Greg Egan is a master of the short story and in this collection he deals with many complex scientific concepts, including the moral and ethical aspects, with an ingenious skill. Typically they take a concept, put it into a real setting with normal people, and then there’s a twist.

Axiomatic is …

Demon’s Law is the second book in the Tales of the Bard trilogy, following on from Magician’s Law. There was a great deal to continue with too. We had left The King’s brother Kutor in the wilderness, having been instructed to prepare for war and take the throne, with Owen, …

Jovah’s Angel is the second book in the Samaria Trilogy, set some one hundred and fifty years after Archangel. On Samaria the weather is controlled by intercessions sung by angels, who pray to the god Jovah for weather change. The Archangel is the leader of the angels, who also governs …

Wizard’s Eleven is the third book of the True Game trilogy by Tepper. Peter the Shifter is the keeper of the Gamesmen of Barish, the recorded personalities of the first people to have each of the eleven Talents. He also has the personality of Windlow the Seer, his old friend …

The Bewitchments of Love and Hate is the second book of the Wraeththu trilogy. It is told from the point of view of Swift, the harling (child) of the beautiful Cobweb and Terzian, one the leaders of the brutal Varr tribe.

This book provides a unique perspective, that of one of …

Mythago Wood is a story about myths and legends, and men caught up in them. Ryhope wood is a place where energy draws out the mythical characters of man’s past and makes them real, using memories in the minds of those who live nearby.

Steven and Christian are brothers who grew …

The Tombs of Atuan is the second book in the Earthsea Cycle, and is told from the point of view of Arha, the Eaten One. As a child, Arha was known as Tenar, but she is the Priestess of the Nameless Ones, who have eaten her soul.

Born on the night …

This is an interesting mix of cyberpunk and gumshoe detective. The story is not only first person, but it is done in a conversational style. Stark describes all the events and experiences as though he is having a casual, but very honest, conversation with you.

The humour varies from slapstick to …

Joe Haldeman says that Forever Peace is not a sequel to The Forever War in the traditional sense, but that it does allow him to examine some of the original novel’s problems from a point of view that didn’t exist when he wrote The Forever War.

The war of the day …

Magdala is ugly, in a society of perfect bodies and beautiful people, she is the only one born hideously deformed. The story opens with Magdala’s everyday life, encountering a stream of thoughtless, automatic insults and snubs from strangers and co-workers, we learn of Magdala’s bleak existence and her few joys.

When …