Science Fiction Fantasy Books

I loved this book!! It was a great alternative to how the series ended! It was true to the characters. The problem is the copy of the book I received had about about 15 completely blank pages in the middle of the story. It was a huge disappointment. I can't believe Amazon would ship a book that was so poorly printed.

ditto what J. McCain "Jim McCain" (Shreveport, LA USA) said:

This book is fast paced and doesnt seem as though its over 400 pages in length. Be prepared to pull an all-nighter to read it you will not want to put it down once you start. The characterizations are dead on accurate. Our friends in Section 31 show up again and we see intrigue involving the Romulans.

First the relationship in the series should have been between Captain Archer and T'Pol since the first two seasons showed them getting closer. Trip and T'Pol never made a great couple. Second,when it comes to this book,you should just read the Historian's note section and the years during the chapters, for it totally doesn't follow canon and is WAY WRONG Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III died in 2161 and thsi book happens right after the episode "Terra Prime" in 2155. The Enterprise series final "These Are The Voyages" was set 6 years later in the year 2161 during the founding of the United Federation of Planets. Therefore Trip was never dead when this book started and dies 6 years later in 2161. This book is the hoax, TRIP REALLY DID DIE and no book can change that since thsi book's plot takes place in 2155, its a hoax since Trip died in 2161. If you don't believe me, check startrek.com and the description for the last episode, "It says six years into the future...". This book therefore is the worst Star Trek Enterprise book ever along with the epilogue to teh novel "Last Full Measure". Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin are the worst Star Trek Enterprise authors ever and they shouldn't even be writing books none less getting them published since they totally fall out of canon set by the series and don't even follow the right timeline when it comes t oTrip's life, he never died in 2155 but died protecting Captain Archer in 2161.

"Star Trek Enterprise: The Good That Men Do" is the untold story of Starfleet engineer Charles "Trip" Tucker's first secret mission for Section 31, deep behind enemy lines, in the relatively unknown realm that is the Romulan Star Empire. This may be the first "Star Trek" novel I've encountered that deals substantially with the origins of the Earth-Romulan conflict. "Star Trek" scribes Andy Mangelis and Michael A. Martin have written their best "Star Trek" novel yet, replete with ample action, and considerable character development too from the likes of not only Tucker, but surprisingly too, Andorian Imperial Guardsman Shran. As "Star Trek" entertainment, it will be of interest not only to fans of "Star Trek Enterprise", but also "Star Trek Deep Space Nine". Much to my amazement, the authors adroitly handle potential plot spoilers that could have unexpected consequences for Vulcan's diplomatic relations with the other major powers in the soon-to-be-formed United Federation of Planets. Though theirs isn't great space opera science fiction, I am certain that Mangelis and Martin's novel will delight those who are avid fans of "Star Trek".

This book had a good premise and for the most part, good execution, but it read like fanfiction rather than a professional novel. Especially because of the inaccuricies such as T'Pol's emotional outbursts and the fact that Trip's older brother was married (to a woman) with at least one son (a fact that established in Enterprise's first season). If you can overlook these things, then it is a good read. If you can't ignore the glaring mistakes, then I'd say you should skip it.

I have nothing against the gay marriage thing, but if it hadn't been so far from canon that the light from canon will take a billion years to reach it, I wouldn't have said anything.

I've enjoyed all of Novik's Temeraire novels, but I think she's fallen int a trap of her own making. By creating a period piece set in a fantasy universe version of the Penninsular War, she's inviting comparison to books like Cornwell's Sharpe series, Forester's Hornblower, and O'Brian's Aubrey, among others.

These books take real, historical situations and inject fictional characters and events. They also tell fairly action-oriented stories that, while self-contained, lead us through the history of the time.

Novik's trap is that she isn't willing to tell a self-contained story. Oh, each book, including War of Eagles, does tell a story, but she appears to be posing more questions for future books than answering them within this one. I found Victory of Eagles enjoyable, but ultimately unsatisfying. I want to find out more about the characters of Novik's world, and what's going on there, and I want to anticipate enjoying the next book in the series BECAUSE of these characters and situations, not because the author has left me hanging.

Yes, I would recommend this book, and the entire series, to anyone who asks, but I would like to see Novik more confidently tell stories knowing she doesn't have to hold back to keep her audience for the next novel.

