This Month in Paperback Science Fiction: January 2008

Just a word: this is far from every new paperback expected in the stores this month. I browse for titles I would like to buy; thus you will not find (many) vampire novels or manga epics here. Amazon.com has the full list.

First Week

Defender, the ninth in C.J. Cherryh's epic Foreigner series, is released Jan. 2nd, according to Amazon.com. I haven't seen it in the bookstores, however, and it may not actually be available until February.

Bren Cameron's travels among the atevi and in a context redolent of a feudal Japan equipped with futuristic technology continue from Pretender (2006). His mission combines diplomacy, intelligence, trade, anthropology, and safeguarding Cajeiri, a vitally important, eight-year-old heir shrewd beyond his years, as Bren and his atevi friend Jago have already learned. Now it's some kidnappers' turn to learn how hard it is to make the kid do anything he doesn't want to do. That transforms the book into an absorbing combination of anthropological sf and "The Ransom of Red Chief." Faithful Foreigner saga followers, in particular, will have a ball. —Roland Green, Booklist

Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber is also listed as released Jan. 2nd, but this one is out in the bookstores. My spouse is the household consumer of Weber's non-Harrington novels, so it was eagerly sanpped up.

Weber's latest opus is a complex tale of action and intrigue set early in the 25th century, hundreds of years after the near total annihilation of humanity by the Gbaba, an alien race hell-bent on eradicating humans from the universe. After decades of war and facing certain defeat, the last remnants of the human race escape and settle on a distant planet, appropriately named Safehold. To ensure they remain undetected by their enemies, the leaders of the survivors ban technology, and genetically adjust the populace to remain in a perpetual pre-industrial state. However, 800 years later, an android of the old world awakens, charged with the task of guiding humanity back onto the path of science, technology and, eventually, the stars. —Publishers Weekly

Second Week

Mercedes Lackey's Firebird, out in paperback by Jan. 8th, is a reworking of a Russian fairytale, which seems to partake equally of the "Dancing Princesses" and the legend of the firebird.

Ilya Ivanovitch is the middle son of a self-proclaimed "tsar", whose luck takes a fateful turn the day he sees the legendary firebird, a beautiful magical hawk with a woman's face and feathers made of flame. The old stories say that once you've seen the firebird, you can never forget her, and you will never be satisfied with a common life. Ilya realizes the truth of this when he begins to have strange dreams and then discovers he can understand animal speech. Driven by curiosity, surviving by his wits (and through the help of a few friends made along the way), he begins a journey that will bring him face to face with the mysterious creatures of Russian folklore. Lackey's first standalone novel since Sacred Ground (1994) is a charming coming-of-age tale filled with earthy wit and magic. (Publisher's release notes)

Debatable Space, out in stores Jan. 7th, is from the pen of Phillip Palmer. Palmer, who has written for film, TV, and theater, plans a sequel "set in the same universe" as this novel.

Flanagan (who is, for want of a better word, a pirate) has a plan. It seems relatively simple: kidnap Lena, the Cheo's daughter, demand a vast ransom for her safe return, sit back and wait.

Only the Cheo, despotic ruler of the known universe, isn't playing ball. Flanagan and his crew have seen this before, of course, but since they've learned a few tricks from the bad old days and since they know something about Lena that should make the plan foolproof, the Cheo's defiance is a major setback. It is a situation that calls for extreme measures.

Luckily, Flanagan has considerable experience in this area... (Publisher's release notes)

Third Week

Shadowbridge, by Gregory Frost (out on Jan. 15th), is the first novel in a planned two-book adventure. It is presented as the stories told by Leonora, a young shadow-puppeteer who...

...travels Shadowbridge collecting the intertwining tales and myths of each place she passes through, then retells them in performances whose genius has begun to attract fame... and less welcome attention.

For Leodora is fleeing a violent past, as are her two companions: her manager, Soter, an elderly drunkard who also served Ledora’s father, the legendary puppeteer Bardsham; and Diverus, her musical accompanist, a young man who has been blessed, and perhaps cursed, by the touch of a nameless god.

