George R.R. Martin

Wildcards — (1987-2011) Publisher: There is a secret history of the world — a history in which an alien virus struck the Earth in the aftermath of World War II, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Some were called Aces — those with superhuman mental and physical abilities. Others were termed Jokers — cursed with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Some turned their talents to the service of humanity. Others used their powers for evil. Wild Cards is their story.

Wild Cards

Sept 15, 1946: Wild Card Day. When aliens from the planet Takis wanted to test their newly developed virus on a species that is similar to them, naturally, they brought it to Earth. Though they were thwarted by one of their own princes, a foppish alien who has become known to Earthlings as Dr. Tachyon, the virus fell into the hands of evil Dr. Tod, a Nazi sympathizer who, thinking it a biological weapon, decided to drop it on New York City. His archenemy, Jetboy, tried to stop him in a now-legendary air battle above Manhattan, but Jetboy was unsuccessful. When the virus was dumped on New York City, it killed 90% of the people it infected. Nine out of every ten who lived mutated into strange, often hideous, creatures who became known as “Jokers” while one in ten developed a special superpower and became an “Ace.”

WILD CARDS is a shared universe in which several SFF authors contribute their own stories about those who “drew an Ace” on Wild Card Day. There are several volumes in the WILD CARDS series, all edited by George R.R. Martin, the mastermind who created WILD CARDS (with a little help from his friends) 25 years ago. For its 25th anniversary, WILD CARDS is being reprinted by Tor and, for the first time, produced on audio by Brilliance Audio. This first volume has the original stories plus three new ones. All of them introduce Aces and Jokers who lived in America during the time between the end of World War II and the end of the Vietnam war, an era known for the McCarthy hearings, the Civil Rights movement, drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll. Later WILD CARDS volumes expand on these characters and their storylines and introduce many new ones.

“Prologue” by Studs Terkel explains the Wild Card virus, why the aliens of Takis invented it, and how Dr. Tachyon tried to get here in time to warn us.

“Thirty Minutes Over Broadway” by Howard Waldrop is the story of how Jetboy tried to save New York from the alien virus in an air battle over Manhattan.

“The Sleeper” by Roger Zelazny tells the story of Croyd Crenson, a school boy who runs home during Jetboy’s battle on Wild Card Day. When he goes to bed, he sleeps for a long time. Afterward, he wakes up to find that he has a different body and a superpower. The strange thing about Croyd’s manifestation of the virus is that every time he wakes up, he has a different body and power.

Anti-communist sentiments are strong and the Aces, those who received special superpowers from the virus, are easy to mistrust. “Witness” by Walter Jon Williams is the story of the trials of the Four Aces and how Jack Braun, aka Golden Boy, will forever be known as a Judas.

Blythe Stanhope Van Renssaeler, the Ace known as Brain Trust, can absorb the knowledge from anyone’s brain. “Degradation Rites” by Melinda M. Snodgrass tells her story and explains why her nervous breakdown broke Dr. Tachyon’s heart.

In “Captain Cathode and the Secret Ace” by Michael Cassutt, Karl, a Hollywood producer with superpowers, decides to help catch The Medusa Killer, a serial murderer who targets Jokers. This is a new WILD CARDS story — it wasn’t in the original Wild Cards anthology.

The U.S. government has started rounding up Aces, but nobody knows what it’s doing with them. In “Powers” by David D. Levine, we find out when one secret Ace decides to out himself so he can help rescue a captured U.S. airman.

“Shell Games” by George R.R. Martin is the story of a college-age secret Ace who decides to come out of his shell after the assassination of President Kennedy. The courage of The Great and Powerful Turtle is inspiring to Dr. Tachyon, who’s been a depressed alcoholic since Blythe’s breakdown.

In “The Long, Dark Night of Fortunato” by Lewis Shiner, a black/Japanese pimp discovers that he’s an Ace who can use tantric sex to power his magic.

Victor Milan's "Transfigurations" introduces Mark Meadows, a biochemistry grad student who is talked into trying LSD by a girl he has a crush on. Under the influence of LSD, he transforms into an Ace who becomes known as The Radical when he gets involved in an anti-war protest in Berkeley. Dr. Meadows will later be known as Captain Trips.

“Down Deep” by Edward Bryant and Leanne C. Harper takes place mostly in the abandoned subway tunnels underneath New York City and introduces Sewer Jack Robicheaux, who turns into an alligator when stressed, and a homeless lady named Bagabond who talks to cats.

In “Strings” by Stephen Leigh, we meet a senator who is trying to use his power of influence over others to become president of the United States.

“Ghost Girl Takes Manhattan” by Carrie Vaughn, is another new story. Wraith’s “ace” is that she can make parts, or all, of her body transparent. She’s been reluctant to use her power, but a night out on the town changes her mind.

“Comes a Hunter” by John J. Miller tells of Daniel Brennan (“Yeoman”), a Vietnam veteran who got tied up with a traitor in Vietnam and framed for treason. After many years of hiding and training, Daniel is ready for revenge.

There are five interludes interspersed among the WILD CARD stories which further describe or explain some aspect of the WILD CARDS world. There is also an appendix at the back of the book (and at the end of the audiobook) which explains some of the background, history, and science of the virus. Audiobook readers may want to listen to that after listening to “Prologue.”

Luke Daniels narrated Wild Cards, which means that it was wonderful to listen to on audio. I was excited to see this title in Brilliance Audio’s catalog this season and I look forward to reading the next WILD CARDS volume, Aces High in this format. Wild Cards is more than a good anthology — it’s a wonderful shared world experience, I suspect, mostly because of George R.R. Martin’s careful editing. I didn't love every story in this volume, but I do love the endless variation in the WILD CARDS world and how these stories fit together so well, each expanding this crazy world in another direction while remaining true to the original shared vision. —Kat Hooper

Aces High

Aces High is the second volume of George R.R. Martin’s long-running WILD CARDS anthology. In the first volume, Wild Cards, we learned how aliens from the planet Takis decided to test their new virus by using humans as their guinea pigs. In the 1960s, they let loose what has now become known as the Wild Card virus on Manhattan. Much of the world population died and many of the survivors became grossly deformed and are now referred to as “Jokers.” A much smaller proportion of those who were infected gained one or more superpowers and are now known as “Aces.” In Wild Cards, we followed several Aces and Jokers as they dealt not only with their new status in life, but also with the social and political events of the 1960s.

