Book of the month:

WILLIAM HORWOOD: HYDDENWORLD BOOK 1 - SPRING (Macmillan HB)

The adventure of a lifetime is just beginning . . . It has lain lost and forgotten for fifteen hundred years in the ancient heartland of England – a scrap of glass and metal melded by fierce fire. It is the lost core of a flawless Sphere made by the greatest of the Anglo-Saxon CraeftLords in memory of the one he loved. Her name was Spring and contained in the very heart of this work is a spark from the Fires of Creation. But while humans have lost their belief in such things, the Hydden – little people existing on the borders of our world – have not. Breaking the silence of centuries they send one of their own, a young boy, Jack, to live among humans in the hope that he may one day find what has been lost for so long. His journey leads him to Katherine, a girl he rescues from a tragic accident ¬– it’s a meeting that will change everything. It is only through their voyage into the dangerous Hyddenworld that they will realize their destiny, find love and complete the great quest that will save both their worlds from destruction.  Their journey begins with Spring . . .  You'll remember William Horwood from Duncton Wood, of course. Well, he's back, with a terrific fantasy set in crossover worlds of Hyddenworld and modern-day England, in particular Brum (Hyddenworld) and Birmingham (modern-day England). There are brief similarities with Tolkien's mythos, but this is all new and original fantasy fiction, thoroughly enjoyable and the promise of things still to come.

STEPHEN KING: THE GUNSLINGER BORN - THE FALL OF GILEAD (Marvel Comics HB)

A horrified Steven Deschain learns that the deadly seeing sphere called Maerlyn's Grapefruit has been stolen from his chambers! Far worse, when he enters his wife's room to arrest her for the theft, his son Roland is standing over her body with a gun in his hand. The youngest gunslinger has perhaps committed the most hideous crime of all! Continuing the epic saga based on the best-selling Dark Tower novels by the master Stephen King. Collects Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead #1-6, and Sorcerer. Volume Four of the Gunslinger Born Marvel Comics series sees the inhabitants of Gilead fighting to save their city and to survive against the horrific onslaught of the Crimson King. This is fill-in stuff, but it's utterly brilliant and the artwork is stunning. This volume was kindly supplied for review by Diamond Comics, for which many, many thanks.

STEPHEN KING: THE STAND - CAPTAIN TRIPS (Marvel Comics HB)

It all begins here: the epic apocalyptic battle between good and evil. On a secret army base in the Californian desert, something has gone horribly, terribly wrong. Something will send Charlie Campion, his wife and daughter fleeing in the middle of the night. Unfortunately for the Campion family, and the rest of America, they are unaware that all three of them are carrying a deadly cargo: a virus that will spread from person to person like wildfire, triggering a massive wave of disease and death, prefacing humanity's last stand. Collects The Stand: Captain Trips #1-5. For most Stephen King fans THE STAND remains their favourite work. As a single standalone volume it's certainly the longest, and by that token King has the opportunity to develop his characters to perfection. This comic book adaptation, kindly supplied by Diamond Comics Ltd. is a most welcome alternative version, sticking to the story perfectly, and with the most beautiful artwork. If you like comic books, this will be a welcome addition to your collection. If you don't but like King's magnum opus, you'd do well to try it out - it is absolutely terrific. Also avalable is volume two of THE STAND, AMERICAN NIGHTMARES (see below)

STEPHEN KING: THE STAND - AMERICAN NIGHTMARES (Marvel Comics HB)

The deadly super flu Captain Trips has devastated the country and now the few survivors must pick up the pieces and go on. Larry Underwood seeks escape from New York City. Lloyd contemplates an extremely unsavory dinner option in jail, and Stu Redman makes a desperate bid for freedom from his interrogators. Most ominous of all, the strange being called Randall Flagg continues his dread journey across the devastated landscape of America. Collects The Stand: American Nightmare #1-5.

