Tokyo Pop is branching out into the non-graphic literature, starting with four new series that launch this month under the “Popfiction” banner. We’ve obtained copies of each book in the launch lineup, and will review one a day from today until Friday. We may even have more news about this line in a few days; watch this space for details.
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Category Archives: Books
Novel Review: Bios
This 1999 work by Hugo-winning author Robert Charles Wilson falls short of his more successful works, but it demonstrates his range. Here, he attempts traditional SF– with a Wilsonian twist.
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Novel Review: The Fifth Head of Cerberus
“Veil’s Hypothesis supposes the abos to have possessed the ability to mimic mankind perfectly. Veil thought that when the ships came from Earth the abos killed everyone and took their places and the ships, so they’re not dead at all, we are”(31).
Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun may be his most lasting work of speculative fiction, but the talented writer produced a number of memorable books including this quirky novel, which addresses such topics as colonialism, totalitarianism, and identity.
Textbook Review – “How to Read and Do Proofs”
Here’s a review of a math text covering a vital area of mathematics that rarely receives a course in itself.
Masters of the Maze
The late Avram Davidson, winner of Hugo, Edgar, and World Fantasy Awards, may be one of genre‘s most influential authors, but he has never received quite the recognition granted many other SF/fantasy pioneers. For this year’s SF summer beach reading, I recommend Masters of the Maze. In scarcely more than 150 pages, Davidson boggles your brain with this bizarre blend of SF, fantasy, time-travel, conspiracy theory, history, and old-style adventure.
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Novel Review: Accelerando
Some years later, two men and a cat are tying one on in a bar that doesn’t exist. (146)
Charles Stross’s latest novel, Accelerando, puts the quirky author in the running for the 2006 Hugo Award. The plot concerns a technological singularity, posthumanity, alien contact, and a sentient pseudo-cat. It’s a fascinating read, and one which likely could not have been written before the age of the internet.
Those with little interest in computers and SF will likely find it irritating and incomprehensible. As for the rest of us….
Influential SF editor dead at 62.
Jim Baen died June 28. A special memorial will be held at this year’s WorldCon in August.
The Diamond Age or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer
Neal Stephenson’s 1995 novel depicts a late twenty-first century transformed by nanotechnology– and the second reign of Queen Victoria.
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The System of the World
At long last, I offer a review of The System of the World, the final part of The Baroque Cycle, which also includes Quicksilver and The Confusion . All three form a prequel of sorts to Cryptonomicon. The Cycle runs nearly 3000 pages and represents a stunning achievement by a writer.
But is it worth the effort to the reader?
2006 Nebula Award Winners
The results are in. Here’s a quick rundown of the winners:
Novel: Camouflage, Joe Haldeman
Novella: “Magic for Beginners”, Kelly Link
Novellette: “The Faery Handbag”, Kelly Link
Short Story: “I Live With You”, Carol Emshwiller
Script: Serenity, Joss Whedon
Andre Norton Award: Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie, Holly Black
Here’s a list of the final nominees.