SF SiteThe new issue of the SF Site is now online.Un Lun Dun by China Mieville- October 16, 2007 A second, unseen world exists in parallel with our own. Cities in our reality are mirrored in skewed fashion across the trans-dimensional barrier known as the Odd, sporting names such as Parisn't and Sans Fransico. These ab-cities are populated by all manner of strange beings, from tailors with pin-cushion heads to kung fu-fighting garbage cans to sentient schools of fish that navigate on land by donning deep-sea diving suits.http://www.sfsite.com/10b/un258.htm The God of the Razor by Joe R. Lansdale- October 16, 2007 To some horror fans, this early collection is a genre classic, and it certainly displays many of the admirable qualities and definitive traits we now associate with this most original of authors. Certainly no other writer comes to mind so capable of fusing revulsion and comedy together so effectively, often in the space of a single sentence, although The Nightrunners contains a good deal less amusement than many later Lansdale works. At the same time, the story radiates a nastiness that...http://www.sfsite.com/10b/gr258.htm Babylon 5.1: TV reviews by Rick Norwood- October 1, 2007 Rick has some his thoughts on the new season's TV series, particulary Journeyman. He also gives us a list of what to watch on TV in October.http://www.sfsite.com/columns/rick257.htm Hugo Gernsback and the Century of Science Fiction by Gary Westfahl- October 1, 2007 In Hugo Gernsback and the Century of Science Fiction, Gary Westfahl presents the thesis that Hugo Gernsback, the founder of Amazing Stories, is a seminal figure in the genesis of science fiction. While, to many, this may seem like a declaration that the sky is blue or the grass is green, Westfahl points out that Gernsback's role in the formation of the genre has come under attack relatively recently.http://www.sfsite.com/10a/hg257.htm Acacia by David Anthony Durham- October 1, 2007 Acacia is an empire, and at first glance, a rather benign one. It's people are apparently wealthy and happy, its subjected countries peaceful. It doesn't take long, however, before that peaceful facade is stripped away. Many generations in its past, Acacia made a true devil's bargain. In order to protect themselves from a perceived threat on the other side of the world, and in return for a promise that they would not be attacked by the Lothan Aklun, Acacia agreed to the Quota.http://www.sfsite.com/10a/ac257.htm The Necronomicon Tarot by Donald Tyson- October 1, 2007 The Necronomicon Tarot uses images and themes from H.P. Lovecraft's "Cthulhu" mythos. Lovecraft was a ground-breaking pulp horror writer from the 20s. No vampires or werewolves from him, no sir. Lovecraft's ultimate evil, Cthulhu, wasn't even technically evil, in the Manichean sense of "good" vs. "evil."http://www.sfsite.com/10a/ne257.htm Thirteen by Richard Morgan- October 1, 2007 Dark, twisted, and violent. No one familiar with Richard K. Morgan's previous novels will be surprised to see those adjectives applied to his latest work. What they might be surprised to find is that it is also emotionally captivating in a way that allows the story to rise above the violence, and make the reader sympathize with and care for at least one character that most of the other characters in the novel, and, in fact, almost everyone who lives in the world they inhabit, fear and loathe in.http://www.sfsite.com/10a/th257.htm The Year's Best Science Fiction: by Volume -- compiled by Rodger Turner- October 1, 2007 In 1984, Gardner Dozois gathered together what he thought was the best short science fiction of the previous year. He scrutinized as many of the magazines, collections and anthologies published in 1983 that he could get his hands on and chose those which he felt best represented the science fiction field. Jim Frenkel published it as part of his Bluejay Books line (for three years) and it has been produced every year since then (by St. Martins's Press).http://www.sfsite.com/lists/yb-sf-volume01.htm Dispatches From Smaragdine: September 2007 -- a column by Jeff VanderMeer- October 1, 2007 As September passes in Smaragdine, it is time for the Dance of Synchronicity which takes the form of a sabre dance and ensuing battle among the twenty best novelists deemed so by the Ministry of Culture. Following the post-dance revelry, Jeff took some time to interview Jacob Weisman, publisher of Tachyon Publications.http://www.sfsite.com/columns/jeff257.htm The Amazing Transforming Superhero edited by Terrence R. Wandtke- October 1, 2007 The book presents a series of essays analysing the changes to various comic book and movie super people, in response to the real world. Included are such intriguing diversities as the ultra patriotic, somewhat jingoistic presentation of the original Captain America, Wonder Woman as both a male fantasy and feminist icon, the importance of the Thing's Jewish roots, how Batman became the Man of Tomorrow, and the transcreation of Spiderman from Western to Eastern culture.http://www.sfsite.com/10a/ts257.htm |