The first few books in the series were great, and volume four seemed to be a peak. This fifth installment is perhaps not as good, but still enjoyable and interesting. The war finally hits England, and Lawrence and Temeraire struggle through their own difficulties during the melee. We see a lot of the dragons here as Temeraire makes some headway with fighting for dragon rights, and the over-all story of the series moves on as the Napoleonic war swings right across Britain and back again.

Some of the reviews on Amazon are very negative, and I wish I could disagree with most of what they are saying. The story is not as strong as some of the other volumes, leaving it feeling a bit like an "inbetweener" novel. Fans of books 1-4 will still enjoy it, and it's a worthwhile read.

VERY ENJOYABLE BOOK AS ALL THE ONES BEFORE IT HAS PROVEN. ARRIVED PROMPTLY
AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK HIGHLY TO EVERYONE THAT ENJOYS SCIENCE FICTION. D.SHERRILL

The entire series is excellent. Very engrossing. I cant wait for each new book to come out. Naomi Novic cant write fast enough for me.

I love this series, and I love this addition to it.

But somehow, for me, this book felt quite disjointed in comparison to the last ones - I won't go into details about the plot (which itself was everything I could have hoped), and regardless, it was the execution that bothered me.

From odd changes in perspective to the myriad of spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors (I have never seen so many in a published work previously), I have to wonder whether Ms Novik or the publisher fired their copyeditor. The errors just served to jar me out of an otherwise gripping story.

I hope this is corrected in the paperback version, but as it stands, the print quality of the UK hardback is appalling.

If you enjoy a good revenge tale, one with cunning, guile, and dash, this is for you. Not the usual sword and sorcery tale. High marks.

I liked the characters and I think the story line would have been good. I hate reading books where the authoir keeps switching between past, current and future. It gives too much away about the past, and just gets irritating. Just as you get engrossed in the current story you get whisked forward or back and lose the momentum. Scott Lynch does so much of this that for the third time in my life I abandoned a book half way through.

I am not vehemently opposed to this book; certainly many moments struck a key, but I believe this book just isn't for me. I saw George Martin's blurb, read the glowing reviews, and even heard people talk about the book in regular settings. I picked up the book as fast as I could.

Unlike other reviews, I loved the first 100 pages. I just didn't find anything special about the tale. In some instances I feel like the description paragraphs were overdone, which is surprising for me to say since I fancy elaborate prose. There was also a few moments where the profanity appeared forced. I have no personal objections to obscene language in books, but unless the book is meant to be a jarring read (like Fight Club), it should come off natural - just like anything, really.

Character sympathy extended to half of the crew. On a personal level I "liked" Bug, Jean, and the Priest more than I did Locke.

I definitely think this was a good first effort, though. The cover art is beautiful as well.

Lies of Locke Lamora


Without question, one of the best books I've read this year and probably the best book in the genre I've read since I finished the last George R. R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire book. I finished it a few days ago and I'm still excited about it!

Lies, by new author Scott Lynch, follows the exploits of Locke Lamora, an orphan who is raised to be a thief. The setting is Camorr, a Venice-like city that has a rather significant crime problem, mostly made up of little gangs of orphaned thieves and controlled by a mafia-like crime boss. Lamora is the ultimate anti-hero, charming and funny but also a little despicable. He is trained in the art of deception by a false priest named Chains, along with his adopted brothers Galo, Caldo, Jean and Bug. The book switches back and forth between when Locke and his "brothers" are young and being trained by Chains, to the present day when Locke is the new "garrista" (leader) of their gang, called The Gentlemen Bastards, now that Chains has passed away. Although the Gentlemen are thought to be just a bunch of low-producing sneak thieves to the rest of the crime gangs and the boss, they really spend their day breaching "The Secret Peace"--a deal struck between the ruling class of Camorr and the crime boss that his thieves would stick to robbing the commoners and merchants and leave the upper class alone, and in exchange the police would "miss" a lot of the crime going on right under their noses. Lamora and his gang purposely target the upper class, even though they have no idea how to even spend their secret fortune, just to prove they can get away with it. The trouble begins when a man calling himself The Gray King starts targeting the gangs, and Lamora in particular.

I read some of the negative reviews of this book, and most seem to take umbrage with the extensive use of foul language. Yes, if cursing inherently offends you, this book is not for you. It's about a bunch of people raised from childhood to be criminals, so to me the cursing is pretty natural. I also saw a criticism that the wittiness of the dialogue was distracting and unrealistic--that characters in mortal danger should not be ready with a pithy, thoughtful comment. Ok, fair, but honestly, the dialogue in this book is so masterfully entertaining that I can forgive the fact that it's just a little bit too good to be real. I mean, it's not a book that is trying to portray any sort of realism, so I think a bit of overly witty commentary is ok.