Aces High, which is named after the upscale restaurant at the top of the Empire State Building that caters to Aces, is set in the early 1980s. The Wild Card virus continues to exert its effects on the Earth, regularly producing malformed Jokers and occasionally creating a new Ace. One thing that makes this series so interesting is that the Wild Card virus mixes with each individual’s unique DNA, resulting in a completely different species of Joker and Ace each time it strikes. I don’t really believe that this is how an alien virus would manifest (there’s just not enough diversity in the human genome), but there’s always something fresh and new in WILD CARDS — it’s not constrained by the character types laid down at the beginning of the series.

This installment contains stories by Lewis Shiner, George R.R. Martin, Walter Jon Williams, Roger Zelazny, Walton Simons, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Victor Milán, Pat Cadigan, and John J. Miller. Amazingly — and this is another thing that makes WILD CARDS work so well — though it’s an anthology, Aces High reads like a novel written by one author. This is a testament to Martin’s excellent editorial skills, I’m sure. For one thing, all of the stories are written in a similar style — they’re all fast-paced, focused on character and action, and have similar amounts of description and dialogue. A couple of the stories are divided into several parts that appear as interludes between the other stories, making it feel like a novel with chapters from different points of view. But more importantly, every story fits snugly in its place and refers to characters and events in the other stories, always getting the other stories’ particulars correct but never repeating anything in a clumsily obvious attempt to show that they’re connected. I envision Martin taking all of these individual stories and adding in these clever little details to make it flow so smoothly. The end result is brilliant.

This time the Aces are dealing with an Egyptian Masonic Temple and the Swarm aliens they want to bring to Earth. Meanwhile, Dr. Tachyon’s relatives have tracked him down and want him to come home. Then there’s the crazy old bag lady who’s carrying around a Singularity Shifter in her bag. All of these threads are eventually weaved together.

Some of the characters in Aces High are ones we met in the first volume: Fortunato the pimp, Croyd Crenson the sleeper (who is now considered and Ace rather than a Joker), the Magnificent Turtle, Dr. Mark Meadows (Captain Trips) and Yeoman. We’re introduced in this installment to Jube the Walrus, the paperboy who is really an alien; Modular Man, the sensitive robot who has a conscience (he’s one of my favorites); Demise, who can kill people by staring at them; The Astronomer, the evil guy who runs the Masonic Temple; Water Lily, who can suck all the water out of a human body; and Kafka who, as his name implies, has metamorphed into a giant cockroach. Though most of the villains in Aces High are comically two-dimensional (the whole series has a superhero comic strip vibe), the stories themselves are unique and exciting and there’s even a couple of touching love stories for the tender-hearted reader.

I listened to Brilliance Audio’s version of Aces High, read by Luke Daniels. That last phrase, “Read by Luke Daniels,” should be Enough Said for anyone who’s listened to him before. He’s flawless and entertaining as always. —Kat Hooper

Selected novels, collections, novellas:
  
Fevre Dream — (1982) Publisher: Abner Marsh has had his wish come true — he has built the "Fevre Dream", the finest steamship to sail the Mississippi. Abner hopes to race the boat some day, but his partner is making it hard for him to realise his dreams. Joshua York put up the money for the ship, but now rumours have started about the company he keeps, his odd eating habits and strange hours. As the "Dream" sails the great river, it leaves in its wake one too many dark tales, forcing Abner to face down the man who made his dreams become reality.

Fevre Dream

For some time I’ve been a fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. In the last few years, though, when my mind turns to that series, it’s usually either (a) to speculate about potential plot twists or (b) to wish the next book were out already. What I forget is how much I simply enjoy Martin’s writing, particularly his nuanced, flawed characters and the way he can turn a phrase. Fevre Dream, a tale of vampires on the Mississippi River in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, provided the perfect opportunity to savor Martin’s writing in a stand-alone novel with a comparatively straightforward plot.

Abner Marsh is a steamboat captain facing financial ruin when he meets the wealthy, enigmatic Joshua York, who offers to become his partner and help him build a magnificent vessel, on one condition: Marsh must refrain from questioning York’s strange habits. Marsh’s curiosity is piqued as the boat’s maiden voyage progresses, though, and what Marsh discovers will haunt him all his life. The story is told mainly from the points of view of Marsh and of Sour Billy Tipton, a slimy overseer who works for the novel’s villain. Later, York takes point-of-view duty for a chapter as he tells his story to Marsh.

Fevre Dream is the name of the steamboat, but it refers just as surely to the obsessions that drive each of the three central characters and that give their lives something of the feel of Greek tragedy. Each man has one driving goal that leads him back, again and again, into a situation from which he could have just walked away. Marsh wants to own the fastest and most beautiful steamboat on the Mississippi. Sour Billy wishes to become immortal and a fine gentleman, and have the last laugh at a society that has treated him like trash all his life. York’s “fever dream” is a secret best discovered by reading the book.

The supernatural aspects of the plot are the stuff of nightmares, and the historical aspects are just as well-written. If it weren’t for the vampires, Fevre Dream would still be a fascinating historical novel about the steamboat trade and about the cities along the river as they were in those days. I learned a great deal about the time period without ever feeling like I was being “taught.” Some of what we see is horrifying. Most of the book takes place during the era of slavery, and Martin draws a parallel between the vampires’ predation upon humans and antebellum America’s parasitic dependence upon slaves. One of Marsh’s most satisfying developments as a character occurs when he begins to see these injustices as analogous.

Just as in A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin includes a great deal of gore in Fevre Dream. Some of the violent scenes are profoundly disturbing, but I can’t say they’re gratuitous. They seem fitting, helping to drive home the point that these are not nice vampires and this is not a gentle world.

Martin ends the book with a beautiful epilogue, cutting from the final combat to an evocative description of the Mississippi. This skillfully shifts the gears in the reader’s mind from action to contemplation and gives a sense of the passage of time before moving back to the “where are they now.” It’s too long to quote in its entirety here, but here’s my favorite stretch of it:

On a clear night, the water flows dark and clean as black satin, and beneath its shimmering surface are stars, and a fairy moon that shifts and dances and is somehow larger and prettier than the one up in the sky. The river changes with the seasons, too. When the spring floods come, it is brown and muddy and creeps up to the high water marks on the trees and banks. In autumn, leaves of a thousand colors drift past lazily in its blue embrace. And in winter the river freezes hard, and the snow comes drifting down to cover it, and transforms it into a wild white road upon which no one may travel, so bright it hurts the eyes.

