While Forever Peace may have been the ideological sequel to The Forever War, Forever Free is the continuance of the first novel’s story. It explores the idea of freedom, and whether a safe, controlled existence is the same as freedom.

The veterans William and Marygay are not content with the life …

Use of Weapons begins with what is actually the end of the story, and ends with the beginning, to an extent, perhaps, depending on how you view a story. By this I mean that Iain Banks carries us through the main “present” storyline, but adds scenes from other places and …

Greg Egan is the master of the modern short science fiction, and this collection is another example of why. The subjects he deals with are often confronting or disturbing, but the are very real and very valid.

The potential near future is brought to vivid life, frightening and wonderous, and the …

On My Way to Paradise is an exploration of the journey a kind and compassionate man named Angelo who is living in Panama when he is dragged into violence and loses his home.

Whether or not this is an accurate representation of South American culture I don’t know, but it serves …

Enoch Wallace is one hundred and twenty years old. For over a hundred years, he has served Galactic Central, providing a Way Station for travellers passing through this area of the galaxy. His home has been protected, and so has he. Whilst inside the Way Station, he does not age. …

The Jesus Incident is a collaboration between Bill Ransom and Frank Herbert, continuing on from Herbert’s novel Destination: Void. Ship was an experiment into creating Artificial Intelligence, through extreme conditions, but it went too far. Now the question has become: at what point does intelligence cross over into divinity?

Ship demands …

Death’s Law is the third in the Tales of the Bard trilogy, following Magician’s Law and Demon’s Law. Kutor has been installed on the throne, Churon is the new God of the Dead, and Paedur is about to be sent off on another quest. Refugees from the cataclysm are flooding …

Sabella is Tanith Lee’s most unusual interpretation of the old vampire myth. Incorporating many of the standard elements, like an aversion to sunlight, and the use of sex to hunt for victims, she nevertheless manages to make it fresh and new.

One of Sabella’s victims named Sand follows her to her …

The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped is the second novel in the Chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped trilogy, which follows the adventures of Mavin, mother to Peter from the True Game trilogy. This book is unusual in that it is not from Mavin’s point of view, but from that of Beedie, a …

The Fulfilments of Fate and Desire is the final book in the first Wraeththu trilogy, and it is written from Cal’s point of view. The mysterious and seductive harr who enchanted Pellaz and Terzian, who brings trouble with him when he comes.

This book fills in many of the gaps in …