To any fan of the genre, this is surely a can't-miss read. I'm about 100 pages into Lynch's second in the series and already lamenting that the third isn't out yet.

If you consider a book based on how it makes you want to keep reading, then I'll give this one full marks. My main issue with it, however, was excessive exposition. This, I'll admit, might just be my own issue. I tend not to like a lot of descriptive verbiage and this one has pages and pages of it that I basically skimmed.

I thought the main story was interesting and generally well laid out. The author did a lot of flashing back and forth in time, especially early in the book, to provide the back story on certain elements. Some of it I didn't think were necessary or useful at all, but some was helpful. The main character (Locke Lamora) was one that definitely grew on me. He is both crafty and heroic, despite being perhaps a less than heroic sort of character.

Overall, I'll call it a pleasant read, though as yet I have not decided whether I'd buy another book by the author.

If you are wondering what Warriors is, let me put it this way: it is a preteen series about forest cats who live in England in large groups called "Clans." The Clans go by the names of ThunderClan, ShadowClan, WindClan and RiverClan. "Cats of the Clans" is a very useful guide to the series of AMAZING books, and the illustrations are enchantingly incredible. The text is very descriptive, and it is a great book for pleasure or for reference. However, through its worthy veil, the texts of the cat descriptions sometimes give everything away, like so-in-so dies or so-in-so has kittens. I think Erin Hunter could do a better job of flicking spoilers off the pages.

Reviewed by Austin McCredie (age 13) for Reader Views (8/08)

"Warriors: Cats of the Clans" is the story (told to three kits going to StarClan) of some of the most important cats in the Clans' lives that they never knew or would know. From the just ThunderClan to the battle-hungry ShadowClan, you learn some things you have never known or even thought of about the Clan Cats. Erin Hunter gives you new insight about your favorite cats of the Warrior series.

Erin Hunter wraps together many of the Cats spread throughout the series. Many cats we hardly remember are brought back to mind. I myself forgot about some of the Cats and what we remember them for. One of the Cats, Yellowfang, I completely forgot about -- "Brave, loyal Yellowfang, who fought enough battles for nine lifetimes."

I remember every cat now and have learned little details about each Cat that were never seen before. This is much better than the previous Field Guide and puts it to shame with what you learn. This book is complete with maps and full-color illustrations. The writing is from the viewpoint of one of the Cats, Rock. You feel like he is speaking to you. The flow of the book is so good; you don't see it as separate pages, but as one long telling. Although, sometimes I had to re-read something to fully understand what Erin Hunter was saying. The wording is very deep and confusing at points, but it helps add to understanding each Cat.

I am a huge fan of the Warrior series. I started reading the books in about fourth grade and haven't stopped since. The "Warriors: Cats of the Clans" has been a huge help to understanding the Cats a little more than just relying on the actual books to help you. I think this new book from Erin Hunter is a huge help to every true Warrior reader out there. New doors are opened through this book and new meanings to why each Cat behaved like he or she did.

Anyone who wants to re-meet the Cats of this wonderful series should get "Warriors: Cats of the Clans." Cats who we once knew, or that we are now being introduced to, or in the upcoming books, are here and have some things to tell you -- all you have to do is listen.

As usual, Erin Hunter, has done an excellent job. This is a must have for all Warrior book lovers.

Really enjoyed this book! I loved seeing the illustrations of the different cats, even though many were left out or not fully illustrated. There aren't many new details here, but the stories were well done and the drawings beautiful. 5 stars!

This is a great book,the best warriors field guide they've made.The drawings are nice,they look like they're paintings and they're in color.I highly recommend this to warriors fans.

It would seem that Claire Danvers's life couldn't get any worse, what with living in a college town that is also inhabited by vampires who wouldn't think twice about killing her, and having her parents pressuring her to move back in with them when she already lives with her three best friends.

But when Mr. Bishop arrives, things turn positively deadly.

No one's really sure what Mr. Bishop wants -- all they know is that he's more powerful than anyone, possibly even Amelie, and he lacks any good intentions. Everyone is on their guard.

