Fantasy/SF Book Reviews

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Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori Book One by Lian Hearn
Riverhead Books, September, 2002
Hardcover, 304 pages
ISBN: 1573222259
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori Book I
by Lian Hearn

Newcomer Lian Hearn sets the fantasy world buzzing with this first book in a projected trilogy series. Set in a mythical time and place that recalls feudal Japan, Across the Nightingale Floor follows the amazing life of the boy, Takeo. Orphaned when his entire clan is murdered by the evil Lord Iida, Takeo is rescued by the talented and beloved Lord Otori and eventually adopted as his son. As Takeo grows up, it become clear that he has special gifts and talents -- he is really a member of The Tribe, a group of highly skilled assassins. In this medieval Japanese society, politics, intrigue shifting alliances and honor all play important roles. And the talented Takeo is going to be a major player in the upcoming power struggle between Ieda and the forces that oppose him. As Takeo grows up, he will face the pains of first love and the depths of anguish, as he is forced to make a terrible choice that will have major repercussions for his family and his country.

Across the Nightingale Floor is an absorbing story which takes ahold of the reader's imagination from the very first page. With grand themes, a rich cultural background, vivid characters and enough intrigue, magic and violence for three books, this is one story that is sure to be popular with fantasy and historical novel enthusiasts. Highly recommended.

The Collection by Bentley Little
Signet, June, 2002
Paperback, 453 pages
ISBN: 0451206096
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

The Collection
by Bentley Little

This collection of horror short stories ranges from the bloody and gruesome to the peculiar and mysterious. The stories cover a range of unusual topics and characters, such as the insane phonebook man, a child raised in a family of devil worshippers, dangerous papers in an abandoned town, a live snuff snow, a deadly historical landmark, an alternative-history where George Washington is a cannibal, a living potato and a hitchhiker who leaves behind a trail of destruction. The stories are quite short, about 10-20 pages in length, so they are great for readers with little time to spare.

Unlike children's author Lemony Snicket, who warns his young readers that they may find his books unpleasant to read because of the terrible things that happen in them, Bentley Little does not offer his readers a personal warning. He probably should consider doing so, because his stories are very frightening and full of awful, horrible things. Children should certainly not read them and many adults should not either. Unfortunately, Bentley offers little warning other then the macabre artwork on the cover, a note from Stephen King who calls Little "the master of the macabre" and the blurbs from authors and reviewers on the back -- who all concur that Bentley Little writes horrifying tales. Perhaps this is warning enough. The Collection is a terrific collection of gruesome horror shorts for those needing a good scare.

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Fantasy/SF Book Reviews

Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori Book One by Lian Hearn

The Collection by Bentley Little