Asimov's Science Fiction - June 2014 (26 page)

The story begins with Daemron, an immortal being who has been exiled from the mortal world. Presented with an opportunity to return, he attempts to send his soul back. But the spell he is using only partially works, breaking his soul into four components, each of which ends up in a child born into the mortal world, and each at the cost of a parent's life. The four grow up to become the protagonists of the story, each a separate aspect of the immortal's character: wizard, warrior, prophet, king.

Karpyshyn then turns to the early lives of the four children: Keegan, son of a farmer; Cassandra, the daughter of a noble lord's steward; Vaaler, crown prince of the Danaan, an elf-like people; and Scythe, a doctor's daughter raised aboard a ship. Each shows, at an early age, evidence of Daemron's influence—and be cause of it, none can quite take the role they normally would have. Part of that is because of the Order of the Crown, a church-like organization of blind prophets who are dedicated to preventing the return of the Old Gods and the chaotic magic they wield. The Order hunts down all children who show signs of magical ability, destroying them or forcing them into its ranks.

But an independent mage, Rexol, wants an apprentice, and he intervenes in the lives of three of them, in defiance of the Order. He protects and trains Cassandra for a while, before he is forced to surrender her. He then takes on Prince Vaaler, at the request of his mother the queen, who hopes the mage can cure her son's apparent lack of the magical ability he should have inherited. Finally Keegan comes to him, and he proves to be the most powerful of all—perhaps even more than his master. Meanwhile, Scythe is living a less protected life after the death of her father, eventually forming an alliance with a giant barbarian from the east country.

There are enough surprises to keep the reader from taking anything for granted, including the deaths of several characters who at first appeared to have important roles to play. By the end of this volume, three of the four have joined forces, not necessarily completely willingly, and the extent of their powers is becoming evident. Daemron has also succeeded in sending his agents to infiltrate the mortal world, and one of their first goals is to obtain the three talismans.

This opening volume of a new fantasy series should appeal to fans of epic fantasy; I will certainly be interested to see where Karpyshyn goes with it.

WORLDS OF EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS

Edited by Mike Resnick and

Robert T. Garcia Baen, $15.00 (tp)

ISBN: 978-1-4516-3935-3

Here's a collection of stories by diverse hands, mining the various imaginative scenarios created by Burroughs.

The book is a reminder just how many fictional worlds Burroughs invented. The jungle worlds of the Tarzan books are probably the most familiar, followed closely by Barsoom, his version of Mars, and Pellucidar, the primitive world hidden inside the hollow Earth, in which the dinosaurs still roam—and rule. But several of the authors here take on less familiar locales—Venus, the Moon, the fictional planet Poloda, not to mention a few set in more familiar locales, such as the American West.

And the roster of authors includes a few who may surprise readers: Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who tells a story of Tarzan's role in World War I; Peter David, who brings Burroughs' Moon Maid to New York City; Mercedes Lackey and F. Paul Wilson, each of whom spins a new story of Pellucidar; and Joe R. Lansdale, who doubles the fun by bringing Tarzan to Pellucidar. However, there is only one Barsoom story in the collection, written bv Resnick in 1963—also the only reprint here. This was to avoid rights problems related to the recent movie.

All the authors are clearly familiar with the Burroughs canon, and deliver good yarns in the vein of the original. The tributes are generally sincere, and it's obvious most of the authors are having fun with genre stereotypes and clichés at the same time. Probably only Resnick's story, which is admittedly quite different from his mature work, really attempts to mimic Burroughs' style, though the others echo some of the old pulpster's more obvious mannerisms. Most draw the line well short of outright parody, though.

A fun idea, well executed by all involved.

THE APE-MAN'S BROTHER

By Joe R. Lansdale

Subterranean Press, $20 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-59606-618-2

In this entertaining novella, Lansdale gives us another Burroughs spin-off, poised somewhere between the Tarzan books, the Pellucidar series, and an alternate 1920s America. As with his entry in the Baen anthology, it respects the spirit of the original while injecting the author's own more complex viewpoint.

The narrator is an ape-like hominid of a previously unknown species. He is brought back to the human world by the survivors of an expedition lost in his world somewhere beneath the polar icecap. With him comes another survivor— the son of a human couple that came to his world to raise a son genetically engineered for superhuman strength and long life. When the parents died, the son—the Big Guy, as the narrator calls him—was raised by the narrator's people, among whom he became as one of the tribe. The arrival of a second expedition changes things—and ends in the narrator and his human "brother" venturing into the civilized world, in the company of their rescuer, Dr. Rice, who teaches them English and the rudiments of civilized behavior.