Now, as the strands of a destiny she did not choose begin to tighten around her, Leodora is about to cross the most perilous bridge of all–the one leading from the past to the future. (Publisher's release notes)

Fourth Week

Kage Baker's Gods & Pawns comes out Jan. 22nd. Baker's Company time-travel series began with 1998's highly regarded In the Garden of Iden, in which the botanist Mendoza, an immortal female cyborg employed by the rapacious Company, fell in love with a mortal while on a mission in 16th-century England.

These eight stories, reprinted for the first time in this collection, delve further into the history and exploits of the Company. The book opens with the novella, "To the Land Beyond the Sunset," starring Lewis and Mendoza, and involving a strange tribe in Bolivia whose members claim to be gods. "Standing in His Light" features Van Drouten's role in the career of the artist Jan Vermeer. Other stories include "Welcome to Olympus, Mr. Hearst," which opens up intriguing questions about The Company, and the original novelette, "Hellfire at Twilight," which concludes the volume and tells of Lewis infiltrating the famous Hellfire Club in eighteenth century England. Gods and Pawns is a compelling read for every Baker fan, and essential for Company addicts. (Publisher's release notes)

Asimov's Aurora: The New Isaac Asimov Robot Mystery, follows Mark W. Tiedemann's Mirage and Chimera to the bookstores on stores Jan. 22nd.

After the diplomatic failures of the Spacer mission on Earth, Ambassador Ariel Burgess and roboticist Derec Avery are recalled to their home planet, Aurora. Their situation only worsens when they arrive, as they become suspects in another murder--one that could only have been committed by a non-human. On a world with a 20-to-1 robot-to-human population, is it possible a robot could have violated the Three Laws governing its behavior--and if so, why? Or is something far more sinister at work? (Publisher's release notes)

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this review.

Lemony Snicket Vol. 12 Has a Name: The Penultimate Peril

According to Amazon.com, the suspense has ended: the 12th book in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events has been named. The volume, titled The Penultimate Peril, was listed until today simply as "Vol. 12," with cover "art too awful too show."

Now that the cover art is displayed, I must confess the awfulness escapes me. Perhaps one needs to be a Lemony Snicket reader to understand.

Amazon also has a boxed set, including The Penultimate Peril and the eleven previous volumes available starting today. The publisher advises, "Please be warned. This offering is a great deal of misfortune."
0064410153,0061119830

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Turkish University President Arrested Amid Allegations of Corruption

According to the Turkish Daily News, Turkish academic circles are up in arms against the arrest of Van's Yüzüncü Yıl University rector Dr. Yücel Aşkın on charges of corruption.

The arrest came last Friday evening, following the university president's management of a tender (competitive bid) for $25 million-worth of medical equipment. The Van 4th Criminal Court accused "Aşkın, his deputy Ayşe Yüksel, and two other university employees of forming a criminal gang and using threats and coercion to corrupt a tender."

Financial police had raided Aşkın's home and had seized his huge collection of historical art effects. Aşkın, who was in Azerbaijan at the time, had said the collection was regularly registered at the local museum.

Middle East Technical University Rector Professor Ural Akbulut said the bid which Aşkın has been accused of rigging was arranged before Aşkın was the rector. "However, he received the equipment and there were problems with documents. Saying that he prepared false papers would be wrong," said Akbulut.

Blogcritics reader Haluk Direskeneli pointed out that some of Aşkın's collection of archaeological artifacts were damaged in the seizure following his arrest. "They collected the archeological artifacts, while demolishing most of them while the purpose was to protect," he wrote, adding: "I feel that the population in city of VAN does not deserve to have an university in their home city."
0765800314,0521659124,6302658330

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

US District Court Finds MyFreeMedicine Isn't

According to DMNews.com, MyFreeMedicine.com (MFM) has been barred by US District Court from making TV and radio claims to offer "free prescription medicine."

