Locus Online: New Books, third week July 2010
Mak & Choi
Strahan & Anders
* Bledsoe, Alex :
(Tor 978-0-7653-2384-2, $14.99, 301pp, trade paperback, July 2010)
 Memphis Vampires #2
Vampire novel, follow-up to the author's Blood Grove (2009) about vampire Baron Rudolfo Zginski who died in Wales in 1915 and woke up in Memphis, Tennessee, 60 years later.  In this book Zginski encounters two dangerous vampire sisters, Patience and Prudence Bolade.
 The author's site has a page for The Memphis Vampires, with an exclusive short story that takes place between the two books.
 Amazon's "Look Inside" function includes an excerpt. The Publishers Weekly reviewer is put off: "Zginski rates as one of the genre's most repulsive protagonists, and Bledsoe's polished prose can't make up for the shock tactics he uses to propel the plot."
* DeHart, Terry :
(Orbit 978-0-316-07740-8, $13.99, 289pp, trade paperback, July 2010)
Post-apocalyptic SF novel, the author's first novel, about a family stranded in California's Sierra Nevada mountains when an atomic attack hits.
 The Publishers Weekly reviewer is impressed: "Drawing on his background in military operations and disaster preparedness, DeHart makes the details of his postapocalyptic debut ring true. ... It all adds up to a striking picture of human vulnerability and strength."
 Amazon also has reader reviews.
* Gartner, Zsuzsi, ed. :
(Douglas & McIntyre 9781553654926, $16.95, 453pp, trade paperback, May 2010)
Anthology of 23 stories, most of them original to this book, by Canadian writers, including an original story by William Gibson, "Dougal Disincarnate".
 The publisher's site has this description with the list of contributors, and a video.
 The Globe and Mail ran this review by Micah Toub: "For those impressed by big-name authors, there are some on the roster -- William Gibson (the only real science-fiction writer of the bunch), Douglas Coupland and Yann Martel all offer new stories here. But there truly isn't a bad one in the bunch."
* Gonzales, Laurence :
(Knopf 978-0307272607, $24.95, 307pp, hardcover, July 2010)
Biological thriller about the controversy over a human/bonobo hybrid, or "humanzee".
 Amazon has a Q&A with the author.
 Reviews have been mixed: Entertainment Weekly gave it an A -- the author's "got Crichton's gift for page-turning storytelling, but also a vivid, literary-grade prose style, and a knack for getting inside his characters' heads".
 The reaction among science bloggers has been largely negative.
 The Publishers Weekly review notes that "Lucy soon becomes a magnet for the controversy that has colored debates between creationists and evolutionists for decades..." and concludes "A tidy, anticlimactic ending fails to do justice to the many controversial points the novel raises."
* Howard, Jonathan L. :
(Doubleday 978-0-385-52809-2, $25.95, 289pp, hardcover, July 2010)
 Johannes Cabal #2
Steampunk fantasy novel, sequel to Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (2009), about a sorcerer who makes a deal with the devil to regain his soul.
 In this book Cabal is caught up in a murder mystery aboard a passenger aeroship.
 The publisher's site has this description. The author and series site Johannes Cabal includes a flash microsite with examples of illustrations.
+ Kiernan, Celine :
(Orbit 978-0-316-07708-8, $14.99, 478pp, trade paperback, July 2010, cover illustration Steve Stone)
 Moorehawke #2
Fantasy novel, the second book of the "Moorehawke" trilogy following the author's debut novel The Poison Throne (2008 UK, 2009 US), involving political intrigue in an alternate 15th-century Europe.
 In this book Wynter Moorhawke searches for the rebel prince.
 The author's site has this description and an excerpt, plus info about the next volume, an author profile, and a blog.
 This is the first US edition; it was published in the UK in 2009.
 As with the first book, Publishers Weekly gave this a starred review: "Compelling and complex, romantic and suspenseful, populated by memorable characters and intricately detailed, this impressive middle volume will leave readers demanding the conclusion."
* Kowal, Mary Robinette, ed. :
(Prime Books 978-1-60701-225-2, $14.95, 352pp, trade paperback, July 2010, cover art Donato Giancola)
Anthology of nine stories first published in 2008 and nominated for the Hugo Award in 2009.
 Contents include two of the short fiction winners -- Nancy Kress' novella "The Erdmann Nexus" and Elizabeth Bear's "Shoggoths in Bloom" -- but not, and without explanation by the editor, the short story winner, Ted Chiang's "Exhalation".
 Other stories included are by John Kessel, Kij Johnson, Michael Swanwick, Robert Reed, James Alan Gardner, and the editor. Kowal provides a book introduction, and a one-page introduction to each story. Unlike the annual Nebula Awards volumes, there are no novel excerpts or nonfiction pieces. An appendix lists the 2009 Hugo nominees and winners.
(Thu 15 Jul 2010)
(Baen 978-1439133811, $22, 359pp, hardcover, June 2010, cover art David Mattingly)
 Liaden #13
SF adventure/romance novel in the authors' long-running Liaden Universe series, a sequel to Scout's Progress (2001), concerning Aelliana Caylon.
 Amazon has a dozen enthusiastic reader reviews, who discuss the relationship of this book to those the come before and after it in the Liaden universe timeline.
* MacLeod, Ken :
(UK: Orbit 978-1-84149-647-4, £18.99, 303pp, hardcover, July 2010)
 The publisher's site has this description, while Orbit's site has a blog post discussing reactions to the book with a video of MacLeod.
 Amazon also has the publisher's description, and a few reader reviews.
