Issue #961 (October 26, 2007) of Entertainment Weekly offers some brief reviews of science fiction and fantasy books.

Here's a snippet...

Nova Swing by M. John Harrison
For Fans of... A noirish, Bukowskian Matrix.
Lowdown: Harrison's futuristic universe feels both foreign and eerily familiar. Despite his out-there imagination, he never overlooks his characters' humanity.
Grade: A-

In the Cities of Coin and Spice by Catherynne Valente
For Fans of... Smart, surrealistic fairy tales steepen in Arabian Nights lore and the gnarled fables of Hans Christian Andersen.
Lowdown: The dense imagery and heavy use of metaphor can overwhelm, but the overall effect is intoxicating.
Grade: B+

Devices and Desires by K.J. Parker
For Fans of... Provocative Hard SF.
Lowdown: Parker's intricately plotted and meticulously detailed book - the first in a projected trilogy - moves as deliberately and precisely as an antique watch.
Grade: B

Halting State by Charles Stross
For Fans of... Neuromancer and Scottish noir.
Lowdown: Three separate, second-person story lines make for more confusion than necessary. But the richly drawn characters, imaginative use of virtual and enhanced reality, and the genuine plot surprises more than repay the effort of keeping up.
Grade: B+

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Posted by John DeNardo at Tuesday October 23, 2007 at 12:20 AM
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