THE PRICE OF VALOUR

The world needs more flintlock fantasy novels, and Django Wexler certainly seems to be leading the charge. The Price of Valour is the third part of The Shadow Campaigns, a five-book series. Whereas the first book was a thrill ride with little subtlety and the second one a little too focussed on political machinations of the various factions, The Price of Valour seems to get the balance perfectly right.

With the King dead, the land of Vordan is at war. The morale of the populace is razor thin and Queen Raesinia Orboan is struggling to take control of her own court, with enemies and idiots at every turn. Determined to control the destiny of her own people, she takes control rather abruptly. After a failed assassination attempt by her own people, she places her trust in the heroic soldier Marcus D’Ivoire, a fine fellow and the very figure of a doomed hero. The Queen has an ace or two up her sleeve, and the relationship between the hero and her highness is a delighter.

Meanwhile, Winter Ihernglass is back on the front lines, trying to protect those she loves whilst winning the war single handed. She has been promoted and given an all-women regiment to command (which rather implies that someone knows the Winter is a woman disguised as a man). Still, her lover isn’t helping her keep the secret. Meanwhile, the gloriously crafty General Janus bet Vhalnich continues to gamble with people’s lives, and win.

Unluckily for the Queen and her friends. The enemy has access to some pretty dark magic and a sinister cult of priests is popping up everywhere. The series so far has almost been low fantasy; in The Price of Valour Wexler turns up the volume of the magical elements to create something rather remarkable. This is pulp action with lots of intrigue and lots of fighting. Wexler has a very easy flowing style and a sing-song tone that makes it a pleasure to read. Once you get into the rhythm it’s hard to put down. Recommended.

THE PRICE OF VALOUR / AUTHOR: DJANGO WEXLER / PUBLISHER: DEL REY / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

THE PHANTOM TERROR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK

The Phantom-Terror of Spring-heeled Jack is a short eBook (25 pages) written by John Rimmer. It is part of a range under the banner of Cabinet of Curiosities in a range called UneXplaineD Rapid Reads. It takes as its topic the Victorian folklore figure (or urban myth, or…) known as Spring-heeled Jack and covers his appearances through the nineteenth century and possibly beyond.

If the figure of Spring-heeled Jack is unknown to you then this serves as a decent introduction, and even if you have some idea of the story of this supernatural figure this will fill out the edges of the myth. What it doesn’t do is answer any questions. Quite conceivably the core of the content could be gleaned by a few hours with Wikipedia and some other references.

The text is well-written but fails to do much more than present reports with small amounts of salacious prose added for effect. It doesn’t take any real set of explanations and consider how they might apply, nor does the author do more than help you pass the time and leave you curious.

Priced at £1.99 (and Amazon’s Kindle pricing may be partly to blame), this is an extravagance that is hard to justify until put in the context of the price of the coffee you might drink as you read it.

THE PHANTOM TERROR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK / AUTHOR: JOHN RIMMER / PUBLISHER: BROWN BEAR BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE OFFICIAL TRIVIA QUIZ BOOK

Now in its ninth season, The Big Bang Theory has a fervent fanbase; one that is richly deserved due to the quality of the writing that has seen viewers fall in love with a group of four geeks as they attempt to traverse the minefields of everyday life. Work, love, the ability to read sarcasm – all things that the show has covered with great aplomb.

Of course, any piece of popular entertainment automatically becomes part of the zeitgeist and can, if not careful, fall foul of its own success. Perhaps one sign of this is the release of games and books that challenge the fans and their knowledge of their favourite shows.

This release (also available as a digital edition) is pretty hardcore, although there have been some unofficial releases previously as well as a Trivial Pursuits edition on the programme. Coming in at a whopping 380 pages, each of the first eight seasons is covered in depth with 200 questions per series. These range from pretty straightforward teasers to highlighted levels of PhD and Master’s. There are some fun interludes about ongoing jokes within the show and a brief synopsis of each and every episode, which include original air dates as well as information about who wrote and directed them.