SCOTT WESTERFELD: UGLIES / PRETTIES / SPECIALS (Simon and Schuster PB 3 volumes) Tally lives in a world where your sixteenth birthday brings aesthetic perfection: an operation which erases all your flaws, transforming you from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'. She is on the eve of this important event, and cannot wait for her life to change. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also fifteen - but with a very different outlook on life. Shay isn't sure she wants to be Pretty and plans to escape to a community in the forest - the Rusty Ruins - where Uglies go to escape ' turning'. Tally won't be persuaded to join her, as this would involve sacrificing everything she's ever wanted for a lot of uncertainty. When she is taken in for questioning on her birthday, however, Tally gets sent to the Ruins anyway - against her will. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she could ever imagine: find her friend Shay and turn her in, or never turn Pretty at all. What she discovers in the Ruins reveals that there is nothing 'pretty' about the transformations...And the choice Tally makes will change her world forever. These brilliant futuristic stories were intended for teens but they're simply too good for that, so I'm including them here on the fantasy page. They've been printed now in about four editions, but I never tire of reading them, and these latest ones have stunning new covers. If you're unfamiliar with Westerfeld, then you've missed a major writer in the fantasy/SF genre. Three brilliant stories, perfectly written - what more could you ask?

TAD WILLIAMS: SHADOWRISE (Orbit PB)

As shadows threaten to consume the kingdom of Southmarch, Barrick Eddon, heir to March throne, battles his way across the sinister Shadowlands. He must journey through this dangerous, inhuman realm to fulfil a pact ? as this may be all that can prevent the atrocities of a full-scale war with the Twilight people of Qul-na-Qar. Princess Briony, Barrick's twin sister, finds herself in no less danger at the court of Tessis in Syan. When those close to her fall dead from poisoning, she is to learn the true extent of the betrayal surrounding her. Her only option is to flee, as all those in Tessis turn against her ? all, that is, except for one important ally. Meanwhile, the assault upon Southmarch has truly begun. Yasammez, the formidable head of the Qar army, has ordered the attack, believing that the pact between humans and Qar has been broken. Unless Ferras Vansen, Captain of the Southmarch Royal Guard, can convince her otherwise, the humans are sure to meet the dark end that has been promised to them ... Williams evokes a thrilling range of atmosphere and scenery combined with masterly characterisation and a brilliant command of the English language, things you don't always expect from a fantasy writer. There is evidence of some influence from contemporary writers like Erikson and Bakker, but this is pure, undiluted Williams, and it is excellent.

GLENDA LARKE: THE LAST STORMLORD (Orbit PB)

Shale knows of no other world than the desert. He knows that his life - and the lives of his family - depend on one thing and one thing only: water. Water is life for all the citizens of the Quartern and it is the Stormlord who brings the rains to the desert. But the magic is disappearing. The Stormlord's heirs lack the talent to bring the water from the distant seas and young students with a certain promise tend to die, mysteriously, out in the wastes. Shale may be the saviour of every life in the Quartern. He can do what no mere Rainlord can, and may be the newest, and the last, Stormlord - if he can learn to control the waters of life and, of course, if he lives that long. Shale's entire civilization stands at the brink of disaster. Water is life and the wells are going dry ... First volume of a spectacular new tale of magic and treachery set in a desert with a fine crop of characters and a sound, solid plot.

ELIZABETH MOON: OATH OF FEALTY (Orbit PB)

A death has made Kieri Phelan king of Lyona. Here humans and elves live in uneasy peace, united only by their failure to see the dangers at their borders. Harmony has never been more important - or elusive. But will Kieri's soldier background allow him to navigate these difficult politics? And can he awaken the powers his mixed blood confers? An older evil also threatens, affecting not just Lyona but all surrounding kingships. The Verrakai family has been practicing forbidden blood magic for generations, and its scions are becoming bold. When they infiltrate a foreign court and assassinate key nobles, it's clear they must be controlled or eradicated. Phelan will send Dorrin, the only Verrakai he can truly trust, on this mission. She must overcome her abhorrence of the power that is her birthright and awaken her own hidden magic. This will lead to secrets and a mystery that neither Phelan nor Dorrin could have anticipated. Another first volume of a new series from a much-loevd author.

