State”. Rowe is in with a chance with me! And “Women Are Ugly”
magazine also appeared, Postcripts, from PS Publish­ has done some fine work in past years, but this story is a bittersweet story of a man convinced he is a super­
ing. Thus, while this was certainly a down year for UK is a revelation, a state change in quality and especially man, and his difficulties with girls. Carol Emshwiller
magazines, the future may promise better things. In subject matter. It’s set in a very altered future Tennessee, also had a passel of first rate pieces - a few continuing
the US, the top magazines continued much as usual. with radical biological engineering affecting everything a thematically linked set of stories about war, and a
The big news was yet another revival of Amazing from art to cars to politics - and the hero, unwitting, is few continuing a linked set of stories about intelligent
Stories. While this new magazine has a heavy media witness to a revolution of sorts. It’s a story that describes flying creatures. Perhaps “Gliders Though They Be”
focus, it also features about five short stories per issue itself far better than I can hope to describe it. stands as a good representative of her work this year:
- and the quality of the fiction has been quite good. Paolo Bacigalupi had already attracted interest with about conflict between winged and wingless variants of
Unfortunately, its future seems in doubt as it goes on stories like 2003’s “The Fluted Girl”, but “The People the flying creatures, and a spy from the wingless group
hiatus in early 2005. The much-anticipatedArgosy ap­ of Sand and Slag” is certainly my favorite of his to who falls in love with one of the winged females.
peared, with two strong, good-looking issues. But the date. This is set in an environmentally ruined future, Several writers impressed with a range of strong
original editor (Lou Anders) left and there were also where three miners find a dog - a surprise as dogs are stories. I’ve already mentioned Benjamin Rosenbaum
distribution difficulties (due in part to the magazine’s supposedly extinct. Bacigalupi eschews the obvious three times. Jay Lake, who won the 2004 John W.
unusual format). By the end of the year another format directions such a story might take - and the resolution, Campbell Award for Best New Writer, continued his
change was announced. I liked the look and feel of the as well as the details of the setting revealed by the story, amazingly prolific ways - turning up pretty much
first two issues, as well as the stories -1 hope it can are really interesting. Ysabeau S. Wilce is a completely everywhere. I thought his best stories were “Ilie Rose
be made to work. new writer to me, and I was thoroughly enchanted by Egg” (Postcripts, Spring/04), about a gang leader
It was a rather shaky year for online fiction. The “Metal More Attractive”, a sort of Fantasy Western who gets involved with a radically different graffiti
top two sites, Sci Fiction and Strange Horizons, seem with a gleefully dark edge to it. The plot is a convoluted technology, and “The Soul Bottles” (Leviathan 4:
in very good shape, and they published lots of fine tangle of marriage contracts, unsuitable love affairs, Cities), about a man of a disgraced family, whose only
work. The next tier, however, wobbled. Infinite Ma­ familial politics, and Magick. It’s great fun, and the legacy is a now worthless collection of “soul bottles.”
trix published only two stories. Ideomancer lost its setting promises to inspire a lot more fun. Robert Reed is another always prolific writer: besides
original publisher, and only eight issues appeared as James Stoddard’s “The Battle of York” takes a “Opal Ball” he had strong stories such as “A Plague
it transitioned from monthly to quarterly publication. wonderfully cockeyed look at American history from of Life”, “How it Feels” , “The Dragons of Summer
Fortean Bureau also announced a shift to quarterly the perspective of the future - when George Wash­ Gulch” , and Mere. The amazing Gene Wolfe had
publication. And Abyss & Apex managed its planned ington, his battleaxe Valleyforge, and his horse Silver several strong stories: the evocative novella “Golden
six issues, but with lots of delays. are the stuff of legend. Another delight is Kelly Link’s City Far” in Flights, which echoes the theme of his
As to anthologies, once again the smaller presses “The Faery Handbag”, a story of a village inside a 2004 novels in featuring a boy transported to fantasy
produced some excellent volumes, most notably handbag, an eccentric grandmother who always wins world; “The Lost Pilgrim” in The First Heroes, about
Polyphony 4, Leviathan 4: Cities, and All-Star at Scrabble, and a girl trying to decide if she can trust ►H
30/2004: The Year in Review
l« Recommended Reading who decides to set up as a private detective with a this alternate London run by a repressive regime of
vampire friend. Mercedes Lackey started a new magicians. Finally, the weird but wondrous adven­
a time traveler joining the Argonauts; and further series with The Fairy Godmother, a lighthearted tures of Arthur Penhaligon continue in the second
fine work in F&SF, Realms of Fantasy, Asimov’s, variation on the Cinderella story; she picked up the book of Garth Nix’s The Keys to the Kingdom:
and Postcripts. Cinderella theme again in the more serious Phoenix Grim Tuesday.
Newer writers to watch, besides those mentioned and Ashes, the third tale of The Elemental Masters, A couple of YA fantasies that debuted in the UK
above (Bacigalupi, Wilce, Lake, and Moles in par­ set in an alternate WWI England. in 2003 but didn’t make it to the US until ’04 are
ticular) include Theodora Goss, who had excellent In ongoing series, Donald Harington’s With is also worth noting. Michael Lawrence’s A Crack in
pieces Alchemy and Polyphony 4; Sarah Monette, basically a standalone within his Southern gothic the Line is an eerily atmospheric tale of alternate
who published several thoroughly enjoyable stories Stay More series; this is a surprisingly light and worlds, seen through a grieving boy and the girl who
this year (many of them ghost stories featuring mu­ touching story of a kidnapped girl stranded in the fills his place in a parallel world where his mother
seum cataloger Kyle Murchison Booth) in places back country7, and the animals and ghost that help still lives. Catherine Fisher’s The Oracle (UK)
like Alchemy, Tales of the Unanticipated, All Hal­ her survive. Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows appeared in the US as The Oracle Betrayed; it’s
lows, and Strange Horizons; Jack Skillingstead, is an entertaining supernatural mystery, a spin-off a dark, almost oppressive fantasy of a young priest­
who published three more strong Asimov’s stories, of the Vicki Nelson series following former street ess whose god tells her she must stop corruption in
perhaps most notably “Transplant” {Asimov’s, 8/04); kid/vampire companion Tony Foster, now working the highest levels. -Carolyn Cushman
and Paul Meiko, a Campbell nominee last year who on a low-budget TV show about a vampire detective.
had two strong stories in Asimov’s, and a particular Christopher Moore revisits some old friends in the LOCUS LOOKS AT ART BOOKS
good one in the Summer Talebones'. “Ten Sigmas”, otherwise standalone fantasy The Stupidest Angel, 2004 YEAR IN REVIEW
about a man who can perceive his alternate selves in a delightfully twisted Christmas tale that mixes by Karen Haber
different parallel worlds. “The Gift of the Magi” with zombies. Caroline It’s been a slow year for art books, with momentum
Best of the Year: Stevermer’s A Scholar of Magics, a loose sequel building only at the very end of the calendar. In fact,
Novels: to College of Magics, is a fun Edwardian alternate- the year’s end holiday rush of books provided a few
Gene Wolfe, The Knight/The Wizard history7 fantasy with a touch of romance, in which a notable surprises and delights.
Susanna Clarke, bunch of academics and an American sharpshooter Some books did more than merely offer pretty
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell go running about the English countryside trying to pictures. Both Digital Art for the 21st Century:
Short Fiction: stop a plot to steal a secret magic project. Renderosity and Futures: 50 Years in Space (The
Paolo Bacigalupi, “The People of Sand and Slag” First novels of note include SF City of Pearl by Challenge of The Stars) provided intriguing im­
Gregory Feeley, “Giliad” Karen Traviss, a solid first (actually second) contact ages and useful information to astronomy buffs and
Gregory Feeley, “Arabian Wine” novel with some interesting twists. Theodore Judson computer artists, respectively.
Kelly Link, “The Faery Handbag” creates a fascinating post-holocaust steampunk Spectrum 11 and Ilene Meyer: Paintings, Draw­
David Moles, “The Third Party” future in Fitzpatrick’s War, a chilling tale of one ings, Perceptions were the other winners. The latter
Robert Reed, “Opal Ball” man’s ambitions for world domination, told through was a standout single-artist retrospective that left
Benjamin Rosenbaum, “Start the Clock” memoirs of a retired general trying to set history other retrospectives in its shadow. However, the Book
Christopher Rowe, “The Voluntary State” straight. Fantasy first novels include Ghosts in the of Schuiten by Benoit Peeters ranks a respectable
Ysabeau Wilce, “Metal More Attractive” Snow by Tamara Siler Jones, an involving medieval second. Other titles worthy of attention are The Art
- Rich Horton police procedural mystery with a castellan “detec­ of Keith Parkinson and The Deceiving Eye - The
tive” who sees the ghosts of murder victims. Bonnie Art of Richard Hescox. In As Dead As Leaves: The
2004 BOOKS Marston’s engaging contemporary novel Sleeping Art of Caniglia, the challenging work by the horror
by Carolyn Cushman With Schubert follows an ordinary woman pos­ artist is lovingly presented.
My reading for 2004 was highly varied, much of sessed by the ghost of a musical genius. Stephen As usual, some of the best work was to be seen in
it on the lighter side, and as usual I find it impossible Woodworth’s, Through Violet Eyes is an intense children’s books. The star item was the new picture
to rank a ten best list out of a mix of SF, fantasy, YA, thriller of a serial killer stalking the people called book version of the Virginia Hamilton story, The
first novels, and yes, romance. Below are some of the Violets who can communicate with the dead. People Could Fly, fleshed out to picture book size by
titles I particularly enjoyed. 2004 was a good year for YA fantasy, with a Leo & Diane Dillon’s marvelous illustrations. With
In SF, Kage Baker’s The Life of the World to number of impressive titles from big names: Isabel its half-lacquered endpapers and deeply felt images,
Come is a diverting and revealing new installment in Allende, Clive Barker, Charles de Lint, Ursula K. this book is a beautiful object. But there were other
the chronicles of the Company and its time-traveling Le Guin, etc. Most of these were covered by other goodies: Where Have You Been?, by Margaret Wise
cyborgs. Julie E. Czemeda’s Survival is an initially reviewers, but plenty more came my way. (More Brown with illustrations by the Dillons (HarperCol­
light but ultimately chilling tale of a somewhat xe­ than I could really do justice to, in fact.) lins), The Queen Bee, by the Brothers Grimm,
nophobic Earth biologist recruited by an odd alien N.M. Browne’s Basilisk is an excellent and translated by Elizabeth James, illustrated by lassen
to solve a galactic mystery. Rosemary Kirstein’s The atmospheric YA dystopian set in a city divided Ghiuselev (Simply Read), and Gonna Roll Them
Language of Power, the fourth volume in the “Steer- between surface and underground dwellers. Nancy Bones, art by David Wiesner, adapted from story by
swoman” series, reveals interesting new secrets of the Farmer spins a superior saga in The Sea of Trolls, Fritz Leiber (Milk and Cookies Press) were leaders
“wizards” who keep their colony world in backwards a gritty medieval Norse fantasy adventure about a of the pack.
ignorance. Louise Marley spins a scientific mystery/ boy captured by Vikings and given the chance to In the realm of graphic novels and comics, of note
thriller in The Child Goddess, about a child from win his freedom by undertaking a quest to the land were The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Ad­
a lost colony world and a corporate coverup. Wen of the trolls. Katherine Langrish’s first novel, Troll aptations Vol. 2 (NBM), a collection of previously
Spencer’s Dog Warrior, the fourth Ukiah Oregon Fell, is a medieval Norse fantasy on a smaller scale, printed opera comics.
mystery, has alien-wolf boy Ukiah finding a brother a quietly fantastic fairy tale about an orphan whose In terms of specific illustrations for books or series,
he didn’t know existed - one caught up in a drug deal greedy uncles are undone by their own obsession Paul Kidby’s The Art of Discworld, text by Terry
involving bikers, a deadly cult, and aliens. with troll treasure. Kenneth Oppel creates an al­ Pratchett, is full of visual delights for true believers.
Several promising and entertaining new fantasy ternate world where zeppelins are a major mode And if you haven’t yet taken a look at The Dark
series made their appearance this year. Jim Butcher’s of transport in Airborn, a rousing old-fashioned Tower VI: The Song of Susannah by Stephen King,
Furies of Calderon is a medieval fantasy about a adventure complete with pirates, shipwrecks, and illustrated by Darrell Anderson, you’re missing out
boy without powers in a world where everyone has a search for strange creatures. Sharon Shinn’s The on a visual treat.
an elemental fury to call on. Victoria Strauss’s The Safe-Keeper’s Secret is an emotionally involving A few books misfired because of faulty design or
Burning Land is a complex, intense tale of magic, fantasy about a young woman determined to fill a editing. In the latter category was Worlds of Tomor­
desert survival, and challenged beliefs in a land where role she’s not suited for. row, the Amazing Universe of Science Fiction
magic is rigidly controlled through religion. On the In continuing series, Terry Pratchett’s latest YA Art by Forrest J Ackerman and Brad Linaweaver
lighter side, MaryJanice Davidson’s goofy supernatu­ Discworld novel A Hat Full of Sky is a sequel (Collectors Press). In a book which pretends to be
ral chick-lit Undead and Unwed and sequel Undead to The Wee Free Men, following young Tiffany a celebration of SF artwork there were surprisingly
and Unemployed introduced Betsy, the unwilling Aching as she learns to be a witch - a barbed twist few artist credits given. Without them, it becomes
queen of the vampires. Laura Anne Gilman’s Staying on the usual apprentice mage story. A very differ­ merely a collection of book covers. Frank R. Paul
Dead is the first volume featuring the “Retrievers”, a ent young magician is in over his head in Jonathan and Frank Kelly Freas receive a nod in the text, but
magically talented thief and her partner who special­ Stroud’s The Golem’s Eye, the second book of the no one else. If the cover artist info wasn’t available,
ize in reclaiming “lost” property. Kim Harrison’s Bartimaeus trilogy, in which the irreverent djinn as is sometimes the case with early pulps, that really
Dead Witch Walking and The Good, the Bad, and Bartimaeus is called up again to save his ambitious should have been stated up front.
the Undead are the first two installments in a humor­ young master, who has been charged with catching Here’s hoping that 2005 provides a more bounte­
ous supernatural detective series about a white witch revolutionaries while a golem is running amok in ous visual banquet. -Karen Haber
 ■Fj , - $
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Amazing-Jetf Berkwits, ed. Vol. 74 No. with features on the work of Gary A. with fiction, non-fiction articles, reviews, Talebones: Fiction on the Dark Edge-
2, Whole No. 608, February 2005, $5.99, Braunbeck, including an interview, etc. Cover by Murray Vincent. Subscrip­ Patrick & Honna Swenson, eds. Issue
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February 2005, $3.99, 10 times a year, 622 West Cottom Avenue, New Albany of being swept away by a dazzling
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ed. Vol. 1 No. 3, Whole No. 24, Fall Karl Johanson, ed. No. 4, December East Yorkshire HU18 1PG, England; -Michel Basilieres,
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Compiled by Charles N. Brown and tin’s 0-312-98702-1, $6.99, 300pp, for the Stars (1962), Earthman, Come Aaron Parrett.
Carolyn Cushman. Please send all cor­ pb) Reprint (St. Martin’s Griffin 2003) Home (1955), and The Triumph of Time
rections to Carolyn Cushman c/o Locus. vampire novel, second in the “Vampire (1958). This has the Overlook 2000 in­ Burroughs, Edgar Rice Return to Mars
\Ne will run all verified corrections. Huntress Legends” series. The author troduction by Betty Ballantine, and the (SFBC #1172959, $14.99, 485pp, he,
also writes as Leslie E. Banks, both pen 1970 afterword by Richard D. Mullen. cover by Michael Whelan) Reprint
KEY: * = first edition + = first American names for Leslie Esdaile Banks. (Dover 1962 as Three Martian Novels)
edition. * Bova, Ben Powersat (Tor 0-765- omnibus of the fourth through sixth
* Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan (Borders Clas­ 30923-8, $24.95,400pp, he) Near-con- novels in the “John Carter of Mars” or
* Abbey, Lynn, ed. Thieves’ World: sics 1-58726-102-2, $7.95, 197pp, he) temporary SF thriller showing the early “Barsoom” series: Thuvia, Maid of
Enemies of Fortune (Tor 0-312-87490- Collection of the classic young-adult life of Dan Randolph, a major player in Mars (1916), The Chessmen of Mars
1, $26.95, 352pp, he, cover by Jean fantasy novel (Hodder & Stoughton 1911 “The Asteroid Wars” books. (1922), and The Master Mind of Mars
Pierre Targete) Shared-world original as Peter and Wendy) and adds “Peter (1928). This has ISBN 0-7394-4884-6; it
anthology of 12 stories. Authors include Pan in Kensington”, originally published * Boyle, Fionna A Muggle’s Guide to lacks a price and has the SFBC number
C.J. Cherryh & Jane Fancher, Dennis L. as six chapters of The Little White Bird the Wizarding World: Exploring the on the back jacket.
McKiernan, and Steven Brust. (1902); plus short story “The Blot on Harry Potter Universe (ECW Press
Peter Pan”. 1-55022-655-X, $14.95, 466 + xv, tp) * Byers, Richard Lee Forgotten Realms:
* Aguirre, Forrest, ed. Leviathan 4: The Rite (Wizards of the Coast 0-7869-
Young-adult reference. Includes index.
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$27.00, 247pp, he, cover by Art Myrtle $3.99, 228pp, tp) Reissue (Hodder & World (DAW 0-7564-0250-6, $7.99, roleplaying game, “The Year of Rogue
Vondamitz, III) Original anthology often Stoughton 1911) classic young-adult fan­ 406pp, pb, cover by Romas Kukalis) Dragons” book II. Copyrighted by Wiz­
stories, one a reprint, one expanded, by tasy novel. Foreword by Susan Cooper. Omnibus of two “Darkover” novels: The ards of the Coast.
authors including Michael Cisco, Jay This includes a four-page reading group Planet Savers (1962) and The World
Lake, and K.J. Bishop. A limited edition guide. Third printing. Wreckers (1971), plus short story “The Cabot, Meg The Mediator 1: Shadow­
(-79-7, $45.00) is also available. Waterfall”. land (HarperCollins/Avon 0-06-072511-
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340pp, tp) Reprint (Cape 2003) asso- Ingpen) Reprint (Hodder & Stoughton (Barnes & Noble Books 0-7607-6571- novel, the first in a series about a girl who
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porary Britain. Illustrated by Robert Ingpen. This is a Giancola) Reprint (Collectors Press
“One-Hundredth Anniversary Edition”. 2001) lavishly illustrated pictorial his­ Cabot, Meg The Mediator 2: Ninth Key
* Andrews, Donna Access Denied
tory of modern genre fantasy, from (HarperCollins/Avon 0-06-072512-5,
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elements, the third featuring detective pb, cover by Paul Youll) Military SF
Al program Turing Hopper. lectors Press.” Carroll) young-adult dark fantasy novel,
novel, first in a trilogy. A first novel. the second in a series about a girl who
Anthony, Piers Robot Adept (Ace 0- Brotherton, Mike Star Dragon (Tor 0- communicates with the dead.
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by Darrell K. Sweet) Reissue (Putnam by Stephen Martiniere) Reprint (Tor Cabot, Meg The Mediator 3: Reunion
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Volume One: Flame) young-adult fan­ * Buchs, Doug The Mescalero Project Reprint (Pocket Pulse 2001 as by Jenny
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Benford, Gregory & Martin H. Green­
young-adult fantasy novel. A magician in an experimental prison. This is a print-
berg, eds. What Might Have Been:
must free a princess from a ghost he on-demand edition, available online at Cabot, Meg The Mediator 4: Dark­
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* Axler, James Deathlands: Shaking Seeley) Reprint (Bantam Spectra
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+ Banks, lain M. The State of the Art of online sources. Artists include Adam (HarperCollins/Avon 0-06-075164-9,
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Warden” series. This is copyrighted Regions Press, PO Box 1558, Brent­ Introduction by Philip Harbottle. Available
by Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, who wood CA 94513; <isedmorey1 @aol. + Douglass, Sara The Wounded Hawk from Gryphon Publications, PO Box 209,
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com>; add $2.00 postage.
+ Duncan, Glen Death of an Ordinary
Cassutt, Michael Tango Midnight (Tor * Cox, Greg Star Trek: To Reign in Man (Grove/Atlantic/Black Cat 0-8021- Fenner, Cathy & Arnie Fenner, eds.
0-765-34561-7, $7.99, 367pp, pb) Re­ Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh 7004-8, $13.00,304pp, tp) Ghost novel. Spectrum 11: The Best in Contem­
print (Forge 2003) SF technothriller set (Pocket 0-7434-5711-0, $24.00, 326pp, Nathan Clark’s spirit cannot rest without porary Fantastic Art (SFBC, $24.99,
on a space station. he, cover by Keith Birdsong) Star Trek learning why he died. First US edition 208pp, he, cover by Eric Joyner) Reprint
novelization in the “Eugenics Wars” (Scribner UK 7/04). (Underwood Books 2004) art book. This
* Cast, P.C. Elphame’s Choice (Har- series. Copyrighted by Paramount
lequin/Luna 0-373-80213-7, $13.95, Pictures. Elderkin, Susan The Voices (Grove ►H
551 pp, tp) Mythic fantasy novel, first in
a trilogy set in the world of Goddess Crichton, Michael Timeline (Ballantine
by Mistake. 0-345-46826-0, $14.95, 496pp, tp) Re­
print (Knopf 1999) SF time-travel novel.
* Chabon, Michael, ed. McSweeney’s This is a movie tie-in edition.
Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing
Stories (Random House/Vintage 1- + Dalby, Richard, ed. Mystery for
4000-7874-1, $13.95, 328pp, tp, cover Christmas (ibooks 0-7434-9793-7,
by Lawrence Sterne Stevens) Original $6.99, 292pp, pb, cover by Bob Larkin)
anthology of 15 stories in various genres,
a follow-up to McSeeney’s Mammoth
Mystery anthology of 23 stories, 12 origi­
nal, several with supernatural elements.
ISFiC
Treasury of Thrilling Tales. Authors
include Stephen King, Margaret Atwood,
First US edition (O’Mara 1990).
* Dann, John R. Song of the Earth
Press
China Mieville, and Peter Straub.
(Tor/Forge 0-765-31193-3, $26.95,
* Charnas, Suzy McKee Stagestruck 380pp, he, cover by Luis Royo) Prehis­
Vampires & Other Phantasms (Tachy­ torical fantasy novel, prequel to Song Robert J.
on Publications 1-892391-21-X, $24.95, of the Axe. Sawyer's first
328 + xvii, he, cover by John Picacio)
Delany, Samuel R. Stars in My Pocket American
Collection of eight stories (one previ­
Like Grains of Sand (Wesleyan Uni­
ously published online) and two original collection
versity Press 0-8195-6714-0, $19.95,
essays. Introduction by Paul Di Filippo.
356pp, tp) Reprint (Bantam 1984) SF includes
Cherryh, C.J. Foreigner (DAW 0-7564- novel. This is a 20th Anniversary Edition ISFiC
0251-4, $6.99, 428pp, pb, cover by with a new foreword by Carl Freedman. stories,
Michael Whelan) Reissue (DAW 1994) Order from University Press of New articles, and debut
SF novel, first in the eponymous series. England, Order Department, 37 Lafay­
This tenth Anniversary edition has a new ette St., Lebanon NH 03766; <www. speeches as ^wco ection
introduction by Cherryh, and indicates upne.com>. well as an
first printing. Dickens, Charles A Christmas Carol Introduction
Cherryh, C.J., Mercedes Lackey, Nancy (Tor 0-812-50434-8, $3.99, 116pp, pb)
Reissue (Chapman & Hall 1843) classic by Mike
Asire & Leslie Fish The Sword of
Knowledge (Baen 0-7434-9875-5, Christmas ghost story, with a biography Resnick and a
$24.00, 809pp, he, cover by Gary of Dickens, foreword, and afterword by
Jane Yolen. 11th printing.
critical essay
Ruddell) Reprint (Baen 1995) omnibus
of three novels (all Baen 1989) in the by Valerie
Dickens, Charles Christmas Carol and
shared world originated by C.J. Cher­ Broege.
Other Holiday Tales (Borders Classics
ryh: A Dirge for Sabis with Leslie Fish,
1-58726-079-4, $7.95, 231pp, he) Re­
Wizard Spawn with Nancy Asire, and
print (????) omnibus of three fantastic
Reap the Whirlwind with Mercedes
Christmas novels: A Christmas Carol
R. Lackey. (1843), The Chimes (1844), and A
* Chester, Deborah The Queen’s Knight Cricket on the Hearth (1845). This is ISBN 0-9759156-0-6
(Ace 0-441-01225-6, $7.99, 360pp, pb, dated 2003, but not seen until now. An 304 pages, hardcover JSFiC Press
cover by Michael Herring) Fantasy novel, instant remainder edition.
sixth in a series begun with “The Sword, $25 + $5 postage 707 Sapling Lane
Dickens, Charles The Haunted House
the Ring, and the Chalice” trilogy. Illinois residents add Deerfield, IL 60015
(Random House/Modern Library Clas­
* Clark, Alan M. The Paint in My sics 0-8129-7306-2, $6.95,126 + xxi, tp, 7.75% sales tax www.isficpress.com
Blood: Illustration and Fine Art (IFD cover by Kamil Vojnar) Reprint classic
 l« Books Received faerie princess working in the human (Chronicle Books/SeaStar 1 -5871 -7257- Le Guin, Ursula K. Tehanu (Pocket 1-
world as Meredith Gentry, PI. 7, $17.95, 302pp, he, cover by Leonid 4165-0963-1, $14.00,281pp, tp) Reprint
is similar to the Underwood edition, Gore) Young-adult fantasy novel, the (Atheneum 1990) Nebula Award-win­
* Hanson, Wil Smoke in the Wind (Gale first in “The Deptford Histories” prequel ning YA fantasy novel, fourth in the
except it lacks price, ISBN, and SFBC
Group/Five Star 1-59414-214-9, $25.95, trilogy to the “Deptford Mice” series. “Earthsea” series. This is a TV movie
number on the jacket.
438pp, he, cover by Alan M. Clark & Paul First US edition (Sprint 1991 as The tie-in edition.
* Francis, Diana Pharaoh Path of Groendes) Fantasy novel. Packaged Alchymist’s Cat).
Honor (Penguin/Roc 0-451-45991-1, and edited by Martin H. Greenberg’s Le Guin, Ursula K. The Wind’s Twelve
$7.50,379pp, pb, cover by Alan Pollack) Tekno Books and Ed Gorman. Five * Johnson, Kathleen Jeffrie A Fast and Quarters (HarperCollins/Perennial 0-
Fantasy novel, sequel to Path of Fate. Star, 295 Kennedy Memorial Dr., Wa­ Brutal Wing (Millbrook/Roaring Brook 06-091434-3, $13.95,303pp, tp) Reprint
Reisil’s healing magic can’t help with a terville ME 04901; <www.galegroup. Press 1-596-43013-3, $16.95, 191pp, (Harper & Row 1975) collection.
new plague. com/fivestar>. he, cover by Jaye Zimet) Young-adult
novel with possible dark fantasy ele­ * Lee, Rachel Shadows of Myth (Har-
Frankowski, Leo & Dave Grossman The * Hardy, Jason M. MechWarrior: Dark lequin/Luna 0-373-80212-9, $13.95,
ments, about troubled siblings who may
War With Earth (Baen 0-7434-9877-1, Age: The Scorpion Jar (Penguin/Roc 296pp, tp) Fantasy novel.
be shapeshifters - or insane killers.
$6.99, 405pp, pb, cover by Mark Hen­ 0-451-46020-0, $6.99, 313pp, pb)
nessy-Barrett) Reprint (Baen 2003) Novelization, the 13th based on the * Kiernan, Caitlin R. The Dry Salvages * Lewis, Roger Anthony Burgess (St.
military SF novel, sequel to Frankowski’s computer game based on the “Bat­ (Subterranean Press 1-59606-006-9, Martin’s 0-312-32251-8, $27.95,434pp,
A Boy and His Tank. tletech” roleplaying game. Copyrighted $25.00,123pp, he, cover by Ryan Ober- he) Non-fiction, biography. Includes
by WizKids. meyer) Science fiction novella. A signed, chronology, bibliography, and index. A
Friesner, Esther M., ed. Turn the Other Thomas Dunne book.
limited edition of 250 with additional
Chick (SFBC #1174216, $10.99,295pp, Harper, M.A. The Year of Past Things chapbook ($40.00) was announced + Lisle, Rebecca Copper (Putnam 0-
he, cover by Mitch Foust) Reprint (Baen (Harcourt 0-15-101116-8, $23.00,362pp, but not seen. 399-24211-2, $16.99, 186pp, he, cover
2004) original anthology of 22 humorous he) Reprint (Hill St. Press 2003) ghost
stories about woman warriors, fifth in story about a haunted New Orleans King, Stephen The Dark Tower V: by Barry Root) Young-adult fantasy
the “Chicks” anthology series. This is restaurateur. Wolves of the Calla (Simon & Schus- novel. First US edition (Andersen Press
copyrighted by Friesner and Martin H. ter/Scribner 0-7432-5162-8, $18.95, 10/02).
Greenberg’s Tekno Books. This is similar Hearn, Michael Patrick, Leo & Diane 714pp, tp, cover by Bernie Wrightson)
Dillon The Porcelain Cat (ibooks/Milk & * Little, Denise, ed. Rotten Relations
to the Baen edition, except it lacks a Reprint (Grant 2003) dark fantasy (DAW 0-7564-0239-5, $6.99, 306pp,
price and has the SFBC number on the Cookies Press 0-689-03592-6, $16.95, Western novel, book five in “The Dark
unpaginated, he, cover by Leo & Diane pb, cover by Les Edwards) Original
back jacket. Tower” series. anthology of 15 stories about bad guys
Dillon) Reprint (Little, Brown 1987)
* Galenorn, Yasmine Murder Under picture book with text by Hearn and * Kith, Trystam Trouble in the Forest, from fantasy and fairy tale. Authors
a Mystic Moon (Berkley Prime Crime illustrations by the Dillons. The illustra­ Book 2: A Bright Winter Sun (Gale include Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Josepha
0-425-20002-7, $5.99,275pp, pb, cover tions are copyrighted 2004 and may be Group/Five Star 1-59414-225-4, $25.95, Sherman, and Robert Sheckley. This
by Lisa Falkenstern) Mystery with super­ somewhat revised. 332pp, he, cover by Alan M. Clark) Dark is copyrighted by Little and Martin H.
natural elements, third in the “Chintz fantasy novel, second in a duology about Greenberg’s Tekno Books.
’n China” mystery series. Something * Hendee, Barb & J.C. Hendee Sister vampires in Sherwood Forest. Kith is a
of the Dead (Penguin/Roc 0-451- * Long, Jeff The Reckoning (Simon &
deadly lurks in the woods around Klic- pen name for Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. Schuster/Atria 0-7434-6300-5, $25.00,
kavail Valley. 46009-X, $7.50, 405pp, pb, cover by Packaged and edited by Martin H.
Koveck) Dark fantasy/vampire novel, 278pp, he) Horror novel. A body-re­
* Gardner, James Alan Lara Croft: Greenberg’s Tekno Books and Ed Gor­ covery mission in Cambodia stirs up
third in the “Noble Dead” series begun man. Five Star, 295 Kennedy Memorial
Tomb Raider: The Man of Bronze (Bal­ in Dhampir. old ghosts.
lantine Del Rey 0-345-46173-8, $6.99, Dr., Waterville ME 04901; 800-223-1244;
294pp, pb) Novelization based on the * Hignutt, Diana Empress of Clouds <www.galegroup.com>. * Lundberg, Jason Erik, ed. Scattered,
world of the video games. Copyrighted (Behler Publications 0-9748962-4-1, Covered, Smothered (Two Cranes
Koontz, Dean Cold Fire (Berkley 0-425-
by Core Design. $16.95, 286pp, tp, cover by Sun Son) Press, $9.99, 161 pp, tp, cover by Janet
19958-4, $7.99,431 pp, pb, cover by Don
Fantasy novel, sequel to Moonsword. Chui) Original anthology in spiral-bound
* Gerrold, David Alternate Gerrolds Brautigam) Reissue (Headline 1991)
A faerie warlord threatens the kingdom form, with 21 stories, six poems, and
(BenBella Books 1-932100-37-7, $14.95, horror novel. This has a new afterword
of Lorm and its prince-turned-princess. 11 recipes about food. Authors include
202 + xiii, tp, cover by Bob Eggleton) by the author. 24th printing.
This is a print-on-demand edition, avail­ Rhys Hughes, Bruce Boston, Heather
Collection of 16 stories. Introduction by able online at <www.behlerpublications. * Koontz, Dean Life Expectancy (Ban­ Shaw, and M.F. Korn, Des Lewis & Jeff
Mike Resnick. BenBella Books, 6440 com> or from Behler Publications, tam 0-553-80414-6, $27.00, 401pp, he, VanderMeer. Two Cranes Press, 102-A5
N. Central Expressway, Suite 508, Dal­ 22365 El Toro Road #135, Lake Forest cover by Tom Hallman) Horror novel. Jamie Court, Cary NC 27511; <www.
las TX 75206; <www.benbellabooks. CA 92630. His dying grandfather predicts newborn twocranespress.com>; <twocranes @ nc.
com>. Jimmy Tock will face terrible events on rr.com>; add $1.50 postage.
* Hines, Jim C. GoblinQuest (Gale five dates in the future.
* Goodkind, Terry Chainfire (Tor 0-765- Group/Five Star 1-59414-230-0, * Lyons, Jonathan Machina (Double
30523-2, $29.95, 667pp, he, cover by $25.95, 338pp, he, cover by Alan M. Koontz, Dean Santa’s Twin (HarperCol- ►H
Keith Parkinson) Fantasy novel, ninth in Clark) Fantasy novel. Goblin run Jig lins/Perennial Currents 0-06-057223-X,
“The Sword of Truth”. A signed, limited is captured by adventurers needing a $12.95, unpaginated, tp, cover by Phil
edition (-31307-3, $200.00) was an­ guide. Packaged and edited by Martin Parks) Reprint (HarperPrism 1996) China Mieville’s recent defini­
nounced but not seen. H. Greenberg’s Tekno Books and Ed Christmas short story/picture book tion of F/SF as an outsider fiction
* Graham, Mitchell The Ancient Legacy Gorman. Five Star, 295 Kennedy Me­ about Santa’s evil twin. Illustrated by relative to the literary mainstream,
(HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-050676-8, morial Dr., Waterville ME 04901; 800- Phil Parks. is clever and fun because it sug­
$7.99, 513pp, pb) Fantasy novel, third 223-1244; <www.galegroup.com>. gests that F/SF has a commonal­
* Krygier, Leora When She Sleeps ity of some kind with outsider art.
in “The Fifth Ring” trilogy. Graham is a Hoffman, Alice The Probable Future (Toby Press 1-59264-086-9, $19.95,
pen name for Mitchell Gross. But that’s only half the story,
(Ballantine 0-345-45591-6, $13.95, 205pp, he) Fantasy novel. Half-sisters, because F/SF is also a massively
* Grahame, Kenneth The Wind in the 336pp, tp) Reprint (Doubleday 2003) one in America and one in Vietnam, see
insider art, with rigidly defined
Willows and Other Writings (Borders fantasy novel of a family of psychic each other in their dreams.
praxis and a sophisticated feed­
Classics 1-58726-115-4, $9.95, 333pp, women. Seventh printing.
Lackey, Mercedes Burning Water back relationship with a fixed criti­
he) Omnibus of YA fantasy The Wind in Hogan, James P. The Anguished Dawn (Tor 0-765-31317-0, $14.95, 332pp, tp, cal apparatus (an apparatus now
the Willows (Methuen 1908) and two (Baen 0-7434-9876-3, $7.99,503pp, pb, cover by Hugh Syme) Reprint (Tor 1989) being taught in universities, much
associational autobiographical works cover by David Mattingly) Reprint (Baen occult thriller, first book of the “Diana as insider art history and criticism
The Golden Age (1895) and Dream 2003) SF novel, sequel to Cradle of Tregarde” series. are taught). From this viewpoint it
Days (1898). An instant remainder Saturn. This adds a “Kronian Legacy” lacks - and indeed rejects - one
edition. chronology by Attila Torkos. Land, Jon The Last Prophecy (Tor 0- of the major parameters of a
765-34850-0, $7.99,422pp, pb, cover by definition of outsider art: idiosyn­
Greenwood, Ed Forgotten Realms: Holdstock, Robert The Iron Grail (Tor Robert Santora) Reprint (Forge 2004)
Silverfall: Stories of the Seven Sisters crasy.
0-765-34987-6, $6.99,323pp, pb, cover thriller with possible supernatural ele­
(Wizards of the Coast 0-7869-3572-3, As in all insider art, the only ac­
by Larry Rostant) Reprint (Earthlight ments.
$7.99, 370pp, pb, cover by John Foster) ceptable form of idiosyncracy in
2002) fantasy novel, book two of the
Reprint (TSR 1999) fantasy noveliza- Le Guin, Ursula K. The Farthest Shore F/SF is a sophisticated conscious
“Merlin Codex”.
tion/collection of seven linked novellas (Pocket 1-4165-0964-X, $14.00,259pp, modification of tropes and expec­
based on the roleplaying game. Copy­ HomerThe Odyssey (Tor/Forge 0-312- tp) Reprint (Atheneum 1972) YA fantasy tations, framed & presented so as
righted by Wizards of the Coast. 86901-0, $15.95, 432pp, tp) Reprint novel, third in the “Earthsea” series. to be detectable by the insiders
(Forge 2001) associational non-fiction, This is a TV movie tie-in. themselves.
* Hague, Michael, ed. The Book of Fairy with the ancient Greek epic translated True idiosyncracy is defined
Poetry (HarperCollins 0-688-14004-1, by Randy Lee Eickhoff. Le Guin, Ursula K. Four Ways to automatically by any insider sys­
$19.99, 156pp, he, cover by Michael Forgiveness (HarperCollins/Peren- tem as failure to do the job prop­
Hague) Poetry collection with 49 poems Hughes, Matthew Black Brillion (SFBC nial 0-06-076029-X, $13.95, 304pp, tp) erly. Thus F/SF written by an out­
selected and extensively illustrated in #1173826, $11.99, 272pp, he, cover by Reprint (HarperPrism 1995) collection sider without consciousness of
color by Michael Hague. Tom Kidd) Reprint (Tor 2004) satiric of four related SF novellas, including the
the tropes tends to be defined as
fantasy novel, third in the “Archonate” award-winning “Forgiveness Day”.
Hamilton, Laurell K. Seduced by Moon­ “bad”: i.e., it is described exactly
series. This is similar to the Tor edition,
light (Ballantine 0-345-44359-4, $7.50, Le Guin, Ursula K. Orsinian Tales as outsider art used to be by the
except it lacks a price and has the SFBC
409pp, pb, cover by Judy York) Reprint number on the back jacket. (HarperCollins/Perennial 0-06-076343- insider art establishment.
(Ballantine 2004) erotic dark fantasy 4, $12.95,216pp, tp) Reissue (Harper & -M. John Harrison
mystery, third in the series featuring a + Jarvis, Robin The Alchemist’s Cat Row 1976) collection.
Discover & World of F&ntasy
--------- with New Releases from Tori---------
KATE BRALLIER STEVEN BRUST
Seal Island Sethra Lavode
In paperback March 2005 In paperback March 2005

