Notable new SF, Fantasy, and Horror books seen : September 2004 Week #2

Chapbook anthology of 6 original stories by M. Rickert, John Aegard, David Moles, David Lomax, Elad Haber, and Amber van Dyk, plus a graphic by Jesse McManus. Third in a series of chapbooks from this press, a publisher "dedicated to bringing innovative voices in speculative fiction to the public."
• Order online at http://www.taverners-koans.com/ratbastards/rabidtransit.html.
(Tue 7 Sep 2004)

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YA fantasy novel, a prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, in which Peter and his friend Molly try to keep a magical substance from falling into the wrong hands.
• The book has its own website, www.peterandthestarcatchers.com, with a description, list of characters, background on the authors, an excerpt, and the authors' tour information.
• Amazon has the starred Booklist review by Ilene Cooper, which concludes "This deserves the hype."
(Tue 14 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Fantasy novel, second book in "The Bridge of D'Arnath" trilogy, set in a realm where sorcery has been banished.
• The author's site has a page about the series, with an excerpt. The third volume is due next February.
• Amazon reproduces the Booklist review by Frieda Murray, which concludes "Fairly conventionally plotted, Berg's latest shows her narrative technique intact enough to keep one turning pages; meanwhile, the characterizations are altogether superior."
(Tue 7 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Anthology of 15 essays about the films of Woody Allen, some about particular films (including David Detmer on Zelig), others about themes.
• This book is part of the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series that includes books about The Simpsons, The Matrix, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Lord of the Rings. Includes a foreword by Tom Morris, a filmography, and an index.
• The publisher's site has this description with some blurbs.
(Tue 7 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Humorous SF novel, sequel to Rats, Bats & Vats (2000) by the same authors, in which cyber-uplifted rats and bats returning from an alien war face human bureaucracy.
• Baen's site has a description and samples of several chapters.
(Tue 14 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Dark fantasy novel, the first for adults and the first genre work by the author of YA classic The Outsiders (1967), about an orphan who survives adventures at sea before arriving in the coastal town of the title.
• The author has a sparse website, www.sehinton.com, with nothing on it yet about this book.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which alludes to vampires and moving back and forth in time; "This is a contemporary Treasure Island with a genre-bending twist."
(Tue 14 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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SF novel, fourth in the "Steerswoman" series following The Steerswoman (1989), The Outskirter's Secret (1992), and The Lost Steersman (2003), in which Rowan searches for the truth about wizards and their magic.
• The publisher's site has this description and an excerpt. SFRevu has this interview with Kirstein by Laurie J. Marks.
• Amazon has the PW review, which concludes "This is fiction for readers who appreciate clever world-building and surprises as much as they like action and character."
(Tue 14 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Nonfiction study of the fantasy genre, from its Medieval beginnings to its 20th century practitioners; a somewhat idiosyncratic take on the field by a writer who does not place Tolkien at the center of the fantasy universe. This is a revised and expanded edition of a book that first appeared in Britain in 1987, with a new introduction by China Miéville and an afterword by Jeff VanderMeer.
• The publisher's site has this description.
• Amazon has a couple lengthy reader reviews.
(Tue 14 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Nonfiction guide to teaching kids science via science fiction, with chapters on turning kids on to science, the origins of science and SF, what kind of SF is right for you, and various SF resources and lesson plans, plus appendices for keeping the facts and the fiction straight.
• The publisher's site has this description, with a link to this PDF excerpt of the book's table of contents and first chapter.
(Sat 11 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Collection of 12 stories, 1 original (the title story), with an afterword by the author, and an introduction by James Morrow.
• The publisher's site has this description. A limited edition of the book, thumbprinted by the author, is available for $100.
• Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review, which says "This solid volume does a good job of showcasing Sargent's impressive range of style and theme... "
• Rich Horton reviews the book in the October issue of Locus, calling it "a fine introduction to one of the field's more underappreciated writers".
(Wed 8 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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Anthology of 12 fantasy stories first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction [F&SF]. Authors include Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber (Hugo and Nebula winner "Ill Met in Lankhmar"), Pat Murphy, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Jeffrey Ford (Nebula nominee "The Fantasy Writer's Assistant").
• The Night Shade Books discussion board has this thread about the book, while Steven H Silver reviews it for SF Site, with a complete table of contents.
(Tue 14 Sep 2004) • Purchase this book from Amazon | BookSense

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