Summary: Possibly one of the best science fantasy novels I’ve ever read. What makes it so? An eye for detail, a use for antique language in a novel and clear manner and an incredible sens of wonder.

Shadow of the Torturer is a book I literally turned my nose up thirty odd years ago. The covers didn’t sell me, nor did the back of the book. It looked like a Conan rip off. Then, I recently decided to read it after I saw it listed as an example of the Dying Earth subgenre on Wikipedia. And since the books were readily available on PaperBackSwap.com, it made sense to snag them.

After I read it, I cannot believe I ignored this book this long. It is a great piece of science fantasy verging onto literature. And I honestly would not have appreciated it as a teenager.

What is Shadow of the Torturer about? Its about Severian, a apprentice, then journeyman torturer who finds himself involved in the intrigues and campaigns for and against the Autarch of the Commonwealth, a region of a far future Urth (Earth). It all starts when he saves the life of the famous insurgent, Vodalius. From there, we get a view of the guild, the Citadel of the Autarch, the city of Nessus and world through Severian’s eyes.

Severian makes an excellent viewpoint character with his cloistered upbringing in the guild, allowing 20^th and 21^st century eyes to look around at the end of history and Nessus without too many “As you know Bob” moments. Or at least making them fell more natural as the naive Severian gets an education…         The plots Severian gets tangled up in range from the mundane (steal his stuff) to the grand (overthrow the Autarch and restore the Monarchy). He also takes a tour of Nexus culminating at the Sanguinary fields and a duel.

Wolfe has an amazing command of history and language, with a keen eye for detail that moves toward lush, but doesn’t go overboard. The historical words he uses in the far future are obscure, but he explains them well enough through what they do. Also, having an internet connection and Google up will help as well to explain the meanings and origins of many of these words. This is a nice change from authors that make up words. Instead, Wolfe appropriates them and uses them in a manner that lends weight and meaning to his work. On a related note, The Lexicon Urthus by Michael Andre-Druissi is well worth acquiring to explain and define these words and many other things.

While this is identified as part of the Dying Earth sub-genre, the only characters remotely like Cugel are Dr. Talos and his companion, the giant Baldanders. Dr. Talos seems related to Cugel by his looks, vocabulary and a tendency to brazen things out.

This is an amazing book, layered with meaning and really dense. This can be a bug or a feature depending on your tastes. The density and vocabulary presumes the reader will put forth some effort. I’ll say its worth it.

Finally, I doubt there is a better example of the old saw “History is the trade secret of science fiction.” Wolfe liberally steals from Medieval history for the world building as well as vocabulary. Its a beautiful world, full of wonders from the Autarch’s Botanical Garden, to the libraries of the Citadel. Its also one, I wouldn’t want to live in, with its casual cruelty and harsh laws.

This is is easily a five star book. Its inspired to get as much of the series as I can. I’ve gotten everything except Urth of the New Sun from PaperBackSwap.com and I hope to get the related series Book of the Long Sun and Book of the Short Sun.

Likes: The eye for detail; The sense of wonder and weirdness; Severian giving us a walking tour of Nessus – he’s great for relating the world to the readers.

Dislikes: Some of the coincidences, though I’ve been reassured that those are dealt with and explained; Severian can be a little too honest and serious some times.

Suggested for: Fans of Gene Wolfe, science fantasy, the New Weird, Jack Vance. Also for anyone who enjoys a book that can be a bit of a challenge.

Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston

Review by Cynthia F. (frazerc)

Warning: Below review is filled with gushing enthusiasm…

I LOVED this book. How much you ask? I’d read the prologue and two chapters before I went to bed figuring I’d read another chapter before going to sleep. I finished the book in the very small hours of the night… haven’t done that in awhile.

Shelly Laurenston [or her alter ego, G. A. Aiken] consistently delivers good books but I really thought this was exceptional. Her plot didn’t get in the way of the romance and the romance didn’t get in the way of the plot, her characters and the relationships between them were strongly defined, and her world building is excellent.