Soon, everyone is buzzing about the upcoming formal ball, and all the humans are clamoring for invites, even Claire and Eve. But this is one party that the breathing might want to pass up.

FEAST OF FOOLS is an exciting, fast-paced, and chilling thriller. Ms. Caine has a real knack for combining a headstrong heroine, nicely creepy happenings, and a dash of romance and intrigue to bring about a knockout novel that'll stun, spellbind, and utterly captivate readers. There's a twist around every corner, and a cliffhanger that will leave readers
desperate for more in this wonderful series that's reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

A word of caution: Once you start into THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES series, it's impossible to let go.

Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader

I love this series. When I got ahold of the author i told her i loved her like stephenie meyer. thats how good this series is

As you may have learned the first three were extraordinary reads, this one is no different.

I am amazed at how I just can't get enough of this story, I'm waiting for the next one.

Yet another great book in the Morganville series! Fun, fast paced, and action packed! I love Rachel Caine's style! The series is unique and keeps you wanting more!

Claire, as usual, is dealing with a multitude of problems--her parents have decided to move to Morganville, Monica is attempting to sabotage her college, she has to find the cure to save all the sick vampires, oh...and Amalie's father (the biggest, scariest vampire of all) has come to visit and take over the town. All in a normal day for a 16 (a few weeks to 17) year old genius. This book doesn't devil further in the psyche of the bad guys and friends like previous books. But, hey, get real, the books ARE ONLY about 250 pages long. This one does dig a little into roomie Eve's childhood, and Shane seems to be maturing a great deal (Finally!)

Honestly, I easily finished the book in one afternoon and evening--with a few disruptions. I absolutely adore this series by Rachel Caine, even more than her weather warden series. What truly gets my attention about her writing style is that she so easily picks up the mentality of a 16 year old. Granted, I've more than double that age, but reading this book brings me back to my own teen years. That awkward stage where you say the wrong things simply because he don't have the experience to know better. The times where you don't say anything at all and hope to fade into the woodwork because you feel your out of your element. Caine brings that through with her character of Claire without being obvious about it and without coming right out and saying it. A fabulous writing job with her characterization.

Now for the bad part---those horrible cliffhangers! Come-on! I'm dying here! he, he. Yea, yea, she's got to have us salivating for the next one, and it certainly working on me!

The 2nd book in the series is really a continuation of the first, and should be viewed that way, rather than as a stand-alone book.
Character development continues and there are hints of other forces and players as the prime group struggles halfway around the world to recover an artifact of great power.
More and more it becomes evident that each character has a dark side, and who is good or bad becomes a matter of viewpoint. Each person is the hero of their own story - trying to do the best they can, but is it best to surrender a city and live under foreign rule, or suffer a long siege, starving, when it is clear the defender will eventually fail with great loss of life and the city be sacked. Dead hero or live chicken ?

I can't say this enough. Buy this series. I said the first book was one of the best fantasy novels I have EVER read (and I have read a few) but this one is even better. It prompted me to A) write a review, which is a rarity for me and B) write the author, which is unheard of for me.

Being a fantasy / sci fi reader, I found this book (the second in the series)a good read. I will buy the next in the series when it comes out.

The first book was a great piece of fantasy and wit, and this one is even more so. The chapters are very enjoyably tied together, with much more character development than the first book.

A fantastic read, I thoroughly recommend.

"Before They Are Hanged" is the second volume in the First Law Series by promising young British writer Joe Abercrombie. The first novel, the wonderful "The Blade Itself" was a fantastic introduction to a series featuring brutal, hard-boiled characters, excessive profane language and copious amounts of violence. It was dark fantasy at its best--nasty and brutish.

Well I am here to say that "Before They Are Hanged" is an even bigger, meaner and better story as things get kicked up here to another gear.Inquistor Glokta and the barbarian, Logen "The Bloody Nine" Ninefingers are anti-heroes for the ages. Abercrombie turns all of his characters, who are filled with violence, maliciousness and machinations, into guilty pleasures. You know you should feel shocked and offended at some of the things the characters say or do, but it is just too damn hard not to enjoy it. While it may be good to be the King, it is also good to be bad.

As the novel begins, the Union finds itself at war on its Northern front against Bethod and his massive horde of battle-tested barbarians. Impending war with the Gurkish also threatens the southern city of Dagoska.