Cecil Hargrave jumps at the chance The riveting climax of the epic
to leave her city life for the house begun in The Paths of the Dead and
that she inherits on the New England The Lord of Castle Black.
coast. While playing with the seals
“Includes all the action, romance,
that appear at the shoreline, she
and pathos of its predecessors
meets two different men—one, a sexy
The Phoenix Guards, Fire Hundred
novelist; the other, a handsome
Years After^ The Paths ofthe Dead,
drifter who captivates her with his
and The Lord ofCastle Black...
mysterious secret.
There's no denying Brust’s fine
The latest addition to Tor’s new pacing and worldbuilding and his
0-765-34892-6 • $6.99/$9.99 Can. Paranormal Romance line from 0-812-53418-2 • SZ99/S10.99
sheer pizzazz.” —Booklist
first-time author Kate Brallier.

ISABEL GLASS J.V. JONES

Daughter of Exile A Cavern of Black Ice
In paperback March 2005 In paperback March 2005
Angarred Hashan was raised in exile, Ash March and Raif Sevrance both
far from the intrigue of the royal possess extraordinary powers of the
court, where her father obsessively mind. When their destinies cross,
attempted to regain his former they must work together to defeat
prestige. When Angarred’s father is an ancient prophecy and prevent
mysteriously murdered, she enlists the release of the concentrated evil
the help of a handsome magician known as the End Lords.
and uncovers well-kept secrets of the
kingdom and her own history. “Wonderful...J.V. Jones is a
striking writer.” —Robert Jordan
“An ingeniously plotted, tellingly
detailed, and pleasingly peopled
0-765 34658-3 • $7.99/$ 10.99 Can. 0-765-34551-X • $7.99/510.99 Can.
fantasy debut.” —Kirkas Reviews

JOHN C. WRIGHT
Mists of Everness
In hardcover March 2005

This is the tale of Galen Waylock,

guardian of the dream gate that
separates our world from a domain
of evil. When the minions of
Darkness invade, will Galen be able
to defend humanity?
★“Wright may be this fledgling
century's most important new
SF talent.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
0-765-31333-2 • $24.95/$34.95 Can.
 Hi Books Received Books 1-887424-79-2, $35.00, 128pp, * Murphy, Sean The Time of New Duke’s Ballad (Tor 0-765-30636-0,
he, cover by Ilene Meyer) Art book. Weather (Dell/Delta 0-553-38245-4, $24.95, 318pp, he, cover by Daniel Dos
Dragon Publishing 1-55404-179-1, Edited by Cathy & Arnie Fenner, with an $13.00, 327pp, tp) Satirical quasi-SF Santos) Fantasy novel, the first in a new
$14.99,178pp, tp, cover by Deron Doug­ introduction by Arnie Fenner. Order from novel. Buddy LeBlanc makes tiny miracles “Witch World” trilogy.
las) Metaphysical SF novel. This is a Underwood Books, PO Box 1919, Nevada in a world where time and gravity are no
O’Brien, Judith Mary Jane (Marvel 0-
print-on-demand edition, available online City CA 95959; <www.underwoodbooks. longer reliable.
7851-1440-8, $8.99, 215pp, tp) Reprint
at <www.double-dragon-ebooks.com > or com>.
* Murphy, Shirley Rousseau Cat Cross (Marvel 2003) young-adult novelization,
from Double Dragon Publishing, PO Box
* Michaels, Melisa World-Walker (Gale Their Graves (HarperCollins 0-06- retelling the Spider-Man story from his
54016,I-5762 Highway 7 East, Markham
Group/Five Star 1 -59414-215-7, $25.95, 057808-4, $24.95, 305pp, he, cover by girlfriend’s point of view.
ON L3P 7Y4, Canada.
360pp, he) Fantasy novel. A world-walker Beppe Giacobbe) Fantasy mystery novel,
Perry, Anne Come Armageddon (Ace
Massey, Brandon Dark Corner (Kensing- must stop her former lover when he the tenth featuring talking cat Joe Grey.
0-441-01204-3, $14.95, 502pp, tp, cover
ton/Dafina 0-7582-0250-4, $6.99,544pp, steals her power and knocks a rock by Dan Craig) Reprint (Headline 2001)
Murphy, Shirley Rousseau Cat Fear No
pb) Reprint (Dafina 2004) supernatural star into an alternate dimension. This is fantasy novel, sequel to Tathea.
Evil (HarperCollins/Avon 0-06-101560-1,
thriller. copyrighted 2002, and was previously $6.99,358pp, pb) Reprint (HarperCollins
available in electronic form. Packaged Picoult, Jodi Second Glance (Simon
+ Massie, Allan Arthur the King (Carroll 2004) fantasy mystery novel, the ninth
and edited by Martin H. Greenberg’s & Schuster/Washington Square Press
& Graf 0-7867-1384-4, $25.00, 292pp, featuring talking cat Joe Grey.
Tekno Books and Ed Gorman. Five Star, 0-7434-5451-0, $14.00, 425pp, tp) Re­
he, cover by Julek Heller) Historical * Myers, Bill Soultracker (HarperCol- print (Atria 2003) horror novel. A suicidal
295 Kennedy Memorial Dr., Waterville
Arthurian novel with possible fantasy lins/Zondervan 0-310-22756-9, $12.99, ghost hunter falls for a woman 80 years
ME 04901; 800-223-1244; <www.gale-
elements. First US edition (Weidenfeld & 325pp, tp) Christian dark fantasy novel. dead, and investigates her death. This
group.com>.
Nicholson 9/03). A novelist grieving for his dead daughter includes an unpaginated 14pp readers
* McCabe, Joseph Hanging Out with the * Miles, Rosalind The Lady of the Sea uncovers dark secrets in an organization group guide.
Dream King: Conversations with Neil (Random House/Crown 0-609-60962-9, dedicated to tracking the afterlife.
$23.95, 356pp, he, cover by Erich Less­ Pines, T, ed. Thirteen (Scholastic/Point
Gaiman and His Collaborators (Fanta- * Navarro, Yvonne Elektra (Pocket 0-590-45256-8, $5.99, 330 + viii, pb)
graphics Books 1-56097-617-9, $17.95, ing) Arthurian novel, third in the “Tristan
and Isolde” series. Star 1-4165-0505-9, $6.99, 280pp, pb) Reprint (Scholastic 1991) young-adult
297pp, tp, cover by Sophia Quach) Non­ Novelization of the movie based on the anthology of 13 horror stories.
fiction, a collection of interviews with Miles, Rosalind The Maid of the White Marvel comics character. Copyrighted by
Gaiman and people he’s worked with Poe, Edgar Allan Major Tales and Po­
Hands (Random House/Three Rivers Twentieth Century Fox Film and Regency
on comics and books, including Dave ems (Borders Classics 1-58726-086-7,
Press 1-4000-8154-8, $12.95,328pp, tp, Entertainment.
McKean, Kim Newman, Terry Pratchett, $9.95,363pp, he, cover by Gustave Dore)
cover by David Bowers) Reprint (Crown
and Gene Wolfe. Nesbit, E. Five Children and It (Penguin Reprint collection of 24 stories and 15
2003) Arthurian novel, second in the
Classics 0-14-303915-6, $10.00, 207pp, poems. An instant remainder edition.
McCaffrey, Anne & Todd McCaffrey “Tristan and Isolde” series. This includes
a reading group guide. tp, cover by Tim Bower) Reprint (Unwin
Dragon’s Kin (Ballantine Del Rey 0-345- * Priest, Christopher J. & Michael Ahn
1902) classic juvenile fantasy novel.
46200-9, $7.99,298pp, pb, cover by Paul Green Lantern: Sleepers, Book Two
Miller, Keith The Book of Flying (Pen- + Nicholls, Stan The Covenant Rising (ibooks 0-7434-9811-9, $22.95, 314pp,
Youll) Reprint (Del Rey 2003) SF novel in
guin/Riverhead 1-59448-066-4, $14.00, (HarperCollins/Eos 0-06-073889-8, he, cover by John Watson) Novelization
the “Pern” series.
272pp, tp, cover by Remedios Varo) $14.95,41 Opp, tp, cover by Jon Sullivan) based on the comic books, the second
* McGough, Scott Magic: The Gather­ Reprint (Riverhead 2004) literary fan­ volume in a trilogy. Copyrighted by DC
Fantasy novel, first in “The Dreamtime”
ing: Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa tasy novel. trilogy about a cursed warrior seeking a Comics. (Christopher J. Priest is not Brit­
(Wizards of the Coast 0-7869-3575-8, group of magicians called the Covenant. ish writer Christopher Priest.)
$6.99,312pp, pb, cover by Chris Moeller) * Modesitt, L.E., Jr. Ordermaster (Tor
0-765-31213-1, $27.95,494pp, he, cover First US edition (Voyager 2003 as Quick­
Novelization based on the world of the * Putney, Mary Jo Kiss of Fate (Ballantine
by Darrell K. Sweet) Fantasy novel, the silver Rising).
card game, the second book in the “Ka­ Books 0-345-44916-9, $11.99, 342pp,
migawa Cycle”. Copyrighted by Wizards 13th in the “Saga of Reduce” and a direct Nielsen Hayden, Patrick, ed. New Magics he, cover by Jon Paul) Historical fantasy
of the Coast. sequel to Wellspring of Chaos. (Tor Teen 0-765-34003-8, $6.99, 256pp, romance of the “Guardians”. Guardians
Monteleone, Thomas F. The Reckoning tp, cover by Daniel dos Santos) Reprint from England and Scotland meet and
McKinley, Robin Sunshine (Jove 0-515- (Tor Teen 2004) young-adult anthology of marry - just as Bonnie Prince Charlie
13881-9, $7.99, 405pp, pb, cover by (Tor 0-812-57524-5, $7.99, 419pp, pb,
cover by Alan Ayers) Reissue (Forge 12 fantasy stories. brings revolution to Scotland.
Masao Mukai) Reprint (Berkley 2003)
dark fantasy novel. A woman called 1999) millennial horror novel. Second Nolan, William F. Nightworlds (Leisure * Reed, John The Whole (Pocket/MTV
Sunshine gets involved with a vampire in printing. 0-8439-5191-5, $6.99, 355pp, pb) Re­ Books 0-7434-8501 -7, $12.95,209pp, tp)
an alternate world where vampires and print (Stealth Press 2001 as part of Dark Contemporary fantasy novel. An unem­
* Moore, James A. Newbies (Dorchester/ ployed MTVVJ named Thing investigates
Other Folk are known, if not legal. Universe) collection of 22 horror stories,
Smooch 0-8439-5474-4, $5.99, 197pp, a mysterious hole in the ground.
with story notes by Nolan.
* Meyer, Ilene Ilene Meyer: Paintings, pb) Young-adult horror. The new girl is
Drawings, Perceptions (Underwood blamed for disappearances at school. * Norton, Andre & Lyn McConchie The * Rees, Douglas Vampire High (Random
House/Delacorte 0-385-73117-5, $15.95,
226pp, he, cover by Greg Clarke) Young­
adult vampire novel. The new kid at
school has to cope with snooty vampire
classmates. This is dated 2003, but not
seen until now.
Roberts, Adam Science Fiction (Rout­
ledge 0-415-19205-6, $18.95, 204pp, tp)
Reissue (Routledge 2000) critical guide
to science fiction, part of the “New Criti­
cal Idiom” series. This is an international
edition without a price, and appears to be
at least a fourth printing. Routledge, 29
W. 35th St., New York NY 10001; <www.
routledge-ny.com>.
Robinson, Frank M. Science Fiction
of the 20th Century (Barnes & Noble
Books 0-7607-6572-3, $19.95,256pp, tp)
Reprint (Collectors Press 1999) lavishly
illustrated pictorial history of SF.This was
“published exclusively for Barnes & Noble
by Collectors Press.”
+ Robson, Justina Natural History
(Bantam Spectra 0-553-58741 -2, $13.00,
The quarterly science fiction magazine with top writers, 325pp, tp, cover by Steve Stone) SF
novel. First US edition (Macmillan UK
delivered directly to your e-mail box. 4/03).
* Rothman, Milton A. Heavy Planet and
Other Science Fiction Stories (Wildside
Read excerpts from each themed issue and subscribe Press 0-8095-1572-5, $19.95,309pp, tp)
Collection of 19 stories, three original.
online at www.oceansofthemind.com or send $11.95 for a Preface by Frederik Pohl; memoirs by
one year subscription to: Tony Rothman and Robert A. Madle.This
is a print-on-demand edition available on­
line at <www.wildsidepress.com> or from
Wildside Press, PO Box 301, Holicong PA
PO Box 7209. Delray Beach. FL. 33482-7209. 18928-0301.
* Russell, Gary The Art of the Lord (Baen 0-7434-9873-9, $22.00, 281 pp, * Scalzi, John Old Man’s War (Tor 0-765- $24.95,223pp, he) Contemporary fantasy
of the Rings (Houghton Mifflin 0-618- he, cover by Kurt Miller) SF novel in the 30940-8, $23.95, 316pp, he, cover by novel. A magician tries to woo his errant
51083-4, $19.95, 224pp, tp) Art book, “Berserker” series. Donato Giancola) SF novel. John Perry wife back with magic, but the spell calls
reprinting some of the best works from * Sabin, E. Rose When the Beast Ra­ joins the war against aliens on his 75th an unexpected visitor instead. First US
the three volumes on the individual films, vens (Tor 0-765-30858-4, $23.95,287pp, birthday. This is the author’s first novel edition (Bantam UK 9/03).
plus unpublished works selected by the he, cover by Vince Natale) Fantasy novel, to appear in book form; an earlier novel Shan, Darren Cirque Du Freak: Trials
artists. Members of the production crew appeared online in 1999.
the third in the series begun in A School of Death (Little Brown 0-316-00095-7,
and artists (including Alan Lee and John for Sorcery. * Scarborough, Elizabeth Ann Cleopatra $5.99, 202pp, tp, cover by Rick Ray­
Howe) provide commentary on individual
Salvatore, R.A. Forgotten Realms: 7.2 (Ace 0-441-01206-X, $23.95, 321 pp, mond) Reprint (Collin 2001) young-adult
pieces and the creative process. Simulta­
Sojourn (Wizards of the Coast 0-7869- he, cover by Scott Grimando) Near­ dark fantasy of vampires, fifth in the
neous with the UK (HarperCollins) edition.
3081-0, $25.95,335pp, he, cover by Todd future SF novel, sequel to Channeling series supposedly written by schoolboy
A hardcover edition (-51098-2, $35.00)
Lockwood) Reprint (TSR 1991) noveliza­ Cleopatra, involving the mind-transfer Darren Shan - a pen name for Darren
was announced but not seen.
tion based on the roleplaying game, with technology introduced in Scarborough’s O’Shaughnessy.
Saberhagen, Fred Berserker Prime (Tor anthology Past Lives, Present Tense.
a new introduction by Margaret Weis and Shatner, William, Judith & Garfield
0-765-34543-9, $6.99, 396pp, pb, cover Two women have the cellular memories
afterword by Salvatore. Third volume in Reeves-Stevens Star Trek: Captain’s
by Paul Youll) Reprint (Tor 2004) SF novel the “Dark Elf Trilogy” and in “The Legend of Cleopatra, one unauthorized. Blood (Pocket 0-671-02130-3, $6.99,
in the “Berserkers” series. of Drizzt” series. Copyrighted by Wizards + Schonstein, Patricia ATime of Angels 333pp, pb) Reprint (Pocket 2003) Star
* Saberhagen, Fred Rogue Berserker of the Coast. (HarperCollins/Morrow 0-06-056242-0, ►M

Interviews! Locus Back Issues! Interviews!

