* de Lint, Charles Tapping the Dream Tree
(Tor 0-312-87401-4, $26.95, 541pp, hc, November 2002, jacket art Charles Vess)
Collection of 18 fantasy stories -- de Lint's 50th book, according to the press release -- set in the author's imaginary North American city of Newford; an ongoing series that has included novels Forests of the Heart and The Onion Girl. One story, "The Witching Hour", 20 pages, is original to this volume; another, "Seven Wild Sisters" (150 pages), was earlier issued as a chapbook, and noted as 'New & Notable', here. Amazon has a review by Cynthia Ward, plus the PW review. Faren Miller briefly reviews this in the November Locus Magazine, especially recommending "Seven Wild Sisters": "dazzling, moody, funny, profound"; also reviewed by Jonathan Strahan in the upcoming December issue. The author's website has this page about his recent books (plus sneak previews). (Fri 15 Nov 2002)
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* Duane, Diane Stealing the Elf-King's Roses
(Warner Aspect 0-446-60983-8, $6.99, 401pp, pb, November 2002, cover illustration Don Maitz)
Fantasy novel. The publisher's site has this page about the book. Reviewed by Carolyn Cushman in the upcoming December issue of Locus, who says "but overall this is a fun romp with a thriller-style plot embroidered with plenty of fascinating details of the various worlds and their interactions." (Tue 19 Nov 2002)
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* Fenner, Cathy, & Arnie Fenner, eds The Art of Jeffrey Jones
(Underwood Books 1-887424-57-1, $35, 159pp, hc, October 2002, jacket art Jeffrey Jones, jacket design Arnie Fenner)
Art book showcasing the work of a painter who first gained exposure via cover paintings for books by Andre Norton, Robert E. Howard, Jack Vance, and others in the '60s and '70s. For online background and samples, see this site; www.jeffreyjones.us doesn't yet seem active. (Fri 15 Nov 2002)
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* Hoffman, Mary Stravaganza: City of Masks
(Bloomsbury USA 1-58234-791-3, $17.95, 345pp, hc, October 2002, cover design Ian Butterworth)
YA SF novel, first of a trilogy, about a teen with brain cancer transported to 16th century city Bellezza. Reviewed by Carolyn Cushman in the upcoming December issue of Locus Magazine, who says "the story is strong and involving, with plenty of intrigue and adventure in this fascinating alternate Venice." (Fri 15 Nov 2002)
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* Hubbell, Will Cretaceous Sea
(Ace 0-441-00989-1, $6.5, 341pp, pb, October 2002, cover art Les Edwards, cover design Judith Murello)
SF time travel novel set in the Upper Cretaceous just before the asteroid strike. Reviewed by Carolyn Cushman in the upcoming December issue of Locus Magazine, who says "the relatively predictable plot has enough unexpected twists and turns to keep things entertaining to the end." Amazon has a 5-star reader review from--who else?--Harriet Klausner. (Tue 19 Nov 2002)
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* Matthews, Susan R. The Devil and Deep Space
(Roc 0-451-45901-6, $6.99, 362pp, pb, November 2002, cover art Ray Lundgren)
SF novel, latest in the author's Judiciary universe, which began with An Exchange of Hostages (1997) and followed with Prisoner of Conscience (1998), Hour of Judgment (1999), and Angel of Destruction (2001). Reviewed by Russell Letson in the November issue of Locus Magazine; despite the first book's "unrelieved awfulness of the milieu" -- the series concerns "a government based on terror and torture" with a protagonist who "by his own twisted psychology [takes] pleasure in it" -- Letson continues to find the series of interest. Amazon has the Booklist review, and reader reviews. The author's website has this page about the book. (Fri 15 Nov 2002)
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* Sherwood, Frances The Book of Splendor
(Norton 0-393-02138-6, $25.95, 348pp, hc, July 2002)
Literary historical fantasy novel, about Rabbi Loew and his creation of a golem in 17th century Prague. Noted belatedly due to Faren Miller's review in the December Locus, who calls it one of the "best fantasies I’ve read all year". Amazon has PW, Booklist, and Library Journal reviews, plus blurbs from Scott Turow and John Barth. The publisher's site has this page about the book. (Tue 19 Nov 2002)
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* Smith, Clark Ashton; S.T. Joshi & David E. Schultz, eds The Last Oblivion
(Hippocampus Press 0-9673215-5-7, $15, 194pp, tpb, October 2002)
Poetry collection, subtitled "Best Fantastic Poems of Clark Ashton Smith", by a writer (1893-1961) perhaps best-known for ornate prose fictions Zothique and The City of the Singing Flame but best regarded as a poet, for works included here such as "The Star-Treader" and "Ode to the Abyss". This is his first collection in more than thirty years, and the editors consider him "one of the great poets of the twentieth century". For more about the author, see The Eldritch Dark; also the publisher's site. (Fri 15 Nov 2002)
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* Van Allsburg, Chris Zathura
(Houghton Mifflin 0-618-25396-3, $18, unppp, hc, October 2002, jacket art Chris Van Allsburg)
Children's picture book, long-awaited sequel to Jumanji (made into a Robin Williams film), subtitled "A Space Adventure", in which a board game takes the two brothers into outer space. The Amazon page has PW and other reviews. (Tue 19 Nov 2002)
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