February 2023 MBR The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Isak AI
Clarke Owens
Cosmic Egg Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781803411286, $18.95 PB, 312pp

https://www.amazon.com/Isak-AI-novel-Clarke-Owens/dp/1803411287

Synopsis: Set in the year 2052, "Isak AI" by Clark Ownes is the story of Isak, a super-computer who takes over the world and eliminates a fourth of its population as a step toward preventing environmental collapse.

In response, a group of Bay Area truth-seekers create the Church of Isak, worshipping the computer as a god. DeJuan McCholley, an L.A. rap artist, becomes Isak's prophet, and science power couple Kyle and Inga Conners are called on to respond to a glitch in Isak's programming.

Critique: A deftly scripted novel that will have a special interest for readers who appreciated dystopian stories, "Isak AI" offers them a unique blend of satire and speculation with the themes of climate science, artificial intelligence, politics, and religious myth. A believable story of what could be our future as extrapolated from our present, "Isak AI" is highly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction fans that "Isak AI" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).

Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

https://www.amazon.com/Summers-End-John-Van-Stry/dp/1982192291

Summer's End by John Van Stry (9781982192297, $17.00) tells of Dave Walker, a new college grad with his Ship Engineer 3rd-Class certificate in hand who only needs to find a berth and a job. Oh, and avoid being killed by a vengeful stepfather he's never met. Dave finds himself not searching for gainful employment, but on the run as he fields assassins, pirates, and challenges in space that his degree never prepared him for. Fast-paced action, strong characterization, and a story filled with interplays between past influences and future opportunities make for a sci-fi space-hopping read that is delightfully intriguing.

https://www.amazon.com/Scarab-Mission-Billion-Worlds-Book-ebook/dp/B0BCXSSTRV

The Scarab Mission by James L. Cambias (9781982192366, $18.00) tells of Solana Sina, a scarab scavenger with a crew that lives for salvaging abandoned space habitats. A raven a cyborg, and a dinosaur begin to score some serious loot until the scarabs confront a gang of pirates seeking both riches and slaves. Fast-paced action marks a story that is vividly compelling.

https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Critical-Charles-Gannon/dp/1982192607

Charles Gannon, Griffin Barber, Chris Kennedy, and Mike Massa's Mission Critical (9781982192600, $18.00) is a Terran Republic novel that tells of soldiers lost in time and transported light-years from home. Major Rodger Y. Murphy is only one of the latest who faces a helicopter crash in 1993, only to wake up alive in 2125, over a hundred light-years from home. They have been tapped by the Consolidated Terran Republic for a battle nobody quite understands, and the impact will change not only their futures, but the world.

These are fine action-packed stories that are hard to put down or neatly categorize, and will attract a wide audience.

Dark Dweller
Gareth Worthington
Dropship Publishing
www.dropshippublishing.com
9781954386006, $44.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Dweller-Gareth-Worthington/dp/1954386079

It's not unusual to lose people in space. When Captain Kara Psomas is declared dead after a collision with Jupiter, the world moves on without her. Over a century later, an escape pod is found containing a young woman who holds a universe-changing message in a mission that affects the future of all mankind. She claims to be Kara. It's up to her rescuers to determine if she is insane, or humanity's only hope. It's up to Kara to fulfill her mission, even if it costs the lives of those who have saved her.

Gareth Worthington creates a story nicely steeped in intrigue, vivid descriptions, and action-packed dialogue tempered by an undercurrent of wry humor. These gritty conversations that are part of the first-person story's power bring situations to life, as well as circumstances which lead characters to disbelieve the evidence before them. Worthington does a fine job of shifting these first-person points of view between Kara and other characters.

One example is Dr. Luan Nkosi, who is walking Europa when he's called to become involved in the mystery of a two-hundred-year-old survivor who looks to be fifteen years old. Worthington is equally adept at juxtaposing hard science, mystery, spiritual components, and insights into all kinds of survivors. The nonstop action invites those who relish a fast pace in their stories, while the mystery over this woman's potential impact on civilization is nicely done and captivating.

Readers of sci-fi who enjoy stories that circumnavigate other worlds with a touch of cosmic mystery and prophecy will find Dark Dweller a powerful blend of topics that injects intrigue into extraterrestrial experiences. Libraries that look for intersections of sci-fi and higher-level thinking, dosed with a heady mix of hard science and wry observational humor, will find Dark Dweller a fine acquisition that outlines a strange journey through time and future possibilities.