To be honest, if you are an avid fan of The Big Bang Theory and you can get together with a few like-minded friends for a quiz evening, then this will be right up your street. However, if you only have a passing enjoyment of the show or lack Sheldon’s eidetic memory then you may find that this is a one-trick pony that becomes quickly tiresome as you find yourself scratching your head and wondering just exactly who would know the answers to some of these questions.

To be fair, that sums up the show itself nicely and so this trivia quiz book does exactly what it sets out to do.

THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE OFFICIAL TRIVIA QUIZ BOOK / AUTHOR: ADAM FABERMAN / PUBLISHER: TOUCHSTONE BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 8TH

STARBURST Rating:

If you’re not a fan or just a passing one…

If you’re a true Theorist…

 

RAILHEAD

Creating a compelling story for young adult readers can be a daunting task to undertake. The author needs to make a story with relatable characters and a tight plot, all whilst telling a story full of adventure. Luckily, Philip Reeve has managed to do this with his previous works, and now returns with his new novel Railhead.

Railhead follows a young boy called Zen Starling in very much a story focused on adventure. The main premise of the book is that the galaxy is now linked through a series of train networks, and travelling from one planet to another via a train is completely normal. The novel is focused on Zen and his thieving ways, but it soon becomes clear that there are hidden mysterious to be solved.  However, the character of Zen can seem a bit bland, but this is likely to be a compromise that had to be made due to the shortness of the book when compared to other science fiction novels.

The novel is well paced, with Reeves managing to understand the needs of young adult readers. However, the novel does also work for adult readers, but the relatability of the work may make it less appealing.

It is very much a straightforward adventure tale, with many mysterious events occurring. This will be more suited to fans of sci-fi, but the epic fantasy elements contained within the novel will make it appealing to more than just fans of science fiction. Although the novel does have quite an original story, it can be difficult to create a novel that is completely original, and it is clear that the novel was very much inspired by other major sci-fi novels.

The small scope of Railhead allows this to be a great starting point if a reader is keen to try reading sci-fi. For young adult readers, however, this novel may be the stand out sci-fi novel of the year. Although not overly a breakthrough novel, the story allows for a great read for young adult readers.

RAILHEAD / AUTHOR: PHILIP REEVE / PUBLISHER: OUP OXFORD / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

WHONIVERSE: AN UNOFFICIAL PLANET-BY-PLANET GUIDE TO THE WORLDS OF THE DOCTOR FROM GALIFREY TO SKARO

After a while, any popular franchise will produce maps and perhaps an atlas. The problem with Doctor Who is that it covers all of time and space, making the idea of creating an atlas of the Time Lord’s adventures somewhat daunting. Whoniverse handles this particularly thorny problem by being more of an encyclopaedia and travel guide than a book of maps.

Whoniverse is a very unofficial guide and as such is free from the sort of restrictions you get with officially licensed products. This means we get notes and references from all sorts of sources, including the Faction Paradox books, the comic strips and bits of Big Finish audio dramas. It’s certainly a comprehensive guide, though this all or nothing approach can be a bit of a surprise at times.

The first chapter deals with the cosmology of Doctor Who. We get an explanation of parallel dimension, e-space, pocket universes and the like. We also get a brief introduction to the Mutter Spiral, that part of the galaxy that the planet Earth happens to occupy.

The next two chapters cover Earth, its immediate planets and the worlds of the human empire throughout the show. We get to learn about Mar’s rich history, the various problems man has had with the moon and so on. The book also lingers on Kaldor City, the home of the Robots of Death, before going on the describe Old Earth, New Earth and all the other parts of the Whoniverse man has settled.