Aiken, Joan: 448 Dozois, Gardner: 443 Kushner, Ellen: 375 Russell, Sean: 436
Aldiss, Brian: 322,341,378,416,475 Duncan, Dave: 387 Landis, Geoffrey A.: 468 Sawyer, Robert J.: 505
Anderson, Kevin J.: 419 Duncan, Andy: 487 Lee, Tanith: 447 Schroeder, Karl: 508
Anderson, Poul: 435 Edwards, Malcolm: 311 Le Guin, Ursula K.: 334,348,388,488 Scott, Melissa: 456
Anthony, Patricia: 399 Effinger, George Alec: 341 Lethem, Jonathan: 441 Shaw, Bob: 321
Asaro, Catherine: 466 Eggleton, Bob: 388,487 Lindholm, Megan Sheckley, Robert: 512
Baen, Jim: 307 Elliott, Kate (Alis A. Rasmusen): 361 (Robin Hobb): 356,444 Sheffield, Charles: 348,403
Baird, Wilhemena: 410 Ellison, Harlan: 486 Link, Kelly: 498 Shepard, Lucius: (344),383,490
Baker, Kage: 509 Elliott, Kate/Melanie Rawn/ Lock, Owen: 310 Sherman, Delia: 405
Ballantine, Betty: 502 Jennifer Roberson: 422 Lynn, Elizabeth A.: 441 Shiner, Lewis: 328,407
Ballard, J.G.: 332 Erikson, Steven: 484 MacLeod, Ian R.: 514 Shinn, Sharon: 424
Barker, Clive: 327,411 Farmer, Nancy: 516 MacLeod, Ken: 477 Shippey, Tom: 402
Barnes, John: 427 Farmer, Philip Jose: 353 Maddox, Tom: 369 Siegel, Jan: 494
Barnes, Stephen: 506 Feist, Raymond E.: *(318) Malzberg, Barry: 495 Silverberg, Robert: 355,430,518
Barrett, Neal, Jr.: 392 Finlay, Charles Coleman: 519 Marley, Louise: 467 Simmons, Dan: 350,364,401,436, 501
Baxter, Stephen: 423,450,495,523 Fitch, Marina: 459 Martin, George R.R. 412,479 Somtow, S.P.: 370,449
Beagle, Peter S.: 390 Ford, Jeffrey: 522 Marusek, David: 474 Spinrad, Norman: 335,457
Bear, Greg: 342,404,469 Foster, Alan Dean: 368 Mason, Lisa: 400 Springer, Nancy: 413
Benford, Gregory: .320,394,468 Fowler, Karen Joy: 392 ,462,527 McAuley, Paul J.: 373,420,451,497 Stableford, Brian: 367
Bishop, Michael: 335,426,526 Freas, Frank Kelly: 482 McCaffrey, Anne: 386,526 Steele, Allen: 373,453
Bisson, Terry: 366,476 Gaiman, Neil: 459 McCarthy, Wil: 480 Stephenson, Neal: 463,523
Blaylock, James: *(316) Gaiman, Neil/Terry Pratchett: 362 McDevitt, Jack: 409 Sterling, Bruce: 328,424,483
Bond, Nelson: 453 Gaiman, Neil/Gene Wolfe: 500 McHugh, Maureen F. : 395,465 Sterling, Bruce/William Gibson: 364
Bova, Ben: 363,478 Gentle, Mary: 339 McIntyre, Vonda N.: 445 Stewart, Sean: 407,458
Bradbury, Ray: 427 Gerrold, David: 390 McKillip, Patricia A.: 379,426 Straub, Peter: 351,396,455
Brin, David: 302,347,434 Gibson, William: 508 McMullen, Sean: 472 Strugatsky, Boris: 314,443
Brite, Poppy Z.: 388 Gibson, William/Bruce Sterling: 364 McQuinn, Donald E.: 412 Stross, Charles: 511,528
Brooks, Terry: 397,481 Goldstein, Lisa: 371,460 Mieville, China: 494 Sullivan, Tricia: 450
Brown, Charles N.: 500 Goonan, Kathleen Ann: 416,485 Mixon, Laura J./Stephen Gould: 439 Swanwick, Michael: 380,446,521
Brust, Steven: 398 Goulart, Ron: 385 Moon, Elizabeth: 410,518 Tan, Shaun: 491
Budrys, Algis: 442 Gould, Stephen/Laura J. Mixon: 439 Moore, Alan: *(510) Taylor, Lucy: 454
Bujold, Lois McMaster: 343,415,481 Griffith, Nicola: 428 Moorcock, Michael: 393,442,506 Tenn, William: 425
Bull, Emma: 375 Grimwood, Jon Courtenay: 515 Morgan, Richard K.: 524 Tepper, Sheri S.: 367, 402,452
Bunch, Chris/Allan Cole: 409 Gunn, Eileen: 525 Morrow, James: 451 Tilley, Patrick: 323
Butler, Octavia E.: 333, 473 Haldeman, Joe: 340,382,400,438,489 Mosley, Walter: 491 Turtledove, Harry: 387,505
Cacek, P.D.: 454 Hambly, Barbara: 305 Murphy, Pat: 333,462 Van Gelder, Gordon: 519
Cadigan, Pat: 349,382,414 Hamilton, Laurell K.: 476 Nagata, Linda: 433,478 VanderMeer, Jeff: 501
Campbell, Ramsey: 507 Hamilton, Peter: 448 Neiman, Nansey/ Varley, John: 525
Card, Orson Scott: 317,*(372),503 Hand, Elizabeth: 417,498 Larry Kirshbaum: 312 Vinge, Joan D.: 374,431
Carey, Jacqueline: 503 Harness, Charles L.: 455 Niven, Larry: 433 Vinge, Vernor: 480
Carroll, Jonathan: *(338), 513 Hartwell, David G.: 524 Nix, Garth: 435,504 Vonarburg, Elisabeth: 368
Chabon, Michael: 527 Harrison, M. John: 515 Nylund, Eric S.: 438 Waitman, Katie: 465
Charnas, Suzy McKee: 352,380 Hendrix, Howard V.: 461 Norton, Andre: *(365) Waldrop, Howard: 331,514
Cherryh, C.J.: *(315) ,345,384,420 Hobb, Robin O’Leary, Patrick: 464 Webb, Janeen/Jack Dann: 460
Chiang, Ted: 499 (Megan Lindholm): 356,444 Park, Paul: 377 Whelan, Michael: 384
Clarke, Sir Arthur C.: 464 Hoffman, Nina Kiriki: 405,497 Pierce, Tamora 496 White, James: 386
Clute, John: 414 Hogan, James R: *(337) Pohl, Frederik: 429,477 Williams, Liz: 520
Cole, Allan/Chris Bunch: 409 Holdstock, Robert: 423 Potter, J.K.: 300 Williams, Sean: 521
Collins, Nancy: 407 Holland, Cecelia: 360 Powers, Tim: 305,396,446,493 Williams, Tad: 408
Craft, KinukoY: 499 Hopkinson, Nalo: 456,489 Pratchett, Terry: *(338),467,520 Williams, Walter Jon: 352,428
Crowley, John: 398,484 Irvine, Alexander C.: 522 Pratchett, Terry/Neil Gaiman: 362 Williamson, Jack: 395,429
Dann, Jack/Janeen Webb: 460 Jablokov, Alexander: 374,421 Preuss, Paul: 431 Williamson, Jack/L, Sprague &
Datlow, Ellen: 482 Jacques, Brian: 418 Pullman, Philip: 479 Catherine de Camp: 328
de Camp, L. Sprague & Catherine/ Jeschke, Wolfgang: 358 Rasmussen, Alis A. (Kate Elliott): 361 Willis, Connie: 343,378,432,504
Jack Williamson: 328 Jeter, K.W.: 425 Rawn, Melanie/Jennifer Roberson/ Wilson, Gahan: 458
de Lint, Charles: 362,509 Jones, Diana Wynne: 339 Kate Elliott: 422 Wilson, Robert Charles: 507
Delany, Samuel R.: 361,418 Jones, Gwyneth: 419,516 Reed, Robert: 447 Windling,Terri: 513
Denton, Bradley: 432 Jordan, Robert: 470 Resnick, Mike: 355 Wingrove, David: 357
Di Fate, Vincent: 385,445 Joyce, Graham 496 Reynolds, Alastair: 511 Wolfe, Gene: 365
Di Filippo, Paul 512 Kandel, Michael: 434 Roberts, Keith: 308 Wolfe, Gene/Neil Gaiman: 500
Dickinson, Peter: 336 Kay, Guy Gavriel: 359,472,519 Roberson, Jennifer/Kate Elliott/ Womack, Jack: 413
Dickson, Gordon R.: 363 Kelly, James Patrick: 502 Melanie Rawn: 422 Yolen, Jane: 360,439
Dillon, Leo & Diane: 471 Kessel, John: 391,437 Robinson, Frank: 461 Zelazny, Roger: 369
Disch, Thomas M.: 485 Keyes, Danie I: 437 Robinson, Kim Stanley: 330,379,422, Zettel, Sarah: 444
Doctorow, Cory: 528 Kirshbaum, Larry/Nansey Neiman:312 440,492 Zindell, David: 391,473
Doherty, Tom: 513 Koja, Kathe: *(372) Robinson, Spider: 517 Zipes, Jack: 490
Donaldson, Stephen R.: 353,524 Koontz, Dean: 406 Roessner, Michaela: 390
Dorsey, Candas Jane: 475 Kress, Nancy: 383,474 Rosenblum, Mary: 399
Dowling, Terry: 401 Kurtz, Katherine: 302 Rusch, Kristine Kathryn: 356

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 M4 Books Received <www.galegroup.com/fivestar>. Pole, originally written and illustrated by he, cover by Jane Andrews) Contem­
Tolkien for his own children. This follows porary fantasy novel. A man in trouble
Trek novelization. Copyrighted by Para­ Stahler, David, Jr. Truesight (HarperCol- the 1999 revised edition. joins a very strange circus. Available
mount Pictures. lins/Eos 0-06-052287-9, $6.99, 245pp, from Wildside Books, Prime Books, PO
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Shearer, Alex Great Blue Yonder (Eos 2004) young-adult SF novel of a ter (Penguin/Roc 0-451-46007-3, $6.99, primebooks.net>.
(Scholastic/Apple 0-439-56127-2, boy in a society of the blind who suddenly 278pp, pb, cover by Kovec) Fantasy novel,
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ston) Reprint (Clarion 2002) young-adult king 0-670-88579-7, $34.95, 574 + xvii,
fantasy. * Steele, Allen Coyote Rising (Ace 0- * Turtledove, Harry Homeward Bound he) Biography. Includes notes, bibliogra­
441 -01205-1, $23.95,385pp, he, cover by (Ballantine Del Rey 0-345-45846-X, phy, and index.
Shelley, Mary Frankenstein (Borders 1- Ron Miller) SF novel, third in the “Coyote” $26.95, 597pp, he, cover by Jim Burns)
58726-088-3, $7.95,192pp, he) Reprint series. Some Coyote colonists plan a Alternate-history SF novel following the Wolfe, Gene The Knight (Tor 0-765-
(Lackington 1818) classic SF novel. This rebellion against the repressive new “Worldwar” and “Colonization” series. 31348-0, $14.95, 430pp, tp, cover by
is an instant remainder edition dated government from Earth. Humans manage to reach the homeworld Gregory Manchess) Reprint (Tor 2004)
2003, but not previously listed. of the Race, Earth’s alien invaders. fantasy novel, the first of two parts of The
Stewart, Sean Perfect Circle (Small Beer Wizard Knight.
* Shepherd, Mike Kris Longknife: Press 1-931520-11-9, $15.00, 243pp, * Turtledove, Harry & Martin H. Green­
Deserter (Ace 0-441-01227-2, $7.99, tp) Reprint (Small Beer Press 2004) berg, eds.The Best Time Travel Stories * Woodworth, Stephen With Red Hands
346pp, pb, cover by Scott Grimando) SF fantasy ghost novel.This was supposedly of the 20th Century (Ballantine Del Rey (Dell 0-553-58645-9, $6.99, 307pp,
novel, second in the “Kris Longknife” se­ simultaneous with the hardcover, but not 0-345-46094-4, $17.95, 425 + xiii, tp) pb) Alternate world SF novel, sequel
ries. Kris seeks a missing friend. Shep­ seen until now. Anthology of 18 time-travel stories. Au­ to Through Violet Eyes, set in a world
herd is a pen name for Mike Moscoe. thors include Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert where violet-eyed people channel dead
Stine, R.L. The Boyfriend (Scholastic/ Silverberg, Jack Finney, and Arthur C. people in court. A corrupt Violet’s false
Siddons, Anne Rivers The House Next Point 0-590-43279-6, $5.99, 165pp, pb, Clarke. Introduction by Turtledove. testimony frees a killer.
Door (SFBC #1174453, $10.99, 346pp, cover by Rudy Muller) Reprint (Scholastic
he) Reprint (Simon & Schuster 1978) 1990) young-adult horror novel. Dead * Valente, Catherynne M. The Labyrinth Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn Midnight Har­
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A 1981 introduction by Stephen King 65-3, $29.95, 181 pp, he, cover by Aure­ $6.99, 631 pp, pb, cover by Phil Hef­
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King Horror Library” edition distributed Point 0-590-44333-X, $5:99, 165pp, pb, by Jeff VanderMeer. A first novel. Prime novel of Count Saint-Germain in 1930s
by SFBC. cover by Rudy Muller) Reprint (Scholastic
Books, PO Box 36503, Canton OH 44735; California.
1991) young-adult horror novel. <www.primebooks.com>. Sean Wallace
+ Sladek, John The Complete Roderick Yep, Laurence The Tiger’s Apprentice
(Overlook Press 1-58567-587-3, $17.95, Stine, R.L. Hit and Run (Scholastic/Point <saw@ neo.rr.com>.
(HarperTrophy 0-06-001015-0, $5.99,
611 pp, tp) Omnibus of the complete texts 0-590-45385-8, $5.99, 164pp, pb, cover Vance, Jack Emphyrio (ibooks 0-7434- 184pp, tp, cover by Greg Call) Reprint
of Roderick (1980) and Roderick at by Rudy Muller) Reprint (Scholastic 1992) (HarperCollins 2003) young-adult fan­
9775-9, $11.95, 315pp, tp, cover by
Random (1983). Includes notes. First young-adult horror novel. Jim Burns) Reprint (Doubleday 1969) tasy novel.
US edition (Gollancz 2001). Stoker, Bram Dracula (Borders Classics SF novel.
Zahn, Timothy Dragon and Soldier
* Smith, Bryan House of Blood (Leisure 1-58726-045-X, $9.95, 370pp, he, cover (Tor/Starscape 0-765-35017-3, $5.99,
* Vaught, Susan Stormwitch (Blooms­
0-8439-5481-7, $6.99,369pp, pb) Horror by Philip Burne-Jones) Reprint (Con­ 301 pp, tp, cover by Jon Foster) Reprint
bury USA 1-58234-952-5, $16.95,208pp,
novel. A group of young people become stable 1897) classic vampire novel. An he) Young-adult fantasy. In 1960s Mis­ (Starscape 2004) SF novel, the second
trapped in a house of evil magic. instant remainder edition. sissippi, a Haitian girl uses her grand­ novel in the “Dragonback” series about
* Snyder, Zilpha Keatley The Unseen Stoker, Bram Dracula (Bantam Classics mother’s magic to ward off a witch in a teen on the run and his dragonlike
(Random House/Delacorte 0-385- 0-553-21271-0, $4.95, 416pp, pb, cover hurricane form. alien symbiote. This includes a reader’s
73084-5, $15.95, 199pp, he, cover by by Mark English) Reissue (Constable guide.
* Ward, Philippe Artahe: The Legacy
Tim Jessell) Young-adult horror novel. 1897) classic horror novel. Introduction of Jules de Grandin (Black Coat Press Zahn, Timothy Star Wars: Survivor’s
A girl’s magic feather makes her aware by George Stade. 31st printing. 1 -932983-09-0, $22.95, 269pp, tp, cover Quest (Ballantine Del Rey LucasBooks
of phantoms around her. * Stolze, Greg World of Darkness: A by Stephan Martiniere) Dark fantasy 0-345-45918-0, $6.99, 460pp, pb, cover
* Soesbee, Ree DragonLance: The Hunger Like Fire (White Wolf 1-58846- novel featuring the grandson of Seabury by Steven D. Anderson) Reprint (Del Rey
New Adventures, Volume 5: Dragon 862-3, $6.99,283pp, pb, cover by Jason Quinn’s supernatural investigator Jules 2004) Star Wars novelization. This adds
Sword (Wizards of the Coast/Mirror- Alexander) Novelization based on the de Grandin.Translated/adapted by David the story “Fool’s Bargain” previously
stone 0-7869-3578-2, $5.99, 242pp, “Vampire: The Requiem” roleplaying Kirshbaum from the French (CyLibris published as an ebook. Copyrighted by
tp, cover by Vinod Rams) Young-adult game. Copyrighted by White Wolf. 1997 as Artahe). Ward is a pen name Lucasfilm.
novelization based on the roleplaying for Philippe Laguerre. This is a print-on-
Straub, Peter In the Night Room (SFBC demand edition, available online at <www. December 2004 Year to Date
games. Copyrighted by Wizards of the #1176781, $13.99, 330pp, he) Reprint
Coast. blackcoatpress.com> or from Hollywood SF Novels 21 SF Novels 235
(Random House 2004) horror novel, se­ Comics.com, PO Box 17270, Encino Fantasy Novels 27 Fantasy Novels 284
* Souvestre, Emile The World as It quel to lost boy lost girl. This is similar CA 91416. Horror Novels 10 Horror Novels 139
Shall Be (Wesleyan University Press to the Random House edition, except it Anthologies 9 Anthologies 124
0-8195-6615-2, $29.95, 248 + xxv, lacks a price and has the SFBC number Waters, Galadriel, Astre Mithrandir& E.L. Collections 6 Collections 124
he) SF dystopian novel, translated by on the back jacket. Fossa New Clues to Harry Potter: Book Reference 2 Reference 34
Margaret Clarke from the French Le 5 (Wizarding World Press 0-9723936-2-5, History/Criticism 4 History/Criticism 45
Tarr, Judith Queen of the Amazons (Tor $10.95, 134pp, tp) Reissue (Wizarding
Monde tel qu’il sera (1846); the original 0-765-30396-5, $13.95, 320pp, tp, cover Media Related 11 Media Related 168
illustrations are included. This is the World Press 2003) non-fiction guide to the Young Adult 9 Young Adult 168
by Rick Berry) Reprint (Tor 2004) histori­ fifth book in the series. Third printing.
first English edition, edited and with an cal novel with fantasy elements. SF 1 SF 20
introduction by I.F. Clarke and with a * Watts, Peter Behemoth, Book Two: Fantasy 3 Fantasy 119
preface by both Clarkes. Includes notes * Thomas, Milt Cave of a Thousand Seppuku (Tor 0-765-31172-0, $24.95, Horror 5 Horror 27
and bibliography. Order from University Tales: The Life & Times of Hugh B. 303pp, he, cover by Bruce Jensen) SF Other 0 Other 2
Press of New England, Order Dept., Cave (Arkham House 0-87054-183-8, novel, second in a series of two set in the Omnibus 3 Omnibus 70
37 Lafayette St., Lebanon NH 03766- $33.95,287 + xvii, he, cover by Keith Min- same worlds as Starfish and Maelstrom. Art/Humor 6 Art/Humor 50
1405; 800-421-1561; <www.wesleyan. nion) Biography. Includes notes, index, Watts includes notes and references on Miscellaneous 2 Miscellaneous 105
edu/wespress>. and a bibliography of Cave’s works. the science involved. Total New: 110 Total New: 1546
Reprints & Reprints &
Spinrad, Norman Bug Jack Barron Tiedemann, Mark W. Asimov’s Chimera * Weber, David Bolo! (Baen 0-7434- Reissues: 102 Reissues: 1150
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264pp, tp) Reprint (Walker 1969) SF cover by Bruce Jensen) Reprint (ibooks David Mattingly) Collection of four mili­
novel. This has a 1999 afterword by 2001) SF mystery, the second by Tiede­ tary SF stories, one original, and one
Michael Moorcock. mann based on Isaac Asimov’s “Robot” technical article about Keith Laumer’s
series. Packaged and copyrighted by The expression “virtual reality”
* Spurrier, Simon Strontium Dog: sentient tanks. entered our language not via com­
Byron Preiss Visual Publications.
Prophet Margin (BL Publishing/Black Wells, H.G. The Time Machine and The puters and cyber geeks, but with the
Flame US 1-84416-134-X, $6.99,252pp, Tiptree, James, Jr. Her Smoke Rose Up War of the Worlds (Borders Classics 1- translation into English of Antonin
pb, cover by Dylan Teague) Noveliza­ Forever (Tachyon Publications 1-892391- 58726-161-8, $7.95, 240pp, he) Reprint Artaud’s masterpiece, TheTheatre
tion based on the world of the comics. 20-1, $15.95,508 + xiv, tp, cover by John omnibus of two classic SF novels: The and Its Double. Artaud was one
Copyrighted by Rebellion A/S. Picacio) Reprint (Arkham House 1990) Time Machine (1895) and The War of of my favourite kinds of writers:
collection of 18 stories. Some stories have the Worlds (1898). the insane French intellectual. He
Stableford, Brian Asgard’s Conquerors
been corrected/revised from Tiptree’s believed a play was not successful
(Gale Group/Five Star 1-59414-209-2,
own notes. There is a new introduction * Werlin, Nancy Double Helix (Penguin/ unless it affected the audience so
$25.95, 279pp, he, cover by Alan M.
by Michael Swanwick. Copyrighted 2004 Dial 0-8037-2606-6, $15.99, 248pp, he, profoundly that spectators were
Clark) Reprint (NEL 1989 as Invaders
by editor Jeffrey D. Smith. cover by Cliff Nielsen) Young-adult SF physically altered by the experi­
From the Centre) SF novel, second thriller of genetic engineering. Eli’s new
in the “Asgard” trilogy after Asgard’s Tolkien, J.R.R. Letters from Father ence. He said going to the theatre
job at a transgenics lab leads to unsettling should be like going to the dentist:
Secret. This has been completely re­ Christmas (Houghton Mifflin 0-618-
discoveries about his family.
written. Packaged and edited by Martin 51265-9, $15.00, 111 pp, tp, cover by you leave physically changed.
H. Greenberg’s Tekno Books and Ed J.R.R. Tolkien) Reprint (Allen & Unwin * Wexler, Robert Freeman Circus of the -Michel Basilieres,
Gorman. Gale/Five Star, 295 Kennedy 1976 as The Father Christmas Letters) Grand Design (Wildside Press/Prime Maissonneuve
Memorial Dr., Waterville ME 04901; collection of letters about life at the North Books 1-894815-26-2, $35.00, 304pp,
Short Fiction: Nick Gevers sensational centerpiece; surely a moral re-awaken- remote ghost town, a mendacious master artificer
M< p. 14 ing, however frail, must follow? The storyline is is at work, and the reader must steadily scale up the
predictable, but the detail and emotional realization achievements of this demiurge. Cherith Baldry’s
firm anti-arabesque, are skillfully handled. “The Cardinal’s Cats” is a light and diverting
J. R. Dunn’s “Nocturne” is, in contrast, near­ Elsewhere in this issue, Edd Vick’s “Parachute caper in which Cardinal Richelieu faces, all un­
future SF, in which Mallon, the head of a private Kid” ingeniously traces the history-altering per­ wittingly, a sorcerous conspiracy, necessitating a
security firm, hired by a biotech billionaire to guard egrinations of a time-traveling firefighter, in the feline rescue bid; “Sonnets Made of Wood” is
his estate, treads surely but perilously a path of sort of solipsistic, temporally twisted narrative at Leah Bobet’s well-written feminist variation on the
gritty righteousness. The tycoon has a mistress and which Robert A. Heinlein excelled; fortunately, the myth of the mermaid come ashore for love; Sarah
protegee who is a budding musical genius; he may hero spends time in some company other than his Prineas questions expedient political morality in­
have infected her, deliberately, with a rare virus that own. Leslie What’s “Dead Menon Vacation” is a telligently in “The Chamber of Forgetting” (but
inspires even as it kills; maneuvering between his justified, but overwrought and insufficiently subtle, why in a medieval setting, where scruples would be
employer and federal agents, Mallon must somehow fantasy on the Holocaust and its amelioration; R. few?); Caitlin Matthews exposes the darker side
guarantee a right outcome. The manner in which he Garcia y Robertson pens an amiable wish-fulfill­ of Arthurian feudalism in “The Wild Man”; and
accomplishes this is devious and fascinating, mak­ ment space opera, complete with bigamy and a Laura Anne Gilman’s “Talent” adds yet another
ing “Nocturne” a highly entertaining speculative rogue asteroid, in “Oxygen Rising”; and Robert charge to the litany against sleazy poolhalls.
thriller. Elizabeth Bear’s “Follow Me Light”, on A. Metzger’s “Polyhedrons” is (in my view)
the other hand, is a tepid account of a lady lawyer incomprehensible. Amazing Stories for January is of note for “The
falling in love with the sea-king’s ugly son - or Wisdom of Disaster”, by Nina Kiriki Hoffman.
something of that sort. And so to F&SF for March. Here, the prevail­ A retired couple lead a life of comfortable routine;
ing mood is rather silly, with a majority of stories but their granddaughter, a neglected child, needs
In the February Asimov's, William Sanders sets dedicated to slapstick, farce, and satire. The best their support; and then - suddenly, in a dramatic
out a fresh source of Terror in the Skies: not long is Albert E. Cowdrey’s “The Amulet”, wherein intensification of the same dependent relationship
from now, mysterious alien creatures, fliers at low a young and earnest (but not necessarily talented) - a woman from another dimension arrives, injured,
altitudes and wielders of metal-cutting torches, writer undertakes to interview the teeming ec­ in the company of a psychic who foresaw the road
start destroying passenger planes in the air. “Angel centrics of New Orleans, a dull catalogue until accident that nearly killed her. Hoffman stages her
Kills” describes the official reaction: the organiza­ he meets a gigantically fat woman who claims to novelette, with its intricate web of relationships
tion of squadrons of fighters dedicated to keeping be a millennium old, the beneficiary of a magi­ and emerging understandings, rather like a play;
airports safe for humanity. A justified response. The cal gewgaw brought back from Cathay by Marco there’s much effective dialogue and interpersonal
narrator, an officer in one such unit, participates Polo. The Signora’s tale is bizarre and funny, and tension as the strange psychological truth presents
in aerial dogfights in which the killer “angels” its contemporary resolution is cruel but pleasingly itself. Robin D. Laws is likewise in fine form in
are obliterated with beams of concentrated light; cunning. Esther M. Friesner’s “The Beau and the “Brainspace”, a cutting satire on advertising;
the squadron head is a bit of a martinet and glory Beast” is likewise amusing enough - in the age of and Greg Keyes’s 1,000-word vignette, “Wishful
hound, a new pilot needs to be inducted, and the Jane Austen, a young woman at Court writes scald­ Thinking”, is a mildly delicious reappraisal of the
resulting tensions and tragedies fill out the story. ing letters home about her abduction by a coven Gaia Hypothesis and What It Would Mean.
Ultimately, Sanders seems to be penning an alle­ of hoity-toity Cthulhu worshippers - but this time
gory of 9/11 and the War on Terror: America’s state Friesner overdoes the giggles, making too light of Recommended Stories:
of fear and its consequences, the fateful impact of Lovecraft and thereby losing the Mythos plot. Al “The Two Old Women”, Kage Baker
irrationality on any society in crisis; and he does Michaud continues his outrageous over-the-top (Asimov's 2/05)
this with a commendable mixture of the direct and shenanigans of hick lobstermen off the coast of “The Poison Well”, Judith Berman
the oblique. Maine in “Ayuh, Clawdius”, an almost indescrib­ (Black Gate Fall ’04)
Kage Baker’s ‘ ‘The Two Old Women’ * is strik­ able and unfortunately excessive farrago featuring “The Amulet”, Albert E. Cowdrey (F&SF 3/05)
ing too, for its atmosphere and folk-tale simplicity: a host of larger-than-life caricatures: the mad “Nocturne”, J. R. Dunn (Sci Fiction 1/05)
an extended family lives in a small fishing town, dictator of a lighthouse, a family of Igor-like evil “A Man of Light”, Jeffrey Ford
always conscious of the risk to its menfolk from the sidekicks, a scheming undertaker, a criminal with (Sci Fiction 1/05)
storms which so readily wreck their boats; an old a ridiculous French accent, a good-ole-boy Texan “The Wisdom of Disaster”, Nina Kiriki Hoffman
woman, who lives apart in jealous solitude, resur­ with an equally exaggerated diction, a lobster that (Amazing 1/05)
rects her drowned husband, resolutely unmindful is also a King of the Sea, a legendary pelagic crone; “Beyond the Aquila Rift”, Alastair Reynolds
of the inevitable karmic sequel. The events are and the Maine dialect never ceases. Too much, too (Constellations - see my Books column
matter-of-fact, magic-realist catalysts for Baker’s much. After that, Gary W. Shockley’s very slight this issue)
customary incisive psychological and social obser­ “Late Show” is almost a relief. “Angel Kills”, William Sanders (Asimov's 2/05)
vation; even when she departs from her overarch­ But there is some serious stuff too. Charles “Enta Geweorc”, Nicholas Waller
ing “Company” storyline, Baker displays a keen Coleman Finlay sensitively relates the confusions (Interzone 11-12/04)
historical sense of place, and no slight wisdom. Jim of a Cro-Magnon child brought up by Neanderthals -Nick Gevers
Grimsley also knows human nature well, and his (one assumes that is what they are) but back among
latest Hormling story, “The 120 Hours of Sodom”, his own kind in “Love and the Wayward Troll”; Semiprofessional magazines, fiction fanzines,
is an angry indictment of aristocratic decadence and Thomas M. Disch’s “The Wall of America” original collections, original anthologies, plus
inhumanity which, drawing on the literary excesses quietly suggests the need to broaden one’s cultural new stories in outside sources should be sent to
of the Marquis de Sade, argues that, however we horizons; and Carol Emshwiller engages - not Nick Gevers, 37 Liesbeek Road, Rosebank, Cape
may evolve in the coming thousands of years, our without humor - in an existentia 1 horror story in ‘ ‘I Town, 7700, South Africa, <vermoulian@yahoo.
capacity for cruelty and for compensatory com­ Live With You”: who knew doppelgangers could com>, for review. Because of location, Nick will
passion will not change at all. Thus, on the planet be helpful in finding romance? accept material in electronic form. ■
Senal, a la the ancien regime, a stark social pyramid
prevails, idle near-immortal aristos on top, vast The December Realms of Fantasy contains
underclass living and dying cheek-by-jowl below. very solid stories, of which the strongest is “The
Two fops throw a party; a licensed suicide is its Secret of Making Brains” by Joe Murphy: in a

