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Reading Rescue, September 2007: Science Fiction/Fantasy Beyond Harry
Potter
By Anne Allen and Mary Anne Fulmer
 Earlier
this summer, we had the fun of reading the last book in the Harry Potter
series. Now that Rowling's saga of the Hogwarts experience is completed,
everyone is wondering what will be the next big thing. The Reading
Rescuers (no boring books here) wouldn't presume to guess, but we're
happy to offer some other choices in the science fiction/fantasy genre.
In Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (YA Meyer), 17
year old Bella Swan moves from her mother's home in hot and sunny
Phoenix to the overcast and rainy Pacific Northwest. Forks, Washington
doesn't seem to offer a lot of excitement for a teenage girl.
Accident-prone Bella is nearly killed in a freak accident in the high
school parking lot and her rescuer, Edward Cullen, demonstrated
extraordinary strength and speed. As a matter of fact, Edward's whole
family seems to be super-human, in a very pale and cold way. There is
excitement, romance, and humor as Bella is drawn into the circle of
Edward's vampire family, and nerve-wracking suspense when she is
threatened by some unexpected visitors. This is the first in a series.
A band of travelers led by a wizard and inspired by a
prophecy is on a suicide mission to obtain an object of power and
overthrow an evil being. Jacqueline Carey's Banewreaker (YA
CAREY) tells of the dark lord who is threatened by this group in a story
reminiscent of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Satoris has long been
sequestered in his mountain stronghold, with allies among the Were and
the Fjeltrolls. Now, the peace is threatened as Malthus the Counselor
has gathered representatives from the elves, men, and dwarves to launch
an attack upon him. To prevent the prophecy from coming true, Satoris
plans a kidnapping and sends his forces out in defense. In
Banewreaker, and its sequel Godslayer, Carey makes the reader
ponder which side is evil and which is good, and how much depends on
knowing the whole of the story. Don't be surprised if you find yourself
rooting for the other side this time.
Raymond Feist has said his goal in Magician:
Apprentice and Magician: Master (YA FEIST) was to write a
rip-snorting adventure novel. Orphaned Pug seems to have magical talent
and is chosen by the court magician to be his apprentice. One evening
while he is walking to the harbor with his friend, Tomas, the boys come
across a wrecked ship. A magic scroll in the ship's cabin draws Pug into
the vessel and the boys find one man barely alive. He is obviously alien
and this event alerts the people of the Kingdom that they are under
attack. The scroll shows how a window has been opened between two worlds
and the invaders are taking advantage of this rift to bring in soldiers.
During a desperate journey to spread word of this attack, the two boys
are separated. Tomas has a fateful encounter deep in a mountain and
receives a gift of magic armor. Pug is captured by the enemy and taken
to their world as a slave. This is a swashbuckling adventure story as
the two boys encounter dragons, elves, and good and bad magicians in a
world at war.
Commander Cordelia Naismith of Beta Colony is on a
scientific expedition when her party is unexpectedly attacked by a group
of Barrayaran soldiers. As the rest of her group makes a hasty escape,
she is left behind on an alien planet with Lord Aral Vorkosigan, a
Barrayaran military leader known as “The Butcher of Komarr”. Betrayed by
a faction within his own outfit, Aral joins forces with Cordelia to
survive on an unknown world. Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster
Bujold (YA BUJOLD) consists of the first two novels in the Vorkosigan
Saga, Shards of Honor and Barrayar. Fun to read and
fast-paced, with assassinations, planetary escapes, a chemical gas
attack, and a deranged heir to the throne, Cordelia is a tough-minded
heroine, Lord Vorkosigan is a master of strategy, and Bujold excels at
tying together all the strands in the story.
The Friends of the Library have their next book sale
scheduled for October 3 through 10. Your donations are always welcome
and anyone interested in helping should phone the library at (724)
744-4414. Don't forget to visit the library booth at the Penn Township
Fall Festival, September 21 through 23 at the municipal park. Copies of
John Mochnick's History of Penn Township will be available for
purchase, and the library quilting group will sell raffle tickets for
one of their quilts. Please send comments or suggestions to
mfulmer@pennlib.org.
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