The court found that the Web-based business, which collected $199 for each six-month subscription to its plan, routinely sent subscribers applications for "patient assistance programs" (PAPs) operated by pharmaceutical companies. The court acted after numerous complaints alleging that MFM reps had told customers they were eligible for free prescription meds, but then refused a refund when it turned out the customers could not qualify for the PAP.

The defendants, MyFreeMedicine.com and its principal Geoffrey Hasler, based in Louisville, KY, targeted low-income consumers who spend more than $100 a month for medications, according to the complaint... The defendants' television and radio ads urged consumers who are not insured to call a toll-free number to learn whether they are eligible to receive free prescription medication.

Suit was brought in August against MyFreeMedicine.com and another marketing firm (Free Medicine Direct) by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon's office, alleging that the Web marketers

...deceived consumers through their advertising, and engaged in unfair trade practices, all violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. [Attorney General Nixon] is asking the respective courts to order MyFreeMedicine and Free Medicine Direct to cease all violations of Missouri’s consumer protection laws, pay full restitution to all aggrieved consumers, plus pay civil penalties and pay all costs of investigation and prosecution.

1578261929,1931741158,0971747113,0974294101

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Nearly Nude News: Runs with Underwear

According to Triathlete Magazine, the annual Underwear Run in Kailua-Kona on the big island of Hawaii leads the Race Week that culminates in the Hawaii Ironman race.

Runners clad only in their tighty-whities or bra-and-panties gathered neared the pier, took the pledge (not to wear training gear unless they are actually training) led by race-leaders Paul Huddle and Roch Frey, then strolled down Alii Drive to Lulu's nightclub.

Racers Roch Frey, Paul Huddle. Photo: Cameron Elford.

The Kona underpants run is a race-week tradition designed to poke fun (and discourage) those athletes who insist on wearing their training togs in unsuitable endeavors, such as shopping, dining out or hitting the local coffee shop, Lava Java.

Frey and Huddle, along with one other Ironman-in-Training, began the annual underwear race in 1997. The event has gradually grown in popularity—some come to the island just to participate in the Underwear Run, then stay to watch the more-gruelling Ironman competition.

Runners compete by choosing their best designer underwear, or by getting creative—grass skirts, coconut bras, even a "layered look" with bright white briefs peeking out from under a colorful thong, were seen in the throng of around 100 runners this year. Huddle and co-founder Roch Frey drafted their wives to sell T-shirts printed with the phrase "I see London, I see France, No, it's your underpants," for $20 each, with the proceeds benefiting West Hawaii Special Olympics.

In McCook, Nebraska, however, the underwear run was a more serious news item. According to the McCook Daily Gazette reporter Connie Jo Discoe, an Trenton inmate transferred to a local hospital for treatment escaped from the Community Hospital of McCook wearing only her bra and panties. Authorities became especially concerned as the weather turned bad.

McCook police and sheriff's officers were called in to search for the woman, believed to have run into a cornfield north of the hospital. The weather shortly before noon Tuesday—rain and fog and only 49 degrees—became a major concern as officers were uncertain whether the woman wore more than her underwear.

Her ex-husband, who had come to the hospital, carried the prison-orange jumpsuit she wore from the jail and said she was wearing only her underclothes.

The woman broke into a home in the community, apparently to steal clothing. When she was apprehended, she was wearing not on bra and panties, but also a light pink bathrobe.

[McCook Police Chief Ike] Brown added, "As always, when we get into difficult and complex situations, the city and the county resolves the situation together. Officers did an excellent job of safely apprehending the suspect without injury to officers or citizens."

1932361111,0811810046

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

UNICEF Bombs Smurf Village for Ad Campaign

According to the UK's News Telegraph online, people in Belgium are aghast at an adult-oriented cartoon which shows the blue-skinned Smurf characters' village being bombed by war-planes. The short was previewed on Belgian television yesterday.