Short Fiction: Rich Horton Davidson’s “Help! I Am Doctor Morris Goldpep- help regret this, though I certainly understand the
l« p. 15 per”). Clark gets a toothache, only to be told that economic rationale. The words of the stories are the
it is actually a new colony of micro-people. Getting same, though! The latest issue, #19 (December 2004)
dreams, murders, and an inevitable, phantasmagoric, rid of the toothache would be genocide! Eventually is a pretty strong one. In Steven Mohan Jr.’s “Last
ending. Also in January at Sci Fiction, Elizabeth he enters into negotiations with them, and even Request” the Earth is doomed by an astronomical
Bear’s “Follow Me Light” is an intriguing story accepts their help with his marriage. Tom Doyle’s disaster to be destroyed in three years. How will
of a public defender who falls for a handicapped “The Floating Otherworld” is a dizzying journey people handle those remaining years? Suicide?
colleague who has a very unexpected family his­ through the mysterious underbelly of Tokyo, as seen Violence? Decadence? Or - a hopeless attempt at
tory, which explains his injuries but opens up other by a confused American. He becomes involved with survival? I thought it well handled. Stella Evans
questions. a beautiful woman and a sinister man, and seems, offers “Ex Libris”, about a private investigator
perhaps, to be required to expiate the tragedy of who is hired by an unpleasant man to find the
Strange Horizons closes its year with some excel­ Hiroshima. missing “library” of a recently deceased, and very
lent work. “2:30” by Leslie What at her funniest powerful, wizard. But this library turns out to be in
joins the long list of good SF about dentistry (off the Canadian magazine Challenging Destiny has gone a very unusual place - and form. A familiar shape
top of my head, that list begins and ends with Avram to electronic publication through Fictionwise. I can’t ►H
l« Short Fiction: Rich Horton ugly woman. But she dreams of the Phoenix, King of {F&SF 2/04)
the Birds, who asks for her love. She wants only to “The Old House Under the Snow Where Nobody
of story with a pleasantly new idea included. And attract the nobleman - with predictable results. But Goes Except You and Me Tonight”,
Marissa K. Lingen’s “Anna’s Implants” also has the Phoenix’s love is true - and enduring ... Lovely Rhys Hughes {Postscripts Summer/04)
an intriguing idea. The colonists on Anna’s planet work, with the feel of a fairy tale - though I don’t “By the Light of Tomorrow’s Sun”,
have what seem to be personality constructs of great myself know of any such tale. Holly Phillips
artists implanted during their teen years. The idea (In the Palace of Repose)*
is to foster creativity - but sometimes it leads to Finally, Oceans of the Mind for Winter eschews “Biographical Notes to ‘A Discourse on the
madness. And - does it really help truly original any theme to just offer nine stories editor Richard Nature of Causality, with Air-Planes’ by Benjamin
art? Anna seems to be a very promising young artist Freeborn liked. I like the firm focus on science fic­ Rosenbaum”, Benjamin Rosenbaum
- and her sister begs her not to take the implant. But tion of this magazine. This time around my favorite (All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories)*
Anna has a different idea. story was Robin Jensen’s “Surely the Clouds Will “Lady of the Birds”, Beverly Suarez-Beard
Come”, a very odd piece about strange five-armed {Paradox Winter/04-05)
Adam Stemple’s “The Three Truths”, from the beings living in a cold environment. This is a story “Acts of Conscience”, Shane Tourtellotte
latest Paradox, is an amusing and cynical story about that tries to tell about non-human intelligences from {Analog 3/04)
a samurai investigator and his faithful servant. The their own perspective - as such it is hard to follow (*see my reviews elsewhere in this issue)
samurai wakes up one day to find a dead woman in but fascinating - not quite a success, I thought, but —Rich Horton
his bed. Worse, the woman is the wife of his boss. a worthwhile try.
Worse still, he may be framed for the crime - and Semiprofessional magazines, fiction fanzines,
loyalty may compel him to accede to the frame. And j Recommended Stories original collections, original anthologies, plus new
Beverly Suarez-Beard, in “Lady of the Birds”, Mayflower II, Stephen Baxter (PS Publishing) stories in outside sources should be sent to Rich
tells a beautiful, bittersweet tale of a deformed young “Sky Light”, David Brin Horton, 653 YeddoAve., Webster Groves MO 63119,
woman who falls in love with a cruel, shallow noble­ (All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories)* <Richard.Horton@ sff.net>, for review. ■
man. The noble will have nothing to do with such an “Queen of the Balts”, R. Garcia y Robertson

Gary K. Wolfe along with a master graffiti artist named Gilb, are rat hunt again. As is often the case with Lanagan,
W p. 19 selected for an “adventure training” program at a it’s an entirely different story buried in an offhand
remote lodge, which can shorten their probation phrase.
that he’s drastically losing weight, given to uncon­ time (the unlikely fact that only three are selected Black Juice is far too rich and compelling and
trollable outbursts, and doing poorly in school, but is explained by the need to use up the remaining hypnotic to leave to the young adult audience,
he still struggles with familiar adolescent urges, probation office budget for the year). While much and word is that stories from it have already been
fantasizing about a girl in his class, about Jools, even of the rest of the plot plays out fairly predictably sought by Ellen Datlow and Jonathan Strahan for
about the counselor assigned to him by the proba­ - with the three misfits learning to trust and love their respective “year’s best” anthologies. In other
tion service. He is not, however, at all attracted to each other, undergoing at least one life-threatening words, don’t be deterred by the YA rubric; Lanagan
the surly, punked-out Amy, whom he meets at the adventure together, and revealing hidden secrets is probably the most original voice to emerge in the
counseling office and who herself is undergoing about their lives (including a genuinely surprising short fiction field since Kelly Link; and even though
therapy for her compulsive firestarting. revelation about Jake’s death) - the sense of place, her tales are for the most part not at all like Link’s,
According to the unwritten rules of YA fiction, authenticity of voice, and flashes of humor are as they share a fascination with the power of language
Matt will of course find himself thrown together compelling as in any of Joyce’s other fiction. If the and telling and an almost preternatural sense of as­
with Amy in trying circumstances. The two of them, novel’s conclusion seems a bit facile for adult read- surance. Does this (from “Earthly Uses” ) sound
ers, it’s at least grounded in honesty about adolescent like any YA writing you’ve seen?
anxieties, and should prove more than satisfying to All the stars zing; the mountains glitter;
the readers for whom the book is intended. towns and villages gather like bright mold
ZV/ : in the valley seams.and along the coasts.

Clarion
But then, there’s a fair chance that I’m completely Every movement in byre and bunny hole, of
out of touch with what’s within the range of young­ leaf against leaf, of germ in soil and stream,
adult fiction these days. Black Juice, the new col­ turns and gleams and laminates every
the Science fiction & fantasy Writers' Workshop lection of ten all-original stories by the Australian other, the whole world monstrously fancy,
writer Margo Lanagan, is nothing short of brilliant, laced tight together, yet slopping over and
unraveling in every direction, a grand bril­
June 12-July 22, 2005 but I would never have thought of any of these dark,
liant wastage of the living and the dying.
elliptical, stylistically wondrous pieces as YA - you
might as well market Angela Carter or Haruki Mu­ Language for Lanagan is magical, and often her
Writers-in-Residence: rakami or the early Peter Carey or Shirley Jackson as language is magic. In “Rite of Spring”, in which a
YA - but that’s exactly what HarperCollins is doing, boy must conduct a lonely ritual on a mountaintop
Joan Vinge and it’s exactly what Allen & Unwin did in Australia in a blizzard in order to bring about the change of
Charles Coleman Finlay last year, when the volume ended up winning the seasons, he speaks of words as “something to throw
Prize for Young Adult Fiction in the 2004 Victorian at the wind; words seem like nothing, but they’re
Gwyneth Jones Premier’s Literary Awards. It’s true that nearly all tiny, fancy,people's things. Who cares whether they
her protagonists are children or adolescents, and a do anything? What else can we put up against the
Cory Doctorow bit of surfing even turned up a couple of reviews by wind except our tininess and fanciness?” Similarly,
Walter Jon Williams teenage Australian readers (one of whom gave it a language and music are all that a family has to offer
7.5 out of 10). Lanagan has also published a number to a condemned daughter - sentenced to slowly sink
Leslie What of well-received YA novels, as well as an earlier into a tar pit after committing a murder-in “Singing
Editor-in-Residence: collection of stories, White Time, to which Black My Sister Down”. Music also wields strange pow­
Juice is regarded as a companion volume. All of ers of both control and liberation in the longest and
Sheila Williams which convinced me that bright teenage readers most complex story, “House of the Many”, almost
might indeed be able to make their way through certainly the most accomplished fantasy story ever
these stunningly original tales, even to the point of written about accordions. The boy Dot, whose
Application Deadline: working out the surrealistic worlds she plops us into mother joined the guru-like Bard’s community fol­
in medias res, her colorful use of language (with a lowing an unspecified disaster, undergoes a ritual
April 1,2005 dizzying array of neologisms, nonsense syllables, of passage and leaves the community for the city,
and subtle allusions), and her almost unprecedented where he buys an accordion and learns new kinds
For more information contact with SASE: use of dream logic. She is clearly a writer who has of music, only to return home years later, where
not been told what she’s not permitted to do, and he realizes the utter poverty of the community
Clarion 2005 c/o Mary Sheridan even the briefest of her stories implies an entire and the true nature of the “House of the Three”, a
112 Olds Hall untold world that in other writers might sustain an mystical object through which the Bard controlled
Michigan State University entire novel. In “The Wooden Bride”, for example his followers.
- a title which Lanagan says comes from misreading As is apparent, Lanagan favors rural, dreamlike
East Lansing, Ml 48824-1047 the cover of a Modern Bride magazine - the young settings, but sometimes they’re populated by gro­
woman narrator, making her way through a city to tesque monsters. The title creatures in “Yowlinin”
a church for an unnamed ritual, says, “I haven’t are hideous beasts who may erupt at any time from
Visit the Clarion Website: been through this part of town since they rebuilt the earth, signaled by the presence of “dormer bee­
www. msu. edu/~clarion/ after last year’s rat hunt,” and we never hear of the tles.” The human community here is pretty weird,
too - one of its main occupations is skinning “mun- a servant accompanying his master in searching for family. But “Sweet Pippit” is pure, original fantasy,
kees” - but Lanagan manages to draw moments of his runaway bride. The latter is about as close as the and in concept more resembles a children’s tale
unexpected pathos out of even such a surrealistic collection gets to a traditional fantasy setting, just than anything else in the book. It concerns a young
situation, such as when a boy tries to put the pieces as “Perpetual Light” is about as close as it gets to condemned man rescued by a herd of elephants he
of his dog back together after it’s destroyed by one of recognizable SF: in a world apparently diminished once befriended. All the elephants have comical
the beasts. But more domesticated kinds of violence by some ecological disaster, the narrator must make names that sound like elephant bleats, and there’s
are at work here as well: in “Earthly Use” an old her way to her grandmother’s funeral in a remote a bit of a quest adventure that gives the tale a more
man sends his grandson to summon an angel to help village through a landscape of dust and animals linear feel than most. But it still ain’t normal fiction:
with the grandmother who has nearly died from the which are nearly all mechanical simulacra. There it’s narrated by the herd of elephants.
husband’s abuse (don’t ask why the angels moved are some recognizable genre elements in “Red Nose -Gary K. Wolfe ■
into the neighborhood, or why they smell bad), while Day” as well, which describes a bizarre war against
“My Lord’s Man” is told from the point of view of tribes of clowns and how it unexpectedly affects one

Faren Miller » Will Queen Mab finally drop the schoolmistress with Di Filippo’s other work, the most interesting
« p. 22 act and become the menacing creature of legend? young man (brash, if sometimes fumbling) and lurk­
Can Tom survive both her wiles and his own boyish ing elder in Harp, Pipe, and Symphony will be the
quotes by a disparate bunch that includes Tolkien, uncertainty to assume his true calling? You can prob­ author - himselves. -Faren Miller ■
Andrew Marvell, and Faulkner. ably guess the answers. But for anyone acquainted

Russell Letson In volume six, Explorer (reviewed in January with Ilisidi and Tatiseigi (both lovers and rivals in
l« p. 23 2003), a group of atevi and humans takes the old earlier times), the bad guys make their move and we
starship Phoenix on an expedition to rescue the come to the shooting and running and hiding part,
po-mo design) is why things keep getting called descendants of the other half of the Phoenix contin­ in the (symbolically appropriate) dark. Since this is
“Gaudeamus”: not only Xegon’s secret project but a gent on a far space station, and in the process they the opening of a new trilogy, the new arrangements
mysterious online multimedia production that seems also negotiate a tricky first contact with yet another of friends and foes that come out of this climax can
to “know” about some of the things Travis is pursu­ starfaring species. In Destroyer, Cherryh brings only begin the process of re-establishing Tabini’s
ing; a new designer drug that is tied to both Really Cameron back down to earth (the “earth of the authority (and resharpening Cameron’s continuing
Good Sex and espionage; and some other stuff that atevi,” that is), where he has to sharpen diplomatic education), and we can anticipate future realign­
I can’t tell you about. Of course, for both the thriller and political reflexes slightly dulled by the years ments and strenuous puzzle-solving (and lots more
and po-mo sides of the book the expectation is that spent in the close quarters of a starship environ­ running and shooting). Meanwhile, Destroyer is
the lines will somehow converge and that there will ment where atevi and humans have developed a filled with the usual close observation of human and
be some central node at which all these Gaudeami much-more-comfortable-than-usual relationship atevi manners (Jane Austen with shooting?) as well
connect, but I can’t tell you about that, either. (including Cameron’s special relationship with one as some of Cherryh’s best writing. If you have not
I’m still not sure whether to see the framing story of his bodyguards), and where Cameron has almost read the first six books, it is worth the effort to start
as essential to the design (which would push the forgotten what a minefield the borderland between now, not only for their own considerable pleasures
whole thing in the direction of po-mo or even some the two species really is. but to eventually arrive here.
extra-categorical personal space) or as the actual They come home to the news that there has been -Russell Letson ■
writer’s last-ditch technique for filling out and finish­ a coup among the atevi, that Cameron’s friend and
ing up a recalcitrant book. (The acknowledgments patron, the adventurous and forward-looking aiji
certainly mark this as a long-delayed project.) For (leader) Tabini, has been ousted by a coalition of
some reason, I kept thinking of Damon Knight’s late malcontents and conservatives who have not quite
work, especially Why Do Birds? (1992) and A Rea­
sonable World (1991) - two books full of magical
technologies, apocalyptic possibilities, and narrative
gained full control of the government. It is not
known whether Tabini is alive or dead, and various
atevi associations have not worked out how they
Clarion West
oddness - and that may mean that the oddness of
this novel is part of its design. Aside from that, the
will realign. Behind Cameron is a population of
new-found refugees who need to be reintegrated
Writers Workshop
book is full of good jokes and sharp observations of into human society, an orbital station cut off from
academic life and western small-town culture, and its ground-side supplies, and a family situation that June 19 - July 29, 2005
it was these and Barnes’s undiminished skill and has seen significant changes since he left. Before
wit as a line-by-line writer as much as my curiosity him are atevi power structures - the associational For writers preparing for professional
about what he was going to pull out of the hat that webs of marichi - in a state of flux. He is once again
careers in science fiction and fantasy
drew me through the book. the man in the middle, not entirely sure about which
atevi (outside his own staff and orbit-based allies)
Destroyer is the seventh book (and the start he can trust and how sure he can be of his own hu­
Octavia E. Butler
of the third trilogy) of C.J. Cherryh’s “Foreigner man-limited understanding of atevi psychology and
Universe” cycle, which for most of its long run has political dynamics.
managed to keep its able and intelligent protagonist, This time he has with him two key players (and, Andy Duncan
Bren Cameron, off-balance even as his skills as he hopes, allies): the once-ambitious and still politi­
an alien-wrangler grow. In the first six volumes of cally potent dowager Ilisidi (Tabini’s granny) and
the sequence, half a shipload of lost humans takes Tabini’s eight-year-old (but six-foot-tall) son Cajeiri.
L. Timmel Duchamp
refuge on the world of the hospitable, cultured, and Cameron, Ilisidi, and their security staffs set out to
deceptively human-seeming atevi: three-meter-tall, determine how much of Tabini’s association remains Connie Willis
black-skinned, golden-eyed folk whose deepest intact - and whether he even still lives. The cross­
psychological and social motivators - the complex countryjourney to Tabini’s last known location, the Gordon Van Gelder
of loyalties and connections called man'chi -prove seat of the crusty, very conservative Lord Tatiseigi,
to be quite dangerously different from ours. After a must be carried out in secrecy, and every contact I/)
foolish and disastrous war, the two species work out must be vetted for changes in man’chi. This takes Michael Swanwick,
a modus vivendi based on minimizing and tightly us to previously unseen parts of the atevi world, out
controlling all interspecies contacts. The individual into the farms and small towns of the provinces, with
on whose skills and understanding the relationship their deep-rooted traditional ways only marginally 2005 Susan C. Petrey Fellow
balances is the paidh'r. the sole official translator, affected by the ideas and technologies introduced by
whose office actually combines wide swathes of di­ humankind. This is a world of what we would call
Deadline for applications is April 1, 2005. $125 tuition
plomacy, planning bureaucracy, and cultural-contact feudal relationships, where a prickly aristocrat can
control. The series follows the great changes that participate in a generations-long quasi-feud with the reduction for applications received by March 1, 2005.
occur during the tenure of paidhi Bren Cameron, who foresters of the bordering association - and where Limited scholarships available. Women and minorities
starts out a political naif but grows into an adroit (if young Cajeiri’s budding social instincts (influenced
not always absolutely self-confident) politician and by years of hanging around humans) can form a new encouraged to apply. Write, call, or visit our Web site for
one of the most influential people of either species association that crosses those ancient fault lines. more information.
on the planet, who encourages the atevi to develop And, of course, after Cameron endures days in the
a space program and to take control of the space saddle, navigates the dangerous waters of associa­ Clarion West, Suite 350, 340 15th Ave. East, Seattle, WA
station built centuries earlier by the first generation tion and clan politics, and picks his way through 98112 206-322-9083 • www.clarionwest.org
of human visitors. a series of alarmingly enigmatic dinners and teas
 Nick Gevers w Jay Lake’s first two full-length collections, Greet­ of the Odd”, featuring a small town as the setting for
K< p. 26 ings from Lake Wu and American Sorrows, were a scaled-down, locally-inflected Ragnarok; “Mama
impressively varied in subject and subgenre, swinging She Truck”, the tale of an alien child entangled in
traveler marooned beyond the known starlanes, and fluently between space opera, contemporary fantasy, the politics of the welfare state; “Pax Agricola”, a
captured in a web of illusions, some comforting, some far-future planetary romance, and mythic allegory. glimpse of ornery ordinary Texans being mellowed
desolating, extremes of mood he will soon be forced Now Dogs in the Moonlight shows yet another face by hippie vegetation; “Gratitude”, a particularly
to choose between. Gwyneth Jones writes a shrewd of this protean writer, who since his first professional funny invasion of Earth by extraterrestrial pests; and
and shocking space-station tale in “The Fulcrum”: publication only a few years ago has seemed every­ “Hitching to Aurora”, about UFOnauts hitchhiking.
a couple engineered to look alien meet someone, or where, his stories in every magazine, his creative (and The final section of Dogs, concentrating on Aliens,
something, which is truly transformed and Other, a editorial) energies inexhaustible. Dogs is a regional is especially entertaining and humorous, and none of
metaphysical shock reminiscent in its devious bril­ collection, its atmosphere and magic-realist rhythms its stories has appeared in print before; they all border
liance of M. John Harrison’s Light. “Kings” is Colin keyed to a single, notionally impoverished, stratum on pure farce, and have the flavor of the zanier fictions
Greenland’s mordant, exotic take on the true arduous­ of Texan life: that of trailer-park dwellers, outcasts, of Paul Di Filippo.
ness of any mission like that undertaken by the Three scapegrace entrepreneurs, desperate head-cases, poor However: one criticism of Jay Lake’s writing
Magi; “A Heritage of Stars” deploys Eric Brown’s boys, mental patients, sharecroppers, and drunks - a in general relates to the seeming haste of some of
customary romanticism in the service of lovers who, vivid and instantly recognizable underclass. These his stories, a throwaway quality that leaves them
alienated from one another both by death and by res­ headstrong characters, their parochial ignorance fragmentary, inconclusive. This is a danger for any
urrection, yet cannot face interstellar travel alone; and often simply a welcoming conduit or vacuum for prolific writer, and the contents of Dogs, especially
“No Cure for Love” by Roger Levy is a frightening, supernatural forces, lead a hardscrabble existence, the here-unmentioned shorter pieces, could be seen
exorbitant account of what appears to be the inter­ in which all miracles have a dubious quality, and as supporting the indictment. For that reason, and de­
rogation of a loveless genocide. “A Different Sky” is damnation is never very far away. Lake captures their spite Lake’s evident strength at intermediate lengths,
Keith Brooke’s original and alarming assessment of epiphanies and their darker reveries with affection I’d like more than ever now to see him undertake a
alien abductions; “The Meteor Party” is a typically and economy. novel - if set in the same strange yet everyday Texas,
sensitive examination by James Lovegrove of how The highlights of Dogs (some of them original it could employ his vignettes as starting sketches,
mundane social dynamics might find resonance in stories - Lake is so fecund he can afford to be unusu­ giving them wonderful life as part of an epic in the
a meteor shower. And Justina Robson’s “The Little ally generous in this area) are: “The Oxygen Man”, spirit of Sean Stewart. Dogs isn’t a bad book, but it
Bear” is an engrossing vision of a husband and wife, rather like Fritz Leiber’s classic “A Pail of Air”, would be better as an appetizer.
he lost in space in one reality, she in another, reaching only grimmer; “The Goat Cutter”, in which Satan -Nick Gevers ■
out to one another across the timelines. inhabits a ruined bus and is contagious; “Twilight