 Russell Letson reviews it in the July issue of Locus Magazine: "Ken MacLeod has planted so many puzzles, teasers, and red herrings in The Restoration Game that reviewing it without giving away some of the surprises means sidling around plot details and even character relationships...." Letson concludes, "Just how all the novel's contemporary concerns finally turn into science fiction resides on the other side of the spoiler curtain, and while experienced MacLeodites should be able to work it out in principle, the precise execution will still surprise and delight."
(Fri 16 Jul 2010)
(Dark Regions Press 978-1-888993-79-0, $18.95, 273pp, trade paperback, 2010, cover art M. Wayne Miller)
Collection of 5 stories, all original to this book, in which Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson encounter supernatural mysteries.
 The author provides a foreword, and story notes.
 The publisher's site has this description, which notes that the "Deluxe Thirteen" edition of the book comes with an audio CD of a dramatization of one of the stories.
* Melniczek, Paul :
(Dark Regions Press 978-1-888993-85-1, $16.95, 135pp, trade paperback, 2010, cover art Frank Walls)
Collection of 8 stories about searches for monsters across the world, with a foreword by the author.
 Two of the stories were previously published, in 2002 and 2003; the other six are original to this book.
 The publisher's site has this description, noting that a "Deluxe Thirteen" edition of the book contains two additional stories.
* Neumeier, Rachel :
(Orbit 978-0316072786, $7.99, 367pp, mass market paperback, May 2010)
 Griffin Mage #1
Fantasy novel, first book in the "Griffin Mage" trilogy, about a woman in a quiet village who is chosen by the griffins to become their healer.
 The author's website has this page about the series, with an extract.
 The second book, Land of the Burning Suns, should be out now; the third is due in December.
 The author has published one previous novel, YA The City in the Lake (2008).
* Ollie, William :
(Dark Regions Press 978-1-888993-83-7, $18.95, 212pp, trade paperback, 2010, cover art M. Wayne Miller)
Dark fantasy novel about two 13-year-old boys who witness something frightening at a carnival visiting their small town.
 The publisher's site has this description, with a blurb by Gene O'Neil.
 The author's site has a PDF excerpt.
* Rochelle, Warren :
(Golden Gryphon Press 978-1-930846-63-0, $24.95, 367pp, hardcover, September 2010, jacket art Thomas Canty)
 Changelings #2
Fantasy novel, sequel to Harvest of Changelings (2007), about two of the changelings who return to Earth to battle the Fomorii as conflict builds toward the coming reconvergence on December 21, 2012.
 The publisher's site has this description, with blurbs from Jim Grimsley, Andy Duncan, and others.
 The author's site has this page with the same description and blurbs, plus links to the prologue and chapter 1.
 Though nominally published in September, the book is available now.
(Mon 19 Jul 2010)
* Sagara, Michelle :
(Luna 978-0373803194, $14.95, 503pp, trade paperback, July 2010)
 Chronicles of Elantra #6
Fantasy novel, sixth in the "Chronicles of Elantra" series following Cast in Shadow (2005), Cast in Courtlight (2006), Cast in Secret (2007), Cast in Fury (2008), and Cast in Silence (2009), about Kaylin Neya, member of an elite team that keeps the city of Elantra safe.
 In this book a new threat to the city seems related to mysterious markings on Kaylin's skin.
 There's nothing yet on the publisher's site for this book, but the Amazon page has both its "Look Inside" function with an excerpt, and a long text excerpt.
(Baen 978-1439133705, $12, 723pp, trade paperback, July 2010, cover art John Picacio)
 Jon & Lobo #4
Omnibus of two military SF novels about nano-enhanced warrior Jon Moore and his AI tank Lobo, One Jump Ahead (2007) and Slanted Jack (2008), plus two short stories and several articles.
 Amazon has a detailed reader review.
(Stopsmiling Books 978-1935554035, $18.95, 317pp, trade paperback, June 2010)
Nonfiction collection of interviews with Ray Bradbury conducted over the past decade by the author. Includes an index.
 Weller prevously wrote The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury (2005).
 The publisher's site has this description with quotes from reviews and a link to Weller's blog about the book.
 The A.V. Club just ran this review by Michaelangelo Matos: "Bradbury is so enthusiastic that he can frankly be a little wearying. He's certainly opinionated, and not afraid to be contrary... Bold pronouncements like these are part of the reason Bradbury earned such fame even when that was more common for writers. They're also far less interesting than Bradbury's work itself."
 Chicago Tribune ran a more admiring review by Julia Keller: "Did I call it a book? 'Listen to the Echoes' is not a book. It's a shout of joy. It's a crack of thunder. It's a talisman. A magic key. A moon rock. A road map. A compass. A ladder to the stars."
New SF/F/H books:3rd week July 2010
Behind you the module burns.
Cold. Unimaginable, bone-chilling cold. The sun so small, so far away. The land and the sky bleached of colour, drained to faint red or blue tints on varied shades of grey.
Malachi opened his eyes at the quick tapping on the car window. Hazel, he thought first, come looking for him to finish the fight they had started before he had stormed out of the house. No, Hazel was too mad. Had to be Ginny Newman, the Raleigh News & Observer reporter he was supposed to meet here in the parking lot of the Six Forks Road Bennigan's. Opening lines:
Jenny awoke to thunder. There was no light yet. She reached out in darkness and found a tin of wooden matches on the ammunition case beside her bed. She selected one and struck it on the case. The flame flared red then yellow and sulfurous smoke rose. Newborn shadows danced on the walls of the hut.