Gathering
Greg Rode
Warren Publishing Inc.
www.warrenpublishing.net
9781957723112, $15.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Sanctuary-Chronicles-Greg-Rode/dp/1957723114

Zombie apocalypse novels tend to sound somewhat alike -- a zombie infection forces human survivors to struggle against them for control of a vastly changed world. What makes such a plot unique is how an author approaches the skeleton of the story, which is why Greg Rode's third book in the Sanctuary series, Gathering, continues to amaze.

Unlike the first two books, Gathering is divided into three parts. The first is narrated in the third person and focuses on Morgan, who has isolated herself from the world when it suddenly changes. At first she doesn't notice anything awry, even though "Like all the other cities in the country, Denver and its suburbs screamed, suffered, and died quickly, with a good few of those who remained standing having nothing in their minds but the classic American dream of the pursuit of happiness -- in the form of eating their (former) fellow man."

When she emerges from her cocoon, it's to find a strange new milieu in which she encounters her first zombie four days after the world has succumbed to their strengths, discovering that critical pieces of her world and life have shifted. The second part is also in third person but focuses on Eve as she finds her way back to the group after separating from them at the beginning of the second book. She picks up a couple of survivors along the way, one of whom may have a hidden agenda. The third part returns to first person as the narrator resumes his accounts of the group and their many adventures together as they work to find true sanctuary. As Rode reviews the group's reactions, pull toward each other, and the elements of strength that give them exceptional abilities to confront this new zombie-controlled environment, readers will appreciate the vivid descriptions and action-packed scenes that create unexpected drama and insights alike.

The result of Rode's approach to his books is a zombie series like no other. Gathering stands both individually strong and as an expanding addition to a series that questions survival, revised life purposes, and the real differences between zombies and humans.

Sanctuary
Greg Rode
Warren Publishing Inc.
www.warrenpublishing.net
9781957723525, $15.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Chronicles-Greg-Rode/dp/1957723521

Sanctuary is the fourth book of the Sanctuary Chronicles and adds further details about the confrontations between surviving humans and the zombies taking over the world. It also continues to interweave the different voices from a variety of characters, a writing technique Greg Rode uses throughout the rest of the series.

The story opens with a bang as the narrator confesses he has been bitten by a zombie, his greatest fear realized. Is he now doomed to become one of the things his group has fought against and struggled with since the downfall of mankind? The otherwise-safe sanctuary they have created for themselves feels tainted from within as the story opens; but Rode excels at creating twists and turns of plot that take readers into very different directions.

Sanctuary represents another such journey as the narrator muses on past events and concludes that "Every story has an ending, I just didn't think mine was going to end with me being bitten by a zombie." As he awaits the process of losing his mind as his group considers some good fortune and how to help others, planning a rescue that will pit them against fellow humans as well as zombies, the story unfolds many surprises which will delight readers that think all zombie stories are alike.

Sanctuary certainly stands out as the survivors consider and adopt flexible, changing perspectives in reaction to revelations and discoveries about the vastly changed world and the power plays between humans and zombies. The action and adventure develops nicely into the story of how humans have changed in response to this adversity.

Readers receive a vivid account that both stands on its own and contributes to the series as a whole as new characters join the group to expand its purposes and perceptions. The result is another zombie story that is anything but ordinary. Sanctuary is highly recommended both for newcomers and library collections seeing prior patron interest in Rode's series.

The Wall
Greg Rode
Warren Publishing, Inc.
www.warrenpublishing.net
9781957723761, $15.95

https://www.amazon.com/Wall-Sanctuary-Chronicles-Greg-Rode/dp/1957723769

The Wall combines a post-apocalyptic zombie survival story with a horror scenario personalized by the first-person, and sometimes third-person, usage. It's a compelling saga that draws readers with an assessment of what it means to be a survivor living through extraordinary times.

Those who consider the Sanctuary Chronicles series might initially have a "not another zombie story!" reaction, but Greg Rode's skill lies in crafting a narrative that is refreshingly different in tone and presentation: "If this were a book, the author would probably spend a number of pages telling the reader about everything that has happened to date, especially if it's a series of books, which could take a while. I let my mind drift in the hazy level of consciousness just after waking and think about what I'd say if I were writing "our" book. Tell all of the history? The stories of the dead? No, not this morning; I'm not in the mood for mourning. Tell about who is still alive and kicking? Seems to make sense."

