Review: Nova War by Gary Gibson

Nova War by Gary Gibson

Nova War
Gary Gibson
Tor, 2009

Nova War is the sequel to 2008’s Stealing Light a book that, surprise surprise, has yet to get a release here in the states.  Nova War dispenses with some of the mystery of the first novel and trading it instead for some serious action.  Indeed things are ratcheted right up to eleven and amongst all the action and excitement I felt that Gibson still managed to do an excellent job in creating unique and memorable characters and wound up with a book that surpassed its predecessor in terms of quality.  If you haven’t read the first book be warned there will be some minor spoilers below.

Review: The Quiet War by Paul McCauley

The Quiet War by Paul McCauley

The Quiet War
Paul McCauley
Pyr, 2009

In a future where Earth has been ravaged by economical disaster humanity is split down two divergent paths.  Down one path are the Outers, exiled first to the moon then to Mars and now settled on the moons surrounding Jupiter and Saturn they espouse the ideas of Ancient Greek Democracy and use genetic manipulation to modify their bodies in ways both practical and cosmetic. Meanwhile, on Earth the powerful Brazilian government, ruled by a class of powerful families, follows a nature based religion predicated on restoring the Earth, or Gaea, to her former glory.  These two societies find themselves at social and ideological loggerheads not only with each other but within divergent faction within each society as well.  It isn’t long before the spectre of war looms on the horizon.

Review: Seeds of the Earth by Michael Cobley

Seeds of the Earth by Michael Cobley

Seeds of the Earth
Michael Cobley
Orbit UK, 2009 (MM, Jan 2010)

Seeds of the Earth is the first in a new space opera series by Michael Cobley.  The cover features a nice one line quote from space opera master Iain M. Banks describing the novel as “Proper galaxy-spanning space opera.”  A statement that couldn’t be more true.  Seeds of the Earth is very old school with a large cast of characters and a diverse and wonderfully vibrant phalanx of ideas that makes for an great read and excellent starting point in jumping from my epic fantasy reading of November into the stars and beyond.

Seeds of the Earth opens with humanity’s first contact with the alien Swarm.  Or at least the tail end of that conflict as we more or less witness the departure of three human colony ships (note: I read the prologue while I had a fever of 103 and, for shame, didn’t go back and re-read it after).  The novel picks up a century and a half later on the human colony world of Darien where, after struggling with the rogue AI of their colony ship, the humans have settled in a peaceful coexistence of the nature loving Uvovo.   The discovery of an ancient Uvovo ruin dating back thousands of years to a conflict with a powerful and mysterious enemy sets off a chain of reactions that thrusts Darien and its human and Uvovo inhabitants straight into danger.

More to follow with potential spoilers…

Review: The Infernal City by Greg Keyes

The Infernal City by Greg Keyes

The Infernal City: An Elder Scrolls Novel
Greg Keyes
Del Rey, 2009

Forty years after the Oblivion crisis a strange floating city appears over the oceans of Tamriel and begins a long journey towards the continent of Morrowind.  Swept up in its wake is the youthful and alchemically inclined Annaig and her long time Argonian friend Mere-Glim.  The two find themselves drawn into the strange ecology of the floating city Umbriel as it leaves destruction in its wake.  Drawn by Annaig’s magical plea for help is the world-famous hero Prince Attrebus who suddenly discovers some hard truths about himself and his friends.  Thrown into the mix is a hardened dunmer somehow tied to the Daedric Prince Azura.

Review: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Curse of Chalion
Lois McMaster Bujold
Harper Eos, 2001

Nominated for a World Fantasy award in 2002 The Curse of Chalion marked a shift for Bujold from the sci-fi adventure of Miles Vorkosigan to a more sedately paced fantasy novel.  As commander of a border garrison Castillar Lupe de Cazaril held the fort against the enemy for longer then anyone expected.  Peaceful negotiations prevailed and the fort was sold to the enemy.  Unfortunately for Caz he was  “mistakenly” left off the list of ransomed men and quickly sold into slavery on Rocknari galley.  Returning home from several years of exile he is looking not for revenge but for a quiet job as servant or kitchen help.  Instead he finds himself quickly placed as the secretary and tutor to the Royina Iselle, whose brother will inherit the throne.  Caz is forcibly thrust back into court politics where he must do his best to safeguard the well-being of Iselle while at the same time confronting the very men who forced him into exile.

Review: A Young Man Without Magic by Lawrence Watt-Evans

A Young Man Without Magic

NOTE: Yes, I’m still sick, but apparently I never posted this review.  Oops.