Worlds such as Gallifrey, Skaro and Mondas are covered in planets of origin. This also functions as something of a monster guide. The book does not spare the details. For example, despite having only one TV appearance, the alien race known as the Draconians get an entry detailing their history and origin, as well as details of their appearance in the various novels, comic books and audio dramas they’ve been in.  The Distant Planets section serves as a miscellaneous slot for anything they couldn’t define easily, and the final chapter deals with worlds that exist at the end of time. All in all, very comprehensive.

Each entry gets at least two pages, and the whole thing is a lavish affair, filled with full colour plates. It’s a hefty book at 288 full colour over-sized pages, and if you’re a Who fan then this labour of love deserves a space on your shelf.

WHONIVERSE: AN UNOFFICIAL PLANET-BY-PLANET GUIDE TO THE WORLDS OF THE DOCTOR FROM GALIFREY TO SKARO / AUTHOR: LANCE PARKIN / PUBLISHER: AURUM PRESS LTD / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 15TH

 

THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB

When Stieg Larsson’s Nordic Noir mystery Män Som Hatar Kvinnor was published in 2005 it quickly shot to stratospheric popularity and was followed by two sequels, international translations and adaptations in film, TV and comics. You’ll likely know it better by its English title The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Since Larsson died prior to the novels’ publications, it seemed that there would be no further adventures for abrasive hacker Lisbeth Salander and crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist, until a new instalment was commissioned by the publishers of the original books. Unfortunately, after The Girl in the Spider’s Web, you’ll wish they hadn’t bothered.

The story (eventually) involves events that follow the murder of a computer scientist developing advanced AI, ultimately reuniting Lisbeth and Blomkvist as the scientist’s autistic son is hunted by hitmen while a shadowy conspiracy surrounding the death is gradually revealed. However, it’s all done in such a laborious and convoluted manner that instead of wondering how everything will be resolved, the only mystery is attempting to figure out how the litany of disconnected events will actually coalesce into a coherent plot.

Almost every character, no matter how minor, is introduced with a mini-biography that invariably interrupts the flow of the story, and events are further disrupted by the book’s annoying habit of having a conversation end only to jump back and needlessly retell it from the perspective of the other side. Characters often think and act in ways that not only make no sense, but they are also consciously aware that they make no sense, as if the omnipotent hand of the author is forcing them to behave in an unnatural manner that the plot demands of them.

Lisbeth’s surly fury was always far more interesting than Blomkvist’s complacent narcissism, but for half the book she’s a nebulous and barely significant presence, and only truly comes to the fore when her personal connection to unfolding events surfaces. Yes, for despite Lisbeth’s story being resolutely concluded at the end of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, it was evidently decided that she couldn’t just be a character in the book, but things also had to ultimately be all about her. Thus, the mysterious big bad is not only a new nemesis for Lisbeth, but is also a dark mirror of her own characteristics. It’s actually an interesting perspective to have an antisocial rage monster be the light side of a good/evil duality, but this doesn’t seem to have been picked up upon.

It’s difficult to be sure if certain word choices are down to the author or the translator, but one of the two (or indeed both) has absolutely no idea how anyone under the age of 40 actually talks, peppering the dialogue with colloquialisms that were last in popular usage somewhere in the depths of the 1980s. Possibly in an attempt to associate the book with a current cinematic trend (or an even more egregious attempt to be down wit’ da kidz than the aforementioned dated slang), the premise of the rising background story arc is based around Marvel comics, and uses incorrect details that can only have come from hours spent trawling for a tenuous thematic link and then immediately jumping to an erroneous assumption that the smallest amount of reading would have revealed to be inaccurate.

This is not a worthy continuation of a popular trilogy. It’s the kind of thing an inexperienced teenage author might fire out in their first foray into novel-length writing; little more than glorified, officially sanctioned fanfiction.

THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB / AUTHOR: DAVID LAGERCRANTZ / TRANSLATOR: GEORGE GOULDING / NARRATOR: SAUL REICHLIN / PUBLISHER: QUERCUS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
 
 

FOREIGN DEVILS

Following on from The Incorruptibles, Foreign Devils continues the story of mercenaries Shoe and Fisk in a fantasy world of the Wild West springing from an alternative history where the Roman Empire never fell. Tasked with hunting down a rogue demon summoner who has figured out how to bind the entities into humans, they must track him across the desolate Hardscrabble Territories while the empire of Rume teeters on the brink of war with Mediera (Imperial Spain).

The first book was an affair very much self-contained within its counterpart of 19th century America and with only vague allusions to the rest of the world. Now Jacobs has expanded upon his setting, increasing the scope internationally as Fisk’s wife Livia is tasked by the emperor with a diplomatic mission to Kithai (dynastic China), a secretive state ruled over by the mysterious Autumn Lords, and where the revelation of a hidden secret at the heart of the nation ends up posing more questions rather than answering established ones. Each setting feels like a distinct creation, with the real-world equivalents serving as inspiration rather being merely transposed; instead of being a separate world based on our own, it’s more representative of what our would could have been under differing circumstances.

Being half-dvergar (dwarf), Shoe is ridiculed by humans because of his height and shunned by dwarves because of his mixed blood, making him truly belong nowhere and is thus able to give an outsider perspective of any situation. His interaction with other dvergar sheds some light on a people often merely servants or slaves, and the discovery of an underground revolutionary movement means that as well as a naval power threatening their dominance, Rume might well have war of a different kind coming much closer to home. There is also some development given to the vaettir, twelve-foot animalistic elves, revealing that there is more to the species than the bloodthirsty sadism that has thusfar characterised them, and they are an enigma that will likely be at the heart of the trilogy’s forthcoming final book Infernal Machines.

For all of Foreign Devils’ magic, mystery and monsters, it’s a novel about people, and how they react to forces beyond their control and the machinations of those in power. Despite its events potentially having repercussions throughout the world, it never stops feeling like the most important aspects are the individual journeys of those embarked upon them, and it’s precisely this personal perspective that keeps the book endlessly captivating.

FOREIGN DEVILS / AUTHOR: JOHN HORNOR JACOBS / PUBLISHER: GOLLANCZ / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

THE ANVIL OF ICE

The Anvil of Ice was originally released in 1986 and saw the start of an epic fantasy trilogy. It was followed by The Forge in the Forest and The Hammer of the Sun. Rohan managed to create a beautifully detailed world that would be able to inspire writers.

The tale follows a similar plot to many classic epic fantasies, an apprentice who finds himself with the power to do unimaginable things and to save the world. The novel very much focuses on character development, letting the antagonist to form in the background as a growing threat. The protagonist in the novel is in the form of Alv. Rohan manages to create an air of mystery surrounding Alv’s past, whilst still focusing on the progression of the novel.  Alv manages to discover a power to shape metal, and the journey begins as Alv tries to discover a way to defeat the Ice.

Rohan manages to convey an antagonist in the ice, which is advancing and threatening the development of the world. However, Alv must decide whether he sees the threat as worth battling. Rohan creates a world of uncertainty and a danger that is slowly progressing towards them. The parallels of our world to Rohan’s world creates a mythical tale.

With The Anvil of Ice, the author managed to create a piece of work that was and is truly original, and clearly stands the test of time. The powers of the mastermith and the way the metal work is perceived as a kind of magic creates a fantasy tale rarely seen.

This addition comes under Gollancz Fantasy Masterworks, which allows for an intricately written introduction that shows the importance of the novel in the world of fantasy publication. The introduction is written by Graham Sleight, and he makes it clear why The Anvil of Ice deserves more attention. The novel shows a detailed world of characterisation, with an original plot that fantasy fans would love. A modern fantasy classic that deserves the title of a fantasy masterwork.