Inquistor Glokta has been dispatched to Dagoska to solve the mysterious disappearance of the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska. He finds he must overcome the corrupt and incompetent leadership of the city in order to achieve his objective, and defend the city from the impendingGurkish attack. Deadly backroom political intrigue ensues as forces within and without battle for their own agendas, causing Glokta to use his wits in order to keep control.

Meanwhile operating under his own agenda, the wizard, Bayaz, has gathered a party of his own, the mindless and arrogant Union officer, Jezal dan Luthar, the mysterious hate-filled Ferro Maljinn, and Logen. They have set out to recover an apocalyptic artifact from the past which Bayaz covets, the Seed. This device supposedly contains a destructive force so powerful and otherworldly that it will be able to save the Union from the invasions of both theGurkish and the North. But will Bayaz' group be able to recover the Seed and harness its power in time to save the Union?

Like "The Blade Itself", Abercrombie's writing here is hard-edged and relentless. Like a nail-chewing, steroid-popping beast of a fantasy novel, the story's pace flies at breakneck speeds, flexing its considerable muscles during well-conceived battle sequences. The action pounds, the dialogue cracks, and the humor oozes through, combining into one of the most enjoyable reading experiences of the year. I find that I cannot wait for the conclusion.

Last Word:
Better than the first novel, "Before They Are Hanged" is a fast-paced, gritty bit of brutality and fantasy that grabs you and doesn't let go. Dark, well-conceived and enjoyable, this is one not to be missed.

I really enjoy Lilith Saintcrow's writing, and this book is no exception. The story in the second book of the Jill Kismet series has more twists and turns than Night Shift (the first of the series). More is revealed about Jill, and her relationship with Pericles becomes slightly more blurred. I look forward to the next one, hoping to learn more about Saul.

I really enjoyed this book. I tried to read slowly but finished it in a few days. I liked the first book in the series but this was much better, more plot twists. Highly recommend it.

Jill Kismet is a hunter; a human who kills the creatures of the nightside; evil beings who wish to destroy mankind. The local police are not equipped to deal with such beasts so they hire her when it looks like the supernatural committed a heinous crime.

She is called in to examine a body of a prostitute in which all the internal organs are gone and it looks like someone took out chunks of the victim to eat. Jill learns that others were found in the same condition. In between looking at dead bodies and trying to figure who or what killed them, Father Guillermo calls her to do an exorcism on seminary student Oscar. She is successful in pulling the demon of his body, but she later learns he is a Sorrow; a human who worships the Chaldean Elder Gods. If Sorrows are in Kismet's city, she is prepared to deal with them because she uses a hellbreed's mark, which gives her powers that originate in Hell. Jill discovers an old enemy is in town; the Sorrow who killed her mentor and she learns that a rebel Sorrow is performing a ritual that will allow the Nameless, Destroyer of Babies and Eaters of Worlds God to cross into our real unless she can locate and stop the evocation.

As usual, Lilith Saintcrow writes an entertaining, action-packed urban fantasy loaded with strange dark and evil monsters. Her Hunter world is grim yet hopeful as creatures of myths, legend and the night roam the earth. The heroine uses evil powers to fight for the better good and protect the innocent in a sort of fight fire with fire manner. Jill's romantic feelings for a were-cougar embellish an enjoyable paranormal thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I love this series, love the character of Harry Dresden and all his friends. This was an action filled book and carried on the series very well. The audio books read by James Marsters are very well done also. I've listened to the first four he read. This book continues the war between the White Council and the Red Court of vampires. You find out more about the White Council and it's members. Harry is developing more in each book. Highly recommend this book and the whole series. It's one of my favorite series of books. My favorite book so far in the series is probably Summer Knight.

i'm 1/2 way into the this book and am really enjoying it. loved the first 6 dresden books. great style of fantasy writing, great plots, and endearing characters (even some of the ones that aren't human!). each dresden book builds upon the other but can also be picked up out of order and still be totally enjoyed! book arrived in a timely manner and in mint condition.

Dead Beat is the novel that got me excited about the Dresden Files again. Blood Rites was a downer and I was finished with this series. But someone gave me a copy of Dead Beat and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters in this novel were magnificent. The three necromancers and the Erkling and drama from Mab kept the excitement rolling in this novel. I felt this novel had lots of action and was a great story that could stand alone outside the series.

This novel begins with a meeting with Mavra, where Harry is forced to recover a book of spells for her. However, this book is also being pursued by three necromancers, all more powerful than Harry. The necromancers are seeking to summon the Erkling, and to harnass his power. Which ever of them harnass this power, would be like a god. The ending with Sue had me laughing for a while. This novel is great and I highly recommend it if you have enjoyed the series so far.