As much as The Wall is a story of survival, it's also a tale of life under revised conditions, finding joy and peace in a world torn asunder by zombies, and the process of forming new connections and purposes that lead the narrator and his posse to contemplate and create different lives amid chaos. The journey the characters undertake can be as picturesque and delightful as it is challenging, and this is part of what makes The Wall an exceptional read. In any life process, adversity often exists alongside prosperity and richness.

Rode's ability to capture and contrast these moments lends the story a realistic and compelling overtone, moving it beyond survival instincts and challenging adventures and into the moments where the characters search out beauty and peace in a vastly changed world, uncovering the choices and reactions that translate to toxic or healthy relationships both within their group and in the wider world. The result is a thought-provoking tale of revelation and discovery that is highly recommended reading for a wide audience interested in original voices and explorations that embrace physical and psychological battles alike.

Libraries seeking zombie stories with a twist will appreciate The Wall for its many revelations about changing interpersonal connections and the process of rebuilding lives as a rising horde threatens yet another revolution.

Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

These four new arrivals from Baen are recommended for readers interested in original, inviting Science Fiction & Fantasy reads.

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Past-Simon-R-Green/dp/1982192283

Simon R. Green's Haunted by the Past (9781982192280, $25.00) is an Ishmael Jones novel that combines the problem-solving strengths of an absorbing mystery with a new weird case involving an old manor house/hotel, a vanished renter, and an organization that employs Ishmael and his sidekick and love Penny. As the two delve into the legends and ghostly stories surrounding the old hotel, readers receive an involving story steeped in intrigue and the trappings of weird fantasy settings alike.

https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Long-Lost-Christopher-Ruocchio/dp/1982192305

The collection Worlds Long Lost (9781982192303, $16.00) is edited by Christopher Ruocchio and Sean CW Korsgaard and gathers original stories by Orson Scott Card, Jessica Cain, D.J. Butler and others. The diversity of stories skilled in space opera married with magic, mystery, and lost civilizations provides a mix that poses intrigue and inviting plots with twists readers won't see coming.

https://www.amazon.com/Chicks-Tank-Tops-Jason-Cordova/dp/1982192356

Jason Cordova edits Chicks in Tank Tops (9781982192358, $18.00), a collection profiling women in military situations who find their proactive fighting skills strengthen both their worlds and their places in them. New stories by Baen authors such as David Drake, Jody Lynn Nye, A.C. Haskins and Sharon Lee, to name just a few, outline a wide variety of military scenarios and deployments in which women not only take the lead, but fight for liberty and their own special interests.

https://www.amazon.com/Poor-Mans-Sky-Rich/dp/1982192348

Wil McCarthy's Poor Man's Sky (9781982192341, $25.00) adds to the Rich Man's Sky series with a blend of sci-fi and murder mystery. The setting is a Mars monastery which teaches people how to live in space. It's the last place one would think of being a murder scene, but as homicide detective Raimey Vaught learns, nothing is sacred. As his investigative efforts involve a Benedictine monk, an asteroid miner, and a farmer, this disparate band swirls around a mystery that not only defies resolution, but expands to include labor disputes and social unrest.

All four titles are highly recommended for libraries seeking something different for the Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

The Arrival of the Drakons
Francis Gerard
Independently Published
9781912895113, $13.99, PB, 348pp

https://www.amazon.com/Arrival-Drakons-Francis-Gerard/dp/1912895110

Synopsis: An original fantasy novel by Francis Gerard, "The Arrival of the Drakons" offers its readers a fascinating glimpse into an extraordinary human future -- although one where the past is not quite the same as history books would have it.

This is the story of Zade McDonald who is a San bushman teenager living in the wilds of Botswana's Okavango swamps. He's a shaman who can speak to animals, read minds, and connect with forces greater than himself. His powers are both a gift and a curse; and they haven't gone unnoticed.

Someone has been watching him. Someone who's been studying humankind for millennia, just waiting for a person as incredible as Zade to come along. Someone who needs him for a task that could prevent the destruction of the entire universe.

But this kind of power attracts both good and evil -- and dark forces already have a hold on Zade. Will he choose the right path in time to save the people he loves? It seems that the history of Earth as we know it is a lie. While the future is upon us, only Zade has the power to change it.

