Monday 30 July 2007

Sci-Fi Fan Letter Issue 8

World’s Biggest Bookstore’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Newsletter Issue 8 April 2007

Sebastian
By: Anne Bishop
Ephemera is a land where the desires of the heart determine your world and your place in that world. Crossing a bridge may take you to the other side or to another land entirely.
Sebastian is an incubus, disenchanted by his life in the Den of Iniquity. In his longing for change, he touches the mind of Lynnea, a woman unloved, and calls to her. When she arrives in the Den, Sebastian knows she does not belong. He wants her to stay but knows she should leave.
Meanwhile, Sebastian contacts his cousin, Belladonna, a landscaper in charge of maintaining the structure of the world and long since declared rogue, about a series of strange murders. She discovers that the Eater of the World, has escaped Its imprisonment and must find a way to recapture it.
A fascinating world filled with interesting people.
-Jessica Strider

***Meet Anne Bishop in store Sunday April 29th at 4pm.***
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Star Wars: Allegiance
By: Timothy Zahn
Another masterful Star Wars novel by Timothy Zahn, Allegiance takes place sometime between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Zahn reveals a little more about Admiral Ozzel, and how Han Solo found himself allied with the Rebels, including his budding relationship with Princess Leia.
Most exciting of all, Zahn brings Mara Jade right into the mix of things, exposing more of her history as the Emperor’s Hand, and showing us a different side of the woman who would be tasked with killing Luke Skywalker. With the introduction of a handful of storm troopers who begin to see the Empire differently after the destruction of the second Death Star, Allegiance brings Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker tantalizingly close to meeting before Heir to the Empire.
As always, Zahn wraps action, conspiracy, intelligence and emotion up into a great book, with the voices of George Lucas’s creations rising from the pages. And, yes, of course Darth Vader graces the reader with his ominous presence.
A must-read for Star Wars fans who want something that takes them back to the movies, as opposed to the New Jedi Order.
-Kat
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Shadowplay
By: Tad Williams
For all those who read Shadowmarch and waited the year and a half for the sequal, you will not be disappointed in this book. In fact, you will want to know the end as soon as possible.
Shadowplay brings the fairy people from the fairy realm to stand in front of castle Shadowmarch waiting for their final assault on the sunlanders. Meanwhile Barrick is beyond the shadowline, while his twin sister Briony is somewhere south. They have many adventures and face different dangers, but quickly realize that their fate is not in their own hands and that the mysterious things that are happening to them have to do with their blood line. Each feels that they left their kingdom in great danger and are trying to figure out how they can help the March Kingdoms win a war they never expected.
Tad Williams weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense with numerous twists and turns. When you finish this book you will be hoping it does not take another year and a half for the next book in the series to come out.
-Sheila
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Summers at Castle Auburn
By: Sharon Shinn
Known best for her Archangel series, Sharon Shinn is the author of several one-shot fantasy and science fiction books as well.
Summers at Castle Auburn is told from the point of view of Coriel Halsing, the bastard daughter of a deceased nobleman. Less a coming of age story than a loss of innocence tale, the story details Coriel’s life at court at ages 14, 17 and 18.
We see her first as a precocious girl in love with prince Bryan, her sister’s betrothed. As she grows up she learns that life is not as simple as she always thought, learning lessons that are as painful as they are necessary.
Beautifully written, the novel makes you think about happiness, duty and most importantly, love.
-Jessica Strider
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Coming in May
Hardcover:
Mistress of Winter - Giles Carwyn & Todd Fahnestock
Wizards - Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois
Serpent Bride - Sara Douglass
Mother of Lies - Dave Duncan
Broken Kings - Robert Holdstock
All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
Spirit Store - Katharine Kerr
Lucy’s Blade - John Lambshead
Well of Shades - Juliet Marillier
Margarets - Sheri Tepper
Star Wars: Sacrifice - Karen Traviss
The Gladiator - Harry Turtledove
Ninth Talisman - Lawrence Watt-Evans
1634: Baltic War - David Weber & Eric Flint
Dragon and Judge - Timothy Zahn
Silver Sword - David Zindell

Trade Paperback:
Moving Mars - Greg Bear
At Twilight’s Fall - Elizabeth Forrest
Seraphs - Faith Hunter
Logorrhea - John Klima
Blade of Fortriu - Juliet Marillier
A Nameless Witch - A. Lee Martinez
Coyote Dreams - C.E. Murphy
From the Sea to the Stars - Andre Norton
Star Trek: Twist of Fate - S.D. Perry +
Awakened City - Victoria Strauss

Mass Market Paperback:
Rifkind’s Challenge - Lynn Abbey
Betrayal - Aaron Allston
War Hammer: Murder in Marienburg - David Bishop
Helix - Eric Brown
Crystal Rain - Tobias Buckell
Secret Story - Ramsey Campbell
Eberron: Night of the Long Shadows - Paul Crilley
Forgotten Realms: Best of the Realms III - Elaine Cunningham
Resonance - Chris Dolley
Druid’s Sword - Sara Douglass
Way to Glory - David Drake
Heart of the Stars - Kate Forsyth
Star Craft: Firstborn - Christie Golden
Phantom - Terry Goodkind
Light - M. John Harrison
Year’s Best SF #12 - David Hartwell
Goblin Hero - Jim Hines
Mass Effect: Revelation - Drew Karpyshyn
Retief’s Peace - William Keith
The Gold Falcon - Katharine Kerr
Blood Knight - Greg Keyes
When Darkness Falls - Mercedes Lackey
Star Trek: Reap the Whirlwind - David Mack
Army of the Fantastic - John Marco & John Helfers
Second Wave - Anne McCaffrey
Once Upon an Autumn Eve - Dennis McKiernan
War Hammer: Hero of the Imperium - Sandy Mitchell
Cadman’s Choice - L.E. Modesitt
Beast Master’s Quest - Andre Norton
Forgotten Realms: Gossamer Plain - Thomas Reid
Kildar - John Ringo
Perfect Dark: Secret Front - Greg Rucka
Ardneh’s Sword - Fred Saberhagen
Ghost Brigades - John Scalzi
Thraxas and the Sorcerers - Martin Scott
Habeas Corpses - Wm Mark Simmons
Dragon Lance: Warrior’s Blood - Stephen Sullivan
Jinian Star-eye - Sheri Tepper
Farthing - Jo Walton
Dragon Lance: Dragons in the Dwarven Depths - Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Dragon and Herdsman - Timothy Zahn

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