I greatly enjoyed Fevre Dream, and you will enjoy it too if you like Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the early books of Anne Rice — the vampire ones and her “straight” historical novel The Feast of All Saints. I also recommend it to Martin fans looking for a fix during the wait for A Dance with Dragons. —Kelly Lasiter

Shadow Twin — (2005) — With Daniel Abraham & Gardner Dozois. Publisher: Shadow Twin is a 120 page novella by Gardner Dozois, George R.R. Martin, and Daniel Abraham. Gardner began the novella in the 1970s, handed it off to George in the 1980s, who, in turn, called upon hot new writer Daniel Abraham to add the finishing touches. Includes an afterword by all three authors, illustrated with a full-color dust jacket and black and white full-page illustrations by Michael Kolesch.

The Ice Dragon — (2006) Ages 9-12. Available for download at Audible.com. Publisher: The ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. When it flew overhead, it left in its wake desolate cold and frozen land. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember. Adara could not remember the first time she had seen the ice dragon. It seemed that it had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the frigid snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back for the first time. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adara's home. And only a winter child — and the ice dragon who loved her — could save her world from utter destruction.

The Ice Dragon

The Ice Dragon is a lovely story and exactly what you would expect from George R.R. Martin after toning down one of his short stories or novellas for younger readers.

In a world that seems mostly inhabited by fire dragons, the ice dragon stands out starkly (pun intended for readers of ASoIaF). It only appears and thrives in winter, and makes the land barren wherever it lands. Even its very distant cousins, the ice lizards, find themselves uniquely suited for ice and snow — any hint of warmth that touches them is like poison. Adara, the seven-year-old main character of the story bears striking resemblances to both the ice dragon and the ice lizards.

The Ice Dragon isn't a straightforward story — there is a strong symbolic statement that runs quietly from beginning to end. It’s a truly gorgeous tale from one of the most decorated writers in fantasy.
—Todd Burger

Dreamsongs Volume I — (2007) Available for download at Audible.com. Publisher: Dubbed “the American Tolkien” by Time magazine, #1 New York Times bestselling author George R.R. Martin is a giant in the field of fantasy literature and one of the most exciting storytellers of our time. Now he delivers a rare treat for readers: a compendium of his shorter works, collected into two stunning volumes, that offer fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master. Gathered here, in Volume I, are the very best of George R.R. Martin’s early works, including never-before-published fan pieces, his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker Award-winning stories — plus the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin’s New York Times bestselling children’s book of the same title originated. A dazzling array thatfeatures extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I, is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans.

Dreamsongs Volume 1

George R.R. Martin has become relatively famous in fantasy circles over the last decade or so, but he had already been writing for about 25 years before his excellent A Song of Ice and FIre fantasy epic began. Dreamsongs Volume 1 is the first of two collections of short-form fiction that Martin wrote before A Game of Thrones hit the shelves. I'd already read a good portion of this material in the original collections which I bought directly from the author when he was selling them (out of print at the time) on eBay and Amazon Auctions. Still, it was good to re-read them again, not in the least because the book also contains five short autobiographical introductions describing how Martin started writing, how he sold his first stories, and so on. These short bio’s are well-written and funny, and show that Martin isn't afraid to make fun of himself and the publishing industry. If you’ve ever met the man, it's hard not to imagine Martin's distinctive voice when you read them.

Dreamsongs Vol. 1 is divided into 5 sections focusing on different phases of the author's career. The first section contains stories he wrote for fanzines (etc) in the early seventies. A couple of them are hilariously bad. If you're new to GRRM, don't let them turn you away, because I'm sure they were only included for completion's sake.

The second section ("The Filthy Pro") contains the first stories he sold, and it's here that you start to see signs of the amazing talent he has. Especially the latter two stories in this section ("The Second Kind of Loneliness" and "With Morning Comes Mistfall") are very good.

The third section contains stories set in Martin's SF universe (same as his SF novel Dying of the Light). All of these are excellent, especially "The Stone City," which has a Jack Vance-like quality I really enjoyed. Reading these stories makes me wish he'd write more material set in this universe — except that would delay the next volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire even more...

Section 4 contains some of his earlier fantasy stories. I found these disappointing. In the intro to this section, he explains that many people seemed to think he started writing A Song of Ice and Fire to jump on the commercial fantasy bandwagon. It's hard not to think that he included these stories only to show that, yes, he did write fantasy back in the seventies. The stories are charming, but there's just not a lot of depth to them.

In the final section, Martin includes six of his horror stories. I'm not a horror fan at all, but I enjoyed these stories tremendously. Of course four of them are technically more SF stories with horror elements, so that might explain it. This section includes what's probably his most famous short story, "Sandkings," which was adapted to become the pilot for "The Outer Limits" (a show Martin wrote for). This story is just as chilling as the first time I read it, years ago. A couple of the other stories are set in the "manrealm" SF universe, including "Nightflyers," which was adapted to an (apparently horrible) feature-length movie. The last two stories are horror stories without SF elements, both also very good.

All in all, Dreamsongs Volume 1 is a great collection for people who want to explore Martin's pre-Game of Thrones works (in which case, also make sure to check out Dying of the Light, Windhaven, and especially Tuf Voyaging). If you're already familiar with some of the stories here, the bio information at least makes it worth checking out from the library. And if you're new to George R.R. Martin and have any interest in fantasy, read A Game Of Thrones right now. —Stefan Raets

Dreamsongs Volume II — (2007) Available for download at Audible.com.
Publisher: Dubbed “the American Tolkien” by Time magazine, #1 New York Times bestselling author George R.R. Martin is a giant in the field of fantasy literature and one of the most exciting storytellers of our time. Now he delivers a rare treat for readers: a compendium of his shorter works, all collected into two stunning volumes, that offer fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master. Whether writing about werewolves, wizards, or outer space, George R.R. Martin is renowned for his versatility and expansive talent, highlighted in this dazzling collection. Included here, in Volume II, are acclaimed stories such as the World Fantasy Award-winner “The Skin Trade,” as well as the first novella in the Ice and Fire universe, “The Hedge Knight,” plus two never-before-published screenplays. Featuring extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume II; is an invaluable chronicle of a writer at the height of his creativity — and an unforgettable reading experience for fans old and new.

