Memories of Ice

Memorie of Ice
By Erikson, Steven
2006-08 - Forge
9780765348807 Check Our Catalog

A terrifying new empire: the Pannion Domin has appeared on the continent of Genabackis. Like a tide of corrupted blood, it seethes across the land, devouring all in its path. For it would seem something altogether darker and more malign threatens this world. Rumors abound that the Crippled God is now unchained and intent on a terrible revenge.

This is the third book in Erikson's 10 volume Malazan book of the Fallen series. Each volume is mostly self-contained although many plot lines are going on at once. Epic fantasy full of gods, elder races, magic, and huge battles. Erikson's work is often compared to J. R. R. Matins, each has plots within plots.

TB

Revelation Space

Revelation Space
by Alastair Reynolds

In the far future, a singular question haunts humanity: why are there so few intelligent civilizations in the universe? Revelation Space is a sprawling operatic novel that ranges across vast gulfs of time and space-to arrive at a terrifying answer.

Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just when it was on the verge of discovering space flight. For the human colonists now settling the Amarantin homeworld, what caused the species extinction is of little more than academic interest. Even after colonists discover an almost perfectly preserved city on the planet, only the archaeological community seems interested.

But one scientist, Dan Sylveste, is convinced that solving the Amarantin riddle is vital to the survival of humanity. Desperate to get at the truth-but with few resources, Sylveste forges a dangerous alliance with the crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity. The ship's cyborg crew are walking weapons and could easily become a very real danger. They could also be Sylveste's only hope to find the answer he so zealously seeks.

Before becoming a full time writer, Reynolds was a scientist for the European Space Agency. Reynolds postulates a dark future of human machine cyborgs and artificial intelligences, which have mankinds emotions of revenge and murder. Mankind is colonizing the stars but finding little trace of extraterrestial civilizations. The question is: Where is everybody? The answer is shocking.

TB

Dread Empire's Fall

The Praxis : Dread Empire's Fall
by Walter J. Williams

All will must bend to the perfect truth of The Praxis.

For millennia, the Shaa have subjugated the universe, forcing the myriad sentient races to bow to their joyless tyranny. But the Shaa will soon be no more. The dread empire is in its rapidly fading twilight, and with its impending fall comes the promise of a new galactic order . . . and bloody chaos.

A young Terran naval officer marked by his lowly birth, Lt. Gareth Martinez is the first to recognize the insidious plot of the Naxid -- the powerful, warlike insectoid society that was enslaved before all others -- to replace the masters' despotic rule with their own. Barely escaping a swarming surprise attack, Martinez and Caroline Sula, a pilot whose beautiful face conceals a deadly secret, are now the last hope for freedom for every being who ever languished in Shaa chains -- as the interstellar battle begins against a merciless foe whose only perfect truth is annihilation.

A good fun space opera, "the Praxis" is not going to dazzle you with any new scientific ideas. It's just well done classic space opera without cookie cutter characters.
TB

Mike Suggests Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Hyperion by Dan Simmons


It took me a while after enjoying my first taste of Simmons (the audio version of Drood, hauntingly performed by Simon Prebble, is a must-listen) before I took the plunge into his other works and I'm a little disappointed that I waited so long. The story riffs on Chaucer's Cantebury tales, with a band of pilgrims sharing stories as they travel; each story that's told sheds greater light on the mystery that they're traveling to--the Shrike, embodiment of death and destruction, and the hauntingly empty Time Tombs. The Chaucer-like drawing out of the world of Hyperion allows SciFi novitiates to ease into the other-worldliness but it's also an expert way to tell the tale. This is the first in a four-part series so don't get upset when the ending leaves you hanging!

Classic L. Spdrague de Camp

Years in the making : the time-travel stories of L.Sprague De Camp
By L. Sprague de Camp.

Years in the Making collects L Sprague deCamp’s best time travel and alternate history stories. The collection includes three stories that are considered classics in the genre.

In Lest Darkness Fall, Martin Padway a young archeologist accidentally goes back to ancient Rome just before the barbarians were to finally extinguish civilization in the West.

The Wheels of If tells of a man who finds himself in an alternate world where Irish explorers discovered America.

Aristotle and the Gun is the memoir of a man who went back to ancient Greece to start a scientific revolution by teaching Aristotle about modern science.

De Camp’s stories rank up there with the other giants of his time Asimov, Heinlein and Clarke.