Jim Butcher pulls out all the stops on his maniacally wild imagination in this installment of the Dresden Files. This is absolutely my favorite Dresden book. I don't know how Butcher can ever top this one, but I'm willing to read every line of every new book he writes while he tries.

This seventh volume in Jim Butcher's excellent series serves up the hot magical action and cool wise-cracking wit that fans of Harry Dresden have come to expect.

DEAD BEAT is a notable landmark in this series for several reasons. For the first time, the magical world that Harry inhabits is given grounding and gravity; it seems to have become one of the notable landmarks of Chicago like the Field Museum (which provides a memorable setting and prop for the final battle). It is the first book to weave a plot that links strongly to previous books. As such, the characterizations and actions begin to separate from formula outlines and to cut a little closer to the bone. Harry has always been a vivid character, but now he's getting deep. And the supporting cast is also getting more three-dimensional. We are allowed a startling glimpse into the torment that Harry's half-brother Thomas is suffering. We see a transformation of the pathologist Dr. Waldo Butters from cowardly to courageous.

This book is chock full of delights for the reader: the drawbacks of rooming with a vampire, zombie polkas, a really big dog and the difficulty of cornering on a dinosaur...Read the book. I can't say any more.

"Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer is a great book to read to your kids while having a great time yourself.
This is a story of a young boy who is beyond a mischievous young imp sbut not quite a diabolical genius. He is constantly looking for a way to reprise his once-prominent family's name and in this instance he has discovered an underground world populated with faries, Dwarfs, Goblins and other assorted, magical life-forms. When he decides to kidnap one of the Faries, (who happens to be a police officer for a force called LEPrecon) Artemis clearly underestimates the power of the magical underworld.
Enjoy this book with the entire family.

This book was a great read,I hope someone makes a movie out of it,it's that good.

I'm a 62 year-old grandmother and purchased this book for my teenage grandkids. Ended up reading the book myself and loved it. I don't usually read science fiction or fantasy books. However, this book was so well written with a good plot and interesting characters -- that I would recommend it to adults of all ages.

As I've mentioned in other reviews, I bought this for my kids and picked it up not to set it down. A former avid sci-fi reader, I really like the whole new concept. Brilliant. The characters are done so well.

Artemis Fowl is a delightful mix of an extraordinary child mingled with technology, modern day living, and a fantastic universe of capable fairies. I was dubious when my brother in law first suggested the series, but have really enjoyed every book published to date. This is my favorite in the series, but only by a small margin. The exploits of a genius, his body guard in a magical setting is a wonderful flight on the wings of imagination.

I have several of Dozois' collections, and this one is--as reviewer Brad Schorr also said--above average. I didn't love every one of its thirty-two stories, and I couldn't even bring myself to finish two of them, but that's par for the course. In my experience, about 25 percent of a decent edited volume is really enjoyable, 25 percent is a chore to read, and the middle fifty percent falls between "blah" and "not bad." In this collection, I'd say that only the two aforementioned stories were really a chore to read, and though several stories were "blah," most fell between "not bad" and "pretty good". That's not too shabby if you subscribe to Sturgeon's Law ("Ninety percent of everything is crap").

I'm not going to run down all of the stories since Brad Schorr's done that for us already, but I do want to point out that there's plenty of room for disagreement with his take on them. Two stories that Schorr graded "A" -- "Roxie" and "The Skysailor's Tale" -- were the two that I couldn't read, the former because it was so drippingly sentimental, and the latter because it was so mannered and slow. Most of the stories he graded "C" fall into my "not bad" category, including Ken McLeod's "Lighting Out", which is a decent if pretty standard McLeod/Stross "singularity" tale, and McDonald's "Sanjeev and Robotwallah," which is a craftsmanlike near-future piece about how new technologies disrupt traditional life in the underdeveloped world. On the other hand, we agreed about several of the stories, including Chris Roberson's "The Sky is Large and the Earth is Small," a subtle alternate history piece that appears to be the most anthologized story of the year.

Bottom line: If you're in the mood for some stories and you don't need them all to be absolutely amazing, this collection is a good deal.