MARKUS HEITZ: THE WAR OF THE DWARVES (Orbit PB)

The dwarves have gone to battle and they have been victorious. But outside the realm, dark forces are working ...A secret army of Orcs, made immortal by the hidden powers of the Black Water, now marches towards Girdlegard, set to unleash its fury upon the kingdom. Sooner than they realise, Tungdil and his comrades will need to summon all their courage to do battle against this bloodthirsty horde. The Orcs are not the only threat. An unspeakable new power is growing and threatens the very existence of the dwarves. But both enemies have forgotten one very important truth: a dwarf is never more dangerous than when total obliteration seems inevitable ... The second volume of Heitz's fantastic Dwarves series. He borrows Orcs and dwarves, of course, but it doesn't matter, this isn't plagiarism, it's just variations on something all fantasists know about and love. It's a giant saga, and absolutely terrific and unputdownable!

KATE GRIFFIN: THE MIDNIGHT MAYOR (Orbit PB)

It's said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, then the Tower will crumble and the kingdom will fall. As it happens, that's not so far from the truth ...One by one, the magical wards that guard the city are failing: the London Wall defiled with cryptic graffiti, the ravens found dead at the Tower, the London Stone destroyed. This is not good news. This array of supernatural defences - a mix of international tourist attractions and forgotten urban legends - formed a formidable magical shield. Protection for the City of London against ...well, that's the question, isn't it? What could be so dangerous as to threaten an entire city? Against his better judgement, resurrected sorcerer Matthew Swift is about to find out. And if he's lucky, he might just live long enough to do something about it ... A psychedelic journey through a world turned on its head, blending The Matrix with Wonderland. Swift is a sorceror faced with the choice of running for his life, or uncovering the murderer of the mythical protector of the City of London, the Midnight Mayor. Strange and intoxicating, and it will grip you and draw you in...

WALTER JON WILLIAMS: THIS IS NOT A GAME (Orbit PB)

Once upon a time, there were four of them. And though each was good at a number of things, all of them were very good at games ...But when one of them is gunned down in a parking lot, the survivors become players in a very different kind of game - one that is played for the highest stake of all. Now they must draw on all their resources - not least millions of online gamers - to track down the killer. Imagine a game with no boundaries. Waiting in a parking lot, sitting at your computer, walking down the street - you could be called at any moment, and you'd better be ready. This is not a game. This is a novel that will blow your mind. I'm not sure I'd go that far; you'd have to be an online gambler for that to happen, but it's a game all right, one you won't want to put down, but turn the page for more answers and more questions. A dazzling wonderland in which everything comes together perfectly, a unique and satisfying SF novel quite unlike anything else you'll ever read. Highly recommended.

JIM BUTCHER: TURN COAT (Orbit PB)

Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has done his best to keep his nose clean where the White Council of Wizards is concerned. Even so, his past misdeeds have cast a constant shadow of suspicion over him in the eyes of the Wardens, those wizards responsible for enforcing the Laws of Magic. Now Dresden finds himself faced with a nightmarish dilemma: Morgan, formerly his chief persecutor among the Wardens, has been wrongly accused of treason against the White Council - and has come to Harry for help. Dresden faces a daunting task: clear Morgan's name while simultaneously hiding him from the Wardens and the supernatural bounty hunters sent to find him, discovering the identity of the true turncoat and, of course, avoiding accusations of treachery of his own. A single mistake may mean that heads - quite literally - will roll. And one of them could be his own ... A thrilling combination of Harry Potter wizardry and Sherlock Holmesian detection - scores on all points and doesn't disappoint. The world's favourite detective-wizard is back!