News from Murder One

Science Fiction:

Michael Moorcock, The Dreamthief's Daughter. Moorcock has during his
long and respected career created a number of extremely memorable
characters; Corum being my personal favourite, and his best loved of
the lot is Elric of Melnibone. This return to the fantasy genre begins
in the 1930's and finds Count Ulric von Bek imprisoned by the Nazis.
Languishing near death he is rescued by an Englishman man named
Bastable and a strange albino woman by the name of Oona. They take him
to meet a man he has seen only in his dreams, and who is eerily
familiar, Elric. This being classic Moorcock, von Bek and the Albino
Prince are of course facets of the same personality; The Eternal
Champion, and as their adventure continues both find themselves taking
and surrendering control of the events that take place in the constant
struggle between Law and Chaos. This is the first of three new novels
and should be viewed as an exciting event in fantasy publishing. If
you've never read Moorcock I strongly urge you to waste no further
time. I've been reading his books for the past 18 years and he has
been the most consistently intelligent, inventive, and entertaining
author I have ever read. UK hardcover, #16.99.

Katherine Kurtz, St. Patrick's Gargoyle. Back in the good old days
(we're talking Old Testament here) Padraig was the best of the
avenging angels, feared, ruthless, and fair. Now he stands guard over
St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin; a gargoyle. When one night vandals
steal into the St. P.'s, Padraig's revenge is swift, but his act of
vengeance sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to the
Dublin gargoyles facing an ancient and terrifying evil. US hardcover,
#16.99.

L.E. Modesitt Jr., The Octagonal Raven. Daryn Alwyn turned his back on
the family run Media empire and a life of privilege to do a stint in
the military. Keeping a suitable, friendly distance between himself
and his familia, the assassination attempt on his life is more than
surprising; his father, brother or sister would have been more likely
targets. When his sister is killed and he becomes heir to her vast
fortune, Daryn is drawn reluctantly into the world of galactic power
and privilege. Fast moving, thoughtful novel, from one the biggest
names in SF and Fantasy. US hardcover, #19.99.

Michael Flynn, Falling Stars. This is the concluding volume of Flynn's
saga of the near future which began with Firestar then followed with
Rogue Star and Lodestar (due in paperback April). It is an epic tale
of the global political and business struggles which our burgeoning
technological society could well face in the early decades of the
twenty-first century. Much like Heinlein he possesses the ability to
show us that no matter how advanced our future may become, it will
always be at it's heart a human one. US hardcover, #18.99.

New in paperback:

Neal Stephenson, The Big U. This is not a work of SF but a novel
originally published in 1984 that is an hilarious satire on American
college life. US, #10.99.

Greg Donegan, Devil's Sea Atlantis. Military SF actioneer continuing
the high-tech adventures of ex-Green Beret Eric Dane and his
continuing struggle against the mysterious Shadows. US, #6.99.

Sean Stewart, Galveston. Galveston, Texas is a place surrounded by
water and bathed in magic. Now there are two sides to the town, the
real city and the one permanently swaying to the rhythms of a surreal
and magical carnival. US, #12.99.

Christopher Rowley, The Shasht War. Second volume in the Book of Arna
series and Thru Gillo the Watermot is captured by the invading forces
of Man and taken to the land of Shasht. Once there, for his survival
he must do the one thing he thought impossible and trust a human. US,
#6.99.