Lansdale's comic twist on the Tarzan myth is that the "ape" takes to human civilization far better than the Big Guy. Possibly more intelligent than
Homo sapiens
—he certainly is, in his own estimation—the narrator adapts well to a sophisticated lifestyle, acquiring a taste for cool jazz, smoking a pipe, and enjoying the various perquisites of civilization. When their movie careers are derailed by the Big Guy's reversion to his jungle-world habits—possibly helped along by the machinations of a member of the Rice expedition whose fiancée fell for him—the narrator settles down to live happily on the residuals of their films. Meanwhile, his human "brother" quickly goes downhill, even losing interest in The Woman, as the narrator always refers to her.

While the story begins in comedy, its conclusion is bittersweet, respecting real-world probabilities without entirely denying the myths it is built on. A fine effort by Lansdale, with stylish illustrations by Ken Laager as an additional attraction.

Here are the three big Easter cons (Norwescon, MiniCon and the UK National Con). Other picks are AggieCon, Ad Astra, RavenCon (where I'll be), ConStellation, EerieCon and MarCon. Next time: Memorial Day. Plan now for social weekends with your favorite SF authors, editors, artists, and fellow fans. For an explanation of our con(vention)s, a sample of SF folksongs, and info on fanzines and clubs, send me an SASE (self-addressed, stamped #10 [business] envelope) at 10 Hill #22-L, Newark NJ 07102. The hot line is (973) 242-5999. If a machine answers (with a list of the week's cons), leave a message and I'll call back on my nickel. When writing cons, send an SASE. For free listings, tell me of your con five months out. Look for me at cons behind the Filthy Pierre badge, playing a musical keyboard.

—Erwin S. Straus

4–6—AggieCon. For info, write: c/o Cepheid Variable, SOST, TAMU, 125 Koldus, Stop 1236, Slot 780, College Stn. TX 77843. Or phone: (973) 242-5999 (10 am to 10 pm, not collect). (Web) http://aggiecon.tamu.edu/. (E-mail) [email protected]. Con will be held in:

College Station TX (if city omitted, same as in address) at the Hilton. Guests will include: None announced at press.

4–6—Ad Astra. www.ad-astra.org. Holiday Inn & Suites, Markham (Toronto) ON. David Weber, Anne. Groell, Patricia Briggs, S. Erikson.

4–6—AmaziCon. www.amazicon.net. Clarion, Essington (Philadelphia) PA. Pop culture. Horror-film personalities, many movie/TV cars.

4–6—A & G Ohio. www.cartooncon.org. Cincinnati OH. Georgia van Cuylenburg, Heather Breckel, Maffew. Anime and gaming ("A & G").

4–6—Anime Detour. www.animedetour.com. Doubletree by Hilton, Bloomington (Minneapolis) MN. Chris Carson, Tony Oliver, Kyle Hebert.

4–6—PortmeiriCon. www.sixofone.co.uk. Portmeirion UK. Where cult TV show "The Prisoner" filmed. Includes re-enacting famous scenes.

4–6—Chevron. www.massiveevents.co.uk. Radisson Edwardian, Heathrow (London) UK. Commercial event for fans of the StarGate shows.

11–13—JordanCon. www.jordancon.org. Doubletree, Roswell GA. Patrick Rothfuss, artist Larry Elmore. The works of Robert Jordan.

11–13—NE Conf. on Science & Skepticism. www.necss.org. Fashion Institute of Tech., New York NY. Atheism, debunking superstition.

11–13—MithraCon. www.mithracon.org. New Haven CT. Academic conference. Worship of Mithras was widespread in the ancient world.

12—Otaku Fest. www.otaku-fest.webs.com. Centennial High School, Ellicott City (Baltimore) MD. Anime.

17–20—NorwesCon, Box 68547, Seattle WA 98168. (206) 230-7850. www.norwescon.org. Seattle WA. Moorcock, S. McGuire (M. Grant).

18–20—MiniCon, c/o Strait, 1228 E. 54th #1E, Chicago IL 60615. www.mnstf.org. Bloomington (Minneapolis) MN. Valente, Wurts, Maitz.

18–20—Anime Conji. www.animeconji.org. Sheraton Hotel and Marina, San Diego CA. Vic Mignona. Anime.