P.S. If you've read Dozois' THE NEW SPACE OPERA anthology, you should be aware that three of the stories collected here are drawn from there ("Saving Tiaamat," "Verthandi's Ring," and "Glory"). On the other hand, if you haven't read that anthology, I recommend it. Don't judge the book by the quality of those three stories -- they are NOT the best of the bunch.

I was excited to be the first one to check out this large tome from our local library. However, the book continually disappoints as the pages are turned. This is a poor selection of s/f stories. Borrowed stories from F&SF and another collector series entitled "Space Operas" left only 1/2 of the book to read and the technical jargon and easy confusion as to who is speaking makes the stories a tedious chore to read. Recommend checking out the book from your local library and reviewing several of the stories before making this purchase.

Once again we get a ravaged forest worth of mostly downer, mostly banal stories that somehow entranced Gardner Dozois in 2007. I mean, really, sir, why is the future so fearful to you? And why do you think trite observations of the human condition are fascinating if extrapolated into other times or outer space? Yeah, people take their troubles with them wherever they are; yeah, war is a bad business; yeah, humans are imperfect and sometimes their own worst enemies; so what else is new?

Read most of the stories in this collection and you won't want to go out and view the universe with wonderment, you'll want to slit your wrists. Luckily, the stories are so dull you'll fall asleep and the urge will pass.

At least this time Gardner and his publisher don't commit the fraud of putting spaceships and moonscapes on the cover to lure the unsuspecting into thinking they're getting tales of heroic astronauts and the glory of man's journey into the infinite. But he still titles this, laughingly, the Year's Best Science Fiction. Why? Because an honest and accurate title, "Speculative Fiction of 2007 That I Liked," would sell squat and he knows it.

There's a lot better science fiction on the internet now. No need to kill a tree for this.

Sure is a pity that such anthologies no longer put the year on the cover. This used to be common till the 80s and then died out. Probably because editors worried that the year would make the book seem quickly outdated, because a year really can go by quickly.

Anyhow, Dozois has completed his usual annual massive compendium of worthy stories. Worthy in his opinion, true. But all such collections have a natural subjectivity. As usual, Dozois has a lengthy preface, where he summarises the passing year in science fiction, as well as fantasy and [slightly] horror. If you are a SF fan, seriously consider reading his introduction, even if you peruse nothing else in the book. Dozois found a gap in what is available in the field. Think of it as a State of the Union message, if you will. It's a valuable service he performs for his field, and no one else does this to the same extent. He covers novels, magazines and websites. As well as scuttlebutt about the various publishers, and a listing of those noteworthies who died during the year. This year, we lost Clarke and Saberhagen.

As far as the stories go, Australian recluse Greg Egan stands out for having 2 entries. One of which shows his deep understanding of advanced physics. He gives a very original and plausible account of 2 explorers from starfaring civilisation replicating themselves to investigate a newly technological world, whose dominant species is still planetbound. Sure, at some level it is indeed fictional handwaving. But his scientific verisimilitude is far better than your average SF story. I would compare Egan to Vinge in this regard.

David Moles, "Finisterra". Unsavory traders butcher floating, mountainous organisms in this ominous but perhaps overly detailed slice of far future life. B-

Ken MacLeod, "Lighting Out". Neatly capturing the feel of life when humanity has morphed into a blend of reality, virtual reality, and bioengineered reality. C

John Barnes, "The Ocean is a Snowflake, Four Billion Miles Away". The third straight far future, hard science story with thick atmosphere and rather thin plot. This time the star is the dazzling landscape of Mars as it undergoes terraforming. C

Gwyneth Jones, "Saving Tiamaat". As human ambassadors assist two hostile races from a distant planet in settling their political dispute, cutthroat tactics abound, figuratively and literally. B-

James Van Pelt, "Of Late I Dreamt of Venus". The author weaves a tender love story into this riveting, millennium-spanning saga about a plutocrat, her quest to terraform Venus, and her quiet male companion. A+

Ian McDonald, "Verthandi's Ring". Alas, much of this epic tale of all-out intergalactic war was wasted on me due to its epic amount of scientific terminology and concepts. NR

Una McCormack, "Sea Change". From lots of science to hardly any in this chilling depiction of growing pains for the rich and snobbish in the near future. C

Chris Roberson, "The Sky is Large and the Earth is Small". In an alternate world with no Western civilization and dominated by a vast Oriental empire, an aspiring bureaucrat believes an obscure political prisoner who visited a civilization across the ocean holds the key to advancement. A haunting yet entertaining demonstration of how the pace of scientific progress is relative. A+

