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%T The New Hugo Winners: Volume II
%E Isaac Asimov
%I Baen
%D January 1992
%O paperback, US$4.99
%P 368
%G ISBN 0-671-72103-8
This anthology collects all the Hugo-Winning novella-length-and-below
fiction from the years 1986-1988. High points include Roger Zelazny's
stunning 24 Views Of Mt. Fuji by Hokusai, Greg Bear's
Tangents, and Lawrence Watt-Evans's Why I Left Harry's All
Night Hamburgers.
%T Days of Atonement
%A Walter Jon Williams
%I TOR
%D January 1992
%O paperback, US$4.99
%P 437
%G ISBN 0-812-50180-2
This blend of SF and police-procedural works much better than the
last I reviewed (RR#174). Most of the
appeal comes from the unusual viewpoint character --- a redneck cop, a
religious fundamentalist fiercely determined to keep order in
his town. A mishap with a sort of inadvertent time machine
threatens to destroy everything police chief Loren Hawn values. The
results take on almost the flavor of Greek tragedy, as external events
combine with his flaws in his own character to produce an escalating
series of blunders and tragedies. Although the ending is weak (one
could describe it as both a literal and figurative cop-out) the book
works tremendously well as SF speculation, moral inquiry, and
psychological study. Recommended.
Up to Eric's Home Page | To Index | Fri Mar 13 10:09:32 EST 1992 |
Eric S. Raymond <esr@snark.thyrsus.com>