Jim Baen's Universe(No. 3)

The first science fiction magazine that I subscribed to was Galaxy. At that time a new editor by the name of Jim Baen had taken charge. Jim published stories by Roger Zelazny, David Drake, Arsen Darnay and many others that became favorites of mine. Galaxy was great. Jim went on to establish his own publishing company. Last year science fiction lost one of the best when Jim died. I am happy that Jim Baen's Universe(and Baen Books) will continue the legacy that started with Jim's editorship of Galaxy. After reading Eric Flint's editorial, I am confident that Universe has a bright future.

The lineup for this issue is a good mix of classic and new writers. You know you are in for a treat when a magazine can boast authors such as Gene Wolfe, John Barnes, Gregory Benford, John Ringo, Eric Flint, and Mike Resnick.

The first story in this issue sold me on the magazine. Mike Resnick's All the Things You Are is what I would call a classic science fiction story. It starts with an unexplainable mystery, the main character pieces together part of the puzzle and goes to another planet to solve the riddle. Reading this story brought back memories of Isaac Asimov's short stories. That is one of the highest compliments I can give to a story. Mike continues to be one of my favorite authors.

R. A. Lafferty: A Past Master aka The Cranky Old Man from Tulsa

R. A. Lafferty is one of the lesser known classic science fiction greats. Many of the better known authors are fans of Lafferty's fiction. Go to this recent posting by Mir called A Past Master of CSF.... Mir has posted quotes by such authors as Neil Gaiman, Roger Zelazny, Arthur C. Clarke, Alan Dean Foster and Terry Carr. Her review and analysis of "And Now Walk Gently Through the Fire" is very insightful. I will have to track down this story and read it for myself.

The R. A. Lafferty tribute page is located by following this link http://www.geocities.com/konstiantin/osfw/authors/RAL.html.

This is an author that I will be adding to my list of classic author review list.

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

I have seen Pratchett's novels on the bookstore shelves for years but never bought one. Then SF Signal started the Great Pratchett Reading Project. They are going to read and post reviews of all the Discworld novels this year. After reading their first reviews, I realized what I had been missing. Terry Pratchett combines my love of fantasy novels with the great British style of humor done by Monty Python to make a unique series.

If Going Postal is a normal book in this series, I am a fan for life. This book contains drama, interesting characters, logical plot development, and humor that is very rare. The author makes all of this seem very natural. I don't know that I have ever laughed this much when reading a book.

The plot alone was different that the usual fantasy novel. A swindler named Moist Van Lipwig is sentenced to death by hanging. But instead of dying, he is given a possible way out. Moist can either choose to die or accept the position of Postmaster. He choose the government job thinking that he can just escape once he starts in the post office. What he doesn't plan on is a golem being assigned to prevent him from leaving his post. Moist takes up the challenge and tries to turn the post office into a money making business. It is hard to believe that I was kept on the edge of my seat by a novel about a post office.

Pratchett is excellent at developing characters. As I read the book, I felt as if I got to know the "people". I hope that the author revisits some of the characters in other books. I look forward to reading more of the adventures of Discworld.

The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson

This is a great book if you have fond memories of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. The Door Within is the first book of a young adult trilogy.

Batson casts young Aiden as the hero of the story. In this book, he has to move across the country when his grandfather becomes ill. In his grandfather's basement, he finds 3 ancient scrolls. They contain the history of a faraway land called the Realm. Aiden gets to cross over to the new land. Once he is there, the real adventure begins. You will enjoy meeting Captain Valithor, Gwenne, and the other knights. Aiden and the other knights go into battle against the forces of Paragory.

An excellent book for any fan of Narnia. Batson will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

Welcome to Focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy

Focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy will feature mostly reviews of shorter length fiction publisher in anthologies, magazines, and internet sites. On occasion, novels, television shows, and movies will be reviewed.

The shorter length science fiction and fastasy stories do not seem to get the attention that novels do. I will be attempting to review the latest issues of Analog, Asimov's, Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Interzone. Other magazines will appear from time to time.

In addition to new fiction, I will be featuring older short fiction reviews on regular basis. Most of my early memories of reading are of the short stories of Isaac Asimov, Roger Zelazny, Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clarke, John W. Campbell and too many others to name. I don't want the younger readers to miss out on the excellent history of short fiction that modern science fiction and fantasy are built on.

Other features will be links to interviews, reviews, and commentaries on other sites that I find interesting.

I hope you will join me on the journey into the science fiction and fantasy fields.