Unicorn Isle - Reading Reccs

The main character of this excellent first novel lives in a military dictatorship where even murder in self-defense carries the death penalty - but she is spared this fate only to assume the dubious honor of being the Commander's food-taster. Hemmed in by death on all sides, she must survive - and thrive - in her new environment. This story has a number of plot threads that appear to be unrelated without ever seeming inappropriate or out of place, and yet they come together in the end to satisfying result. It is well-paced and tense, with the main character's backstory unfolded expertly throughout. The supporting cast are intriguing and dimensional without overpowering. Only two things marred my enjoyment of the story. First of all, as another reviewer noted, the character who trains Yelena (the lead) seems to appear out of nowhere an awful lot just when she needs help. Second of all, while I thought the romantic subplot was woven with unusual subtlety and grace, it seemed to move through a theoretical steps 1-3 for most of the book - and then leap to step 10. Still, highly recommended.

This superb anthology is composed of stories with one common thread: every story is a first person narrative from the point of view of an alien. Most of these tales involve contact with humans - some quite surprising - but a few do not. This collection is a gem, filled with stories that are hilarious, insightful, moving and clever. Don't be fooled by the almost-exclusive comedy in the first several stories, for this anthology ranges widely, though several of the serious stories maintain a note of tongue in cheek. Highlights: The Last Wave (Kay Kenyon) for a sweet, touching story of an alien who wants to go home, First Contract (Linda J. Dunn) for an excellent portrayal of an alien society and its form of communication, and You (Stephen Leigh) which story is possibly the best use of second person I have ever read.

An absorbing, tangled web of time travel, chaos, historical self-correction - with comedy of manners and a very subtle romance thrown in for good measure - this book follows the trials of tribulations of Ned Henry, time-travelling historian whose "sick leave" to recover from time-lag goes dreadfully awry. Stuck in the Victorian era, inadequately briefed and accompanied by a cast of larger-than-life characters (to say nothing of the dog, who is one of the most delightful "people" in the book), Ned tries to resolve a critical turning point in history. Tiny events truly turn the world in this excellent novel. Some of the twists the reader may see coming - others arrive with a heartwarming thwap on the back of the head. And pet-owners may find particular sympathy in these pages ... granted, some of the rapid explanations left me bewildered, but I did read the book in huge chunks. A highlight are the tongue-in-cheek chapter summaries written at the beginning of each chapter. A sample: "Pandora's Box -- Underwear as a Topic of Conversation in the Victorian Era - My Mistake - Commands Suitable for Use with a Cat ..."

Despite the advance of three-dimensional television in Stasheff's futuristic setting, there is no substitute for the thrill of live theatre and the presence of real actors. When thespian Barry Tallendar hatches a scheme to take a troupe of actors to the colony planets, he cannot imagine the trials and tribulations his merry band of players will face. Stasheff's portrayal of the theatre in all its aspects is vivid and entertaining, from the familiar cattle calls to his fictional innovations in scenery and repertoire. The interplay between his characters is marvelous and witty, with the result that one sometimes feels the greatest obstacle the actors face is each other. As with most of Stasheff's novels, the characters and plots tend to expound his politics and philosophy, but this is forgivable in a storyline that is larger than life - very appropriate in a saga of actors sent to the stars.

Young Dion, a powerful mage sheltered from the world around her, is thrust into the center of intrigue and politics when the Duke calls upon her to guard his flamboyant mistress from a mysterious necromancer. This story is a potent coming of age tale that follows Dion through the litany of changes in her life, from misconceptions to revelation on several fronts. Kitten Avignon - the Duke's mistress - is one of the most compelling and delightful characters I have encountered in years. Alas, the sequels - Fire Angels and Aramaya - do not live up to the promise of this book, transforming innocent Dion into something of a shrew and emphasizing the ill traits that Mage Heart so easily accomodates. However, it is not necessary to read the rest of the series, as this novel is a complete gem in itself.

Several serial stories written in the golden age of sword and sorcery about the adventurers of a fierce female warrior often dubbed a "gal Conan," Jirel of Joiry is a compilation of roughly sequential stories that follow her from encounters in the underworld to strange magical otherlands. Fiery Jirel surrenders to no man or force of nature, though this same stubbornness often gets her into as much trouble as anything else. Although the initial two stories are rather tangled and hard to follow, with too many pages of detached description and no explanation for the ghostly sights, they improve sharply thereafter and are an engrossing read. Don't expect the rules of magic to be outlined here, however: dating back to the 1930s, these stories come from an era before the average reader demanded to know the nuts and bolts of sorcery.

