James Nicoll Reviews

Sue Thomas’ 1992 Correspondence is a stand-alone science fiction novel.

All of the modern world’s wonders cannot protect one from loss and grief. A single moment can erase spouse and children. However, those wonders do offer a solution.

Two solutions, in fact.

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Steven Brust’s 1990 Cowboy Feng’s Space Bar and Grille is a stand-alone science fiction novel.

Cowboy Feng’s offers good food, excellent music, and, oh yes, refuge from the end of the world. Or rather, from the ends of several worlds.

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Robert Zubrin’s 1996 The Case for Mars is an ostensibly non-fiction book in which he makes a case that not only are (comparatively) inexpensive crewed missions to Mars possible, so are much more ambitious plans.

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The ISFDB says that Phyllis Eisenstein’s 1997 Spec-Lit is the first of two Spec-Lit anthologies. I’d argue they are closer to magazines. I base this on vibes and also because the copyright says, ​“This magazine is copyright © 1997 by Phyllis Eisenstein.” The two Spec-Lit books/magazines are, as far as I know, the only examples of Eisenstein’s editorial work.

But first! Background.

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1990’s Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea is the fourth of at least six volumes in Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea secondary-universe fantasy series.

As a young woman, Tenar was a priestess to the Nameless Ones. She chose to flee. Tenar was offered a place in cosmopolitan¹ Havnor. She chose backwater island Gont instead. Adopted by the old mage Ogion, Tenar was offered a chance to learn magic. She chose to marry a farmer named Flint instead².

Tenar did not choose to become a widow living alone. Time chose that for her.

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1992’s Two-Bit Heroes is the second book in Doris Egan’s science fantasy Ivory trilogy.

Theodora is smitten with sorcerer Ran Cormallon and Ran is smitten with Theo. Therefore, despite the manifest imprudence of Theo returning to Ivory — planet of magic!¹—Theo does just that.

Ran accepts a seemingly easy assignment: vet a would-be groom.

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R. Garcia y Robertson’s 1991 The Spiral Dance is a stand-alone historical fantasy.

Outraged by Tudor excess, Anne Percy, Countess of Northumberland and her vacillating husband Thomas Percy, the 7^th Earl, launch what will be later known as the Northern Rebellion. Leading a rabble comprised of a poorly organized cross-section of the ungovernable north, the aristocratic couple march south to replace hateful Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots. A great victory is assured!

But first, there’s the matter of the mad woman claiming to be Anne Percy, Countess of Northumberland.

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Lawrence Watt-Evans’ 1992 Crosstime Traffic is a collection of short stories¹. It is not to be confused with Harry Turtledove’s Crosstime YA series, although booksellers sure did their best to flog the second to me when I looked for the first.

The edition I am reviewing is the original Del Rey, not the more recent FoxAcre, which seems to differ slightly in content.

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Carol Severance’s 1991 Reefsong is a stand-alone science fiction novel. 

Although her family has long since been driven off the mountain land they love by the nigh all-powerful World Life Corporation, UN Warden Angie Dinsman still labors to keep one of the last remaining wildernesses on Earth intact. She has no intention of ever leaving.

Wildfire and the World Life Corporation costs Angie her precious post.

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Michael Scott Rohan and Allan J. Scott’s 1992 A Spell of Empire: The Horns of Tartarus is an alternate-history fantasy novel.

Apprentice alchemist and hobbyist musician Volker barely survives his master’s exploration of forbidden forces. Now without a master or home, the half-elf discovers that his magical talents and his musical skills aren’t good enough, or impressive enough, to secure employment … until Volker meets tone-deaf Ulrich Tragelicht of Worms, dealer in wines and spices. Volker is just the employee that Ulrich needs.

But first, some history.

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