The distressing short feature is the product of UNICEF, the United Nations Childrens Fund, and will be broadcast this week as part of their yearly campaign.

Belgian television viewers were given a preview of the 25-second film earlier this week, when it was shown on the main evening news. The reactions ranged from approval to shock and, in the case of small children who saw the episode by accident, wailing terror.

UNICEF seeks an emotional response.

It should surprise no one that small children who view the film, see the adult Smurfs die horribly, and Baby Smurf left a wailing orphan in the bombed-out ruins of the village, might react with terror. Due to this, UNICEF has pledged that the short will not be broadcast before 9 pm.

The animation was okayed by the estate of "Peyo," the late creator of the cartoon characters.

The advertising agency behind the campaign, Publicis, decided the best way to convey the impact of war on children was to tap into the earliest, happiest memories of Belgian television viewers. They chose the Smurfs, who first appeared in a Belgian comic in 1958.

The agency's original plans called for flying dismembered limbs, but they agreed to tone down the film somewhat.

Even so, says Hendrik Coysman, managing director of IMPS, the family company which holds rights to the Smurfs, "That crying baby really goes to your bones.
0764300318

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Actor Louis Nye Dead at 92

No more "Hi, ho! Steverino!"

According to the Hollywood Reporter.com, actor Louis Nye, who made that phrase famous on the groundbreaking Steve Allen TV show in the '50s, died Sunday in Los Angeles, after a long battle with lung cancer.

Nye's son Peter, who made the announcement, said his father had continued to work regularly in nightclubs and on television until only a couple of years ago. Louis Nye also supplied voices for characters like "The Great Wambini" in Inspector Gadget in the '80s and '90s.

Nye most recently had a running role as the father of Jeff Garlin's character on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
1573928747,B00022UDOO,

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Nude News: Naked Men Enter Shops in SC, UT

According to the Florence (SC) Morning Times, police responding to a security alarm found an unclothed man hiding in the ceiling-tile framework at a Darlington, SC, Check 'n Go shop on Thursday. The naked man had apparently removed his clothing to allow him to slip into the building through an air vent.

Officers responded to the Check ’n Go... and found interior roof tiles, insulation, wires and metal braces hanging from the roof as well as lying on the floor... Shortly afterward, the reporting officer noticed a foot hanging from the roof.

The officer reported that he noticed the man moving along the interior ceiling tiles before jumping to the floor of the business. The man was naked and bleeding from his feet and had cuts and scrapes all over his body, as well...

The alleged burglar picked the wrong town and the wrong shop to commit his crime. With the Darlington Fire Department ladder truck inoperable, officers were unable to reach the roof to retrieve the suspect’s clothing. I'm sure they have a nice orange jumpsuit to replace them.

Worse than that, the check-cashing business he slithered into keeps no money on the premises after hours.

---

In Clearfield, Utah, according to All Headline News yesterday, A 51-year-old man has been arrested for shopping at a convenience store in the altogether. All Headline News Staff Writer Denise Royal tells us that local police have charged the man with in justice court with misdemeanor lewdness, but it seems his problems are only beginning.

Police say in August he also made a trip through a restaurant drive-thru wearing nothing... The Davis County District Attorney's office is investigating allegations of witness tampering, which could result in third-degree felony charges.

Police say that over the past week, the man has telephoned the same convenience store, asking for permission to enter the business naked. Investigators say he was attempting to talk clerks out of testifying against him.

Clerks called police, who kept watch outside the store. They witnessed the man approach the business, strip down and walk inside. Officers arrested the man and booked him into jail for allegedly driving under the influence, lewdness and telephone harassment.

B000A88EV4,0802140181,B000065U35

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Florida Takes Homes from 6,000 Residents Under New Eminent Domain Ruling

According to Science Daily, the Florida town of Riviera Beach—a community of 6,000 modest homes near Palm Beach—will be taken from its home-owners and turned over to a private developer, who plans to build a yacht club and several expensive homes. This is perfectly legal, following a US Supreme Court ruling this year (Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut) that turned such decisions back to the states.