Hunter's Run — (2007) With Daniel Abraham & Gardner Dozois. Available for download at Audible.com. Publisher: Like so many others, Ramón Espejo ran from the poverty and hopelessness of the Third World to the promise of a new world — joining a host of like-minded workers and dreamers aboard one of the great starships of the mysterious, repulsive Enye. But the life he found on the far-off planet of São Paulo was no better than the one he had abandoned. Tough, volatile, and angry — a luckless prospector hoping for that one rich strike that will make him wealthy — Ramón is content only when on his own out in the bush, far from the dirty, loud, bustling hive of humanity that he detests with sociopathic fervor. Then one night his rage and too much alcohol get the better of him, resulting in sudden bloodshed and a high-profile murder. Ramón is forced to flee into the wilderness for however long it will take for the furor to die down. Here, mercifully, almost happily alone, Ramón is once again free. But while searching for his long-elusive lode, he stumbles upon something completely unexpected: a highly advanced alien race in hiding; fugitives like himself on a world not their own. Suddenly in possession of a powerful, dangerous secret, Ramón must battle for his freedom from alien captors and also against the hostile and unpredictable planet. And so the chase begins. Police, fugitive aliens, and a human murderer weave a web of shifting alliances as Ramón enters the greatest manhunt the alien world of São Paulo has ever known. If he is to survive, Ramón must overcome inscrutable aliens and deadly predators, but his greatest enemy is himself. With every move in the desperate game, he struggles to outwit his enemies and solve the mystery of a murder he himself committed. A rip-roaring adventure tale and character study of a fascinating and twisted mind, Hunter's Run showcases three masters of the form at their best.

Hunter's Run

Hunter's Run is somewhat interesting in that it's a collaboration novel that you can't really tell is a collaboration and a science-fiction novel that relies surprisingly little on science fiction. And these are by no means complaints. The collaboration's seamlessness speaks to the craft and professionalism of the three writers while the lack of reliance on science fiction allows for a fine mix of quick-paced adventure and character introspection.

Don't get me wrong — the science fiction elements are essential to the plot: space-faring races, a planet being colonized (slowly) by humanity who have become seemingly the general laborers of this universe, a high-tech blaster. You need the sci fi to get the story going. But once it does get going, the sci-fi elements fade discreetly into the deep background. What you're left with is a three-layered novel.

One layer is a simple adventure story. Ramon Espejo, a hard-nosed and hard-to-like independent prospector on the planet Sao Paulo, kills a man in a bar fight and to avoid the ensuing investigation takes off into the wild. While prospecting out there, he stumbles across an unknown alien race and for reasons it's best not to go into in a review, he is forced into service by the aliens. Attached (literally) to one of the aliens, he becomes their human tracker, tasked to hunt down and kill another human. The chase is the adventure aspect of the story as Ramon tracks the other human through the rocky wilderness, trying to avoid traps and snares left by his prey. Ramon, of course, is also looking for every chance to escape his jailer alien.

The second layer is a true character study as Ramon learns more and more about himself as the chase goes on. He sees himself from the outside perspective he's never had the opportunity to employ before and he doesn't much like what he sees. Through flashbacks and memories we get a view of how Ramon got to be where and what he is, and the journey is seldom a pretty one.

The final layer of Hunter's Run is cultural/social as Ramon becomes not just a tracker for the alien he travels with but also a test case — a means to learn about what humans are like. Unfortunately for humanity, Ramon isn't the greatest example, and most of humanity's flaws are laid bare for the alien to marvel at — our quickness to rage, our ability to kill freely, etc.

All three levels of Hunter's Run are successful. The chase aspect is quick-moving and tense. The character study is strangely compelling. An author (or three) takes a chance in using a hard-to-like main character and, to be honest, there isn't much to like about Ramon. At least, not for a long while. But the authors take their time in allowing Ramon (and the reader) to learn about him — his many flaws and his not-so-many strengths — and his desire to look more deeply into himself and find something he can choose, something he can respect, grabs our attention and eventually our own respect. You can't help but root for him no matter how much you dislike him at the start. The social aspect is also handled well, with a lot of discussion about when or if it is ever appropriate to kill. It would have been easy for the book to devolve into talky preachiness, but it never does and if it sometimes hits a bit too bluntly at the subject, those times are relatively rare. Mostly the questions it asks are provoking and thoughtful. The three aspects also mesh together smoothly. The action doesn't clunk to a halt so we can get pages of introspection. The three strands are woven deftly through the novel all to its very satisfying close.

Hunter's Run is a fast read — a sitting will do it or maybe two — but its content is more sophisticated than the usual fast read. An interestingly ugly character deeply explored, a mysterious alien race, a race/chase against time, a mirror held up to some of humanity's blemishes — it all comes together. —Bill Capossere

Warriors — (2010) Anthology with Gardner Dozois. Read an excerpt of Warriors here. Publisher: A major collection of never-before-published tales of war and warriors from some of today’s most popular writers. Included are a long novella from the world of Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, a new tale of Lord John by Diana Gabaldon, and an epic of humanity at bay by David Weber. Also present are original tales by David Ball, Peter S. Beagle, Lawrence Block, Gardner Dozois, JoeHaldeman, Robin Hobb, Cecelia Holland, Joe R. Lansdale, David Morrell, Naomi Novik, James Rollins, Steven Saylor, Robert Silverberg, S.M. Stirling, Carrie Vaughn, Howard Waldrop, and Tad Williams. Many of these writers are bestsellers. All of them are storytellers of the highest quality. Together they make a volume of unforgettable reading.

Warriors

FORMAT/INFO: Warriors is 736 pages long divided over twenty short stories and an Introduction by George R. R. Martin. Each short story is preceded by biographical information about the author and a short description of their contribution to the anthology. March 16, 2010 marks the North American Hardcover publication of Warriors via Tor.