Divers Hands Several stories deal with artists of one sort or an­ the collective reputation of her audience contribute
H< p. 28 other. “Variations on a Theme” intertwines the story to the solution.
of two women: Berenice, a music student in 1916, a I’m guessing no zeppelin-themed anthology can
nine stories, seven of them originals, from Holly Phil­ brilliant pianist but held back by her teachers’ attitudes avoid Hindenburg stories. There are two here. James
lips, an editor at the fine Canadian magazine On Spec, about women; Brona is an older student in 2003, much L. Cambias’s “The Eckener Alternative” considers
who is yet to publish a novel and has only published more successful. What seems a fairly ordinary set ways to stop Hitler, or at least alter Germany’s course,
a few short stories. of parallels resolves into something unexpected and by modifying the history of zeppelins. James Van
The collection’s title story caught my eye earlier this haunting. “Pen & Ink” is the story of another artistic Pelt’s “Where and When”, one of the strongest stories
year in the first issue of H. P. Lovecraft’s Magazine student, tying together her own abilities, her missing in the anthology, sends a pair of scientists time-travel­
of Horror. This beautiful, atmospheric story is set in a father’s genius, and her mother’s love and resentment ing - somehow always to the site of disasters like the
version of England in which a bureaucrat is charged with a series of unique thefts and hints of a magic. Hindenburg fire.
with maintaining the house (palace? prison?) in which “Summer Ice” is about an art teacher, coming to terms A few stories here feature zeppelins as living beasts
a lives a magical King. In this new non-magical age the with her new life in the city, her own art, her neighbors, - an idea I find irresistible. In Paul Berger’s “Voice
bureaucrat seems to be the only one who still believes perhaps a man. of the Hurricane”, the living zeppelins ravage human
in the King. His department ready for elimination, he Adding a fine piece of urban horror (“One of the settlements throughout the American Midwest. In
visits the King one more time, only to find that a young Hungry Ones”), about a homeless woman lured to a return, humans hunt them for their hydrogen. A new
woman has made her way into the King’s palace. Who phantasmogorical series of parties by a beautiful trio recruit fears he is attracting the zeppelins - first to
can she be? Lovely stuff. The other reprint is “The New of “friends,” and an earnest story of a native woman his now destroyed farm, and now to the hunting ship
Ecology”, from the Summer 2002 On Spec - about helping with an anthropological dig, against her he has joined. But do the zeppelins have ideas of their
discarded parts recombining to make living things. people’s desires (“A Woman’s Bones”), rounds out a own? In David D. Levine’s “Love in the Balance”,
There might be a suspicion among some cynical truly impressive first book. intelligent zeppelins are ships in a war between float­
readers that original stories in a collection are likely ing “houses,” involving zombies, a hint of baroque
trunk stories. More charitably, they might be viewed as All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, David Moles politics, and ex-lovers on opposite sides.
more challenging or individual stories that the writer & Jay Lake eds. (All-Star Stories/Wheatland Press Here we also find such treats as Leslie What’s
couldn’t place with conventional markets. Or often 0-9720457-7-4, $19.95, 381pp, tp) November 2004. ghost story with balloons, “Why a Duck”; Richard
enough a single new story is included just to reward Cover by Lara Wells. Lupoff’s delightfully pulpish (or comics-derived)
buyers of the collection with a story they couldn’t get The title of this anthology (as well as the cover, by “The Jewels of Lemuria”; Lawrence M. Schoen’s
anywhere else. All this is irrelevant to this book - the Lara Wells) suggests it will be a light-hearted hom­ Runyonesque “The Sky’s the Limit”; and much more.
seven new stories, all fine to excellent work, suggest a age to the pulp tradition, and there is some of that And best of the book, I think, is a piece of meta-sci­
writer who has found her voice and has too much stuff here, but there are also some very satisfying stories ence-fiction by Benjamin Rosenbaum: “Biographical
available to wait for magazine schedules. (And indeed with serious themes - perhaps, on occasion, in spite Notes to ‘A Discourse on the Nature of Causality,
in 20041 saw at least four more stories by Phillips that of themselves. with Air-Planes’ by Benjamin Rosenbaum”. The
didn’t find their way into this book - in On Spec, Flesh The anthology is anchored by Howard Waldrop’s “Benjamin Rosenbaum” of the story is a Plausible
& Blood, Black Gate, and Alchemy.) “You Could Go Home Again”, which first appeared Fabulist (one of the more engaging alternate names
I think the best new story here may be “By the Light in 1993. This is a typically Waldropian alternate his­ for SF that I’ve seen - one to set beside Kingsley
of Tomorrow’s Sun”. A young man comes back to his tory, pairing Thomas Wolfe (who survived the illness Amis’s “Time Romance” and Paul Di Filippo’s
island birthplace, to face his reclusive foreign-bom that killed him in our history) with Fats Waller on “Cosmogonic Fiction”). In this world zeppelins
grandfather and resolve a bitter mystery. The climax an airship in the early 1940s. The more significant are the dominant mode of long distance travel. In
involves memories of his parents’ death, which drove historical change is that the technocratic movement addition, the political landscape is vastly changed
his grandfather mad with grief, the loss of a young in the US succeeded, but while the story’s subtle - for example, Rosenbaum is traveling with the Raja
neighbor girl at the same time, and the secrets of his backgrounding of historical changes is interesting, its of Outermost Thule, over an America ruled in part
grandfather’s own people. real heart is in its sympathetic look at the two artists, by Athabascans. Our hero (named, we learn, after a
But that’s just one choice of many. “The Other Wolfe and Waller. character in The Scarlet Pimpernel), though merely
Grace” is a sensitive and believable story of an am­ David Brin’s “Sky Light” is a first rate story, his a writer, finds himself pursuing a beautiful assassin,
nesiac. After losing her memory, Grace returns home, best in some time, harping to some extent on his ideas fighting off pirates, and inevitably dangling thousands
to a loving and supportive family, particularly her about privacy - or the lack of it. Tor is a journalist of feet from the ground... still thinking about setting a
older brother. But she doesn’t recognize them, and she taking an airship to Washington, D.C. to begin a new story in an alternate history in which heavier-than-air
doesn’t recognize the girl they think they know. She job. On the airship’s approach to land she becomes flight predominates. It’s great fun (complete with the
is a new person now - “the other Grace.” Her confu­ aware of a potential threat to its safety and takes excit­ occasional Tuckerization), yet not without a thought­
sion, her resentment, even, of her previous self, the ing risks to save the day. All this may seem ordinary, ful core. And indeed, that might describe this whole
befuddlement of her friends and family, her coming to but the interesting stuff is her constant electronic anthology - great fun, with a thoughtful core.
terms with her new identity - all are clearly, honestly interaction with a crowd of online experts of varying -Rich Horton ■
portrayed: not tragic, bittersweet. reliability, and how her reputation, her ratings, and
 British Books - November

Note: This information, unlike the Locus Brian Froud) Art book on types of goblins, nate-history SF novel of alien interference Almondbury, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
main list, is put together by Ian Covell; send with art by Froud and text by Berk. in 17th-century England. HD5 8PB, UK; checks to S. Sneyd.
corrections to him at 2 Copgrove Close, * Funke, Cornelia Dragon Rider (Chicken * Jones, Stephen, ed. The Mammoth Stephenson, Neal Quicksilver (Random
Berwick Hills, Pallister Park, Middles­ House, The 1-903434-90-4, £12.99, Book of New Terror (Robinson 1-84119- House UK/Arrow 0-09-941068-0, £8.99,
brough, TS3 7BP, United Kingdom. First 527pp, he, cover by Paul Howard) Young­ 949-4, £7.99, 497pp, tp, cover by John 927pp, tp) Reprint (Morrow 2003) historical
world editions marked with an asterisk. adult fantasy novel, translated by Anthea Picacio) Anthology of 26 dark fantasy novel with SF elements, the first volume of
Comments by Ian Covell. Bell from Drachenreiter (Cecilie Dressier stories, including five originals by Chris­ “The Baroque Cycle”. Winner of the Arthur
* Abnett, Dan Warhammer 40,000: 1997). Includes a fold-out map. The origi­ topher Fowler, Graham Masterton, Brian C. Clarke Award.
Eisenhorn (BL Publishing/Black Library 1- nal text is copyright 2000; a first English Mooney, David J. Schow, and Tanith Lee Stephenson, Neal The System of the
84416-156-0, £7.99,764pp, tp) Omnibus of translation by Oliver Georg 2001 is noted & John Kaiine. World (Heinemann 0-434-01177-0,
three novelizations in the “Eisenhorn” tril­ on the copyright page. £17.99,887pp, he) Reprint (Morrow 2004)
* Kaiine, John Fossil Circus (Egerton
ogy, based on the roleplaying game: Xenos Gabaldon, Diana Lord John and the historical novel with SF elements, the third
(2001), Malleus (2001), and Hereticus House 0-9546275-6-3, £12.50, 321 pp, tp,
Private Matter (Random House UK/Ar- cover by John Kaiine) Contemporary dark volume in “The Baroque Cycle”.
(2002), plus two related stories. row 0-09-946117-X, £6.99, 475pp, pb, fantasy/metaphysical thriller. A psychiatrist Straub, Peter In the Night Room (Harper­
* Barlow, Steve & Steve Skidmore Star cover by Godfried Schalcken) Reprint bequeaths some ex-patients a Victorian Collins UK 0-00-718440-9, £17.99,330pp,
Bores/Star Bores: The Prequel (Harper­ (Century 2003) associational historical asylum. This is a print-on-demand edition. he) Reprint (Random House 2004) horror
Collins UK 0-00-719208-8, £6.99, 401 pp, murder mystery, first in a trilogy, related to Egerton House, 3 Egerton Road, Bexhill on novel, a sequel to lost boy lost girl.
he) Omnibus of two Star Wars parodies in the “Outlander” series. This edition adds a Sea, East Sussex TN39 3HH, UK; <books
Ace double format: Star Bores (1999) and novella and an afterword. @ egertonhousepublishing.co.uk>. * Swallow, James Warhammer 40,000:
the new Star Bores: The Prequel. Blood Angels: Deus Encarmine (BL
* Garber, Esther Fatal Women (Egerton McCaffrey, Anne & Todd McCaffrey Publishing/Black Library 1-84416-154-4,
* Beddor, Frank The Looking Glass Wars House 0-9546275-5-5, £12.99, 396pp, tp, Dragon’s Kin (Transworld/Corgi 0-552- £5.99, 251 pp, pb, cover by Phillip Sober­
(Egmont 1-4052-0987-9, £12.99, 376pp, cover by John Kaiine) Original collection of 15150-5, £6.99, 364pp, pb, cover by Les ing) Novelization based on the SF roleplay­
he, cover by Christina Craemer) Young­ seven stories, one by Garber and Yolande Edwards) Reprint (Bantam UK 2003) SF ing game. First of a two-book series.
adult fantasy novel, the first in a trilogy Sorores, one by Sorores alone. Garber is novel in the “Pern” series.
based on the world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice a pen name for Tanith Lee; Sorores is a VanderMeer, Jeff Veniss Underground
in Wonderland. pen name for Juliette Shapiro. This is a * McCaughrean, Geraldine Not the End (Macmillan/Tor UK 0-330-41892-0, £6.99,
print-on-demand edition. Egerton House, 3 of the World (Oxford University Press 0- 304pp, pb, cover by Larry Rostant) Reprint
* Bedwell-Grime, Stephanie Fallen Angel 19-271972-6, £10.99,174pp, he, cover by (Prime Books 2003) near-future SF novel
(Telos 1-903889-69-3, £9.99, 216pp, tp) Egerton Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex
TN39 3HH, UK; <books@egertonhousep Mique Moriuchi) Young-adult fantasy novel, with elements of dark fantasy of a devas­
Humorous fantasy novel. Second in the a retelling of the story of Noah and the tated Earth where the mysterious Quin
“Porsche Winter” series. Available from ublishing.co.uk>.
flood, told by his young daughter. bio-engineers new sentient species. This
Beech House, Chapel Lane, Moulton, * Garber, Esther 34 (Egerton House 0- edition adds related short story “Balzac’s
Cheshire CW9 8PQ; <www.telos.co.uk> . 9546275-8-X, £7.99, 150pp, tp, cover by Moon, Elizabeth Moving Target (Time
Warner UK/Orbit 1-84149-169-1, £6.99, War” from 1997.
Canavan, Trudi The High Lord (Time John Kaiine) Lesbian erotic novel with
surreal/fantastic elements. Garber is a pen 438pp, pb, cover by Fred Gambino) Re­ VanderMeer, Jeff & Mark Roberts, eds.
Warner UK/Orbit 1-84149-315-5, £7.99, print (Ballantine Del Rey 2004 as Marque The Thackery T. Lambshead Pocket
ii+647pp, pb, cover by Steve Stone) name for Tanith Lee. This is a print-on-de-
mand edition. Egerton House, 3 Egerton and Reprisal) SF novel. Book Two of Guide to Eccentric & Discredited Dis­
Reprint (HarperCollins Australia 2003) “Vatta’s War”. eases (Macmillan UK 1-4050-4960-X,
fantasy novel, book three in “The Black Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex TN39
3HH, UK; <books@egertonhousepublis * Pullman, Philip The Scarecrow and £12.99, 297pp, he) Reprint (Night Shade
Magician” trilogy. Books 2003) original anthology, a fake
hing.co.uk>. his Servant (Transworld/Doubleday UK
* Clarke, Susanna Jonathan Strange & disease guide listing 59 diseases, as
* Germain, Sylvie The Song of False 0-385-40980-X, £10.99, 230pp, he, cover
Mr Norrell (Bloomsbury 0-7475-7055-8, described by authors including Michael
Lovers (Dedalus 1-903517-25-7, £8.99, by Peter Bailey) Young-adult picaresque
£17.99,782pp, he, cover by William Webb) Moorcock, Neil Gaiman, Gahan Wilson,
196pp, tp, cover by David Bird) Literary fantasy novel. and Paul Di Filippo.
Historical novel in which magic is real; a
first novel. fantasy novel, translated by Christine * Reynolds, Alastair Century Rain (Orion/
Donougher from the French Chansons Williams, Tad Shadowmarch (Time
Gollancz 0-575-07436-1, £14.99, 503pp, Warner UK/Orbit 1-84149-288-4, £17.99,
* Connolly, John Nocturnes (Hodder & des mail-aimants (Editions Gallimard he) SF novel. A trade paperback (OME)
Stoughton 0-340-83458-7, £14.99,401 pp, 2002). Introduction by Victoria Best. 656pp, he) Fantasy novel. First in a new tril­
edition (-07437-X, £10.99) was announced ogy. Simultaneous with the US (DAW) edi­
he) Collection of 15 stories, only one but not seen.
of which seems to be a reprint. A trade Harrison, M. John Things That Never tion. A hardcover edition (-289-2, £12.99)
paperback (OME) edition (-83459-5) was Happen (Orion/Gollancz 0-575-07593-7, Rice, Anne Blood Canticle (Random was announced but not seen. ■
announced but not seen. £8.99, 436pp, tp, cover by Stanley Spen­ House UK/Arrow 0-09-946017-3, £6.99,
cer) Reprint (Night Shade 2002) collec- 392pp, pb) Reprint (Knopf 2003) dark November 2004 Year to Date
* Dalton, Annie The Rules of Magic tion/omnibus of 24 stories, all but three fantasy novel. Volume 12 overall in “The SF Novels 4 SF Novels 51
(Egmont 1-4052-0058-8, £4.99,295pp, tp) previously collected in The Ice Monkey Vampire Chronicles” series, and second Fantasy Novels 10 Fantasy Novels 94
Young-adult fantasy novel. Urban legends and Travel Arrangements. This edition of the crossover books with the “Mayfair Horror Novels 2 Horror Novels 16
are real. lacks the China Mieville introduction, the Witches” series, after Blackwood Farm. Anthologies 3 Anthologies 12
* de Angelis, Davide The Seed (Creation author’s foreword, and story notes of the Collections 3 Collections 17
original edition. Sherman, David & Dan Cragg Star Wars: Reference 0 Reference 5
1 -84068-114-4, £9.95,192pp, tp, cover by Jedi Trial (Random House UK/Century
Davide de Angelis) Fantasy novel, first in Huff, Tanya Blood Lines (Time Warner History/Criticism 0 History/Criticism 1
1-8441-3799-6, £17.99, 345pp, he, cover Media Related 1 Media Related 42
a series. A first novel. UK/Orbit 1-84149-358-9, £6.99, 358pp, by Steven D. Anderson) Reprint (Del Rey
pb, cover by Sam Hadley) Reprint (DAW Young Adult 6 Young Adult 87
Dozois, Gardner, ed. The Mammoth 2004) novelization set in the Star Wars SF 1 SF 8
Book of Best New Science Fiction: 17th 1993) fantasy novel. Book 3 in the “Blood” universe.
series. Fantasy 5 Fantasy 70
Annual Collection (Robinson 1-84119- * Sneyd, Steve Elsewhen Unbound: Po­ Horror 0 Horror 8
924-9, £9.99, xlv+718pp, tp, cover by Huff, Tanya Blood Trail (Time Warner etry in American SFanzines: the 1930s Other 0 Other 1
joeroberts) Reprint (St. Martin’s 2004 as UK/Orbit 1-84149-357-0, £6.99, 344pp, to 2960s (Hilltop Press 0-905262-35-2, Omnibus 1 Omnibus 15
The Year’s Best Science Fiction Twenty- pb, cover by Sam Hadley) Reprint (DAW £2.50, 60pp, ph, cover by Alan Hunter) Art/Humour 1 Art/Humour 6
First Annual Collection) best of the year 1992) fantasy novel. Book 2 in the “Blood” Non-fiction, reference, a chapbook ency­ Miscellaneous 0 Miscellaneous 15
anthology of 29 stories, with a summation series. clopedic listing of fanzines, editors, and Total New: 31 Total New: 361
of the year by Dozois. * Jeapes, Ben The New World Order poets. This is significantly revised and Reprints & Reprints &
* Froud, Brian & Ari Berk Goblins! (Pavilion (Random House UK/David Fickling Books expanded from Star-Spangled Shadows Reissues: 6 Reissues: 240
1-86205-684-6, £14.99,90pp, he, cover by 0-385-60686-9, £12.99, 442pp, he) Alter­ (1996). Hilltop Press, 4 Nowell Place, Total: 37 Total: 601
 Locus Bestsellers

Months Last Months Last

HARDCOVERS on list month TRADE PAPERBACKS on list month
1) Going Postal, Terry Pratchett (HarperCollins) 3 2 1) Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson (Perennial) 3 1
2) Shadowmarch, Tad Williams (DAW) 1 - 2) The Bloody Crown of Conan, Robert E. Howard (Del Rey) 1
3) The Shadow of Saganami, David Weber (Baen) 2 5 3) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke
4) The System of the World, Neal Stephenson (Morrow) 3 1 (Bloomsbury UK) 2 2
5) The Runes of the Earth, Stephen R. Donaldson (Putnam) 2 4 4) Light, M. John Harrison (Bantam Spectra) 3 3
6) The Treasured One, David & Leigh Eddings (Warner Aspect) 1 - 5) Wicked, Gregory Maguire (HarperCollins) 1
7) Banewreaker, Jacqueline Carey (Tor) 1 - MEDIA-RELATED
8) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke 1) Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact, Karen Traviss
(Bloomsbury USA) 3 6 (Del Rey) 1
9) High Druid of Shannara:Tanequil, Terry Brooks (Del Rey) 3 7 2) Star Wars: Jedi Trial, David Sherman & Dan Cragg (Del Rey) 2 4
10) The Wizard, Gene Wolfe (Tor) 1 - 3) Blade: Trinity, Natasha Rhodes (Black Flame US) 1
PAPERBACKS 4) Star Wars: The New Essential Guide To Weapons and
1) Industrial Magic, Kelley Armstrong (Bantam Spectra) 1 - Technology: Revised Edition, W. Haden Blackman (Del Rey) 1
2) There Will Be Dragons, John Ringo (Baen) 1 - 5) Star Wars: Medstar II: Jedi Healer, Michael Reaves & Steve Perry
3) Omega, Jack McDevitt (Ace) 1 - (Del Rey) 2 1
4) Hybrids, Robert J. Sawyer (Tor) 1 - GAMING-RELATED
5) Orphanage, Robert Buettner (Warner Aspect) 1 - 1) Forgotten Realms: The Two Swords, R.A. Salvatore
6) The Fairy Godmother, Mercedes Lackey (Luna) 1 - (Wizards of the Coast) 2 1
7) Debt of Bones, Terry Goodkind (Tor) 1 - 2) Halo: First Strike, Eric Nylund (Del Rey) 11 3
8) The Elder Gods, David & Leigh Eddings (Warner Vision) 2 2 3) Halo: The Flood, William C. Dietz (Del Rey) 15
9) The Grantville Gazette, Eric Flint, ed. (Baen) 1 - 4) Halo: The Fall of Reach, Eric Nylund (Del Rey) 12
10) High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus, Terry Brooks (Del Rey) 3 7 5) Forgotten Realms: The Lone Drow, R.A. Salvatore
(Wizards of the Coast) 10 4
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett rose to the top of the hardcover list this
month, with Shadowmarch by Tad Williams making its debut close behind. third month in a row. New runner-up: The Algebraist, lain M. Banks (Orbit).
New runner-up: The Algebraist, lain M. Banks (Orbit). Nominees: 61, up Nominees: 53, down from 61.
from 51. Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact headed the media-related
Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong was a strong leader on the paperback category. Nominees: 27, down from 31.
list. New runner-up: Clothar the Frank, Jack Whyte (Penguin Canada). Forgotten Realms: The Two Swords had no close competition on the
Nominees: 79, down a hair from 80. gaming-related list. Nominees: 21, down from 27.
Neal Stephenson’s Quicksilver swept the trade paperback list for the

Compiled with data from Barnes & Noble (USA), Borderlands (CA), Borders Bookstores (USA), Lone Star (TX), Midtown Comics (NY), Mysterious Galaxy (CA), The Other
Change of Hobbit (CA), McNally Robinson (2 in Canada), Saint Mark’s (NY), Toadstool (2 in NH), Uncle Hugo’s (MN), University Bookstore (WA), White Dwarf (Canada).
Data period: November 2004.

General Bestsellers NY Times Bk Review Publishers Weekly Washington Post*

HARDCOVERS 11/7 14 21 28 11/1 8 15 22 29 11/7 14 21 28
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, Stephen King
(Grant/Scribner) 3 10 10 13 6 8 9 11 12 - - -
Forgotten Realms: The Two Swords, R.A. Salvatore
(Wizards of the Coast) 4 9 11 14 2 6 7 13 - - - -
The Plot Against America, Philip Roth (Houghton Mifflin) 6 6 7 9 4 3 5 7 10 5 4 6 9
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury USA) 13 14 14 16 12 14 14 - - - - -
Incubus Dreams, Laurell K. Hamilton (Berkley) 15 20 31 - 15 - - - - • - -
The Runes of the Earth, Stephen R. Donaldson (Putnam) 18 21 26 - 14 - - - - - -
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah, Stephen King
(Grant/Scribner) 23 24 28 26 - - - - - - - -
To Light a Candle, Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory (Tor) 30 - - - - - - - - - - -
Going Postal, Terry Pratchett (HarperCollins) 31 - - - • - - - - - - -
The System of the World, Neal Stephenson (Morrow) 33 - - - - - - - - - - -
The Shadow of the Saganami, David Weber (Baen) - 15 27 34 - 16 - - - - - -
Star Wars: Jedi Trial, David Sherman & Dan Cragg (Del Rey) - 27 32 - - - - - - - - -
The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore (Morrow) - 30 19 20 - - - - - - - -
In the Night Room, Peter Straub (Random House) - 31 - - - - - - - - - -
The Final Solution, Michael Chabon (Fourth Estate) - - - 30 - - - - - - - -
PAPERBACKS
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger (Harvest)* 27 27 26 20 9 7 7 5 5 - - -
lost boy lost girl, Peter Straub (Random House) 28 - - - - - - - - - - -
Odd Thomas, Dean Koontz (Bantam) - 6 7 5 - 7 6 5 6 - - -
Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker, The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy by T.A. Barron, Peter and the Starchasers by Dave Barry & Ridley
Pearson, The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Wrath of Mulgarath by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black, Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, RakketyTam by Brian Jacques, Children of the
Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce, The Golem’s Eye by
Jonathan Stroud, and Wormwood by G.P. Taylor made the hardcover YA list. Abarat by Clive Barker, Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan, The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, The Amulet
of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix appeared on the paperback list. *USts t 10 on(y
See Locus Online for weekly charts of genre books on these and eight other general bestseller lists! • trade paperback
Forrest Aguirre, Leviathan 4: Cities (Ministry combining the complete texts of Roderick and
of Whimsy Press 12/04) The critically acclaimed New & Notable Roderick at Random.
cross-genre anthology returns, this time with a King: Conversations with Neil Gaiman and
look at cities mythical and surreal, by authors His Collaborators (Fantagraphic 12/04) Neil Allen Steele, Coyote Rising (Ace 12/04) A
including Jay Lake, K.J. Bishop, and Stepan Gaiman and his work in comics and literature are colony world struggles to regain independence
Chapman. examined in depth in this collection of interviews from repressive Earth forces in this engaging
with Gaiman and his many collaborators, includ­ SF novel of pioneering, political repression, and
Iain M. Banks, The State of the Art (Night Shade ing Dave McKean, Kim Newman, Terry Pratchett, young people growing up and learning to fight for
11/04) Banks’s first collection, published in the and Gene Wolfe. what they believe in.
UK in 1991, is finally available in the US. Along
with the original eight stories, this adds “A Few Ilene Meyer, Ilene Meyer: Paintings, Drawings, Harry Turtledove, Homeward Bound (Del Rey
Notes on the Culture”. Perceptions (Underwood 12/04) The elegantly 1/05) The alternate-history saga begun in the
surreal art of Ilene Meyer is beautifully show­ Worldwar and Colonization series comes to a re­
Elizabeth Bear, Hammered (Bantam Spectra cased in this art book. sounding conclusion in this epilog novel of culture
1/05) A riveting first novel with hardboiled/noir/ clash, as a human starship reaches the homeworld
cyberpunk roots, about a female former special Alastair Reynolds, Century Rain (Gollancz of Earth’s lizard-like invaders, inadvertently
forces soldier trying to survive in hellish Hartford, 11/04) Space opera and noir mix in this SF mys­ prompting an alien plan to annihilate Earth.
Connecticut in 2062. tery of a 23rd-century archeologist who must
solve a murder committed on a copy of Earth Harry Turtledove & Martin H. Greenberg, eds.,
Ben Bova, Powersat (Tor 1/05) Dan Randolph’s still in an alternate-history version of 1959. “An The Best Time Travel Stories of the 20th Cen­
plans to develop a new energy source are threat­ exciting, thought-provoking novel, an audacious tury (Del Rey 1/05) An exceptional selection of
ened by competition, politics, and terrorists in synthesis of genre forms.” [Nick Gevers] 18 classic tales of time travel by authors includ­
this near-future thriller, a prequel to the novels ing Theodore Sturgeon, Jack Finney, Arthur C.
of the Asteroid Wars in Bova’s Grand Tour of the Justina Robson, Natural History (Bantam Spec­ Clarke, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Turtledove’s
Solar System. tra 1/05) A normal, Unevolved human is sent to introduction discusses the theme and some of the
investigate the discovery of a habitable planet that classic novels it has inspired.
Michael Chabon, ed., McSweeney’s Enchanted could be a home for the altered-human Forged in
Chamber of Astonishing Stories (Vintage this thought-provoking SF novel by one of the ac­ Peter Watts, Behemoth, Book Two: Seppuku
12/04) Chabon’s efforts to reinvigorate the short claimed writers of the New Space Opera, finally (Tor 1/05) This thrilling conclusion to the Rift-
form continue in his second McSweeney’s an­ out in the US. ers series finds Lenie Clarke forced to confront
thology, filled with genre tales by noted authors the destruction she caused when she introduced
including Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Lethem, John Scalzi, Old Man’s War (Tor 1/05) The the deadly Behemoth organism to the world - an
and Stephen King. space war against aliens is fought by retirees in organism now transformed into the even more
this Heinleinesque first novel about a 75-year-old deadly Seppuku.
Alan M. Clark, The Paint in My Blood (IFD Pub­ man who enlists, only to find the war far stranger
lishing 12/04) Clark demonstrates his mastery of than he could have expected. Robert Freeman Wexler, Circus of the Grand De­
dark art in this full-color collection of paintings sign (Prime 8/04) A man on the run ends up work­
ranging from disturbingly dark to humorously John Sladek, The Complete Roderick (Overlook ing for a strange, surreal circus in this “fascinating,
grotesque, plus a CD showing the artist at work. 10/04) This classic satiric tale of a robot strug­ deeply bizarre adventure.” [Faren Miller]
gling to be human is finally available in the US
Joseph McCabe, Hanging Out with the Dream in the form its author intended, in this omnibus