18–21—UK Nat'l. Con. www.satellite4.org.uk. Crowne Plaza, Glasgow UK. Pratchett (health permitting), J. Meany, J. McKenna, Jim Burns.

25–27—RavenCon, Box 36420, Richmond VA 23235. www.ravencon.com. Doubletree (ex-Holiday Inn) Koger Center. Elizabeth Bear.

25–27—ConStellation. www.constellationne.net. Lincoln NE. Carrie Vaughn, artist AB Word, TM Daniel C. Nielsen, framer Barrie Bryant.

25–27—FILKONtario, 145 Rice Ave. #98, Hamilton ON L9C 6R3. www.filkontario.ca. Mississauga (Toronto) ON. SF/fantasy folksinging.

25–27—TrekTrax. www.trektrax.org. Marriott NW at Galleria, Atlanta GA. For fans of Star Trek, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica.

25–27—Pulp & Paper Con, c/o Ellis, 13 Spring Lane, Barrington Hills IL 60010. www.windycitypulpandpaper.com. Lombard IL.

25–27—ZenkaiKon. www.zenkaikon.com. Lancaster PA. Brina Palencia, Doug Walker, Jonathan Maberry, Lolita Dark, Uncle Yo. Anime.

25–28—CostumeCon, Box 15042, 1507 Yonge, Toronto ON M4T 1Z4. www.costumecon32.com. Sheraton Airport. Costumers' big show.

2–4—EerieCon, c/o Box 412, Buffalo NY 14226. www.eeriecon.org. Byblos Resort, Grand Island NY. David B. Coe, Mark Leslie, others.

2–4—Corflu. www.corflu.org. Doubletree (formerly Holiday Inn Select) Hotel and Conference Center, Richmond VA. Old-time fanzines.

2–4—Gaslight Gathering. www.gaslightgathering.org. Town & Country, San Diego CA. C. Priest, Prof. Elemental, R. Sczerba, D. Benedict.

2–4—Malice Domestic, Box 8007, Gaitherburg MD 20898. www.malicedomestic.org. Bethesda MD (near DC). "Traditional mystery" fans.

9–11—Spectrum Fantastic Art Live. (913) 538-1142. www.spectrumfantasticartlive.com. Kansas City MO. Camilla d'Errico.

9–11—MarCon, Box 141414, Columbus OH 43214. www.marcon.org. Hyatt. Glen Cook, Eric ("1632") Flint, musicians Dale & Deschamps.

17–20—DetCon 1, c/o Box 3199, Ann Arbor MI 48106. www.detcon1.org. Detroit MI. No. American SF Con, with WorldCon abroad. $65.

14–18—LonCon 3, 379 Myrtle Rd., Sheffield S2 3HQ, UK. www.loncon3.org. Docklands, London UK. The WorldCon. ú105/A,C,US$170.

19–23—Sasquan, c/o Box 1091, Woodinville WA 98072. www.sasquan.org. Spokane WA. D. Gerrold, V. McIntyre. The WorldCon. $140.

SHEILA WILLIAMS

Editor

EMILY HOCKADAY

Editorial Assistant

MARY GRANT

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DEANNA MCLAFFERTY

Editorial Administrative Assistant

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Typesetting Director

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Assistant Typesetting Manager

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Senior Typesetting Coordinator

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Senior Art Director

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Production Artist

LAURA TULLEY

Senior Production Manager

JENNIFER CONE

Production Associate

ABIGAIL BROWNING

Manager Subsidiary Rights and Marketing

TERRIE POLY

Digital Publishing Manager

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Circulation Services

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[email protected] (Display and Classified Advertising)

Subscriber Services: 203-866-6688 Option #2

PETER KANTER

Publisher

BRUCE W. SHERBOW

Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

CHRISTINE BEGLEY

Vice President, Editorial and Product Development

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Vice President, Design and Production

ISAAC ASIMOV

Editorial Director (1977-1992)

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ISSN 1065-2698. Vol. 38, No. 6. Whole No. 461, June 2014. GST #R123293128. Published monthly except for two combined double issues in April/May and October/November by Dell Magazines, a division of Crosstown Publications. One year subscription $55.90 in the United States and U.S. possessions. In all other countries $65.90 (GST included in Canada), payable in advance in U.S. funds. Address for subscription and all other correspondence about them, 6 Prowitt Street, Norwalk, CT 06855. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for change of address. Address for all editorial matters:
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