ANALYSIS:

1. “The King of Norway” by Cecelia Holland. I’ve never read anything by Cecelia Holland before, but the author is described as “one of the world’s most highly acclaimed and respected historical novelists.” Not surprisingly, her contribution finds the author doing what she knows best: historical fiction — specifically a tale of bloodthirsty Vikings, reckless vows, and violent sea battles. Unfortunately, I’m not a very big fan of either historical fiction or Vikings — apart from Norse mythology — and found “The King of Norway” boring and unremarkable. In short, a disappointing start to the anthology.
2. “Forever Bound” by Joe Haldeman. I haven’t read Forever Peace (1998) — Joe Haldeman's Hugo, Nebula and John W. Campbell award-winning science fiction novel — but I believe “Forever Bound” is like a prequel to that book since it features the first-person narrative of Julian Class (the protagonist of Forever Peace), while also covering such concepts as soldierboys (heavily armored robots telepathically operated by ‘mechanics’), cybernetic cranial implants (jacks) and platoon relationships (ten soldiers operating as a single group mind) found in the novel. What I do know for sure though is this: “Forever Bound” is superbly written, thought-provoking, and moving. Definitely one of the better entries in Warriors.
3. “The Triumph” by Robin Hobb. One of my favorite authors, Robin Hobb’s talents — intimate characterization, elegant prose, convincing world-building — are on full display in “The Triumph,” a tale about the last days of the historical figure Marcus Atilius Regulus, a Roman general and consul who was said to have died during Carthaginian captivity in 250 BC. Even though historical fiction is not my cup of tea, I was fascinated by Regulus’ story, although I did appreciate the speculative elements added to the mix. A very strong offering by Robin Hobb.
4. “Clean Slate” by Lawrence Block. When I first started reading “Clean Slate”, I thought the editors had made a mistake. After all, what does a woman reconnecting with a past lover after eight years have anything to do with warriors. Pretty soon though, the connection becomes evident in Lawrence Block’s dark and disturbing offering about a woman trying to regain her lost innocence...
5. “And Ministers of Grace” by Tad Williams. Some of the ideas in “And Ministers of Grace” are familiar like colonized planets, implants that transmit messages/advertisements directly to a person’s brain, a “nanobiote”-enhanced soldier who reminded me some of Alex Mercer from the Prototype videogame, and religious themes, but as a whole I was blown away by Tad Williams' futuristic tale of a Covenant Guardian named Lamentation Kane sent on a mission to assassinate the Prime Minister of Archimedes, and the ensuing chaos that follows. Would love to see the short story expanded into a full-length novel or series.
6. “Soldierin’” by Joe R. Lansdale. I haven’t read very much of Joe R. Lansdale’s work, but what I have read has been disappointingly hit or miss. So I wasn’t sure what to expect from “Soldierin’”, but thankfully Joe R. Lansdale’s comical Western about a group of ‘buffalo soldiers’ crossing paths with Apache Indians was easily the best thing I’ve read by the author, and one of the most entertaining stories in the entire anthology.
7. “Dirae” by Peter S. Beagle. Preceding each short story is biographical information about the author and a short description of their contribution to Warriors. For “Dirae”, the editors wrote the following: “You may find the opening pages of this story a bit confusing, but stick with it, and we promise you that you’ll be rewarded with a compelling study of the price of compassion — and introduced to perhaps the strangest and most unlikely warrior in this whole anthology.” Which pretty much sums up what I thought of Peter S. Beagle’s poetic tale about a mysterious guardian angel.
8. “The Custom of the Army” by Diana Gabaldon. The Custom of the Army” is the second Lord John story that I’ve read after “Lord John and the Succubus” found in the Legends II anthology. In this one, Major Lord John Grey — a recurring secondary character from Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling OUTLANDER series and the star of his own series — finds an innocent night at an electric eel party turn into a wild and entertaining adventure involving a duel, a marriage proposal, being charged for murder, dealing with infidelity, summoned to a court-martial hearing, and participating in the Siege of Quebec. To be honest, I can’t remember much of “Lord John and the Succubus”, but I enjoyed reading “The Custom of the Army” enough that I wouldn’t mind checking out the author’s OUTLANDER and Lord John novels.
9. “Seven Years From Home” by Naomi Novik. Naomi Novik has made a name for herself with the alternate history fantasy series, TEMERAIRE, but in “Seven Years From Home”, the award-winning author delivers an intelligent science fiction tale about a researcher/biographer and the role she plays in a manufactured war between the Melidans and the Esperigans which ends badly. Creatively, “Seven Years From Home” features some nice ideas like living cloth, parasitic wings, the Melidans’ funeral customs and so on, but I thought the narrative voice was dry, and ultimately cared little for the story.
10. “The Eagle and the Rabbit” by Steven Saylor. Like “The Triumph”, “The Eagle and the Rabbit” is a historical fiction story featuring Romans and Carthaginians. “The Eagle and the Rabbit” though is set after the destruction of Carthage, with the rest of the Carthaginian population being put to death or enslaved. In particular, this story follows a group of fugitives captured by Roman slave traders and the terrible games they are forced to participate in, specifically the temptatio: a trial that turns free men into slaves. One of the more engrossing entries in the anthology.
11. “The Pit” by James Rollins. Another favorite author of mine, James Rollins — also known as James Clemens — delivers a winner in “The Pit”, a visceral and heartwarming tale of the horrors of dogfighting and the power of love, as seen through the eyes of Brutus. It’s kind of like The Call of the Wild/White Fang meets Fight Club.
12. “Out of the Dark” by David Weber. I’ve heard nothing but praise for David Weber’s work, but it wasn’t until now that I experienced firsthand why the New York Times bestselling author is so highly regarded. Well-rounded characters — both human and alien, gifted storytelling, realistic military action, cool surprises... David Weber’s thrilling science fiction tale about the Shongairi — doglike aliens — invading present-day Earth despite the Hegemony Constitution has it all, not to mention being smart and hugely entertaining. Easily one of the highlights of the anthology.
13. “The Girls From Avenger” by Carrie Vaughn. I’m most familiar with Carrie Vaughn because of her KITTY NORVILLE urban fantasy series and her contributions to George R. R. Martin's WILD CARDS universe, but the author is also a prolific and talented short fiction writer, which is demonstrated in “The Girls From Avenger”: a well-written historical fiction story set in 1943 and starring Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), in particular one pilot and her quest to solve the mystery surrounding her friend’s tragic death.
14. “Ancient Ways” by S.M. Stirling. “Ancient Ways” is an EMBERVERSE story set sometime after the Change — a vivdly rendered alternate history, post-apocalyptic milieu where electricity, guns, explosives, internal combustion engines, steam power, et cetera have stopped working. While the world-building in “Ancient Ways” was impressive, the story itself about two unlikely warriors joining forces on an “even more unlikely mission” — in this case saving a princess — was predictable. Still, I enjoyed the action and humor found in S.M. Stirling’s offering, although I believe I would have liked the story even more if I had been more familiar with the EMBERVERSE series...
15. “Ninieslando” by Howard Waldrop. “Ninieslando” is one of those stories that starts off in one direction before suddenly veering off onto another. In this case, “Ninieslando” begins as what appears to be more historical fiction, particularly a realistic glimpse at trench warfare during World War I. But then the protagonist discovers a secret society based on the principles of the real life artificial language Esperanto and their plan to start a “New World of brotherhood”, and things start to get weird, but in a good way.
16. “Recidivist” by Gardner Dozois. Gardner Dozois may be best known for his work as an award-winning editor, but he is also an award-winning writer and I’ve been impressed by what I’ve read by him, namely Hunter’s Run (reviewed by Bill above). “Recidivist”, a science fiction tale about a future Earth drastically changed by AIs and one person’s attempt to strike back at the oppressors is a bit on the short side, but is still a creative and welcome addition to the anthology.
17. “My Name Is Legion” by David Morell. From the creator of Rambo comes a compelling tale about the French Foreign Legion set in 1941. “My Name Is Legion” specifically gives readers a taste of legionnaire ideas — “Living by Chance”, “The Legion Is Our Country”, “Honor and Nobility” — and history (the Battle of Camarón, Captain Danjou), and examines what happens when legionnaires are forced to battle against one another...
18. “Defenders of the Frontier” by Robert Silverberg. Surveyor is only one of eleven survivors — Captain, Seeker, Sergeant, Weaponsmaster, Armorer, et cetera are some of the others — still stationed at a remote desert fort that once housed ten thousand soldiers. For over two decades, these men have performed the duty that they were tasked with, but their Empire seems to have forgotten about them, while the enemy is no more. Having known nothing but their lives as soldiers, with no enemies to fight, and no knowledge of the outside world, what are such men to do? That is the scenario explored in “Defenders of the Frontier”, one of my favorite stories in the anthology thanks to speculative fiction elements (Seeker’s ability, Fisherfolk), Surveyor’s evocative first-person narrative, and Robert Silverberg’s poignant examinations.
19. “The Scroll” by David Ball. Never having heard of David Ball, I had no expectations about the author’s contribution and was consequently blown away by “The Scroll”: a bleak, but highly entertaining tale about a French engineer named Baptiste whose life — and the lives of his fellow slaves — hang in the balance during the construction of the city Meknes, based on the whims of historical figure Moulay Ismaïl, sultan of Morocco, and a scroll prophesizing what the engineer will do next. Another favorite of mine.
20. “The Mystery Knight” by George R.R. Martin. Being completely honest with myself, the main reason I wanted to read Warriors was because of the new Dunk & Egg novella — the third such one after “The Hedge Knight” and “The Sworn Sword” — which takes place in the world of George R. R. Martin’s wildly popular A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE series. Fittingly, “The Mystery Knight” is saved for last because Dunk & Egg’s latest adventure about jousting, a dragon’s egg, honor, and conspiracy is easily the longest — and in my opinion — best story in the whole anthology.