B&N/B. Dalton Walden/Borders

HARDCOVERS HARDCOVERS
1) RakketyTam, Brian Jacques (Philomel) 1) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
2) The Runes of the Earth, Stephen R. Donaldson (Putnam) 2) High Druid of Shannara: Tanequil, Terry Brooks (Del Rey)
3) Incubus Dreams, Laurell K. Hamilton (Berkley) 3) Incubus Dreams, Laurell K. Hamilton (Berkley)
4) New Spring: The Novel, Robert Jordan (Tor) 4) The Runes of the Earth, Stephen R. Donaldson (Putnam)
5) High Druid of Shannara: Tanequil, Terry Brooks (Del Rey) 5) The Treasured One, David & Leigh Eddings (Warner Aspect)
6) Shadowmarch, Tad Williams (DAW) 6) Dune: The Battle of Corrin, Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson (Tor)
7) The Treasured One, David & Leigh Eddings (Warner Aspect) 7) The Shadow of Saganami, David Weber (Baen)
8) Dune: The Battle of Corrin, Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson (Tor) 8) Shadowmarch, Tad Williams (DAW)
9) Going Postal, Terry Pratchett (HarperCollins) 9) To Light a Candle, Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory (Tor)
10) The Shadow of Saganami, David Weber (Baen) 10) Going Postal, Terry Pratchett (HarperCollins)
PAPERBACKS PAPERBACKS
1) Sunshine, Robin McKinley (Berkley) 1) A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin (Bantam Spectra)
2) A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin (Bantam Spectra) 2) Bite, Anonymous, ed. (Jove)
3) For Us, The Living, Robert A. Heinlein (Scribner) 3) Naked Empire, Terry Goodkind (Tor)
4) The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (Del Rey) 4) The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (Del Rey)
5) The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien (Del Rey) 5) High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus, Terry Brooks (Del Rey)
6) The Elder Gods, David & Leigh Eddings (Warner Aspect) 6) The Elder Gods, David & Leigh Eddings (Warner Aspect)
7) Fool’s Fate, Robin Hobb (Bantam Spectra) 7) The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien (Del Rey)
8) The Far Side of the Stars, David Drake (Baen) 8) Crossroads of Twilight, Robert Jordan (Tor)
9) Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (Del Rey) 9) Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (Del Rey)
10) Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card (Tor) 10) The Far Side of the Stars, David Drake (Baen)
TRADE PAPERBACKS TRADE PAPERBACKS
1) Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson (Perennial) 1) The Tombs of Atuan, Ursula K. Le Guin (Simon Pulse)
2) The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (Del Rey) 2) The Farthest Shore, Ursula K. Le Guin (Simon Pulse)
3) A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin (Bantam Spectra) 3) The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (Del Rey)
4) The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis (HarperTrophy) 4) The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin)
5) The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin) 5) The Languages of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Ruth S. Noel (Houghton Mifflin)
MEDIA-RELATED MEDIA-RELATED
1) Star Wars: Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, Sean Stewart (Del Rey) 1) Star Wars: Jedi Trial, David Sherman & Dan Cragg (Del Rey)
2) Underworld: Blood Enemy, Greg Cox (Pocket Star) 2) The Lord of the Rings Complete Visual Companion, Jude Fisher
3) Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact, Karen Traviss (Del Rey) (Houghton Mifflin)
4) Star Trek: Voyager: Spirit Walk, Book Two: Enemy of My Enemy, 3) Star Trek: New Frontier: After the Fall, Peter David (Pocket)
Christie Golden (Pocket) 4) Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology,
5) Star Wars: Jedi Trial, David Sherman & Dan Cragg (Del Rey) W. Haden Blackman (Del Rey)
GAMING-RELATED 5) Star Trek: Voyager: Spirit Walk, Book Two: Enemy of My Enemy,
1) Halo: The Fall of Reach, Eric Nylund (Del Rey) Christie Golden (Pocket)
2) Halo: First Strike, Eric Nylund (Del Rey) GAMING-RELATED
3) Halo: The Flood, William C. Dietz (Del Rey) 1) Forgotten Realms: The Two Swords, R.A. Salvatore (Wizards of the Coast)
4) Forgotten Realms: The Two Swords, R.A. Salvatore (Wizards of the Coast) 2) The Art of Halo, Eric S. Trautmann (Del Rey)
5) Warhammer 40K: Dead Sky, Black Sun, Graham McNeill (Black Library) 3) Halo: The Fall of Reach, Eric Nylund (Del Rey)
4) Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, R.A. Salvatore (Wizards of the Coast)
5) Forgotten Realms: The Lone Drow, R.A. Salvatore (Wizards of the Coast)
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Neil Gaiman is still the same: low-level booze, old blankets, on the other hand it’s the most efficient method
Hip. 9 unwashedness, and thrown-upness.) of contacting enormous numbers of people I
“SF has always been about people helping know. SF people exist in the online world to a
“I’m still working on Anansi Boys, partly one another: the immense generosity of trying to disproportionate share, because we all understood
because it took me a long time to figure out how I create more writers in genre, looking after them this and we flocked there and set up house. Teresa
wanted to shape it. One difficulty with it is the fact and showing them the ropes. It still holds true Nielsen Hayden’s ‘Making Light’ is the nearest
that it’s funny. Since Terry Pratchett has single­ despite all the infighting, all the things that can go thing to her old place on GEnie, where everybody
handedly colonized such an enormous territory of wrong. Here’s an example. Colin Greenland sent went for civilized discussion. The biggest question
classic English humor - laying down the streets, me Susanna Clarke’s first story; I read it and fell is, when it gets to the point where books are
the shape of jokes -1 didn’t feel I could go back to in love with it. (He’d already met her and fallen in information (and we will wind up there eventually),
the kind of style the two of us used when we wrote love with her.) I sent it to Patrick Nielsen Hayden how are we going to make money? I think that one’s
Good Omens. So I had to figure out a way to write because I thought he would love it, and he bought going to sort itself out - it has to.
a funny novel that was not a Terry Pratchett novel. I it for Starlight. What’s lovely about that is, the “We’re getting very close to the point where
decided my models were going to be Thome Smith very first person I dared show any of my fiction if I want to buy a DVD, I don’t want to have the
and P.G. Wodehouse. I chuntered along happily to in 1983 was Colin Greenland, after we met at a packaging and I don’t want to have to wait for it
doing one or two thousand words a day, and then I Brian Aldiss signing and got on like a house on fire. to arrive; I want it here right now, and I want to
looked up and realized the novel had taken on this (Those first stories of mine were terrible, whereas be able to stick on some headphones, have a good
wonderful life of its own. You thought you knew Susanna is a genius.) enough screen, and watch it on my phone while
the plot, but every now and then you invent a little “I love the idea of getting to do the cool stuff I’m on the plane or whatever. I have a phone that’s
bit of business that wasn’t in the plot. I got to the - SF, fantasy, horror, humor, comics, TV, movies, also a camera, a radio, an alarm clock; it has a little
point where I thought I was just starting Act Three, radio - and see no reason why I’m not allowed to photo gallery of my kids and stuff, I’ve downloaded
but when I stopped and typed it up I discovered I write all of these things. I get different kinds of all my address book information, I put MP3s on it;
was well over 50,000 words into a novel that I’d pleasure from all of them. At the latest Worldcon if I want to I can put video clips, and it would be a
always planned to be 70,000 words (that was the I sat down for half an hour’s coffee and chat with useful way of backing up all my text files (the grand
Wodehouse length). Also, there was an awful lot of total of all the scripts and novels and everything I’ve
plot, to the point where if I went back and used the ever done is about 80 megas).
ending I’d had in mind when I started it would sort “I think 2004 was the first year that all the
of fizzle. So I did the sensible thing and stopped I still love the book-ness of fiction up for Hugo Awards, except for the novels,
writing it for a couple of months, to let it ‘compost.’ books, the smell of books; I was available online. This can at least have the
Finishing it was an extremely odd experience, potential to give us the most educated Hugo voters
because Anansi Boys oscillates between being a am a book fetishist - books to that we’ve ever had, because they had access to
funny novel with some scary and disturbing bits, me are the coolest and sexiest that information. If I had a novel up for the Hugo,
and a disturbing novel with some funny bits, and I would be doing everything I could to persuade
the second half was, on the whole, fairly dark, and most wonderful things my editor to allow me to put it up on the Web. I
and having figured out how to write it funny once would want all potential voters to have access to
again I had to admit that I had no idea at all of what
there are.... But I get deeply it, secure in the knowledge that I would probably
I was doing, and then I had to do it anyway. But and genuinely pissed off that not be losing a single physical sale. Coiy Doctorow
eventually it finished itself in zeroth draft (with a could do it; I could probably do it. If J.K. Rowling
lot of help from me) and right now I have to type
books weigh anything, and if decided to release Harry Potter and the Half-
up all the handwritten scenes, stitch them together I want to take them with me I Blood Prince free on the Web the same day it
and find out if I have a novel or not when it’s done. comes out in hardback, that could be a fascinating
I hope I do. I think I do. have to load up a suitcase or test: do the sales go up or down? For a beginning
“People assume wrongly that it’s an American the trunk of the car with them. writer, getting read is an enormous advert - you’re
Gods spin-off. If anything, it would be fairer to trying to get people to pick up something they’ve
say that American Gods is the spin-off, in that Information weighs nothing! never encountered before.
I borrowed Mr. Nancy - the little old man who “I still love the book-ness of books, the smell
is also the Spider God - from the plot of Anansi of books; I am a book fetishist - books to me are
Boys, which has been floating around in my head Beth Meacham, and by the end of it we’d agreed the coolest and sexiest and most wonderful things
since about 1996. But American Gods has its to co-edit a book of R.A. Lafferty stories. Although there are. For an author, they’re your headstone
own sort of rules, its own tone of voice. If it has a I’ve co-edited a few fiction anthologies in the past, and your living monument: mine will allow me
humor, it’s very bleak and cynical and dark. When this will be different because the stories already to lecture and entertain people long after I’m
I did ‘Monarch of the Glen’ for Robert Silverberg’s exist and it’s a matter of assembling something cool. gone. Isaac Asimov put it best when he pointed
Legends anthology, the tone and the way things I’m really excited by the idea of doing something out that the book, especially the paperback book,
happen are much the same -1 was gratified to find I’ve never done before but will feed into everything is a perfectly designed thing. It does not need
that Shadow is every bit as frustrating a protagonist else I do. an on-and-off switch; it doesn’t need power; it’s
to write, two years on. The new book is basically “Shall I tell you my favorite of the goofy things comfortable to read - black print on white paper,
a story of Mr. Nancy (who dies right in the first I’ve been doing recently? I was approached by the driven by sunlight, is terrifically efficient; it’s a good
chapter) and his sons. Charlie discovers - much to Fox Movie Channel to be a sort of Alastair Cooke size for putting down, and when you drop it you
his horror - that his father was a god, and he has figure, to present their ‘Thirteen Nights of Fright’ can find your place almost immediately. But I get
a brother who inherited that side of the family. He films. I said, ‘I will happily do this, but if I’m to be deeply and genuinely pissed off that books weigh
winds up with his brother coming back into his a horror host I want to come out of a coffin. I want anything, and if I want to take them with me I have
life, and I believe the phrase they use in TV Guide an enormous-breasted, silent, beautiful zombie to load up a suitcase or the trunk of the car with
is ‘hilarity ensues.’ lady assistant with long dark hair. I want the set them. Information weighs nothing!
“It’s an immensely silly book, really fun to with the candles on it....’ I got what I wanted and “I’m very pleased that I have the complete
write. When James Branch Cabell started out doing spent two days in L. A., recording the openings and O.E.D., the big two-volume one that comes with a
historical fiction, he was incredibly frustrated when the closings and improvising humor along with the magnifying glass. I cannot imagine myself without
he wanted to get his facts right but couldn’t. That scripts. That was fun. It’s one of the things you can it, and I use it all the time. Now they’ve done a
was the point where he said, ‘Fuck it, I’m creating tick off on the grand list of Things You Want to one-volume version that comes with an enormous
my own land!’ - and he created Poictesme and Do. I’m also writing something like a musical or magnifying glass, I’m looking at this and thinking
became a fantasy writer. But I don’t look at fantasy an opera - a ‘pandemonium’ seems a fairly good ‘Why would I ever buy a new edition of this?’
that way, since I keep bumping into things that way of describing it - adapting The Wolves in For updated information, I’ll buy a CD-ROM or
necessitate doing research for this book. I spent the Walls for an English theater company. Doing whatever and stick it on my phone, my iPod, my
a very pleasant afternoon in England with some lyrics for that, working with the composer Nick computer - anywhere I’m likely to need it - and I
police officers, interrogating a nice gentleman from Powell, I’ve been learning a lot about the shape of will then have immediate, weightless access to The
the Fraud Squad to understand how a bunch of stuff musical theater, which again is one of those things Oxford English Dictionary. That seems sensible.
happens, and then with his colleague taking me and I’ve always wanted to do. And I did A Short Film I’ve never seen anybody walk around carrying the
locking me in the cells, showing me how English about John Bolton that will come out on DVD this giant two-volume thing with a magnifying glass
cells work. (It’s a lot more primitive than the year. It’s all fun! under their arm! Now you can carry it around and
American kind, lower tech, but peculiarly the smell “My weblog is no longer new and fun, but ►H
mi Neil Gaiman with ribbon with paper messages in them. Now the was, or even more so, given the state of the world
information is off in Information Space. out there right now.)
consult it. I think that’s great. “The idea of everything coming back down to “After 60 or 70 years of our doing SF, there is a
“Of all things to download, text is the easiest. The information is incredibly recent. People didn’t use generation of adult writers who grew up with the
only thing that will be sad will be the archaeologists to collect movies, and when I was growing up if you same cultural referents that we did. Everything
in the future: ‘We’ve got the Greeks, the Romans, wanted to watch a television show you had to be Clute and Nicholls wrote about in the 1979 edition
the Victorians, the 20th century, and now we have home. Now if I’m interested in a TV series, I’ll wait of their Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is
no record of anything that happened later.’ I’m till it comes out on DVD and order it. In the early intrinsic to it. (The fact that 1979 is 25 years ago is
sure they can excavate a fossilized hard disk, but ’80s, there was a feeling that nothing interesting also part of that.) I’m always amused at how many
getting the information off it may be another matter! had happened in science fiction since John Varley, mainstream novels now contain tropes from SF,
At home I have tons of floppy disks, but nothing and nobody was quite sure what SF was. And then fantasy, horror, either because the writers grew up
that can read floppy disks. And what would it take came Neuromancer, and suddenly we all knew. reading the same stuff we did or they have become
to wipe out the last 40 years of Western culture? It was like somebody pointing to an alleyway: so much part of the cultural landscape. Michael
One big magnetic pulse, and you’re starting again. ‘Guys, we can run down there.’ The joy of it was, Chabon fascinates me: he’s a genius, a Pulitzer-
(Which is kind of fun, since it actually justifies all something like Neuromancer gave us a language winning writer endorsed by the mainstream who
those post-apocalyptic things. All they’d have left is and a handle on the next five or ten years’ worth of loves our world, understands it and fluently ‘speaks’
Dickens.) The weirdness now is I write more letters our world, from a fictional perspective. I’m looking it, for he grew up with comics and SF. The ideas
than I ever have in my life and I go through more forward to some fiction that encompasses the way permeate fiction. Part of the fun, and the challenge,
drafts, and people see them because I’ll happily we’re relating to information and entertainment. facing SF now is seeing if anyone’s going to come
send them out for critiques, but you no longer (On the other hand, a story like William Tenn’s up with any new ones.”
have that box under the bed with the envelopes tied ‘The Liberation of Earth’ is as relevant as it ever -Neil Gaiman

Clarke Weathers Tsunamis charities like Care or Oxfam, or Sri Lankan charity from the seas. Among other things, the country
MM p. 12 Sarvodaya (<www.sarvodaya.lk>). needs to improve its technical and communications
“There is much to be done in both short and long facilities so that effective early warnings can help
He suggests people donate money to humanitarian terms for Sri Lanka to raise its head from this blow minimise losses in future disasters.”

2004 Preliminary Nebula Ballot Voluntary State”, Christopher Rowe (Sci Fiction Robert J. Sawyer (Analog 1-2/04); “In the Late
MM p. 12 5/04); “Dry Bones”, William Sanders (Asimov's December”, Greg van Eekhout (Strange Horizons
5/03); “The Gladiator’s War: A Dialogue”, Lois YinUM)-, “Aloha”, Ken Wharton (Analog 6/03).
(Asimov's 10-11/03); “Just Like the Ones We Used Tilton (Asimov’s 6/04). Scripts: The Incredibles, Brad Bird (Pixar);
to Know”, Connie Willis (Asimov's 12/03). Short Stories: “The Strange Redemption Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Charlie
Novelettes: “Paying It Forward”, Michael A. of Sister Mary Anne”, Mike Moscoe (Analog Kaufman & Michel Gondry (Anonymous Content/
Burstein (Analog 9/03); “Zora and the Zombie”, 12/04); “Travels With My Cats”, Mike Resnick Focus Features); The Lord of the Rings: The
Andy Duncan (Sci Fiction 2/4/04); “Basement (Asimov's2/04); “Embracing-the-New”, Benjamin Return of the King, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens,
Magic”, Ellen Klages (F&SF 5/03); “The Rosenbaum (Asimov's 6/04); “Shed Skin”, & Peter Jackson (New Line Cinema).

The Data File seen in publication, including several previously Vice President and Publisher William McGorry,
l« p. 13 unpublished short stories and an epic novel. The who said he looks forward to working with Sara
official Hugh B. Cave website is at <www.hugh- “as she will bring new energy and perspective to
Gaiman cited him as “the only reason I’ve always cave.com>. Publishers Weekly."
done a Waterstone’s signing when in Edinburgh, In an interview, Nelson said she feels the
rather than go to one of the other options. If I had Pay-to-Display at Amazon • Online bookseller magazine needs to be modernized and wants to use
a bookshop, I’d want him working for it.” Richard Amazon.com has started charging publishers a fee Internet resources to break news more quickly, as
Morgan wrote a letter to the Waterstone’s head of­ to include titles in their “automation and person­ well as having more analytical reporting on pub­
fice praising Gordon and taking the company to alization” system. This system is the fundamental lishing trends. While she intends to make structural
task for firing him over comments in his weblog, way in which Amazon displays information, returns changes in the reviews in PW, she doesn’t foresee
saying in part, “While I don’t wish to interfere search results, recommends similar books, etc. changing their approach or the kind of books they
in company business, I have to say I think this While participation in the program is optional, review.
bears comparison with taking disciplinary action any publisher who refuses will see their books es­
based on private conversation overheard in a pub, sentially disappear from the site. Though their titles Half-Prince Hubbub • J.K. Rowling’s announce­
and raises some disturbing issues of freedom of would still be present in Amazon’s database, they ment of the July 16 publication date of Harry Pot­
speech. Waterstones is, after all, a bookseller, would not appear as results for keyword searches, ter and the Half-Blood Prince has created quite a
whose stock in trade is the purveying of opinion, as part of special offers, or as recommendations. stir, with pre-orders of the sixth Potter book already
not all of it palatable to those concerned.” While Amazon has not disclosed specific costs, earning it the top slot of both Amazon.com’s and
Further details can be found at Gordon’s website, the fee is said to be about 3% of a publisher’s an­ BN.com’s bestseller lists. This is not a big surprise
<www.woolamaloo.org.uk>. nual sales through the site. This is bad news for after the fifth book’s record of 1.3 million pre-orders
small publishers in particular, who will see their through Amazon.com. But Potter fans are advised to
Cave Update • The home of late writer Hugh B. tiny profit margins further diminished. Amazon be wary - a website falsely offering the sixth Potter
Cave was severely damaged during the two huge book in electronic form seven months in advance of
has offered to apply the costs from this general fee
storms that hit the Florida area in December, ac­ its July 16 publication date, was recently discovered
toward “manual placements,” where publishers
cording to Milt Thomas, caretaker of the Hugh B. and shut down. The site was apparently phishing
pay for special positioning on the site to promote
Cave Estate and website. A tree fell onto the roof for credit card numbers and used the popularity and
particular titles.
during one of the hurricanes, leaving a gaping hole secrecy surrounding the popular series to attract
and resulting in large amounts of water damage. “customers.” Christopher Little, Rowling’s literary
The sole room to escape damage was Cave’s of­ Change at PW* Sara Nelson will be taking over agent, remarked that similar things had occurred in
fice, containing his books, writings, photos, and as editor-in-chief at Publishers Weekly, after the the run-up to the fifth book.
memorabilia. surprising removal of 12-year veteran editor Nora
Thomas has been working with Cave’s step­ Rawlinson, who has left to “pursue other interests.” Call for Papers • The Department of Philosophy
daughter to inventory his books and papers and Nelson most recently worked at the New York Post at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario has
transcribe his legacy onto disk. He is asking for as the publishing columnist and books editor; her issued a call for papers for an academic conference
assistance transcribing Cave’s pulp stories into resume also includes publishing columnist for the on “The Uses of the Science Fiction Genre: An
Microsoft Word - if you are interested in helping, New York Observer, senior contributing editor at Interdisciplinary Symposium”, October 20 - 22,
e-mail Thomas at <[email protected]> and he Glamour Magazine, and founding book editor at 2005, with Robert J. Sawyer as featured speaker.
will let you know which stories have already been Inside.com, among others, and she wrote the best­ Submit abstracts by April 15 to Prof. Michael
done. Thomas has also handled several permission selling memoir and reading guide “So Many Books, Berman, Philosophy Department, Brock Univer­
requests and says Cave’s work will continue to be So Little Time”. She will be reporting to Executive sity, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1;
<[email protected]>. For more information, They will also produce more traditionally-printed analyst Robert Peck recently upped his estimate
including a list of possible topics, visit <www. books for wider distribution. Editor Alan Rodgers for the fourth quarter from $1.31 billion to $1.4
brocku.ca/philosophy/ scifi_cfp.htm>. has left the company. Betancourt says, “This is not billion, no small change. Also, an increasing per­
a sudden departure, but something we have been centage of the company’s sales, 28% in the third
SFM Author and Film Series • The Science Fic­ discussing for months. It’s due to my desire to re­ quarter of 2004, are items sold by other merchants
tion Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle has an­ focus the company. Alan wants to focus on classic through Amazon.com for a commission, and while
nounced its program schedule for the next several mainstream books, and I have encouraged him to they appear to reduce revenue, the margin for
months. The SFM Future Visions Author Series set up his own company to produce them.” such sales is almost double Amazon’s 24% gross
provides forums with SF authors and scientists to margins and don’t have any labor or overhead
read from their works, talk about the future, and costs attached. And Amazon still turns over its
Financial News • Reports from the holiday season inventory 17 times per year, almost double brick-
sign books. All readings are free, but tickets are are in, and while online sales showed gains up to
required for entrance. Call (206) 770-2702 or visit and-mortar retailers.
25%, book sales gains were modest, rising between
the box office for advance tickets. 0.5% and 2.9%, according to SpendingPulse.
January 25: Syne Mitchell and Eric Nylund. Barnes & Noble reports sales of $1.04 billion for International Rights • Terry Pratchett sold Italian
February 8: Featured panel with Neal Stephenson, rights to Feet of Clay to Salani/TEA and Guards!
the nine-week holiday period, an increase of $55.7
Greg Bear, Matt Ruff, Peter Oppenheimer, and Ba­ million or 5.7% over sales in the same period in Guards! and The Big Comic to Kappa Edizioni;
bak A. Parvis. February 22: L. Timmel Duchamp 2003, with same-store sales rising 2%. For the 48 Polish rights to The (Reformed) Vampyre Diary,
and Molly Gloss. March 8: Jane Yolen. March 22: weeks ending January 1, 2005, B&N store sales Hogfather, Jingo, and The Last Continent sold to
Nicola Griffith and Kelley Eskridge. April 5: Kim rose 7% to $3.8 billion; same-store sales were up Proszynski; Finnish rights to Truckers, Guards!
Stanley Robinson. 3.3%. B. Dalton reports sales of $50.6 million for Guards!, and Soul Music went to Karisto; Nor­
The new “Sci Fi Saturdays” program for stu­ wegian rights to Lords and Ladies went to Tiden
the holiday period, down $14.7 million (22.5%)
dents begins with Marc Laidlaw teaching part Norsk; Russian rights to The Unadulterated Cat
from the same period last year; same-store sales
one of a “Video Game Story Design” workshop dropped 2.8%. For the 48-week period, B. Dalton sold to Eksmo; and Greek rights to Wyrd Sisters
on February 5, from 10 am to 1 pm, and Eric Nyl­ sales were down $40.4 million (19.6%) to $166.2 and The Amazing Maurice and His Educated
und teaching part two on March 5, from 10 am to million; same-store sales were down 2%. BN.com Rodents went to Psychogios.
1 pm. The workshop is open to grades 9-12, and showed increased sales of $105.5 million for the Russian rights to Anne McCaffrey and Margaret
costs $25 per session for SFM members, $30 for Ball’s Partnership, McCaffrey and Mercedes
holiday period, 2.7% or $2.8 million over the same
non-members. Enrollment is limited. Visit <www. period in the previous year, while showing a loss Lackey’s The Ship Who Searched, and McCaf­
sfhomeworld.org/education/> for a registration frey and S.M. Stirling’s City Who Fought all
for the 48-week period, down 1.1% to $373.9 mil­
form. sold to Eksmo via Alexander Korzhenevski with
lion. Books-A-Million’s holiday sales were strong,
The next SFM Future Visions Film Series has with total sales rising 2.4% to $114.1 million and Joshua Bilmes.
been announced: January 21, Altered States, Karl Edward Wagner’s estate sold Russian
same-store sales up 2.9%. Borders reported better-
hosted by Gary Tucker; February 4, The Brother rights for the Kane series to Azbooka via Alexan­
than-expected sales over the holidays, up 4.8% to
From Another Planet', February 18, Brazil, host­ der Khorzhenevski and French rights to Denoel
$1.2 billion, with sales at Borders stores up 4% to
ed by Charles Mudede; March 4, Until the End $763 million; same-store sales rose 1.4%. Sales via Agence Lenclud, both on behalf of Dorothy
of the World, hosted by Greg Bear; March 18,12 Lumley.
at Waldenbooks dropped 3.4% to $302.4 million
Monkeys and La Jetee, hosted by Tim Appelo; during the holiday period; same-store sales fell Czech rights to William King’s Death Angels
April 1, Dark City, hosted by Greg Bear. Tick­ sold to Polaris via John Jarrold.
1.6%.
ets are $4 for members, $6 for the general public. Brian Lumley sold Czech rights to The Lost
Borders’ agreement with Amazon.com allowing
For more information, visit <www.sfhomeworld. the online retailer to run its website has stood the Years to Polaris and Greek rights for Psychomech
org>. to Oxy via Dorothy Lumley; German rights to The
test of time, and now the companies have extended
and expanded their contract to include the British Last Aerie and Mad Moon of Dreams to Frank
Awards News • Finalists for the 2004 Romantic Borders site. With its late start in online booksell­
Festa via Thomas Schluck on behalf of Dorothy
Times Book Club Reviewer’s Choice Awards for ing, Borders suffered financially the entire time it Lumley; and French rights to Necroscope III:
science fiction and fantasy have been announced. The Source to Fleuve Noir via Agence Lenclud
ran its own website, with revenue falling and the
Best Science Fiction Novel: A Lunatic Fear, Bar­ company’s stock dropping from $41 per share in on behalf of Dorothy Lumley.
bara Chepaitis (Wildside); The Child Goddess, Will Allen sold Thai rights to humorous YA
1998 to under $13 in 2000. Since initiating their
Louise Marley (Ace); Apocalypse Array, Lyda deal with Amazon.com, Borders no longer has to fantasy Swords for Hire to Bluescale via Orathai
Morehouse (Roc); Califia’s Daughters, Leigh handle the marketing, account, shipping, and site Shotprayanakul at Tuttle-Mori.
Richards (Bantam Spectra); Angel-Seeker, Sharon Gillian Bradshaw sold Greek rights to The
maintenance, and earns royalties on every item
Shinn (Ace). Best Fantasy Novel: The Mountain’s sold through the site. Annual profits rose from
Sandreckoner and Alchemy of Fire to Minoas
Call, Caitlin Brennan (Luna); Heat Stroke, Rachel $87.4 million in 2001 to $120 million in 2003, and and Czech rights for Render Unto Caesar to
Caine (Roc); Dead Witch Walking, Kim Har­ the stock is trading now at about $24 per share. Alpress via Prava I Prevodi with Dorothy Lum­
rison (HarperTorch); The Buried Pyramid, Jane ley; Russian rights to The Wolf Hunt to AST via
Borders’ chief competitor, Barnes & Noble, runs
Lindskold (Tor); Alphabet of Thorn, Patricia A. Alexander Khorzhenevski on behalf of Dorothy
its own website at a loss, though the loss continues
McKillip (Ace). Best Epic Fantasy Novel: Elegy to shrink - BN.com lost $88.4 million in 2001, Lumley; Spanish rights to Render Unto Caeser
for a Lost Star, Elizabeth Haydon (Tor); Fool’s to Ediciones B. via the RDC Agency on behalf of
$26.8 million in 2002, and $14.3 million in 2003.
Fate, Robin Hobb (Bantam Spectra); Shield of The ninth largest online retailer, the site is seen as a Dorothy Lumley.
the Sky, Susan Krinard (Luna); The Fairy God­ Glenda Larke sold Russian rights to The Aware
long-term advantage for sales as well as marketing
mother, Mercedes Lackey (Luna); Wellspring of to AST via Alexander Khorzhenevski, and German
and advertising, and B&N executives are commit­
Chaos, L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Tor); The Firebird’s rights went to Heyne via Thomas Schluck, both on
ted to managing their own site. With total profits
Vengeance, Sarah Zettel (Tor). behalf of Dorothy Lumley.
equaling $ 151 million in 2003, the losses from the
website are considered manageable, and should
Contest News • The 2005 Student Science sales shift dramatically to online retailers, B&N Other Rights • Lois McMaster Bujold sold audio
Fiction and Fantasy Contest, sponsored by would reap the benefits while Borders, with only rights to six Miles Vorkosigan novels to Blackstone
CascadiaCon and the Baltimore Worldcon 1998 royalties from online sales, would lose out. Audiobooks.
Inc., is now open for submissions. All entries After being bid up in December to its high­ Charlaine Harris sold audio rights to Dead as a
must be postmarked by March 31, 2005. Contest est price since July, Amazon.com’s stock prices Doornail to Recorded Books via Joshua Bilmes.
rules can be found at <www.bucconeer.worldcon. dropped 5% on January 4 when the company was
org/contest/2005Contest.pdf>. Winners will be tagged with a sell rating by a Citigroup Smith Publications Received • Burroughs Bulletin,
announced at CascadiaCon, September 1-5, 2005 Barney analyst, citing stiff competition and higher #60 (Fall 2004), quarterly publication of the Bur­
in Seattle WA. technology and marketing costs. However, the roughs Bibliophiles, with articles on Edgar Rice
analysis leading to that decision may be flawed. Burroughs’s life and works, plus letters and re­
Publishing News • John Betancourt of Wildside Amazon.com shows swift growth at an estimated views. Cost: $28 per year. Information: Burroughs
Press has announced that in 2005 the company 28% this year, to about $6.8 billion. While the Bibliophiles, The Burroughs Memorial Collection,
will move away from publishing “huge numbers year-over-year fourth quarter growth at 16% was The William F. Ekstrom Library, University of
of mainstream classics” to more pulp-related lower than the 25%-plus expected for e-commerce, Louisville, Louisville KY 40292.
projects, contemporary SF, fantasy, and mystery. estimates for Amazon could be low - Bear Stearns
 Editorial

Peter Nicholls & Clare Coney, Jenny Blackford, Justin Ackroyd, Charles N.
Brown, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Alison Goodman, Sean McMullen, Russell Black­
Charles N. Brown, Peter Nicholls, and the Sydney Opera House ford.