The town of Riviera Beach is mostly occupied by people who work in the nearby upscale community of Palm Beach. Median income for the 6,000 residents who will be subject to this taking is $19,000. The project that will replace their homes is a billion-dollar development.

"This is a community that's in dire need of jobs...," Mayor Michael Brown said. "If we don't use this power, cities will die."

Several states have acted to bar the use of eminent domain to take private property and turn it over to private developers, but Florida is not one of them. The US House has passed legislation to bar the use of federal transportation funds on projects where eminent domain was used to benefit private developers. Support on this issue is truly bipartisan: Rep. Maxine Waters, a liberal Democrat from California, wants to deny Community Development Block Grants to states that permit the taking of property for private benefit, while Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, is pushing a bill that would bar federal funds to any project where the Kelo decision is invoked to justify the taking.

Dana Berliner, a lawyer who represented the New London homeowners, warned, "Once someone can be replaced, so something more expensive can go where they were, every home and business in the country is subject to taking by someone else."

1931643377,0674867297,0691123764

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Bali Bombings

According to an AP report on CNN.com, two bombs in tourist-destination Bali have killed or injured dozens of people, and threaten to depress the area's economy again.

Bali's economy had just begun to rebound from the terrorist attacks on the island in 2002. Suspicion for the explosions immediately fell on the al Qaeda linked regional militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, also blamed for the 2002 blasts.

Several other governments, including the United States, had warned about a high terrorist threat to foreigners in Indonesia ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week.

A report issued in early September warned that Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be planning a series of attacks in October, dubbed "The Great Ramadan Offensive."

On Friday the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta reiterated its warning of last May that the threat of terrorism is high and Americans there should be vigilant.

The blasts at Jimbaran beach and a bustling outdoor shopping center in downtown Kuta "were clearly the work of terrorists," police Maj. Gen. Ansyaad Mbai, a top Indonesian anti-terrorism official, told The Associated Press.

Bali is a Hindu enclave in predominently-Muslim Indonesia.

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.

Big Bang Calling: Gamma Ray Burst 'Most Distant Ever'

According to Dr. Don Lamb of the University of Chicago and Dr. Daniel Reichart of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at a NASA briefing Sept. 12, 2005, images captured by the NASA Swift Satellite on Sept. 4th were caused by an intense gamma-ray burst from the collapse of a rotating star into a black hole. This burst lies about 12.8 billion light-years from Earth, making it not only the most distant such event recorded to date, but also the most ancient. This burst, according to Lamb and Reichart,

...occurred deep deep deep in the constellation Pisces. The explosion—a gamma-ray burst, likely from a very early star explosion—occurred nearly 13 billion years ago, when the Universe was about 6% of its current age... A brilliant flash of gamma rays, detected by NASA's Swift satellite, lasted for about 200 seconds. An afterglow in infrared light detected by ground-based telescopes lingered for several days and allowed scientists to measure the distance to the burst.

Gamma-ray image from NASA Swift Satellite

Discovering such a distant burst less than a year after Swift Satellite's launch suggests that astronomers may be able to find "scores and even hundreds" of such distant bursts, Dr. Lamb explained. The Swift Satellite project notifies astronomers by eMail and beeper when a burst is detected, allowing telescopes and detection equipment to be targeted quickly. The notice about the Sept. 4th burst was the 68th time astronomers had received the word from Swift.

The focus on gamma-ray bursts and this swift response holds the promise of learning more about the time before the formation of galaxies and quasars. According to Dr. Stanford Woolsey of the University of California, Santa Cruz, simulations suggest that the cosmos' first-generation stars were more massive than later, post-galaxy-formation stars, and more like to have produced powerful gamma-ray bursts when they collapsed.
0195145704,1581121695,0521842867

---

Please join us at BlogCritics to comment on this item.