2009-07-03T08:09:41Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2009 2009-07-03T08:09:41Z 2009-07-03T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.712 2009-07-03T08:00:00Z

Before I get on to talking about what an exuberant, bloody and brilliant novel this is I need to first point out that God of Clocks is the final volume of the Deepgate Codex, concluding the trilogy that began with Scar Night and was continued by Iron Angel. And yet, I like it.

Martin Lewis book review God of Clocks is the final volume of the Deepgate Codex, concluding the trilogy that began with Scar Night and was continued by Iron Angel. And yet, I like it.]]> 2009-07-01T22:39:16Z 2009-07-01T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.727 2009-07-01T08:00:00Z

Here's a frightening confession: I almost liked Legend of the Seeker.

Hannah Strom-Martin tv review Legend of the Seeker.]]> 2009-06-29T14:59:36Z 2009-06-29T13:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.725 2009-06-29T13:00:00Z

McDonald's concerns are avowedly science fictional, at first sight quite at odds with Singh's more mystical, at times barely more than metaphorical, approach. Yet each author in their own way allows science fiction to inform our imaginings of one of the planet's most important and exciting nations.

Dan Hartland book review McDonald's concerns are avowedly science fictional, at first sight quite at odds with Singh's more mystical, at times barely more than metaphorical, approach. Yet each author in their own way allows science fiction to inform our imaginings of one of the planet's most important and exciting nations. 2009-06-29T15:03:24Z 2009-06-26T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.711 2009-06-26T08:00:00Z

The old complaint goes that fantasy writing is rooted in a handful of concepts and milieus. Contemporary "urban fantasy" aside, Medieval Europe (and a simplistic, stereotyped version of it at that) is far and away the predominant one—as those hostile to the genre (prone to seeing it as all consisting of J.R.R. Tolkien knock-offs) often charge.

Nader Elhefnawy book review The old complaint goes that fantasy writing is rooted in a handful of concepts and milieus. Contemporary "urban fantasy" aside, Medieval Europe (and a simplistic, stereotyped version of it at that) is far and away the predominant one—as those hostile to the genre (prone to seeing it as all consisting of J.R.R. Tolkien knock-offs) often charge. 2009-06-24T08:00:04Z 2009-06-24T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.723 2009-06-24T08:00:00Z

You know that painful feeling of being seriously out-of-step with the rest of the world? Not being satisfied with what makes almost everyone else content or even deeply happy? That's the experience Mary, the narrator of Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth, suffers through most of the book. It was also mine on reading some of the many glowing reviews the book has received since its US publication earlier this year.

Hallie O'Donovan book review The Forest of Hands and Teeth, suffers through most of the book. It was also mine on reading some of the many glowing reviews the book has received since its US publication earlier this year.]]> 2009-06-22T13:50:06Z 2009-06-22T13:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.724 2009-06-22T13:00:00Z

I suspect most readers of this review are employed in ways enviably less difficult than one Martin Kindred, the protagonist of Alexander Irvine's highly enjoyable and gut-smart new novel.

Alvaro Zinos-Amaro book review I suspect most readers of this review are employed in ways enviably less difficult than one Martin Kindred, the protagonist of Alexander Irvine's highly enjoyable and gut-smart new novel. 2009-06-19T08:00:04Z 2009-06-19T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.721 2009-06-19T08:00:00Z

While there are plenty of risks taken and is plenty of originality to be found in the book, this is ultimately a no-frills collection of pirate stories.

Richard Larson book review While there are plenty of risks taken and is plenty of originality to be found in the book, this is ultimately a no-frills collection of pirate stories. 2009-06-17T08:11:40Z 2009-06-17T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.722 2009-06-17T08:00:00Z

This amalgamation of Platonic dialogue, Stapledonian fictional history and accessible SF prose yields rich rewards for Beckett right up until the book's climax where an undignified scramble for a conventionally satisfying ending comes dangerously close to undermining the entire work.

Jonathan McCalmont book review This amalgamation of Platonic dialogue, Stapledonian fictional history and accessible SF prose yields rich rewards for Beckett right up until the book's climax where an undignified scramble for a conventionally satisfying ending comes dangerously close to undermining the entire work. 2009-06-15T08:43:09Z 2009-06-15T13:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.720 2009-06-15T13:00:00Z

It's not a new thing for Pixar to make stealth movies for adults in the guise of children's stories, but there is something particularly daring about Up's opening minutes

David J. Schwartz film review Up's opening minutes]]> 2009-06-12T08:00:04Z 2009-06-12T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.703 2009-06-12T08:00:00Z

Retribution Falls doesn't do anything particularly groundbreaking or startlingly original, but it is great good fun.

Michael Levy book review Retribution Falls doesn't do anything particularly groundbreaking or startlingly original, but it is great good fun.]]> 2009-06-10T08:16:16Z 2009-06-10T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.718 2009-06-10T08:00:00Z

The mirror of the mind that produces life, indeed.

Niall Harrison book review The mirror of the mind that produces life, indeed. 2009-06-10T08:17:23Z 2009-06-08T13:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.719 2009-06-08T13:00:00Z

Long known as a genre-stretching writer, This Is Not a Game sees Walter Jon Williams stepping into the increasingly SF-adjacent demesne of the technothriller.

Paul Raven book review This Is Not a Game sees Walter Jon Williams stepping into the increasingly SF-adjacent demesne of the technothriller. ]]> 2009-06-04T08:25:06Z 2009-06-04T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.687 2009-06-04T08:00:00Z

Mark Charan Newton is clearly a writer who is still finding his voice. This is a fairly mealy-mouthed criticism but Nights Of Villjamur is a fairly mush-mouthed novel.

Martin Lewis book review Nights Of Villjamur is a fairly mush-mouthed novel.]]> 2009-06-03T08:14:23Z 2009-06-03T08:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.715 2009-06-03T08:00:00Z

When this book focuses on emotional truths, it is a good read; when it tries to convince the reader with facts, it is rather more frustrating.

Duncan Lawie book review When this book focuses on emotional truths, it is a good read; when it tries to convince the reader with facts, it is rather more frustrating. 2009-06-01T14:44:18Z 2009-06-01T13:00:00Z tag:www.strangehorizons.com,2009:/reviews/1.717 2009-06-01T13:00:00Z

It has sorcerers, beautiful women, demons, kettle-drummers, paradisiacal gardens, beautiful women, lovers, wars, poem fights, beautiful women, magical devices, daring escapes, bazaar scenes, beautiful women, and of course, the promise of sequels with more of these very things. Twenty-three more volumes in fact, if the Urdu Project has its way.

Anil Menon book review It has sorcerers, beautiful women, demons, kettle-drummers, paradisiacal gardens, beautiful women, lovers, wars, poem fights, beautiful women, magical devices, daring escapes, bazaar scenes, beautiful women, and of course, the promise of sequels with more of these very things. Twenty-three more volumes in fact, if the Urdu Project has its way.