Dee Ann is a Smith – a backwoods Tennessee wolf with a trained assassin for a father, an ex-marine with the all-shifter unit, current employee of The Group [think shifter cops], and a stone-cold killer. She has no social skills that don’t involve violence and havoc, doesn’t own a dress, and has no desire to be involved with anyone – especially that pretty rich boy boss of hers at The Group. So why does he keep trying to feed her? And then there’s the part where he’s always trying to get her naked…

Ulrich van Holtz is the supervisor of the New York chapter of The Group, owner and goalie of the Carnivores hockey team, and a chef who with a skill level so high that recipients of his art drop to their proverbial knees in ecstasy. Ric is a saver; he wants to save the world, hybrids, various individuals and Dee Ann Smith – not necessarily in that order. He doesn’t want to save Dee from what she is but from what she is neglecting – herself. He doesn’t mind the gun and knife under the pillow, he finds the scars rather attractive, and sure he worries when she’s on a mission but as long as he gets to take care of her when she comes home he’s good. Most of all he just wants to feed her, that girl has no sense of nutrition. He wants to mate her too but he’s not telling her that…

Meanwhile The Group is zeroing in on the money trail behind the hybrid fighting ring. Dee is assigned to work with NYPD cop and full human Dez [Mace’s mate from The Mane Event], and Malone, a tigress and old rival from the Marines. The hybrid fight ring story started back in The Mane Squeeze, you’ll need to read that and Beast Behaving Badly before this one for story continuity. You could read it as a standalone but you’ll miss some important backstory.

Pride

1. The Mane Event (2007)

2. The Beast In Him (2008)

3. The Mane Attraction (2008)

4. The Mane Squeeze (2009)

5. Beast Behaving Badly (2010)

6. Big Bad Beast (2011)

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (The third Flavia de Luce mystery)

Review by Vicky T. (VickyJo)

Flavia is back, and she’s just as precocious as ever.  This 11-year-old girl, who loves chemistry and poisons, thinks her two older sisters are odious toads, and has named her trusty bicycle Gladys, will steal your heart once again in this fun mystery by Alan Bradley.

The little village of Bishop’s Lacey is bustling with excitement.  Not only is there a fête being held at St. Tancred’s Church, but a real gypsy has set up her tent to tell fortunes.  Flavia hears her fortune, which relates to the mother who died when Flavia was only a year old, and startled, she jumps up and knocks over the lighted candle.

Feeling great remorse for burning down the gypsy’s tent, Flavia invites her to camp on the grounds at Buckshaw, Flavia’s ancestral home.  Flavia returns early the next morning, hoping to have breakfast in a gypsy caravan, only to find the old gypsy woman horribly beaten and clinging to life.

Who would attack the gypsy woman?  Was it Mrs. Ball, who has always insisted the gypsies stole her baby years back?  What about Brookie Harewood, a young man of questionable morals and suspicious income?  Flavia is on the scent, determined to find the gypsy’s attacker and bring him, or her, to justice.

Finding a body hanging from Poseidon’s trident in the crumbling 19^th century fountain at Buckshaw only serves to complicate matters for Flavia.  Are the two incidents related?  Leave it to Flavia to put her skills to the test, and outdetect Bishop Lacey’s police force!

Alan Bradley continues the fun in this third installment.  I love the relationship between Flavia and her sisters (“Feely was seventeen and ranked herself right up there with the Blessed Virgin Mary, although the chief difference between them, I’m willing to bet, is that the BVM doesn’t spend twenty-three hours a day peering at herself in a looking glass while picking away at her face with a pair of tweezers.”) and her hilarious and utter confidence in her own charm.

If you have not yet made Flavia’s acquaintance, you are missing out on a wonderful reading experience!  I would recommend reading her adventures in order; begin with “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” and then read “The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag” before settling in with”A Red Herring Without Mustard.”  You won’t regret getting to know the deLuce family!