Critique: An inherently riveting fantasy with deftly crafted and memorable characters embedded in a creative storyline that has its readers totally aborbed from first page to last, (and all the more impressive when considering that this is that author's debut as a novelist), "The Arrival of the Drakons" by Francis Gerard is an unreservedly recommended addition to highschool and community library Fantasy Fiction collections for young readers. It should also be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans of all ages that "The Arrival of the Drakons" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Francis Gerard (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0313951) is a documentary filmmaker who started out in Africa and has traveled the world. He's especially interested in evolving cultures, and their anthropological bases. He spent the first ten years of this century developing and designing a museum in South Africa dedicated to the San bushmen and their art. It's called the Origins Centre (https://www.wits.ac.za/origins) and it's in Johannesburg.

A Restless Truth
Freya Marske
Tordotcom
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250788917, $27.99, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Restless-Truth-Last-Binding/dp/1250788919

Synopsis: Maud Blyth has always longed for adventure. She expected plenty of it when she volunteered to serve as an old lady's companion on an ocean liner, in order to help her beloved older brother unravel a magical conspiracy that began generations ago.

What she didn't expect was for the old lady in question to turn up dead on the first day of the voyage. Now she has to deal with a dead body, a disrespectful parrot, and the lovely, dangerously outrageous Violet Debenham, who is also returning home to England. Violet is everything that Maud has been trained to distrust yet can't help but desire: a magician, an actress, and a magnet for scandal.

Surrounded by the open sea and a ship full of suspects, Maud and Violet must first drop the masks that they've both learned to wear before they can unmask a murderer and somehow get their hands on a magical object worth killing for -- without ending up dead in the water themselves!

Critique: With a particular appeal to fans of Magic, Murder Mysteries, and Shipboard Romance, "A Restless Truth" by author Freya Marske is a fun, original, and compelling read from first page to last. While very highly and enthusiastically recommended as an addition to community library Historical Fantasy and 'Whodunnit' cosy mysteries community library collections featuring two very unusual women sleuths, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Restless Truth" is also available in a paperback edition (9781250831897, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Freya Marske (https://freyamarske.com/" currently resides in Australia and is the author of A Restless Truth and A Marvellous Light, which won the Romantic Novel Award for Fantasy. Her work has appeared in Analog and has been short listed for three Aurealis Awards. She is also a Hugo-nominated podcaster, and won the Ditmar Award for Best New Talent.

Viila and the Doomsday Affair
Roger Danchik
https://danchikwritingbeware.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639886203, $18.99

https://www.amazon.com/Viila-Doomsday-Affair-Roger-Danchik/dp/1639886206

Viila and the Doomsday Affair offers a save-the-world scenario powered by an unusual cast of characters who are charged not only with an impossible mission, but a series of supernatural and philosophical traps that also attract other denizens who would reach the Hidden Room in the Sacred Mount for their own nefarious purposes. The rabbi and his clueless son, a lovely vampire, a sex-obsessed teraphim, Barnabas the demon, cat Queen Pharaoh, and Jasper the belly crawler at first seem to have little in common other than their new task. Turns out they each harbor strengths and perspectives that join them in more ways than in achieving this seemingly-impossible goal.

The progression of events also embraces a strange blend of sexual encounters and erotic fun from the opening lines of the story, which portend the sense of pleasure and puzzles that will link not just disparate characters, but the audience that chooses Viila and the Doomsday Affair: "Rabbi Benjamin was having a mild sexual fantasy caused by his evening's dinner. He sat at his dinner table eyeing the two lovely, rounded dumplings that his wife, with all the erotic innocence of women, has put in front of him. He thinks she thinks that a dumpling is just a dumpling. After a moment, he thanked his God for the endless wonder of women."

Spiritual audiences who choose this book will find religious stories turned upside down in a whimsical manner that could offend those deeply religious, but will delight those who acknowledge possible inconsistencies in Biblical history and those who interpret it.

At the heart of this foray into ironic adventure is the lovely and centuries-old vampire Viila, who is on the prowl for a "good, good man." She's been searching for centuries and her latest incarnation seems to be moving her no closer to her goal. As each character faces the possibilities and impossibilities of their lives and quests both individually and as a group, readers are brought into a milieu which is ripe with sexual discovery, ironic twists, fun encounters, and the spicy side dish of those who face a "long infinity."

Roger Danchik's foray into the impossible assumes the countenance of an adventure, the ironic inspection of men, women, and creatures who never quite achieve their hearts' desires, and the element of surprise that keeps the novel's possibilities and twists completely unpredictable and zany.

Libraries looking for a walk on the wilder side of fantasy and sex amongst demons and men will find Viila and the Doomsday Affair a vivid story hard to define and attractive to readers seeking something refreshingly different and hard to put down.

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