SF SiteThe new issue of the SF Site is now online.Tales from the Secret City: A Cryptopolis Anthology- April 16, 2008 Cryptopolis -- a writers' group based in Austin, Texas -- offers us an anthology of ten stories by its members, each introduced by another contributor. The book is elevated above the status of back-slapping exercise by actually being pretty good, yet at the same time, it's frustratingly not good enough to be much more than pretty good. It seems that three of the stories go the extra distance to become something quite special; the other seven are interesting, but stop a little short.http://www.sfsite.com/04b/ta270.htm A Guide to Folktales in Fragile Dialects by Catherynne M. Valente- April 16, 2008 In Antoine Galland's Arabian Nights, there's a story called "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp." In the story, Aladdin orders his Djinn to build a palace for the Sultan. He specifies, however, that he wants there to be one flaw in the whole, one window-frame of gems that is incomplete, in order to allow the Sultan the honour of finishing it. The Djinn complies. Then, when the Sultan's being led through it, his eyes light on the incomplete window, and he's relieved to have found the flaw, the one tiny..http://www.sfsite.com/04b/gf270.htm New Arrivals compiled by Neil Walsh- April 16, 2008 The newest batch of books to arrive on our doorstep include the latest from Stephen Baxter, Steven Erikson, John Kessel, John Meaney, Keri Arthur, Joe Abercrombie, Greg Keyes, Adam Stemple, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., as well as new anthologies from William Schaffer of Subterranean Press, Ann & Jeff VanderMeer, and much more.http://www.sfsite.com/books/new270.htm New Audiobooks compiled by Susan Dunman- April 16, 2008 At times, it's more convenient (and enjoyable) to hear the latest in science fiction and fantasty. Recent audiobook releases include works by Jim Butcher, Orson Scott Card, Philip Pullman and Lois McMaster Bujold.http://www.sfsite.com/columns/audio270.htm Inside Straight edited by George R.R. Martin- April 16, 2008 In the plus column, Inside Straight introduces three or four credible new characters, there's a smattering of informative continuity with the established Wild Cards canon, and new blood in the pool of writing talent. In the minus column, most older characters and their chronology appear to have been consigned to history, except for cheesy cameo roles.http://www.sfsite.com/04b/is270.htm Nexus Graphica a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams- April 16, 2008 Nexus Graphica is a column about graphic novels and comics that grew out of discussions between Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams. They will alternate columns. The nature and subject of each piece will vary from month to month, but it will always have something to do with graphic novels or comic books. For his first column, Mark is grappling with the idea of what comics are for. Are they just for fun Or are comics -- when at their best -- simultaneously about individual lives (even...http://www.sfsite.com/columns/graphica270.htm A Conversation With Patrick Rothfuss- April 16, 2008 "I do remember that fairly early on someone pointed out that I used the word 'alloy' and 'counterpoint' in the same sentence. That person pointed out that some people wouldn't actually know what an alloy was. I made a conscious decision right then that my book was written for people who either knew what that word meant, or were willing to look it up."http://www.sfsite.com/04b/pr270.htm The Surgeon's Tale and Other Stories by Cat Rambo & Jeff VanderMeer- April 16, 2008 A slim booklet of only 90 pages, it assembles five pieces of fiction including the title story, a collaborative work by the two writers. It is the highlight of the book, providing an excellent mix of horror and fantasy where an old surgeon reminisces about his years as a medical student and the daring experiment attempting to bring back to life the corpse of a young woman.http://www.sfsite.com/04b/st270.htm Wastelands edited by John Joseph Adams- April 16, 2008 This anthology collects 22 stories together, the majority from the 21st century, although some reach back to the mutually assured destruction of the 80s, and a couple even hail from the crazy 70s. Is this anthology a result of the new age of insecurity and Terror (with a capital "T") that we live in It might be argued so, because nuclear armageddon seldom rears its ugly head here; instead the eponymous apocalypse is more likely to be biological, a post 911 war of attrition or even the Biblical..http://www.sfsite.com/04b/wa270.htm The Starry Rift edited by Jonathan Strahan- April 16, 2008 This anthology of original stories is an attempt to re-invent science fiction for the young readers of today. Its goal is to re-capture that sense of wonder and amazement that characterized the Golden Age and the books that so many of today's SF writers grew up on. In order to do so, the editor has assembled a cast of many of the biggest names in science fiction today. The stories they've written are not copies of the old space-faring adventures of the 30s and 40s, instead they reflect the...http://www.sfsite.com/04b/sr270.htm |