Baryon 106 Review


L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future, Volume XXIII edited by Algis Budrys Galaxy Press, $7.99, 564 pages reviewed by Barry Hunter It’s hard to believe that twenty three editions of this annual volumes have come about to introduce the best of the new writers and illustrators to the science fiction community. Even though there has only been one winner a year, many more of the entrants have gone on to be best selling writers with many of them hitting the best seller lists. The volume opens with "Primetime" by Douglas Texter in which time travel is given a new twist in broadcasting history to the masses in order to boost ratings. "The Sun God at Dawn, Rising from a Lotus Bloom" by Andrea Kail is a correspondence from King Tut to Abraham Lincoln taking place in the 22^nd century. Jeff Carlson’s "The Frozen Sky" shows that man is not alone in the galaxy. Imagine that all the statues started talking and it took half a day to say one syllable and the message was a warning; Tony Pi’s "The Stone Cipher" is a thought provoking story. An out of the world symphony, moving through space at the speed of thought, awakening in a strange body without a clue as to how you got there, and other stories make up this years exceptional volume. Pick this one up to enjoy the stories and possibly discover the newest bestselling Writer of the Future. After reading these, you may want to try a story out for next year’s volume; the rules are listed in the back. Thanks to all concerned for another marvelous addition. Wizards Edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois Berkley, May 2007, $25.00, ISBN: 0425215180 reviewed by Harriet Klausner Gandalf the Grey fans will want to read this nineteenth story fantasy collection that star wizards in fresh tales not printed before. The authors are a who’s who of the genre with no pretenders and none providing a clinker though the better tales seem to involve coming of age. Especially enthralling is Neil Gaiman's "The Witch's Headstone" starring Bod, a lad being raised by a dead witch amongst other deceased adult supervision. Even the biblical prophet Elijah shows up as a wizard in Jane Yolen's contribution. Notables like Garth Nix, Mary Rosenblum, Kage Baker, Eoin Coffer, Tad Williams, Patricia McKillip, Elizabeth Hand, Andy Duncan, Peter Beagle, Nancy Kress, Jeffrey Ford, Tanith Lee, Terry Bisson, Terry Dowling, Gene Wolf and Orson Scott Card contribute tales that will prove to the targeted young adult audience that a wizard by any other name is still a wizard.
reviews

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future, Volume XXIII
edited by Algis Budrys
Galaxy Press, $7.99, 564 pages
reviewed by Barry Hunter

It’s hard to believe that twenty three editions of this annual volumes have come about to introduce the best of the new writers and illustrators to the science fiction community. Even though there has only been one winner a year, many more of the entrants have gone on to be best selling writers with many of them hitting the best seller lists.

The volume opens with "Primetime" by Douglas Texter in which time travel is given a new twist in broadcasting history to the masses in order to boost ratings. "The Sun God at Dawn, Rising from a Lotus Bloom" by Andrea Kail is a correspondence from King Tut to Abraham Lincoln taking place in the 22^nd century. Jeff Carlson’s "The Frozen Sky" shows that man is not alone in the galaxy. Imagine that all the statues started talking and it took half a day to say one syllable and the message was a warning; Tony Pi’s "The Stone Cipher" is a thought provoking story. An out of the world symphony, moving through space at the speed of thought, awakening in a strange body without a clue as to how you got there, and other stories make up this years exceptional volume.

Pick this one up to enjoy the stories and possibly discover the newest bestselling Writer of the Future. After reading these, you may want to try a story out for next year’s volume; the rules are listed in the back. Thanks to all concerned for another marvelous addition.

Wizards
Edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
Berkley, May 2007, $25.00, ISBN: 0425215180
reviewed by Harriet Klausner

Gandalf the Grey fans will want to read this nineteenth story fantasy collection that star wizards in fresh tales not printed before. The authors are a who’s who of the genre with no pretenders and none providing a clinker though the better tales seem to involve coming of age. Especially enthralling is Neil Gaiman's "The Witch's Headstone" starring Bod, a lad being raised by a dead witch amongst other deceased adult supervision. Even the biblical prophet Elijah shows up as a wizard in Jane Yolen's contribution. Notables like Garth Nix, Mary Rosenblum, Kage Baker, Eoin Coffer, Tad Williams, Patricia McKillip, Elizabeth Hand, Andy Duncan, Peter Beagle, Nancy Kress, Jeffrey Ford, Tanith Lee, Terry Bisson, Terry Dowling, Gene Wolf and Orson Scott Card contribute tales that will prove to the targeted young adult audience that a wizard by any other name is still a wizard.

reviews