 

A Young Man Without Magic
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Tor, 2009

Believe it or not this is my first experience with veteran fantasy author Lawrence Watt-Evans.  While certainly not a bad read by any means it is one rife with problems and one that feels more or less incomplete.  In A Young Man Without Magic our titular young man is the recently-educated and well-to-do Anrel.  His parents were killed in a arcane experiment when he was a child and he was taken in by his uncle, also a Mage.  Anrel, unfortunately, is indeed without magic which in a society ruled by mages means that, despite his birth, Anrel is nothing more then a mere commoner.  A commoner yes but one educated with the finest instruction money can buy.  Returning home from school Anrel finds his boyhood friend Valin, a mage raised from common blood, now something a radical; preaching the importance and power of common man in the governance of society.  When Valin runs afoul of a local lord and winds up dead Anrel’s brash attempt to honor his friend’s memory provokes an avalanche of consequence that sends him on the run.

Review: Servant of a Dark God by John Brown

Servant of a Dark God by John Brown

Servant of a Dark God
John Brown
Tor, 2009

John Brown’s debut, and the first in a new series, is a blend of both classic fantasy tropes and more modern themes.  With its unassuming boy hero it might be easy to write this off as a return to the farm hands and kitchen help of fantasy’s yesteryear but Brown, through delicate crafting of his world manages to avoid this potential pitfall creating something that, while it hearkens back the roots of classic fantasy, manages to become something slightly different.

The world of Servant of a Dark one is ruled by the mysterious and powerful Divines who ask for and wield the “fire” or life energy of their subjects in order to power their magic.  We learn over the course of the novel that the Divines weren’t the only ones in charge and a multitude of conquered people are not necessarily satisfied with their rule.  One such people, the Koramites, are a subjugated minority, servants to the powerful Mokkaddians who, in turn, serve the Divines.  Tossed into this mix is a magical abomination and the machinations of unknown powers that plunge one small corner of this world into near chaos.

Read on for more, though some minor spoilers may occur….

Review: The Other Lands by David Anthony Durham

David Anthony Durham

The Other Lands
David Anthony Durham
Doubleday, 2009

Durham, known for his historical fiction novels, burst onto the fantasy scene in 2007 with Acacia: The War with the Mein the first in a new fantasy series.  Released back in September The Other Lands is the second book in Durham’s Acacia series continuing the saga of the Akaran family and their empire.   Like the first book The Other Lands is a different from many fantasy novels today and its pacing, structure, and themes all seem informed by Durham’s experience with historical fiction.  If you’ve yet to read the first book there are definite spoilers here.

Review: The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas

The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas

The Adamantine Palace
Stephen Deas
Orion UK, 2009 (US: Roc, Feb. 2010)

Stephen Deas’ debut The Adamantine Palace is a strong debut though not without its problems.  The world of The Adamantine Palace is ruled by several Kings and Queens who in turn are, if not ruled, at least mediated by a Speaker who sits in the titular palace.  The power of the nobles of the world stems from what looks like a combination of perceived divine mandate and the harnessing of dragons.  The novel follows the tumultuous events that occur when one dragon, Snow a perfect white, is lost and unable to be tended by the mysterious alchemists as all dragons are.  Amidst this several powerful nobles vie for the role of Speaker double dealing and politicking their way to the top.  Politics, betrayal and violence ensue spinning a tangled web of consequences.  Perhaps the most startling thing, for me at least, and a potential detriment to many readers is the difficulty in finding a protagonist.

Review: Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson

Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson

Dust of Dreams
Steven Erikson
Bantam, 2009 [UK] (Forthcoming Jan. 2010 U.S.)

More and more I find that reviewing Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen series a difficult prospect.  There is a less of a problem reviewing Ian C. Esselmont’s books set in the same world, they are typically stand-alone novels, but in series as large and sprawling as this one it becomes harder and harder to review as the series has gone on.  Which makes Dust of Dreams, the penultimate volume (really part 1 of a 2 part novel), a bit difficult to review.  Things are even more difficult here because for some reason my heart just wasn’t in this read.  890 pages read in half hour spurts (my lunch break) since I received the book in August means things aren’t exactly fresh in my mind.  Even my co-workers, frequently observant of the near roulette speed with which my lunching reads change, were quick to point out (and chide) at my glacial trek through Dust of Dreams.

As with any late series review I recommend not reading on if you’ve haven’t read earlier volumes.