I received this book as part of my World Fantasy Convention '05 packet and didn't expect much out of it. Truth be told, it is a popcorn book, but it is also a page-turner with an insidious "just one more" subliminal message imprinted on every page. Kitty is a DJ who accidentally starts a late-night talk show for the supernatural, and quickly earns unwelcome attention not only from the book's signature werewolves and vampires, but from the authorities and a surprisingly charming hitman as well. Vampires and werewolves, the usual fare - but werewolf society is wonderfully depicted here, with a real understanding of what effect pack mentality and structure would have on human relations. The end of the book also promises selkies in the sequel. (Seals! Seals!) Be warned: there is a bit of somewhat graphic sex here, though it's fitting to the story and not excessive. My only complaint is because this novel sets up for the sequel, this story doesn't really end in a satisfactory manner. The character growth feels stunted. (Sidebar: and the sequel does NOT provide the promised seals. Boo.)

A fantastic (literally) collection of short stories combining the supernatural and suspicious, written by both fantasy and mystery authors with only one requirement: that every story contain an element of the fantastic, and a crime, preferably a murder. These stories range from surreal to silly, set in modern times, historical eras, and distant realms. The stories vary in quality - my favorites may not be yours - but this is a good, solid read. Check out: Doppelgangster, Cold Case and Murder Entailed for three very different flavors of excellence.

This book is best described, in a nutshell, as a noir detective movie centering around magic and the supernatural, complete with dangerous dames, lumbering thugs, and a wisecracking voiceover in this case provided by the narrator and main character, Harry Dresden. The book moves fast and holds on. It also features a vivid cast of secondary characters, most of them quite traditional - the sultry reporter, the tough-as-nails female cop, the cool-as-ice gangster with class - but executed with enough uniqueness to make them stand out. Parts of the story, particularly the red herrings, seem truncated to fit everything in, but odds are, you won't notice this until you're done. Do note - this is not a read for kids. There is quite a bit of profanity and a fair number of sexual references, although nothing outright explicit.

Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold

There are no women on the planet of Athos, so reproduction is dependent on imported genetic material. When a mysterious sabotage threatens this cycle, sheltered Athosian Dr. Ethan Urquhart is sent away from Athos to replace the crucial goods and - of course - runs into more than he bargained for. Bujold has a deft, competent hand with the scientific underpinnings of her world that translates into a strong sense of reality while still being accessible and interesting to non-technophiles. Ethan's attempts to avoid the opposite gender and comprehend the universe he has never encountered make for some wonderful humor in a novel that is still thoughtful, considered and suspenseful. The resolution of the story's prime mystery is something of an anti-climax, but it remains an absorbing and entertaining read.

Heroics For Beginners and The Unhandsome Prince by John Moore

These two books aren't connected in any way except theme: they are both witty, engrossing, hysterical takes on standard fantasy tropes of the fairy tale kingdom and evil overlord variety. Moore excels at writing a spoof that still makes you care about the characters involved, and in using modern elements - the names of the characters, from Kevin to Caroline; passing mentions of sunglasses - while still keeping the millieu a firm fairy tale, "Once upon a time." Follow a hapless prince as he tries to defeat the evil overlord and win the hand of his lady love with the help of the ultimate heroics handbook (appropriately quoted throughout). Witness the trials and tribulations of an enterprising young woman who discovers that even if you kiss a lot of frogs, sometimes you end up with a second-rate prince. Either way, give them a read.

Mystery Quick-Picks by Various

Stepping out of speculative fiction for a moment, here is a quick sprinkling of titles in the mystery genre I recommend, along with a brief description of the niche they fall into:

Murder On Ice by Alina Adams -- Snarky humor with an amateur sleuth and soap-opera antics

Absolution By Murder by Peter Tremayne -- Absorbing mystery featuring a seventh century Irish nun

Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews -- Uproariously funny amateur sleuth

Any Cadfael novel by Ellis Peters -- Descriptive mysteries featuring a twelfth century Welsh monk (the style is a bit archaic and takes getting used to, but is worth it.)

This Is My Funniest edited by Mike Resnick

Twenty-nine short stories by various authors - some known for their humorous work, others for anything but - considered by the author his/herself to be their funniest work. This collection starts off poorly with some short stories better described as random rather than funny, but then develops into a work that shouldn't be missed. Whether you are familiar with the authors within or not, there is something for everyone. A few highlights of the collection include -- Weirdest: Franz Kafka, Superhero! (David Gerrold), Sweetest: Faith (James Patrick Kelly), Best Parody: Sweet, Savage Sorcerer (Esther Friesner), and Most Unique Format: The Usurper Memos (Josepha Sherman).

Recommendations For Readers

Starship Troupers (A Company Of Stars, We Open On Venus, A Slight Detour) by Christopher Stasheff

Mage Heart by Jane Routley

Jirel of Joiry by C.L. Moore