It’s 2005 and everyone is back at work. While

Charles flew off to Australia over the holidays visiting
SF folks down under, the staff managed to sneak in a
little vacation time - Kirsten and Mandy both visited
family in Southern California; Liza got away to Las
Vegas for a few days and managed to mostly break
even; Karlyn went skiing in the Sierras and almost got
snowed in; Tim did what Tim does best, he wrote fiction
(he started a new novel!); Carolyn knit her vacation
away - but it’s back to the grindstone to wrap up 2004
for good this month, and we’ve been scrambling to get
Justine Larbalestier, Charles N. Brown, Cat
all the lists, figures, reviews, and opinions sorted out
Sparks
in a reasonable manner.
The “other” two Hugo rockets we were promised at tional Date Line, and landing in Sydney Dec.
Worldcon finally arrived in the mail. Many thanks to 26, missing Christmas entirely. Unfortunately,
Rick Katze who got the sub-committee to change their it was also the day of the tsunami, but nobody
mind and send them to us. We were all happy to see blamed me even though Sydney almost burned Back: Justine Larbalestier & Scott Westerfeld, Richard & Ai­
Jenni, who came up to visit so Charles could present down last time I was there. I flew on to Mel­ leen Harland, Louise Katz, Robert Hood, Cat Sparks. Middle:
the awards to her and Kirsten (photo on page 5) out bourne for the first four days of my trip. David Levell. Front: Donna Nelson, Kate Forsyth, Charles N.
on the deck. The horror in South Asia was pretty much Brown, Margo Lanagan, Josephine Pennicott, Clare Coney &
LOCUS POLL & SURVEY the only topic of news while I was in Australia. Peter Nicholls.
It’s time again to vote in the annual Locus Poll & The riptides reached the continent during the week and other recommended Australian composers and artists,
Survey, which is available online at <www.locusmag. there were a number of drownings. but not many. It was bargain-shopping week, and most
com> and in the pullout ballot in this issue. If possible, Jenny & Russell Blackford kindly arranged a cock­ places were sold out.
the Locus minions would greatly appreciate it if surveys tail party with authors Paul Collins, Chris Lawson, and That afternoon was a special luncheon organized by
were filled out online - it saves hours and hours of data their families. It was fun even though I managed to Cecilia Dart-Thornton (see photo) with more seafood,
entry, and the online poll has pull-down menus with knock over a glass of red wine with one of my exuberant much more wine, and great conversation. It ran on at
the recommended titles/authors, though you can still Hellos. Jenny even let me drink more red wine instead least three hours, and I was tired enough (don’t be
type in any title that does not appear in our list. There is of limiting me to white or champagne. We went to the shocked) to skip dinner.
also a new category on the poll: Best All-time Fantasy Melbourne Seafood and Oyster Bar for dinner, and I Next day, it was off to Perth for New Year’s and
Short Story, which is not on our recommended list but had oysters and Morton Bay Bugs. Usually you only get work on the Locus Recommended Reading list with
has pull-down options online. The deadline for ballots one or two bugs on a dinner, but this one had six! Not Jonathan Strahan. He met me at the airport and I went
is May 1, 2005. The Locus Awards will be presented only that, Jenny ordered the same and couldn’t finish to visit his wife Marianne and their two girls, Jessica
during Westercon 59 in Calgary; July 1-4, 2005. it, so I had eight bugs altogether, the most ever! It was and Sophie. Thanks to Teddy and them, I’ve reached
Subscribers of record who return ballots will receive the first time I’ve ever had a surfeit of bugs. The many the point where I no longer think of children as aliens.
a free issue when we count them in May, so be sure to bottles of good white wine helped too. I was supposed Someday I might even think that of teenagers. Next day,
include your name and subscription number exactly to spend the day with Kim Selling & Sean Williams, but we did a little work, but it was New Year’s Eve. My
as they appear on your subscription label (see Locus because of Kim’s upcoming job in Japan, they couldn’t date was Keira McKenzie, an old friend, who still had
Poll form for instructions). To qualify, you must at make it to Melbourne. I went to the museum instead, the first toe ring I ever gave her. We ate seafood, drank
least make an effort to vote in some categories, and and had one of those golden unplanned moments. The wine and champagne, and ushered in the New Year with
fill out the Survey as well. Photocopies are acceptable National Gallery of Victoria was having a huge exhibi­ much good conversation. Next day, it was shopping for
for ultimate collectors, or for those who share copies. tion of surrealist James Gleeson, and it was overpower­ antiquities at The Gallereum, my favorite store in Perth.
Ballots from second and third readers of a subscriber’s ing. I spent nearly five hours there and barely dented I spent much too much money, and even have to pay it
copy will be counted, but only one freebie issue will be the surface of this marvelous painter who was almost off in installments. I was staying, as usual, at the Perth
given. If you need another ballot, write or call for one. completely unknown to me. This is the second time it’s Hyatt, with their seafood buffet lunch and unlimited
The categories are mostly self-explanatory, except for happened to me in Australia. A decade ago, I walked oysters, mussels, prawns, lobster, etc. Finally, a surfeit
short fiction: a novella runs 17,500 to 40,000 words; a into an exhibition of Arthur Boyd and had the same of seafood! In Sydney, I even went out for steak, pasta,
novelette 7,500 to 17,500 words; and a short story up reaction. I bought all of Gleeson’s books and lugged and kangaroo. There were several days of working,
to 7,500 words. A book containing stories by several them home (art books are heavy!), but they can’t hold eating, drinking, a fine lunch with Grant Stone, more
different authors is an anthology; a book with multiple a candle to the huge luminous saturated-color canvases CD shopping (success - lots of Sculthorpe!), buying
stories by a single author is a collection. Gleeson produces. He’s nearly 90, but the latest paint­ Aboriginal art, and all too soon, it was time to leave
Please do not vote for any item more than once, ings lose none of their power. I spent the rest of my trip for my last four days in Sydney.
except for first novels and YA books, which can also singing his praises to anybody who couldn’t escape. I interviewed Margo Lanagan, took her and Justine
be included in the best SF or fantasy novel or anthol­ Bruce Gillespie, who was my dinner companion that Larbalestier & Scott Westerfeld to Aria, one of my fa­
ogy categories. Please disregard Locus in the magazine night, was the first. He promised me he would see it that vorite restaurants, took my Australian editor Stephanie
category. week. We had lots of seafood (with oysters) of course. Smith to the Sydney Opera (Mozart’s Cosifan tutte),
The lists on pages 42,43, and 47 are recommenda­ In Australia, I try to have seafood nearly every night. I had lunch with Cat Sparks, spent a day with Terry
tions only. You can vote for anything else you want; mentioned I was also a fan of Australian composer Peter Dowling, shopped for wine at my favorite Sydney store,
and remember the Hugo and Nebula Awards have very Sculthorpe and hoped to find some of his small-pressing had lunch with Peter Nicholls & Clare Coney, and went
different eligibility requirements. CDs. Bruce instantly organized a tour of his favorite to a party in my honor thrown by Cat Sparks and Justine
AUSTRALIA CD shops for me. We spent the next morning visiting & Scott (see photo). I made my plane, turned on my
I flew off to Australia Dec. 24, crossing the Intema- various stores in Melbourne. I found a few, and some iPod, and dozed for ten hours.
 It was a good trip. I was initially leery of even going I found all 300,000 words of it (longer that a Neal helped). That’s what life is all about.
by myself since arthritis makes it hard to get around, Stephenson book!) fascinating. I liked Ilium, but this THIS ISSUE
but I took it easy, bought a new cane, and it was fine. is much better, and, as with Stephenson’s novel, there As always, the February issue is one of the most
Brown’s rules of travel: 1) Always upgrade. I use are parts that moved me emotionally, and parts that work-intensive for the whole staff. Charles has been
mileage points to upgrade tickets to first or business were so over the top, I laughed out loud. I wonder sorting through the over 2,500 titles we listed this year,
class instead of trying to get free tickets. It’s easier, what my seatmate on the flight out thought. Even in and with the help of our nine reviewers, he managed
and the seat size and service make it worthwhile. I’ve Melbourne, I couldn’t wait to get back to my room to to cull it down to the under 150 recommended titles,
finally, thanks to conventions, accumulated enough finish it, which I did on the flight to Perth. I also read a Herculean task. Carolyn hid away in the basement
hotel points to upgrade rooms. That also helps make Steph Swainston’s No Present Like Time, sequel to crunching numbers to sort out all the information for
life easier. 2) Get an iPod and sound-cancelling head­ The Year of Our War. It’s a middle book, and not the annual book summary and wrote it up, while Karlyn
phones. They made the trip a pleasure, even when as interesting as the first, but still engrossing enough. chased down circulation figures and worked up the
I wasn’t playing music. I never realized how tense In Melbourne, our Australian agent Justin Ackroyd magazine summary with Charles and Liza. Charles has
airplane noises made me until I used them. Being able furnished me with a copy of the first edition of Margo been buried in books, poring over titles and writing up
to listen to music while reading or working also helped Lanagan’s Black Juice. It’s pretty awesome. I read his commentary for the year. Mandy scanned book cov­
immensely. 3) Never carry bags. I have to take several it on the way to Sydney and agreed with Jonathan ers and put together the fabulous recommended book
bags because of computers, cameras, sound systems that it deserved to have more than two stories on the center-spread. Tim and Kirsten in production have
(I always take portable speakers with me), Hawaiian Recommended Reading list. Margo gave me a copy been doing their magic to make all this information
shirts, etc., and even if they have wheels, I’ve found of her first collection, White Time, and I read it on fit into the 88 pages available. In other words, we’ve
it’s easier on the back and arms if you use a porter for the way back to San Francisco. It was very good, but been working our butts off. But, alas, not losing weight
$3.00 or rent a cart to push (easier than pulling). not as mind blowing as Black Juice. thanks to chocolate cake, pizza, quiche, etc.
BOOKS Science fiction readers are always talking about want­ We are sad to report the deaths of artist Frank Kelly
The holidays are a great time for reading for me. ing books with that old-fashioned “Sense of Wonder,” Freas and comics artist Will Eisner; we are running
Many of the 2005 books have arrived in manuscript the feeling of awe when you suddenly see or under­ several appreciations, as well as six other obituaries.
form (my favorite way to read) and it’s always fun stand something new. It’s such an inadequate term. In We started with two, now we have so many obits and
to see a book before anybody else. At the start of the the real world, we call them epiphanies or the feeling so much information we had to cut the Beth Meacham
vacation, I read Charles Stress’s The Hidden Family of transcendence. It’s one of the things we strive for at interview (sorry Beth, we promise to get it in soon,
and The Clan Corporate, books two and three of his all times whether we know it or not. I can remember far though).
Merchant Princes series. Book two is a finished draft enough back, when I got those feelings from religion NEXT ISSUE
and is fine adventure; book three, not to be published or mythology, then from science, mathematics, and March is a Forthcoming Books issue. Our feature
till 2006(!), probably will get another pass through engineering, finally from reading and art. I get it most interview is with Clive Barker, and the second inter­
the WP, but it’s good as is. I also went back and read now from music, painting, and books. Australia was view is with Malcolm Edwards.
Liz Williams’s The Poison Master and (in Sydney) wonderful for that feeling. I got it reading Simmons Charles will be off to conventions again starting in
Nine Layers of Sky. I preferred the exoticness of and Lanagan, seeing paintings by Gleeson and Boyd, February with Boskone, and the ICFA and Williamson
The Poison Master, but both were engrossing. I’ll go listening to Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards, and a brilliant Lectureship in March.
back to read her earlier ones. The book that made the new recording of Bernstein’s Mass (Ella Fitzgerald, -C.N. Brown (with Liza Trombi) E
trip was Dan Simmons’s Olympos, sequel to Ilium. Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis also

Dear Locus, Dear Locus,

I was very sad to hear about Scott Winnett’s pass­
ing. We had met in the early ’90s when Scott was a
Locus Letters To prevent any possible confusion on the part of
readers, it should be pointed out that the Ray Russell
staffer/reviewer at Locus and I was a monthly collating fiction they also read) is actually catering to this - at who is associated with Tartarus Press and is a co-win-
volunteer who came to meet interesting new people and the moment my thesis is that something goes wrong ner of a 2004 World Fantasy Award (Special Award,
eat Charles’s great food. Scott and I quickly became around 1980 and stays wrong until around 2000 (with Non-Professional), as reported in the December 2004
friends. We shared a love for musicals, passionate notable exceptions of course). issue, is not the same individual as my late father, Ray
debates/disagreements about science fiction, and a As part of what I’m looking at is reader response, I Russell, who was awarded the World Fantasy Life
general distrust of intellectuals. He will be missed. really need as much feedback as possible. I’ve posted Achievement Award in 1991 for his fiction writings, and
-Kuo-Yu Liang a questionnaire at <http://sfquestions.blogspot.com> who died in 1999.
Dear Locus, and I would be incredibly grateful if readers completed The fact that two unrelated people with the same
I’ve just begun a new research project on chil­ it, and persuaded others to complete it. As well as pro­ name have won a World Fantasy Award is just an­
dren’s, juvenile, and YA science fiction. I’m interested viding valuable data, answers to the questionnaire will other one of those confusing oddities in which fate
in a number of aspects including what it is SF-inclined help to set my research questions at the very begin­ delights.
children want from the genre, and whether the materi­ ning of this project. -Marc Russell
al marketed specifically at them (rather than the adult -Farah Mendlesohn

HUMPHREY [WILLIAM BOUVERIE]

CARPENTER, 58, writer and Tolkien scholar, died Other Obituaries
at home in Oxford of a pulmonary embolism on Janu­ Wagar is best known in the SF field for his books
ary 4,2005. Carpenter’s genre-related books includeon H.G. Wells, including H.G. Wells and the World
authorized biography J.R.R. Tolkien (1977); The State (1961), H.G. Wells: Journalism and Proph­
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, co-edited with Chris­ ecy, 1893 - 1946 (1964), and his last book, H.G.
topher Tolkien (1981); The Oxford Companion to Wells: Traversing Time (2004). Terminal Visions:
The Literature of Last Things (1989) is an impor­
Children’s Literature, co-written with his wife Mari
Prichard (1984); Secret Gardens: The Golden Age tant book on the history of apocalyptic literature, and
of Children’s Literature (1985); and The Inklings: A Short History of the Future (1989) is a “future
C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and history” told in a narrative non-fiction mode. In ad­
Their Friends (1997). dition to his 18 books, Wagar also published stories,
Born April 29, 1946, Carpenter attended Oxford sometimes as “Ira Walker,” in F&SF, Asimov’s, and
various anthologies during the 1980s and ’90s.
and worked variously as a broadcaster for BBC radio,
a jazz musician, and a writer. He wrote Born June 5, 1932 in Baltimore,
books on W.H. Auden, Ezra Pound, Maryland, Wagar grew up in Lancaster,
and Evelyn Waugh, among others. His Pennsylvania and attended Franklin & Sven Christer Swahn
series of children’s books featuring Marshall College, earning a master’s Swedish SF author, editor, and translator SVEN
character “MrMajeika” was adapted degree at Indiana University and a doc­ CHRISTER SWAHN, 71, died January 15,2005 after
into a popular television series, and torate from Yale, where he graduated three months in a coma.
he founded the Mushy Pea children’s in 1959. He taught history at Wellesley Bom August 3,1933, Swahn earned a doctorate in
theatre company in Oxford. In his College and the University of New literature and taught for many years at Copenhagen
early fifties he developed Parkinson’s Mexico before becoming a professor at University. A prolific poet, story writer, novelist,
disease, which gradually disabled Binghamton University in New York in essayist, and playwright, Swahn’s first SF was YA
him. He is survived by his wife and 1971, where he remained until retire­ time-travel fantasy The Red Indian Journey (1956),
two daughters. ment in 2002; his SF-related courses and his first collection 13 Stories of Ghosts and
there included “The History of the Fu­ Other Things (1958) included several fantasies. His
W[ALTER] WARREN WAGAR, ture” and “World War Three”. Wagar most important SF stories are collected in My Dearly
72, SF writer and scholar, died of is survived by his wife Dorothy (mar­ Departed (1977) and Take: Future (1979), and his
heart failure November 16, 2004 at ried 1953), four children, and thirteen last novel was A Monster’s Memoirs: A Ghost Story
home in Vestal, New York. W. Warren Wagar grandchildren. ►M
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 Other Obituaries hear the reading of her write-ins, “One vote for Karl
Marx for Governor” and “The late Dale Earnhardt
of the 20th Century (2002). He translated nearly for School Board Commissioner.”
300 books, including works by Edgar Allan Poe and She was achingly polite to her friends too, like
the complete sonnets of Shakespeare, and worked to any proper Southerner. We were comrades-in-arms
introduce foreign SF to a Swedish audience through in our attempt to keep HWA members from signing
critical essays and by editing the “Science fiction and with scam publishers, freebie markets, and other
fantastic” line for Bemce publishers, which included predators; we were the eggheads who defended the
translations of Brian Aldiss, Philip K. Dick, Philip Jose lowbrow (stock cars for her, pro wrestling for me);
Farmer, Stanislaw Lem, the Strugatsky brothers, and and where we disagreed - Palestine, theism - we
Roger Zelazny. In all Swahn published 29 novels, six never had to say a word to one another. When she
story collections, 12 poetry collections, half a dozen let slip her exact age, I promptly forgot it, as she
books on history and mythology, and numerous stage, would have wanted.
radio, and screenplays, many of them SF. Before the cancer hit, when her disease was just
some vague aches and pains, she asked if I would
CHARLOTTE [MATILDA] MACLEOD, 82, come down to North Carolina for a few days, to meet
mystery writer who dabbled in fantasy, died January her (fifth? sixth?) husband and to take in an indie
14, 2005 at a nursing home in Lewiston, Maine. D.G.K. Goldberg (2002) wrestling card or two. The two-bit grandeur of fat
MacLeod wrote over 30 novels, most cozy myster­ with every ounce of strength in her body, and every men in sequined capes strutting down the aisle of
ies, a few with significant fantasy elements, notably strand of her considerable wit and humor. a bingo hall to fight evil made us both weepy, but
comic fantasy The Curse of the Giant Hogweed Knowing that we would lose her sooner rather money and time conspired against me and I couldn’t
(1985); The Grub-and-Stakers House a Haunt than later (the diagnosis was late, and grim) has make it. She was to be a guest at this past October’s
(1994), which features a real ghost; and The Wrong not cushioned the blow any. I’m trying to remem­ Spookycon here in the Bay Area, and I looked
Rite (1992), which has both specters and sorcery. ber her as she was - sprawled on the floor or on forward to seeing her again, but then she got ill and
Born November 12, 1922 in Bath, New Bruns­ a bed in some convention hotel room party, eyes had to cancel. I kept up with her physical deteriora­
wick, Canada, MacLeod spent most of her life in wicked with some inner glee, laughing her ass off tion via a secret, typo-ridden blog (cancer took her
the Boston area, where she attended the Art Institute at something she had just said or ranting about the gross motor skills, but never her wit or verve) ’til
of Boston. She worked at an advertising agency way stupid people kept trying to run roughshod the unsurprising but still unexpected end. Kelly
for 30 years, eventually rising to vice-president, over the world.... wrote once: “Both Southerners and Jews know
then moved to Maine in 1985, where she spent Kei made no apologies, and took no prisoners. She how to weep, how to mourn, and, most of all, how
the rest of her life. MacLeod won various awards, was a maverick - she knew the “right” way to do nothing lasts forever. Yankees drip naivete: they
including five American Mystery Awards, and was things, and almost always took the interesting-look­ seem to believe that things once fixed are fixed, that
co-founder and president of the American Crime ing path, instead. If she’d been more conservative, that which Abe Lincoln joined together we cannot
Writers League. She also wrote as “Alisa Craig” she would have had a more lucrative career, perhaps, rip asunder.”
and “Matilda Hughes”. She is survived by her both as therapist and as writer. But she was true to I guess the joke’s on me. -Nick Mamatas
brother and sister. herself, and her intense curiosity, down to the end.
And for that, and for so many other reasons, SF critic and poet K[ENNETH] V[YE] BAI­
Fantasy and horror writer D[IANE] G[AIL] she’s one of my heroes. And why I will miss her LEY, 90, died January 3, 2005 after falling and
K[ELLY] GOLDBERG died January 14, 2005 of so damn much. -Laura Anne Gilman breaking a hip in December 2004. A longtime
cancer in Charlotte, North Carolina. resident of Alderney, in the British Channel Islands,
Goldberg published two novels, Stoker Award D.G.K. GOLDBERG Bailey’s articles and reviews appeared in Founda­
finalist Skating on the Edge (2001) and Doomed to by Nick Mamatas tion, The Third Alternative, and Vector, among
Repeat It (2001), as well as about 50 stories and over Have you heard the one about the Jew, the South­ other magazines, and his poems appeared in various
500 magazine articles on various subjects, including ern Belle, the horror writer, the NASCAR fan, and small-press publications including Star*Line. He
travel, business, and mental health. She attended the therapist who walk into a bar? Well, I was lucky was active in the amateur press association Acnestis,
Coker College and earned a masters degree in social enough to have lived it when I met Kelly Goldberg, and his poetry books include The Sky Giants (1989)
work from the University of Tennessee, and spent D.G.K. Goldberg to her readers, at the 2002 HWA and The Vortices of Time: Poems of Speculation
nearly 20 years as a practicing psychotherapist; she Stoker Awards. Too bad most people never got the and Fantasy (1998).
also worked as a bartender and journalist. joke. Kelly’s genius was almost too casual, and
Goldberg was diagnosed with advanced cancer thanks to an accent thick enough to spread on a ANTHONY STERLING RODGERS, the six-
of the brain and lungs in 2004. She is survived by biscuit and fiction that went beyond nipple-slicing month-old son of Amy Sterling Casil & Alan Rodg­
her husband and son. werewolves, she was too often underestimated by the ers, died January 11,2005; the autopsy indicates he
world. She took it in stride, creating a new form of choked on his own vomit. Alan Rodgers was briefly
KELLY GOLDBERG etiquette judo she called “Fucking With People For under psychiatric care, but has since been released.
by Laura Anne Gilman No Reason,” or FWPFNR for... uh... short. Amy Sterling Casil requests that gifts be made
I first met Kelly through mutual friends, back My fave FWPFNR: Kelly lived in a small voting for other Down Syndrome children, to The Down
when dinosaurs roamed the earth and you could district where the local radio would read out all vote Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. Donations
still smoke cigarettes in the US without being ar­ tallies, including votes for fringe candidates, on may be sent to DSALA, 315 Arden Avenue, Suite 25,
rested. The fact that she died of cancer is not, sadly, election day. Without fail she’d trudge down to the Glendale CA 91203; <www.dsala.org>. ■
a surprise - nor is the fact that she fought that cancer voting booth for every election, then stay up late to