Greg Egan, "Glory". A couple of aliens try to unearth a profound secret on the distant planet of a glorious but dead civilization. Subtle philosophical insight, but surprisingly little action, follows the aliens' mind blowing grand entrance. B

Robert Silverberg, "Against the Current". With the waking nightmare atmosphere of a Twilight Zone episode, a Bay Area car dealer and his trusty Prius are propelled backward in time, about two decades a day. Superb execution of the "it could almost happen to you"motif. A+

Neal Asher, "Alien Archeology". A thrilling space adventure and battle of wits unfold following the discovery of an invaluable and dangerous relic. Grotesque and violent images punctuate the narrative, along with fascinating embellishments, including a race of talking beasts that never repeats the same word twice. A+

Ted Chiang, "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate". Exotic metaphors add dreamy texture to this tapestry of time travel, a story within a story within a story, set in ancient Baghdad. A

Justin Stanchfield, "Beyond the Wall". An enigmatic wall on a Saturn moon, designed by an alien M.C. Escher, tests the mettle of a band of explorers from Earth. Suspenseful, with a fittingly enigmatic flavor. A

Bruce Sterling, "Kiosk". Technology advances but politics, business, and human nature remain the same when a shop owner in a broken-down future Eastern Europe launches a breakthrough enterprise. Truth rings loudly in this tragicomic morality play. A

Stephen Baxter, "Last Contact". The end of the universe poignantly experienced by a mother and daughter in an English garden. A

Alastair Reynolds, "The Sledge-Maker's Daughter". Villagers in a far future, medieval like England grapple with privation, brutality, and alien combat slightly beyond their comprehension. B

Ian McDonald, "Sanjeev and Robotwallah". An Indian youth, robotics wars, and rampant confusion are all I gleaned from this jargon laden whirlwind of adventure. C

Michael Swanwick, "The Skysailor's Tale". A brilliantly composed alternate history, set in the British colony of America in the early 1800's, in which an old man tells the tale of his amazing journey aboard a vast military airship. A

Vandana Singh, "Of Love and Other Monsters". The sad but lyrical autobiography of a damaged and lonely alien, trapped on Earth in more ways than one. B

Greg Egan, "Steve Fever". An ailing scientist unwittingly lets loose a determined nanovirus that is infecting and steadily destroying mankind - without even trying. Subtly spine tingling. A

Kage Baker, "Hellfire at Twilight". A sense of impending doom fills the air when a bookish, time traveling cyborg infiltrates the secret rites of a princely pagan in 1774 England. B

Brian Stableford, "The Immortals of Atlantis". A down and out slum dweller gets a visit from an icy immortal on a recruiting mission. Bio science with dramatic punch! B+

Pat Cadigan, "Nothing Personal". Slow developing combination whodunit and character study of an aging cop suffering from the mother of all midlife crises. (A brush with alternate realities will do that to you.) B

Elizabeth Bear, "Tideline". In the aftermath of a devastating war, a dying robot soldier asks a boy to complete her rather peculiar mission. B

Keith Brooke, "The Accord".The delicate balance of a far future world where life and afterlife commingle is disrupted by an anomalous stranger. B

Nancy Kress, "Laws of Survival". A woman is abducted by aliens to train dogs, for purposes that grow more mysterious even as they become more clear. Spellbinding portrayal of what it might be like to confront the complete unknown. A+

Tom Purdom, "The Mists of Time". History comes alive as two time travelers observe a naval skirmish between a slaver and a British warship. The time travel subplot is somewhat contrived, but the historical narrative is rich beyond measure. A

Kristine Kathryn Rusch, "Craters". Terrifying and tragic extrapolation of life after several more decades of escalating Islamic terrorism. Surprised this theme isn't more prevalent this year. B

Ted Kosmatka, "The Prophet of Flores". One form of zealotry is exchanged for another in this sideways world (as editor Dozois calls it) where Creationists have the upper hand. C+

Benjamin Rosenbaum & David Ackert, "Stray". Omnipotent immortal is sorely tempted as he tries for a humble human life in Depression Era America. C

Robert Reed, "Roxie". Heartwarming celebration of life about an ordinary family man's relationship with his dog, set against the backdrop of a perilous future. A

Gregory Benford, "Dark Heaven". A homicide cop in Mobile follows a murder trail to colonizing amphibious aliens, and learns far more than he bargained for. B