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Reviews by Larry D. Woods
This month's science fiction and fantasy offering marks the return of an old master, the continuation of the sword and sorcery tradition, and the science fiction novel debut of an exciting new author.
Larry Niven's newest novel, "Destiny's Road", is being promoted by Tor as Niven's "magnum opus -- the best book he's ever written." It's not better than "Ringworld," but it's very close for this eminent writer of hard science fiction.
In this tale, Planet Destiny is Earth's second effort to colonize a human-friendly planet around a distant star. Young Jemmy Blocher lives in the small community of Spiral Town on Destiny until his life is shattered by an assault in a tavern where Jemmy kills a worker from the powerful "Caravans." In fleeing, Jemmy follows the trail of the second lander Cavorite where it left Sprial Town 250 years earlier.
This is a brilliant coming-of-age novel as Jemmy searches for his own identity and discovers the destiny of the Cavorite and its crew.
In "Wizard of the Winds: The Timura Trilogy: Book I", Allan Cole returns to the kind of action and magical adventure series that established his reputation. Iraj Protarus is an orphan prince who has been exiled to a small town high in the Valley of the Clouds. Iraj dreams about a fellow named Safar and then meets him as they confront the demon riders. Iraj has visions of being a great conqueror who can claim the title of King of Kings and prevail over both men and demons.
The key will prove to be Safar Timura, another youth whose magical visions predict Iraj's ascent to power. Much like the dread of Paul Atreides in the Dune series, however, this ascent involves betrayal, fear and intrigue as well as wealth and power.
Molly Gloss's first novel was a runner up for the PEN/Faulkner Award and she continues her quiet, highly literary style with "The Dazzle of Day". Gloss writes in a classic manner about small incidents and soft events that fashion and shape people's lives. In almost diary form, the writer circles and describes from her Quaker background people who have grown to adulthood on a spaceship traveling to a new world and articulates the values of the culture that has evolved to nourish them when they arrive at their new planet. This is very much a utopian novel of ideas and sharply etched characterizations.
Larry D. Woods is an attorney and an avid collector of science fiction.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.