TB

Mike Suggests: The Magicians

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

I've come across quite a few reviews of Lev Grossman's "The Magicians" before reading it, but the recommendation that got my attention was a colleague telling me that it was a "Harry Potter for adults." He was certainly right about that, but should have mentioned the many nods to Narnia throughout as well. While "The Magicians" is all about magic and fantastic worlds, strip away all the fantasy and you get a tale that describes life for most young adults finding their way through the world and stumbling on the trials that lead to adulthood. A fantastic novel for fans of fantasy as well as anyone who enjoys reliving the embarrassment, agonies, and defeats of youth.

Sue Recommends Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a highly recommended title waiting for readers who enjoy science fiction set in futuristic societies. In this creative tale, civilization is artificially frozen at late-medieval levels in order to save the world from dangerous technologies. The wise men of the society decided that at the same time they would create a prison where they would imprison all the bad people and socially engineer them to be better, thus creating a utopia.

The story revolves around Claudia, the daughter of the warden of Incarceron, who does not want to marry the heir to the throne. Because it is a feudal type society, marriages are arranged. The other character, Finn, is imprisoned in Incarceron, an actual dystopia, but believes, due to dreams and a tattoo on his arm, that he was at one time outside the prison's walls. Both Claudia and Finn come into possession of high tech keys to the prison which allow them to see and talk to each other. They begin to plot how to free Finn. But who is Finn, and how did he come to call Incarceron his home? Can Claudia manage to escape the marriage to the lout who is to become King? The mysteries abound and the plot thickens to keep readers so engaged that they will be drooling for the sequel.

This book is found in the Youth section but the complexity of the plot is sure to keep anyone 12 and over engaged. SH

Gardens of the Moon

Gardens of the Moon

by Steven Erikson

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, their lone surviving mage, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand . . .

The first book in a remarkable series, Erikson is a master world builder supplying plenty of myths and background information. Erikson was a professional anthropologist and archaeologist and brings these talents to his storytelling.

This can make the book a bit of a demanding read at first as you will spend a lot of time keeping track of who's who, who is on what side, and what those strange Gods are up to. It is a book which needs your attention but is well worth the time and effort. One of my favorites.

TB

Jonathan Recommends: Warcraft Legends Volume 1

World of Warcraft are three words that usually evoke images of individuals sequestered in a dank basement who have been sitting in front of a computer for the past week.

Not only is that stereotype completely false but what if I told you there is much more to Warcraft than being a highly successful Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game. It has its own mythology of heroes and villains, victory and defeat, romance and heartache.

Legends is the first of a new series sharing these stories. It picks up where the Sunwell Trilogy left off and then continues in new directions.

The separate stories in this manga provide a glimpse into the greater world of Azeroth and serves as a nice starting point for anyone wanting to get their feet wet in the pantheon of Warcraft tales.

The black and white artwork matches the look and feel from the game and other Warcraft properties (comics, collectible card game, and collectible miniatures game) while allowing the artists to shine.

It is a fun read appropriate for older teens and above.

Arne Suggests: the Urban Fantasy Genre

Finished the Twilight saga? Done with the Dresden Files? Eagerly awaiting the next season of Trueblood? The Library is in possession of a large (and ever growing) collection of books, graphic novels, movies, and television series based around the new genre of Urban Fantasy.

Set in the modern world, but possessing elements of the fantastic, from vampires to werewolves, to the occasional dragon, Urban Fantasy works provide all the appeal of both traditional fiction coupled with the escapism of fantasy literature.

Don't be fooled into thinking it's all fangs and twilight though. The WFL has books featuring characters ranging from the ironically named Kitty, the werewolf DJ in Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville books, to the shape-shifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson in Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson novels.


If you are interested in more fangs and twilight, don't despair! There's plenty of that running around too, starting with Laurell K. Hamilton's best-selling Anita Blake series, up to Mary Janice Davidson's unlikely queen of the vampies, Betsy in the Undead series.

If it's other media you're looking for to pass the time, we've got that too. There's great graphic novels, from Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead series to Neil Gaiman's Sandman chronicles. As for movies look to 30 Days of Night, Let the Right One In, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

Sue Suggests: Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

There are no age restrictions for Fantasy and Science Fiction lovers because you might miss a great story! Suzanne Collins' Hunger Game Trilogy is proof of this. The story takes place in a dystopian society where annually young people are chosen by lottery to participate in the Hunger Games--a fight for their very lives! The book brings adventure, romance, and science fiction together to create a "can't put it down story" and leaves you yearning for the next book in the trilogy. I have doubled my pleasure by reading the first two books in the series and am waiting impatiently for the final chapter of the Hunger Games Trilogy.



Book 1: The Hunger Games

Book 2: Catching Fire