Title Author Publication
Date
THE PHOENIX UNCHAINED Lackey, Mercedes 11/1/2007
Mallory, James
A young man's research into a lost form of magic ends badly,
forcing him to search the world for someone who can save him from
the effects of his misapplied knowledge.
This would be the book with a scene where our hero, already
having accidentally doomed himself with a spell gone wrong, decides
that he needs more than one spell. His working assumption is that
as long as he ignores the stuff that he doesn't understand and
uses substitutes for the components that he lacks, learning more
spells should be pretty easy. Unfortunately, he gets interrupted before
we get to see him accidentally recreate Summon Shoggoth or Turn
Scrotum (Own) to Molten Gold.
MAINSPRING Lake, Jay 6/1/2007
A seemingly nondescript young apprentice finds himself forced
into a central role in the periodic salvation of his clockwork world.
Yes, I do find knowing the author is going to read this inhibiting.
Why do you ask?
I thought this was competent and that my world views don to make me
the ideal reader for books where faith plays a major role.
THE HIDDEN WORLDS Landon, Kristin 7/1/2007
A poor woman from a backwater world tries to buy her family
security by selling her services to the misogynists that control inter-
stellar travel. This act of self-sacrifice makes her a pariah. Later,
a serious crisis demonstrates that the pilots value their social position
over preserving the human race.
Some of the background details in this book rang false when
I first encountered them and I was pleased that this was because
certain people were lying through their teeth.
THE BOOK OF THE BEAST Lee, Tanith 1/1/1989
THE BOOK OF THE DAMNED Lee, Tanith 1/1/1990
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD Lee, Tanith 1/1/1991
THE BOOK OF THE MAD Lee, Tanith 1/1/1993
This is a trilogy of books (not necessarily novels) about
the forgotten French city of Paradys.
I remember liking two of them but since my notes are not
handy, I don't recall which two.
WORLDS APART Levitsky, Alexander 8/1/2007
This is a long and detailed look at Russian science fiction,
starting with some pretty early material. I find it hard to wrap
my head around some Russian fiction and I read this under fairly
adverse cir***stances but this kept my interest. I would definitely
recommend it.
RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES Lynch, Scott 7/31/2007
This is the sequel to Lynch's THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORRA. The
author makes (imo) a mistake by beginning with a contrived cliff-hanger
[1]
and I was irritated by his reluctance to accept that pirates are not
entirely nice people. Not as much fun as LIES and the ending is undermined
if you know this is a seven book series.
--
http://www.livejournal.com/users/james_nicoll
http://www.cafepress.com/jdnicoll
(For all your "The problem with
defending the English language [...]" T-****rt, cup and tote-bag needs)
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