CONCLUSION: In his Introduction, George R. R. Martin describes Warriors as a ‘spinner rack’, which is an apt description for an anthology that includes stories of every ilk from historical fiction, fantasy and sci-fi to a Western, mysteries, “some mainstream”, and “a couple of pieces that I won’t even begin to try and label.” Besides diversity, Warriors is also rich in quality, with every story in the anthology well-written and deserving of inclusion, even if I enjoyed certain pieces more than others. For me, George R. R. Martin’s “The Mystery Knight” was easily the highlight of the anthology, but there were several other stories that I loved, including contributions by Tad Williams, Robert Silverberg, David Weber, Joe Haldeman, James Rollins, David Ball, and Steven Saylor, while there were only a few pieces that I felt were forgettable. Negatively, for all of its variety, the anthology is nevertheless dominated by historical fiction pieces and stories on soldiers and war, and if there is ever a second Warriors anthology, I hope the editors will shoot for even greater diversity. Despite this one complaint, Warriors lived up to expectations delivering a diverse, entertaining and rewarding reading experience that I will not soon forget.
—Robert Thompson

Warriors: An excellent sampler of genre fiction by some of the very best

To quote from George R.R. Martin’s introduction “People have been telling stories about warriors for as long as they have been telling stories.” I imagine that for most all who enjoy fantasy or almost any genre fiction, it’s the timeless tradition of the telling of warriors’ tales that is the heart of our passion. In fact, reading Martin’s introduction titled “Stories of the Spinner Rack” is enough to put Warriors on any bookworm’s reading list. For many of us who grew up in Small Town USA during the 70’s and earlier, before the big book stores and Amazon.com, we know exactly what he was talking about. It’s a very relatable trip down memory lane that primes the reader for the adventures that follow.

At 736 pages, Warriors is practically a tome. It contains twenty tales, without a bad one in the bunch. I’m not going to summarize each individual story, since that information is already easily available from the publisher and from harder working reviewers than me, but the list of authors is the most impressive I’ve ever seen for similar books. These are great stories from most all the genres, with more than a few of them being fantasy and science fiction, but also historical fiction, a western, a war story, paranormal, and even a dog story.

My experience reading Warriors was a re-acquaintance with some favorite authors that I haven’t read in way too long: George R. R. Martin, David Morrell, Tad Williams, Robert Silverberg, and Lawrence Block. It was also an introduction to many authors I’ve had an interest in but haven’t yet given a read: David Weber, Naomi Novik, and Diana Gabaldon, to name only a few.
 
I’m one of the rare odd-balls who didn’t care for Robin Hobb’s FARSEER trilogy, but her story about a Roman prisoner of war, "The Triumph," was one of my favorites in the book. James Rollin’s story about a pit-bull dog actually produced a lump in my throat. David Morrell’s "My Name is Legion", about two comrades in the French Foreign Legion during WWII, pulled at my heart strings. George R. R. Martin returns to Westeros some centuries before A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE for another adventure of his Hedge Knight — for fans of the series, that’s all that needs saying.
 
Warriors is an excellent sampler of genre fiction by the some of the very best. Readers won’t find a better way to try new genres, revisit past favorites, and still enjoy tales the likes of which are currently on their reading lists. —Greg Hersom

Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honor of Jack Vance — (2009) By George R.R. Martin (Editor), Gardner Dozois (Editor), Tom Kidd (Illustrator) Publisher: In Songs of the Dying Earth, we have called on one of the most distinguished casts of authors ever assembled — including Dan Simmons, Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin, Paula Volsky, Mike Resnick, Robert Silverberg, Lucius Shepard, Tad Williams, Tanith Lee, Liz Williams, Glen Cook, and eleven other famous writers — to write stories in honor of the genius of Jack Vance, stories using the bizarre and darkly beautiful far future setting of the Dying Earth, near the very end of Earth's lifespan, where mighty wizards duel with spells of dreadful potency under a waning and almost burnt-out red sun, and adventurers and cutpurses strive to hoodwink and out-trick each other in haunted forests full of demons and monsters strange almost beyond comprehension.

Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honor of Jack Vance (in print and on audio)

Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honor of Jack Vance is the best anthology I’ve ever read. These stories will be enjoyed by any SFF reader, but they’ll be ten times more fun if you’ve read Jack Vance’s The Dying Earth, because they are all written in honor of that fantastic work. Each tale is written in the style of Vance, which is quite amusing in itself, and each takes place on the Dying Earth, that far-future wasteland in which natural selection means survival of the cleverest, nastiest, sneakiest, and most self-serving.

Songs of the Dying Earth was written by “many high-echelon, top-drawer writers” (as Mr. Vance says in the preface): Robert Silverberg, Matthew Hughes, Terry Dowling, Liz Williams, Mike Resnick, Walter Jon Williams, Paula Volsky, Jeff Vandermeer, Kage Baker, Phyllis Eisenstein, Elizabeth Moon, Lucius Shepard, Tad Williams, John C. Wright, Glen Cook, Elizabeth Hand, Byron Tetrick, Tanith Lee, Dan Simmons, Howard Waldrop, George R.R. Martin, and Neil Gaiman. And there’s an introductory “appreciation” by Dean Koontz.

It was pure pleasure to listen to these authors emulate Jack Vance’s writing style and to fill their stories with Vance’s beloved (if I can call them that) characters such as Rhialto the Marvellous, Cugel the clever, Derwe Coreme, Guyal, Turjan, T’sais, Ioucounu the Laughing Magician, Lith, Chun the Unavoidable and, of course, plenty of Deodands, sandestins, pelgranes, and Twk-men. They used some of Vance’s neologisms and hilariously named magic spells (e.g., The Spell of Forlorn Encystment, The Excellent Prismatic Spray, The Spell of the Macroid Toe) and plenty of those other strange things we find in Vance novels: colors that don’t exist, baroque architecture and fashion, slimy creatures that squirm and pulsate, eyeball jelly, blue concentrate, miniaturized enemies, nostrils used as doorways, pulp, ichor, fungi, and empty eye sockets… as Kage Baker said in her afterword, the Dying Earth is like a Hieronymus Bosch painting.

These stories were so well done that much of the time I forgot that I wasn’t actually reading Jack Vance. Many of the tales give us supplementary history about some of Vance’s well-known characters and they fit into the canon so smoothly that I’m afraid I’ll forever be remembering them as original Vance! Every story in this anthology is a lot of fun (except for Elizabeth Moon’s because I have a phobia of cockroaches), and they are all highly recommended reading, but my favorites were those that best affect Vance’s florid style, magniloquent dialogue, distinctive character names, black humor, and sense of irony — not so easily done. Those that accomplish this best are:

• Tad Williams, whose story about a low-order traveling magician who gets stuck to a Deodand was the funniest
• Terry Dowling, who made me late to work because I was sitting in the parking lot and laughing at his magicians’ contest
• Kage Baker, who had won me over even before she has Cugel say to himself “What, though, Cugel! Have you not an unfailing way with the female sex? If you cannot ingratiate yourself with the old witch, you are not your father’s child.”
• Tanith Lee, whose style is spot-on in every respect and gets extra points for creating a spell “extrapolated from Phandaal’s empurpled theorem of Locative Selfulsion”
• Walter Jon Williams, who creates a delightfully clever hero, puts a disagreeable wife in a bottle, and makes up some nice new words
• Mike Resnick, who explains the origin of Chun the Unavoidable and why he sews eyeballs onto his cloak
• Matthew Hughes, whose unlucky protagonist inhabits flying insects who keep getting squashed
• Neil Gaiman, whose charming last story answers the ultimate question: what happens when the sputtering sun finally goes out?

Something that makes the Songs of the Dying Earth very special (especially to me, a rabid but newer Vance fan) were the authors’ afterwords in which they explain what Jack Vance’s work means to them. I was amazed at how similar their stories were: almost invariably they were between 13 and 15 years old, looking for something to do, found a Vance novel on their brother’s bookshelf or one of his stories in a pulp magazine, became completely enthralled, scoured the bookstores and newsstands for more, and eventually read all of his work. They consider Vance a major influence in their own writing, and (almost all of them say this) he’s one of the few authors they still feel the same way about today as they did when they were teenagers. I found this fascinating. And kind of sad, for I have never experienced the joy of needing to hunt for, and therefore eventually finding, a treasured book that I didn’t know existed. I’ve never seen an Ace Double at a newsstand. This was all before my time and I feel like I’ve missed out.

The afterwords were beautifully nostalgic, but in reality I’m thankful to Subterranean Press and Brilliance Audio, that scrounging around on used bookstore floors is a thing of the past for Vance fans. Both of these houses have lately been supplying us with Vance in print and audio, and both have published Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honor of Jack Vance. Sub Press’s print version has terrific illustrations by Tom Kidd. Arthur Morey does the narration for the audio version and, because he also narrated The Dying Earth stories and uses the same voices for the characters in this anthology, it helps give the impression that these are actually Vance tales. Mr. Morey “gets” Jack Vance — he has the wry tone just right. He really had me laughing at the bad-poetry-quoting barbarians in Robert Silverberg’s story.

Songs of the Dying Earth is a must-read for Vance fans. If you haven’t read The Dying Earth, I highly suggest that you read it first (may I recommend Brilliance Audio’s versions?). Mr. Martin and Mr. Dozois, please give us more Songs of the Dying Earth! —Kat Hooper

Songs of Love and Death — (2010) Edited with Gardner Dozois. Publisher: In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth-century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate. Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see. International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby — no matter the cost. New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart. Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell. Discover the many realms of the heart with this extraordinary cast of acclaimed authors: PETER S. BEAGLE, JO BEVERLEY, JIM BUTCHER, JACQUELINE CAREY, DIANA GABALDON, NEIL GAIMAN, YASMINE GALENORN, M.L.N. HANOVER, ROBIN HOBB, CECELIA HOLLAND, TANITH LEE, MARJORIE M. LIU, MARY JO PUTNEY, LINNEA SINCLAIR, MELINDA SNODGRASS, LISA TUTTLE, CARRIE VAUGHN.