Frank Kelly Freas ’50s. When Polly died in 1987, he sold their Virginia the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).
p. 4 home and moved to California. In 1988 he married His awards include ten Hugo Awards for best Pro­
Laura Brodian, and they lived in Los Angeles, where fessional Artist (for which he has been nominated 20
as an art director for an ad agency in Columbus, they ran the Kelly Freas Studios. times); a Retro Hugo in the same category; five Locus
Ohio before spending four and a half years during Freas was a successful artist beyond the SF field, Awards; the Frank R. Paul Award; the Inkpot Award;
World War II in the Pacific with the US Army Air too, perhaps most famously during his tenure at the Skylark Award; the Lensman Award; the Phoenix
Force, where he served as an aerial reconnaissance MAD magazine (1955-1962), where he did covers, ad Award; the Los Angeles Science Fiction and Fantasy
photographer - and painted beautiful women on the parodies (sometimes parodying ads he’d worked on Society Service Award; the Neographics Award; the
noses of fighter planes. After returning from the war himself originally), and other artwork. His illustra­ Daedalus Life Achievement Award; the Art Teacher
he studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Penn­ tions of MAD mascot Alfred E. Neuman were the Emeritus Award; Best Professional, Media, Interna­
sylvania, and ran his own ad agency. He sent one of most popular ever. He did work for NASA, including tional Fantasy Expo; the Chesley Award (both alone
his student assignments to Weird Tales, and it became the design of the shoulder patch for the astronauts and with Laura Freas); the L. Ron Hubbard Lifetime
his first nationally published painting in November on Skylab 1; produced six posters for the National Achievement Award; and many Science Fiction Art
1950. He stayed in Pittsburgh, still doing advertising Aeronautics and Space Administration as part of their Show Awards. He was inducted into the National
along with SF artwork, until moving to New York in educational outreach program, which are now on dis­ Association of Trade and Technical Schools’ Hall
1952 to become a full-time illustrator. A lifelong SF play in the Smithsonian; was commissioned to paint of Fame, was named a Fellow the International As­
fan, Freas married fellow fan Polly Bussard in 1952, 500 portraits for the Franciscans’ Book of Saints; his sociation of Astronomical Artists, and in 2003 was
and the two often attended conventions, where Freas first illustration for Astounding, “The Gulf Between” awarded a doctorate by the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
would do sketches of attendees. He and Polly had two (October 1953), was adapted as the cover for Queen’s He is survived by his wife Laura, daughter Jacquelyn,
children early in their marriage, and the family spent album News of the World (1977); and his painting son Jerry, and six grandsons.
four years living in Guadalajara, Mexico during the of a werewolf appeared in the film Harry Potter and ►H
 M< Frank Kelly Freas not only on SF covers, but also on some of the MAD connected to Donning Company Publishers near
paperback books. One in particular, Son of Mad, their home in Virginia Beach, and they personally
FRANK KELLY FREAS had a pastiche on the King Kong theme. edited and saw to the publication of a new series
by Michael Whelan In the ’70s, Kelly Freas’s work was probably the of illustrated SF books - Starblaze. Included were
Success in any artistic endeavor is a combina­ most visible to anyone coming into contact with SF. some new books and some classic reprints, as well
tion of talent, drive, and good luck. I’ve had my I started following the trail of these Freas paintings as some art books, notably Kelly’s first book The
share of good fortune. I had the good fortune to all the way back to their beginnings in the ’50s. Art of Kelly Freas and Wonderworks, a book of
study with excellent art instructors in college and Kelly more or less burst on the scene with his first art from then-newcomer Michael Whelan. Kelly
to choose a career in fantasy and science fiction cover for Weird Tales and did, in his words, “some­ was named “The Dean of Science Fiction Illustra­
illustration at a time when the genre was begin­ thing like 14 covers in one month.” Kelly’s ultimate tion”, and rightly so.
ning to move into the mainstream; but I was most target was the beloved Astounding Stories, but John As the ’80s rolled around, SF began to undergo
fortunate to have come along at a time when W. Campbell rejected his first attempt at contact. a change, as did publishing. It wasn’t that “cultie”
I could be inspired and influenced by a giant When Kelly’s first cover work and interiors finally offshoot of pulp fiction that came out of the 1940s
named Kelly Freas. appeared on the SF scene, the result was an eventual any more, and tastes had begun to change in both
Kelly was from the “old school,” when one friendship with Campbell, and the rest, as they say, writing and art. As this was happening, Kelly’s wife
didn’t venture to take on illustrating without a firm is history. Some of the most enduring Freas works Polly became ill with lymphoma. As he had tire­
foundation of drawing and painting skills. He be­ came during this time, like his amazing “Martians lessly dedicated his time and effort to his art in the
lieved passionately in illustration as an honorable Go Home” cover, and stunning pieces for Heinlein’s past, he then dedicated the same energy to curing
calling, in the highest values of the art. Central “Double Star” serialization. This was when these her. Not an easy task, nor was this an easy time in
to that calling is a dedication to the writer and were new stories. Kelly went on to dominate the his life. In spite of all efforts, Polly sadly passed
reader, a sense of mission for the illustrator to be field in the ’50s and won five Hugo Awards during away due to complications from the lymphoma
as true to the tale as possible. He was thoughtful, that time. As the 1960s dawned, he stayed busy, but treatments, in the mid-’80s.
articulate, witty, and wise - and generous to a fault didn’t get any more Hugos despite doing brilliant I got to know Kelly a lot at my second Worldcon,
- but professionally his work reflected an overrid­ covers for Astounding and F&SF. The strikingly Chicon IV, in 1982. I immediately liked him, his
ing respect for the writers and readers, the themes unusual piece Kelly did for Hal Clement’s “The humor, and his general approach to life. Kelly was
and ideals of SF. No wonder he was the perennial Mechanic” is one that often comes to mind. never, ever pompous, unapproachable, or aloof. He
favorite of the fans and authors alike. In the ’70s there was no stopping him. The had time for everyone. He’d sit and talk to young
Any new illustrator, as I was when I first met accepted “look” of SF covers was Kelly’s - con­ artists about their work and, rather than be nasty
Kelly Freas at the WorldCon in ’76, could only versely, the “look” of fantasy covers was Frazetta’s. or off-putting, would see the good things in their
hold him in awe. Having rock-solid drawing skills Kelly’s work for Analog continued after Campbell’s work and advise them on how to strengthen the
meant he could tackle any medium or subject and death, and I can remember at least one year when weak areas. This, and his blistering sense of humor,
do wonders with it, but he was no “play it safe the magazine seemed to have something like seven was what I loved about Kelly. He was the master of
hack in the studio.” Kelly was an innovator and out of 12 covers by Kelly. Jaw-dropping pieces the throwaway line, be it verbal or ink. His ability
explorer, ever unafraid to invent new techniques like the cover to “A Bridle for Pegasus” by Anne to connect with fans and not be afraid to admit he
and incorporate them into his work even under tight McCaffery or “The Pritcher Mass” by Gordon R. was himself a fan was truly admirable. And this is
deadlines. He was equally adept at all the mani­ Dickson. I could go on and on, but many of you what made him so loved by people.
festations of the SF field, be it humor, technology, know the covers, and have your own favorites Kelly was the logical choice to head up the start
metaphysics, abstract scientific concepts, beauty, - most of the old Analogs I have stashed away from of L. Ron Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future Con­
the surreal, etc. Of all the artists who inspired me that time, I’ve saved for the covers alone. A copy test, in 1988, as a companion of sorts to the Writers’
through my formative years, it was Kelly who most of Analog with a Freas cover told you what SF was contest. Kelly worked hard to create a series of
fit my concept of the ideal illustrator. really all about: it held the promise of something guidelines to help the young and rising artists the
In a way he taught me most of what I know about new and fantastic. A sense of wonder. most. This was also the time I got to know Laura
F&SF illustration. As the years went by, the “Frank,” Kelly’s real Brodian, who became Kelly’s second wife in the
When I began my career, many publishers first name, became less used by friends and fans, late ’80s. I well remember being in Los Angeles
were repackaging their SF backlist, and in those and we all just called him “Kelly.” You didn’t even on a visit in 1988, and her making some very nice
early years I was often assigned a book cover for have to say his last name, you just said, “Oh, I saw omelets (with salsa!) one fine morning. A great
a reissued book. Instead of a new manuscript I Kelly and he’s doing fine” and everyone knew who day - wonderful company, great food, and terrific
would be handed an earlier edition of the book you meant. For Kelly, it was never about the money. conversation. Kelly and Laura worked ceaselessly
.. .and no few of them featured art by Kelly Freas. He did what he loved best: painting. He often joked, as a team - with some terrific soul-mate chemistry.
It was a daunting challenge to try to come up with “If you want to make money, go be a lawyer or Meanwhile, Laura did much to get his work back
a cover illustration for a book Kelly had already something,” and said that if an artist saw his work into the limelight; because of several factors (cover
done a superb painting for! Many of my early ef­ as any less important than other livelihoods, he did styles and trends which went away from the im­
forts fell way short of the mark, but I gradually not belong in the field. pressionistic ’60s and into the over-rendered ’80s)
learned with Kelly’s work to show me the way. “Prolific” was too small a word for Kelly. Kelly it seemed like he’d stepped briefly away from his
Each time I would analyze the existing painting and his first wife, Polly, approached the whole thing work, only to return a moment later and find the
and attempt to discern the qualities which made it as a team. He’d do anything to get a story illustra­ industry all changed. Nevertheless, he won a Ches­
so good. It was kind of like studying a crossword tion right, spending sometimes far more than he ley Award in 1991 for a stunning cover to Marion
puzzle with the answers in hand, seeing how the was paid on research. This all paid off though, in Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine for the Jason
creator formed his pattern. Over time you start other ways. Kelly won five Hugo awards for his Van Hollander story, “Scribe”. It was classic Freas
to develop a sense of how the thing was done. work from 1970 to 1976, with one exception in at his best. In 1993, he did a poster painting for For­
So in a very real sense much of my work was 1971. During this time, he did countless covers for rest J Ackerman’s Famous Monsters Convention,
painted in the “Kelly Freas School of illustra­ DAW, Ace, Fawcett Crest, as well as posters for inspired by the “Scribe” cover, only featuring FJA
tion.” Better still, I was being paid for it! Like NASA, Star Trek, and a Skylab Patch which he and a host of movie monsters. (And he included
I said, I was very fortunate.. .fortunate to know turned into a stunning painting. One commission Godzilla amongst them, love ya Kelly!)
such a dedicated talent, and fortunate to have him that was completely unexpected was for the rock Kelly endlessly, proudly promoted the idea and
as a “teacher” and friend. -Michael Whelan group Queen’s News of the World album, produced the acceptance of illustration as an art, and a career
at the height of their popularity in the US. Appar­ unto itself. When I was in school, I was told illustra­
KELLY FREAS: ently Freddie Mercury and his band mates were tion was something you did to pay the bills while
FAREWELL TO THE MASTER fans of SF and thus Kelly. This was back in the days seeking out “Fine Art” gallery acceptance. What
by Bob Eggleton of the vinyl record album that often unfolded, and may surprise some is to know that Kelly painted
Being asked to write an appreciation about album art was truly art. Kelly did a variation on his his own “fine art”: landscapes, abstracts, etc., and
Kelly Freas is not easy for me. In a sense he was classic “The Gulf Between” cover for Astounding. showed them to very few people. He kept them “in
my “Science Fictional Dad.” And, without having This time it became a full fold-out length painting the closet,” thinking they were experiments that no
told him this, he told me I was like an adopted son (you could see the robot’s legs) with this forlorn- one really wanted to see, and that his first duty was
in the same context. That was only in the last ten looking robot holding the broken bodies of the as an illustrator. He didn’t have a high opinion of
years or so, but my admiration for him goes back four members of Queen. This was the mainstream those who dismissed illustration. He had a process
much further. for Freas, indeed. I remember the artwork blowing by which he approached his work, that he followed
I first saw Kelly’s amazing work in the early ’70s, me flat. In the later ’70s Kelly and Polly became most of his working life. He would make as many
as a dozen sketches for a single painting, exploring artist - on his own, he also nurtured the talents of a
all aspects of a story - character, treatment, color, legendary list of young employees, including Lou
the environment. He would always joke about Herb Fine, Reed Crandall, Bob Powell, Jules Fieffer,
Stoltz, the Analog Art Director who supposedly and Joe Kubert among many others. Titles such
chose one of Freas’s five or six sketches by throwing as Jumbo Comics, Hit Comics, Planet Comics,
the office coffee pot in the air, and whichever sketch and Jungle Comics all bore the unmistakable
got the most coffee on it was the one they picked, or stamp of the Eisner Studio. Science fiction, hor­
they’d always pick Kelly’s least favorite sketch. ror, adventure, war stories, they did it all - and,
When I last saw Kelly in 2002, at ConJose, the amazingly, did it well!
famous “Kelly Sparkle” had begun to fade. And However, the series Will became best known for
it was with some despair that I could see my good was The Spirit. Created in 1940 as a comic book
friend was finally giving in to the passing of years. I insert for newspapers and featuring the adventures
told him then what I needed to say. Which remains of a masked (but not super-powered) crime fighter,
something between the two of us. The Spirit was a first: a comic for adults. Exhibiting
Frank Kelly Freas was and still is one of the a sly sense of humor interspersed with grown-up
greatest influences, not just on SF art but, I believe,His people didn’t pose, they exhibited emotions. tales of loneliness, fear, lust (in its various guises),
SF itself. His imagery has enriched the history and And though he toiled in a field sometimes renowned and greed, the series utilized astonishingly innova­
foundations of SF by influencing many writers, for garish and exploitative images, Kelly could tive title designs and cinematic storytelling tech­
scientists, astronauts as well as artists. He was always be counted on not only for his imagination, niques (combined with solid, memorable scripts)
there when it all started. In this often-dismissive but also for his good taste. He always felt that part at a time when other artists were locked into static
world where some youngsters don’t care for any­ of his job as an illustrator was to help tell the story compositions and repetitive content. Eisner’s The
thing older than themselves, Kelly Freas showed - whether that story was by Isaac Asimov or Robert Spirit was - and is - a prime example of what
us the lasting eternal results of doing Heinlein or Poul Anderson didn’t mat­ comics are capable of and they are as invigorating
something you love, and how that ter, he was their uncredited collaborator today as they were a half century ago.
love endures beyond money. In the and he helped introduce readers to their But it didn’t end there.
process, he pointed the way to our stories. Communication was his goal, The current popularity and acceptance of
own separate stars in a vast universe engaging people was his pleasure. graphic novels can be traced directly to Will
of wonder. I love you, Kelly, fly Admittedly, I didn’t always agree Eisner’s progressive thinking. There are arguments
safe and fly free. -Bob Eggleton with everything Kelly had to say - and regarding who should receive credit for the “in­
was never shy about saying so - par­ vention” of the “graphic novel”: some say Eisner,
TITANS ticularly in his later years as he reacted others just as vocally point to Rockwell Kent or
by Arnie Fenner negatively to younger artists and to Burne Hogarth or Jim Steranko or various Asian or
The death of Kelly Freas on Jan 2 trends in the market. But for all of his European artists. But if he didn’t necessarily create
and of Will Eisner on the 3rd was a many past accomplishments, for such the very first GN with the publication of his semi-
sad and sobering way to begin 2005. glorious paintings as “Martians Go autobiographical A Contract with God in 1978,
For SF fans, Kelly was “the Dean Home” and “Who?” and “Green Hills he certainly made the form legitimate.
of Science Fiction illustrators,” a Frank Kelly Freas (1970s) of Earth”, he always had - and will He coined the term “sequential art”; he lent his
multiple Hugo winner, a fixture at have - my respect and affection. name to the comic field’s most prestigious award.
conventions, the artist of choice for many a Golden Kelly Freas was one of science fiction’s last links He was a teacher, a mentor, an explorer, and, to
Age author. For comics fans Will was... to its pulp-era roots; a little bit of many, a father figure. As Sin City
Well, to put it simply, Will Eisner was comics. history has passed with him. creator Frank Miller said while
People used to like to describe Freas as “elfin;” If Freas was a major participant paging through one of Eisner’s
his slight frame and stature, ready grin, and pom­ in SF’s heyday, it’s safe to describe recent books, “Isn’t it a shame
padour hairstyle contributed to an illusion of in­ Will Eisner as one of the comic that a guy in his eighties is kicking
nocence and whimsy. And though Kelly certainly industry’s founders. our butts?”
had a sense of humor, he was hardly an innocent. As detailed recently in Ger­ He was a true gentleman of
If anything simultaneously proves both points, just ald Jones’s Men of Tomorrow: whom nothing bad could be said.
check out any of his subversive pieces he painted Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth Will Eisner was an international
for the early issues of MAD magazine, particularly of the Comic Book, the fledgling celebrity who never let that suc­
his parodies of various products and their advertis­ comics publishers of the 1930s cess go to his head; a man who
ing campaigns consisted mostly of money-men always took delight in the works
Kelly was opinionated and driven, a chain-smok­ and sales reps - no real editors, Frank Kelly Freas (1972) of others and an artist who never
ing ball of energy, just as sure of his talent and his no “staff” to speak of - and as lost his sense of wonder.
place in the arts community as he was of any pro­ such they were desperate for content. For stories. And, wow!, could he draw!
nouncements he made. His enthusiasm for NASA For artists. For virtually everything necessary to His last book, The Plot, a non-fiction history of
prompted him to create a series of posters promot­ create a comic. the fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion,
ing space exploration and have them distributed Will Eisner was one of those teenage entre­ will be released later this year by W. W. Norton.
throughout the Virginia school system - they were preneurs who, like Superman’s creators Jerry Kelly Freas and Will Eisner are no longer with
ultimately used by NASA as part of their educa­ Siegel and Joe Schuster, plunged headlong into us. How lucky we are to have known them; how
tional materials. And if Kelly was a fan of the space the maelstrom and essentially helped to create an fortunate to have benefitted from their visions and
program, the astronauts and ground support thought American art form. First with a partner, Jerry Iger, unique imaginations. A pair of Titans have passed:
just as highly of him: they commisioned Freas to then with a studio under his sole ownership, Eisner let’s celebrate the legacies they’ve left for us to
design the logo for the Skylab mission. rolled up his sleeves and did his part to satisfy the enjoy and learn from and remember them by.
Freas as a dramatist was almost always a success; voracious appetite of the growing market. Creating I know I will. -Arnie Fenner
the narrative drive of his best works is compelling. a tremendous amount of work - both as writer and ►H
l« Frank Kelly Freas middle of the ’50s when it felt as if all the magic had the best smile in science fiction. After Polly
was happening at once. One day, the cover of MAD died, I worried that smile would fade, but no.
KELLY FREAS magazine had a near photographic painting of After Kelly moved out to the west coast, and
by Mike Resnick Alfred E. Neuman’s face carved into Rushmore. It married Laura, I got to spend more time with
Kelly Freas was one of the first pros I met when was a startling image. Over the next few months, both of them, not just at conventions, but also as
I entered the field 40+ years ago. I was in awe of and years, that same artist portrayed Alfred E. a guest in their home. Kelly was almost as good
him, but he went out of his way to put me at my Neuman in a variety of increasingly bizarre situa­ a raconteur as he was a painter - no small feat.
ease. We quickly became friends, and remained tions. Every cover was a flawless masterpiece. (My What I remember the most is how much time we
friends for the next four decades, during which favorite was Neuman as a scarecrow, surrounded by spent laughing, how many good memories he
time he illustrated some of my books and some of unafraid animals - every known species, including had to share.
my stories, and took it upon himself a dinosaur and a unicorn.) And every The Freas house is filled with wonderful artwork
to bring me to the attention of more one of those covers was signed by a everywhere. One shelf is filled with nothing but
than one editor who might otherwise guy named Freas. Hugos. (I lost count after 11 - or was it 14?) I’m
not have known I existed. I knew that name. I’d seen it on the sure Kelly didn’t mean to be a Hugo-hog, but if
At the 1982 Worldcon in Chicago, cover of Astounding science fiction you ever needed to measure the impact Frank
we had lucked into a room on the fifth magazine, month after month after Kelly Freas had on the field, this was the tangible
floor of the immense Hyatt, which month, and inside the magazine as evidence. I’m sure Kelly appreciated the acknowl­
meant we weren’t at the mercy of the well - the interior illustrations. Indeed, edgments, but his attention was always on the
elevators. The con committee tried to there were stories I read (and authors I work. He just wanted to paint the best pictures he
get us out, since they felt only commit­ discovered) simply because the Freas could - and in that, he succeeded, time after time.
tee members and the Guests of Honor illo captured my imagination. No He was science fiction’s own Norman Rockwell,
should be there, but we knew the law disrespect to Virgil Finlay or Chesley only better. Rockwell could make you smile, but
and knew they couldn’t force us out Bonestell or Ed Emshwiller, but to my Freas could make you laugh out loud.
as long as we had a reservation and mind, Frank Kelly Freas defined the When I picture Kelly in my mind, he is always
our credit card was good. We showed look and feel of science fiction for at smiling. Indeed, at his memorial service, one of
up a few days early, and on Friday morning Kelly least a generation. the speakers compared Kelly to Lewis Carroll’s
arrived. The committee pounded on our door and A Freas painting was immediately identifiable. Cheshire cat. He was right. Kelly might be gone,
demanded - for the fourth day in a row - that we It wasn’t just that Kelly’s work was always well- but the smile lingers one. -David Gerrold ■
leave the room. We wouldn’t do it for the commit­ composed, dramatic, colorful, and evocative - it
tee, but we were happy to turn the room over to was that there was always a smile in the picture,
Kelly. I told him he could hunt us up on one of the somewhere, somehow. His work had an impish
party floors once we got a new room. His eyes lit up quality, a sense of playfulness and joy. His work
and he told the committee that, Guest of Honor or was both generous and satirical - i.e., you got to
not, he’d much rather be on the party floor. Which be in on the joke too.
is precisely the kind of guy Kelly was: at least as I attended my first Worldcon in 1968. (Geezis
good a friend to fans as he was to pros. has it been that long? Am I really that old?) That’s
And those 11 Hugos are probably a few less than where I met Kelly and Polly Freas for the first
he deserved. He was as talented as he was friendly, time. I fell in love with both of them immedi­
and that’s a lot of talent. -Mike Resnick ately. Here was the guy who had illustrated my
teen years and he was even nicer in person than
FRANK KELLY FREAS his artwork promised. Kelly had a genuine and
by David Gerrold generous respect for everyone he met. He had that
If the Golden Age of science fiction is 13, then same impish quality in person that his paintings
I got a double whammy - I was 13 right in the promised - only more so. And, quite simply, he Laura Brodian Freas & Frank Kelly Freas (2001)

Will Eisner Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of many awards include the Milton Caniff Lifetime
p. 4 Zion, forthcoming in 2005. His work was featured Achievement Award (1995) and the Reuben Award
in the Whitney Museum’s “NYNY: City of Am­ as Cartoonist of the Year from the National Car­
weekly installments until 1952. At its height, The bition” showcase in 1996. In 2000, DC Comics toonists Society (1998). He is survived by Ann, his
Spirit appeared in 20 newspapers and reached 5 began reprinting all of The Spirit in “The Spirit wife of over fifty years, and their son John. ■
million readers every week. Archives”, a projected 24-volume series. In 2004
After ending The Spirit, Eisner spent 25 years in the first major critical overview of Eisner’s work
charge of the American Visual Corporation, pro­ was published: The Will Eisner Companion by
ducing educational and industrial comics and work N.C. Christopher Crouch & Stephen Weiner. His
for the government. In the mid 1960s there was authorized biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited
renewed public interest in The Spirit, but while Life by Bob Andleman, will be published later
Eisner produced a small amount of new material, this year.
he was less interested in revisiting his past work Eisner taught cartooning at the School of Visual
than he was in creating new stories. He returned to Arts in New York, and his books Comics and
comics-as-entertainment in the 1970s, and in 1978 Sequential Art (1985) and Graphic Storytell­
he published his groundbreaking “sequential art” ing (1996) are major works on the art form. His
collection A Contract with God, about the Jewish
immigrant experience in the Bronx. In describ­
ing this work, Eisner coined the term “graphic
novel,” and his work helped draw the attention
of mainstream audiences to comics.
Eisner went on to produce a number of ac­
claimed graphic novels and collections, includ­
ing SF parable Signal from Space (1978-83;
published in a single volume as Life on Another
Planet, 1983); New York, the Big City (1981-86);
A Life Force (1983-88); The Dreamer (1986), a
fictionalized account of the early comics industry;
The Building (1987); City People Notebooks
(1989); To the Heart of the Storm (1991); In­
visible People (1992); Dropsie Avenue: The
Neighborhood (1995); Last Day in Vietnam
(2000); and his final graphic novel, The Plot: the
 ★ CONDITION ★ CONDITION ★ CONDITION ★
For what are possibly thefinest known copies of these books and wrappers you’d expect to pay a bit more. Only one of each:
THE WORLD CLOAK OF AESB EPLCRIBl.S METHUSELAH'S
III!' 1 BELOW
CLOAK O' by John W.
Campbell, Jr.,
UNICORN CHILDREN
by Robert A. Heinlein
byS. Fowler by Theodore
ViVf'l III Wright,
AESIH Shasta, 1949, Sturgeon Gnome Press, 1958,
1st Ed Very Fine/Very
1st Ed.

sc.mxci;-
Shasta, 1949. Abelard Press,
Fine. Currey (A) black
Very Fine/Very Very Fine/Very 1953,
doth; first state binding
Fine. Fine. Inscribed 1st Ed Very

ri('TU,)A Autographed in
ink"S. Fowler
Wright".
"ForJohn
Campbell
from his friend
Fine/Very fine.
Autographed in
ink "Theodore
& jacket Mint $625
TWO SOUGHT
ADVENTURE
by Fritz Leiber,
Mint $175 and Publisher Sturgeon" Gnome Press, 1957,1st Ed

1 Mel Korshak".
Mint $325
Mint $425 Very FineVery Fine.
Currey (B) gray doth.
Mint $275

HANNES BOK - THE POWERS LITHOGRAPHS

THE POWERS THE GREY THE PRIMAL
OF DARKNESS POWERS POWERS
rag paper $100 rag paper $100 Only 2 remain
EXTRA SAVINGS!!!
onfinary paper $75 ordinary paper $75 ordinary paper $100
Mix & Match
Take any three Powers and TARZAN AND JANE
deduct $75; take any two In 1947 Bok again turned
Powers and deduct $50.
I to stone lithographing and
produced a Burroughs piece.
Note: Only two sets ofthe 10" x 137»" trim size,
three Powers are possible, ready to frame. $35
first come, first served.

HANNES BOK - AND OTHER GOLDEN AGE DUST WRAPPERS

Although these wrappers are from the 1940’s and 50’s, they are, unless otherwise noted, mint and unfolded.
They will greatly improve the appearance and value of your copies of these books.
KINSMEN OF
THE DRAGON
by Stanley Mullen
Artist Hannes Bok
Shasta $25

SIDEWISE Di TIME
by Murray Leinster
Artist Hannes Bok
Shasta $30

MURDER IN WHO GOES SCIENCE-FICTION s p a <p

MILLENNIUM VI THERE! CARNIVAL on mV hands
a:
byCurmeGray by by Fredric Brown &
Artist John W. Campbell, Jr. Mack Reynolds, Eds.
Mark Reinsberg Artist: Malcolm Smith Artist Adri Ames
Shasta $10 for ad Shasta lightlyfolded
Editions other Shasta $15
than 1st.
Shasta $25 SPACE ON MY HANDS
by Fredric Brown
Artist Malcolm Smith
Shasta $35

YEAR'S BEST THE WORLD BELOW

spa ere SPACE TUG
by Murray Leinster SCIENCE-FICTION by S. Fowler Wright
Till'' l> \
Artist Mel Hunter
Shasta $10
NOVELS: 1952
by Everett F. Bleiler
Artist Sidney Boss
Shasta $10
.wi nr
& T.E Dikiy, Eds.
Frederick Fell $10 SGIIIXCH-
riCTIQX

TWO SOUGHT THETTTAN UNDERSEA CHY CONAN THE CONQUERER

ADVENTURE by P. Schuyler Miller by Fredrik Pohl by Robert E. Howard
by Fritz Leiber Artist Hannes Bok & Jack Williamson Artist David Kyle
Artist Lionel Dillon Only Artist Rare wrapper and
Rare wrapper and 4 wrappers Wallace Wood only two remain.
only one mnatne. reinatn. Gnome $15 Gnome $95
Gnome $120 Fantasy Press $35

STARMAN'S QUEST
by Robert Siferberg
Artist Sian Mack
Gnome $15

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TRAVELERS OF SPACE MEN AGAINST THE STARS SF:THE YEAR’S GREATEST 1956 JOURNEY TO INFINITY
Ed. by Martin Greenberg Ed. by Martin Greenberg Ed. by Judith Merril Ed. by Martin Greenberg
Artist Edd Cartier Artist finish Artist Edd Cartier
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 Binm eagerly anticipated conclusion to the
saga begun in Ender’s Shadow...

In hardcover March 2005

0-312-85758-6 • $25.95/535.95 Can.

Bean, Ender Wiggin’s former right-hand

man, has shed his reputation as the smallest

student at Battle School. He has completed

his military service for the Hegemon and now

seeks a safe place to build a family. Yet no

such place exists on Earth, a place that has

become riddled with Bean’s enemies from the

past. Once again he must follow in Ender’s

footsteps and look to the stars for a solution.

www.tor.com

“The novels of Orson Scott Card’s Ender series are an intriguing combination of
action, military and political strategy, elaborate war games and psychology.”
— USA Today

“The publishing equivalent of a Star Wars’ blockbuster.”

—New York Daily News on Ender’s Shadow