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THE EDGE OF REASONJune 16, 2008
Here’s a few titles that I’ve read and enjoyed over the past year. If you’re looking for a good new fantasy to get into, try A MAGIC OF TWILIGHT by S.L. Farrell and THE EDGE OF REASON by Melinda Snodgrass, the opening volumes in a couple of gripping new series. Farrell takes us to an exotic new fantasy world with a strong Venetian flavor to serve up a tasty stew of war, intrigue, magic, and religion, while Snodgrass brings the eternal struggle between faith and reason to the streets of contemporary Albuquerque. You should also run out and pick up THE YIDDISH POLICEMAN’S UNION by Michael Chabon, which just won the Nebula Award, and deservedly so. It’s an alternate history detective novel set in Jewish Alaska, and there’s never been anytthing quite like it. I also enjoyed the hell out of the new historical from Ken Follett, WORLD WITHOUT END, a sequel of sorts to his THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH. The new book isn’t quite as strong as the first one, but it’s still thoroughly engrossing, a vivid look at medieval life peopled by characters you can’t help but care about. And then for something completely different, check out SOCIETY’S CHILD, the autobiography of singer/ songwriter Janis Ian (who’s a hardcore SF and fantasy reader, when she’s not writing incredible songs like “At Seventeen” and “Society’s Child.”). Her story is as heartfelt as her songs. |