THE ANVIL OF ICE / AUTHOR: MICHAEL SCOTT ROHAN / PUBLISHER: GOLLANCZ / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

GHOSTBUSTERS: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY

Over 30 years since the first arrival of the Ghostbusters onto our cinema screens, the franchise is still going strong. Considering that there has not been another adventure cast onto celluloid since the 1989 sequel, it is testament to the strength of writing in the first film that such a fervent fanbase still exists and watches the movie over and over again. Sure, there is the all-female cast reboot coming next year, but let us cast our minds – and our eyes – back to the beginning.

This hardcover book has a foreword from Dan Aykroyd and an introduction from Ivan Reitman, which only leads you back into the world of ghosts and ghouls that so enthralled us three decades ago. If you’re a fan, there is plenty in here to interest you. There are loads of behind the scenes pictures that show just how much damn fun it must have been to make these films. All the core cast and crew are involved here in one way or another, and it is subtle in its remembrance of the late Harold Ramis without resulting to schmaltz.

It’s fascinating, as always with films from the childhoods of some of us, to see concept sketches that have probably not seen the light of day before. Designs for sadly unrealised ghosts, as well as previous incarnations of well-known and loved characters – especially Slimer (aka Onionhead), Mr Stay Puft and the Demon Dogs – are all on show here. There is a great breakdown of the scene where Dana is attacked in her armchair by the demon arms which shows just how game Sigourney Weaver was for the realism of the film.

The book doesn’t scrimp on covering the sequel either, with just as much depth covered as the original, which is just as much fun and interesting (even if the film itself isn’t).

In addition, there are sections that cover the soundtracks and the expanded universe, including the different animated incarnations, video games, comics and toys. Also included is a very brief section on fandom and the future of the franchise.

Basically, for any Ghostbusters fan, this is essential.

GHOSTBUSTERS: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY / AUTHOR: DANIEL WALLACE / PUBLISHER: TITAN / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 25TH

 

NICK AND THE GLIMMUNG

Plowman’s Planet is in a state of war. The indigenous vulture-like werjes, the trobes and the father-things (that duplicate people) are driven by the evil Glimmung to rage against the Grand Four. They consist of the spiddles, nunks, the printers and human colonists. Then there are the greedy and rather stupid wubs who will assist anyone who pays them, and the horned flukes who hate everyone.

On Earth, it has been illegal to own pets since 1992 because of the density of the global population and the resulting scarcity of food. Nick owns a pet cat called Horace, who is hard to keep a secret for long. When the authorities find out, Nick’s parents have to decide whether to give Horace to the anti-pet man or take the more drastic action of relocating to Plowman’s Planet where pets are allowed and there are acres of space for everyone – if they survive!

Nick’s dad, driven by a need to get away from Earth where work is no longer a challenge or even of much use to society, decides on the more drastic option. As soon as they land on the planet, a wub offers to take them to their new property but in the process gets them lost and then deserts them when some werjes turn up.

The werjes give Nick a book that is supposed to be a short history of the war to counter the propaganda of the Grand Four. By mistake they give him a book called ‘One Summer Day’ that is a study of all of Glimmung’s enemies and predicts future events. The book is the key to fighting Glimmung who is gradually insinuating his power throughout the planet, and Nick is the only one who can stop him.

As can be expected from Philip K. Dick, there is a good mixture of humour and gruesome situations in his only book written for children. Each alien species is given its own idiosyncratic form of speech and behaviour, and even Horace the cat is given a strong characterisation.

Nick is the central character and his parents are cast in the background. It is certainly a story that is odd and entertaining enough for a child (or adult) to identify with Nick, and shows that it needs a child’s mind to deal with new worlds where ‘old’ expectations and ideas don’t work.

Dick wrote the novel in the late 1960s, but it was rejected by his publisher. In 1988 it went into print after it was rediscovered in his files, six years after his death. With this new edition it has become available again for a new generation to embrace and enjoy Dick’s science fiction universe.

NICK AND THE GLIMMUNG / AUTHOR: PHILIP K. DICK / PUBLISHER: GOLLANCZ / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW