* Duane, Diane A Wizard Alone
(Harcourt 0-15-204562-7, $17, 318pp, hc, October 2002, jacket illustration Cliff Nielsen, jacket design Vaughn Andrews)
Young adult fantasy novel, 6th in the "Young Wizards" series that began with So You Want to Be a Wizard in 1983, a series that has been favorably compared to the Harry Potter books. (A reader review on Amazon, in fact, calls this one "probably one of the greatest books of all time".) Carolyn Cushman's review will appear in the November issue of Locus; she calls it "a strong installment in an entertaining series". Duane has a weblog and a Young Wizards on the Net site, which had an excerpt from this book that has already been withdrawn, and news that two more books in the series have been contracted for, Wizards' Holiday and Wizards at War. (Tue 15 Oct 2002)
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* Gidron, Martin J. The Severed Wing
(Livingston Press/University of West Alabama 0-942979-96-6, $14.95, 208pp, tpb, November 2002)
Alternate history novel in which World War I ended sooner and WWII and the Holocaust were averted--but in this world protagonist Janusz Spiegelman's Jewish friends begin disappearing, as if the reality of the Holocaust is seeping over into his world. The publisher has this page about the book, Amazon has a description, and the author's page has several excerpts and this map of alternate Europe with a summary of its history. (Sat 12 Oct 2002)
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* Modesitt, L.E. Jr. Legacies
(Tor 0-765-30561-5, $27.95, 558pp, hc, October 2002, jacket art Daniel Horne, jacket design Carol Russo Design)
Fantasy novel, volume 1 of a new series, The Corean Chronicles. Modesitt's website has this page about the series, with the book's description also reproduced at Amazon, and the note that the series was originally titled The Corian Chronicles but was changed for "legal and sales reasons". The second volume, due next year, is Darknesses. (Tue 15 Oct 2002)
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* Tarr, Judith Tides of Darkness
(Tor 0-312-87615-7, $25.95, 412pp, hc, October 2002, jacket art Charles Keegan, jacket design Carol Russo Design)
Fantasy novel, sixth in the "Avaryan Rising" series that began with The Hall of the Mountain King (1986) and most recently included Spear of Heaven (1994). Cynthia Ward's review on the Amazon page calls this "fast-paced and well-written". The author has a webpage, but it's a bit out of date, still noting this book as forthcoming with a comment that it's "written to stand alone". (Fri 11 Oct 2002)
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Wilson, F. Paul The Haunted Air
(Forge 0-312-87868-0, $24.95, 415pp, hc, October 2002, cover design Drive Communications, New York)
Reprint (Gauntlet 2002). Supernatural thriller starring Wilson's popular character Repairman Jack, who first appeared in The Tomb (1984). The first edition was a limited edition in June from Gauntlet Press; their order page is here, but the edition is probably sold out. The book was reviewed in the August Locus by Bill Sheehan, who called it "an irresistible, expertly constructed thriller", and is reviewed by Ed Bryant in the upcoming November issue. The Official Repairman Jack Web Site has descriptions of the earlier books, a cross reference chart between Wilson's various works, and character profiles. (Mon 14 Oct 2002)
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* Zahn, Timothy Manta's Gift
(Tor 0-312-87829-x, $24.95, 427pp, hc, September 2002, jacket art Stephan Martiniere)
SF novel about intelligent creatures in Jupiter's atmosphere who may possess a star drive. Reviewed by Alyx Dellamonica in the November Locus, who calls the book's conclusion "inventive and unexpected". Amazon has the PW review, and reader reviews. (Tue 15 Oct 2002)
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