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THE FATHER OF LIES:
THE FATHER OF LIES by K.J. Parker. Subterranean Press (www.subterraneanpress.com), 2018, 533 pages, $40. ISBN 978-1-59606-852-0.
Click here to purchase.
THE FATHER OF LIES is a big book of stories, almost too big, at 533 pages. Some of it can be captivating; other parts, not so much.
Parker gives us 541 pages of fiction: in this case, pure punishment fiction. You see, to be gifted with certain powers, whether you are some kind of court-, as in king’s court, appointed wizard or whether you are the devil himself, in “No Peace for the Wicked,” people will hate you. Others will lock you up and kill you.
And you are just doing your work, and mere mortals just don’t get it. There always will be those who hide their powers and lie about it, as a result of fear and intimidation.
Those are the standard themes through a collection that does more to have fun with the language (you can almost read Parker as someone who is pointing a finger at the work and saying, “Look, aren’t I so inventive and clever?”) and make that the theme of the book. Or “Look what I can do!”
However, to a reader, that can be viewed as pretty boring. I am more interested in well-developed characters and a story that has deeper meaning. I need more of that and less “clever” or inventive language/situations.
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A RUMORED FORTUNE:
A RUMORED FORTUNE by Joanna Davidson Politano. Revell Books (www.revellbooks.com), 2018, 406 pages, $15.99. ISBN 978-0-8007-2873-1. Click here to purchase.
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ENCLAVE:
ENCLAVE by Thomas Locke. Revell Books (www.revellbooks.com), 2018, 275 pages, $14.99. ISBN 978-0-8007-3547-0. Click here to purchase. |
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PROBABILITY SHADOW:
PROBABILITY SHADOW by Mark Laporta. Chickadee Prince Books (www.chickadeeprince.com), 2018, 235 pages, $12.99. ISBN 978-0-9997569-2-8. Click here to purchase. |
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BAD CALL:
BAD CALL by Stephen Wallenfels. Hyperion (www.hyperionteens.com), 2017, 312 pages, $17.99. ISBN 978-1-484768-13-6. Click here to purchase. |
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THEY FEED:
THEY FEED by Jason Parent. Sinister Grin Press (www.sinistergrinpress.com), 2018, 260 pages, $16.99. ISBN 978-1-944044-67-1. Click here to purchase. |
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THE LAST UNICORN, THE LOST JOURNEY:
THE LAST UNICORN, THE LOST JOURNEY by Peter S. Beagle. Tachyon Publications LLC (www.tachyonpublications.com), 2018, 156 pages, $19.95. ISBN 978-1-61696-308-8. Click here to purchase. |
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UNHOLY LAND:
UNHOLY LAND by Lavie Tidhar. Tachyon Publications LLC (www.tachyonpublications.com), 2018, 268 pages, $15.95. ISBN 978-1-61696-304-9. Click here to purchase. |
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HOW TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE:
HOW TO FRACTURE A FAIRY TALE by Jane Yolen. Tachyon Publications LLC (www.tachyonpublications.com), 2018, 307 pages, $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61696-306-4. Click here to purchase. |
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THE END OF ALL OUR EXPLORING:
THE END OF ALL OUR EXPLORING by F. Brett Cox. Fairwood Press (www.fairwoodpress.com) , 2018, 289 pages, $17.99. ISBN 978-1-933846-71-2. Click here to purchase. |
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