Songs of Love and Death

George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois have collected a nice batch of all-new stories from an all-star cast in Songs of Love and Death. The theme is “star-crossed lovers,” and as you might guess from the title, each tale is a love story, and many are death stories, too. Some are sad, some are sexy, and one or two are slightly sappy. Overall, I enjoyed the collection. Here’s what you’ll find in Songs of Love and Death:

• “Love Hurts” by Jim Butcher may be the story Harry Dresden’s fans have been waiting for because it looks like Harry and Murphy will finally get together... or will they?
• In “The Marrying Maid,” historical romance author Jo Beverley provides a Regency romance in which a court fop tries to seduce a practical spinster, but this time there’s a fairy legend that’s spurring him on.
• In “Rooftops” by Carrie Vaughn, a young playwright who’s nervous about her opening night is rescued by a mysterious masked superhero. She has a boyfriend, but she just can’t get that masked stranger off her mind.
• “Hurt Me” by M.L.N. Hanover is an excellently eerie haunted house story. One of the best in this collection.
• “Demon Lover” by historical fiction writer Cecelia Holland is an erotic fairy tale. Though it was obvious where this one was going, it was still entertaining.
• In “The Wayfarer’s Advice” by Melinda M. Snodgrass, the captain of an illicit spaceship rescues the heiress of an empire.
• I’m always a fan of Robin Hobb, so it’s not surprising that “Blue Boots” was one of my favorites in this collection. It takes place in Buck Town and tells the story of a kitchen maid who falls in love with a wandering minstrel.
• “The Thing About Cassandra” by Neil Gaiman is a strange story about a man who meets his imaginary girlfriend. This one was kind of mind-blowing, which means I liked it.
• “After the Blood” by Marjorie M. Liu involves a vampire trying to survive in a zombie-infested backwater Amish farm community. I couldn’t finish it.
• Jacqueline Carey fans will not want to miss “You, and You Alone” which takes place during that tragic scene in Kushiel’s Dart when Anafiel Delaunay is assassinated. As he lies dying, he reminisces about Edmée, Rolande, Isabel, and Alcuin and gives us a lot of backstory that has only been hinted at until now.
• In “His Wolf” by Lisa Tuttle, a new college professor falls in love with a drug dealer and his pet wolf. I had a hard time believing in that romance.
• Linnea Sinclair’s “Courting Trouble” is a fun space romp. The sweet romance in this story particularly touched me, but if I told you why, I’d be spoiling the plot.
• “The Demon Dancer” by Mary Jo Putney is about a Guardian who needs to stop a succubus who’s running wild in New York City. I didn’t like this one. The romance was icky, and some parts of the plot required a degree of suspension of disbelief that I couldn’t muster.
• “Under/Above the Water” by Tanith Lee is a beautiful mysterious legend about an ancient king’s unfaithful wife and their underwater kingdom.
• In “Kaskia” by Peter S. Beagle, an unhappy middle-aged man makes first contact with a beautiful alien on his new laptop computer. This story was fascinating and excellently written and reminds me why I keep thinking “I must read more Peter S. Beagle!”
• “Man in the Mirror” by Yasmine Galenorn is another haunted house story. I liked the premise, but the romance was hard to swallow.
• “A Leaf in the Wind of All Hallows” by Diana Gabaldon is a heart-wrenching story that her fans are sure to love since it’s linked to her popular OUTLANDER series. I really can’t wait to read that.

Brilliance Audio has a very good production of Songs of Love and Death which is read by a small cast of narrators. My only complaint is that Phil Gigante has only one female voice and it’s not suitable for the wide variety of women he portrays. He does a great job with male voices, though.

There were a few weak stories in Songs of Love and Death, but some excellent ones, too. Don’t miss the stories by M.L.N. Hanover, Robin Hobb, Neil Gaiman, Jacqueline Carey, Tanith Lee, Peter S. Beagle, and Diana Gabaldon. Fans of the DRESDEN FILES should not miss Butcher’s story. —Kat Hooper

Songs of Love and Death

Songs of Love and Death is the third anthology that George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois have edited together. Like Warriors and Songs of the Dying Earth, Songs of Love and Death brings together some of the biggest names that SFF has to offer and they set these authors to work on a common theme.

Martin and Dozois offer a cross-genre anthology that ranges from Robin Hobb’s epic fantasy “Blue Boots,” which tells the story of a romance between a young serving girl and a silver-tongued minstrel, to Melinda M. Snodgrass’s space opera “The Wayfarer’s Advice,” set in an intergalactic empire fully stocked with alien creatures and political strife. There’s a bit of everything here, which is perhaps why Jim Butcher’s hard-boiled urban fantasy detective Harry Dresden offers such a fitting start with “Love Hurts.”

However varied these entries may be, each of them can be loosely tied to “star-crossed lovers,” a theme that Martin and Dozois suggest can be found throughout world literature. If all love stories are somewhat recycled, the best entries here tweak the archetypes just enough to feel new. Here’s a challenge that Neil Gaiman excels at, and his submission, “The Thing About Cassandra,” is a standout tale of love and death. Cassandra is supposedly Stuart’s first love. She’s recently been contacting Stuart’s friends, perhaps trying to get in touch again. The thing is, Stuart made Cassandra up. “The Thing About Cassandra” is a testament to Gaiman’s cleverness, but others — like Cecelia Holland and Jacqueline Carey — take a more explicit approach to love.

Unfortunately, the price for these explicit details may be that many of these stories are surprisingly straightforward, particularly the many paranormal romances that are included. Of the paranormal stories, my favorite was M.L.N. Hanover’s “Hurt Me,” an unusual take on the single woman trapped in a haunted house. However, more stories seem to follow in the footsteps of Lisa Tuttle’s “His Wolf.” Tuttle’s contribution is a story about a man, nicknamed Wolfman, with a mystical connection to his wolf. Wolfman returns from the dead thanks to — well, how many guesses do we need?

Martin and Dozois have once again organized an impressive collection of authors around a compelling theme. These anthologies are rapidly becoming the “who’s who” of those authors writing under the SFF umbrella. If Songs of Love and Death strays a little too often into genre exercises and the realm of paranormal romance for my taste, it doesn’t change the fact that fantasy readers looking to branch out could hardly do better than to check out a Martin and Dozois anthology. —Ryan Skardal